Automobile deceleration indicating device

Claim 2

In a powered vehicle having an engine, vehicle brakes, a brake light, a brake light switch to activate the brake light, a backup light and a backup light switch to activate the backup light with the vehicle in a rearward travel condition, circuit means to operate said backup light with the vehicle in a forward travel condition in a manner to indicate to a following motorist a lower power condition of said engine causing a probable decelerating condition of said vehicle, said circuit means comprising: a. a first normally closed relay switch means having a deenergized closed position to activate said backup light and an energized open position not causing activation of said backup light, b. second switch means connected to said relay switch means and having a first closed position to energize said relay switch means and a second open position to de-energize said relay switch means, said second switch means being responsive to a condition of said engine so as to move to its first position with said engine being at a higher power condition so that said backup light is not activated, and to its second position with said engine at a lower power condition so that said backup light is activated, and c. said relay switch means being also connected to said brake switch so that closing of said brake switch causes said relay switch means to be energized to its open position so that said backup light is not activated.

Claim 3

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein there is flasher means connected to said first relay switch means and said backup light so that power is deliveRed intermittently to cause said backup light to turn on intermittently when said first relay switch means is in its closed position.

Claim 4

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein there is a driver indicator means connected to said relay switch means, and diode means between said backup switch and said indicator means, whereby closure of said backup switch does not result in a connection back to said first switch means.

Claim 5

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein there is diode means between said brake switch and said second switch means, and there is other diode means between said backup switch and said first switch means, whereby closure of said second switch means does not cause activation of said brake light, and closure of said backup switch does not cause a direct connection back to said first switch means.

Claim 6

In a powered vehicle having an engine, vehicle brakes, a brake light, a brake light switch to activate the brake light, a backup light and a backup light switch to activate the backup light with the vehicle in a rearward travel condition, apparatus to operate said backup light with the vehicle in a forward travel condition in a manner to indicate to a following motorist a lower power condition of said engine causing a probable decelerating condition of said vehicle and also to indicate a power cruising condition of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a. a first switch means having a closed position to activate said backup light and an open position not causing activation of said backup light, b. second switch means having a first and second position and being responsive to a condition of said engine so as to move to its first position with said engine being at a higher power condition, and to its second position with said engine at a lower power condition, c. circuit means connecting both said second switch means and said brake light switch to said first switch means with the result that either closing of said brake light switch or movement of said second switch means to its first position causes said first switch means to open to deactivate said backup light, d. a cruise indicator to indicate that the vehicle is traveling under higher power, e. a third switch means having a closed position to activate said cruise indicator, and f. other circuit means connecting said third switch means to said brake light switch, to said backup switch, and to said first switch means, to cause said third switch means to open upon closure of one of said brake light switch, said backup switch or said first switch means, to deactivate said cruise indicator, whereby when said vehicle is being braked, is in a rearward travel condition or is in a lower power condition, said cruise indicator is deactivated.

Claim 7

In a powered vehicle having an engine, vehicle brakes, a brake light, a brake light switch to activate the brake light, a backup light and a backup light switch to activate the backup light with the vehicle in a rearward travel condition, apparatus to operate said backup light with the vehicle in a forward travel condition in a manner to indicate to a following motorist a lower power condition of said engine causing a probable decelerating condition of said vehicle and also to indicate a power cruising condition of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a. a first switch means having a closed position to activate said backup light and an open position not causing activation of said backup light, b. second switch means having a first and second position and being responsive to a condition of said engine so as to move to its first position with said engine being at a higher power condition, and to its second position with said engine at a lower power condition, c. circuit means connecting both said second switch means and said brake light switch to said first switch means with the result that either closing of said brake light switch or movement of said second switch means to its first position causes said first switch means to open to deactivate said backup light, d. a cruise indicator to indicate that the vehicle is traveling under higher power, e. a third switch means having a closed position to activate said cruise indicator, and f. other circuit means connecting said third switch means to said brake light switch, to said backup switch, and to said first switch means, to cause said third switch means to open upon closure of one of said brake light switch, said backup switch or said first switch means, to deactivate said cruise indicator, whereby when said vehicle is being braked, is in a rearward travel condition or is in a lower power condition, said cruise indicator is deactivated.

Claim 8

The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein there is diode means between said third switch means and said brake light switch, said backup switch and said first switch means, whereby closure of one of said brake light switch, said backup switch or said first switch means, does not cause undesired activation of said backup light or said brake light.

Claim 9

In a powered vehicle having an engine, vehicle brakes, a brake light, a brake light switch to activate the brake light upon operation of the vehicle brakes, and a caution light to indicate to a following motorist a lower power condition of said engine causing a probable decelerating condition of the vehicle, an apparatus to operate said caution light and to indicate a power cruising condition of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a. a first switch means having a closed position to activate said caution light and an open position to deactivate said caution light, b. second switch means having a first and a second position and being responsive to said engine operation so as to move to a first position upon said engine being in a lower power condition and to a second position upon said engine being in a higher power condition, c. circuit means connecting Both said second switch means and said brake light switch to said first switch means, with the result that closing of said brake light switch or movement of said second switch means to its second position causes said first switch means to open to deactivate said caution light, d. a cruise indicator to indicate that said vehicle is traveling under a higher power condition, e. a third switch means having a closed position to activate said cruise indicator, and f. other circuit means connecting said third switch means to said first switch means and said brake light switch, to cause said third switch means to open upon closure of either said brake light switch or said first switch means to deactivate said cruiser indicator, whereby when said vehicle is being braked or is at a lower power condition, said cruise indicator is deactivated.

Claim 10

In a powered vehicle having an engine, vehicle brakes, a brake light, a brake light switch to activate the brake light upon operation of the vehicle brakes, and a caution light to indicate to a following motorist a lower power condition of said engine causing a probable decelerating condition of the vehicle, an apparatus to operate said caution light and to indicate a power cruising condition of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a. a first switch means having a closed position to activate said caution light and an open position to deactivate said caution light, b. second switch means having a first and a second position and being responsive to said engine operation so as to move to a first position upon said engine being in a lower power condition and to a second position upon said engine being in a higher power condition, c. circuit means connecting Both said second switch means and said brake light switch to said first switch means, with the result that closing of said brake light switch or movement of said second switch means to its second position causes said first switch means to open to deactivate said caution light, d. a cruise indicator to indicate that said vehicle is traveling under a higher power condition, e. a third switch means having a closed position to activate said cruise indicator, and f. other circuit means connecting said third switch means to said first switch means and said brake light switch, to cause said third switch means to open upon closure of either said brake light switch or said first switch means to deactivate said cruiser indicator, whereby when said vehicle is being braked or is at a lower power condition, said cruise indicator is deactivated.

Claim 11

The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein there is diode means between said third switch means and said brake light switch and said first switch means, whereby closure of said first switch means does not cause activation of said brake light.

Claim 12

In a powered vehicle having an engine, a carburetor, and a carburetor control mechanism comprising a throttle arm means and a throttle stop means to engage the throttle arm means at its idle position, and having an automatic caution signal system to indicate to a following motorist a condition of low power input or deceleration of said vehicle, said system comprising a caution indicator mounted to said vehicle in a manner to transmit a caution signal to a following motorist, with means to activate said caution indicator, the improvement comprising: a. switch means having a direct operative connection to said carburetor control mechanism characterized in that movement of the throttle arm means to engage the throttle stop means at an idle position moves the switch means to an activating position to activate said caution indicator, and movement of said throttle arm means to be disengaged from the throttle stop means moves said switch means to its inactive position to inactivate said caution indicator, whereby when said carburetor is at an idling condition, a caution signal is transmitted, b. said carburetor having a first choke throttle stop and a second throttle stop, and said switch means having a direct operative connection to both of said first and second said throttle stops, whereby operative engagement of the throttle arm means with either the first or second throttle stop moves said switch means to its activating position, and c. said switch means comprising a first switch arranged to operatively engage said first throttle stop and a second switch arranged to operatively engage said second throttle stop, said first and second switches being operatively connected to said activating means so that activation of either of said first or second switches activates said caution indicator.

Claim 13

In a powered vehicle having an engine, a carburetor, and a carburetor control mechanism comprising a throttle arm means and a throttle stop means to engage the throttle arm means at its idle position, and having an automatic caution signal system to indicate to a following motorist a condition of low power input or deceleration of said vehicle, said system comprising a caution indicator mounted to said vehicle in a manner to transmit a caution signal to a following motorist, with means to activate said caution indicator, the improvement comprising: a. switch means having a direct operative connection to said carburetor control mechanism characterized in that movement of the throttle arm means to engage the throttle stop means at an idle position moves the switch means to an activating position to activate said caution indicator, and movement of said throttle arm means to be disengaged from the throttle stop means moves said switch means to its inactive position to inactivate said caution indicator, whereby when said carburetor is at an idling condition, a caution signal is transmitted, b. said carburetor having a first choke throttle stop and a second throttle stop, and said switch means having a direct operative connection to both of said first and second said throttle stops, whereby operative engagement of the throttle arm means with either the first or second throttle stop moves said switch means to its activating position, and c. said switch means comprising a first switch arranged to operatively engage said first throttle stop and a second switch arranged to operatively engage said second throttle stop, said first and second switches being operatively connected to said activating means so that activation of either of said first or second switches activates said caution indicator.

Claim 14

The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein there is a throttle control adjustment device for each of said first and second throttle stops, whereby said caution indicator is activated at the idle position of the carburetor, regardless of which throttle stop is functioning to set the idle position of the carburetor at any particular time.

Claim 15

The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein there is for each of the first and second throttle stops a respective first and second idler adjustment screw, and said first and second switches are operatively connected to respective first and second idler adjustment screws.

Claim 16

The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein each of said idler adjustment screws has a respective plunger means having a retracted and an extended position, and each of said plunger means is moved to its extended position by engagement of the idler adjustment screw upon movement of the throttle arm means to its idle position, with the plunger means then operatively engaging its respective switch to move it to its activating position.