US3883845A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Signal light adapter for trailers
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-09-10
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1993-09-10
Abstract
Abstract An electrical signal system for vehicles - particularly trailers - is provided whereby separate brake and turning signals of the vehicles may be applied to a single lamp in such a manner that, when both the brake and turn signals are to be imposed on the lamp, the turn signal takes priority and is indicated by the lamp. The system is particularly adapted to trailers having a single lamp or lamp cluster at each rear corner and which can be towed by automobiles or other vehicles having separate turn signal and brake signal lamps; so that simple connections may be made to the lamps of the towing vehicle. No additional power source is needed, the power being derived from the signal lines to the lamps of the towing vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Michael Devita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 03:46
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q11/00; B60Q11/005; B60Q11/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
497 words
An electrical signal processing system for a trailer having at least one lamp at its rear left corner and at least one lamp at its rear right corner, each intended to indicate both a brake signal and a respective left or right turn signal; where means is provided in a vehicle intended for towing said trailer, for generating a brake signal on a brake signal line and a turn signal on a turn signal line, where said turn signal comprises a series of voltage pulses at a different level than a system reference voltage so that the visible turn signal indicated by a lamp connected to said turn signal line is a flashing illumination, and said brake signal is a steady voltage at a different level than said system reference voltage so that the visible brake signal indicated by a lamp connected to said brake signal line is a steady illumination; comprising: means for connecting said at least one lamp at each corner of said trailer to said brake signal line and the respective turn signal line of said towing vehicle; and a priority signal circuit interposed between each said at least one lamp and said brake line and respective turn signal line for inhibiting a brake signal to said lamp when a turn signal is on said respective turn signal line, including sensing means to sense the presence or absence of a turn signal on said respective turn signal line, said sensing means being operable from the voltage of the signal being senses, and being connected to gate means for inhibiting a brake signal to said lamp so as to impress a voltage derived from said signal being sensed onto said gate means; said gate means for inhibiting a brake signal to said lamp being such that when a turn signal is sensed by said sensing means, said gate means inhibits said brake signal voltage from being impressed on said lamps; said priority signal circuit being comprised of elements which become operative and derive their operating power from said brake and signal lines only when signals are generated on said lines from said towing vehicle, said electrical signal processing system remaining otherwise inactive; said brake signal line and a turn signal line of said towing vehicle being each respectively connected to a first terminal of a respective first and second switching means, and also to a second terminal on the other of said first and second switching means, the outputs of each of said first and second switching means being connected together to said lamp; each of said first and second switching means being a transistor whose base is said second terminal; where each said base is connected through a diode to the respective one of said turn signal line or said brake signal line of said towing vehicle, so that each transistor is turned off in the presence of a voltage pulse on said turn signal line and a voltage on said brake signal line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
497 words
An electrical signal processing system for a trailer having at least one lamp at its rear left corner and at least one lamp at its rear right corner, each intended to indicate both a brake signal and a respective left or right turn signal; where means is provided in a vehicle intended for towing said trailer, for generating a brake signal on a brake signal line and a turn signal on a turn signal line, where said turn signal comprises a series of voltage pulses at a different level than a system reference voltage so that the visible turn signal indicated by a lamp connected to said turn signal line is a flashing illumination, and said brake signal is a steady voltage at a different level than said system reference voltage so that the visible brake signal indicated by a lamp connected to said brake signal line is a steady illumination; comprising: means for connecting said at least one lamp at each corner of said trailer to said brake signal line and the respective turn signal line of said towing vehicle; and a priority signal circuit interposed between each said at least one lamp and said brake line and respective turn signal line for inhibiting a brake signal to said lamp when a turn signal is on said respective turn signal line, including sensing means to sense the presence or absence of a turn signal on said respective turn signal line, said sensing means being operable from the voltage of the signal being senses, and being connected to gate means for inhibiting a brake signal to said lamp so as to impress a voltage derived from said signal being sensed onto said gate means; said gate means for inhibiting a brake signal to said lamp being such that when a turn signal is sensed by said sensing means, said gate means inhibits said brake signal voltage from being impressed on said lamps; said priority signal circuit being comprised of elements which become operative and derive their operating power from said brake and signal lines only when signals are generated on said lines from said towing vehicle, said electrical signal processing system remaining otherwise inactive; said brake signal line and a turn signal line of said towing vehicle being each respectively connected to a first terminal of a respective first and second switching means, and also to a second terminal on the other of said first and second switching means, the outputs of each of said first and second switching means being connected together to said lamp; each of said first and second switching means being a transistor whose base is said second terminal; where each said base is connected through a diode to the respective one of said turn signal line or said brake signal line of said towing vehicle, so that each transistor is turned off in the presence of a voltage pulse on said turn signal line and a voltage on said brake signal line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
462 words
An electrical signal processing system for a trailer having at least one lamp at its rear left corner and at least one lamp at its rear right corner, each intended to indicate both a brake signal and a respective left or right turn signal; where means is provided in a vehicle intended for towing said trailer, for generating a brake signal on a brake signal line and a turn signal on a turn signal line, where said turn signal comprises a series of voltage pulses at a different level than a system reference voltage so that the visible turn signal indicated by a lamp connected to said turn signal line is a flashing illumination, and said brake signal is a steady voltage at a different level than said system reference voltage so that the visible brake signal indicated by a lamp connected to said brake signal line is a steady illumination; comprising: means for connecting said at least one lamp at each corner of said trailer to said brake signal line and the respective turn signal line of said towing vehicle; and a priority signal circuit interposed between each said at least one lamp and said brake line and respective turn signal line for inhibiting a brake signal to said lamp when a turn signal is on said respective turn signal line, including sensing means to sense the presence or absence of a turn signal on said respective turn signal line, said sensing means being operable from the voltage of the signal being sensed, and being connected to gate means for inhibiting a brake signal to said lamp so as to impress a voltage derived from said signal being sensed onto said gate means; said gate means for inhibiting a brake signal to said lamp being such that when a turn signal is sensed by said sensing means, said gate means inhibits said brake signal voltage from being impressed on said lamp; said priority signal circuit being comprised of elements which become operative and derive their operating power from said brake and signal lines only when signals are generated on said lines from said towing vehicle, said electrical signal processing system remaining otherwise inactive; where a turn signal line of said towing vehicle is connected through a diode to the respective one of said trailer lamps and to the output of switching means connected to said brake signal line of said towing vehicle, and said turn signal line is also connected to said sensing means; and where said switching means Is connected to said sensing means and to said brake signal line so as to be turned off in the presence of a voltage output from said sensing means indicative of the presence of a turn signal on said turn signal line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
462 words
An electrical signal processing system for a trailer having at least one lamp at its rear left corner and at least one lamp at its rear right corner, each intended to indicate both a brake signal and a respective left or right turn signal; where means is provided in a vehicle intended for towing said trailer, for generating a brake signal on a brake signal line and a turn signal on a turn signal line, where said turn signal comprises a series of voltage pulses at a different level than a system reference voltage so that the visible turn signal indicated by a lamp connected to said turn signal line is a flashing illumination, and said brake signal is a steady voltage at a different level than said system reference voltage so that the visible brake signal indicated by a lamp connected to said brake signal line is a steady illumination; comprising: means for connecting said at least one lamp at each corner of said trailer to said brake signal line and the respective turn signal line of said towing vehicle; and a priority signal circuit interposed between each said at least one lamp and said brake line and respective turn signal line for inhibiting a brake signal to said lamp when a turn signal is on said respective turn signal line, including sensing means to sense the presence or absence of a turn signal on said respective turn signal line, said sensing means being operable from the voltage of the signal being sensed, and being connected to gate means for inhibiting a brake signal to said lamp so as to impress a voltage derived from said signal being sensed onto said gate means; said gate means for inhibiting a brake signal to said lamp being such that when a turn signal is sensed by said sensing means, said gate means inhibits said brake signal voltage from being impressed on said lamp; said priority signal circuit being comprised of elements which become operative and derive their operating power from said brake and signal lines only when signals are generated on said lines from said towing vehicle, said electrical signal processing system remaining otherwise inactive; where a turn signal line of said towing vehicle is connected through a diode to the respective one of said trailer lamps and to the output of switching means connected to said brake signal line of said towing vehicle, and said turn signal line is also connected to said sensing means; and where said switching means Is connected to said sensing means and to said brake signal line so as to be turned off in the presence of a voltage output from said sensing means indicative of the presence of a turn signal on said turn signal line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 2 where said switching means comprises at least one transistor whose base is connected to said sensing means; and said sensing means comprises at least a diode connected so as to inhibit the operation of said transistor when a voltage pulse on said turn signal line is sensed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
The system of claim 3 where said sensing means further comprises a parallel RC storage circuit whose discharge time constant is at least of the order of the length of time between voltage pulses on said turn signal line when said means for generating a turn signal is operating, said RC storage circuit being connected to said switching means so as to hold said switching means off in the presence of a voltage on said brake signal line so long as sufficient voltage remains across the capacitor of said RC circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3601795A
Cited
US3656103A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |