Grounding device for vehicles

• US 4,321,653 A
• Filed: 06/04/1980
• Issued: 03/23/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sakae Takahashi
• Original Assignee: Sakae Takahashi
• Inventors: Takahashi, Sakae
• Primary Examiner(s): Moose, Jr., Harry E.
• Application Number:
  US06/156,418
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 361/217, 361/219, 174/5 SG, 350/97, 350/98, 350/99, 350/100, 350/104, 350/105, 350/307, 280/152 R, 280/153 R, 280/154.5 R, 116/28 R
• US Class Current: 361/219
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/06 for removing electrostatic charges carrying-off electrostatic charges in general H05F3/00

Abstract

A safety grounding device for vehicles having a conductive resilient strip adjustably suspended from the vehicle frame through a fixture attached to the base end portion thereof, to make a resilient contact with the ground at its lower end. A reflecting member is attached to a lower part of the conductive resilient strip to act as a traffic sign for the drivers of succeeding cars. The reflecting member is secured in such a manner as to be swung by the dynamic pressure of air during running of the vehicle but suspended vertically during deceleration or stopping due to reduced dynamic pressure of air, to inform the driver of the succeeding vehicle of the deceleration or stopping of the preceding vehicle. The reflecting member also functions as a weight for pulling the strip downwardly to eliminate the lateral swinging of the strip, thereby to enhance the chance of contact of the strip with the ground to release the electricity from the vehicle frame to the ground. The release of electricity is further insured by conductive metallic wires embedded in the conductive resilient strip to extend in the longitudinal direction of the latter. The fixture by which the strip is secured to the automobile frame is adjustable so that a worn out part of the strip is easily compensated for by manually pulling the strip after a loosening of the fixture.

Claims

1. A grounding device for vehicles comprising a flexible strip suspended from the frame of said automobile and contacting at its free end with the ground to said strip, characterized in that said conductive flexible strip is a conductive resilient strip, clamping fixture means attached to the upper portion of said strip for adjustable positioning longitudinally relative to said strip, and weighted reflecting means attached to the lower part of said conductive resilient strip for adjustable positioning longitudinally relative to said conductive resilient strip for weighting the strip to maintain said strip in a substantially longitudinal orientation and for providing a warning signal.

2. A grounding device for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one conductive metal wire is embedded in said conductive resilient strip and extends throughout the longitudinal extent of the strip.

3. A grounding device for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one conductive metal wire is attached to at least one surface of said conductive resilient strip and extends longitudinally of the strip between the opposite ends thereof.

4. A grounding device for vehicles as claimed in claims 2 or 3, wherein said conductive metal is a resilient metal.

5. A grounding device for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductive resilient strip is made of a conductive rubber.

6. A grounding device for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductive resilient strip is made of a resilient plastic.

7. A grounding device for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein a traffic sign is provided on one side of said conductive resilient strip.

8. A grounding device for vehicles comprising a conductive flexible strip suspended from the frame of said vehicle and contacting at its free end with the ground characterized in that said conductive flexible strip is resilient, clamping fixture means attached to the top portion of said conductive resilient strip for adjustable positioning longitudinally relative to said strip, and a weighted reflecting member attached to a lower part of said conductive resilient strip for adjustable positioning longitudinally relative to said conductive resilient strip, said reflecting member being pivotally secured at its upper end portion to said conductive resilient strip so that it may be freely swung by the dynamic pressure of air which is generated as said vehicle runs.

9. A grounding device for vehicles as claimed in claim 8 and further including a weighted plate and wherein said reflecting member is pivoted at its upper end portion by means of pivot pins to said weighted plate, said weighted plate being adjustably secured to said conductive resilient strip, so that said reflecting member is swingable rearwardly by the dynamic pressure of air.

10. A grounding device for vehicles as claimed in claim 9, and an additional reflecting member being attached to said weighted plate.

11. A grounding device for vehicles as claimed in claim 8 wherein the lower end of said conductive resilient strip is widened as compared with the remaining portions of said strip.