GB2168484A - Motor vehicle carried speed indicator system - Google Patents

Motor vehicle carried speed indicator system Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2168484A
GB2168484A GB08431553A GB8431553A GB2168484A GB 2168484 A GB2168484 A GB 2168484A GB 08431553 A GB08431553 A GB 08431553A GB 8431553 A GB8431553 A GB 8431553A GB 2168484 A GB2168484 A GB 2168484A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
vehicle
speed
speedometer
bleeper
indicator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08431553A
Other versions
GB8431553D0 (en
Inventor
Geoffrey Richard Elliott
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB08431553A priority Critical patent/GB2168484A/en
Publication of GB8431553D0 publication Critical patent/GB8431553D0/en
Publication of GB2168484A publication Critical patent/GB2168484A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/50—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
    • B60Q1/54—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking for indicating speed outside of the vehicle
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D13/00—Component parts of indicators for measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable
    • G01D13/22—Pointers, e.g. settable pointer
    • G01D13/26—Pointers, e.g. settable pointer adapted to perform a further operation, e.g. making electrical contact

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Audible And Visible Signals (AREA)

Abstract

The system comprises an activatable visual indicator 8 (eg a flashing light) mounted to be visible externally of the vehicle from in front thereof and means 1 responsive to the speed of the vehicle to activate the indicator when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value. The means 1 may be a speedometer incorporating an electrical contact 4 engaged by the speedometer needle 3 at the predetermined speed. Alternatively, the means 1 may be electronic. The system may also include audible warning means 9. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Speed indicator systems This invention relates to speed indicator systems and more particularly to such systems carried by motor vehicles. The term "motor vehicles" is to be understood to include cars, commercial road vehicles, motor cycles and other powered road vehicles.
One of the major categories of road accidents is those arising from a vehicle exiting from a side turning onto a major road. Many of this category of accident is caused by the exiting driver underestimating the speed of an oncoming vehicle travelling on the major road and approaching the side turning. The present invention proposes speed indicator systems which will at least indicate that the speed of the approaching vehicle exceeds some predetermined amount.
The present invention provides a motorvehicle-carried speed indicator system comprising an activatable visual indicator mounted to be visible externally of the vehicle from in front thereof and means responsive to the speed of the vehicle to activate the indicator when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value.
The indicator may be a flashing light.
The means may be operated by the conventional speedometer of the vehicle and in this case, the means may further comprise an electrical circuit including a contact electrically engaged by the needle of the speedometer at the predetermined speed value. Alternatively and when the speedometer is electronic, the means may be responsive to electrical signals of the speedometer indicative of the speed of the vehicle exceeding the predetermined value.
An audible bleeper may also be provided on the vehicle which bleeper is also activated when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined value.
One embodiment of the present invention will now be described in greater detail by way of exampie only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic representation of the system.
Referring to the drawing, the system includes the conventional vehicle speedometer 1. The speedometer 1 has been modified by the addition of an electrical connection 2 to the speedometer needle 3 and a contact 4 extending from the position 5 which the needle 3 will have at, say, just above 50 mph and the top speed indicatable by the speedometer 1.
The connection 2 and the contact 4 are in circuit with battery 6 of the vehicle and a flasher unit 7, a lamp 8 and a bleeper 9. The lamp 8 is mounted (albeit not so shown) on the top of the vehicle's front bumper and may conveniently be a lamp of some 12 inches length extending across the front of the vehicle. Hence, it will be readily visible from in front of the vehicle. The bleeper 9 may be mounter internally of the vehicle. The dashboard of the vehicle may carry a sign or a voice simulator to remind the driver that the vehicle is fitted with the system and to advise the driver that when the bleeper operates, he has exceeded the predetermined speed-in this case, 50 mph.
To obviate the bleeper 9 operating continuously whilst the vehicle speed is in excess of the predetermined value, the bleeper 9 may not be mounted in series with the contact 4, the unit 7 and the lamp 8. It may instead be mounted in parallel thereto with a further short contact located at the 50 mph position so that the bleeper is activated only as the vehicle passes through this speed.
Because of the need, in the above described embodiment, for the needle 3 to make physical as well as electrical contact with the contact 4, this may cause unacceptable drag on the needle 3 with consequent mis-indication of the vehicle's speed. To obviate this, the contact 4 may be constituted by a continuous series of microswitches or by magnetically-operated reed switches, the needle then carrying a light magnet.
If the speedometer is an electronic speedometer, the electrical signals on the circuitry of the speedometer may be used in place of the needle/contact 3/4 to effect activation of the lamp 8 above the predetermined speed value.
Again of course, the vehicle's conventional speedometer may not be used by a separate one provided for the system of this invention.
1. A motor-vehicle-carried speed indicator system comprising an activatable visual indicator mounted to be visible externally of the vehicle from in front thereof and means responsive to the speed of the vehicle to activate the indicator when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value.
2. A system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the indicator is a flashing light.
3. A system s claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the means is operated by the conventional speedometer of the vehicle.
4. A system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the means comprises an electrical circuit including a contact electrically engaged by the needle of the speedometer at the predetermined speed value.
5. A system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the speedometer is an electronic speedometer and the means responsive to electrical signals of the speedometer indicative of the speed of the vehicle exceeding the predetermined value.
6. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein an audible bleeper is also provided on the vehicle which bleeper is also activated when the speed of the vehicle
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Speed indicator systems This invention relates to speed indicator systems and more particularly to such systems carried by motor vehicles. The term "motor vehicles" is to be understood to include cars, commercial road vehicles, motor cycles and other powered road vehicles. One of the major categories of road accidents is those arising from a vehicle exiting from a side turning onto a major road. Many of this category of accident is caused by the exiting driver underestimating the speed of an oncoming vehicle travelling on the major road and approaching the side turning. The present invention proposes speed indicator systems which will at least indicate that the speed of the approaching vehicle exceeds some predetermined amount. The present invention provides a motorvehicle-carried speed indicator system comprising an activatable visual indicator mounted to be visible externally of the vehicle from in front thereof and means responsive to the speed of the vehicle to activate the indicator when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value. The indicator may be a flashing light. The means may be operated by the conventional speedometer of the vehicle and in this case, the means may further comprise an electrical circuit including a contact electrically engaged by the needle of the speedometer at the predetermined speed value. Alternatively and when the speedometer is electronic, the means may be responsive to electrical signals of the speedometer indicative of the speed of the vehicle exceeding the predetermined value. An audible bleeper may also be provided on the vehicle which bleeper is also activated when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined value. One embodiment of the present invention will now be described in greater detail by way of exampie only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic representation of the system. Referring to the drawing, the system includes the conventional vehicle speedometer 1. The speedometer 1 has been modified by the addition of an electrical connection 2 to the speedometer needle 3 and a contact 4 extending from the position 5 which the needle 3 will have at, say, just above 50 mph and the top speed indicatable by the speedometer 1. The connection 2 and the contact 4 are in circuit with battery 6 of the vehicle and a flasher unit 7, a lamp 8 and a bleeper 9. The lamp 8 is mounted (albeit not so shown) on the top of the vehicle's front bumper and may conveniently be a lamp of some 12 inches length extending across the front of the vehicle. Hence, it will be readily visible from in front of the vehicle. The bleeper 9 may be mounter internally of the vehicle. The dashboard of the vehicle may carry a sign or a voice simulator to remind the driver that the vehicle is fitted with the system and to advise the driver that when the bleeper operates, he has exceeded the predetermined speed-in this case, 50 mph. To obviate the bleeper 9 operating continuously whilst the vehicle speed is in excess of the predetermined value, the bleeper 9 may not be mounted in series with the contact 4, the unit 7 and the lamp 8. It may instead be mounted in parallel thereto with a further short contact located at the 50 mph position so that the bleeper is activated only as the vehicle passes through this speed. Because of the need, in the above described embodiment, for the needle 3 to make physical as well as electrical contact with the contact 4, this may cause unacceptable drag on the needle 3 with consequent mis-indication of the vehicle's speed. To obviate this, the contact 4 may be constituted by a continuous series of microswitches or by magnetically-operated reed switches, the needle then carrying a light magnet. If the speedometer is an electronic speedometer, the electrical signals on the circuitry of the speedometer may be used in place of the needle/contact 3/4 to effect activation of the lamp 8 above the predetermined speed value. Again of course, the vehicle's conventional speedometer may not be used by a separate one provided for the system of this invention. CLAIMS
1. A motor-vehicle-carried speed indicator system comprising an activatable visual indicator mounted to be visible externally of the vehicle from in front thereof and means responsive to the speed of the vehicle to activate the indicator when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value.
2. A system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the indicator is a flashing light.
3. A system s claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the means is operated by the conventional speedometer of the vehicle.
4. A system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the means comprises an electrical circuit including a contact electrically engaged by the needle of the speedometer at the predetermined speed value.
5. A system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the speedometer is an electronic speedometer and the means responsive to electrical signals of the speedometer indicative of the speed of the vehicle exceeding the predetermined value.
6. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein an audible bleeper is also provided on the vehicle which bleeper is also activated when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined value.
7. A motor-vehicle-carried speed indicator system substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
GB08431553A 1984-12-13 1984-12-13 Motor vehicle carried speed indicator system Withdrawn GB2168484A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08431553A GB2168484A (en) 1984-12-13 1984-12-13 Motor vehicle carried speed indicator system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08431553A GB2168484A (en) 1984-12-13 1984-12-13 Motor vehicle carried speed indicator system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8431553D0 GB8431553D0 (en) 1985-01-23
GB2168484A true GB2168484A (en) 1986-06-18

Family

ID=10571172

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08431553A Withdrawn GB2168484A (en) 1984-12-13 1984-12-13 Motor vehicle carried speed indicator system

Country Status (1)

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GB (1) GB2168484A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009100993A2 (en) * 2008-02-15 2009-08-20 Wika Alexander Wiegand Gmbh & Co. Kg Manometer having pointer contact

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1170259A (en) * 1965-11-22 1969-11-12 Alfred Fuetsch Speedometer-Controlled External Visual Indicators for Vehicles.
GB1215470A (en) * 1967-12-20 1970-12-09 John Mathew Burke Improvements in or relating to speed indicating and theft warning devices for motor vehicles
GB1445597A (en) * 1972-11-21 1976-08-11 Ko An Inc Speed responsive timing circuit

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1170259A (en) * 1965-11-22 1969-11-12 Alfred Fuetsch Speedometer-Controlled External Visual Indicators for Vehicles.
GB1215470A (en) * 1967-12-20 1970-12-09 John Mathew Burke Improvements in or relating to speed indicating and theft warning devices for motor vehicles
GB1445597A (en) * 1972-11-21 1976-08-11 Ko An Inc Speed responsive timing circuit

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009100993A2 (en) * 2008-02-15 2009-08-20 Wika Alexander Wiegand Gmbh & Co. Kg Manometer having pointer contact
WO2009100993A3 (en) * 2008-02-15 2009-11-05 Wika Alexander Wiegand Gmbh & Co. Kg Manometer having pointer contact

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8431553D0 (en) 1985-01-23

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)