Parking light system for vehicles

A vehicle implementing a parking light system, the parking light system including at least one parking light disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle, a turn signal switch to move in an upward direction and downward direction, and a sensor to transmit a signal to the at least parking light in response to the turn signal switch moving in one of the upward direction and downward direction, such that the at least one parking light illuminates in response to receiving the signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept relates generally to vehicle light systems and, more specifically, to parking lights for a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

When a driver desires to parallel park a vehicle in an empty parking spot, it is common practice for the driver to switch on a turn signal in a direction of the empty parking spot in order to notify other drivers in other vehicles of the driver's intention to parallel-park the vehicle in the empty parking spot.

However, a flashing turn signal may confuse the other drivers if the vehicle is close to an intersection, because the other drivers may think that the vehicle intends to make a turn at the intersection. Likewise, the driver who switched in the turn signal in the direction of the empty parking space may have to roll down a window to signal to the other drivers to go around the vehicle so that traffic is not impeded.

Therefore, there is a need for a parking light system to indicate to other drivers of a driver's intention to parallel-park a vehicle in an empty parking spot.

SUMMARY

The present general inventive concept provides a vehicle implementing a parking light system.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a vehicle implementing a parking light system, the parking light system including at least one parking light disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle, a turn signal switch to move in an upward direction and downward direction, and a sensor to transmit a signal to the at least parking light in response to the turn signal switch moving in one of the upward direction and downward direction, such that the at least one parking light illuminates in response to receiving the signal.

The vehicle may further include a right rear turn signal to blink in response to the turn signal switch being moved in an upward direction to a first upward position, and a left rear turn signal to blink in response to the turn signal switch being moved in a downward direction to a first downward position.

The at least one parking light may illuminate in response to the turn signal switch being moved in at least of the upward direction to a second upward position and the downward direction to a second downward position.

The vehicle may further include a rear windshield disposed at the rear portion of the vehicle, wherein at least one parking light is disposed at a top portion of the rear windshield.

The at least one parking light may be a single light extending across at least a portion of the top portion of the rear windshield.

The at least one parking light may include a first light disposed on a left side of at least a portion of the top portion of the rear windshield and a second light disposed on a right side of at least another portion of the top portion of the rear windshield.

The vehicle may further include a rear windshield disposed at the rear portion of the vehicle, wherein the at least one parking light is disposed on or within the rear windshield.

The at least one parking light may be at least one of a matrix of very small lights and light-strings disposed across an entirety of the rear windshield.

The vehicle may further include a rear windshield frame disposed at the rear portion of the vehicle, wherein the at least one parking light is disposed around at least a portion of the rear windshield frame.

The vehicle may further include a trunk disposed at the rear portion of the vehicle, wherein the at least one parking light is disposed at at least a portion of the trunk.

The vehicle may further include a rear end at the rear portion of the vehicle, wherein the at least one parking light is disposed at at least a portion of the rear end.

The vehicle may further include a rear end at the rear portion of the vehicle, wherein the at least one parking light is disposed at the rear end.

The vehicle may further include a bumper, wherein the at least one parking light is disposed at at least a portion of the bumper.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a parking light system for a vehicle, the parking light system including at least one parking light disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle, a turn signal switch to move in an upward direction and downward direction, and a sensor to transmit a signal to the at least parking light in response to the turn signal switch moving in one of the upward direction and downward direction, such that the at least one parking light illuminates in response to receiving the signal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1Ais a block diagram illustrating a vehicle10implementing a parking light system20, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Referring toFIG. 1A, the vehicle10may include all typical vehicle components included in conventional vehicles well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the vehicle10may include a rear portion10aincluding a rear windshield11, a rear windshield frame12, a trunk13, a rear end14, rear brake lights15, a bumper16, and rear turn signal lights17, headlights18, and front turn signal lights19, but is not limited thereto.

The parking light system20may include a turn signal switch21, a battery22, a sensor23, and at least one parking light24.

As illustrated inFIG. 1A, the may be connected to, disposed on, or be a part of, at least one of the rear windshield11, the rear windshield frame12, the trunk13, the rear end14, and the bumper16.

FIG. 1Bis a zoomed-in illustration of the turn signal switch21, accordingly to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Referring toFIGS. 1A and 1B, the turn signal switch21may be pushed upward to a first upward position21U to turn on a right rear turn signal light17R and a right front turn signal light19R, to alert pedestrians and other drivers in other vehicles of the driver's intention to make a right-hand turn. Likewise, the turn signal switch21may be pushed downward to a first downward position21D to turn on a left rear turn signal light17L and a left front turn signal light19L, to alert the pedestrians and the other drivers in other vehicles of the driver's intention to make a left hand turn.

More specifically, the sensor23may transmit a signal to the rear turn signal lights17and the front turn signal lights19in response to the pushing of the turn signal switch21, such that the rear turn signal lights17and the front turn signal lights19are turned on. When the rear turn signal lights17and the front turn signal lights19are turned on, they may illuminate, flash, twitter, flitter, and/or blink.

The at least one front parking light24may be disposed at the rear portion10aof the vehicle10. To illuminate the at least one front parking light24, the driver may push the turn signal switch21upward a second time to a second upward position21UU, or alternatively, downward a second time to a second downward position21DD.

When the turn signal switch21is pushed upward the second time to the second upward position21UU, the right rear turn signal light17R and the right front turn signal light19R may continue to blink, and the at least one front parking light24may be illuminated to alert the pedestrians and the other drivers in other vehicles of the driver's intention to parallel-park the vehicle10in a right parking spot on a right side of a street.

When the turn signal switch21is pushed downward the second time to the second downward position21DD, the left rear turn signal light17L and the left front turn signal light19L may continue to blink, and the at least one front parking light24may be illuminated to alert the pedestrians and the other drivers in other vehicles of the driver's intention to parallel-park the vehicle10in a left parking spot on a left side of the street.

The battery22may provide power to the vehicle10, such that all electronic components within the vehicle10requiring power may function. For example, the battery22may provide power to the sensor23, the rear turn signal lights17, the front turn signal lights19, and the at least one front parking light24, such that the rear turn signal lights17, the front turn signal lights19, and the at least one front parking light24turn on in response to the turn signal switch being manipulated by the driver.

The rear turn signal lights17, the front turn signal lights19, and the at least one front parking light24may be a series of light emitting diodes, halogen lights, fluorescent lights, incandescent lights, or any other types of lights that are clearly visible by pedestrians. Moreover, the at least one parking light24may be any color, including red, white, green, blue, purple, yellow, orange, etc., but is not limited thereto.

The following exemplary embodiments ofFIGS. 2 through 7include different positions of parking lights on the vehicle10, which all may function in a similar manner as described above with reference toFIG. 1. Accordingly, the other elements of the parking light system20, such as the brake pedal21, the battery22, the sensor23, may function in a similar manner as described above with reference toFIG. 1.

FIG. 2is a rear view of the vehicle10implementing the at least one parking light24disposed at a top portion of the rear windshield11, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Referring toFIG. 2, the at least one parking light24may be disposed on the top portion of the rear windshield11. The at least one parking light24may include a single light extending across the top portion of the rear windshield11, or alternatively, may include a plurality of parking lights24disposed on left and right sides of the top portion of the rear windshield11.

FIG. 3is a rear view of the vehicle10implementing the at least one parking light34disposed at the rear windshield11, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Referring toFIG. 3, the at least one parking light34may be disposed on the entire rear windshield11as a matrix of very small lights or light-strings disposed across an entirety of the rear windshield11, which cause the entire rear windshield11to appear illuminated when the turn signal switch21is manipulated by the driver into the second upward position21UU or the second downward position21DD. The at least one parking light34may be relatively transparent and/or translucent, in order to allow the driver to clearly see through the rear windshield11, even when the at least one parking light34is illuminated.

FIG. 4is a rear view of the vehicle10implementing the at least one parking light44disposed at the rear windshield frame12, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Referring toFIG. 4, the at least one parking light44may be disposed on an entirety of the rear windshield frame12, or just a portion thereof, such the at least one parking light44is clearly visible to pedestrians when illuminated.

FIG. 5is a rear view of the vehicle10implementing the at least one parking light54disposed at the trunk13, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Referring toFIG. 5, the at least one parking light54may be disposed on at least a portion of the trunk13, such the at least one parking light54is clearly visible to pedestrians when illuminated.

FIG. 6is a rear view of the vehicle10implementing the at least one parking light64disposed at the rear end14, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Referring toFIG. 6, the at least one parking light64may be disposed on at least a portion of the rear end14, for example, near the rear brake lights15, such the at least one parking light64is clearly visible to pedestrians when illuminated.

FIG. 7is a rear view of the vehicle10implementing the at least one parking light74disposed at the bumper16, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Referring toFIG. 7, the at least one parking light74may be disposed on at least a portion of the bumper16, such the at least one parking light74is clearly visible to pedestrians when illuminated.

Additionally, the at least one parking light may be disposed on a front portion, a back portion, a side portion, a top portion, and/or a bottom portion of side mirrors on the vehicle.