Vehicle safety device for monitoring the operation of directional signal lamps

Claim 1

In combination with a motor vehicle having a directional signal power switch connected to an electrical power supply, a vehicle safety device comprising: first and second pairs of directional signal lamps, each of said pairs of signal lamps including a left directional signal lamp positioned on said vehicle so as to indicate a left turn when energized, and a right directional signal lamp positioned on said vehicle so as to indicate a right turn when energized, all said directional signal lamps being electrically connected to said directional signal power switch so as to be selectively energized therefrom; first and second directional signal monitor lights positioned on said vehicle so as to be visible to an operator of said vehicle. first, second, third and fourth current detection apparatuses, each said detection apparatus including a switch electrically connected to said power switch, each said apparatus in response to detection of current through the apparatus closing its said switch and in the absence of detection of current through the apparatus opening its said width; said first, second, third and fourth detection apparatuses being operatively electrically connected with said left directional signal lamp of said first pair of lamps, said right directional signal lamp of said first pair of lamps, said left directional signal lamp of said second pair of lamps, and said right directional signal lamp of said second pair of signal lamps, respectively, to detect current flowing to the signal lamp to which electrically connected; a first pair of monitor diodes having one of its said diodes operatively electrically connected to said switch of said first detection apparatus and having its remaining monitor diode operatively electrically connected to said switch of said second detection apparatus, said first pair of monitor diodes being operatively electrically connected to said first monitor light to permit current flow toward said monitor light from said first and second detection apparatuses and to block current flow from said monitor light toward said first and second detection apparatuses to thereby light said first monitor light when a directional signal lamp of said first pair of directional signal lamps is lighted to specifically indicate operation of the lighted directional signal lamp, and in the event of failure of a said directional signal lamp of said first pair of signal lamps to light when energized, said first monitor light being unenergized and thereby specifically identifying the failed directional signal lamp of said first pair; and a second pair of monitor diodes having one of its said diodes operatively electrically connected to said switch of said third detection apparatus and having its remaining monitor diode operatively electrically connected to said switch of said fourth detection apparatus, said second pair of monitor diodes being operatively electrically connected to said second monitor light to permit current flow toward said monitor light from said third and fourth detection apparatuses and to block current flow from said monitor light toward said third and fourth detection apparatuses to thereby light said second monitor light when a directional signal lamp of said second pair of directional signal lamps is lighted to specifically indicate operation of the lighted directional signal lamp, and in the event of failure of a said directional signal lamp of said second pair of signal lamps to light when energized, said second monitor light being unenergized and thereby specifically identifying the failed directional signal lamp of said second pair.