Vehicle safety system

Abstract

A turn indication system for a vehicle includes an indicating member movable between a first position and a second position in response to the actuation of a turn signal switch. A door-ajar indication system for a vehicle includes an indicating member movable between a first position and a second position in response to the actuation of a switch so as to indicate an ajar condition of a door of the vehicle. A traffic observation system for a vehicle includes a wave receiving member for mounting to the vehicle such that the wave receiving member is oriented along a line of sight from an object approaching the vehicle from a lateral direction generally perpendicular to a path of motion of the vehicle, permitting a driver of the vehicle to perceive the object via a wave received by the wave receiving member from the object along the line of sight.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . A door-ajar indication system for a vehicle, comprising an indicating member moveable between a first position and a second position, which is different from said first position, said indicating member being movable from said first position to said second position in response to the actuation of a switch so as to indicate an ajar condition of a vehicle door.  
   
   
       14 . The door-ajar indication system of  claim 13 , wherein said indicating member includes an indicator light, and further comprising means for moving said indicating member in conjunction with said indicator light being illuminated such that said indicator light moves from said first position to said second position.  
   
   
       15 . The door-ajar indication system of  claim 14 , wherein said indicating member is sized and shaped for mounting to the vehicle door such that when said indicator light is in said first position said indicator light is not visible through a window opening of the vehicle door, and when said indicator light is in said second position said indicator light is visible through the window opening of the vehicle door.  
   
   
       16 . The door-ajar indication system of  claim 13 , including pneumatic actuation means for moving said indicating member between said first position and said second position, including a pressure cylinder, a source of pressurized air, a conduit for delivering pressurized air from said source to said pressure cylinder, and a solenoid valve disposed between said source and said pressure cylinder for selectively opening said conduit.  
   
   
       17 . A traffic observation system for a vehicle, comprising a wave receiving member sized and shaped so as to be mounted to a vehicle such that said wave receiving member is oriented along a line of sight from an object approaching the vehicle from a lateral direction generally perpendicular to a path of motion of the vehicle, whereby a driver of the vehicle is permitted to perceive the object via a wave received by said wave receiving member from the object along the line of sight.  
   
   
       18 . The traffic observation system of  claim 17 , wherein said wave receiving member includes a reflective element for receiving and reflecting light waves, and said wave receiving member is moveable from a first position to a second position different from said first position so as to permit said reflective element to reflect light waves received from the object along the line of sight and toward the driver, thereby permitting the driver to view a reflected image of the object.  
   
   
       19 . The traffic observation system of  claim 18 , wherein said reflective element is a mirror for reflecting visible light waves, said first position is a first elevation, and said second position is a second elevation different from said first elevation.  
   
   
       20 . The traffic observation system of  claim 19 , further comprising pneumatic actuator means sized and shaped for mounting proximate a front end of the vehicle so as to elevate the wave receiving member to said second elevation such that the driver is permitted to observe vehicular traffic approaching the path of motion of the vehicle from in front of the front end of the vehicle, and from a direction generally perpendicular to the path of motion of the vehicle.