Device for monitoring the operation of directional signal lamps and other electrical components

Claim 2

A vehicle safety device for monitoring the operation of a plurality of electrical directional signal lamps which are selectively energized by current flow through a directional signal power switch connected to a power source comprising: a plurality of directional signal monitor lights equal in number to the number of directional signal lamps used in signaling a turn by the vehicle; a plurality of silicon controlled rectifiers equal in number to the number of directional signal monitor lights, each silicon controlled rectifier having a gate terminal and each silicon controlled rectifier operatively electrically connected in series with a said directional signal monitor light to energize the monitor light when said silicon controlled rectifier is conducting, each silicon controlled rectifier electrically connectable to the directional signal power switch to conduct current from the directional signal power switch to the inseries connected monitor light when in a conducting state and to prevent current flow to the in-series connected monitor light when nonconducting; a plurality of relays equal in number to the number of directional signal lamps, each relay having a holding coil and a normally open relay switch, each said relay switch closing when said holding coil is energized; each said relay having its relay switch and holding coil connectable to the directional signal power switch to receive current from the power source when the directional signal power switch is closed; each said relay having its holding coil connectable in series with a pre-determined directional signal lamp so that current flow from the directional signal power switch to each directional signal lamp passes through the holding coil of one of said relays; and each said relay having its relay switch electrically connected to the gate terminal of one of said silicon controlled rectifiers to bias the silicon controlled rectifier to a conducting state when current flows from the directional signal power switch through the relay switch and to the gate terminal of the silicon controlled rectifier, causing a monitor light to be energized in response to each directional signal lamp energized.

Claim 3

The vehicle safety device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of relays is twice the number of silicon controlled rectifiers and each said silicon controlled rectifier has its gate terminal connected in series with a pair of said relay switches, said relay switches comprising each pair of relay switches being connected in parallel with one another.

Claim 4

The vehicle safety device of claim 1 and further including an alarm apparatus operatively electrically connected with said monitor lights to sense the absence of current flow to the said monitor lights when the directional signal power switch is on, and in response to such absence of current flow to alert the operator.

Claim 5

The vehicle safety device of claim 3 wherein said alarm apparatus includes a plurality of diodes equal in number to the number of monitor lights and further includes a transistor switch, said plurality of diodes being connected in series with the base oF said transistor switch, a said diode being operatively electrically connected to each said monitor light.

Claim 6

The vehicle safety device of claim 3 wherein said alarm apparatus includes an sudible alarm electrically connected to said transistor switch and energized by said transistor switch when said alarm apparatus senses the absence of current flow to any monitor light when the directional signal power switch is closed.

Claim 7

A vehicle safety device for use with an electrical power source comprising: a plurality of electrical directional signal lamps; a directional signal power switch connectable to the power source; a plurality of relays equal in number to the number of said directional signal lamps, each relay having a holding coil and a normally open relay switch, each said relay switch closing when said holding coil is energized; each said relay having its said relay switch and said holding coil operatively electrically connected to said directional signal power switch and energized therefrom when said power switch is closed; each said relay having its said holding coil operatively electrically connected in series with one of said directional signal lamps so that current flow from said directional signal power switch to each said directional signal lamp passes through said holding coil of one of said relays and lights the signal lamp; a plurality of directional signal monitor lights equal in number to the number of directional signal lamps used in signaling a turn by the vehicle; a plurality of silicon controlled rectifiers equal in number to the number of directional signal monitor lights, each said silicon controlled rectifier having a gate terminal and each said silicon controlled rectifier operatively electrically connected in series with a said directional signal monitor light to energize the monitor light when said silicon controlled rectifier is conducting, each silicon controlled rectifier electrically connected to said directional signal power switch to conduct current from said directional signal power switch to the in-series connected monitor light when in a conducting state and to prevent current flow to the in-series connected monitor light when non-conducting; and each said relay having its relay switch operatively electrically connected to said gate terminal of one of said silicon controlled rectifiers to bias said silicon controlled rectifier to a conducting state when current flows from said directional signal power switch through said relay switch and to said gate terminal of said silicon controlled rectifier, causing a monitor light to be energized in response to each directional signal lamp energized.

Claim 8

A vehicle safety device for use with an electrical power source comprising: a plurality of electrical directional signal lamps; a directional signal power switch connectable to the power source; a plurality of relays equal in number to the number of said directional signal lamps, each relay having a holding coil and a normally open relay switch, each said relay switch closing when said holding coil is energized; each said relay having its said relay switch and said holding coil operatively electrically connected to said directional signal power switch and energized therefrom when said power switch is closed; each said relay having its said holding coil operatively electrically connected in series with one of said directional signal lamps so that current flow from said directional signal power switch to each said directional signal lamp passes through said holding coil of one of said relays and lights the signal lamp; a plurality of directional signal monitor lights equal in number to the number of directional signal lamps used in signaling a turn by the vehicle; a plurality of silicon controlled rectifiers equal in number to the number of directional signal monitor lights, each said silicon controlled rectifier having a gate terminal and each said silicon controlled rectifier operatively electrically connected in series with a said directional signal monitor light to energize the monitor light when said silicon controlled rectifier is conducting, each silicon controlled rectifier electrically connected to said directional signal power switch to conduct current from said directional signal power switch to the in-series connected monitor light when in a conducting state and to prevent current flow to the in-series connected monitor light when non-conducting; and each said relay having its relay switch operatively electrically connected to said gate terminal of one of said silicon controlled rectifiers to bias said silicon controlled rectifier to a conducting state when current flows from said directional signal power switch through said relay switch and to said gate terminal of said silicon controlled rectifier, causing a monitor light to be energized in response to each directional signal lamp energized.