Warning Device and System

• US 20070159319A1
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ronald Maldonado
• Original Assignee: Ronald Maldonado
• Inventors: Maldonado, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/306,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20070159319A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/545 for indicating other traffic conditions, e.g. fog, heavy traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/549 for expressing greetings, gratitude or emotions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians

Abstract

The present invention comprises a device and system for alerting a condition to avoid collisions mainly triggered by tail-gating, an absentminded driver and/or rear approaching bodies. The device and system comprises both audible and visual devices for alerting rear approaching drivers and/or transportation means that they are either getting too close or approaching too fast, thus avoiding a possible vehicle collision. The system is activated by manually actuating an interrupter which will in turn activate an electronic timer which closes the electric circuits of the audible indicating means and the visual indicating means, both indicating means having different time sequences. Wherein the audible indicating means remains active for the time duration that the interrupter is actuated and the visual indicating means becomes active when the interrupter is actuated, but becomes inactive a predetermined period of time after the interrupter is no longer actuated.

Claims

1. A device for alerting a condition comprising:

a switching arrangement;

a timing circuit connected to said switching arrangement; and

at least one indicating means connected to said timing circuit.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one indicating means comprises at least one of:

audio indication means and visual indication means.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one indicating means comprises at least one of:

horn, buzzer, strobe means, light bulb, LED, visual display.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one indicating means comprises a visual indication means and an audio indication means which are actuated substantially simultaneously.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the time duration of said visual indication means and said audio indication means vary by a predetermined time period.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one indication means remains active at least for the time duration of said switching arrangement actuation.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said at least one indication means comprises an audio indication means that remains active for the time duration of said switching arrangement actuation and a visual indication means that becomes active when said switching arrangement is actuated and becomes inactive a predetermined period of time after said switching arrangement is no longer actuated.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the switching arrangement comprises at least one of:

a manual switch, a wired switch, a wireless switch, a sensor, a magnetic switch, and a voice-activated switch.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the switching arrangement is selectively located at a user accessible location.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said switching arrangement is selectively located in transportation means in at least in one of:

a rearview mirror, a dashboard, a door panel, an armrest console, a driver seat, steering wheel, a passenger seat, a transportation means floor, a transportation means roof, and a transportation means storage area.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power source connected to said switching arrangement, wherein said power source is selected from the group comprising of at least one of:

a battery, a generator, a solar cell, fuse box, and a capacitor.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one indication means is selectively located at a rear portion of a transportation means.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said transportation means comprises a vehicle and said at least one indication means comprises an audio indication means substantially located in a bumper.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein said transportation means comprises a vehicle and said at least one indication means comprises a visual indication means substantially located in at least one of:

rear stop lights, and a third brake light.

15. A system for alerting a condition in a transportation means comprising:

a switching arrangement;

a timing circuit connected to said switching arrangement; and

at least one indicating means connected to said timing circuit for alerting a condition in said transportation means.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said switching arrangement is selectively actuated by a user when at least one of:

any external body is in close proximity to said transportation means or any external body is approaching said transportation means at a speed faster than the speed of said transportation means.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one indicating means comprises a visual indication means and an audio indication means which are actuated substantially simultaneously.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the time duration of said visual indication means and said audio indication means vary by a predetermined time period.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one indication means remains active at least for the time duration of said switching arrangement actuation.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said at least one indication means comprises an audio indication means that remains active for the time duration of said switching arrangement actuation and a visual indication means that becomes active when said switching arrangement is actuated and becomes inactive a predetermined period of time after said switching arrangement is no longer actuated.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising a power source connected to said switching arrangement, wherein said power source is selected from the group comprising of at least one of:

a battery, a generator, a solar cell, fuse box, and a capacitor.