METHOD FOR POSITIONING RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AND PORTABLE POSITION SENSOR AND ALERT SYSTEM FOR RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AND OTHER VEHICLES

• US 20070120707A1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RV Insite Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RV Insite Incorporated
• Inventors: Cyprowski, Ronald, Donnelly, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/563,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20070120707A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/933
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/002 for parking purposes, e.g. for warning the driver that his vehicle has contacted or is about to contact an obstacle warning arrangements in garages E04H6/42
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/02 using treadles built into the road pads or other sensitive devices responsive to passage of vehicles E01F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A portable vehicle position sensor and alert system comprises a portable limit point sensor configured to be positioned by the user in a position to receive at least one tire of the vehicle to be positioned thereon when the vehicle is in a desired position, wherein the sensor is configured to generate a signal when the tire is positioned thereon, and an audible and or visual alarm coupled to the sensor and actuated at least when the sensor generates the signal that the vehicle is in the desired position. A wireless configuration of the position and alert system is disclosed.

Claims

1. A vehicle position sensor and alert system comprising:

A limit point sensor configured to be positioned by the user in a position to receive at least one tire of the vehicle to be positioned thereon when the vehicle is in a desired position, wherein the sensor is configured to generate a signal when the tire is positioned thereon; and

An alarm coupled to the sensor and actuated at least initially when the sensor generates the signal that the vehicle is in the desired position.

2. The vehicle position sensor and alert system of claim 1 wherein the limit point sensor is a portable water resistant flexible strip that provides an electrical signal.

3. The vehicle position sensor and alert system of claim 2 wherein the portable limit point sensor has a length of about 1-4 feet.

4. The vehicle position sensor and alert system of claim 1 wherein the alarm includes an audible component and further including tone generating circuitry that will drive the audible alarm.

5. The vehicle position sensor and alert system of claim 1 further including an alarm timeout feature that terminates alarm activation after a defined interval if continuous force is applied to the Limit Point Sensor.

6. The vehicle position sensor and alert system of claim 1 wherein the alarm includes an audible component and wherein audible alarm is configured to emit a sweeping tone that alternates between a low and a high audio frequency.

7. The vehicle position sensor and alert system of claim 1 further including a wireless transmitter module coupled to the limit point sensor and wherein the alarm is coupled to a wireless receiver, whereby the audible alarm may be remote from the limit point sensor.

8. The vehicle position sensor and alert system of claim 7 wherein the receiver will process received data transmissions only from the associated transmitter.

9. The vehicle position sensor and alert system of claim 7 further including a status indication of the wireless link.

10. The vehicle position sensor and alert system of claim 1 wherein the alarm further includes a visual indicator light that indicates that the Limit Point sensor has been activated.

11. The vehicle position sensor and alert system of claim 1 further including at least one leveling block for leveling the vehicle in the desired position.

12. A portable vehicle leveling and position sensor and alert system comprising:

A portable water resistant flexible strip including a limit point sensor configured to be positioned by the user in a position to receive at least one tire of the vehicle to be positioned thereon when the recreational vehicle is in a desired position, wherein the sensor is configured to generate a signal when the tire is positioned thereon; and

An alarm coupled to the sensor and actuated at least when the sensor generates the signal that the vehicle is in the desired position.

13. The portable vehicle position sensor and alert system of claim 12 further including a wireless transmitter module coupled to the limit point sensor and wherein the audible alarm is coupled to a wireless receiver, whereby the audible alarm may be remote from the limit point sensor.

14. The portable vehicle position sensor and alert system of claim 12 wherein the alarm includes a visual indicator light that indicate that the remote Limit Point sensor has been activated.

15. The portable vehicle position sensor and alert system of claim 12 further including at least one recreational vehicle leveling block for leveling the recreational vehicle in the desired position.

16. The portable vehicle position sensor and alert system of claim 12 further including an alarm timeout feature that terminates alarm activation after a defined interval if continuous force is applied to the Limit Point Sensor.

17. A method of positioning a recreational vehicle using a portable position sensor and alert system comprising the steps of:

Placing a limit sensor of the system at a desired limit point for a tire of the vehicle, whereby the limit sensor is placed at a position to receive at least one tire of the recreational vehicle to be positioned thereon when the recreational vehicle is in a desired position;

Supplying power to the system;

Moving the vehicle until at least one tire is positioned on the limit sensor;

Generating a signal from the limit sensor that the tire is positioned thereon; and

Driving at least one of an audible alarm or visible alarm of the system in response to the signal from the limit sensor; and

Stopping the vehicle when the alarm is heard by the operator.

18. The method of positioning a recreational vehicle using a portable position sensor and alert system of claim 17 further including the step of terminating the alarm activation after a defined interval if continuous force is applied to the Limit Point Sensor.

19. The method of positioning a recreational vehicle using a portable position sensor and alert system of claim 17 wherein the system further includes a wireless transmitter module coupled to the limit point sensor and wherein the audible alarm is coupled to a wireless receiver, further including the step of positioning the alarm within the vehicle cab during positioning of the vehicle.

20. The method of positioning a recreational vehicle using a portable position sensor and alert system of claim 17 further including the step of utilizing the limit sensor on at least one leveling block for leveling the vehicle in the desired position.