Reminder for vehicle drivers

• US 4,219,800 A
• Filed: 12/27/1978
• Issued: 08/26/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard D. Leviness
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Leviness
• Inventors: LeViness, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/973,592
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 D, 340/573, 340/575, 340/576, 200/61.57, 180/99
• US Class Current: 340/457
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/22 Motor vehicles operators, e.g. drivers, pilots, captains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A device for reminding vehicle drivers to continuously retain their conscious mind on the task of driving the vehicle which utilizes impulsive gripping of the steering wheel of the vehicle with an increased force resulting from stimulation of the adrenal cortex and secretion of adrenalin as fatigue or fear registers in the brain of the driver. The increase in the gripping force serves to close an electrical circuit to energize a reminder in the form of an illuminated message or sign in a flashing pattern for a predetermined time period after which an audible reminder is actuated thereby combining the senses of touch, sight and hearing to remind the driver to give full time and attention to driving the vehicle so that the driver'"'"'s conscious mind is kept on the task of driving and the driver is warned of imminent danger, thereby avoiding a potential accident. A pair of pads are mounted on the steering wheel with each pad including an electrical switch which is operated in response to increased gripping force on the steering wheel to activate a reminder in the form of a sign or other indicator which may be illuminated in a flashing pattern and located in a position for easy observation by the vehicle driver.

Claims

1. A reminder for vehicle operators and the like having a manual control to keep their conscious mind continuously directed to the task of manipulating the manual control in a prescribed manner comprising a pressure responsive switch means associated with the manual control, and a signaling device located for easy observation by the operator, said signaling device being actuated in response to the switch means, said switch means being operative to actuate the signaling means in response to increase in gripping force exerted on the manual control by the operator, said manual control being a steering wheel, said switch means including a pair of gripping pads mounted at circumferentially spaced points on the steering wheel, each of said pads including a switch having a movable component movable to signaling device actuating position in response to increase in gripping force on a gripping pad.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each pad includes a sleeve of resilient material mounted on the steering wheel and having an internal transverse dimension larger than the external transverse dimension of the steering wheel to provide a switch receiving space therebetween.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said signaling device includes an illuminable sign having a reminder message thereon, flashing means connected with the sign, and an audible signal means actuated after a predetermined time period of increased gripping pressure on a gripping pad.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said sign is mounted on the hub portion of the steering wheel, said audible signal means including a vehicle horn.

5. A reminder for operators of a manual control to keep their conscious mind continuously directed to the task of holding and manipulating the manual control in a prescribed manner comprising a gripping pressure responsive switch means associated with the manual control for grasping by the operator when holding the manual control, and a signaling device located for easy observation by the operator, said signaling device being actuated in response to the switch means, said switch means being operative to actuate the signaling means in response to increase in gripping force exerted on the manual control by the operator, said switch means including at least one gripping pad on the manual control, said pad including a switch having a movable component movable to signaling device actuating position in response to increase in gripping force on the gripping pad.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said pad includes a sleeve of resilient material mounted on the manual control and having an internal transverse dimension larger than the external transverse dimension of the control to provide a switch receiving space therebetween, said signaling device including an illuminable sign having a reminder message thereon, flashing means connected with the sign, and an audible signal means actuated after a predetermined time period of increased gripping pressure on the gripping pad.