GB2342899A

GB2342899A - Parking aid

Info

Publication number: GB2342899A
Application number: GB9925075A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Victor Seed
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-10-24
Filing date: 1999-10-25
Publication date: 2000-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-25
Also published as: GB9925075D0; GB9823273D0; GB2342899B

Abstract

A device (10) for indicating contact of a motor vehicle with an obstruction, comprises a compressible housing (12) attached to a bumper, the housing having means for emitting a warning signal on contact between the housing and the obstruction that causes compression of the housing. The warning signal may be a whistle 20 or it may be electrically operated to emit sound or operate a light in the vehicle. The housing may be made of rubber 16 containing a foam rubber core 18.

Description

TITLE: Parking Aid DESCRIPTION This invention concerns devices for indicating contact of a moving object with an obstruction and is particularly concerned with parking aids for motor vehicles.

Parking a motor vehicle can be a hazardous operation, especially when reversing the motor vehicle into a space and particularly in the dark. Some motor vehicles are fitted with expensive infra-red distance detecting systems but the infra-red sensors can be obscured by dirt and become ineffective.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple device for indicating contact of a moving object, such as a motor vehicle, with an obstruction.

According to this invention there is provided a device for indicating contact of a moving object, such as a motor vehicle, with an obstruction, the device comprising a compressible housing having means for emitting a warning signal on contact between the housing and the obstruction that causes compression of the housing.

In a one preferred embodiment, the means for emitting a warning signal comprises a whistle or the like that produces a sound as air contained within the housing is expelled through the whistle on compression of the housing.

In a second preferred embodiment, the housing contains electrical contacts that are brought together on compression of the housing to make an electrical circuit with one or more electrically operated signal emitters. The electrical circuit may be operated by means of a battery within the housing or the electrical contacts may be connected to an exterior power supply such as the electrical power supply, of a motor vehicle, to which the housing is attached.

The electrically operated signal emitter may be a sound emitter or a light emitter. It may be advantageous for both to be provided. A light emitter may be more conveniently situated outside of the housing and preferably, for example, within a motor vehicle to which the housing is fitted, such as in the rear of the vehicle or in the dashboard.

The device of the second preferred embodiment may further include the warning signal emitting system of the first preferred embodiment of the invention.

The housing is preferably made of a rubber or elastomeric skin containing a softer core such as of foam rubber or other elastomeric material. The preferred housing is arrange to be fixed to a motor vehicle bumper, although it may be fixed to any other desired movable object.

The housing may have tabs at each end through which securing screws may be fitted. An alternative may be to use a pressure sensitive adhesive for fixing the housing in place.

The housing may be shaped so as to have an aesthetically pleasing profile to the object to which it is to be attached, typically a bumper of a motor vehicle. Alternatively additional shaped pieces may be provided for fitting with the housing to provide such a profile. For ease of manufacture it may be convenient for the housing to be elongate and of rectangular section, in which case shaped pieces, such as of triangular section may be provided to be fitted adjacent ends and the top and bottom of the housing. The shaped pieces are preferably of foam rubber or sponge within a rubber or elastomeric material skin.

The preferred use of the device of the invention is as an addition to a bumper of a motor vehicle as a parking aid, especially for reverse parking. Thus, initial contact of the device with an obstruction will cause the housing to be compressed and a warning signal emitted.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a section through a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a section through a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a section through a third embodiment of the invention; Figures 4 to 7 are applicable to any of the embodiments of Figures 1, 2 and 3 and show respectively a top view, a top view with side pieces, a cover, and an end view.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a parking aid 10 for affixing to a bumper of a motor vehicle comprises a generally rectangular section housing 12 having an outer skin 14 of hardened rubber. Within the outer skin 14 and adjacent thereto is moderately soft rubber layer 16 and that contains a foamed rubber core 18 with an air gap in the middle thereof.

At each end of the housing are whistles 20 which emit a noise on passage of air therethrough.

The housing 12 may be secured to a vehicle bumper by any suitable means. A pressure sensitive adhesive may be used or the housing may be screwed to the bumper by screws through holes 22 in wings 24 of the housing (see Figure 4, especially).

Mainly for aesthetic reasons, triangular section foam rubber pieces 26 may be fixed to ends of the housing by adhesive (see Figure 5). The rubber pieces 26 have an air gap 27 therethrough for emission of sound from the housing. Furthermore, triangular section top and bottom pieces 34,36 are also adhered to the housing (see Figures 6 and 7). The foam rubber pieces 26,34 and 36 are also enclosed with hard black rubber.

The parking aid of Figure 1 of the drawings operates in the following manner.

Assuming that the aid is fixed to the rear bumper of a vehicle, when the vehicle is reversed and contacts an obstruction, the parking aid housing will be compressed. Compression of the housing will force air within the housing to be expelled through the whistles 20 causing a whistling sound to be produced. The whistling sound is an audible indication of the contact so that the driver of the vehicle can apply the brakes before any damage is done to the vehicle.

Indeed, as the parking aid will be the first thing to contact the obstruction, it is likely that only the parking aid will suffer any damage rather than the vehicle. Even then the audible warning should be sufficient to prevent any serious damage being caused. Of course, the parking aid may be fitted to the front bumper of a motor vehicle but as distance jugement is somewhat easier when moving forwards, it is less likely to be fitted to a front bumper.

Turning to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, a parking aid 100 has a housing 102 of hard black rubber. Within the housing is a layer of moderately soft rubber 104 surrounding an air gap 106. On opposite sides within the air gap are spaced, parallel metal strips 108, ideally of copper. The metal strips are connected to a battery 110 and also to electrically activated audible signal emitters 112 at each end of the housing. At each end of the air gap are whistles 114.

The parking aid 100 operates in a similar fashion to the parking aid 10 of Figure 1 except that additionally, compression of the housing on contact with an obstruction causes the metal strips to contact and complete an electrical circuit from the battery 110 to the signal emitters 112, so that an audible signal of contact with the obstruction is produced. The electrically generated signal supplements the noise produced by the whistles 114 as air is forced through them by compression of the housing.

The embodiment of Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings has additionally a visual warning of contact with an obstruction. This embodiment is a variation on the embodiment of Figure 2 and like parts have the same reference numbers and will not be described again.

Instead of a battery, electrical power for the electrical signal emitters 112 may be supplied by hard wiring to the electrical system of the motor vehicle itself.

Additionally, also wired to the metal strips 108 is a visual signal emitter, such as an LED, 140, which may be positioned conveniently inside the rear window of the motor vehicle or possibly on the dashboard or thereabouts.

It will be appreciated that whilst the present invention has been described with reference to parking aids for motor vehicles, it may be used in other situations where an early indication of contact with an obstruction is desirable.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A device for indicating contact of a moving object, such as a motor vehicle, with an obstruction, the device comprising a compressible housing having means for emitting a warning signal on contact between the housing and the obstruction that causes compression of the housing.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for emitting a warning signal comprises a whistle or the like that produces a sound as air contained within the housing is expelled through the whistle on compression of the housing.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing contains electrical circuits that are brought together on compression of the housing to make an electrical circuit with one or more electrically operated signal emitters.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electrical circuit is operated by means of a battery within the housing or the electrical contacts are connected to an exterior power supply of a motor vehicle, to which the housing is attached.
5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the electrically operated signal emitter is a sound emitter or a light emitter.
6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the light emitter is situated outside of the housing.
7. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the light emitter is within a motor vehicle to which the housing is fitted.
8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7 further including a whistle or the like that produces a sound as air contained within the housing is expelled through the whistle on compression of the housing.
9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the housing is made of a rubber or elastomeric skin containing a softer core such as of foam rubber or ~ elastomeric material.
10. A device as calmed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the housing is arranged to be fixed to a motor vehicle bumper.
11. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the housing has tabs at each end through which securing screws may be fitted.
12. As device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the housing includes pressure sensitive adhesive strips or pads for fixing the housing in place.

* 't
13. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the housing is elongate and of rectangular section, in which case shaped pieces are provided to be fitted adjacent ends and the top and bottom of the housing
14. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the shaped pieces are of rectangular section.
15. A device as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the shaped pieces are of foam rubber.
16. A device for indicating contact of a moving object with an obstruction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of Figures 1,2 or 3 with Figures 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.