Trailer alarm
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A trailer alarm for use with a towing vehicle having one or more vehicle indicator lights comprising:
- an alarm unit coupled to the towing vehicle and disposed in a first electrical circuit through which a light activation signal flows between the vehicle and a trailer, the alarm unit including;
an alarm input configured to accept the light activation signal;
an alarm output configured to output the light activation signal to a corresponding trailer indicator light on the trailer; and
alarm circuitry configured to pass the light activation signal from the alarm input to the alarm output;
detect a presence of the trailer indicator light in the first electrical circuit; and
provide an alert signal when the trailer indicator light is not detected; and
an alert mechanism in communication with the alarm circuitry configured to receive the alert signal and provide one or more perceptible alerts in response to the alert signal.
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Abstract
A trailer/cargo alarm detects the proximity of trailer or cargo attached to a vehicle with an alarm system. If the trailer/cargo is moved out of proximity of the vehicle, the alarm system issues an alert. The proximity of the trailer or cargo may be detected, for example, by detecting the presence of the trailer lighting within the vehicle'"'"'s electrical circuit, by dedicated hardwired sensors, or wireless detection apparatus.
47 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A trailer alarm for use with a towing vehicle having one or more vehicle indicator lights comprising:
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an alarm unit coupled to the towing vehicle and disposed in a first electrical circuit through which a light activation signal flows between the vehicle and a trailer, the alarm unit including; an alarm input configured to accept the light activation signal; an alarm output configured to output the light activation signal to a corresponding trailer indicator light on the trailer; and alarm circuitry configured to pass the light activation signal from the alarm input to the alarm output;
detect a presence of the trailer indicator light in the first electrical circuit; and
provide an alert signal when the trailer indicator light is not detected; andan alert mechanism in communication with the alarm circuitry configured to receive the alert signal and provide one or more perceptible alerts in response to the alert signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of detecting the proximity of a trailer to a towing vehicle, wherein the trailer includes one or more trailer indicator lights that correspond to the one or more vehicle indicator lights, the method comprising:
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mounting an alarm unit to the towing vehicle wherein the alarm unit includes alarm circuitry that is placed within a first electrical circuit through which light activation signals flow between the vehicle and the trailer; detecting a presence of the trailer indicator lights within the first electrical circuit; and providing an alert signal when the trailer indicator lights are not detected within the first electrical circuit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An alarm for use with a towing vehicle, the alarm comprising:
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a first alarm component mounted to cargo carried by the vehicle; a second alarm component mounted to the vehicle, wherein the first and second alarm components are disposed within a communication circuit covering a predetermined area; detection circuitry that is configured to detect the presence of both the first and second alarm components within the communication circuit and to provide an alert signal when one of the first and second alarm components is not detected; and an alert mechanism in communication with the detection circuitry configured to receive the alert signal and provide one or more perceptible alerts in response to the alert signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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16. The alarm of clam 15 wherein the circuit completion mechanism comprises a switch that is urged into a closed position when the sensor is installed on the cargo.
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25. A method of detecting the proximity of cargo to a vehicle, the method comprising:
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connecting a first alarm component to the cargo; mounting a second alarm component to the vehicle wherein the second alarm component includes alarm circuitry that is placed within a first signal communication circuit that covers an area proximate to the vehicle and configured to process detection signals flowing within the first signal communication circuit; detecting a presence of the first alarm component within the first communication circuit; and providing an alert signal when the first alarm component is not detected within the first communication circuit. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification