Alarm for waking a dozing driver

• US 4,210,905 A
• Filed: 07/21/1978
• Issued: 07/01/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David A. Coons
• Original Assignee: David A. Coons
• Inventors: Coons, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/926,843
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 340/53, 340/52 R, 340/575, 180/82 R, 180/97, 180/98, 180/99
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/003 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/06 Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers B62D1/11 takes precedence

Abstract

An alarm for waking a dozing driver includes a plurality of electrical switches arranged about the steering wheel of a vehicle. A rigid member extends continuously about the steering wheel and is resiliently attached thereto and arranged with respect to the switches so that a normal grasp of the steering wheel causes the rigid member to be displaced and at least one of the plurality of switches to change from its normal position. Alarm means are electrically connected with the plurality of switches and with a power supply so that the change of state of a switch from its normal position deactivates the alarm means.

Claims

1. An alarm for waking a dozing driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel, comprising in combination with such steering wheel a plurality of electrical switches arranged about the periphery thereof on the side of the steering wheel facing the driver;

a rigid ring member of diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the steering wheel extending continuously about said periphery in juxtaposition with said plurality of switches and resiliently attached to said steering wheel so as to be positioned between the steering wheel and the driver, said rigid member being operatively arranged with respect to the plurality of switches so that a normal grasp of the steering wheel will cause said rigid member to be displaced toward the steering wheel and at least one switch of the plurality of switches to change from its normal position;

alarm means electrically connected to said plurality of switches so that an alarm is given if all switches of the plurality are in their normal position; and

means to supply power to the switches and the alarm means.

2. An alarm according to claim 1, wherein the switches are closed in their normal position and are connected electrically in series thereby connecting the source of power to the alarm means when all are in normal position.

3. An alarm according to claim 2, wherein each of the switches comprises a conducting contact plate secured to the steering wheel, a switch actuator extending through the contact plate into a recess in the steering wheel, a contact attached to the actuator, and a biasing means adapted to urge the switch actuator so that the contact attached thereto is urged against the contact plate in normal position and is forced into the recess away from the contact plate when the actuator is forced oppositely to the biasing means.

4. An alarm according to claim 3, wherein the switch actuator is operatively associated with the rigid ring so that the ring and switch actuator are biased by the same resilient means.

5. An alarm according to claim 1, wherein the switches are open in their normal position and are connected electrically in parallel and the alarm means is adapted to give an alarm when all switches are open.

6. An alarm according to claim 1, wherein the electrical switches are attached to the rigid member and the rigid member is detachably secured to the steering wheel.

7. An alarm according to claim 6, wherein the rigid member is included as part of a cover that is detachably secured to the steering wheel.

8. An alarm for waking a dozing driver, comprising a rigid ring incorporated into a semirigid steering wheel cover adapted to fit over the top side of a vehicle steering wheel about its periphery so that side portions of the cover resiliently press against the steering wheel to maintain the cover on the steering wheel while allowing displacement of the cover with respect to the steering wheel when grasped in normal manner;

a plurality of electrical switches arranged about and secured to the rigid ring so that, when the cover is secured to the steering wheel, a displacement of the cover and rigid ring with respect to the steering wheel will cause at least one switch of the plurality to change from its normal position;

means for biasing said rigid ring and cover, when secured to the steering wheel, into a normal position where all switches of the plurality are in their normal position, but so that the normal grasp of the cover and steering wheel displaces the cover and ring from its normal position;

alarm means electrically connected to said plurality of switches so that an alarm is given if all switches of the plurality are in their normal position; and

means to supply power to the switches and the alarm means.

9. An alarm according to claim 8, wherein the means to supply power to the switches and the alarm means is a battery and wherein the battery and alarm means are attached to the steering wheel cover.