Safety back-up system for vehicles
First Claim
1. A safety back-up system for a vehicle, to stop the vehicle against reverse movement when the rear of the vehicle is unattended, comprising:
- motion-sensing means connected to the vehicle for detecting rearward movement of the vehicle;
braking means for automatically applying and locking the vehicle'"'"'s brakes in response to the detection of rearward movement of the vehicle by the motion-sensing means; and
interrupt means for disabling the braking means in response to and for the duration of application of a manual input by an observing person positioned near the rear of the vehicle, while leaving the vehicle'"'"'s manual braking system operable;
whereby the observing person is normally required to be in the vicinity of the rear of the vehicle, for the vehicle to be capable of moving backward.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A safety back-up system for a vehicle automatically applies the brakes to stop the vehicle against reverse movement when the vehicle begins moving backward without an attendant at the rear of the vehicle. The system senses reverse motion of the vehicle, whether rolling backward down an incline or driven backward by the engine and automatically applies the brakes, unless the automatic braking is disabled by application of a manual input by an attendant positioned near the rear of the vehicle with a handheld signal transmitter. A manual override device is available to the vehicle'"'"'s driver, enabling the driver to override the automatic braking device from inside the vehicle when necessary. A record may be kept in a computer memory of all uses of the manual override, to assure that the system is not defeated. A driver seat switch may also be included, independent of the driver'"'"'s override switch, for also applying the brakes if the driver leaves the seat while the vehicle is stationary, moving backward or moving slowly forward.
35 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A safety back-up system for a vehicle, to stop the vehicle against reverse movement when the rear of the vehicle is unattended, comprising:
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motion-sensing means connected to the vehicle for detecting rearward movement of the vehicle; braking means for automatically applying and locking the vehicle'"'"'s brakes in response to the detection of rearward movement of the vehicle by the motion-sensing means; and interrupt means for disabling the braking means in response to and for the duration of application of a manual input by an observing person positioned near the rear of the vehicle, while leaving the vehicle'"'"'s manual braking system operable; whereby the observing person is normally required to be in the vicinity of the rear of the vehicle, for the vehicle to be capable of moving backward. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle runaway protection system for automatically applying the vehicle'"'"'s brakes whenever the vehicle'"'"'s driver is absent, whether the vehicle is stationary, moving slowly forward or moving backward, comprising:
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means for connecting the system to power from the vehicle'"'"'s battery; motion-sensing means connected to the vehicle for detecting movement of the vehicle and for determining in particular whether the vehicle is moving forward faster than a predetermined speed; switch means associated with the driver compartment of the vehicle for sensing the absence of the driver and for sending a signal whenever the driver is absent; and brake-applying means connected to the motion-sensing means and to the switch means for automatically applying the vehicle'"'"'s brakes whenever (a) the driver is absent, as determined by the switch means, (b) the vehicle is stationary, moving backward or moving forward not exceeding said predetermined speed, as determined by the motion-sensing means, and (c) power is provided to the system by said connecting means, including system disabling means for de-energizing the system to prevent automatic application of the brakes whenever the vehicle is moving forward faster than said predetermined speed; whereby the brakes are normally automatically applied if the driver is absent except when the vehicle is moving forward above said predetermined speed. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification