Brake Light and Radar Detection Device

The invention relates to radar detection devices and more particularly to the combination of a radar detection and a high-mount brake light wherein the radar detection unit is mouned to enhance its detection capabilities. The combination assembly also renders the radar detector less susceptible to theft and more cosmetically attractive. Conventional radar detectors have included a detector and a signaling device. The detector is typically mounted on the sun visor, above the dash, or behind the front grill of the automobile. The switching device may be located anywhere where it is readily visible. The visor mounted detectors are easily stolen and have also been criticized as unsafe since the detector may fall of the visor while driving. The detectors mounted remotely in the grill area of the automobile have the problem that the body of the automobile decreases the radar detection and may be adversely affected by weather conditions.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,210 discloses an interior rear view mirror of an automobile in which a radar detector may be mounted. In order to accommodate the fatness of the rear view mirror, the detector is made in a wide grid form reducing the effectiveness of the detector. The unit requires that a wire drops down from inside the vehicle, which, from a cosmetic and safety point of view is not entirely satisfactory. The device also remains highly susceptible to theft.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a device for mounting a radar detector which has increased detection capabilities, is safe, and is not readily susceptible to theft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which may be manufactured either in the form of a ready-made device or in a "kit" form for adapting a high-mount brake light to include a radar detector.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination radar detector and brake light of the high mount type which positions the detector in an enhanced position for radar detection, renders the mounting safe, and relatively unsusceptible to theft.

The above objectives are accomplished according to the present invention by including a radar detection unit in a high mount brake light unit to provide a combined brake light and radar detection device. In accordance with the invention, a radar receiver is placed in a housing of the brake light unit facing toward the front of the vehicle. A radar detector is mounted in a shaft of a support base of the brake light unit for receiving radar waves vertically. The radar receiver receives radar waves coming from a horizontal direction, gathers the radar waves, and redirects the radar waves in a vertical direction for impingement on the radar detector. In this manner, a radar detector unit is provided which has increased detection capabilities, is safe, and is relatively theft proof.

In another example of the invention, a standard brake light unit may be converted into a combined brake light and radar detection unit. This may include removing the original reflector and brake light to accommodate placement of the radar receiving unit. In this case, a modified brake light arrangement and light reflector may be included.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation illustrating a vehicle with a combination brake light/radar detector device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with parts separated of a brake light/radar detector device of the high-mount type constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, a vehicle 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 having a combination radar detector/brake light device designated generally as A constructed in accordance with the invention mounted inside the rear window of the vehicle. The device may be mounted to a package shelf 12 of the vehicle or may be trunk mounted to the trunk 14 or other suitable portion of the automobile.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the device includes a housing 16 including a generally horizontal housing 18 and a vertical base housing 20 which supports housing 18 in a elevated position. Vertical housing 20 provides a high support for the brake light making it more readily visible. Housing 16 may be mounted on shelf 12 or other vehicle support surface. A translucent brake light window 22 faces rearwardly. A brake light unit B may include any arrangement of lighting elements such as a pair of spaced bulbs 24 mounted in horizontal housing 18 and electrically connected by wires 26 extending inside vertical housing 20. It is to be understood, that any suitable arrangement of lighting may be provided for in brake light unit B. A reflector means 28 is provided for reflecting the light from elements 24. As illustrated, reflector means 28 is in the form of a double, concave reflector lens having reflectors 30 and 32 surrounding lights 24, as can best be seen in FIG. 4.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, a radar detector unit C is carried in vertical shaft 20a of housing 20. Detector unit C may be any suitable radar detector such as a Whistler Spectrum II manufactured by Dymatech Corporation of Baltimore, Md. It is to be understodd, of course, that any suitable radar detector may be used. As illustrated, detector C includes a radar feed horn 40 which feeds radar detector circuitry shown schematically at 42. A passage 46 is formed between housing 16 and 18 for transmission of the radio or radar waves to feed horn 40 of detector C. The referened radar detector includes a focusing lens 44 which occupies passage 46 for focusing radar waves for effective impingement upon detector C. Passage 46, which is blank, may be employed without a focusing lens for passing radar waves to feed horn 40 and to the associated detection circuitry 42. Suitable wiring 48 may carry the detection signals to a suitable signaling unit 49 mounted at a convenient and effective position so that the driver of the automobile may readily see the signal display.

In accordance with the invention, as can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, there is a radar receiving unit D having a radar wave gathering means int he form of a reflector E. Reflector E has a pair of converging side surfaces 50, 52 and upper surface 54 which gather in the radiation and reflect it towards passage 46. Upper surface 54 is an inclined wall which bridges the converging sides 50 and 52. The design of converging surfaces 50, 52 and 54 effectively gathers and reflects radar waves received from the front end of the automobile, as shown by arrows 56 in FIG. 1, for impingement upon feed horn 40.

In "kit" form, it is contemplated that a standard brake light unit will be replaced with interchangable parts that will facilitate the installation of radar detector C. For example, a number of standard high-mount brake light units include a single bulb in the center of the housing. In order to mount the radar detector C and radar passage 46 in the center of the housing, it is necessary that this be modified. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, this may be done by replacing the single bulb with a pair of bulbs 24 and replacing the conventional reflector with reflector 28. It is contemplated that the standard bulb and reflector will have to be replaced by interchangable parts when the invention is used in "kit" form to make room to accommodate placement of radar receiving unit D. Detector C may then be installed in vertical shaft 16a of base 16. Radar gathering reflector E is installed. Radio waves coming from front, generally horizontal direction 56 are redirected to a generally vertical direction 58 for effective impingement upon detector C carried for vertical reception.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.