Vehicle{40 s direction indicating lamp and brake lamp for combination use

Claim 2

A signalling system for a vehicle having signal lamps and respective means to produce a brake signal and a direction indicating signal, comprising lamp turn-on means having lines adapted to be connected to respective lamps for applying signals to the lines simultaneously, time constant means connectable to said turn-on means for constraining said turn-on means to apply the signals to the lines sequentially rather than simultaneously, first circuit means responsive to the indicating signal for connecting said time constant means to said turn-on means and causing said turn-on means to coact with said time constant means, second circuit means responsive to the brake signal for actuating said turn-on means and avoiding said time constant means, and third circuit means responsive to said direction indicating means for rendering said second circuit means ineffective when said brake signal and said direction indicating signal are applied simultaneously.

Claim 3

A signalling system for a vehicle having a plurality of signal lamps and respective means to produce a brake signal on one line and a direction indicating signal which is composed of a sequence of electrical voltages on another line, comprising: lamp turn-on means having terminals adapted to be connected to the lamps for producing simultaneous signals at said terminals when said turn-on means is actuated, first circuit means adapted to be connected to the line carrying the brake signal for actuating said turn-on means in response to a signal on the line, time constant means adapted to be operatively connected into said turn-on means so as to cause the signals at the terminals to occur sequentially instead of simultaneously, second circuit means adapted to be connected to the line carrying the direction indicating signal for actuating said turn-on means and for connecting said time constant means into said turn-on means, energy storage means adapted to be connected to the line carrying the direction indicating signAl for storing the intermittent electrical voltages during the intervals between the voltages while a direction indicating signal is applied on the line, and transistor means connected to said first circuit means and to said energy storage means and responsive to the voltage across said energy storage means for rendering said first circuit means ineffective.

Claim 4

A signalling system for a vehicle having a plurality of signal lamps and respective means to produce a brake signal on one line and a direction indicating signal which is composed of a sequence of electrical voltages on another line, comprising: lamp turn-on means having terminals adapted to be connected to the lamps for producing simultaneous signals at said terminals when said turn-on means is actuated, first circuit means adapted to be connected to the line carrying the brake signal for actuating said turn-on means in response to a signal on the line, time constant means adapted to be operatively connected into said turn-on means so as to cause the signals at the terminals to occur sequentially instead of simultaneously, second circuit means adapted to be connected to the line carrying the direction indicating signal for actuating said turn-on means and for connecting said time constant means into said turn-on means, energy storage means adapted to be connected to the line carrying the direction indicating signAl for storing the intermittent electrical voltages during the intervals between the voltages while a direction indicating signal is applied on the line, and transistor means connected to said first circuit means and to said energy storage means and responsive to the voltage across said energy storage means for rendering said first circuit means ineffective.

Claim 5

A system as in claim 2, wherein said energy storage means includes a capacitor and diode means for applying the voltage across said capacitor.

Claim 6

A system as in claim 2, wherein said transistor means includes a transistor having an emitter-collector path connected across said first circuit means so as to connect the output of said first circuit means to ground when the emitter-collector path is conductive, and having a base responsive to said energy storage means for rendering the emitter-collector path conductive.

Claim 7

A system as in claim 4, wherein said energy storage means includes a capacitor and diode means for storing voltages across that capacitor.

Claim 8

A system as in claim 2, wherein said transistor means includes a path of major current flow for connecting the said first circuit means to said turn-on means, said transistor means having a control electrode responsive to said energy storage means.

Claim 9

A system as in claim 6, wherein said energy storage means includes a capacitor and diode means for storing the voltages across that capacitor.

Claim 10

A system as in claim 2, wherein said transistor means includes a first transistor having a main path of current flow for shunting the signal of said first circuit means to ground, and having a control electrode responsive to said energy storage means; said transistor means having a second transistor for coupling the first circuit means to said turn-on means, said first transistor being connected to said second transistor to decouple the first circuit means from said turn-on means in response to the operation of said first transistor by said energy storage means.

Claim 11

A signalling system for a vehicle comprising a plurality of signal lamps, a brake signal line for carrying a brake signal, a direction indicating line for carrying a direction indicating signal, control means connected to each said lamps for energizing said lamps when actuated, time constant means connectable into said control means for constraining said control means to light said lamps sequentially when connected and for causing said control means to light said lamps simultaneously when disconnected, first circuit means connected to said direction indicating line and said control means for actuating said control means and for connecting said time constant means into said control means, second circuit means connected to the brake signal line for actuating said control means while deactivating said time constant means with respect to said control means, and third circuit means connected to said first circuit means and said brake signal line for decoupling said brake signal line from said control means in response to a signal on the direction indicating line.

Claim 12

A signalling system for a vehicle comprising a plurality of signal lamps, a brake signal line for carrying a brake signal, a direction indicating line for carrying a direction indicating signal, control means connected to each said lamps for energizing said lamps when actuated, time constant means connectable into said control means for constraining said control means to light said lamps sequentially when connected and for causing said control means to light said lamps simultaneously when disconnected, first circuit means connected to said direction indicating line and said control means for actuating said control means and for connecting said time constant means into said control means, second circuit means connected to the brake signal line for actuating said control means while deactivating said time constant means with respect to said control means, and third circuit means connected to said first circuit means and said brake signal line for decoupling said brake signal line from said control means in response to a signal on the direction indicating line.