Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators – External signal light system
Patent
1989-05-26
1990-11-20
Orsino, Joseph A.
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
External signal light system
340468, 362 61, B60Q 126
Patent
active
049721739
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Safety is one of the basic features for a motor vehicle and light represents the most elementary but essential means for improving it especially where daylight is lacking.
It is necessary to see well and be seen for safe driving but also to make the act of driving more relaxing.
Light-emitting or reflecting devices exist on motor vehicles to indicate the bulk and presence of certain projecting structures. The accessories included in this category are those placed on the back edge of the door to enable drivers arriving from behind to see the open door, an example being the red light that comes on automatically when the door is opened or merely a reflector that returns the light to its source when struck by the lights of a vehicle coming up behind.
The reference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 3,452,190 discloses a visual device for the doors of motor vehicles comprising a lamp that lights up a coloured disc placed on the side face of the device.
The lamp sends its light down through a lower aperture in a kind of box to be mounted on the door of the vehicle.
On opening the door the coloured disc warns approaching vehicles of the open door of the stationary vehicle, while the downward directed white light illuminates the piece of ground between the vehicle and its door facilitating entry and exit into and from the vehicle by users.
The reference patent FR -1 412 309 also discloses a visual device the effects of which are practically same as those of the first described patent.
By means of a red diffuser, the light from a lamp shines both perpendicularly to the door, and at an angle to said door on the horizontal plane.
Light from the lamp is directed onto the ground through a lower aperture in an opaque cover over the lamp.
The advantage of this device is that it warns approaching vehicles that the door of the stationary vehicle is open and also indicates it position.
Further, the space between door and vehicle is illuminated. Visibility of the warning red light is however limited, it being directed only onto planes that are substantially horizontal, while effectiveness of the white light shining to facilitate movement in and out of the vehicle is greatly limited being directed exclusively to an area right close to the door.
On the other hand, any widening of the aperture through which the light reaches the ground might create beams that are too bright and might even endanger approaching vehicles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention described in the present patent application gives a more powerful warning of the open door and of its position as well as giving good illumination both of the area of ground between door and vehicle and also of the space created by the opening of the door, but without causing any annoyance to approaching vehicles as will here be described.
The visual device, subject of the present patent application comprises a warning light diffuser whose light is coloured, having a flat face inclined at about 30.degree. in relation to the plane of the side of the door towards the front of the vehicle, and an illumination diffuser with a flat face inclined at about 30.degree. in relation to the plane of the side of the door towards the rear of the vehicle.
In the case of the illuminating diffuser one face is directed towards the front of the vehicle and the other towards the ground, light being emitted both downwards and towards the front of the vehicle, as well as towards the space left free by the door being open. Preferably the warning light is red and the illuminating light is white.
Said optical device comprises a tubular lamp placed at 90.degree. in relation to the common geometrical axis of the two diffusers and at the center of said axis, or else comprises one lamp for the warning diffuser and one for the illuminating diffuser with joint or separate lighting controls.
Preferably said optical device lights up automatically when the door is opened. In one type of execution the warning diffuser consists of a reflector.
There may also be more than two diffu
REFERENCES:
patent: 1416467 (1922-05-01), Hobbs
patent: 2901593 (1959-08-01), McNally
patent: 2918565 (1959-12-01), Vermette
patent: 3452190 (1969-06-01), Senseman
Orsino Joseph A.
Striker Michael J.
Tumm Brian R.
LandOfFree
Optical device on the doors of motor vehicles to show they are o does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Optical device on the doors of motor vehicles to show they are o, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optical device on the doors of motor vehicles to show they are o will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-456243