GB2450560A

GB2450560A - Control device that flashes a light when the accelerator pedal is released

Info

Publication number: GB2450560A
Application number: GB0712725A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hou-Wang Kao
Original assignee: BAO YO JEI CO Ltd
Current assignee: BAO YO JEI CO Ltd
Priority date: 2007-06-26
Filing date: 2007-06-26
Publication date: 2008-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2027-06-26
Also published as: GB0712725D0; GB2450560B

Abstract

The control box mainly contains a tackle element 30 which engages a rotary switch 63 to turn on and off a lamp 61, preferably the brake light, when the rotary switch 63 is turned in one direction. The tackle element 30 is connected to the accelerator pedal 70 and an elastic element 40. When the accelerator pedal 70 is depressed, the tackle element 30 is wound to tighten the elastic element 40 and, when the accelerator pedal 70 is released, the elastic element 40 expands to unwind the tackle element 30 and the rotary switch 63 in the direction so that the brake lamp 61 is flashed. Depending on how fast the accelerator pedal 70 is released, the brake lamp 61 flashes at different frequencies.

Description

TITLE: A CONTROL DEVICE FOR FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT

(a) Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the brake system of vehicles, and more particularly to a control device for flashing the brake light in accordance with how fast the accelerator pedal is released.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

As shown in FIG 7, the brake light of a vehicle D is turned on when the driver shifts his or her foot from the accelerator pedal B to the brake pedal A and steps on the brake pedal A. The driver in the vehicle E behind is thereby alerted to take proper response.

However, the speed of the vehicle D is already slow down when the driver of the vehicle D shifts his or her foot away from the accelerator pedal B but not yet steps on the brake pedal A. The driver of the vehicle E has no way to learn that and, when he or she notices the brake light of the vehicle D is turned on, the distance between the vehicles D and E may already be too short to react. Driving on the highway or freeway is especially the case where vehicles are all running at great speeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a novel control device is provided herein to provide preliminary warning by flashing the brake light to the driver behind.

The control box mainly contains a tackle element which engages a rotaly switch to turn on and off a brake lamp intermittently when the rotary switch is turned in a direction. The tackle element, on one hand, is wound and unwound by the depression and release of the accelerator pedal, respectively. On the other hand, the winding and unwinding of the tackle element are countered by an elastic element. When the accelerator pedal is depressed, the tackle element is wound to tighten the elastic element and, when the accelerator pedal is released, the elastic element expands to unwind the tackle element and the rotary switch in the direction so that the brake lamp is flashed. Depending on how fast the accelerator pedal is released, the brake lamp flashes at different frequencies. The driver behind is thereby altered in advance when the vehicle ahead is not accelerating. This preliminary warning gives the driver behind additional time to respond to the subsequent emergent braking of the vehicle ahead.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To frilly appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG 1 is a perspective view showing a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG 2 is a perspective exploded view showing the various components of the control device of FIG 1.

FIG 3 is a schematic view showing how the control device of FIG 1 FIG 4 is a sectional view showing the control device of FIG 1.

FIG 5 is a sectional view showing the control device of FIG 1 when the accelerator pedal is depressed.

FIG 6 is a sectional view showing the control device of FIG 1 when the accelerator pedal is released.

FIG 7 is a schematic diagram showing how a conventional brake light

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplaiy embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the thnction and anangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of the present invention contains a cover 10, an elastic element 40, a tackle element 30, a connection wire 20, a base 50, and a circuit member 60.

The circuit member 60 has connectors 62 for establishing electrical connection to the battery of a vehicle and, on the other hand, connects to at least a brake lamp 61 of the vehicle. The circuit member 60 has a cylindrical rotazy switch 63 extending upward from the circuit member 60.

The base 50 is positioned on top of the circuit member 60 and four bolts 64 joint the two together to securely seal the various components of the circuit member 60 inside. A though hole 52 of the base 50 allows the rotary switch 63 to extend into a chamber (not numbered) of the base 50. The chamber has an open top.

The tackle element 30 is positioned inside the chamber as well. The tackle element 30 has a blind hole 31 in the center of the bottom surface so that the tackle element 30 sits above the rotary switch 63. On the top surface, there is an axial rod with a diametrical slit 32.

The elastic element 40 is a spiral spring laid flatly on the top surface of the tackle element 30 with one end embedded in the slit 32. The other end of the elastic element 30 is bended into a hook and is locked to a vertical rod 53 at a corner of the base 50's chamber. Other types of torsion springs can also be used as the elastic element 40.

The connection wire 20 is wound around the tackle element 30. An end of the connection wire 20 is threaded through an opening 51 on the circumferential wall of the base 50's chamber.

The open top of the chamber is sealed by the cover 10 with bolts 11. The tackle element 30, the elastic element 40, and the connection wire 20 are therefore enclosed inside the chamber of the base 50.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the end of the connection wire 20 threading outside the control device 100 of the present invention is directly attached to the accelerator pedal 70 of the vehicle. In an alternative embodiment, the connection wire 20 is attached to the throttle wire of the engine.

As illustrated, the control device 100 of the present invention controls when the electricity from the batteiy 63 is fed to the brake lamp 61.

The operation of the control device is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. When the accelerator pedal 70 is depressed, the connection wire 20 is pulled to spin the tackle element 30 (and, therefore, the rotary switch 63) in a first direction, which in turn tightens the elastic element 40. Please note that the rotary switch 63 and the other electronic components of the circuit member 60 operate in such a way that, only when the rotary switch 63 is turned in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the electiicity from the battery 62 is allowed to flow to the brake lamp 61 intermittently.

Therefore, when the accelerator pedal 70 is released in a slower speed, the energy stored in the elastic element 40 unwinds the tackle element 30 (and, therefore, the rotary switch 63) in a slower speed. In turn, the brake lamp 6! is thereby flashed in a slower frequency as well. On the other hand, if the accelerator pedal 70 is released in a faster speed as in an emergency, the elastic element 40 unwinds the tackle element 30 and the rotary switch 63 at greater speed. The brake lamp 61 is thereby flashed in a higher frequency. In other words, depending on how fast the accelerator pedal 70 is released, the brake lamp 61 flashes at different frequencies. As such, a driver behind is alerted that the vehicle ahead is reducing speed and, by the speed of the flash, the driver is able to notice how fast the speed reduction is taking place. The driver behind therefore is notified of a potential hazard before the vehicle ahead is actually braked and has a few precious extra seconds to respond to emergency.

Please note that the control device can be used to flash other types of lamps installed on the vehicle other than the brake lamps.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

ICLAIM: 1. A control device for a vehicle, comprising: a circuit member

series-connected between a batteiy of said vehicle and at least a lamp, said circuit member having a rotary switch extending upward wherein, when said rotary switch is turned in a second direction opposite to a first direction, said circuit member allows electricity to flow form said battery to said lamp intennittently; a base fixedly positioned on top of said circuit member, said base having a chamber with open top and a bottom through hole allowing said rotary switch to extend into said chamber; a tackle element positioned inside said chamber and engaged by said rotary switch; an elastic element positioned on top of said tackle element, said elastic element having one end attached to said tackle element and the other end attached to said chamber so that said elastic element is tightened when said tackle element is turned in said first direction and said tackle element is turned in said second direction when said elastic element expands; a connection wire winding around said tackle element, said I0 connection wire having an end threaded through an opening of said chamber and engaged by the accelerator pedal of said vehicle; and a cover sealing said open top of said chamber to enclose said tackle element, said elastic element, and said connection wire; wherein, when said accelerator pedal is depressed, said connection wire is pulled to turn said tackle element in said first direction; when said accelerator pedal is released, said elastic element expands to turn said tackle element and said rotaiy switch in said second direction to flash said lamp; and said elastic element expands and thereby said rotaly switch turns in said second direction at different speeds in accordance with how fast said accelerator pedal is released.
2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein elastic element is a spiral spring.
3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said lamp is a brake lamp.
4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said tackle element has an axial rod with a diametrical slit on the top surface of said tackle element; said chamber has a vertical rod at a corner; and said elastic element has one end embedded in said slit and the other end bended into a hook to lock to said vertical rod.

II
5. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said connection wire is attached to said accelerator pedal or the throttle wire of the engine of said vehicle.