Motor vehicle with front warning lights

Abstract

Motor vehicle with two front warning lights (5, 5', 5") which are mounted inside the vehicle on a windshield of the motor vehicle, wherein the front warning lights (5, 5', 5") are integrated into a mounting device for attaching an interior rearview mirror (1) to the windshield, characterized in that opaque dots arranged at regular intervals are applied to the windshield as a frit, at least in the area of ​​the front warning lights (5, 5', 5"), which partially impair the emission of light signals from the front warning lights (5, 5', 5") through the windshield.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle with front warning lights according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Many modern emergency vehicles from various agencies, such as the police, fire department, or ambulance services, are equipped with a front warning light mounted inside the vehicle on the windshield. These front warning lights emit light signals through the windshield in the direction of travel when an emergency is detected, thus improving the vehicle's visibility.

[0003] These front warning lights can be purchased from accessory retailers and usually have suction cups for attaching them to the windshield. While suction cups offer a simple, but not very reliable, mounting method, these front warning lights are typically either mounted on the instrument panel or only slightly above it on the windshield, minimizing the risk should the suction cups unexpectedly detach.

[0004] A front warning light mounted in this way obstructs the airflow from the vents directly below the windshield. This can lead to icing of the windshield in this area at cold outside temperatures. Furthermore, such a front warning light is located in the direct line of sight of the driver and / or front passenger.

[0005] US Patent 3,665,392 A discloses a motor vehicle with at least one front warning light mounted inside the vehicle on the windshield. The front warning light is integrated into a mounting device for attaching an interior rearview mirror to the windshield.

[0006] Further examples of state of the art include DE 10 2011 101 016 B3, US 2002 / 0 109 999 A1, DE 10 2007 027 476 A1 and US 8 179 437 B2.

[0007] The object of the invention is to create a motor vehicle with optimized front warning lights.

[0008] This problem is solved with a motor vehicle with front warning lights having the features of claim 1.

[0009] According to the invention, a motor vehicle has front warning lights mounted on the windshield inside the vehicle. These front warning lights are integrated into a mounting device for attaching an interior rearview mirror to the windshield. Preferably, the mounting device comprises at least one support arm, to one end of which the actual interior rearview mirror is attached, and at least one cover that conceals the connection of the other end of the support arm to the windshield. Typically, the support arm is connected to a bracket that is bonded to the windshield, thus ensuring a very stable and secure connection of the support arm to the windshield. The front warning lights are preferably clearly visible from the front of the vehicle when viewed in the longitudinal direction.On the windscreen, at least in the area of ​​the front warning lights, opaque dots arranged at regular intervals are applied as a frit, which partially impair the emission of light signals from the front warning lights through the windscreen.

[0010] The interior rearview mirror is typically mounted at the top of the windshield. Therefore, integrating the front warning lights into the rearview mirror's mounting bracket also places them at the top of the windshield. This positions the front warning lights significantly higher relative to the vehicle's height than conventional front warning lights mounted directly above the instrument panel on the windshield. This higher positioning improves the visibility of the front warning lights to other road users when they are illuminated, thus enhancing safety for both the vehicle's occupants and other road users.This higher positioning is possible because integrating the front warning lights into the mounting bracket of the interior rearview mirror ensures a very secure attachment of the front warning lights, eliminating any risk of them detaching from the windshield. Furthermore, due to their higher positioning, the front warning lights according to the invention are located outside the driver's direct field of vision, thus contributing to increased road safety.

[0011] Preferably, the cover completely shields the front warning lights from the vehicle interior, preventing the light from the warning lights from entering the vehicle. This eliminates the possibility of glare or irritation of the driver caused by the illuminated front warning lights.

[0012] The vehicle is equipped with two front warning lights. Ideally, these two lights are positioned on either side of the mounting arm when viewed from the side of the vehicle. The more front warning lights are used, and the larger they are, the more visible they become when illuminated. However, the number and size of the front warning lights must be balanced against the driver's unobstructed field of vision and secure mounting. Furthermore, the front warning lights should be as inconspicuous as possible when not in use, as they are primarily used on camouflaged emergency vehicles. Such camouflaged emergency vehicles are practically indistinguishable from ordinary vehicles when not in use. Too many or too large front warning lights would be detrimental in this context. The optimal solution has proven to be the use of two front warning lights.

[0013] Ideally, the front warning lights should be dark so that they are difficult to see from the outside of the vehicle when not switched on. Ideally, the warning lights themselves, their housings, and the mounting bracket cover should all be as dark as possible and a uniform color, so that the warning lights on the windshield are barely noticeable from the outside of the vehicle when not in use.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment, the front warning lights can be used as flashing lights. A flashing light emits several consecutive short light signals, while a warning light either illuminates continuously or switches on and off at much longer intervals. The light signals of a flashing light are also often much brighter than those of a warning light. The short, bright flash of a flashing light, due to the changing light stimuli, attracts the attention of other road users to a particularly high degree, thus increasing the visibility of at least one front warning light or the vehicle itself.

[0015] Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of dependent claims.

[0016] The drawing shows an embodiment of the invention, which will be described in more detail below. The individual figures show, in schematic form: Fig. 1 a longitudinal section through a motor vehicle in the area of ​​an interior rearview mirror and Fig. 2. A frontal view of the motor vehicle in the area of ​​the interior rearview mirror from the outside of the vehicle.

[0017] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a motor vehicle, showing an interior rearview mirror 1 attached to the windshield of the motor vehicle by a mounting device. The mounting device comprises at least one support arm (not shown), a bracket 2, and a cover 4. The interior rearview mirror 1 is attached via the Fig. 1. A support arm (not shown) is connected to a bracket 2. The bracket 2 is attached to a windshield (also not shown). The bracket 2 also serves to hold a camera 3, which can detect what is happening in front of the vehicle (as viewed from the front of the vehicle) through the windshield. The bracket 2, the camera 3, and part of the support arm that holds the interior rearview mirror 1 are covered by a cover 4, so that the bracket 2, the camera 3, and the covered part of the support arm are not visible from inside the vehicle.

[0018] The mounting bracket for the interior rearview mirror 1 incorporates two adjacent front warning lights 5. These front warning lights 5 are positioned above the bracket 2 and, as with conventional front warning lights, can emit visual warning signals forward through the windshield in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle. The cover 4 serves as the receptacle for the front warning lights 5 and simultaneously conceals them, making them invisible from the vehicle interior. The cover 4 is made of a completely light-tight material, ensuring that when the front warning lights 5 are switched on, no light can escape directly into the vehicle interior. This prevents the switched-on front warning lights 5 from distracting or dazzling the vehicle occupants in any way.

[0019] The uppermost edge of the cover 4 (viewed in the vehicle's vertical direction z) and the rearmost edge (viewed in the vehicle's longitudinal direction x) abuts a headliner 6, which lines the roof of the vehicle inside the passenger compartment. The required electrical connection for the front warning lights 5 is made via an electrical cable 7, which runs above the headliner 6 and through a cutout in the cover 4 in the area adjacent to the headliner 6, leading directly to the front warning lights 5. In this way, the electrical cable 7 is not visible from inside the vehicle, as it is concealed by the headliner 6 and the cover 4.

[0020] The front warning lights 5 utilize multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as their light source. LEDs offer high luminous efficacy with a comparatively low power consumption. This makes it possible to create a very bright front warning light without the risk of the vehicle's battery being rapidly discharged by the front warning lights 5 if the battery is not continuously recharged by a running engine. Furthermore, LEDs are well-suited for use as flashing lights, as rapid, repeated switching on and off does not affect their lifespan. The lifespan of LEDs also far exceeds that of other light sources, making the front warning lights 5 with LEDs exceptionally reliable and low-maintenance.

[0021] Integrating the front warning lights 5 into the mounting bracket for the interior rearview mirror 1 offers the advantage of secure attachment of the front warning lights 5 to the windshield. This also allows the front warning lights 5 to be positioned in the upper area of ​​the windshield. Viewed from the vehicle's height (z), they are thus mounted higher than conventional front warning lights. Due to this higher mounting position, the front warning lights 5 are more visible to other road users and therefore appear earlier. This increases road safety for all road users. Furthermore, the front warning lights 5 can be used both as conventional lights and as flashing beacons.When used as a speed camera, it further increases early detectability compared to use as a light, since changing light signals can be perceived much better by other road users than a constant light or one whose brightness changes only slowly.

[0022] These front warning lights (5) are frequently used on camouflaged emergency vehicles. Camouflaged emergency vehicles should be as indistinguishable as possible from ordinary motor vehicles, so that they are not recognizable as emergency vehicles when not in use. Conversely, it is important that the camouflaged emergency vehicles are as easily recognizable as emergency vehicles as possible when they are in use. The front warning lights (5) contribute to this. Fig. Figure 2 shows a front view of the motor vehicle.

[0023] The windshield, in the area of ​​the mounting bracket, is at least partially printed with a so-called frit 8. A frit consists of a powder, usually black, which is applied to the still-hot windshield during manufacturing, causing it to fuse slightly with the surface. The bracket 2 is bonded to the windshield in the area of ​​the frit 8, so that from the outside of the vehicle only the frit 8 is visible as a black area, concealing the bracket 2. The frit 8 extends upwards to the upper edge of the windshield. The two adjacent front warning lights 5 are positioned so that the first front warning light 5' to the left and the other front warning light 5" to the right of the frit 8 can emit their light signals forwards through the windshield without obstruction.All components within the space between the windshield, headliner 6, and cover 4 that are not covered by the frit 8 and that might be visible from the outside of the vehicle are finished in the darkest possible colors to make them very inconspicuous. The front warning lights 5 are also designed to be as dark as possible, so that the areas visible through the windshield when the front warning lights 5 are switched off are only discernible upon very close inspection.

[0024] According to the invention, dots arranged at regular intervals in the area of ​​the two front warning lights 5 are applied to the windshield as a frit. These frit dots slightly impede the free passage of the light signals from the front warning lights 5 through the windshield. Conversely, the front warning lights 5 are thus hardly visible from the outside of the vehicle when the front warning lights 5 are switched off, due to the frit dots.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle with two front warning lights (5, 5', 5") mounted inside the vehicle on a windshield of the motor vehicle, wherein the front warning lights (5, 5', 5") are integrated into a mounting device for attaching an interior rearview mirror (1) to the windshield, characterized by , that opaque dots arranged at regular intervals are applied to the windscreen, at least in the area of ​​the front warning lights (5, 5', 5"), as a frit, which partially impair the emission of light signals from the front warning lights (5, 5', 5") through the windscreen. [2] Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by , that the fastening device comprises at least one retaining arm, to one end of which the actual interior rearview mirror (1) is attached, and at least one cover (4) that conceals the connection of the other end of the retaining arm to the windscreen. [3] Motor vehicle according to claim 2, characterized by, that the cover (4) completely shields the front warning lights (5, 5', 5") from the vehicle interior, so that the light from the front warning lights (5) cannot enter the vehicle interior. [4] Motor vehicle according to claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that, viewed in the transverse direction of the vehicle, a front warning light (5, 5', 5") is arranged on both sides of the support arm. [5] Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the front warning lights (5, 5', 5") are clearly visible from the front of the vehicle exterior when viewed in the longitudinal direction (x). [6] Motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the front warning lights (5, 5', 5") are designed to be dark, so that they are difficult to see from the outside of the vehicle when they are not switched on. [7] Motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the front warning lights (5, 5', 5") can be used as flashing lights. [8] Motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the front warning lights (5, 5', 5") use light-emitting diodes as light sources.

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