Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators – External signal light system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-05
2001-02-27
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
External signal light system
C340S465000, C340S477000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195001
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an auxiliary signal to indicate a U-turn and more particularly pertains to alerting a vehicle traveling behind one's own vehicle that a U-turn will be performed.
Modern automobiles have signal lights to alert motorists that the driver is intending to make a turn or is applying the brakes. However, when driver's wishes to make U-turns, they must either turn on the left hand flashing signal light or provide no signal to an on-coming motorist. This lack of a proper signaling device when a U-turn is intended presents a confusing and dangerous situation. The present invention seeks to overcome this situation by providing for a transmitter which can independently activate a flashing light that is mountable to a rear or front of the vehicle so as to alert other motorists that a U-turn is about to occur.
The use of signal lights is known in the prior art. More specifically, signal lights heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of alerting motorists of a driver's intentions are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,541 to Sullivan discloses a manual, ultrasonic transmitting means for activating a vehicle mountable U-turn signal that is solar powered. U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,100 to Millsap discloses a Uturn icon mounted on the front or rear of a vehicle and placed over a light bulb with similar operations as a turn signal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,361 to Reed and U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,708 to Strawn each disclose additional U-turn signaling devices.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe an auxiliary signal to indicate a U-turn for alerting a vehicle traveling behind one's own vehicle that a U-turn will be performed.
In this respect, the auxiliary signal to indicate a Uturn according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of alerting a vehicle traveling behind one's own vehicle that a Uturn will be performed.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved auxiliary signal to indicate a U-turn which can be used for alerting a vehicle traveling behind one's own vehicle that a U-turn will be performed. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of signal lights now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved auxiliary signal to indicate a U-turn. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved auxiliary signal to indicate a U-turn and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a housing securable to an interior of a motor vehicle at a left corner of a rear window thereof. The housing has a generally circular configuration defined by a closed forward face, an open rearward face and a cylindrical side wall therebetween. The open rearward face has a plate disposed therein. The plate has an inverted translucent U in a central portion thereof. One of two opposed free ends of the U has an arrow directed downwardly therefrom. A light is secured within the housing intermediate the open rearward face and the closed forward face thereof. The light is in communication with a battery of the motor vehicle. A receiver is disposed within the housing. The receiver is in communication with the light. A timer is disposed within the housing. The timer is in communication with the light. A flasher circuit is disposed within the housing. The flasher circuit is in communication with the light. A transmitter is securable within the interior of the motor vehicle adjacent to a drivers seat thereof. The transmitter is in communication with the receiver.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved auxiliary signal to indicate a U-turn which has all the advantages of the prior art signal lights and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved auxiliary signal to indicate a U-turn which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved auxiliary signal to indicate a U-turn which is of durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved auxiliary signal to indicate a U-turn which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such an auxiliary signal to indicate a U-turn economically available to the buying public.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved auxiliary signal to indicate a U-turn for alerting a vehicle traveling behind one's own vehicle that a U-turn will be performed.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved auxiliary signal to indicate a U-turn including a housing securable to an interior of a motor vehicle. The housing is defined by a closed forward face and an open rearward face. The open rearward face has a plate disposed therein. The plate has an inverted translucent U in a central portion thereof. A light is secured within the housing intermediate the open rearward face and the closed forward face thereof. The light is in communication with a battery of the motor vehicle. A receiver is disposed within the housing. The receiver is in communication with the light. A timer is disposed within the housing. A transmitter is securable within the interior of the motor vehicle adjacent to a drivers seat thereof. The transmitter is in communication with the receiver.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by
Bandak Sam
Haddad Nabeel
Goldstein & Canino
Wu Daniel J.
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