Abstract
A U-turn indication system having a signal light retained in a housing integrally formed within a motor vehicle having a plurality of arrows positioned in a radiused orientation to alert surrounding drivers or pedestrians of a U-Turn procedure with a series of lights. This U-turn indication system is mechanically actuated by a switch located inside the interior of the motor vehicle while the signal indicator is located on at least one exterior surface of the motor vehicle. The U-turn indicator having light emitting units is positioned within a light housing of the motor vehicle and is configured to be visually located by pedestrians, drivers of oncoming vehicles, and/or drivers of approaching vehicles.
Claims
1. A U-turn indication system, comprising: a motor vehicle, said motor vehicle having a U-shaped housing connected to an outer surface of said motor vehicle, said U-shaped housing having an inner radiused portion and an outer radiused portion, said U-shaped housing retaining a U-turn signal indicator, said U-turn signal indicator is formed from at least one light emitting diode, said housing having a transparent lens overlaying said U-turn signal indicator; and, a switch, said switch is connected to an interior surface of said motor vehicle, said switch is electrically connected to a central processing unit, said central processing unit is electrically connected to said U-turn signal indicator, said central processing unit is electrically connected to a power source.
2. The U-turn indication system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of arrow shaped light emitting diodes in a radiused and/or substantially U-shaped orientation.
3. The U-turn indication system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes in a radiused and/or substantially U-shaped orientation.
4. The U-turn indication system of claim 1, further comprising a chase lighting system.
5. The U-turn indication system of claim 1, further comprising a light emitting unit being retained within said inner radiused portion of said U-shaped housing.
6. The U-turn indication system of claim 1, further comprising said switch is electrically connected to a dashboard indicator.
7. The U-turn indication system of claim 1, further comprising said central processing unit is electrically connected to a transmitter.
8. The U-turn indication system of claim 7, further comprising said transmitter is in wireless communication with a receiver, said receiver is electrically connected to a remote U-turn signal indicator, said remote U-turn signal indicator being a traffic light, said traffic light having a U-turn symbol, said U-turn symbol is configured to be activated to illuminate when said switch of said motor vehicle is oriented in an “on” position to transmit a signal to said transmitter, whereby, said transmitter sends said signal to said traffic light to illuminate said U-turn symbol.
9. The U-turn indication system of claim 7, further comprising said transmitter is in wireless communication with a receiver, said receiver is electrically connected to a remote U-turn signal indicator, said remote U-turn signal indicator being a pedestrian signal, said pedestrian signal having a U-turn symbol, said U-turn symbol is configured to be activated to illuminate when said switch of said motor vehicle is oriented in an “on” position to transmit a signal to said transmitter, whereby, said transmitter sends said signal to said pedestrian signal to illuminate said U-turn symbol.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the novel U-turn signal indicator of a motor vehicle retained in a housing having a transparent lens;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the novel U-turn signal indicator retained in a housing having a transparent lens;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the novel U-turn signal indicator of a first and a second motor vehicle in wireless communication with a remote U-turn signal indicator being a hanging traffic light;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an instrument panel of a motor vehicle having a U-turn indicator;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mechanical actuating switch of a motor vehicle rotated between an on position and an off position; and,
[0015] FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the electrical components of the novel U-turn indicator system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates motor vehicle 1 having left-side housing 2A and right-side U-housing 2B connected to an outer surface of said motor vehicle. An outer surface of motor vehicle 1 includes, but is not limited to the body, mirrors, windows, a side headlight, a side view mirror, a tail light, a turn-signal light, a housing retained on a bumper 7 (FIG. 1), a housing connected to a window and/or a windshield. Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, left-side housing 2A and right-side housing 2B (FIG. 1) retain U-shaped housing 14. U-shaped housing 14 has inner radiused portion 6 and outer radiused portion 42. Housing 2A (FIGS. 1-3, and 6) and housing 2B (FIG. 1) retain U-turn signal indicator 43. FIGS. 1, 2, and 6 depict U-turn signal indicator 43 formed from at least one light emitting diode. Left-side housing 2A and right-side housing 2B have transparent lens 20 overlaying U-turn signal indicator 43. U-turn signal indicator 43 can have plurality of arrow shaped 3A-3E (FIG. 2) and 3A-3I (FIG. 6) light emitting diodes in a radiused and/or substantially U-shaped orientation. In a preferred embodiment, plurality of arrow shaped 3A-3E (FIG. 2) light emitting diodes may be either illuminated 4 (FIG. 3) in a solid frequency where the lights are “on” constantly when the switch is actuated or the light emitting diodes can have a chase lighting system. A chase lighting system is an electrical application in which strings of adjacent light emitting units such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) that cycle on and off frequently to give the effect that the lights moving along the string in a counterclockwise (FIGS. 1 and 2) or clockwise orientation (FIG. 1). Light emitting unit 5 is retained within inner radiused portion 6 of U-shaped housing 14.
[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates first motor vehicle 1A and second motor vehicle 1B. Motor vehicle 1B is positioned on a road next to median 9 and is in position to make a U-turn 8. When a switch of the motor vehicle 1B is actuated to an “on” position, the U-turn signal indicator 43 of motor vehicle 1B simultaneously illuminates 4 while transmitter 18 of motor vehicle 1B wirelessly communicates 24 to a remote U-turn signal indicator being traffic light 25. In particular, transmitter 18 is in wireless communication 24 with receiver 26. Receiver 26 is electrically connected to a remote U-turn signal indicator being traffic light 25. Traffic light 25 has U-turn symbol 29, red light 39, yellow light 40, and green light 41. U-turn symbol 29 of traffic light 25 is configured to be activated to illuminate when a switch of motor vehicle 1B is oriented in an “on” position to transmit a signal to transmitter 18. Then, transmitter 18 sends the signal to remote traffic light 25 to illuminate U-turn symbol 29. Motor vehicle 1A has U-turn signal indicator 43 having U-shaped housing 14 positioned on the front of motor vehicle 1A. Transparent lens 20 overlays U-turn signal indicator 43. Light emitting unit 5 is retained within inner radiused portion 6 of U-shaped housing 14.
[0018] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an interior U-turn indicator 10 connected to dashboard 11 of motor vehicle 1. Interior U-turn indicator 10 allows for a user including the driver of motor vehicle 1 to visually identify, by means of illumination, that switch 12 (FIG. 5) has been actuated to turn the signal “on”. Referring now to FIG. 5, switch 12 can be conveniently positioned within the interior 35 of motor vehicle 1 next to steering wheel 13. Switch 12 may be integrally formed within lever 37. When lever 37 is oriented in an “off” position 21. Switch 12 may be oriented in an “off” position 21 when switch 12 is twisted in a first direction 33 and switch 12 may be activated 38 when oriented in an “on” position 36 when switch 12 is twisted in a second direction 34. Dashboard 11 may have a first instrument panel indicator 15 and a second instrument panel indicator 19 configured to indicate data including, but not limited to, a speedometer, a tachometer, an odometer, an engine coolant temperature gauge, a fuel gauge, turn indicators, a gearshift position indicator, and/or a seat belt warning light.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 6, motor vehicle 1 is electrically connected 22 to circuitry 16. An electrical connection 22 may be wired and/or wireless. Switch 12 is electrically connected 22 to a dashboard indicator 19. In a preferred embodiment, plurality of arrow shaped 3A-3I light emitting diodes may be either illuminated 4 in a solid frequency 3A (FIG. 6) where the lights are “on” constantly when switch 12 is actuated or the light emitting diodes can have a chase lighting system 3B-3I (FIG. 6). A chase lighting system is an electrical application in which strings of adjacent light emitting units such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) that cycle on and off frequently to give the effect that the lights moving along the string in a counterclockwise or clockwise orientation. It is within the scope of this invention for light emitting units to be oriented in a radiused and/or substantially U-shaped orientation without having an arrow shape, such as a round shape 32A-32G or the shape of a logo (not shown). Switch 12 is electrically connected to central processing unit (CPU) 23. It is within the scope of this invention for CPU 23 to be electronic circuitry within a computer that functions to execute instructions of a computer program by performing the basic arithmetic, logical, control, and input/output operations specified by the instructions. The CPU 23 may be retained on an integrated circuit chip such as a microprocessor. CPU 23 may be contained on a single metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) integrated circuit (IC) chip. The central processing unit 23 is electrically connected 22 to U-turn signal indicator 43. Central processing unit 23 is electrically connected to power source 17. It is within the scope of this invention for power source 17 to be a battery (not shown).
[0020] Referring again to FIG. 6, central processing unit 23 is electrically connected 22 to transmitter 18. Transmitter 18 is an electronic device configured to produce radio waves with an antenna. The transmitter 18 generates a radio frequency alternating current that is applied to the antenna. When antenna radiates radio waves when excited by the alternating current. Transmitter 18 gathers and decodes information such as when switch 12 has been actuated in an “on” position. Transmitter 18 is in wireless communication 24 with a receiver. A receiver displays the information from the transmitter in an audible and/or visual form that an individual can wither view or listen to. In a first embodiment, receiver 27 is electrically connected to a remote U-turn signal indicator. The remote U-turn signal indicator is any U-turn signal indicator that is not connected to motor vehicle 1, such as traffic light 25. Traffic light 25 has a U-turn symbol 29, red light 39, yellow light 40, and green light 41. U-turn symbol 29 is configured to be activated to illuminate simultaneously with U-turn signal indicator 43 of motor vehicle 1 when switch 12 of motor vehicle 1 is oriented in an “on” position to transmit a signal to transmitter 18. Transmitter 18 sends a signal to traffic light 25 to illuminate U-turn symbol 29 a color.
[0021] In another embodiment, FIG. 6 shows transmitter 18 is in wireless communication 25 with receiver 27. Receiver 27 is electrically connected to a remote U-turn signal indicator. In this embodiment, the remote U-turn signal indicator is pedestrian crosswalk signal 28. Pedestrian crosswalk signal 28 has U-turn symbol 29, hand symbol 30, and person symbol 31. U-turn symbol 29 is configured to be activated to illuminate simultaneously with U-turn signal indicator 43 of motor vehicle 1 when switch 12 of motor vehicle 1 is oriented in an “on” position to transmit a signal to transmitter 18. When transmitter 18 sends a signal to pedestrian crosswalk signal 28, U-turn symbol 29 illuminates a color.
[0022] In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and within which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0023] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
[0024] It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
