No turn warning apparatus for a motor vehicle and method of projecting a no ...

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NO TURN WARNING APPARATUS FOR A
MOTOR VEHICLE AND METHOD OF
PROJECTING A NO TURN WARNING
TOWARD AN ONCOMING MOTOR

VEHICLE 5

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

A device and method for projecting a no turn warning 10 from the front of an advancing motor vehicle toward an oncoming person. One embodiment of the present invention is particularly useful on emergency motor vehicles, such as, ambulances, fire trucks, law enforcement vehicles, police cruisers, as well as other types of emergency motor vehicles. 15 Another embodiment is incorporated into more traditional motor vehicles, such as, automobiles or trucks. At least one light is located at the frontal exterior preselected position of the motor vehicle. When activated in accordance with the present method, the apparatus projects a flashing no turn 20 warning signal toward oncoming pedestrians or vehicles. The no turn warning indicates the motor vehicle is proceeding in a straight pathway through an intersection rather than turning either to the left or to the right. In select embodiments, more than one light is mounted to the frontal 25 exterior of the motor vehicle. Bulbs, laser or fiber optics can be utilized to project the flashing no turn warning. White as well as other visible lights can be incorporated into the practice of the present invention.

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1. Description of the Previous Art

a) U.S. Pat. No. 2,230,288-McCready enables forward and aft directional indicating devices for a motor vehicle. Unless manually overridden, the McCready devices automatically reveal the direction in which the motor vehicle is 35 traveling. McCready's forward device is generally mounted upon the radiator cap and uses a combination of red and green signal lights. The rearward device incorporates the red and green lights of the forward device as well as an amber caution light and a red taillight. The '288 invention projects 4Q the red and green light in arrow-like shape to show the direction of the motor vehicle.

While running straight ahead, only McCready's green arrows are illuminated, but the driver can use the manual switch to indicate the direction of the proposed turned. 45 McCready uses red arrows to indicate the direction of an upcoming turn, but when the manual switch is first engaged, the straight ahead green arrows remain illuminated and the reward warning signal remains dark. When the turn actually begins, the red direction arrows are extinguished for an 50 instant, then the warning signal comes on followed by the arrow again. This sequence, together with the extinguishing of the green straight ahead signals that a turn is to be made. The rocking of the automatic switch during the turn automatically swings the manual switch back to its inoperative 55 position.

Under an automatic application of the '288 invention, engaging the foot brake, without turning, lights the rearward warning signal and causes the green arrows to darken in color. When the operator turns the steering wheel, the 60 rearward amber warning signal and the appropriate red arrow are illuminated while the green arrow is extinguished. The straightening of the wheel extinguishes the red direction arrows and warning signal and re-lights the green arrows indicating forward movement of the motor vehicle. 65

b) U.S. Pat. No. 3,109,158-Combs discloses a visual indicator positioned at the rear of the motor vehicle. Oil

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pressure dependent circuitry supports the indicator's operation. The Combs visual indicator signals any change in operational conditions of the motor, accelerator, brakes, reverse gear and oil pump to the driver following the Combs vehicle. The '158 invention also enables multicolored visual indicator panels, yellow for caution, green for go, red for stopping. Combs also teaches the use of flashing yellow panel, when the Combs vehicle is stationary and the gear shift is in any position other than reverse.

c) U.S. Pat. No. 3,492,638-Lane teaches a readily viewable rearwardly situated signal system that automatically indicates the change of speed in the vehicle. Near the apex of the '638 station wagon's roof, the Lane apparatus incorporates a series of red and green lights of varying dimensions. These different sized lamps reveal the status of the vehicle's movement. Using connections with the intake manifold and brake master cylinder, the '638 system electromechanically correlates whether the vehicle is idling, braking, cruising, accelerating, etcetera.

d) U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,620-Yeh discloses an apparatus for indicating the driving status of the forward vehicle to the trailing vehicle. Specifically, the Yeh device indicates if the driver of the forward vehicle is stepping on or releasing the accelerator pedal, or stepping on the brake pedal. As described, the Yeh apparatus is disposed inside the passenger compartment and facing reward, and it incorporates three different colored lights, e.g., green to indicate the driver has engaged the accelerator, red to show the driver has engaged the brake pedal, and yellow to indicate the driver has neither engaged the accelerator or the brake pedal. The '620 invention enables a system including two relays and two contacts. Responsive to whether the brake, accelerator or neither of those pedals has been depressed, the combination of the relays and contacts coordinate which color light is emitted toward the rearward vehicle.

e) U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,808-Nejdl enables an external cruise control warning light. The Nejdl warning light is mounted on the back deck of the passenger compartment so that it can be clearly seen by persons behind the vehicle. The '808 device projects rearwardly such words as "on cruise," "cruise on," "speed set" or "set speed." Nejdl also teaches that a light emitting diode embodiment can be substituted for his light bulb embodiment.

f) U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,707-Bartilucci relates to a signaling light visible through the rear window of the vehicle that signals the lead driver's intent in a rearward direction to the following driver. The '707 invention includes arrays of green, red and yellow light emitting diodes. Switches coupled to the accelerator, brake pedal, transmission and turn signal lever are linked to Bartilucci's logic circuit to control the rearwardly projecting various colored light emitting diodes.

g) U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,001 Bl-Haddad, et. al., enables the U-turn signal secured to the interior of the motor vehicle that emits its signal rearwardly. The driver of the motor vehicle utilizes radio frequency transmission to active the '001 device. Upon activation, the Haddad apparatus will flash the inverted U signal rearwardly for a predetermined time to indicate to following drivers that the lead driver intends to make a U-turn.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Due to ever-increasing traffic volume, in recent years, there has been greater congestion at intersections. Of course, more congestion also results in greater uncertainty for those persons approaching the intersection. And greater confusion