Abstract:
Circuitry and/or device(s) provide a flashing or blinking light in the rear of a vehicle to alert others of a reduction in speed or directional change to substantially increase driver and passenger safety while travelling.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to vehicle safety or warning lights. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The prior art discloses a wide variety of warning lights to signal vehicle stopping or turning. However, as far as we are aware, all require modification of the vehicle by the addition of more lights, or lamps, or added circuitry, or special equipment. 
     In about the mid-1980&#39;s, motor vehicles were mandated by law to have a third brake light centrally located in the rear of the vehicle. The intent of this law was mainly, if not solely, to alert the driver of a trailing vehicle that brakes were being applied. Its potential as a safety device has not been fully exploited. 
     Presently, the vehicle rear brake lights stay on continuously when activated. Oftentimes, this is not noticeable to the trailing driver for a number of reasons, which may include boredom, distraction, inexperience, age, medicinal effect, etc. The situation may be further compounded when the leading car lights are on, whether it be day or night. The blending of night lights and brake lights can become difficult to differentiate. This problem is further intensified under adverse weather conditions. 
     On occasion brake or signal lights fail, usually by burning out,laving the driver of a trailing vehicle without any warning of vehicle braking or direction change. 
     An additional factor that further exacerbates this problem is the variety of arrangements of rear lights that exist on vehicles today. The variances in many car light designs may hamper the ability to distinguish brake lights from other rear lights. 
     It is common knowledge that many drivers pump their brakes to make the vehicle brake lights flash in order to warn the driver of a trailing vehicle to be on guard for a potential driving hazard. It is important to note that this pumping action lengthens the stopping distance and, therefore, cannot always be used to warn the driver of a trailing vehicle without potentially causing a collision between the vehicles. 
     Anti-lock brakes are also of special concern because pumping these braking devices is contraindicated. Therefore, when driving a vehicle equipped with antilock brakes, the driver is not able to warn the driver of the trailing vehicle of a potential driving hazard. 
     In present day vehicles, movement of the vehicle in reverse is indicated by steady white rear lights which may not be readily visible in daylight, or by an audible signal which may not be heard by the hearing impaired. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the invention is the provision of circuitry and/or device(s) for providing a flashing or blinking light in the rear of a vehicle to alert others of a reduction in speed or directional change, thereby substantially increasing driver and passenger safety while travelling. 
     By means of the present invention, with little additional cost to vehicle owners or manufacturers, while utilizing existing vehicle equipment, the effectiveness of the vehicle mandated safety equipment can be greatly enhanced. 
     Herein, the addition of a flashing or blinking means to the brake lights enhances the indication that the vehicle is stopping or turning, increasing driver safety without compromising individual car design. 
     The invention requires no unusual switches or gadgetry and utilizes a flashing or blinking center brake light for signaling braking or turning. For braking only, all brake lights can be placed in a flashing or blinking mode upon activation. 
     It is well-accepted that all drivers have been indoctrinated to respond quickly to flashing lights, especially red flashing lights. It is a wake-up call to all. The invention hereof is a simple one, utilizing the third brake light as a flashing or blinking device to indicate that a vehicle&#39;s brakes are being applied and the vehicle is slowing down. The flashing or blinking third brake light can also be activated when the turn signals are engaged. 
     The invention provides circuitry modification that will activate the vehicle center rear brake light. 
     The blinking or flashing light hereof provides double protection to warn the driver of a trailing vehicle that the vehicle in front of him is changing direction. 
     Use of the present invention is especially important in vehicles equipped with anti-lock brakes, wherein the brakes cannot be “pumped”. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, a flashing or blinking mechanism in the brake lights is activated when a vehicle is moving in reverse. Activation of the flashing or blinking mechanism will provide a stronger warning mechanism to other drivers and to pedestrians in the vicinity of the vehicle. 
     As part of this invention, the flashing or blinking lights will not only serve as a warning mechanism to other drivers, but also will provide lighting effect that will not be confused with other flashing light mechanisms currently used on the road. Further, the frequency of the flashing will be such that the time in the “off” position is limited. 
     Although the present invention describes a relay mechanism added to the existing third brake light, it is also intended to include any type of mechanism that will create the same effect of flashing or blinking of brake lights. For example, it may include the use of a bulb with more than one filament, or more than one adjacent bulb to create a flashing or blinking effectuupon the application of the brakes or the turn signals. 
     The inventors feel confident that their blinking or flashing mechanism, added to existing brake lights, turn signals, and back-up lights will be so effective in preventing accidents and injury that it will become mandated by law for all newly manufactured vehicles and for retrofitting vehicles presently on the road. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic showing of circuitry embodying one form of the invention using an intermittent relay for flashing or blinking a vehicle center brake light; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic showing of circuitry embodying a second form of the invention using an intermittent relay for flashing or blinking all vehicle brake lights; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic showing of circuitry embodying a third form of the invention wherein the center brake light is connected to the left and right turn signals so that the center brake light will flash or blink when either turn signal is activated; and 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic showing of a fourth form of the invention embodying unidirectional circuitry wherein a vehicle center brake light is connected by an intermittent relay to the vehicle back-up lights so that the brake light will flash or blink when the vehicle is in reverse. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, circuitry  10 , embodying a first form of the invention, includes a battery  12 , a brake switch  14 , a rear center brake light  16 , a rear left brake light  18  and a rear right brake light  20 . Brake switch  14  is disposed in a first line  22  which connects between the battery  12  and a second line  24  which connects between rear left and rear right brake lights  18  and  20  respectively. 
     A third line  26  connects rear brake light  16  to line  22  at a location between brake switch  14  and rear left and right brake light  18  and  20  respectively. 
     An intermittent relay  28  is disposed in line  26  so that when brake light switch  14  is activated, center brake light  16  will be flashing or blinking while the rear left and right lights  18  and  20  remain steady. 
     Intermittent relay  28  may be of the type having a set “on” and “off” interval between flashes; or it may be of the type wherein the “on” and “off” interval between flashes may be adjusted. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, circuitry  100 , embodying a second form of the invention, includes a battery  112 , a brake switch  114 , a rear center brake light  116 , a rear left brake light  118  and a rear right brake light  120 . Brake switch  114  is disposed in a first line  122  which connects between battery  112  and a second line  124  which connects between rear left and rear right brake lights  118  and  120  respectively. 
     A third line  126  connects rear brake light  116  to line  122  at a location between brake switch  114  and rear left and right brake lights  118  and  120  respectively. 
     An intermittent relay  128  is disposed in line  122  at a location between brake switch  114  and before the connection of line  126  with line  122  so that when brake light switch  114  is activated, center brake light  116  and rear left and right brake lights  118  and  120  will all flash or blink. 
     Intermittent relay  128  may be of the type having a set “on” and “off” interval between flashes; or it may be of the type wherein the “on” and “off” interval between flashes may be adjusted. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, circuitry  210 , embodying a third form of the invention, includes a battery  212 , a left turn signal switch  214 , a right turn signal switch  214 A, a rear center brake light  216 , a left turn signal  218  and a right turn signal  220 . 
     A first line  222  connects battery  212  to an intermittent relay  228 . 
     Intermittent relay  228  may be of the type having a set “on” and “off” interval between flashes; or it may be of the type wherein the “on” and “off” interval between flashes may be adjusted. 
     Left turn signal switch  214  is disposed in a second line  224  which is connected at one end to first line  222  and at its opposite end to left turn signal  218 . 
     Right turn signal switch  214 A is disposed in a third line  226  which is connected at one end to first line  222  and at its opposite end to right turn signal  220 . 
     A fourth line  230  interconnects second and third lines  224  and  226  respectively, with fourth line  230  being divided into a left turn zone  230 A and right turn zone  230 B. 
     A fifth line  232  is connected at one end to fourth line  230  centrally of the latter and is connected at its opposite end to rear center brake light  216 . 
     A first unidirectional switch  234 A is disposed in left turn zone  230 A and permits current to flow only in one direction, as indicated by the arrow a. 
     A second unidirectional switch  234 B is disposed in right turn zone  230 B and permits current to flow only in one direction, as indicated by the arrow b. 
     In operation, when left turn signal switch  214  is actuated, current passes through line  224  to illuminate left turn signal  218 , and current also passes through zone  230 A through unidirectional switch  234 A, and through line  232  to rear center brake light  216  to illuminate the light, with intermittent relay  228  causing the rear center brake light and the left turn signal to flash or blink. 
     Alternatively, when right turn signal switch  214 A is actuated, current passes through line  226  to illuminate right turn signal  220 , and current also passes through zone  230 B through unidirectional switch  234 B and line  232  to rear center brake light  216  to illuminate the light, with intermittent relay  228  causing the rear center brake light and the right turn signal to flash or blink. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, circuitry  310 , embodying a fourth form of the invention, includes a battery  312 , a back-up light switch  314 , a rear center brake light  316 , a left back-up light  318  and a right back-up light  320 . 
     Back-up light switch  314  is disposed in a first line  322  which connects between battery  312  and rear center brake light  316 . 
     An intermittent relay  328  is disposed in first line  322  after back-up light switch  314 . 
     Intermittent relay  328  may be of the type having a set “on” and “off” interval between flashes; or it may be of the type wherein the “on” and “off” interval between flashes may be adjusted. 
     A unidirectional switch  334  is disposed in first line  322  between intermittent relay  328  and rear center brake light  316  and allows current to flow in only one direction, as indicated by the arrow c. 
     A second line  324  connects at one end to first line  322  between back-up light switch  314  and intermittent relay  328  and is connected at its opposite end to a third line  326  connecting between left and right back-up lights  318  and  320  respectively. 
     When the vehicle is placed in reverse, back-up light switch  314  is activated and back-up lights  318  and  320  are illuminated; current passing through intermittent relay  328  and unidirectional switch  334  will cause rear center brake light  316  to flash or blink while the vehicle is backing up.