Abstract:
Indicators of this invention show the existence of a convoy of vehicles and the position of a vehicle in the convoy. Safety on the highway is improved for both the convoy and non-convoy vehicles. The ability of convoy vehicles to maintain position in the convoy is improved by the use of indicators. A variety of indicators may be used, such as flags, magnetic signs, projected images, illuminated signs, window decals, or beacons.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/084,363; filed 19 Mar. 2005 and entitled “Vehicle Convoy Indicator”; the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention pertains to apparatus for signaling vehicles on a road of a potentially hazardous traffic condition associated with other vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Vehicles which are following another in convoy often are driven in ways which might incur hazards, especially when on a congested highway. This invention improves safety on the highway by indicators on the front, rear, or side of vehicles in convoy which indicate whether the vehicle is leading or following other vehicles in a convoy. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,438 discloses a system to indicate to a following vehicle the application of brakes by the vehicle ahead of the vehicle directly in front of the following vehicle. The middle vehicle has a light transmitting lens on the front of the vehicle, a light conduit along the length of the vehicle, and a light emitting lens at the rear. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,444 discloses a portable illumination sign with lights which spell out a message. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,974 discloses a mount for a flag or display for use with a parade or motorcade. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,621 discloses a flag which attaches to a radio antenna and is used for a funeral procession motorcade safety flag. Use of the flag avoids disruption of the procession causing great distress to grieving family of the deceased and to the mourning friends. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,434 discloses a vehicle communication device which displaces a variety of messages from the back or front of the vehicle. Messages are sent to the display from a RF sending unit. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,107 discloses a holder for signs, banners flags which fits on the top of a window. The flags may be used to designate cars in funeral processions. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,476 discloses flags which attach to a radio antenna and which are also used to designate cars as being part of a funeral procession or some other type of parade or procession. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,134 discloses a visual signaling device which projects a laser generated image on the payment at the front or rear of the vehicle. The nature of the image may be modified by signals from the roadway berm. 
         [0012]    U.S. Published Patent Application. No. 2003/0136327 discloses tires with strips of high contrast color on the tire tread which provides visual clues to the deceleration or acceleration during stop and go traffic. 
         [0013]    None of the discovered prior art provides the advantages of this invention, that of enhancing highway safety by informing both approaching and following vehicles of a convoy of vehicles, one following another. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Embodiments of the invention include a system for indicating the status of a vehicle on the road with respect to its place in a convoy comprising an indicator that is visible from the roof, front, rear, or side of the vehicle, the indicator warning of the existence of the convoy and indicating the position of the vehicle in the convoy. 
         [0015]    Other embodiments of the invention include a system for indicating the status of a vehicle on the road with respect to its place in a convoy comprising a first indicator that is visible from the front of the leading vehicle in the convoy, the first indicator warning of following vehicles in the convoy and showing the status of the vehicle as the leading vehicle in the convoy. A second indicator is visible from the side of a vehicle intermediate in the convoy, the second indicator warning of the existence of the convoy and showing the status of the vehicle as an intermediate vehicle in the convoy. A third indicator is visible from the rear of the terminal vehicle in the convoy, the third indicator warning of the existence of the convoy and showing the status of the vehicle as the terminal vehicle in the convoy. 
         [0016]    Convoy identification provides enhanced safety to both the vehicles in a convoy and other vehicles sharing the highway. A driver who is part of a convoy often finds it difficult to be sure that the proceeding vehicle is indeed the one which should be followed, especially after dark. 
         [0017]    A vehicle following a convoy will thereby be notified that the proceeding vehicles may be closer to each other than non-convoyed vehicles, with implications for an overtaking vehicle. This is especially important on two-lane highways. On a multilane-highway the leading vehicle of a convoy may change several lanes in order to reach an off-ramp. This will result in an extended line of convoy vehicles also changing several lanes, with obvious safety implications. When a convoy approaches a traffic light, the first few vehicles may make it though the intersection before the light changes. The leading vehicles typically will then pull over to the right side of the highway while waiting for the remaining vehicles, whereupon the intact convoy will proceed. Non-convoyed vehicles will be better able to react to these maneuvers if there is some visible indicator of the existence of the convoy. Finally, there is a natural tendency of convoyed vehicles to travel with less than a safe distance between the vehicles. The clear identification of each vehicle in the convoy will allow travel at a safe interval. 
         [0018]    One objective of embodiments of the invention is to provide a system which warns of the existence of a convoy of vehicles. 
         [0019]    Another objective of embodiments of the invention is to provide a system which assists participants in a convoy in identifying other participants. 
         [0020]    Another objective of embodiments of the invention is to provide a system which indicates—the position of a vehicle in a convoy. 
         [0021]    Another objective of embodiments of the invention is to provide a system which maintains the integrity of a convoy of vehicles. 
         [0022]    Another objective of embodiments of the invention is to provide a system which reduces the incidence of infringing upon a convoy of vehicles by non-convoy vehicles. 
         [0023]    Another objective of embodiments of the invention is to provide a system which conveys particular information from vehicles in a convoy to other vehicles on the road. 
         [0024]    Another objective of embodiments of the invention is to provide a system which may be manufactured inexpensively of readily available materials without adverse effect on the environment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  diagrammatically depicts a convoy of three vehicles. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a magnetic sign embodiment. 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a second magnetic sign embodiment. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a third magnetic sign embodiment. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of a flag embodiment. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of an inside the vehicle embodiment. 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a projector image embodiment. 
           [0032]      FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, and  8 C are plan views of an illuminated sign embodiment. 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an illuminated beacon embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]    In this patent application, the term “convoy” refers to two or more vehicles traveling together on a roadway. Such a procession, also sometimes called a caravan, is often created by travelers in more than one vehicle in order to provide mutual assistance in the event of breakdown or accident, and more commonly, to provide guidance when the drivers of fewer than all of the vehicles are familiar with the route from a starting site to a common destination. This is especially important in bringing a number of vehicles through congested high-speed highways, for example, on interstate highways associated with large cities. Finally, convoys also are involved in processions from the site of a funeral to the site of internment. 
         [0035]    Convoy identification provides enhanced safety to both the vehicles in a convoy and other vehicles sharing the highway. A vehicle following a convoy will thereby be notified that the proceeding vehicles may be closer to each other than non-convoyed vehicles, with implications for an overtaking vehicle. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  diagrammatically depicts a convoy of three vehicles traveling in the direction indicated by arrow A. The leading vehicle  100  has visible from the front of the vehicle a front indicator  110  which indicates to approaching vehicles that a convoy is on the road and that vehicle  100  is the leading the convoy. Intermediate vehicle  102  has visible from the side or sides of the vehicle a side indicator  114  which indicates to overtaking vehicles that a convoy is on the road and that vehicle  102  is a member of the convoy. Any number of vehicles may be included in a convoy. Terminal vehicle  104  has visible from the back of the vehicle a rear indicator  112  which indicates to vehicles approaching the convoy from the rear that a convoy is on the road and that vehicle  104  is the terminal vehicle of that convoy. Optionally, vehicles  100  or  102  may also have rear indicator  112 . In  FIG. 1 , the dashed lines at vehicle  100 ,  102 , and  104  indicate the visibility of the indicators at the front, side, and rear of the convoy, respectively. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a magnetic sign embodiment  200 . The convoy sign has a characteristic shape  210 , in this embodiment, that of the outline of a car. A border  202  is of a color which contrasts strongly with the background color  204 . Indicia “FOLLOW ME . . . GETTING THERE ALL TOGETHER”  206  emphasizes the function of the magnetic sign embodiment in indicating the existence of a convoy and the participation of the vehicle which bears the sign in the convoy. Magnetic signs are constructed of flexible magnetic material with a polymer surface which will accept bright colors. They are removably attached to steel or iron surfaces such as vehicle doors. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a second magnetic sign embodiment  300 . The convoy sign has a characteristic shape  312 , in this embodiment, that of a stylized car outline. A border  302  is of a color which contrasts strongly with the background color  304 . Indicia “CONVOY IN PROGRESS”  306  emphasizes the function of the magnetic sign embodiment in indicating the existence of a convoy and the participation of the vehicle which bears the sign in the convoy. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a magnetic sign embodiment  400 . The convoy sign has a characteristic shape  410 , in this embodiment, that of a stylized letter C. A border  402  is of a color which contrasts strongly with the background color  404 . Indicia  406  emphasize the function of the magnetic sign embodiment in indicating the existence of a convoy and the participation of the vehicle which bears the sign in the convoy. This embodiment includes a pocket  408  which receives a sheet with indicia  410  with additional information for the participants of the convoy, such as the time for a meal break. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of a flag embodiment  500 . The flag has the shape, colors, and indicia of the magnetic sign embodiments. Ties  502  are used to removably attach the flag to a radio antenna  120  on a vehicle in a convoy. Any suitable strong, flexible, durable fabric may be used for construction of the flag embodiment. Any suitable attachment devices which will reversibly yet securely attach the flag to an antenna may be used, such as clamps or rings. The attachment devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,590,621 and 6,609,476, both incorporated herein by reference, may be used with this embodiment. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of an inside the vehicle embodiment  600 . This embodiment has the shape, colors, and indicia of the magnetic sign embodiments. In addition, this embodiment has arrayed about the perimeter of the front of the sign one or more suction cups  602 . This embodiment is attached by the suction cups to the inside of side, rear or front windows. Any suitable lightweight, resilient, material may be used for this embodiment, such as sheet plastic. This embodiment may be rolled into a cylinder to facilitate storage. 
         [0042]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a projector image embodiment  700 . Visible in  FIG. 7  is a terminal vehicle  104 . This vehicle has a projector  702  in the rear window which projects an image  704  on the pavement behind the vehicle. The image  704  has a shape and indicia  706  which indicates the existence of a convoy and the position of the vehicle in the convoy. A suitable projector image system is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,134, incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C are plan views of an illuminated sign embodiment  800 . In this embodiment, indicia are illuminated by individual light bulbs  802 . In  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, and  8 C the non-illuminated bulbs are indicated by a border. The bulbs may be selectively illuminated in order to convey different information concerning the convoy. In  FIG. 8A  none of the bulbs in the sign is illuminated. In  FIG. 8B  the top line of bulbs  802  is not illuminated, while the middle line  804  and bottom line  806  are illuminated.  FIG. 8B  thus shows a sign with the indicia “CONVOY FOLLOWING.” The sign illustrated in  FIG. 8B  is used as the front indicator of a leading vehicle in a convoy. In  FIG. 8C  the bulbs in the bottom line  806  are not illuminated while those in the middle line  804  and top line  802  are illuminated.  FIG. 8C  thus shows a sign with the indicia “FOLLOWING CONVOY.” The illumination illustrated in  FIG. 8C  would be used as the rear indicator of a terminal vehicle in a convoy. Any suitable means of selectively illuminating the indicia of this embodiment may be used. Transparent inserts bearing indicia which are illuminated by lights behind inserts may be used. 
         [0044]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an illuminated beacon embodiment  900 . An illuminated beacon is a specifically colored light visible from ahead, the side, or behind the vehicle and may be mounted inside the vehicle, or outside, such as on the roof. The color of the beacon is one which has no other significance with respect to highway traffic. Suitable colors for beacons, for example, would be brown, violet, or pink. The illuminated beacon embodiment is especially suitable for night use. The beacon in  FIG. 9  is shown attached to a shelf  902  at the rear window of a vehicle. Visible in  FIG. 9  is the base  904 , crystal  906  which houses the bulb (not visible in  FIG. 9 ), and power cord  910  of the beacon  900 . Power is provided by the vehicle power system, with access, for example, at the cigarette lighter. Alternatively, the beacon may have an independent battery power supply. Beacons also may be mounted on the dashboard for indicating the existence of a convoy from the front window, or for viewing from the side windows, or on the top of the vehicle roof. 
         [0045]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the examples and embodiments described herein are by way of illustration and not of limitation, and that other examples may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as set forth in the appended claims.