GB2298534A

GB2298534A - Hazard warning systems for vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2298534A
Application number: GB9504030A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey David Cops
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-02-28
Filing date: 1995-02-28
Publication date: 1996-09-04
Also published as: GB9504030D0

Abstract

A vehicle lighting system comprises one or more sensors 1, 1 A for detecting wheel movement or movement of the vehicle relative to the road and means for maintaining the brake lights and/or front lights 4 illuminated when the brake pedal 3 is released whilst the vehicle is stationary. The lights may be made to flash when the vehicle is stationary and the hazard warning may remain until the vehicle speed reaches 15 m.p.h.

Description

BRAKE AND STOP LIGHTING SENSOR I GEOFFREY DAVID COPS OF 198, PLUMBEROW AVENUE, HOCKLEY, ESSEX, ENGLAND. DO HEREBY DECLARE THE INVENTION FOR WHICH I PRAY THAT A PATENT MAY BE GRANTED TO ME AND THE METHOD BY WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED TO BE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN AND BY THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT. THE INVENTION RELATES TO A ADDITIONAL BRAKE LIGHTING SENSOR SYSTEM FOR ANY VEHICLE WHICH ARE USED ON ALL ROADS, PUBLIC HIGHWAYS, AIRPORT RUNWAYS AND SUCH LIKE.

THE LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES IS WELL KNOWN. THE USE OF A LIGHTING SYSTEM NORMALLY RED AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND WHITE AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THEN SHOWING ADDITIONAL BRIGHT RED LIGHTS AT THE REAR ONLY IF THE VEHICLE BREAKS OR ATTEMPTS TO STOP.

WHITE AT THE FRONT SHOWING AT ALL TIMES. THIS TYPE OF LIGHTING SYSTEM IS USED DAY OR NIGHT ON ALL VEHICLES WHICH ARE USED ON ROADS, PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AIRPORT RUNWAYS AND SUCH LIKE.

THIS HOWEVER DOES NOT PROVE SATISFACTORY IF THE VEHICLE HAS COME TO A STOP. AS THE BREAK LIGHTS (BRIGHT RED AT THE REAR) ARE ALLOWED TO GO OUT OR EXTINGUISH ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS STOPPED. AS IT RELIES ON MECHANICAL PRESSURE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LIGHTS. ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS STOPPED AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ALLOWED TO BE RELEASED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ALLOWED TO BE EXTINGUISHED. THE VEHICLE THEN BECOMES A HAZARD AND THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC DOES NOT KNOW IF THE VEHICLE IT IS APPROACHING, IS MOVING OR STATIONARY.

THIS IS ALSO TRUE FOR ON COMING TRAFFIC, THAT WOULD ONLY SEE WHITE SIDE LIGHTS OR HEAD LIGHTS BUT WOULD NOT KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING OR STATIONARY.

ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT INVENTION THERE IS PROVIDED A BRAKE OR STOPPED, ELECTRONIC SENSOR LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR ALL VEHICLES. THE INVENTION UTILISES THE USE OF A SENSOR WHICH CAN BE A ELECTRONIC INFRA RED SENSOR OR SENSORS FITTED TO THE VEHICLE TO DETECT WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS MOVING OR STATIONARY. WHICH OVER RIDES OR TAKES OVER WHEN THE MECHANICAL FOOT BRAKE HAS BEEN RELEASED. THIS SENSOR DETECTS IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, IF IT IS NOT MOVING THEN THE SENSOR TAKES OVER TO ENSURE THAT THE BRIGHT REAR RED LIGHTS ARE MADE TO STAY ILLUMINATED AND REMAIN ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. BUT ARE EXTINGUISHED WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO MOVE OR AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS REACHED A CERTAIN SPEED, WHEN IT IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED A HAZARD. WHICH WORKS WITH AND ALONGSIDE THE EXISTING MECHANICAL SYSTEM OF BRAKE LIGHTS BEING OPERATED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL.THE NORMAL MECHANICAL BREAK LIGHT SYSTEM REMAINS IN OPERATION AT ALL TIMES. THIS INVENTION IS MADE TO WORK ALONG SIDE AND INDEPENDENT OF AN EXISTING MECHANICAL BRAKE SYSTEM.

THE SENSOR WOULD TAKE OVER AFTER THE MECHANICAL BRAKE PEDAL HAD BEEN RELEASED TO ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON AND ILLUMINATED WHICH THEN SHOWS THE VEHICLE TO BE STOPPED AND THEREFORE A HAZARD TO ALL TRAFFIC. THIS CAN ALSO BE ADOPTED TO THE FRONT WHITE LIGHTS OF ANY VEHICLE. TO ACT AS WHITE BRIGHT BREAK LIGHT OR LIGHTS WHICH CAN BE MADE TO FLASH OR SHOW A DIFFERENT COLOUR TO SHOW AT THE SAME TIME THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING AND IS A HAZARD. IT THEREFORE HAS A BENEFIT TO EITHER, OR BOTH, FOLLOWING OR ON COMING TRAFFIC BUT THIS INVENTION IS MAINLY DESIGNED FOR USE ON THE REAR OF A VEHICLE, OR THE REAR, BRIGHT RED, BRAKE LIGHTING SYSTEM.

A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION WILL NOW BE DESCRIBED BY WAY OF EXAMPLE WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING IN WHICH: FIGURE 1 SHOWS IN PERSPECTIVE A NORMAL ANY FOUR WHEELED VEHICLE CHASSIS.

FIGURE 2. SHOWS A END ELEVATION OF A CHASIS LOOKING FROM THE REAR.

REFERRING TO THE DRAWING WHICH COMPRISES OF A NORMAL MOTOR VEHICLE WHEELED CHASSIS 7.

FIGURE 1. SHOWS A FITTED SENSOR 1A. OR MORE THEN ONE SENSOR AT 1. WHICH CAN BE USED FOR A SENSOR BRAKE LIGHTING SYSTEM 2. FOR BOTH FRONT AND REAR OF A VEHICLE.

THE SENSOR 1. OR 1A. IS HERE SET TO MONITOR AS 5.WHICH COULD BE A ELECTRONIC INFRA RED RAY, THE OPPOSITE WHEELS 6. TO MONITOR THEIR MOVEMENT OR NON MOVEMENT. ALTHOUGH THE SENSOR CAN BE SITED ANYWHERE ON THE VEHICLE TO MONITOR MOVEMENT OR NON MOVEMENT ANYWHERE ON THE VEHICLE.

TO DETECT WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS STOPPED, THE SENSOR 1 OR 1A IS WIRED 2. TO EITHER OR BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WHICH SHOW AT 4. THESE LIGHTS ARE USUALLY RED AT THE REAR AND WHITE AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. BUT THEY CAN BE ANY COLOUR OR NUMBER OF LIGHTS AND CAN BE MADE TO BE FLASHING TO SHOW A HAZARD.

THE INVENTION IS WIRED TO WORK INDEPENDENT OF, OR ALONG SIDE THE MECHANICAL BRAKE LIGHTING SYSTEM 2. AND 3. WHICH ALREADY EXISTS ON ANY STANDARD BRAKING LIGHT SYSTEM FOR ANY VEHICLE CHASSIS. THE INVENTION ENSURES THAT WHEN THE MECHANICAL BRAKE PEDAL 3. IS RELEASED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. THE BRAKE LIGHTS AT 4. STAY ILLUMINATED, UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS MOVING ONCE AGAIN. THIS CAN BE FOR THE BACK LIGHTING SYSTEM AND OR THE THE FRONT BREAKING HAZARD SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE, AND THAT THE BRIGHT BREAK LIGHTS STAY IN THE ON OR ILLUMINATED POSITION ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS COME TO A STOP. THIS THEN ENSURES THAT THE VEHICLE IS SHOWN TO BE A HAZARD TO TRAFIC AFTER THE MECHANICAL BREAK PEDAL 3. HAS BEEN RELEASED.

FIGURE 2. SHOWS THE INVENTION FITTED TO JUST TWO WHEELS ONLY OF A VEHICLE BUT MADE TO WORK TO THE REAR BREAK LIGHTS AND IS MADE TO WORK AS FIGURE 1. THE SENSOR AT 1.

IS WIRED THROUGH THE SAME BRAKE LIGHTING SYSTEM 2. AND 3 AND 4. FOR ANY VEHICLE TO ENSURE THAT THE REAR, BRIGHT RED LIGHTS 4. MADE TO FLASH OR ANY OTHER COLOUR LIGHTS OR LIGHTS FOR THIS PURPOSE, STAY ON. OR BRIGHTLY ILLUMINATED OR FLASHING AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS COME TO A STOP, WHEN THE MECHANICAL BRAKE PEDAL HAS BEEN RELEASED.

THE SYSTEM AS FIGURE 1. OR FIGURE 2. WILL WORK WITH JUST ONE SENSOR OR MORE THEN ONE SENSOR TO WORK SEPARATELY OR JOINTLY, GIVING A DUAL SAFE CONTROL OF ITS OPERATION, FOR FRONT, REAR OR BOTH LIGHTING SYSTEMS.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A BREAK AND STOP LIGHTING SENSOR, COMPRISES OF THE USE OF A ELECTRONIC SENSOR OR SENSORS, NORMALLY A SENSOR THAT DETECTS MOVEMENT. FITTED TO ANY VEHICLE AND POSITIONED ANYWHERE ON A VEHICLE NORMALLY TO DETECT WHEEL MOVEMENT OR THE MOVEMENT OF THE ROAD BENEATH THE VEHICLE. THIS SENSOR DETECTS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS STOPPED. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE WIRED IN LINE WITH THE EXISTING BREAK LIGHTS OR ANY LIGHTS FOR THAT PURPOSE ITS WIRING OR COMPUTERISED WIRING, LIGHTING SYSTEM, FRONT OR REAR, TO KEEP THEM IN THE ON POSITION OR ILLUMINATED IN THE EXTRA BRIGHT MODE TO SHOW THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. AND TO GO OFF OR EXTINGUISH SHOULD THE VEHICLE START TO MOVE. THE SENSOR DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A MOVEMENT SENSOR IT COULD BE A SWITCH OR OTHER MEANS OF DETECTING THE MOVEMENT OF ANY VEHICLE.BUT A ELECTRONIC MOVEMENT SENSOR IS UTILISED IN THIS INVENTION TO CARRY OUT THE TASK, WHICH IS WITHOUT MOVEABLE PARTS THAT MIGHT FATIGUE WITH CONSTANT USE.

WHICH IS ALSO POSITIVE IN ITS DETECTION OF MOVEMENT.

THESE ELECTRONIC MOVEMENT SENSORS ARE SIMILAR TO THE ONES UTILISED IN DETECTING THE MOVEMENT OF INTRUDERS IN A BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM, INFRA-RED OR SIMILAR, WHICH CAN BE ANY MOVEMENT DETECTOR SENSOR MADE FOR THE PURPOSE AND WHICH DETECTS MOVEMENT.

2. A BREAK AND STOP LIGHTING SENSOR AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1 WHICH IS USED FOR THE REAR OF ANY VEHICLE NORMALLY BRIGHT RED BUT CAN UTILISE ANY COLOUR OF LIGHTS AND CAN BE FLASHING OR NOT FLASHING.

3. A BREAK AND STOP LIGHTING SENSOR AS CLAIMED IN 1 BUT CAN BE USED FOR JUST THE FRONT OF ANY VEHICLE NORMALLY WHITE BUT CAN USE ANY COLOUR OF LIGHTS USED AND CAN BE FLASHING OR NOT FLASHING.

4. A BREAK AND STOP LIGHTING SENSOR AS CLAIMED IN 1 BUT CAN BE USED FOR BOTH FRONT AND REAR OF ANY VEHICLE WHICH WOULD NORMALLY BE RED AT THE REAR OR WHITE AT THE FRONT BUT CAN UTILISE ANY COLOUR OF LIGHTS USED AND CAN BE FLASHING OR NOT FLASHING.

5. A BREAK AND STOP LIGHTING SENSOR AS CLAIMED IN 1, 2, 3, AND 4 BUT CAN BE UTILISED AND EXTENDED TO ANY TRAILER OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE WHICH IS NOT SELF PROPELED, BUT IS BEING TOWED AND IS SUBSEQUENTLY ABLE TO UTILISE THE SAME BREAK AND STOP SENSOR LIGHTING SYSTEM FROM THE PARENT VEHICLE, CONNECTED THROUGH A WIRING CONNECTION AT ANY POINT JOINING THE TWO VEHICLES.

6. A BREAK AND STOP LIGHTING SENSOR AS CLAIMED IN 5 BUT THE SYSTEM CAN BE FITTED IN THE TRAILER OR FOLLOWING TOWED VEHICLE.

CLAIMS CONTINUED.

7.

A BREAK AND STOP SENSOR LIGHTING SYSTEM AS CLAIMED IN 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 AND 6. CAN UTILISE A SENSOR TO DETECT MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. BUT WOULD NOT NECESSARY HAVE TO BE ELECTRONIC IT COULD BE MECHANICAL OR ELECTRONIC AND FITTED TO MONITOR ANY MOVING PART OF THE VEHICLE IE., THE PROP SHAFT OR WHEEL, GEARBOX, CLUTCH OR ANY PART EXTERNALLY OR INTERNALLY THAT WOULD TRANSMIT TO THE SYSTEM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING. THE SENSOR COULD ALSO MONITOR THE MOVEMENT OF ANY PART OF THE ROAD NEAR ANY PART OF THE VEHICLE.

8.

A BREAK AND STOP SENSOR LIGHTING SYSTEM AS CLAIMED IN 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, AND 7, CAN UTILISE A SENSOR TO DETECT MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE BUT THE SENSOR CAN ALSO BE MADE TO DELAY THE HAZARD BRAKE LIGHTS BEING ALLOWED TO GO OFF OR BE EXTINGUISHED. UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS ATTAINED A CERTAIN SPEED WHEN IT IS DETERMINED NOT TO BE A HAZARD TO FOLLOWING TRAFFIC, ANY SPEED FROM SAY O TO 15 MILES PER HOUR FOR A CAR OR O TO ANY SPEED FOR AIR TRAFFIC ON OR OFF THE GROUND OR ANY PRESCRIBED SPEED FOR ANY VEHICLE.

THIS COULD UTILISE THE VEHICLES INBOARD COMPUTER AND THE BREAK AND STOP LIGHT SENSOR WOULD BE WIRED INTO SUCH A COMPUTER.

9.

A BREAK AND STOP SENSOR LIGHTING SYSTEM AS CLAIMED IN 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 AND 8. CAN ALSO BE FITTED TO A VEHICLE WHICH HAS ONLY THREE OR TWO WHEELS SUCH AS A MOTOR CYCLE WHICH CAN ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE INVENTION.