CA2225002A1 - Audio safety device - Google Patents
Audio safety device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2225002A1 CA2225002A1 CA002225002A CA2225002A CA2225002A1 CA 2225002 A1 CA2225002 A1 CA 2225002A1 CA 002225002 A CA002225002 A CA 002225002A CA 2225002 A CA2225002 A CA 2225002A CA 2225002 A1 CA2225002 A1 CA 2225002A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- sound signal
- safety device
- responsive
- switch terminal
- Prior art date
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Abstract
A safety device for vehicles, adaptable to various applications, having a Backing Safety System, a School Bus "Stop Sign Arm" Safety System, a Driver Safety System, and a Technician Lift, Dump, Tailgate, and Hydraulic Cylinder Safety System. Each system is based on the same circuit path, which includes a switch terminal responsive to normal vehicle operations, an input terminal to receive current from the switch terminal, a transformer, a voltage selector, an automatic controller which compares voltage with preselected data and generates an output, a sound chip emitting a sound signal response, and an amplifier .
Various fuses are dispersed throughout the safety device to prevent system degradation. A speaker mounted outside the vehicle transmits the amplified sound signal, in the form or an audio message, to those both inside and outside the vehicle.
Various fuses are dispersed throughout the safety device to prevent system degradation. A speaker mounted outside the vehicle transmits the amplified sound signal, in the form or an audio message, to those both inside and outside the vehicle.
Description
~-;lHF 1~ FF'II~-FH~:'CiEI~CA 0222S002 1997-12-17-3 - - F.
A~IDI~ SAF--.TY ~F~
FlELD OF TffE INV~N~IO~
The presen~ in~en~ion relates cener~ to ~~arnin~ devlces, a~
moro sp~ci~ically, to ah audic :~fel~r device w--h ~imulat~d ~oic~
warning signals cer-~irg to prGtec~ workers and other~ wi~in tn~
vicini~ of mo-Ji~g -~e~icl~s ~n~ th~ . The ~ldio safet~ de-~i~_ is comp~ct, easily mounta~le within existing vehicle~, ~nd pro~ide, :~1 multiple ~ettings fof warn_n:~ in C~ce Gf vari~>~s, col~non~
encou~tere~ s- uations.
B~CKGROUND OF THE I~rE~TION
The wor~ environment has beco~e la~er wlth uns~fe pr~ctices, :~ many of which are ~2asona~1~ necessar;~ to accorn~lish certain t:~s~is.
As safet~ in th~ ~ork environ~.ent ha~ beccme ircreas~nsly impcrtant, ne~ a_t~pts to pre~e~t accid~nts ha~e been implemente-~. The Occupational 5~~et~ and Health Adminis~ration is responsi~le for ins~it~ting a ~umber of r~medial meas~res to ens~re a ~afe work Z~ a~osphere However, thore are ~n~y ricks asso~iate~ wlth ~ch~ wor~
~n~,iron~nent ~hi-h impact non-~r/or~erS.
Gpe~ations in~.olvin~ sch~cl ~:uses and hecv~ eq~1ipment rernain ~speciall~ sus~ep-ible to unan~iclp~ted safety bre~ches. In m~ny lnsta~ces, a he~v~ ~e~lcle ope~cr is not aware cf anot~r p~rson's
A~IDI~ SAF--.TY ~F~
FlELD OF TffE INV~N~IO~
The presen~ in~en~ion relates cener~ to ~~arnin~ devlces, a~
moro sp~ci~ically, to ah audic :~fel~r device w--h ~imulat~d ~oic~
warning signals cer-~irg to prGtec~ workers and other~ wi~in tn~
vicini~ of mo-Ji~g -~e~icl~s ~n~ th~ . The ~ldio safet~ de-~i~_ is comp~ct, easily mounta~le within existing vehicle~, ~nd pro~ide, :~1 multiple ~ettings fof warn_n:~ in C~ce Gf vari~>~s, col~non~
encou~tere~ s- uations.
B~CKGROUND OF THE I~rE~TION
The wor~ environment has beco~e la~er wlth uns~fe pr~ctices, :~ many of which are ~2asona~1~ necessar;~ to accorn~lish certain t:~s~is.
As safet~ in th~ ~ork environ~.ent ha~ beccme ircreas~nsly impcrtant, ne~ a_t~pts to pre~e~t accid~nts ha~e been implemente-~. The Occupational 5~~et~ and Health Adminis~ration is responsi~le for ins~it~ting a ~umber of r~medial meas~res to ens~re a ~afe work Z~ a~osphere However, thore are ~n~y ricks asso~iate~ wlth ~ch~ wor~
~n~,iron~nent ~hi-h impact non-~r/or~erS.
Gpe~ations in~.olvin~ sch~cl ~:uses and hecv~ eq~1ipment rernain ~speciall~ sus~ep-ible to unan~iclp~ted safety bre~ches. In m~ny lnsta~ces, a he~v~ ~e~lcle ope~cr is not aware cf anot~r p~rson's
2~ pres~:~ce near t~ hea~rv vehicle; ~uite ~i~ply, t~e physical si7e of ~ilHF~lt-~ 7 F~ FHDr'~llcA 0222S002 1997-12-l7 F' . ~ 'r.
r the h~ J vehicle im~-edes the ~perator'~ JieW of the in~nediate su~ro~rldi~gs. ~ten, a schco: bus dri~er is unable to ascertal~.
whether ~ll chil~ren have clea~ed the sch~l bus' ~-iclnit~J.
~e~1ic-~lar in_u~ies to pe~estrians and n~n-passengers con~inue to b~
a bli~h~ u~cn -h~ safet~ records of ma~y acti~,ities.
~ hile various combinati~ns of lights a~ physical b~rriors ha~
been in~roduce~ to ~eet ~onventi-~na_ de~and~ a~d to provide thr ~afety nee~d, t~le~ re~ui~e a fair amourt ~f time to be effect ~-el~
act_-~ted and o~te~ result in unan~icipa~ed sa~zt~ col~-plleat_ons.
~otorists and pecestrians Glike simplv ~G not react ~o the ~rea~th of measures inStit~te~ to pre~-ent ac~idents. In fa~t, some ir.jurie~
would rot ~ccur but for th~ use OI sa~et~ d~vi ces . Cle~rl~, _here existS a need for a ve~icul~r safe~ device which pre~entC com~o:~
injuries ~sso~iate~ with mo~ing 72~iclec, hh~Le at the sa~.e ~i~e, does ~ot create further unsafe con~lit_on~.
Heretcfor~, audio de~t ce~ ha~e been em~lo~e~ ~o h~ar~ Gf mo~-in~3 ~e~,icles Ihe ~Gun~s heard ~hen some trlcks ~.o~e in reverse atte~pt to ~rarn nearb~f individualc of a h~2ard~s ;,itua~ion Howe~,~r, sucn sounds ~re n~ rea~ily recognL2able ir. are~s Gf he~v~ trdffic.
~oreo~, the resultant be~a~lior ~f passers by c~nno~ be forcibly ~on~rolled. ~ si~ple "chirp" sound might c~se one to gi~r~
attention, bu~ does n~t commu~icat2 any di~ce=n~b_e messcge.
~urther, despite the im?le~enta~i~rs of various safet~ de-~lces, preve-ltable accicents con~inu~ to occur h~i~h fa~al re~ults.
CA oi2i5002 igg7 - 1-2 - 17 3-~ Tl l ?g7~ F . ~
.
SpeciEicall~, many sa ety bre~ches c~e as~o~ e~ wl~h ~e~icle~
brG~ ing or mo-~irg in a back~rcls clirection O-~ners of ;,chool bus and hea~,v truc:c fleets r~ocount inciden~s in ~ich their ~hicl~s ha~re impacted peo~le hho ~ere ~ot visible to the ~rehic es' ~per~tors.
5 Tr~clitional aldi~le si~na_s, al~ne ~r in co~nbination ~ith flasr,in3 lights ancl ph~fsical ~arrie~:s, ~re A~t com,cletel-~ e~fective i:
creatin~ a zone cf safety c rolnd ~i~hiclee Accor~ingl-~, the need arlses for an audio s ~e~ ~ ~evic~ r ~lse with -~arious ~pes of ~ehicle3, which i5 easily insl~allablc~ anc whic~
~~ introduce~ ed-~cati~na i~eas to chilcren, dri~,e~i" and the generaL
pl~blic. The ~udio ~a et~ detrice ~ust provide for instan~neou~
inform~tio~ communic~tion specific ~o situaticns ~nd corresponding participants _n a ~one o~ da~ger Moreove~, the audic safety device ~ho~ld be cap~le o~ dist-i~utin~ ~rious s~et~ mess~ges, so th~
_~ an~ ap~Lopriate messace can be rep~ated in c~rnection with the status q~o . The audio safe~i~ devi.ce sho lld be 2ither a slngle ~iec~ o~
~q~ipmen cap.~le of addreOsing c -~ariety of safety ~cncerns, cr a col~e~tion of components -~erein the devic~ woul~ ~e tailcred f~r situation specific accident pre~entio~.
2~
11HF 15 ' '3~ _ FF ~ Fh~rlE~ I -CA O 2 i 2 5 O 0 2 i 9 9 7 - i 2 - i 7 _ TIJ ~ '11 - 3 F . 1_~, ~.-.
, DESCRIPTIO~ OF TH~: P~IOR ~RT
There is a pl~rality of inventiorls ~ re-ted to lar~ ~Jenicl~
safe~y p~oblems. I~Le -~arious patents described b~lo~ ~re buL
ill~stra~i~e of the devel~pmen~s ~ommonly f~Lnd in =he field o~ the present inventi3n U. ~. Pat~nt No. 3,50~,~36 iss~ed to Oli~e_ ~ s~litz on M~rc:~
r the h~ J vehicle im~-edes the ~perator'~ JieW of the in~nediate su~ro~rldi~gs. ~ten, a schco: bus dri~er is unable to ascertal~.
whether ~ll chil~ren have clea~ed the sch~l bus' ~-iclnit~J.
~e~1ic-~lar in_u~ies to pe~estrians and n~n-passengers con~inue to b~
a bli~h~ u~cn -h~ safet~ records of ma~y acti~,ities.
~ hile various combinati~ns of lights a~ physical b~rriors ha~
been in~roduce~ to ~eet ~onventi-~na_ de~and~ a~d to provide thr ~afety nee~d, t~le~ re~ui~e a fair amourt ~f time to be effect ~-el~
act_-~ted and o~te~ result in unan~icipa~ed sa~zt~ col~-plleat_ons.
~otorists and pecestrians Glike simplv ~G not react ~o the ~rea~th of measures inStit~te~ to pre~-ent ac~idents. In fa~t, some ir.jurie~
would rot ~ccur but for th~ use OI sa~et~ d~vi ces . Cle~rl~, _here existS a need for a ve~icul~r safe~ device which pre~entC com~o:~
injuries ~sso~iate~ with mo~ing 72~iclec, hh~Le at the sa~.e ~i~e, does ~ot create further unsafe con~lit_on~.
Heretcfor~, audio de~t ce~ ha~e been em~lo~e~ ~o h~ar~ Gf mo~-in~3 ~e~,icles Ihe ~Gun~s heard ~hen some trlcks ~.o~e in reverse atte~pt to ~rarn nearb~f individualc of a h~2ard~s ;,itua~ion Howe~,~r, sucn sounds ~re n~ rea~ily recognL2able ir. are~s Gf he~v~ trdffic.
~oreo~, the resultant be~a~lior ~f passers by c~nno~ be forcibly ~on~rolled. ~ si~ple "chirp" sound might c~se one to gi~r~
attention, bu~ does n~t commu~icat2 any di~ce=n~b_e messcge.
~urther, despite the im?le~enta~i~rs of various safet~ de-~lces, preve-ltable accicents con~inu~ to occur h~i~h fa~al re~ults.
CA oi2i5002 igg7 - 1-2 - 17 3-~ Tl l ?g7~ F . ~
.
SpeciEicall~, many sa ety bre~ches c~e as~o~ e~ wl~h ~e~icle~
brG~ ing or mo-~irg in a back~rcls clirection O-~ners of ;,chool bus and hea~,v truc:c fleets r~ocount inciden~s in ~ich their ~hicl~s ha~re impacted peo~le hho ~ere ~ot visible to the ~rehic es' ~per~tors.
5 Tr~clitional aldi~le si~na_s, al~ne ~r in co~nbination ~ith flasr,in3 lights ancl ph~fsical ~arrie~:s, ~re A~t com,cletel-~ e~fective i:
creatin~ a zone cf safety c rolnd ~i~hiclee Accor~ingl-~, the need arlses for an audio s ~e~ ~ ~evic~ r ~lse with -~arious ~pes of ~ehicle3, which i5 easily insl~allablc~ anc whic~
~~ introduce~ ed-~cati~na i~eas to chilcren, dri~,e~i" and the generaL
pl~blic. The ~udio ~a et~ detrice ~ust provide for instan~neou~
inform~tio~ communic~tion specific ~o situaticns ~nd corresponding participants _n a ~one o~ da~ger Moreove~, the audic safety device ~ho~ld be cap~le o~ dist-i~utin~ ~rious s~et~ mess~ges, so th~
_~ an~ ap~Lopriate messace can be rep~ated in c~rnection with the status q~o . The audio safe~i~ devi.ce sho lld be 2ither a slngle ~iec~ o~
~q~ipmen cap.~le of addreOsing c -~ariety of safety ~cncerns, cr a col~e~tion of components -~erein the devic~ woul~ ~e tailcred f~r situation specific accident pre~entio~.
2~
11HF 15 ' '3~ _ FF ~ Fh~rlE~ I -CA O 2 i 2 5 O 0 2 i 9 9 7 - i 2 - i 7 _ TIJ ~ '11 - 3 F . 1_~, ~.-.
, DESCRIPTIO~ OF TH~: P~IOR ~RT
There is a pl~rality of inventiorls ~ re-ted to lar~ ~Jenicl~
safe~y p~oblems. I~Le -~arious patents described b~lo~ ~re buL
ill~stra~i~e of the devel~pmen~s ~ommonly f~Lnd in =he field o~ the present inventi3n U. ~. Pat~nt No. 3,50~,~36 iss~ed to Oli~e_ ~ s~litz on M~rc:~
3~ 70, describes a safet~, seat ~elt warni~g sys'Cem com,~rising a reel de~-ic~ fo~ ~etracti~ a sectLon cf d seat ~elt ~he~ the telt i~
no~ ~astenet ~out an oc~upant of a ~otor ~ehicl ~ . Pre~su~e-:d sensiti~e electri~al se~t switcheJ in the ~otor v~hi~le's seats ar~acti~ated b~ the pr~sence o~ a pGssenge-. If a ~as~n~er does not faste~ a safet~ kelt, a li~ht or b~e~ alert is enabled. ~h- result is n3t capable of ~arning a dri~e-, passeng2rs, ~nd pede~t~lans o~
vehiclldr Tnc~em~nt or lac}: t:~ereof . Ihu;" t:~e Bo~lit z ~evic~ ca~n~t _~ ~e used to ~ro-Jice an earL~,~ warnin~ s_gnal f~r prevention of vehicle pedestrian ccl:isions, as provided bv the presen~ audio safety de~lce. Furt:~er, soblit~'s devi-e is inca~abl~ of deliverin~ a p~urality ~f m~ssagos to dri-Jers, ~a~s~ngers, ~d o hels ~tside ~~
the motor vehicle. ~10reo~r, vo-c~-~hip tec~noLo~ not 2~ cor.tem~la.~
U. S. P~tent No. 4,q10,~36 iss~ed to John F. Doerr on ~eptember ~, 19~4, descri~ a safet~ light -~arninc s~stem for ~ehicle;, comprising thre~ col~r coded li~ s tc indicate dri~er ~oc~ pcsitlon wi~;h re~pe~t to ~he bra~c~ ancl ga~, pedal~. Inere i~ nc prc~ ion ~or 2~ aud_o ~JarnirLq signc;ls. Accordin~ he Doerr as~e~ carlnot be IIHR l~ 2'_' FP 11l:FHrlDE~I ~A 0222 5 002 1997-12-173 TO ~97~i ~ P.I-J:-~ 2~
llsed in con~itions of lo~- ~Jisibilit~, as no A-ro~ision is made for conrlunicatirg h~arrlirlg ~nes~ages but for sustair~ed ill~lminacion an~A
~l~shing lights . Moreover, Doerr' s de~,ioe doc~s n~ provi~ f~r driver interface ~here~ith rness~ges CcAn 1~e s~lect~ el~r bro~cas~.
U. S . Pa~ent No . ~, ~39, 749 ~ ssue~ t~o ~ustace B . ~rankl ;n, c-.
June 13, 1~9, desc~ b~s an a~l~iO remiT~e~ ~ystem for d~ er~
c~mprising dn electr:~rics s;~;,tem that aut~maticall~ activate, d taFe recoràer pr~crammecl ~ pro-~ide ~n audi~le speech rnessa~e t~
~pecific ~ehlcle ~ault or G tim~ epen~ent perscnal ~-e~scge.
~3 Franklin' s de~ice specifi~all~, al~ns te p~o-~ide .~ sirerl ~ete<:to~
circl~it, a speed indicator clrcuit and ~ timed persorAal m~sag~
circuit. TJnlik~ ~e present ir~ention, no mears is pro-~7iqed for com~unicatirg messa~es to th~e ~utsi~e a vehicle. ~urther, Franklin's cevice does n~t even co~template the need to c~mmunicate :~ with peopl~ ou-side c~ ~ehicle. Moreover, Frark~lin's dev~ warns o.
-~ehic llar irre~ularities ancl faults; but, ~ t does not provide me~ns of broadcastin~ sou~d si~nals in respon~e to th~ agqr~t~ated br~kin~
and irre~ula- ~acking mo~ ent nherent i~ the operation C~ ~ea~
~ruc~ ~nd buses ~x.~nklin~s devi~e -s of a remedlal nat~re, ~~hereas 2~ the presen~ inJentio~ is characte~ist~ c311~ prophylactic.
U S Patent ~o. 4, 916, 372 icsue~ to James R~avell et ~ n ~il LO, 1~90, ~es_ribes a ~chool bus safety device ~herein a stop si~ o~ a cros~ing ~rm ~wings ou ~pon the open1ng of the ~us ~oor While Reve~ll's d~rice ~o~s con~un~cate with ve~i~les adjacen~ to a Z~ school bus, it do~s not pr?~ide for ~udi~le sign~ls ~r ~rnings o~
F~l~, "?~ '9 FF~ -FH~lrlEtlCA oi22~002 1997-12-17~-~TI1 3~ F~nr~~
an~ kin~. Further, it is i~capa~le cf displa~ing alte~nati~ or si~uation s~ecific messages, -~nlikD ~he p~esert ln~-ention.
U S. Patent Nc. 5,1~,754, issued to ;~ell J.D. ~re~m~n o-~.
A~ril ~, 1993, describes a ~afety bar comprisina a mot~ ~riJe.
5 barrLer for ii~stal:ation on th~ fr~nt end of a schco_ bus. Th~
resul~ is nct c~pable o ade~l~tely warning a driver, pa~seng~rs, an~
pedestrians of ~ehlcular ~o~P~ent or lack thereof. ~reeman'~ ~evi~e merely clet~rs po~es~ian;, frorr ~alking directly in -rcnt: cf t~e bus.
IJ. S. PateAt No 5, 210, 5?1, i~su~c~ to ~ar,~ M. H~jell et a1 . c.
:~ Ma~ 11, ~ 99~, deccribes a ~afecy warring system -or -~ehicle, comprisirl~ a Doppler ~ad~r s-;s~Ce~n to detect near~:y p2rson~ hen a per~on is detecte~ clcse ~o ~he bus, th~ ~Us driv~r is warAe~, 'chereby in~reasin~ the possibiliti~ ef avcidinc ~n cccicent. There is no provisi~n ~or co~mr.uni_~ting audio ~xning si;~nals to indi~idual~
:~ outsi~e th~ soh~l bus. Fur~er~ore, H~jell' 5 ~iC~ is not c~pa~le of p~venting incivi~als from wan.ier_n~ preca~iousl~J close t~ a ~us.
T~e present in~Jen~iOrl a~/oids dange~o~s situatlon;, b~l communica~ a warni ~9 ~e~sage be~ore .an acciclent prone si'{:ua'cion de~r~lops .
Moreo~er, Ho~ s device do~s not pro~ride or a drlver interface 2~ where~ith messa~es car. be ~electi~-ly breadcast.
U. 5 . Patent No. S, 226, 686, issued to Gl~nn ~ Tri~Tgs et al on Jul~r 13, 19~3, relates ~o a s~fety gate f~r sch;~l bUC~ which i~
mounted on the front bumper of a vehicle. l~he det~- co is a pl:lysical b~rri~-r only, anc does ~lOt ~ttel[lpt to c;>mnlullicate~ Gn a~l~i~le ~arr2ins~.
~1HF' 1~ 3 1~ FF' 11l FHr'c'E~l CA oi2isoo2 1997-12-17~- TCI ~3,413~ F~.113 ~
U. S. Pdtent No. 5, ~5?, 2~9, issue~ to R~nald C. Lampar~er on ~c;o~er 1~, 19'34, describes a safet~ ar and sig~ coll~Fri~ln~ a motor dri~7e~ a-rier f~r in~tallc~ion on the ~ror~t enci ~f a cchoel :~u~i, ar~c aLso, a stop ~iian deployed sim~l~aneousl~ with the barrier. T~rJ
5 ~esult i~ nol~ capable C~ ~ud- hl~ w~rn_n~ a ~lri~ex, p~s~e~ers, and pede;,trlans of ~tehic~l~r ~novement ~r lacl~ ~here:~f. 5'1nilar to Freeman' s ~ ce, LampcL=ter' s ~e~ice m2~e:~ de~e~s pedes=rians from w~l~;i~g clircctl~ in ~ront o the bus, but cloes ncthing to ,~arn them ~hct the ~;\U5 i~ ab~ut ~o l~o~fe forw~rd. Th~ pr~sent inventior~ wc~
school b~s driver to wal}~ around ~he b~s t:o ensure ~ha~ al 1 children have cleare~ the crea bei~ore fuxther bu3 rno~Jernen~ cC~c~rc . Patent Mo . S, 40~, 2J0, issued ~o Ja~es Reavç~l: et al . o 1 ~pril 11, 1~95, cisclcse~ a ~cld heather stop si~n ~or de~loylr.ent in con~u:~ction w--h the ope~lng cf a sc:~col ~us door ~nalogou~ to the :~ prior art ~scusced abo~, Reavell' s device ercourc~e~ ~af~ pra~tices in the vic:inity of school buses. Unlike the p~ese-.~t ir~ention, howe~rer, Rea~ell' s devic~ doe~ r-ot co~municate ~n cuditle mess~e U S. Paten~ No. 5, 467, 071, is~ued to Don ~. ~.oenig on ~rover~er 14, lg95, descri~es a ~-arning kit whi-h produees a vis~al safety c~l warni~g to passengers o~ a vehlcle, an~i to drivers of ne~xby vehicles, and auGio sa~ety promp~ing ;~Le~sag~s th~t ar2 auii~ o the passerlqers . ~Inlike the ~res~nt inve~tion, ~oenig' s cle~,-ice _s not cap~le of ~llowirg a b~s dri~er to emit a rness.~ge tG indi~ Ual.
ou~ide oL the bus WtlC are not ~o~rdin~ Furl:her, P;oeLIi~'c c15~
2;~ not ~apable of producing audio messaces in responce ~c movement of llhP 16 ~ 9 FR~ FH~ E~lcA 02225002 1997-li 17- TIJ ~7~1 ~ P.ll _~l the ~ehicle l~self; where~s he present invention pro~uc~ a~ldi~
~essa~es in response -3 ~-ar i o~ input ~ariables . rhe ~esen~
in~ention sen~s mess~ge~ to the bus dri~er wit~ referenc~ to th~
children inside the b~:s.
rJ~ s. P~tent No. ~, ClO, 7~3, issu~d to Norman De-kard 2'C a l . ç-.
~pril ~3, 1~9~, is ~irected to a strobe light on the ~ack cf a trUCt'.
The light is acti~ e~ when the tr~ck's transmissiGn lS either in re~erse or in p~rk, an~ is contingent ~pon o~er~tlon of ha~ard li~hts Unlike t~e present in-~2n~ion, Deckard's devi~e is not _~3 capable of ~roa~castirg cn au~ic ~ss~e in response ~he t.ruck~
tr~nsmisslon posi~ion.
Eu~o~ean Patent Public~tion No 9CI_100-31~14 E~-.61,~CIq-~
rel~-2s to trim fit ings _o~ the outeide of a vehi-le, ~~herei electronic di3~1a" scrips sho~ ~ro~ramme~l me~icages ~or road l]sers.
:~ TJnlike the pr~sen~ i~venti~n, no means of brocdcastin~ an dU~iO
~; meS5a-~e i3 disclosed.
None of t~e a~o-re noted paten_~, tc~.e:~ either slnqlJ or in combin~tion, are seon to discloc~ the sp~cifi~ cr~angement o~
concepts disc:os~d by the pre;,er~t ir~ention.
~lHF~ 3H 1~ FF~ FH~ EllcA 02225002 1997-12-17- TD 3~ 9 F.l~ "~
SU~ RY OF THE INVE~T~O~
e.~ he p~esent in~nt-orl, an impro~,-ed audi~ safot,~ de~ wit:A.
si~lulated vcice h~a~nirc~ si~nals is clisclcsed Accor~in~ , one of ~he Gbjects of th~ preser-t in~ention is t~;~
S prov1de an imFrO-JC~c wdrnin~ ~ystem for effec ive pre~,-ention c, injuries ascoclated ~-ith Ccho~l b-~s an~ he~vy ~hic12 operatlon, a~
well as for further sa~ety Anot~er of t:~e object~ o~ th~ ~res~nt ~n~ention is ~o pro~,ide dn i~proved wa~ning sy~te~ which _~n broadc~st ~ssa~2C tc those ~~ outside a vehicle, as ln the case cf an em~rge~~~- situa~i~r or eve~
for general e~u~ation.
Yet ~ncth~r of the ob~ects 3f the pr2cent in~,-en~ion is to provide ~n i~proved -~a~ninc ~ystem which lS -apable of s2nding an audio ~.ess~ge not only o~tsi~e of ~ v~hicle, bu~ w-~h1n ~he ~hic~e a as well Still ~not~er of t~e Gb}ects cf the pres~nt in~Jerlt_On i~ to pro~l~e ~n improve~ warning s~st2~ which inclu~es -~c ice chip techllolog~ for ~elivering either pr~rec~ded or ~ser-recorded me~sa~es.
2~ A further object of th~ present intention is to provide ~n improved wcrning syste~ which is easi_~ tempcrarily irstallabl~ o~
and re~o~ble fr~m a ~e:A,icle, su-h th~t the warning system can b~
lncorpor~t~d ~ nto ~n~her ~-ehicle ~ith ~ase .
llHF~ 3~-J FF ~ FH~ EII CA 022i5002 1997-12-17-3 TIJ 3~,~i 3 F. i3 -2H
, Ano~her object ~f the present inventi~n is t~ pro-~ide ~.
impro~ed ~u~r~ rail ~upport ~or the purpo~es described which i~
inexpersi-~e, depen~able and fully e~-~c~i~r~ in accomplisni~g its intended purpose.
In ~Jie~r of t~e above-~en~ione~ and ot:~er a3jec s, all of ~ ,ic:
wlll become mor~- re~adily understcod as the natLre Oc ~h~ present in~-ention is bette~ urderstood, the in~e~io~ co~Fri~es in tne novel combi~ation and arr~gement ~f parts hereinaft~r more ~ully desc~iked, il~ustr~ted, ~nd ~laimed with re~~lrence ~in~ ~.ad~ ~o th~
:~3 attac:~ed draw:n~c.
BK~EF ~ESCRIPTION OF ~HE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a CirCUit diagr~m sho~i~g -h~ seqUe~ce 3f P~ent~
which occur d~ring the operation of the preser.t ln~-enti~n.
Fig~lre 2 is ~ fl~w chc~t qhowir~ the se~uence of e~ents whic~
occur during th~ operation of the ~re~ent invention.
~i~lilGr refer~nce ~haracters de~o~e corresp~rding feature~
consis~ently throu~h~t the attached d~hings.
2~
D~TAILED DESCRIP~IO~ OF ~E PREFERRED EMBODI~ENr Thc prese~t ~n~entio~ will be seen to relat~ to ~ s~fety de~-ice ha~,-ing a Backing Saf~ty Systern, a Ccho~l B Ls "Stcp Sign ;~zn" Safety -2~ Syste~, a Driver Safety Sys~em, and Te~hni~iar Li~t, ~ump, ~a~ te, F' 1~, 3 1~ ,1 FF' ~ F~ClLlE~1 CA oiii5002 1997 12 17~- T~ F 1~ -!~-' and Hydraul ic Cylinder ~i~fetjt ~iystem The ~esen~: s3fet~ de~ice i;, for Use o~ car~, buses, ~rucks, anc any moving vehic1e that -~lse, batteries. T~e presert in~en~ion is ~ounted atop c ~/e~icle's c~b, or alternatl~el~, elcewhere ~/i'chin the vehic~ e ~n~ rPa~ inclucle an S ~xterna~ speaker. I~lh~le the present in~/ention comprises ~ur separate s~et~ systems, Figure~ 1 and ~ illustra~e the path com~o~
in all saf2t~ sy~'cems.
Recogni2ing tha~ ~dio alert~ axe crit~ccl accompan~menrs to certain ~oto~ ve:~icular mo~,D~nt, th~ present inventiorl e~[lplo~
:~ first ~cking S~fet-~ System to p~even~ in~uries ~hen a vehicle ~c~es in a bac~r~s direc~ion, as illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure ,~.
~hen a conventional tran~mis~ion (nct shoh~ is nga~d in a ~e~erse mode, current flo~.s ~rom ~ conventional backup s~-itch terminal ~not shown) ~_ the tra~smission (not sho~n) to inp~t ~r~in~l lC ~o the present in~e~tio~. After adjucting or selecting the appropriate curre~t required for activa~ion of an ap~ropria~e s~nd s-gn~l respo~se ~0, the present in~lention trans~its a siq~1 to a d21a~ 0 which co~inu~us ~ repeats a soun~ signal response ~ af ter e~er~
second tim2 bre~
2~ The cc~pl~e Circuit p~t~ of the ?resent in-~ertion is a~
follows Current fl~ws to one end cf -he backup swit_h terminal ~not shown) from a vehicle battery (not shown), a~d w~en the transtris~ion (not sho~n) is _ngaged i~ a re~e~se mo~e, the back~p swi~ch terminal (not ~hown) is ~ctiva~ed. C~ e~ t:~en ~10wa to a s~cond end o- ~he 2~ backup switch -e~minal (no~ snoWnJ at -he trarsmissio~ (not sho~nl t~
F 1~ -1 FF' 11~-:F~ EI I CA 0 2 2 2 5 0 0 2 i 9 97 - 12 - l 7 - - T - - F . 15 _'-input term-n~l 10 to t~e transf~rmer bS, w~erei~ the curren_ i~
regulated. ~rom t~e transformer ~5, clrrent flo~s to a ~olt~qe sel~cto~ 7S ~hi~h sen~s the prope_ vo_ ~e ~ an automati~ controlle~
~3, w:~ich in turn sigrals ~he soun~ s-gnal response 9~.
S Au~o~ctic controller 83 ac~s cs a c~mputer module ~herein volta~e i~ co~p~red with req-1isit~ ta~gets k~yed to activa~e varicus sound ch- ps ~ot sh~n), for app_~xi~atel~ 4C~ s~conds, inc~rporGte~
in souncl ~ign~31 resEionso 9C~. Further, ~utomati~ controller ~3 detenl~nes the clevi~tion between re~uisite t~rg~ts and voltage, a~
:~3 ~rodu~es a con_rol sicnal whi~_h re~uces ~he ~e~riation to zero. C~nce the dPviation clcsel~ cpproaches ~ero, automatic controller 83 s~-itches b~ck to a "start mode~ ar ~ "~tand-~" mode, depen~ing o~
the specific safet~ sS~-stelr of the prosent inventicn wi~h ~hi~h it is associa~ed. An am~lifier 130 ~ro~_a~ts the sou~d sicnal re~ponse :~ 90, a~d th~ sounc si~ral re~ponse ~0 -s powere~ or force~ tc a ~la~
lOO wh ch delcys the so~lnd ~i~nal respon~e 90 after e~rery second Nu~erous fuee~ 62 throu~hGut t~e ~ircuit p~h a~t to pre-~ert exces~
voltage f~. d~aging th~ pre~en~ invention.
The soun~ signal ~esponse 90, in ~he preferred embo~iment of 2~) the present in-Jen~io~ one or a co~binati~r of se~Jera1 ~cund chips ~not shown) whi-h inccrpo~c~e a conven icnal ~.o~n cudito~y si~nal and human voicz aLditory si~nals rhe horn audi~Gr~ ~ignal alert~
ind-~icu~ls p~oxi~at~ ~o a vehicle equippe~ wit~ the present invention, of a_~ual ~ehicl~ m~ver.~ent. The h~an v3ice auditory 2~ signals remind similarly situ~ted ind-vicuals o- the proper beh3vior ~;lHF' 1~ ' FP ~ Fl~[l[lE~lcA bi225002 i997-li-17--~ T 33, -- F.l~ 3 conu~l~nsurate with existing concSitions. CpeciEic actit~ction oE th~
conve~tional hcrn au~itor~ signa: andJcr the human ~oice a~ditory sianals resuLts ~ro~ the voltage.
' A waterproo~ speaker ~not sho-~r~ receives the hcrn ~u~ito~
signal and the h~an ~oi~e audl~o~y s'~nals ard ~mits sound ~- -hi~ a localized ~rea o~ 150 feet,. fhe w~ter-proof sp~ker (not shown) 1 preferably mounte~ a~ the top of a heavy vehic:e's c~ ~ot sho~
necr a t~p~cal ~ountlng ~ a hor~ ~not sho~n). In ~e alternative, ~he wate~-prvof speaker (no~ show~) can be moun~ed ~t ~he Lear of ~
:~ hecv~ vehi_le (nct s~c~m) so as to em-- the hGrn auditorv si~nal and the h~ ~ vcice a~dito~ si~al~ n~ar a pcrticn of t:~e heav~ vehicle Inot sho~r-) whiC~ u~ual~~ pro~ces excessive noise. I~ is contemFla~2d s~-h a rearward moUnting of the water-pr~of spea~er Inot shown) would provide for eff2ct'v~o competing emission of the horn ~uditor~,~ si~n~l and t~e human voice duditor~ signal5.
Upon acti~ation, the sound chip (not shown) ~lits the hor.
auclitor~ ~ignal twice in succession, with a celay of approximately 1/20 o~ a s~o~d, at 1~ ~e~ibels. The delay ti~.e ic sicni~ic~n~
because it serves ~s an alext _all to ;,ignal individuals to liste~
2~ for a more informa~ive me~ssage. At a deldy ::~f 1/lQ of ~ s-cond after ~:he h~xn auclitory signal ~as keen e~ittecl, the human voice auditory signals are soun~e~. The delay timing for the voice auditory signal~ i~ signif c~nt becau~e tr~iti~ral ~afet~ envlron~ent~
~ndate col~.uni~ation o~ s~_~ty messages in less tha~ two seccr~ to 2~ pro~pt pro?hy_a~tic ~ction.
ilHF 1~. ~.3 1~ FF 11~ FHrlrlE~ICA oi225002 1997 12 17-- TIJ ~ 1_3 F'. 1 . _'.-' .
The human v~ice auditGr~ signal w:ll conve~ t:~e messG~e, "Atte~tion! ~leGse stand cl~ar, this refuse t~uc~. is backin~." It is an~ic~pated that mes~age wouLd ~c sp2cific to the unique chara~e~
of the subject vehiole~ sLch tha~ the word~ ~'refuse truc~ o~lId b~
replaced by a uni~e de~c~p~ on of -he vehicle ~i~hin which th~
present inv~nti~n has be~n i~s~alled T:~e ~ssa~e co~ld ~ repeat~
s~cce~sively -n Cpanish, Fren~h, o~ an~ ~the~ desi~ed lan~u~ge.
The pr~sen~ in-~ntlon emFlo~s a second School B~s "S~op Sig~
A~m" Safety Systel~ to ~re~J~nt injuries when a schcol bus unload3 :~3 students. Imple~entirg the present in ention~s ~c~.ool Bu~ S~op ~iqn ~r~ Sa~ety Sys em cxeate~ two optimal situatic~s Fi~st, drivers _~
necrby ~e~icles are ~ar~d ~:~at the ~chool bus i~ pl anning to make a sudden stop. This -s cri~ical because cu~_ent ~ethods of alertin~
drive~s to sporadic school bu~ ~raking ~o rot alwa~s con~e~ the :~ messa3e quickly en~ugh for the d~ivers t~ respond in a d~sired ~a~hi~n Second, dr~~ers of nea ~y ~ehicles are al~rte~ that students ~ill be mo~ing towa~ds ~nd emanatin~ fro~ t:~e s-hool bu~
after it stcps The present in~ention 2nsures tha~ dri~er~ ar~ aware that ~udden darting ard strag~31i~g students may enter the rcadw~y.
2~} To ~arn nearby vehlcles that the sch~ol ~us is braking, the prese~t inventi~n emplo~s an audible siren signal, ~cces~ed from the ~ound chip (no- ~ho~n), which is pla~ed for lflO of a cecond from the sFeaker (not sho~n) ~ounted a-3p the c~b tnot shown). rn one ~odiment of he present inven~ion, the audible siren sicnal i~
2~ acti~ate~ ~hen con~entional yello~ cau~ion lights ~n-~t ~h~h~, ~l~sn ~IHP 1~'3~ FF~ FHr~r~E~lcA 0222~002 1997-l2-l7 F.1,-~
, f~orn the s-,hool ~us ~ ground ~e-minal (not shown) is loc~ed ~t the base o~ the s~op sign ar~n (not showIl)~ As the stop si~n crm (no~
shown~ hegins to move, the g_ound t~r~ninal (n~t s~o~ln~ is slo~ l~
short~e~. When the stop si~n arm ~ec~mes comple el~ extended, a S ground ~f~ninal will be fully sh3rted to ~c ivate c~ rent flow to lnput termina_ lC ~n~ produce subs~quent sound signal response g~
In -he alternative, a c~n~ention~l pu,h bu~ton, t~lo prong typQ
~witc:~ ~not sho-~n) may ~e en~plo~e~ wherein C~rrent -lcws to one ;,ide its term-n~ls (not shown). .~s ~he stop sign a-~tl be~ins t~ s~ina, a :~ ba.~e plate (no- ahown~ of the stop sign arm ~rot show~ hlill pl~sh ln a button inot shcwn), completing ~ circuit ln~ide the switch (not shown) . A current ~hen will Froc~ed alon~ the circuit paths, as ~orernentioned - n the descriFtion of the first safeti~ si~ste~r~, to produ~e a scund c i gnal response ~0 .
;~ To alert dri~re~s that s~udents will be cro~sing roa~C aro-md ~he sch~ol bus, the prese~t in~ention furth~r e~plovs the second human voice aLdito~y si~nal, accessed from the sound chip (noC
shown~, which is pl~yed ln ~ contin~o~s lcop. W~en the ccn~en~i~n~l stop sign ar~ is f~lly exten~ed, visually rem:n~ing ~-ivers to 2d 1awf~ stop when a sc~ool bus brak~s to u~load stu~ent~, the prese~t inventicn's human voice au~itoxy signal is activcte~
aubsequent to t~e siren au~itor-~ s gn~l. So long as ~he stop sign ~r~ is ext~nded, the hu~an 'JOiCe auditvry signal will pre erGbly inton~ ~he ~o:lo~ing mes~age: ''Ple~e s~cp at ~5 ~eet, ~his ve~i~le 2~ is coming tc a ~o~pleLe stop."
IIHP 1~ FF l~ FH~ lE~lcA 02225002 l997-l2-l73-~ TLI 3~7~13'1 F.1'3 _"_' ~ y incorp~ratin~ the Siren auditory signal and the hu~lan voic~
~udltorv si~n~:, the ~res~nt in~rent-on keeps ~Jehicle~ at a sa'e dista~ce from children nea~ the s~hool bus. It is anticipated thA_ the "25 ~eet'' -~rdinq of the vo-ce recording ~ l be ~odi~ie.l i-~
S accordance hith ~he require~e~s of the loc~l la~s of vario~s roglon~ln ~hich the pr2cent in~ntio~ is utl-i~ed The present in~ention incorporates ,_ t:~ird ~river Safet~ Sy~tem by which ~he dri~e-tcper~o~ of a heavy duty t-uck or sch~ol ~us is ale~ted to ~xhibit beha~ior Ln ~ccordcnce wit~ es~ablish~d ~afet~
:~3 princi~les A~ th ~he pre~rious s~fety s-~stems, the sa~e circuit path i~
co~tem~lat~d ~hen ~ he~v~ dut~ t~uck or sc:~ol ~us has stopFed, as soon as th2 driver a~tempts to release the paL}:ing bre~}:, hu~3n ~oice duditor~ signals sound ~ h~man ~udit~ry voice con~ ins t~.e words, _~ ''Wal~ ar~und and ma:~e sure ycur surroundings are clear b2fore ycu proceed,~ while a second :~man auditory voice conta_ns the word~
"Wclk arounc and ~ake sure t~ kid is playing around t~e school bus bofore you ~o~e." The human ~oice ~udit~ry sianalc elimlnate th~
po$$ibility of an unseen person or object a~pe~ring in the vicinity 2~3 of t~e t~u-k ~r kus. Further, the :~uma~ voice auditor~ signal~
assist in teachi~g dri~ers to unlearn th~ir habit of stopping and unloading, ar~ then pro-eedin~, withou~ eoncern for established safety me~hcds.
rlHP 1~ -.- FF~ FH~~C'E~IcA oi225002 l997-l2-l73' TIJ 3~,~1_9 F~
.
The h~an vcice a~lditory ~i~nals co~tinue to solnd ~
drive~ ~lakes ~ second attem,~t to releas~ the parkinq ~-reak, or f--30 35 seconds, -~hiche~er is ~horte~. ~~t~r t:he ~ n auditor~ ci~e is fi:~all~f soun~ed, a driver warning - s coun~ed, rernincing th2 sc,~es,i S bus drl~,e~ to encure that child passengers are s~ated ~i~h sea ~e:~s loc~;ed. ~s previousl~ described, automatic controller .,3 switche~
bac~ to a "stand-b~," mode ir~ th-s s~stem so that it _an scund t:~e dri~rer ~a~ning ~ ~ter the hurn~Ln audit~ory ~arnirg .
The pr~sent in-~ention inco~po~a~es a ourth Technician Lift, LUnp, Tailgate, an~l H~J iraulic: Cylindex Sa~et~v System for front e~d locder vehicles. The p~lrpose o~ this system is to relnind a driver or a m~chanlc to lock ç~-linders bef~re atten-~tin~ to worl~ ar~und ~hc~
open or li~t ar~a. ~e safety system elilr.inates ~os~ibl~ mechar.ical ~ailure ty~es of ~ccidents of common - n~~ clence . When the tai lgatA. i s :~ o~en o~ th~ bQd i~ up on front enc lc.~dor vehicles, the ~Jolta~e sele~tor 75 will receive i~s gro~lnd that will complete t:~e cir-ui for the sourd signal response ~0 ~o be activated, as in ~n~
afore~enti~ned sa~ety s~st~s c~f the present inventi~n A suit~lQ
hulnan voice a~ditorjr signal will :~ouncl ~t regLlar inter~alc unti 1 the 2 ~ cyl inclexs are locked In su~L~ary~ t:~e ~ove ciescr- b2G safety de-~ice pro-~ides for e~se Gf irstallation and ~emo~al, thus provic~ing si~nificant labc~r sa~-ings The reusability of ~11 corr.pononts pro~Jides further aconomy.
Moreover, the c:~mm~ ticn ;.ystQ~r. en~odi~d ir~ e pre~e~t inver~tior F 1~. 3: 14: 34 FF li~ F~ E~ l cA 0 2 2-2 5-0 0 2 l g g 7 l 2 l 7 33 TIJ ~ . 41--. ~ P . ~
ens~lr~ that G warning message is sent, regardless of weather condition se~erity.
It ' s t~ he unclerstcod t~at th~ present in~zntlon is no~
limit~d to t~he sole em}~o~iment desc~ bed abo~-e, ~ut encompass~s any 5 and all em::cd'ments wlthin the sco?e of the ~ollowing clalms
no~ ~astenet ~out an oc~upant of a ~otor ~ehicl ~ . Pre~su~e-:d sensiti~e electri~al se~t switcheJ in the ~otor v~hi~le's seats ar~acti~ated b~ the pr~sence o~ a pGssenge-. If a ~as~n~er does not faste~ a safet~ kelt, a li~ht or b~e~ alert is enabled. ~h- result is n3t capable of ~arning a dri~e-, passeng2rs, ~nd pede~t~lans o~
vehiclldr Tnc~em~nt or lac}: t:~ereof . Ihu;" t:~e Bo~lit z ~evic~ ca~n~t _~ ~e used to ~ro-Jice an earL~,~ warnin~ s_gnal f~r prevention of vehicle pedestrian ccl:isions, as provided bv the presen~ audio safety de~lce. Furt:~er, soblit~'s devi-e is inca~abl~ of deliverin~ a p~urality ~f m~ssagos to dri-Jers, ~a~s~ngers, ~d o hels ~tside ~~
the motor vehicle. ~10reo~r, vo-c~-~hip tec~noLo~ not 2~ cor.tem~la.~
U. S. P~tent No. 4,q10,~36 iss~ed to John F. Doerr on ~eptember ~, 19~4, descri~ a safet~ light -~arninc s~stem for ~ehicle;, comprising thre~ col~r coded li~ s tc indicate dri~er ~oc~ pcsitlon wi~;h re~pe~t to ~he bra~c~ ancl ga~, pedal~. Inere i~ nc prc~ ion ~or 2~ aud_o ~JarnirLq signc;ls. Accordin~ he Doerr as~e~ carlnot be IIHR l~ 2'_' FP 11l:FHrlDE~I ~A 0222 5 002 1997-12-173 TO ~97~i ~ P.I-J:-~ 2~
llsed in con~itions of lo~- ~Jisibilit~, as no A-ro~ision is made for conrlunicatirg h~arrlirlg ~nes~ages but for sustair~ed ill~lminacion an~A
~l~shing lights . Moreover, Doerr' s de~,ioe doc~s n~ provi~ f~r driver interface ~here~ith rness~ges CcAn 1~e s~lect~ el~r bro~cas~.
U. S . Pa~ent No . ~, ~39, 749 ~ ssue~ t~o ~ustace B . ~rankl ;n, c-.
June 13, 1~9, desc~ b~s an a~l~iO remiT~e~ ~ystem for d~ er~
c~mprising dn electr:~rics s;~;,tem that aut~maticall~ activate, d taFe recoràer pr~crammecl ~ pro-~ide ~n audi~le speech rnessa~e t~
~pecific ~ehlcle ~ault or G tim~ epen~ent perscnal ~-e~scge.
~3 Franklin' s de~ice specifi~all~, al~ns te p~o-~ide .~ sirerl ~ete<:to~
circl~it, a speed indicator clrcuit and ~ timed persorAal m~sag~
circuit. TJnlik~ ~e present ir~ention, no mears is pro-~7iqed for com~unicatirg messa~es to th~e ~utsi~e a vehicle. ~urther, Franklin's cevice does n~t even co~template the need to c~mmunicate :~ with peopl~ ou-side c~ ~ehicle. Moreover, Frark~lin's dev~ warns o.
-~ehic llar irre~ularities ancl faults; but, ~ t does not provide me~ns of broadcastin~ sou~d si~nals in respon~e to th~ agqr~t~ated br~kin~
and irre~ula- ~acking mo~ ent nherent i~ the operation C~ ~ea~
~ruc~ ~nd buses ~x.~nklin~s devi~e -s of a remedlal nat~re, ~~hereas 2~ the presen~ inJentio~ is characte~ist~ c311~ prophylactic.
U S Patent ~o. 4, 916, 372 icsue~ to James R~avell et ~ n ~il LO, 1~90, ~es_ribes a ~chool bus safety device ~herein a stop si~ o~ a cros~ing ~rm ~wings ou ~pon the open1ng of the ~us ~oor While Reve~ll's d~rice ~o~s con~un~cate with ve~i~les adjacen~ to a Z~ school bus, it do~s not pr?~ide for ~udi~le sign~ls ~r ~rnings o~
F~l~, "?~ '9 FF~ -FH~lrlEtlCA oi22~002 1997-12-17~-~TI1 3~ F~nr~~
an~ kin~. Further, it is i~capa~le cf displa~ing alte~nati~ or si~uation s~ecific messages, -~nlikD ~he p~esert ln~-ention.
U S. Patent Nc. 5,1~,754, issued to ;~ell J.D. ~re~m~n o-~.
A~ril ~, 1993, describes a ~afety bar comprisina a mot~ ~riJe.
5 barrLer for ii~stal:ation on th~ fr~nt end of a schco_ bus. Th~
resul~ is nct c~pable o ade~l~tely warning a driver, pa~seng~rs, an~
pedestrians of ~ehlcular ~o~P~ent or lack thereof. ~reeman'~ ~evi~e merely clet~rs po~es~ian;, frorr ~alking directly in -rcnt: cf t~e bus.
IJ. S. PateAt No 5, 210, 5?1, i~su~c~ to ~ar,~ M. H~jell et a1 . c.
:~ Ma~ 11, ~ 99~, deccribes a ~afecy warring system -or -~ehicle, comprisirl~ a Doppler ~ad~r s-;s~Ce~n to detect near~:y p2rson~ hen a per~on is detecte~ clcse ~o ~he bus, th~ ~Us driv~r is warAe~, 'chereby in~reasin~ the possibiliti~ ef avcidinc ~n cccicent. There is no provisi~n ~or co~mr.uni_~ting audio ~xning si;~nals to indi~idual~
:~ outsi~e th~ soh~l bus. Fur~er~ore, H~jell' 5 ~iC~ is not c~pa~le of p~venting incivi~als from wan.ier_n~ preca~iousl~J close t~ a ~us.
T~e present in~Jen~iOrl a~/oids dange~o~s situatlon;, b~l communica~ a warni ~9 ~e~sage be~ore .an acciclent prone si'{:ua'cion de~r~lops .
Moreo~er, Ho~ s device do~s not pro~ride or a drlver interface 2~ where~ith messa~es car. be ~electi~-ly breadcast.
U. 5 . Patent No. S, 226, 686, issued to Gl~nn ~ Tri~Tgs et al on Jul~r 13, 19~3, relates ~o a s~fety gate f~r sch;~l bUC~ which i~
mounted on the front bumper of a vehicle. l~he det~- co is a pl:lysical b~rri~-r only, anc does ~lOt ~ttel[lpt to c;>mnlullicate~ Gn a~l~i~le ~arr2ins~.
~1HF' 1~ 3 1~ FF' 11l FHr'c'E~l CA oi2isoo2 1997-12-17~- TCI ~3,413~ F~.113 ~
U. S. Pdtent No. 5, ~5?, 2~9, issue~ to R~nald C. Lampar~er on ~c;o~er 1~, 19'34, describes a safet~ ar and sig~ coll~Fri~ln~ a motor dri~7e~ a-rier f~r in~tallc~ion on the ~ror~t enci ~f a cchoel :~u~i, ar~c aLso, a stop ~iian deployed sim~l~aneousl~ with the barrier. T~rJ
5 ~esult i~ nol~ capable C~ ~ud- hl~ w~rn_n~ a ~lri~ex, p~s~e~ers, and pede;,trlans of ~tehic~l~r ~novement ~r lacl~ ~here:~f. 5'1nilar to Freeman' s ~ ce, LampcL=ter' s ~e~ice m2~e:~ de~e~s pedes=rians from w~l~;i~g clircctl~ in ~ront o the bus, but cloes ncthing to ,~arn them ~hct the ~;\U5 i~ ab~ut ~o l~o~fe forw~rd. Th~ pr~sent inventior~ wc~
school b~s driver to wal}~ around ~he b~s t:o ensure ~ha~ al 1 children have cleare~ the crea bei~ore fuxther bu3 rno~Jernen~ cC~c~rc . Patent Mo . S, 40~, 2J0, issued ~o Ja~es Reavç~l: et al . o 1 ~pril 11, 1~95, cisclcse~ a ~cld heather stop si~n ~or de~loylr.ent in con~u:~ction w--h the ope~lng cf a sc:~col ~us door ~nalogou~ to the :~ prior art ~scusced abo~, Reavell' s device ercourc~e~ ~af~ pra~tices in the vic:inity of school buses. Unlike the p~ese-.~t ir~ention, howe~rer, Rea~ell' s devic~ doe~ r-ot co~municate ~n cuditle mess~e U S. Paten~ No. 5, 467, 071, is~ued to Don ~. ~.oenig on ~rover~er 14, lg95, descri~es a ~-arning kit whi-h produees a vis~al safety c~l warni~g to passengers o~ a vehlcle, an~i to drivers of ne~xby vehicles, and auGio sa~ety promp~ing ;~Le~sag~s th~t ar2 auii~ o the passerlqers . ~Inlike the ~res~nt inve~tion, ~oenig' s cle~,-ice _s not cap~le of ~llowirg a b~s dri~er to emit a rness.~ge tG indi~ Ual.
ou~ide oL the bus WtlC are not ~o~rdin~ Furl:her, P;oeLIi~'c c15~
2;~ not ~apable of producing audio messaces in responce ~c movement of llhP 16 ~ 9 FR~ FH~ E~lcA 02225002 1997-li 17- TIJ ~7~1 ~ P.ll _~l the ~ehicle l~self; where~s he present invention pro~uc~ a~ldi~
~essa~es in response -3 ~-ar i o~ input ~ariables . rhe ~esen~
in~ention sen~s mess~ge~ to the bus dri~er wit~ referenc~ to th~
children inside the b~:s.
rJ~ s. P~tent No. ~, ClO, 7~3, issu~d to Norman De-kard 2'C a l . ç-.
~pril ~3, 1~9~, is ~irected to a strobe light on the ~ack cf a trUCt'.
The light is acti~ e~ when the tr~ck's transmissiGn lS either in re~erse or in p~rk, an~ is contingent ~pon o~er~tlon of ha~ard li~hts Unlike t~e present in-~2n~ion, Deckard's devi~e is not _~3 capable of ~roa~castirg cn au~ic ~ss~e in response ~he t.ruck~
tr~nsmisslon posi~ion.
Eu~o~ean Patent Public~tion No 9CI_100-31~14 E~-.61,~CIq-~
rel~-2s to trim fit ings _o~ the outeide of a vehi-le, ~~herei electronic di3~1a" scrips sho~ ~ro~ramme~l me~icages ~or road l]sers.
:~ TJnlike the pr~sen~ i~venti~n, no means of brocdcastin~ an dU~iO
~; meS5a-~e i3 disclosed.
None of t~e a~o-re noted paten_~, tc~.e:~ either slnqlJ or in combin~tion, are seon to discloc~ the sp~cifi~ cr~angement o~
concepts disc:os~d by the pre;,er~t ir~ention.
~lHF~ 3H 1~ FF~ FH~ EllcA 02225002 1997-12-17- TD 3~ 9 F.l~ "~
SU~ RY OF THE INVE~T~O~
e.~ he p~esent in~nt-orl, an impro~,-ed audi~ safot,~ de~ wit:A.
si~lulated vcice h~a~nirc~ si~nals is clisclcsed Accor~in~ , one of ~he Gbjects of th~ preser-t in~ention is t~;~
S prov1de an imFrO-JC~c wdrnin~ ~ystem for effec ive pre~,-ention c, injuries ascoclated ~-ith Ccho~l b-~s an~ he~vy ~hic12 operatlon, a~
well as for further sa~ety Anot~er of t:~e object~ o~ th~ ~res~nt ~n~ention is ~o pro~,ide dn i~proved wa~ning sy~te~ which _~n broadc~st ~ssa~2C tc those ~~ outside a vehicle, as ln the case cf an em~rge~~~- situa~i~r or eve~
for general e~u~ation.
Yet ~ncth~r of the ob~ects 3f the pr2cent in~,-en~ion is to provide ~n i~proved -~a~ninc ~ystem which lS -apable of s2nding an audio ~.ess~ge not only o~tsi~e of ~ v~hicle, bu~ w-~h1n ~he ~hic~e a as well Still ~not~er of t~e Gb}ects cf the pres~nt in~Jerlt_On i~ to pro~l~e ~n improve~ warning s~st2~ which inclu~es -~c ice chip techllolog~ for ~elivering either pr~rec~ded or ~ser-recorded me~sa~es.
2~ A further object of th~ present intention is to provide ~n improved wcrning syste~ which is easi_~ tempcrarily irstallabl~ o~
and re~o~ble fr~m a ~e:A,icle, su-h th~t the warning system can b~
lncorpor~t~d ~ nto ~n~her ~-ehicle ~ith ~ase .
llHF~ 3~-J FF ~ FH~ EII CA 022i5002 1997-12-17-3 TIJ 3~,~i 3 F. i3 -2H
, Ano~her object ~f the present inventi~n is t~ pro-~ide ~.
impro~ed ~u~r~ rail ~upport ~or the purpo~es described which i~
inexpersi-~e, depen~able and fully e~-~c~i~r~ in accomplisni~g its intended purpose.
In ~Jie~r of t~e above-~en~ione~ and ot:~er a3jec s, all of ~ ,ic:
wlll become mor~- re~adily understcod as the natLre Oc ~h~ present in~-ention is bette~ urderstood, the in~e~io~ co~Fri~es in tne novel combi~ation and arr~gement ~f parts hereinaft~r more ~ully desc~iked, il~ustr~ted, ~nd ~laimed with re~~lrence ~in~ ~.ad~ ~o th~
:~3 attac:~ed draw:n~c.
BK~EF ~ESCRIPTION OF ~HE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a CirCUit diagr~m sho~i~g -h~ seqUe~ce 3f P~ent~
which occur d~ring the operation of the preser.t ln~-enti~n.
Fig~lre 2 is ~ fl~w chc~t qhowir~ the se~uence of e~ents whic~
occur during th~ operation of the ~re~ent invention.
~i~lilGr refer~nce ~haracters de~o~e corresp~rding feature~
consis~ently throu~h~t the attached d~hings.
2~
D~TAILED DESCRIP~IO~ OF ~E PREFERRED EMBODI~ENr Thc prese~t ~n~entio~ will be seen to relat~ to ~ s~fety de~-ice ha~,-ing a Backing Saf~ty Systern, a Ccho~l B Ls "Stcp Sign ;~zn" Safety -2~ Syste~, a Driver Safety Sys~em, and Te~hni~iar Li~t, ~ump, ~a~ te, F' 1~, 3 1~ ,1 FF' ~ F~ClLlE~1 CA oiii5002 1997 12 17~- T~ F 1~ -!~-' and Hydraul ic Cylinder ~i~fetjt ~iystem The ~esen~: s3fet~ de~ice i;, for Use o~ car~, buses, ~rucks, anc any moving vehic1e that -~lse, batteries. T~e presert in~en~ion is ~ounted atop c ~/e~icle's c~b, or alternatl~el~, elcewhere ~/i'chin the vehic~ e ~n~ rPa~ inclucle an S ~xterna~ speaker. I~lh~le the present in~/ention comprises ~ur separate s~et~ systems, Figure~ 1 and ~ illustra~e the path com~o~
in all saf2t~ sy~'cems.
Recogni2ing tha~ ~dio alert~ axe crit~ccl accompan~menrs to certain ~oto~ ve:~icular mo~,D~nt, th~ present inventiorl e~[lplo~
:~ first ~cking S~fet-~ System to p~even~ in~uries ~hen a vehicle ~c~es in a bac~r~s direc~ion, as illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure ,~.
~hen a conventional tran~mis~ion (nct shoh~ is nga~d in a ~e~erse mode, current flo~.s ~rom ~ conventional backup s~-itch terminal ~not shown) ~_ the tra~smission (not sho~n) to inp~t ~r~in~l lC ~o the present in~e~tio~. After adjucting or selecting the appropriate curre~t required for activa~ion of an ap~ropria~e s~nd s-gn~l respo~se ~0, the present in~lention trans~its a siq~1 to a d21a~ 0 which co~inu~us ~ repeats a soun~ signal response ~ af ter e~er~
second tim2 bre~
2~ The cc~pl~e Circuit p~t~ of the ?resent in-~ertion is a~
follows Current fl~ws to one end cf -he backup swit_h terminal ~not shown) from a vehicle battery (not shown), a~d w~en the transtris~ion (not sho~n) is _ngaged i~ a re~e~se mo~e, the back~p swi~ch terminal (not ~hown) is ~ctiva~ed. C~ e~ t:~en ~10wa to a s~cond end o- ~he 2~ backup switch -e~minal (no~ snoWnJ at -he trarsmissio~ (not sho~nl t~
F 1~ -1 FF' 11~-:F~ EI I CA 0 2 2 2 5 0 0 2 i 9 97 - 12 - l 7 - - T - - F . 15 _'-input term-n~l 10 to t~e transf~rmer bS, w~erei~ the curren_ i~
regulated. ~rom t~e transformer ~5, clrrent flo~s to a ~olt~qe sel~cto~ 7S ~hi~h sen~s the prope_ vo_ ~e ~ an automati~ controlle~
~3, w:~ich in turn sigrals ~he soun~ s-gnal response 9~.
S Au~o~ctic controller 83 ac~s cs a c~mputer module ~herein volta~e i~ co~p~red with req-1isit~ ta~gets k~yed to activa~e varicus sound ch- ps ~ot sh~n), for app_~xi~atel~ 4C~ s~conds, inc~rporGte~
in souncl ~ign~31 resEionso 9C~. Further, ~utomati~ controller ~3 detenl~nes the clevi~tion between re~uisite t~rg~ts and voltage, a~
:~3 ~rodu~es a con_rol sicnal whi~_h re~uces ~he ~e~riation to zero. C~nce the dPviation clcsel~ cpproaches ~ero, automatic controller 83 s~-itches b~ck to a "start mode~ ar ~ "~tand-~" mode, depen~ing o~
the specific safet~ sS~-stelr of the prosent inventicn wi~h ~hi~h it is associa~ed. An am~lifier 130 ~ro~_a~ts the sou~d sicnal re~ponse :~ 90, a~d th~ sounc si~ral re~ponse ~0 -s powere~ or force~ tc a ~la~
lOO wh ch delcys the so~lnd ~i~nal respon~e 90 after e~rery second Nu~erous fuee~ 62 throu~hGut t~e ~ircuit p~h a~t to pre-~ert exces~
voltage f~. d~aging th~ pre~en~ invention.
The soun~ signal ~esponse 90, in ~he preferred embo~iment of 2~) the present in-Jen~io~ one or a co~binati~r of se~Jera1 ~cund chips ~not shown) whi-h inccrpo~c~e a conven icnal ~.o~n cudito~y si~nal and human voicz aLditory si~nals rhe horn audi~Gr~ ~ignal alert~
ind-~icu~ls p~oxi~at~ ~o a vehicle equippe~ wit~ the present invention, of a_~ual ~ehicl~ m~ver.~ent. The h~an v3ice auditory 2~ signals remind similarly situ~ted ind-vicuals o- the proper beh3vior ~;lHF' 1~ ' FP ~ Fl~[l[lE~lcA bi225002 i997-li-17--~ T 33, -- F.l~ 3 conu~l~nsurate with existing concSitions. CpeciEic actit~ction oE th~
conve~tional hcrn au~itor~ signa: andJcr the human ~oice a~ditory sianals resuLts ~ro~ the voltage.
' A waterproo~ speaker ~not sho-~r~ receives the hcrn ~u~ito~
signal and the h~an ~oi~e audl~o~y s'~nals ard ~mits sound ~- -hi~ a localized ~rea o~ 150 feet,. fhe w~ter-proof sp~ker (not shown) 1 preferably mounte~ a~ the top of a heavy vehic:e's c~ ~ot sho~
necr a t~p~cal ~ountlng ~ a hor~ ~not sho~n). In ~e alternative, ~he wate~-prvof speaker (no~ show~) can be moun~ed ~t ~he Lear of ~
:~ hecv~ vehi_le (nct s~c~m) so as to em-- the hGrn auditorv si~nal and the h~ ~ vcice a~dito~ si~al~ n~ar a pcrticn of t:~e heav~ vehicle Inot sho~r-) whiC~ u~ual~~ pro~ces excessive noise. I~ is contemFla~2d s~-h a rearward moUnting of the water-pr~of spea~er Inot shown) would provide for eff2ct'v~o competing emission of the horn ~uditor~,~ si~n~l and t~e human voice duditor~ signal5.
Upon acti~ation, the sound chip (not shown) ~lits the hor.
auclitor~ ~ignal twice in succession, with a celay of approximately 1/20 o~ a s~o~d, at 1~ ~e~ibels. The delay ti~.e ic sicni~ic~n~
because it serves ~s an alext _all to ;,ignal individuals to liste~
2~ for a more informa~ive me~ssage. At a deldy ::~f 1/lQ of ~ s-cond after ~:he h~xn auclitory signal ~as keen e~ittecl, the human voice auditory signals are soun~e~. The delay timing for the voice auditory signal~ i~ signif c~nt becau~e tr~iti~ral ~afet~ envlron~ent~
~ndate col~.uni~ation o~ s~_~ty messages in less tha~ two seccr~ to 2~ pro~pt pro?hy_a~tic ~ction.
ilHF 1~. ~.3 1~ FF 11~ FHrlrlE~ICA oi225002 1997 12 17-- TIJ ~ 1_3 F'. 1 . _'.-' .
The human v~ice auditGr~ signal w:ll conve~ t:~e messG~e, "Atte~tion! ~leGse stand cl~ar, this refuse t~uc~. is backin~." It is an~ic~pated that mes~age wouLd ~c sp2cific to the unique chara~e~
of the subject vehiole~ sLch tha~ the word~ ~'refuse truc~ o~lId b~
replaced by a uni~e de~c~p~ on of -he vehicle ~i~hin which th~
present inv~nti~n has be~n i~s~alled T:~e ~ssa~e co~ld ~ repeat~
s~cce~sively -n Cpanish, Fren~h, o~ an~ ~the~ desi~ed lan~u~ge.
The pr~sen~ in-~ntlon emFlo~s a second School B~s "S~op Sig~
A~m" Safety Systel~ to ~re~J~nt injuries when a schcol bus unload3 :~3 students. Imple~entirg the present in ention~s ~c~.ool Bu~ S~op ~iqn ~r~ Sa~ety Sys em cxeate~ two optimal situatic~s Fi~st, drivers _~
necrby ~e~icles are ~ar~d ~:~at the ~chool bus i~ pl anning to make a sudden stop. This -s cri~ical because cu~_ent ~ethods of alertin~
drive~s to sporadic school bu~ ~raking ~o rot alwa~s con~e~ the :~ messa3e quickly en~ugh for the d~ivers t~ respond in a d~sired ~a~hi~n Second, dr~~ers of nea ~y ~ehicles are al~rte~ that students ~ill be mo~ing towa~ds ~nd emanatin~ fro~ t:~e s-hool bu~
after it stcps The present in~ention 2nsures tha~ dri~er~ ar~ aware that ~udden darting ard strag~31i~g students may enter the rcadw~y.
2~} To ~arn nearby vehlcles that the sch~ol ~us is braking, the prese~t inventi~n emplo~s an audible siren signal, ~cces~ed from the ~ound chip (no- ~ho~n), which is pla~ed for lflO of a cecond from the sFeaker (not sho~n) ~ounted a-3p the c~b tnot shown). rn one ~odiment of he present inven~ion, the audible siren sicnal i~
2~ acti~ate~ ~hen con~entional yello~ cau~ion lights ~n-~t ~h~h~, ~l~sn ~IHP 1~'3~ FF~ FHr~r~E~lcA 0222~002 1997-l2-l7 F.1,-~
, f~orn the s-,hool ~us ~ ground ~e-minal (not shown) is loc~ed ~t the base o~ the s~op sign ar~n (not showIl)~ As the stop si~n crm (no~
shown~ hegins to move, the g_ound t~r~ninal (n~t s~o~ln~ is slo~ l~
short~e~. When the stop si~n arm ~ec~mes comple el~ extended, a S ground ~f~ninal will be fully sh3rted to ~c ivate c~ rent flow to lnput termina_ lC ~n~ produce subs~quent sound signal response g~
In -he alternative, a c~n~ention~l pu,h bu~ton, t~lo prong typQ
~witc:~ ~not sho-~n) may ~e en~plo~e~ wherein C~rrent -lcws to one ;,ide its term-n~ls (not shown). .~s ~he stop sign a-~tl be~ins t~ s~ina, a :~ ba.~e plate (no- ahown~ of the stop sign arm ~rot show~ hlill pl~sh ln a button inot shcwn), completing ~ circuit ln~ide the switch (not shown) . A current ~hen will Froc~ed alon~ the circuit paths, as ~orernentioned - n the descriFtion of the first safeti~ si~ste~r~, to produ~e a scund c i gnal response ~0 .
;~ To alert dri~re~s that s~udents will be cro~sing roa~C aro-md ~he sch~ol bus, the prese~t in~ention furth~r e~plovs the second human voice aLdito~y si~nal, accessed from the sound chip (noC
shown~, which is pl~yed ln ~ contin~o~s lcop. W~en the ccn~en~i~n~l stop sign ar~ is f~lly exten~ed, visually rem:n~ing ~-ivers to 2d 1awf~ stop when a sc~ool bus brak~s to u~load stu~ent~, the prese~t inventicn's human voice au~itoxy signal is activcte~
aubsequent to t~e siren au~itor-~ s gn~l. So long as ~he stop sign ~r~ is ext~nded, the hu~an 'JOiCe auditvry signal will pre erGbly inton~ ~he ~o:lo~ing mes~age: ''Ple~e s~cp at ~5 ~eet, ~his ve~i~le 2~ is coming tc a ~o~pleLe stop."
IIHP 1~ FF l~ FH~ lE~lcA 02225002 l997-l2-l73-~ TLI 3~7~13'1 F.1'3 _"_' ~ y incorp~ratin~ the Siren auditory signal and the hu~lan voic~
~udltorv si~n~:, the ~res~nt in~rent-on keeps ~Jehicle~ at a sa'e dista~ce from children nea~ the s~hool bus. It is anticipated thA_ the "25 ~eet'' -~rdinq of the vo-ce recording ~ l be ~odi~ie.l i-~
S accordance hith ~he require~e~s of the loc~l la~s of vario~s roglon~ln ~hich the pr2cent in~ntio~ is utl-i~ed The present in~ention incorporates ,_ t:~ird ~river Safet~ Sy~tem by which ~he dri~e-tcper~o~ of a heavy duty t-uck or sch~ol ~us is ale~ted to ~xhibit beha~ior Ln ~ccordcnce wit~ es~ablish~d ~afet~
:~3 princi~les A~ th ~he pre~rious s~fety s-~stems, the sa~e circuit path i~
co~tem~lat~d ~hen ~ he~v~ dut~ t~uck or sc:~ol ~us has stopFed, as soon as th2 driver a~tempts to release the paL}:ing bre~}:, hu~3n ~oice duditor~ signals sound ~ h~man ~udit~ry voice con~ ins t~.e words, _~ ''Wal~ ar~und and ma:~e sure ycur surroundings are clear b2fore ycu proceed,~ while a second :~man auditory voice conta_ns the word~
"Wclk arounc and ~ake sure t~ kid is playing around t~e school bus bofore you ~o~e." The human ~oice ~udit~ry sianalc elimlnate th~
po$$ibility of an unseen person or object a~pe~ring in the vicinity 2~3 of t~e t~u-k ~r kus. Further, the :~uma~ voice auditor~ signal~
assist in teachi~g dri~ers to unlearn th~ir habit of stopping and unloading, ar~ then pro-eedin~, withou~ eoncern for established safety me~hcds.
rlHP 1~ -.- FF~ FH~~C'E~IcA oi225002 l997-l2-l73' TIJ 3~,~1_9 F~
.
The h~an vcice a~lditory ~i~nals co~tinue to solnd ~
drive~ ~lakes ~ second attem,~t to releas~ the parkinq ~-reak, or f--30 35 seconds, -~hiche~er is ~horte~. ~~t~r t:he ~ n auditor~ ci~e is fi:~all~f soun~ed, a driver warning - s coun~ed, rernincing th2 sc,~es,i S bus drl~,e~ to encure that child passengers are s~ated ~i~h sea ~e:~s loc~;ed. ~s previousl~ described, automatic controller .,3 switche~
bac~ to a "stand-b~," mode ir~ th-s s~stem so that it _an scund t:~e dri~rer ~a~ning ~ ~ter the hurn~Ln audit~ory ~arnirg .
The pr~sent in-~ention inco~po~a~es a ourth Technician Lift, LUnp, Tailgate, an~l H~J iraulic: Cylindex Sa~et~v System for front e~d locder vehicles. The p~lrpose o~ this system is to relnind a driver or a m~chanlc to lock ç~-linders bef~re atten-~tin~ to worl~ ar~und ~hc~
open or li~t ar~a. ~e safety system elilr.inates ~os~ibl~ mechar.ical ~ailure ty~es of ~ccidents of common - n~~ clence . When the tai lgatA. i s :~ o~en o~ th~ bQd i~ up on front enc lc.~dor vehicles, the ~Jolta~e sele~tor 75 will receive i~s gro~lnd that will complete t:~e cir-ui for the sourd signal response ~0 ~o be activated, as in ~n~
afore~enti~ned sa~ety s~st~s c~f the present inventi~n A suit~lQ
hulnan voice a~ditorjr signal will :~ouncl ~t regLlar inter~alc unti 1 the 2 ~ cyl inclexs are locked In su~L~ary~ t:~e ~ove ciescr- b2G safety de-~ice pro-~ides for e~se Gf irstallation and ~emo~al, thus provic~ing si~nificant labc~r sa~-ings The reusability of ~11 corr.pononts pro~Jides further aconomy.
Moreover, the c:~mm~ ticn ;.ystQ~r. en~odi~d ir~ e pre~e~t inver~tior F 1~. 3: 14: 34 FF li~ F~ E~ l cA 0 2 2-2 5-0 0 2 l g g 7 l 2 l 7 33 TIJ ~ . 41--. ~ P . ~
ens~lr~ that G warning message is sent, regardless of weather condition se~erity.
It ' s t~ he unclerstcod t~at th~ present in~zntlon is no~
limit~d to t~he sole em}~o~iment desc~ bed abo~-e, ~ut encompass~s any 5 and all em::cd'ments wlthin the sco?e of the ~ollowing clalms
Claims (20)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A safety device for use with a vehicle, comprising:
a switch terminal responsive to normal vehicle operations;
an input terminal receiving current from said switch terminal;
means for transforming said current into a voltage;
a voltage selector, responsive to said voltage, dividing said voltage into a predetermined controller voltage;
an automatic controller, responsive to said controller voltage, that compares said controller voltage with preselected data and generates an output, a sound chip, responsive to said output, emitting a sound signal response; and an amplifier receiving and amplifying said sound signal response, thereby generating an amplified sound signal.
a switch terminal responsive to normal vehicle operations;
an input terminal receiving current from said switch terminal;
means for transforming said current into a voltage;
a voltage selector, responsive to said voltage, dividing said voltage into a predetermined controller voltage;
an automatic controller, responsive to said controller voltage, that compares said controller voltage with preselected data and generates an output, a sound chip, responsive to said output, emitting a sound signal response; and an amplifier receiving and amplifying said sound signal response, thereby generating an amplified sound signal.
2. A safety device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a delay delays said sound signal response after every second.
3. A safety device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch terminal is responsive to a transmission engaged in a reverse direction.
4. A safety device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch terminal is responsive to an extended stop sign arm fixedly attached to the side of the vehicle, said stop sign arm shorting out a ground terminal.
5. A safety device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch terminal is a push button, two prong type switch responsive to an extending stop sign arm fixedly attached to the side of the vehicle.
6. A safety device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch terminal is responsive to releasing of a parking brake.
7. A safety device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch terminal is responsive to an open tailgate or a raised bed of a front end loader vehicle.
8. A safety device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said amplified sound signal is generated to a waterproof speaker mounted atop a cab of the vehicle.
3. A safety device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said amplifier generates said amplified sound signal to a waterproof speaker, said speaker located near a noise producing portion of said vehicle.
10. A safety warning process for alerting pedestrians, vehicle drivers, and vehicle passengers, said process comprising the following steps:
activating a switch terminal, said switch terminal responsive to normal vehicle operations;
providing current from said switch terminal to an input terminal;
transforming said current into a voltage:
dividing said voltage into a predetermined controller voltage;
comparing said controller voltage with preselected data and generating an output, emitting a sound signal response corresponding to said output:
amplifying said sound signal response from an external speaker capable of transmitting said sound signal response, within a localized area, to individuals both inside and outside a vehicle.
activating a switch terminal, said switch terminal responsive to normal vehicle operations;
providing current from said switch terminal to an input terminal;
transforming said current into a voltage:
dividing said voltage into a predetermined controller voltage;
comparing said controller voltage with preselected data and generating an output, emitting a sound signal response corresponding to said output:
amplifying said sound signal response from an external speaker capable of transmitting said sound signal response, within a localized area, to individuals both inside and outside a vehicle.
11. The safety warning process for alerting pedestrians, vehicle drivers, and vehicle passengers, according to claim 10, wherein said current is provided when a transmission is shifted to a reverse direction.
12. The safety warning process for alerting pedestrians, vehicle drivers, and vehicle passengers, according to claim 10, wherein said current is provided when a school bus stop sign arm is extended.
13 . The safety warning process for alerting pedestrians, vehicle drivers, and vehicle passengers, according to claim 10, wherein said current is provided when a driver attempts to release a vehicle's parking break.
14. The safety warning process for alerting pedestrians, vehicle drivers, and vehicle passengers, according to claim 10, wherein said current is provided when a vehicle's tailgate is open or said vehicle's bed is up.
15. The safety warning process for alerting pedestrians, vehicle drivers, and vehicle passengers, according to claim 10, wherein said sound signal response is produced by a sound chip.
16. The safety warning process for alerting pedestrians, vehicle drivers, and vehicle passengers, according to claim 10, wherein said sound signal response is a selection of voice signals.
17. The safety warning process for alerting pedestrians, vehicle drivers, and vehicle passengers, according to claim 10, wherein said sound signal response is a selection of horn auditory signals.
18. The safety warning process for alerting pedestrians, vehicle drivers, and vehicle passengers, according to claim 10, including the further step of:
repeating said sound signal response over a predetermined period of time.
repeating said sound signal response over a predetermined period of time.
19. An safety device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch terminal is responsive to automatic means.
20. An safety device, as claimed in claim 19, wherein said automatic means comprises a transmission shifting into a reverse mode, a parking brake releasing, a stop sign arm extending, a vehicle tailgate in an open position, or vehicle bed in an up position.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US76858196A | 1996-12-18 | 1996-12-18 | |
| US08/768,581 | 1996-12-18 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2225002A1 true CA2225002A1 (en) | 1998-06-18 |
Family
ID=25082889
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002225002A Abandoned CA2225002A1 (en) | 1996-12-18 | 1997-12-17 | Audio safety device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2225002A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2345392A (en) * | 2000-03-28 | 2000-07-05 | Brigade Electronics Plc | Reversing alarm |
-
1997
- 1997-12-17 CA CA002225002A patent/CA2225002A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2345392A (en) * | 2000-03-28 | 2000-07-05 | Brigade Electronics Plc | Reversing alarm |
| GB2345392B (en) * | 2000-03-28 | 2000-11-22 | Brigade Electronics Plc | Reversing alarm |
| US6885295B2 (en) | 2000-03-28 | 2005-04-26 | Brigade Electronics Plc | Reversing alarm |
| AU2007200517B2 (en) * | 2000-03-28 | 2009-10-08 | Brigade Electronics Group Plc | Reversing alarm |
| AU2007200517C1 (en) * | 2000-03-28 | 2010-04-29 | Brigade Electronics Group Plc | Reversing alarm |
| USRE44912E1 (en) | 2000-03-28 | 2014-05-27 | Yamaguchi Electric Ind. Co. Ltd. | Reversing alarm |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20011217 |
|
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20011217 |