Integrated automotive horn/light apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for simultaneously operating the horn and light systems of a motorized vehicle is provided. The controller used to operate the systems can be a single controller that operates the horn when a certain range of pressure is applied to the controller and operates the horn and lights systems when a stronger pressure is applied. The system can include a dedicated horn operating system controller independent of the dual function controller to eliminate the need for differing pressures to operate the horn and light systems substantially simultaneously. Also disclosed are apparatuses and methods to coordinate a vehicle braking system with the vehicle horn and light systems to improve the reception of safety and/or emergency warnings.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patents is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for operating a vehicle horn and light system simultaneously comprising:
 a vehicle steering wheel/steering column assembly; 
 a vehicle horn system for emitting audible signals positioned in the vehicle; 
 a vehicle light system for emitting visual signals positioned in the vehicle; 
 a dual function horn/light controller positioned in the vehicle steering wheel/steering column assembly for simultaneously operating to permit manual operation of the horn and lights systems, or manual operation of only one of the horn or light systems when the dual horn/light controller is activated; 
 a vehicle braking system incorporated into the vehicle and connected to the dual function horn/light controller, the vehicle horn system and the vehicle light system wherein activation of the braking system activates the dual function controller the horn system and/or the light system. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising horn contacts situated below the dual function controller that come into contact and operate the horn system when pressure is applied to the controller a central processing controller connected between the vehicle horn and light systems and the vehicle braking system and further comprising an accelerometer positioned in the vehicle and connected to the central processing controller wherein activation of the braking system does not activate the vehicle horn and/or light systems unless a predetermined vehicle change of speed threshold is achieved, wherein the accelerometer sends speed information to the central processing controller, and wherein the central processing controller activates the horn and/or light systems when the brake system is activated and when the predetermined change in vehicle speed is achieved, detected by the accelerometer and processed by the central processing controller. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim  2  further comprising light contacts situated below the horn contacts that come into contact when pressure is applied to the controller 1 wherein parameters of horn system activation including sound intensity and duration are predetermined. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim  3  further comprising at least one light in the light system wherein the controller operates the at least one light when the controller is engaged via pressure 1 wherein parameters of light system activation including light intensity, duration and light pattern including intermittent flashing are predetermined. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim  4  1 further comprising a central processing system controller connected between the controller braking system and the horn and light systems to process and relay signals from the controller braking system to the horn and light systems. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim  4  1 further comprising a central processing controller connected between the braking system and the horn and light systems, wherein the central processing controller is wired connected directly to the horn and light systems via hard wire or wireless connection. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a at least one relay between the central processing controller and one or both the horn system and light systems. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim  6  further comprising a relay between the controller and light system 1 wherein the braking system comprises a brake pedal and a brake pedal speed sensor wherein brake system activation activates the horn and/or light systems when a predetermined brake pedal depression speed threshold is reached and sensed by the brake pedal speed sensor. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim  4  further comprising at least one transmitter connected to the controller and at least one receiver connected to the horn and light systems to wirelessly transmit signals from the controller to the horn and light systems 1 wherein the braking system comprises a brake pedal and a pressure/force detector connected to the brake pedal, wherein brake system activation activates the horn and/or light systems when the brake pedal is depressed and a predetermined brake pedal depression pressure threshold is reached and detected by the pressure/force detector. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dual horn/light controller comprises a pair of horn contacts and a pair of light contacts whereby an electrical signal is sent to the horn system when the horn contacts touch and an electrical signal is sent to the light system when the light contacts touch activates the horn system and/or light system when pressure is applied to the dual horn/light controller. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a light control switch positioned in the vehicle and positioned electrically between the dual horn/light controller and the light system wherein the light control switch disengages the light system from control of the dual horn/light controller when activated. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a single function controller positioned on the steering wheel/steering column assembly in the vehicle for controlling the horn system independent of the light system when the braking system is activated. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim  12  wherein the controller further comprises a pair of horn contacts and a pair of light contacts whereby an electrical signal is sent to the horn system when the horn contacts touch and an electrical signal is sent to the light system when the light contacts touch 1 further comprising a single function controller positioned in the vehicle for controlling the light system independent of the horn system when the braking system is activated. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim  13  wherein the single function controller engages the pair of horn contacts when a pressure is applied to the single function controller 1 further comprising a lock to lock the controller into an activation setting. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for operating a vehicle horn and light system simultaneously comprising:
 a vehicle steering wheel/steering column assembly comprising a steering wheel and a steering column connected to the steering wheel; 
 a vehicle horn system for emitting audible signals positioned in the vehicle; 
 a vehicle light system for emitting visual signals positioned in the vehicle; 
 a dual function horn/light controller lever positioned on the steering column for simultaneously operating in the vehicle and connected to the vehicle horn system and the vehicle light system to permit manual operation of the horn and lights systems; and, 
 a vehicle braking system incorporated into the vehicle and connected to the dual function controller vehicle horn system and the vehicle light system wherein activation of the braking system by applying a pressure force to the braking system sends a signal to, and activates, the dual function controller, which subsequently and substantially simultaneously activates the horn and light systems. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the controller lever further comprises a pair of horn contacts and a pair of light contacts whereby an electrical signal is sent to the horn system when the horn contacts touch and an electrical signal is sent to the light system when the light contacts touch braking system further comprises a brake pedal and a pressure/force detector connected to the brake pedal, wherein brake system activation activates the horn and/or light systems when the brake pedal is depressed and a predetermined brake pedal depression pressure threshold is reached and detected by the pressure/force detector. 
     
     
       17. A method of operating a vehicle horn and light system simultaneously comprising the steps of:
 providing a vehicle steering wheel/steering column assembly; 
 providing a vehicle horn system for emitting audible signals in the vehicle; 
 providing a vehicle light system for emitting visual signals in the vehicle; 
 providing a dual function horn/light controller positioned in the vehicle steering wheel/steering column assembly for simultaneously operating the horn and lights systems wherein the application of a first pressure force causes the horn system to engage independent of the light system and wherein the application of a second pressure force greater than the first pressure force causes the horn and light systems to be activated substantially simultaneously connected to the vehicle light system and the vehicle horn system to permit manual operation of the horn and lights systems, or operation of only one of the horn or light systems when the dual horn/light controller is activated; 
 providing a vehicle braking system incorporated into the vehicle and connected to the dual function controller wherein activation of the braking system activates the dual function controller; and, 
 providing a central processing controller in the vehicle and connected to the dual horn/light controller, the vehicle horn system, the vehicle light system and the vehicle braking system; and, 
 applying a pressure force on the braking system to send a signal to the central processing controller to activate the dual function controller to subsequently activate substantially simultaneously the horn and and/or light systems when the applied pressure force reaches a predetermined pressure threshold. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  wherein the first pressure force is from about 0 100 lbs/in 2  to about 5 200 lbs/in 2 . 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17  wherein the second pressure force is greater than 5 lbs/in 2  activation of the horn and/or light systems occurs when the applied pressure force reaches a predetermined pressure threshold. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of:
 providing a pair of horn contacts and a pair of light contacts connected to the controller whereby an electrical signal is sent to the horn system when the horn contacts touch and an electrical signal is sent to the light system when the light contacts touch, the second pressure force causing the horn and light contacts to touch braking system with a brake pedal wherein the applied pressure force is applied to the brake pedal.