Vehicle strobe warning light system

Claim 2

In a vehicle having a conventional headlight assembly, taillight assembly, and brake assembly, a method of warning a following driver, comprising the steps of: (a) disposing an auxiliary flash lamp at the rear of the vehicle, the flash lamp capable of producing a high-intensity light of short duration; (b) discharging the flash lamp in response to actuation of the brake assembly at the initiation of a braking operation; and (c) discharging the lamp again only after a predetermined period of time has passed and in response to actuation of the brake assembly upon the initiation of another braking operation.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, comprising the additional step of disposing a high-intensity flash lamp adjacent each brake lamp.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, comprising the additional steps of: (a) providing a turn signal assembly for the vehicle; (b) disposing a high-intensity flash lamp adjacent each front turn signal lamp; and (c) discharging the flash lamps on either side of the vehicle in response to actuation of the turn signal assembly at the initiation of a turn signaling operation and discharging the lamps again on that side only after: (i) a predetermined period of time has passed; (ii) the turn signaling operation is cancelled; and (iii) a subsequent turn signaling operation is initiated.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3, comprising the additional steps of: (a) providing an auxiliary flasher assembly for the vehicle; and (b) discharging all the high-intensity flash lamps periodically at a predetermined frequency in response to actuation of the auxiliary flasher assembly to indicate an emergency condition.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3, comprising the additional step of dimming the auxiliary flash lamps under nighttime driving conditions.

Claim 7

A warning light system for use in a vehicle, comprising: (a) a brake assembly; (b) a brakelight assembly having a lamp illuminated in response to actuation of the brake assembly; and (c) a flash lamp capable of producing a high-intensity light of short duration, the high-intensity lamp being flashed in response to actuation of the brake assembly at the initiation of a braking operation and being flashed again only after a predetermined period of time has passed and in response to actuation of the brake assembly upon initiation of another braking operation.

Claim 8

A warning light system for use in a vehicle, comprising: (a) a brake assembly; (b) a brakelight assembly having a lamp illuminated in response to actuation of the brake assembly; and (c) a flash lamp capable of producing a high-intensity light of short duration, the high-intensity lamp being flashed in response to actuation of the brake assembly at the initiation of a braking operation and being flashed again only after a predetermined period of time has passed and in response to actuation of the brake assembly upon initiation of another braking operation.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: (a) a brakelight assembly is disposed on either side of the vehicle; and (b) a high-intensity flash lamp is disposed adjacent each brake lamp.

Claim 10

A vehicle warning light system, comprising: (a) a power source; (b) brakelights disposed generally at the rear of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source; (c) a brake switch connected intermediate the brake lights and the power source to control illumination of the brake lights; (d) a high-intensity, electronic flash lamp disposed toward the rear of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source, the flash lamp comprising a lamp connected across capacitors and capable of producing a brilliant light on the order of 500,000 lumens for a period of approximately 30 milliseconds; and (e) a trigger circuit to discharge the flash lamp only once for every time the trigger circuit is energized, the trigger circuit being in electrical communication with the brake switch and energizable only when the brake switch is closed, whereby initiation of a vehicle braking operation closes the brake switch and results in illumination of the brake lights and substantially simultaneous discharge of the flash lamp and whereby the trigger circuit cannot be re-energized until the brake switch is closed again.

Claim 11

A vehicle warning light system, comprising: (a) a power source; (b) brakelights disposed generally at the rear of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source; (c) a brake switch connected intermediate the brake lights and the power source to control illumination of the brake lights; (d) a high-intensity, electronic flash lamp disposed toward the rear of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source, the flash lamp comprising a lamp connected across capacitors and capable of producing a brilliant light on the order of 500,000 lumens for a period of approximately 30 milliseconds; and (e) a trigger circuit to discharge the flash lamp only once for every time the trigger circuit is energized, the trigger circuit being in electrical communication with the brake switch and energizable only when the brake switch is closed, whereby initiation of a vehicle braking operation closes the brake switch and results in illumination of the brake lights and substantially simultaneous discharge of the flash lamp and whereby the trigger circuit cannot be re-energized until the brake switch is closed again.

Claim 12

The warning light system of claim 8, wherein the trigger circuit comprises: (a) normally open contacts connected across the capacitors included as part of the flash lamp; and (b) an actuator operatively connected to the contacts to close the contacts, the actuator being in electrical communication with the brake switch.

Claim 13

The warning light system of claim 8, wherein a dimming circuit is disposed intermediate the flash lamp and the power source, whereby the brilliance of the flash lamp may be decreased under nighttime driving conditions.

Claim 14

A vehicle warning light system, comprising: (a) a power source; (b) a plurality of turn signal lights disposed generally at corners of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source; (c) a first flasher assembly connected intermediate the turn signal lights and the power source to control illumination of the turn signal lights, the first flasher assembly producing, in response to a steady input signal, a pulsed output signal having a frequency on the order of 60 to 100 cycles per minute; (d) a first flasher switch connected intermediate the first flasher assembly and the power source to control operation of the first flasher assembly; (e) a high-intensity, electronic flash lamp disposed adjacent each corner of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source, each flash lamp comprising a lamp connected across capacitors and capable of producing a brilliant light in the order of 500,000 lumens for a period of approximately 30 milliseconds; (f) a second flasher assembly connected intermediate the flash lamps and the power source to control illumination of the flash lamps, the second flash assembly producing, in response to a steady input signal, a pulsed output signal having a frequency on the order of 30 cycles per minute; (g) a second flasher switch connected intermediate the second flasher assembly and the power source to control operation of the second flasher assembly; and (h) a trigger circuit to discharge each flash lamp, the trigger circuit being in electrical communication with the second flasher assembly, whereby actuation of the first flasher switch causes the turn signal lights to flash simultaneously at a frequency of about 60 to 100 cycles per minute and actuation of the second flasher switch causes the flash lamps to flash simultaneously at a frequency of about 30 cycles per minute.

Claim 15

A vehicle warning light system, comprising: (a) a power source; (b) a plurality of turn signal lights disposed generally at corners of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source; (c) a first flasher assembly connected intermediate the turn signal lights and the power source to control illumination of the turn signal lights, the first flasher assembly producing, in response to a steady input signal, a pulsed output signal having a frequency on the order of 60 to 100 cycles per minute; (d) a first flasher switch connected intermediate the first flasher assembly and the power source to control operation of the first flasher assembly; (e) a high-intensity, electronic flash lamp disposed adjacent each corner of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source, each flash lamp comprising a lamp connected across capacitors and capable of producing a brilliant light in the order of 500,000 lumens for a period of approximately 30 milliseconds; (f) a second flasher assembly connected intermediate the flash lamps and the power source to control illumination of the flash lamps, the second flash assembly producing, in response to a steady input signal, a pulsed output signal having a frequency on the order of 30 cycles per minute; (g) a second flasher switch connected intermediate the second flasher assembly and the power source to control operation of the second flasher assembly; and (h) a trigger circuit to discharge each flash lamp, the trigger circuit being in electrical communication with the second flasher assembly, whereby actuation of the first flasher switch causes the turn signal lights to flash simultaneously at a frequency of about 60 to 100 cycles per minute and actuation of the second flasher switch causes the flash lamps to flash simultaneously at a frequency of about 30 cycles per minute.

Claim 16

The system of claim 11, wherein the trigger circuit comprises; (a) normally open contacts connected across the capacitors included as part of the flash lamp; and (b) an actuator operatively connected to the contacts to close the contacts, the actuator being in electrical communication with the second flasher switch.

Claim 17

The system of claim 11, wherein a dimming circuit is disposed intermediate each flash lamp and the power source, whereby the brilliance of the flash lamps may be decreased under selected conditions.

Claim 18

A vehicle warning light system, comprising: (a) a power source; (b) a plurality of turn signal lights disposed generally at corners of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source; (c) a flasher assembly connected intermediate the turn signal lights and the power source to control illumination of the turn signal lights, the first flasher assembly producing, in response to a steady input signal, a pulsed output signal having a frequency on the order of 60 to 100 cycles per minute; (d) a flasher switch connected intermediate the first flasher assembly and the power source to control operation of the flasher assembly; (e) a high-intensity, electronic flash lamp disposed adjacent each corner of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source, each flash lamp comprising a lamp connected across capacitors and capable of producing a brilliant light on the order of 500,000 lumens for a period of approximately 30 milliseconds; (f) a trigger circuit to discharge each flash lamp, the trigger circuit being in electrical communication with the flasher assembly; and (g) a turn signal switch to discharge the turn signal lights, the turn signal switch being connected intermediate the flasher assembly and the turn signal lights, the turn signal switch also being connected intermediate a portion of the trigger circuit and the flasher assembly, whereby actuation of the turn signal switch causes the turn signal lights and the flash lamps to be illuminated.

Claim 19

A vehicle warning light system, comprising: (a) a power source; (b) a plurality of turn signal lights disposed generally at corners of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source; (c) a flasher assembly connected intermediate the turn signal lights and the power source to control illumination of the turn signal lights, the first flasher assembly producing, in response to a steady input signal, a pulsed output signal having a frequency on the order of 60 to 100 cycles per minute; (d) a flasher switch connected intermediate the first flasher assembly and the power source to control operation of the flasher assembly; (e) a high-intensity, electronic flash lamp disposed adjacent each corner of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source, each flash lamp comprising a lamp connected across capacitors and capable of producing a brilliant light on the order of 500,000 lumens for a period of approximately 30 milliseconds; (f) a trigger circuit to discharge each flash lamp, the trigger circuit being in electrical communication with the flasher assembly; and (g) a turn signal switch to discharge the turn signal lights, the turn signal switch being connected intermediate the flasher assembly and the turn signal lights, the turn signal switch also being connected intermediate a portion of the trigger circuit and the flasher assembly, whereby actuation of the turn signal switch causes the turn signal lights and the flash lamps to be illuminated.

Claim 20

The system of claim 14, wherein the trigger circuit comprises: (a) normally open contacts connected across the capacitors included as part of the flash lamp; (b) normally closed contacts in series with the normally open contacts, the normally closed contacts opening faster than the normally open contacts can close; (c) a first actuator operatively connected to the normally open contacts to close the contacts, the first actuator being in electrical communication with the turn signal switch; and (d) a second actuator operatively connected to the normally closed contacts to open the contacts, the second actuator being in electrical communication with the flasher assembly, whereby actuation of the turn signal switch alone will cause the turn signal lights to be illuminated and the flash lamps to flash but actuation of the flasher switch alone will cause only the turn signal lights to be illuminated.

Claim 21

The system of claim 14, wherein the flasher assembly pulses sufficiently frequently that the flash lamp capacitors cannot be recharged after the initial discharge.

Claim 22

The system of claim 14, wherein a dimming circuit is disposed intermediate each flash lamp and the power source, whereby the brilliance of the flash lamps may be decreased under selected conditions.

Claim 23

A vehicle warning light system, comprising: (a) a power source; (b) a plurality of turn signal lights disposed generally at corners of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source; (c) a first flasher assembly connected intermediate the turn signal lights and the power source to control illumination of the turn signal lights, the first flasher assembly producing, in response to a steady input signal, a pulsed output signal having a frequency on the order of 60 to 100 cycles per minute; (d) a first flasher switch connected intermediate the first flasher assembly and the power source to control operation of the first flasher assembly; (e) brakelights disposed generally at the rear of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source; (f) a brake switch connected intermediate the brake lights and the power source to control illumination of the brake lights; (g) high-intensity, electronic flash lamps disposed generally at corners of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source, each flash lamp comprising a lamp connected across capacitors and capable of producing a brilliant light on the order of 500,000 lumens for a period of approximately 30 milliseconds; (h) a trigger circuit to discharge the flash lamps, the trigger circuit being in electrical communication with the brake switch, whereby initiation of a vehicle braking operation closes the brake switch and results in illumination of the brake lights and substantially simultaneous discharge of the flash lamps disposed at the rear of the vehicle; and (i) a turn signal switch to discharge the turn signal lights, the turn signal switch being connected intermediate the flasher assembly and the turn signal lights, the turn signal switch also being connected intermediate a portion of the trigger circuit and the first flasher assembly, whereby actuation of the turn signal switch causes the turn signal lights and the flash lamps to be illuminated.

Claim 24

A vehicle warning light system, comprising: (a) a power source; (b) a plurality of turn signal lights disposed generally at corners of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source; (c) a first flasher assembly connected intermediate the turn signal lights and the power source to control illumination of the turn signal lights, the first flasher assembly producing, in response to a steady input signal, a pulsed output signal having a frequency on the order of 60 to 100 cycles per minute; (d) a first flasher switch connected intermediate the first flasher assembly and the power source to control operation of the first flasher assembly; (e) brakelights disposed generally at the rear of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source; (f) a brake switch connected intermediate the brake lights and the power source to control illumination of the brake lights; (g) high-intensity, electronic flash lamps disposed generally at corners of the vehicle and in electrical communication with the power source, each flash lamp comprising a lamp connected across capacitors and capable of producing a brilliant light on the order of 500,000 lumens for a period of approximately 30 milliseconds; (h) a trigger circuit to discharge the flash lamps, the trigger circuit being in electrical communication with the brake switch, whereby initiation of a vehicle braking operation closes the brake switch and results in illumination of the brake lights and substantially simultaneous discharge of the flash lamps disposed at the rear of the vehicle; and (i) a turn signal switch to discharge the turn signal lights, the turn signal switch being connected intermediate the flasher assembly and the turn signal lights, the turn signal switch also being connected intermediate a portion of the trigger circuit and the first flasher assembly, whereby actuation of the turn signal switch causes the turn signal lights and the flash lamps to be illuminated.

Claim 25

The system of claim 18, additionally comprising: (a) a second flasher assembly connected intermediate the flash lamps and the power source to control illumination of the flash lamps, the second flash assembly producing, in response to a steady input signal, a pulsed output signal having a frequency on the order of 30 cycles per minute; and (b) a second flasher switch connected intermediate the second flasher assembly and the power source to control operation of the second flasher assembly, the second flasher assembly also being in electrical communication with the trigger circuit, whereby actuation of the first flasher switch causes the turn signal lights to flash simultaneously at a frequency of about 60 to 100 cycles per minutes and actuation of the second flasher switch causes the flash lamps to flash simultaneously at a frequency of about 30 cycles per minute.