GB2207791A

GB2207791A - Protection of vehicles against obstacles

Info

Publication number: GB2207791A
Application number: GB08715973A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gal Hatzor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-07-07
Filing date: 1987-07-07
Publication date: 1989-02-08
Also published as: GB8715973D0

Abstract

A vehicle 1 has at least one sensor 15, 16 for enabling at least one warning signal to indicate presence of at least one obstacle when at least one sensor reacts to that presence. Each sensor may comprise a detector 12, 13 from which a resiliently deflectable member 15, 16 projects both upwardly and downwardly. The upper portions 15a, 16a of these members are interconnected by a rail 17 that is resiliently deflectable. The detectors 12, 13 may be switches. Upon meeting an obstruction the resiliently deflectable members actuate the switches to produce warning signals that may be used to stop the vehicle or enable the vehicle to take evading action. <IMAGE>

Description

PROTECTION OF VEHICIES AGAINST OBSTACLE Notions of vehicles (e.g. tracked or wheeled vehicles) may result in the vehicles undesireably contacting at least one obstacle such that the vehicles become damaged. Risk of such contact is acute when a vehicle moves in a restricted space , e.g.: an interval between adjacent vehicles; a halt or stopping space, for instance at a junction or a traffic light; a parking space; or a turning space. Examples of obstacles are: a bollard, boulder, curb, door, fence, gate, pavement, stone, or wall.

A first aspect of the invention provides a vehicle comprising at least one sensor for enabling at least one warning signal to indicate presence of at least one obstacle when said at least one sensor reacts to that presence, e.g. by touching the obstacle(s).

A second aspect of the invention provides apparatus comprising at least one sensor according to the first aspect of the invention.

A third aspect of the invention provides a method for reducing risk of damage to a vehicle, comprising utilising at least one sensor according to the first aspect of the invention, or utilising at least one apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a sensor adapted for use according to the first, second, or third aspect of the invention.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides kit of parts for enabling the first, second, third, or fourth aspect of the invention The present invention may be applied to any suitable vehicle, e.g, a land vehicle, for instance a motor car, fork lift truck, or lorry. The invention will be embodied accordingly, The at least one warning signal may be chosen from any plurality of kinds of signals, e.g. from signal(s) that are acoustic, electrical, mechanical, optical, or pneumatic in nature.The at least one warning signal may be utilised in any suitable manner, e.g. to enable or disable at least one function of a vehicle, It will be appreciated that warning signal(s) can be utilised to enable a vehicle to take evading action to reduce risk of damage of the vehicle, e,g, action to stop a vehicle and/or cause a vehicle to move away from obstacle(s).

A sensor may be embodied in any suitable manner, e.g. comprise a switch or a transducer, An example of a sensor for cooperating with a front or rear bumper of a motor car, or any other suitable portion of a motor car, is a sensor that will become mechanically deflected upon sufficient contact with at least one obstacle. A mechanically deflectable sensor may be resiliently deflectable, e.g. have a spring construction, A plurality of spaced apart sensors may be disposed in any suitable manner (e., as an array) relative to a plurality of portions of a vehicle, for instance relative to side portions, or an intermediate portion, of a front or rear bumper of a motor car, A sensor array may be provided outboard of the front or rear bumper.

Apparatus comprising at least one sensor may comprise further functional component(s) chosen from any plurality of kinds of cnmponents, e.g, at least one control means responsive to at least one warning signal, at least one detector means for detecting at least one warning signal, at least one indicator means (e.g. display means) for indicating at least one warning signal. An acoustic and/or visual display may be particularly convenient for indicating at least one warning signal. Said further functional component(s) may be embodied in any suitable manner, e.g.

comprise switche(s) and/or transducer(s).

In the accompanying drawings, which are by way of example of the invention: Fig, 1 shows a motor car having a front bumper in front of which is a sensor array.

Fig. 2 shows a sensor projecting downwardly and upwardly from a detector comprised by the sensor array of Fig, 1.

Fig. 3 shows switches in the detector of Fig, 2, In Fig, 1, a motor car 1 has a front bumper 2, outboard of which is provided a sensor array 11.

A similar sensor array (not shown) is provided outboard of the rear bumper (not shown) of the car, Sensor array 11 has two sideways spaced apart detectors 12,13, respectively left and right of the front number plate 14.

A sensor 15 projects downwardly and upwardly from.

detector 12. A sensor 16 projects downwardly and upwardly from detector 13. Sensors 15,16 are identical kinds of sensor, and are resiliently deflectable by comprising spring construction, Upper portions 15a,16a of sensors 15,16 are interconnected by a rail 17 that is resiliently deflectable by comprising spring construction.

Rail 17 has resiliently deflectable sides 17a,17b, and resiliently deflectable intermediate portion 17c.

lower portions 15b,16b of sensors 15,16 have free ends 15c,16c corresponding to a predetermined height above ground level. Detectors 12,13 are identical kinds of detector, and each contains upper and lower collar or sleeve switches 18,19 through which sensor 15 or 16 respectively pass. Switch 18 or 19 is actuated by appropriate deflection of sensor 15 or 16 as a result of sufficient contact of at least one portion of sensor array 11 with at least one obstacle, Actuation of switch 18 or 19 enables at least one warning signal to be outputted from detector 12 or 13, Such signal(s) may be utilised in any suitable manner, as indicated earlier above.

Sensor array 11 may be an assembly of components coupled together by suitable couplings, e.g.

couplings 20,21,22 in Fig. 2, The apparatus in the accompanying drawings may be modified, e.g. according to the desbription given above before the first reference to the drawings. The invention includes equivalents and modifications arising from all the disclosures within the present specification and its drawings. For example, indicator means may be component(s) distinct from, or be portion(s) of, at least one detector. Detector means may be component(s) distinct from, or be portion(s) of, at least one control means or of at least one sensor. Force(s) for actuating a sensor may be from at least one direction, Thus, the invention may be applied to reducing risk of damage arising from at least one direction, e.g. a sensor array may be adapted to sense at least one direction, for instance downwards, forwards, rearwards, sideways, or upwards,

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising at least one sensor for enabling at least one warning signal to indicate presence of at least one obstacle when at least one said sensor reacts to that presence.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, when a car, truck, or lorry.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the vehicle is adapted to enable the warning signal(s) to enable or disable at least one function of the vehicle.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the vehicle is adapted to enable the warning signal(s) to enable the vehicle to take evading action relative to the obstacle(s).

5. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vehicle has a bumper; and at least one said sensor is disposed relative to the bumper, the at least one sensor being adapted to be mechanically deflected upon sufficient contact with the obstacle(s).

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein said at least one disposed sensor is an array of sensors.

7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the array comprises two said sensors each at a respective opposite side region of the intermediate region of the bumper.

8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the intermediate region of the bumper comprises a number plate, such that the two said sensors are each at a respective opposite side region of the number plate.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the array comprises at least one downwardly and/or upwardly projecting said sensor.

10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 9, when according to claim 8, wherein each of the two said sensors is a respective downwardly and upwardly projecting sensor that is resiliently deflectable.

11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein upper portions of the two said sensors are interconnected by a resiliently deflectable rail.

12. A vehicle claimed in claim 11, wherein the rail has resiliently deflectable side end portions each corrresponding to a respective side end of the bumper.

13. A vehicle as claimed in anyone of claims 10 to 12, wherein lower portions of the two said sensors have free ends corresponding to a predetermined height above ground level.

14. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. Warning apparatus, comprising at least one sensor for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. A sensor, for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 14, or for warning apparatus according to claim 15.

17. A method for reducing risk of damage to a vehicle, comprising utilising at least one sensor according to claim 16.

18. A kit of parts, comprising at least one sensor, for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 14, or for warning apparatus according to claim 15.