Headlight warning system

Claim 2

A headlight warning apparatus for use on a vehicle having a first circuit controlled by an ignition switch and a headlight switch for controlling the operation of the headlights through a second circuit independently of the ignition switch comprising: signal means having a hot terminal and a ground terminal directly electrically grounded for generating a warning signal upon receipt of an electrical voltage at said hot terminal; and, a control means having a first input; a second input; and an output, said first input operatively connected to the first circuit so as to have voltage supplied thereto only when the ignition switch is closed; said second input operatively connected to the second circuit so as to have voltage supplied thereto only when the headlight switch is closed, and said output operatively connected to said hot terminal on said signal means; said control means constructed and arranged to cause the voltage imposed on said second input to be imposed on said output only when voltage is not supplied to said first input so that voltage will be supplied to said hot terminal of said signal means to generate a warning signal only when said headlight switch is closed to supply voltage to said second input and said ignition switch is open to not supply voltage to said first input.

Claim 3

The headlight warning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first circuit includes a fuse block having at least one pair of spring contacts powered through the ignition switch and a fuse connecting the pair of contacts; wherein the second circuit includes a dimmer switch for controlling the output of the headlights having a common blade terminal powered through the headlight switch; and wherein said system further comprises an adapter electrically connected to said base of said transistor, said adapter including a thin strip of electrically conductive material bendable around said fuse and positionable between said fuse and one of said contacts while electrically connecting said contact with said fuse and said base; and, a connector electrically connected to the emitter of said transistor, said connector including a resilient plate defining a terminal receiving slit therein and including a resilient tongue on opposite sides of said slit, said slit adapted to slidably receive said blade terminal therethrough and said tongues adapted to maintain said connector onto said terminal.

Claim 4

A headlight warning apparatus for use on a vehicle having a first circuit controlled by an ignition switch and a headlight switch for controlling the operation of the headlights through a second circuit independently of the ignition switch comprising: signal means for generating a warning signal when an electrical voltage is imposed thereacross; a pnp type transistor having a base, an emitter, and collector, said emitter electrically connected to said second circuit so that voltage is supplied thereto when the headlight switch is closed and said collector connected to said signal means; a first resistor connecting said base of said transistor to said first circuit so that voltage is supplied to said base through said first resistor when the ignition switch is closed; and, a second resistor connecting the common point between said first resistor and said first circuit to electrical ground so that said emitter is electrically connected to said collector only when the ignition switch is open to cause a voltage to be imposed across said signal means if the headlight switch is closed.

Claim 5

A headlight warning apparatus for use on a vehicle having a first circuit controlled by an ignition switch and a headlight switch for controlling the operation of the headlights through a second circuit independently of the ignition switch comprising: signal means for generating a warning signal when an electrical voltage is imposed thereacross; a pnp type transistor having a base, an emitter, and collector, said emitter electrically connected to said second circuit so that voltage is supplied thereto when the headlight switch is closed and said collector connected to said signal means; a first resistor connecting said base of said transistor to said first circuit so that voltage is supplied to said base through said first resistor when the ignition switch is closed; and, a second resistor connecting the common point between said first resistor and said first circuit to electrical ground so that said emitter is electrically connected to said collector only when the ignition switch is open to cause a voltage to be imposed across said signal means if the headlight switch is closed.

Claim 6

A headlight warning apparatus for use on a vehicle having a first circuit selectively connected to a voltage source by an ignition switch and a headlight switch for selectively connecting the headlight to the voltage source through a second circuit independently of the ignition switch comprising: signal means having a hot terminal electrically connected to the voltage source and a ground terminal for generating a warning signal when said ground terminal is electrically grounded; a first pnp type transistor having a first base, a first emitter, and a first collector, said emitter electrically connected to said second circuit so that voltage is supplied thereto when the headlight switch is closed; a second npn type transistor having a second base, a second emitter, and a second collector, said second emitter electrically grounded and said second collector electrically connected to said ground terminal of said signal means; a first resistor electrically connecting said first base of said first transistor to said first circuit so that voltage is supplied to said first base through said first resistor when said ignition switch is closed; a second resistor connecting the common point between said first resistor and said first circuit to electrical ground; a third resistor electrically connecting said second base of said second transistor to said first collector of said first transistor so that said first transistor conducts only when the ignition switch is open to cause said second transistor to conduct if the headlight switch is closed to connect said ground terminal of said signal means to electrical ground.

Claim 7

A headlight warning apparatus for use on a vehicle having a first circuit selectively connected to a voltage source by an ignition switch and a headlight switch for selectively connecting the headlight to the voltage source through a second circuit independently of the ignition switch comprising: signal means having a hot terminal electrically connected to the voltage source and a ground terminal for generating a warning signal when said ground terminal is electrically grounded; a first pnp type transistor having a first base, a first emitter, and a first collector, said emitter electrically connected to said second circuit so that voltage is supplied thereto when the headlight switch is closed; a second npn type transistor having a second base, a second emitter, and a second collector, said second emitter electrically grounded and said second collector electrically connected to said ground terminal of said signal means; a first resistor electrically connecting said first base of said first transistor to said first circuit so that voltage is supplied to said first base through said first resistor when said ignition switch is closed; a second resistor connecting the common point between said first resistor and said first circuit to electrical ground; a third resistor electrically connecting said second base of said second transistor to said first collector of said first transistor so that said first transistor conducts only when the ignition switch is open to cause said second transistor to conduct if the headlight switch is closed to connect said ground terminal of said signal means to electrical ground.