Patent Application
20220305983
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The invention relates to vehicle turn indicators.
A U-turn in driving refers to performing a one-hundred-eighty-degree (180°) rotation to reverse the direction of travel. It is called a “U-turn” because the maneuver looks like the letter U. In some jurisdictions, the maneuver is illegal, while in others, it is treated as a more ordinary turn, merely extended. In still other areas, lanes are occasionally marked “U-turn permitted” or even “U-turn only.”
For example, Florida Statute § 316.075 expressly allows U-Turns, with some exceptions.
Despite being expressly allowed, U-turns frequently surprise drivers in trailing cars (i.e., “trailing drivers”). The trailing driver sees a preceding car's left turn indicator lamp and expects the leading car to make a left turn, not a U-turn. The trailing driver leaves enough space between his or her trailing car and the leading car for a left turn. However, when the leading car, in fact, makes a U-turn instead of the expected left turn, the distance between the cars may not be enough to prevent a collision.
Likewise, oncoming and laterally incoming (i.e., from left or right) vehicle drivers and pedestrians might expect a car in the left turn lane or with only its left turn indicator light flashing to make a left turn and not a U-turn. Other drivers and pedestrians misinterpreting a U-turn as merely a left turn can lead to collisions. The collisions might not be limited to the turning vehicle but could involve third-party vehicles.
To protect drivers and to help drivers indicate their intentions to surrounding drivers, states have enacted laws that set the requirements for headlamps, taillamps, stop lamps, and turn signals. For example, Chapter 316 of the 2020 Florida Statutes set the requirements in Florida.
Florida statutes do not mention an indicator for vehicles making U-turns.
An object of the invention is to provide a wireless vehicle U-turn indicator light for motor vehicles that overcomes the disadvantages of the devices of this general type and of the prior art.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a wireless U-turn indicator lamp. The wireless U-turn indicator lamp includes a switch, a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, a receiver switch, an indicator lamp. The switch is activated before making a U-turn to illuminate the indicator lamp. The wireless transmitter is connected to the switch. The wireless transmitter transmits a signal when the switch is activated. The wireless receiver receives the signal from the wireless transmitter. The receiver switch is connected to the wireless receiver. The receiver switch is activated when the wireless receiver receives the signal. The indicator lamp is connected to the receiver switch. The indicator lamp illuminates when the receiver switch is activated.
The invention can be incorporated in a version that is sold as an aftermarket addition. The aftermarket addition includes battery-powered, wireless, adherable components that and can be added without requiring professional installation. Each component (e.g., the switch unit, the transmitter unit, and indicator lamp unit) can be battery powered. The switch unit can include an adhesive backing for attaching the button to a surface such as the dashboard or steering wheel. The indicator lights include a magnet or adhesive to attach the light to a surface of the vehicle. In the aftermarket version, the switch of the switch unit can include two positions: a first position is for activating the indicator lamp unit and a second position is for deactivating the indicator lamp unit. The switch unit can include only a single button that when pressed causes the indicator lamp unit to illuminate for a set amount of time (e.g., thirty seconds) and then deactivate without requiring the switch unit to be moved to the second position.
The invention can be incorporated as a built-in feature of a vehicle. The switch unit would be built into the steering wheel assembly, for example, as a button on the steering wheel or as a button on a stalk extending from the steering column. Like a left or right turn indicator, the U-turn indicator can be manually activated. Then, the U-turn indicator can be switched off by turning the steering wheel to make the U-turn. A manual off switch can be included in case the automatic off switch does not deactivate the U-turn indicator after the U-turn has been made.
The cost and complexity of adding a device with wires is almost prohibitive. The submitted device is readily fixed for the vehicles.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a wireless U-turn indicator lamp, the invention should not be limited to the details shown in those embodiments because various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention while remaining within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention and additional objects and advantages of the invention is best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The transmitter unit 2 includes a microprocessor 20 and a wireless transmitter 21. The microprocessor 20 is connected to the switch 13. The microprocessor 20 sends a signal to the wireless transmitter 21 when the switch 13 is closed. The wireless transmitter 21 transmits a radio-frequency signal according to a protocol when the wireless transmitter 21 receives the signal from the microprocessor 20. The protocol sold under the trademark BLUETOOTH® is a preferred embodiment of the protocol.
The indicator lamp unit 3 includes a cylindrical case 30, a wireless receiver 32, a microprocessor 33, an indicator lamp 31, a battery 34, and adhesive which is no shown. The cylindrical case 30 has a base 301, a face 302, and a wall 303. The wireless receiver 32 is disposed in the cylindrical case 30 and is configured to send a signal to the microprocessor 33 after receiving the radio-frequency signal from the wireless transmitter 21. The microprocessor 33 switches the indicator lamp 31 on after receiving the signal from the wireless receiver 32. The battery 34 is disposed in the cylindrical case 30 and provides electricity to the indicator lamp 31. The indicator lamp 31 is disposed in the face 302 of the cylindrical case 30 and has an upside-down U-shaped lens 310. The adhesive is disposed on the base 301 of the cylindrical case 30. The adhesive can adhere the cylindrical case 30 to a surface of the automobile 4, for example, on the front bumper 41, the rear driver side quarter panel 42, the front passenger side quarter panel 43, and the front driver side quarter panel 44.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/164,668, filed Mar. 23, 2021, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/164,745, filed Mach 23, 2021, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63164668 | Mar 2021 | US | |
| 63164745 | Mar 2021 | US |
