Emergency indicator light for vehicle pennant

Abstract

A safety light for vehicles, particularly small recreational vehicles such as all terrain vehicles, which is one or more light strips entwining the whip which supports the vehicle's pennant or flag. This invention can normally show light in a color which matches the color of the recreational vehicle. When the vehicle operator applies the brakes, the light entwining the whip changes to red to warn that the vehicle is braking. When the vehicle is overturned, or at the operator's command in the event of another emergency, the lights entwining the whip can be made to oscillate rapidly back and forth between the red and the other color that is normally shown. In this way the vehicle displays a clear emergency signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a typical all terrain vehicle with a pennant on a whip and an entwined light strip thereon.

FIG. 2 shows only the pennant, whip, and light strip with its two leads exposed.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram which will enable the lighting and switching functions of the invention to operate.

Claims

1. An indicator light for a mast on a vehicle comprising: a light strip having at least one light and electronic leads, said light strip entwining said vehicle mast;a control means having an electronic circuit, said electronic circuit having inputs and outputs, said inputs receiving a signal from control mechanisms on said vehicle, said electronic leads cooperating with said inputs and said outputs to complete said electronic circuit, and said control means using said signal to operate said at least one light selectively.

2. The indicator light of claim 1 wherein said at least one light is a light emitting diode.

3. The indicator light of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuit receives power from said vehicle through one of said inputs and said electronic circuit has a transformer adapted to convert said power into a form usable by said electronic circuit.

4. The indicator light of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuit receives power from said vehicle through one of said inputs, said electronic circuit has a transformer adapted to convert said power into a form usable by said light strip, and said electronic circuit then provides said power to said light strip.

5. The indicator light of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuit has a relay by which it can alter the pathway of power fed to said at least one light in response to said signal.

6. The indicator light of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuit has a flasher by which it can cause said at least one light alternately to flash on and off.

7. The indicator light of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuit includes a power source.

8. The indicator light of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuit has at least one current diode adapted to prevent back feeding of current within said electronic circuit.

9. The indicator light of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuit includes at least one switch.

10. The indicator light of claim 9 wherein said at least one switch is a mercury switch adapted to activate a flasher by which it can cause said at least one light alternately to flash on and off.

11. The indicator light of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuit includes at least one fuse.

12. The indicator light of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuit receives power from said vehicle through one of said inputs, said electronic circuit has a transformer adapted to convert said power into a form usable by said electronic circuit and said light strip, and said electronic circuit then provides said power to said light strip, said at least one light is a light emitting diode, said electronic circuit has a relay by which it can alter the pathway of power fed to said at least one light in response to said signal, said electronic circuit has a flasher by which it can cause said at least one light alternately to flash on and off, said electronic circuit has at least one current diode adapted to prevent back feeding of current within said electronic circuit, said electronic circuit includes at least one mercury switch adapted to activate said flasher by which it can cause said at least one light alternately to flash on and off, and said electronic circuit includes at least one fuse.