Abstract
The present disclosure pertains to a light system for mounting to an automobile that alerts surrounding vehicles to emergency conditions on the automobile without the necessity of establishing electrical communication with the control system of the automobile. The light system utilizes a movable contactor that serves to activate and deactivate the light when the light system is tilted.
Claims
1. A method for signaling to a second vehicle that a first vehicle is decelerating, said method comprising; providing an auxiliary light comprises a light housing, a momentum activated switch, and a light; wherein said momentum activated switch further comprises of a switch housing, a momentary switch, and a roller unit; wherein the auxiliary light is illuminated and de-luminated by the momentum activated switch housing being oriented at various angles so that the roller unit contacts and separates from the momentary switch; wherein the auxiliary light is attached to the rear of the first vehicle at a first angular position wherein said first angular position orients the roller unit and the momentary switch such that the light is de-luminated; wherein when first vehicle decelerates the auxiliary light is oriented in a second angular position that orients the roller unit and the momentary switch such that the light is illuminated.
2. The method for signaling to a second vehicle that a first vehicle is decelerating of claim 1 wherein the momentum activated switch housing further comprises a rectangular shape with two opposing sides of the rectangular shape having parallel slots and the roller unit comprising is a roller ball transfer bearing with a sphere in the center of the roller unit and a ring around the sphere that fits in the parallel slots.
3. A method for signaling to a second vehicle that a load on a first vehicle is off balance, said method comprising; providing an auxiliary light comprises a light housing, a momentum activated switch, and a light; wherein said momentum activated switch further comprises of a vee shaped switch housing with a low center point in the center and two ends of the housing above the center point creating upward angles, a momentary switch located at each of the two ends of the housing, and a roller unit; wherein the auxiliary light is illuminated and de-luminated by the switch housing being oriented at various angles so that the roller unit contacts and separates from the momentary switches; wherein the auxiliary light is attached to the load located on the first vehicle at a first angular position where the load is balanced, wherein said first angular position orients the roller unit and the momentary switch such that the light is de-luminated; wherein when the load located on the first vehicle is off balance the auxiliary light is oriented in a second angular position that orients the roller unit and the momentary switch such that the light is illuminated.
4. The method for signaling to a second vehicle that a load on a first vehicle is off balance of claim 3 wherein the momentum activated switch housing further comprises a rectangular shape with two opposing sides of the rectangular shape having parallel slots and the roller unit comprising is a roller ball transfer bearing with a sphere in the center of the roller unit and a ring around the sphere that fits in the parallel slots.
5. An auxiliary light comprising a light housing, a momentum activated switch, a power supply, wiring, and a light; wherein said momentum activated switch further comprises of a switch housing, at least one momentary switch, and a roller unit; wherein said momentum activated switch housing comprises a hollow rectangle with two parallel long sides and two parallel short sides; wherein the roller unit is located inside the hollow rectangle and the at least one momentary switch is affixed to one of the two parallel short sides; wherein the auxiliary light is illuminated and de-luminated by the switch housing being oriented at various angles so that the rover unit contacts and separates from the momentary switches.
6. The auxiliary light of claim 5 wherein the two parallel long sides of the momentum activated switch housing further comprise parallel slots and the roller unit further comprises a roller ball transfer bearing with a sphere in the center of the rover unit and a ring around the sphere that fits in the parallel slots.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a wiring diagram depicting the light system of the current invention with the contact switch closed;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram depicting the light system of the current invention with the contact switch open;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the contactor switch of the present invention with the roller unit engaged with the push button switch with the top of the switch removed;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the contactor switch of the present invention the roller unit disengaged with the push button switch with the top of the switch removed;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the contactor switch of the present invention with the top of the switch removed;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the contactor switch of the present invention with the one side of the switch removed;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the light system of the current invention the top of the circuit housing removed;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a diagram depicting the brake light system of the current invention installed on an automobile where the automobile is braking, and illuminating the light switch;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a diagram depicting the brake light system of the current invention installed on an automobile where the automobile is accelerating, and the light switch is deactivated;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a diagram depicting the off-balance load light system of the current invention installed on a trailer where the load has become off-balanced, and illuminating the light switch;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a diagram depicting the off-balance load light system of the current invention installed on a trailer where the load is balanced, and the light switch is deactivated;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] As depicted in FIGS. 1 & 2, the primary components of the auxiliary light system of the current invention comprises a circuit housing 1, a momentum activated switch 2, a power supply 3, a light 4, and wiring 5. The system is wired such that the power supply 3 supplies power to activate the light 4 through the wiring 5. The momentum activated switch 2 is installed in the circuit, and when the momentum switch 2 is activated, the light 4 will illuminate, and when the momentum switch 2 is deactivated, the light 4 will de-luminate.
[0025] The power supply 3 should be selected such that the output from the power supply 3 is aligned with the required input power for the light 4. In the preferred embodiment the light 4 is an LED light, which requires a smaller power supply 3, keeping the weight and cost of the auxiliary light system lower.
[0026] As depicted in FIGS. 3, 4, & 5, the momentum activated switch 2 is comprised of a switch housing 6, a push button switch 7, a roller unit 8, and wiring connections 9. The push button switch 7 is a momentary or non-latching switch which causes a temporary change in the state of an electrical circuit only while the switch 7 is physically actuated. An automatic mechanism (I.e. a spring) returns the switch to its default position immediately afterwards, restoring the initial circuit condition. In the preferred embodiment the push button switch 7 is push-to-make switch, also known as a Normally Open (NO) Switch, which allows electricity to flow between its two contacts when the button is depressed, and the light 4 illuminates. When the button is released, the circuit is broken and the light 4 de-luminates.
[0027] In a first embodiment, depicted in FIGS. 3 & 4, an auxiliary light system which would be used for signaling a braking situation, the switch housing 6 is a hollow rectangle and has a pair of slots 10 in two long sides of the switch housing 6. In this embodiment the roller unit 8 is a roller ball transfer bearing 11 with a sphere 12 in the center of the unit and a ring 13 around the sphere. The ring 13 fits in the pair of slots 10 in two long sides of the switch housing 6 and guides the roller ball transfer bearing 11 while the sphere 12 is free to rotate, allowing the roller ball transfer bearing 11 to move back and forth through the inside of the switch housing 6. The push button switch 7 is located at one end of the switch housing 6, and oriented such that the button 14 is on the inside of the switch housing 6.
[0028] When the switch housing 6 is tilted so that the end of the switch housing 6 with the push button switch 7 is below the end of the switch housing 6 without the switch, the roller ball transfer bearing 11 will roll toward the push button 14, and engage and depress the push button 14, completing the circuit. When the switch housing 6 is tilted so that the end of the switch housing 6 with the push button switch 7 is above the end on the housing without the switch, the roller ball transfer bearing 11 will roll away from the push button 14, and disengage the push button switch 7, breaking the circuit.
[0029] While a Normally Open (NO) push button switch 7 is the preferred embodiment of the present invention due to the cost and simplicity, there are a number of switches which could provide the same function, which would be obvious to those skilled in the art, including but not limited to capacitive switches and proximity switches.
[0030] In a second embodiment, depicted in FIG. 5, an auxiliary light which would be used for signaling a braking situation, the switch housing 15 is rectangular. in this embodiment the roller unit is a sphere 16. The diameter of the sphere 16 is approximately the same distance as the distance between two long sides of the switch housing 15, allowing the sphere 16 to move back and forth through the inside of the rectangular switch housing 15 without the need for any guides. The push button switch 7 is located at one end of the rectangular switch housing 15 and oriented such that the button 14 is on the inside of the housing.
[0031] In a third embodiment, depicted in FIGS. 6, an auxiliary light which would be used for signaling an off-balanced load situation, the switch housing 17 is could have slots 10 and a roller bearing 8, like in the first embodiment, or no slots and a sphere 16 in the second embodiment, in this embodiment the housing 17 is a slight vee shape with the low point in the center, and either end of the housing slightly above the center point, creating slight upward angles of 3 to 10 degrees. Push button switches 7 are located at either end of the rectangular switch housing 17 and oriented such that the button 14 is on the inside of the housing 17. When the rectangular switch housing 17 is tilted either direction, in excess of the slight upward angles of 3 to 10 degrees, indicating a off-balance load, the roller unit 8 will roll toward the push button 14, and engage and depress the push button 14, completing the circuit.
[0032] As depicted in FIGS. 8 & 9, to use the auxiliary light of the current invention as a temporary brake light 18 on a vehicle 19 the light is configured such that the push button switch 7 is on the back side of the housing 6 and the light 4 is located on the front side of the housing. The temporary brake light 18 should be installed on the rear of the vehicle 19 nearly level with the ground, but at a very slight downward angle, 1 to 5 degrees, with the temporary brake light 18 sloped towards the ground. The slight downward angle prevents the roger unit 8 from activating the push button switch 7 when the vehicle 19 is not decelerating. When a vehicle 19 decelerates, the switch housing 6 will also decelerate with the vehicle 19, however, the roller unit 7 will continue its forward momentum, engaging with the push button 14. Additionally, the vehicle 19 will also make a slight nose dive, angling temporary brake light 18 downward, towards the push button switch 7, further propelling the roller unit 8 towards the push button 14.
[0033] As depicted in FIG. 9, when a vehicle 19 accelerates, the switch housing 6 will also accelerate with the vehicle 19, however, the roller unit 8 will not have the same momentum as the housing 6, ensuring the roller unit 8 does not engage with the push button 14. Additionally, the vehicle 19 will also make a slight nose up, angling the switch housing 6 upward, away from the push button switch 7, further propelling the roller unit 8 away from the push button 14.
[0034] As depicted in FIGS. 10 & 11, to use the auxiliary light or the current invention as an off-balance load indicator 20 the light is installed on vehicle load 21, level with the ground. If the load 21 of the vehicle 19 is to become unstable, the load 21 will tip to one side, causing the off-balance load indicator 20 to tip with the load 21 as well. If the load 21 tips to the point where it overcomes the upward angles of 5 to 25 degrees, the roller unit 8 will move to one side of the housing 6, engaging the push button switch 7.
[0035] It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the claims.
