Jacknife warning system

• US 4,040,006 A
• Filed: 09/10/1975
• Issued: 08/02/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Kimmel
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Kimmel
• Inventors: Kimmel, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nowicki, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US05/612,093
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 R, 340/275, 340/282, 280/432, 200/52 R, 200/61.44
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices

Abstract

A warning system designed to be interconnected between a towing vehicle such as a conventional automobile and a trailer or like device comprising a towed vehicle wherein the warning system includes a circuit defined by electrically connected elements. Such elements include an indicator member which could be an audible alarm connected to a power source which in turn is electrically interconnected to one or more sensing arms mounted on the towed vehicle. The circuit is further defined by being electrically grounded to a conductive portion of the frame of the towing vehicle such that engagement between one of the sensing arms and a conductive portion of the frame of the towing vehicle causes a completion of the circuit and activation of the alarm member. The one or more conductive arms are mounted on the towed vehicle and configured and/or disposed to extend outwardly therefrom so as to engage a conductive portion of the frame of the towing vehicle when a predetermined angular orientation occurs between the towed and towing vehicle such as when the vehicles tend to "jackknife" relative to one another.

Claims

1. A warning system of the type used with a towed vehicle and a towing vehicle to determine the relative orientation thereof, said warning system comprising:

base means mounted on the towed vehicle, sensing means attached to said base means and extending outwardly therefrom in communicating disposition relative to the towing vehicle, said sensing means comprising at least two elongated arms, each arm formed from an electrically conductive material, each of said two arms electrically connected in parallel to one another, and disposed and configured to extend laterally outwardly from said base means, each of said arms comprising a plurality of arm portions interconnected to one another in telescoping relation so as to be adjustable outwardly along a longitudinal axis of each arm in substantially opposite directions, each of said arm members disposed to extend outwardly from said base into engagement with a conductive portion of the towing vehicle, when the towed and towing vehicles are in a predetermined spaced relation to one another, whereby relative movement of the towed and the towing vehicle toward one another beyond the point of engagement of one of said arm members and a connective portion of the towing vehicle is regulated;

said base means comprising a plate element formed from insulating material and securely attached to the towed vehicle, adjusting means disposed in movable, interconnecting relation between each of said two arms, whereby each of said two arms is adjustably positioned relative to said plate element, said plate element disposed to define an insulated barrier between each of said arms and the towed vehicle;

indicator means mounted on the towing vehicle in communicating position relative to an operator thereof, electrical circuit means defined at least in part by a power source, each of said arms, a switch, said indicating means and an electrically conductive portion of the towing vehicle, whereby said electric circuit means is completed upon engagement between the conductive portion of the towing vehicle and one of said arm members.

2. A warning system as in claim 1 wherein said indicator means comprises an auxiliary alarm member electricially connected in circuit with the power source and grounded to a conductor portion of the towing vehicle, said sensing means disposed in engageable relation with a conductive portion of the towing vehicle when the towed and towing vehicles are in a relative, predetermined orientation to one another.

3. A warning system as in claim 1 wherein said indicator means comprises an alarm member normally found in the towing vehicle, said alarm member electrically connected to the electrical power supply used in combination with the powering of the towing vehicle.