GB2328010A - Vehicle indicator light indicating straight ahead - Google Patents

Vehicle indicator light indicating straight ahead Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2328010A
GB2328010A GB9716418A GB9716418A GB2328010A GB 2328010 A GB2328010 A GB 2328010A GB 9716418 A GB9716418 A GB 9716418A GB 9716418 A GB9716418 A GB 9716418A GB 2328010 A GB2328010 A GB 2328010A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
vehicle
light
lights
indicator light
intention
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9716418A
Other versions
GB9716418D0 (en
GB2328010B (en
Inventor
Mark Huthert
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB9716418A priority Critical patent/GB2328010B/en
Publication of GB9716418D0 publication Critical patent/GB9716418D0/en
Publication of GB2328010A publication Critical patent/GB2328010A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2328010B publication Critical patent/GB2328010B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/28—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating front of vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/44—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
    • B60Q1/442—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal visible on the front side of the vehicle, e.g. for pedestrians

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Abstract

An indicator light arrangement for a vehicle comprises first, second and third lights 2, 4, 6. The arrangement further comprises means for operating the first light 2 to indicate, to persons outside the vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to turn the vehicle to the left, the second light 4 to indicate, to persons outside the vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to turn the vehicle to the right, and the third light 6 to indicate, to persons outside the vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to proceed straight ahead.

Description

Vehicle Exterior Indicatinq Liqhts The present invention relates to indicator light arrangements for vehicles, and more particularly to an arrangement for fittings to a vehicle for indicating, to persons outside the vehicle, the vehicle driver's intended direction of travel.
Most modern vehicles are provided with a plurality of lights for indicating, to persons outside the vehicle, the vehicle driver's intention to turn the vehicle either to the left or to the right.
However, at many road junctions, the driver is faced with the option, not only of turning left or right, but also of proceeding straight ahead. In these cases, it can be difficult for other road users to know the driver's intention.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an indicator light arrangement for a vehicle, the arrangement comprising first, second and third lights, and means for operating said first lights to indicate, to persons outside the vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to turn the vehicle to the left, said second light to indicate, to persons outside the vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to turn the vehicle to the right, and said third light to indicate, to persons outside the vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to proceed straight ahead.
Preferably, the lights are operated so that they are normally off, and are illuminated to provide their respective indications.
However, it would remain in accordance with the present invention for the lights to be operated so that the left and right indicator lights, or even all three lights are normally on and flash intermittently to provide their respective indications.
Where, at a junction, roundabout, etc., the driver of a vehicle has the option of turning left or right or proceeding straight ahead, and where the first and second lights are not indicating an intended turn to the left or to the right, a person outside the vehicle might assume that it was the driver's intention to proceed straight ahead. However, the situation may instead be that the driver is undecided about his intended direction of travel or that he has simply neglected to operate his left or right indicator.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, an operating means is controlled by the driver so that the third light may be operated independently of the first and second lights. Thus, when the third light is operated, there can be no doubt in the minds of persons outside the vehicle that the driver's intention is to proceed straight ahead.
One drawback of this first embodiment is that it relies upon the driver being sufficiently conscientious to operate the third light each time that it is required.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, the third light is instead operated automatically when the first and second lights are not indicating an intended turn to the left or to the right. Whilst this second embodiment does not serve to indicate, to persons outside the vehicle, any indecisiveness or neglect on the part of the driver in operating his indicators, it does ensure that the failure of any one of the indicators will become apparent, as only in such circumstances will there arise a situation in which none of the lights is providing an indication of the driver's intended direction of travel.
Preferably, where it is the driver's intention to proceed straight ahead, the operating means causes the third light to display an upwards or downwards pointing arrow.
It will be appreciated that, where the operating means is controlled by the driver, the third light may also be operated to indicate, to persons outside the vehicle, that it is the driver's intention to reverse the vehicle. Thus, where it is the driver's intention to reverse the vehicle, the driver may control the operating means to cause the third light to display an upwards or downwards pointing arrow.
Preferably said first and second lights are situated, in use, either side of the front of the vehicle. Typically corresponding lights are associated with the first and second lights and positioned either side of the rear of the vehicle.
Preferably said third light is situated halfway across the front of the vehicle and preferably displays a downwards pointing arrow to indicate the driver's intention to proceed straight ahead, and/or an upwards pointing arrow to indicate the driver's intention to reverse the vehicle. Preferably the indicating arrangement comprises a fourth light situated, in use, at the rear of the vehicle and operated by said operating means in unison with said third light. Thus, both lights are operated simultaneously and, where the third light displays an arrow pointing upwards or downwards, the fourth light displays an arrow pointing in the opposite direction.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of an example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle provided with an indicating arrangement in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a view of the interior of the vehicle of Figure 1 showing the manual controls for operating the vehicle's indicator lights.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a vehicle is shown fitted with an indicating arrangement which comprises first and second lights 2,4 for indicating, to persons outside the vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to turn the vehicle to the left or to the right respectively. A third light 6 situated at the front of the vehicle, and halfway between the first and second lights 2,4, is arranged to indicate, by means of an illuminated downwards pointing arrow, that it is the drivers intention to proceed straight ahead.
The third light 6 may be operated automatically when neither the first nor the second lights are illuminated.
Alternatively, as shown in Figure 2, the operation of the third light may be controlled by the driver of the vehicle by means of a lever 8 situated adjacent the steering wheel 10 of the vehicle.
It will be appreciated that a vehicle, having the lighting arrangement thus described, will provide persons outside the vehicle with a more effective indication of the vehicle driver's intended direction of travel.

Claims (14)

1) An indicator light arrangement for a vehicle, the arrangement comprising first, second and third lights, and means for operating said first light to indicate, to persons outside said vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to turn said vehicle to the left, said second light to indicate, to persons outside said vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to turn said vehicle to the right, and said third light to indicate, to persons outside said vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to proceed straight ahead.
2) An indicator light arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said operating means causes said third light to display an upwards or downwards pointing arrow to indicate, to persons outside said vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to proceed straight ahead.
3) An indicator light arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said lights are operated so that they are normally off, and are illuminated to provide their respective indications.
4) An indicator light arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said lights are operated so that said first and second lights, or all three lights, are normally on and flash intermittently to provide their respective indications.
5) An indicator light arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said third light is operated automatically when said first and second lights are not indicating an intended turn to the left or to the right.
6) An indicator light arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said third light is operated by the vehicle driver independently of said first and second lights.
7) An indicator light arrangement as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said third light is operated to indicate, to persons outside said vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to reverse said vehicle.
8) An indicator light arrangement as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said operating means causes said third light to display an upwards or downwards pointing arrow to indicate, to persons outside said vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to reverse said vehicle.
9) An indicator light arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first and second lights are situated, in use, either side of the front of said vehicle.
10) An indicator light arrangement as claimed in Claim 9, wherein lights corresponding to said first and second lights are situated, in use, either side of the rear of said vehicle.
11) An indicator light arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said third light is situated, in use, halfway across the front of said vehicle.
12) An indicator light arrangement as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said third light displays a downwards pointing arrow to indicate, to persons outside said vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to proceed straight ahead, and/or an upwards pointing arrow to indicate, to persons outside said vehicle, that it is the vehicle driver's intention to reverse said vehicle.
13) An indicator light arrangement as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12, comprising a fourth light situated at the rear of said vehicle and operated by said operating means in unison with said third light so that where said third light displays an arrow pointing upwards or downwards, said fourth light displays an arrow pointing in the opposite direction.
14) An indicator light arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9716418A 1997-08-05 1997-08-05 Vehicle exterior indicating lights Expired - Fee Related GB2328010B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9716418A GB2328010B (en) 1997-08-05 1997-08-05 Vehicle exterior indicating lights

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9716418A GB2328010B (en) 1997-08-05 1997-08-05 Vehicle exterior indicating lights

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9716418D0 GB9716418D0 (en) 1997-10-08
GB2328010A true GB2328010A (en) 1999-02-10
GB2328010B GB2328010B (en) 2001-10-10

Family

ID=10816915

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9716418A Expired - Fee Related GB2328010B (en) 1997-08-05 1997-08-05 Vehicle exterior indicating lights

Country Status (1)

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GB (1) GB2328010B (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2337579A (en) * 1998-05-22 1999-11-24 William John Wakeham Vehicle Direction Indicators
GB2369425A (en) * 2000-11-22 2002-05-29 Derrick Clark Straight ahead flashing indicator for motor vehicles

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4622494A (en) * 1986-02-19 1986-11-11 Johnson Robert M Signalling device
US4896251A (en) * 1988-12-06 1990-01-23 Fasel Albert J Auxiliary turn signal attachment
GB2243207A (en) * 1990-04-18 1991-10-23 Michael John Kieltyka Direction indicator apparatus

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4622494A (en) * 1986-02-19 1986-11-11 Johnson Robert M Signalling device
US4896251A (en) * 1988-12-06 1990-01-23 Fasel Albert J Auxiliary turn signal attachment
GB2243207A (en) * 1990-04-18 1991-10-23 Michael John Kieltyka Direction indicator apparatus

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2337579A (en) * 1998-05-22 1999-11-24 William John Wakeham Vehicle Direction Indicators
GB2369425A (en) * 2000-11-22 2002-05-29 Derrick Clark Straight ahead flashing indicator for motor vehicles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9716418D0 (en) 1997-10-08
GB2328010B (en) 2001-10-10

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
746 Register noted 'licences of right' (sect. 46/1977)

Effective date: 20130902

PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20140805