Visual signal system for automotive vehicles

Claim 1

A VISUAL SIGNALING SYSTEM ADAPTED FOR USE ON AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES COMPRISING A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY; A SIGNAL LIGHT ENERGIZABLE BY SAID SOURCE; CIRCUIT MEANS, INCLUDING AN ACTUATING SWITCH, SELECTIVELY CONNECTING SAID SOURCE TO SAID SIGNAL LIGHT TO ENERGIZE THE SAME; A TELESCOPIC SUPPORT CYLINDER HAVING AN OUTER END AND BEING ADAPTED TO BE MOVED BY PRESSURE FLUID TO AN EXTENDED SIGNALING POSITION AND BIASED TOWARD A RETRACTED STOWING POSITION; MEANS CONNECTING SAID SIGNAL LIGHT TO THE CYLINDER AT SAID OUTER END; A MOUNTING BASE SECURED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SAID TELESCOPIC CYLINDER; A SOURCE OF PRESSURE FLUID; CONDUIT MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID PRESSURE FLUID SOURCE AND SAID CYLINDER, INCLUDING VALVE MEANS TO CONTROL SELECTIVE EXTENSION OF THE CYLINDER; AN INDICATOR LAMP CARRIED BY THE VEHICLE; CIRCUIT MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID INDICATOR LAMP WITH SAID SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY, INCLUDING DETECTING SWITCH MEANS CARRIED BY THE VEHICLE AND ADAPTED TO BE MOVED BETWEEN OPERATIVE AND INOPERATIVE POSITIONS; AND DETECTING SWITCH CONTROL MEANS CARRIED BY SAID TELESCOPIC CYLINDER AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND MOVE SAID DETECTING SWITCH MEANS TO AN INOPERATIVE POSITION UPON MOVEMENT OF THE CYLINDER TO A RETRACTED STOWING POSITION.