Motor vehicle garaging safety methods, and apparatus and systems

• US 4,665,378 A
• Filed: 06/10/1985
• Issued: 05/12/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John E. Heckethorn
• Original Assignee: 3900 Corp.
• Inventors: Heckethorn, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US06/742,788
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 340/51, 340/50, 340/52 H, 340/61, 340/951, 340/947, 340/953, 340/954, 340/982, 340/985, 340/933, 340/988, 340/942, 340/686, 340/52 R, 340/958, 340/555, 340/556, 250/491.1, 250/222.1, 250/561, 180/168, 350/622, 49/25, 49/26, 49/31
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

A signal light is projected in a concentrated beam downwardly when a garage door is fully opened to provide a light spot on the garage floor where no vehicle obstructs it and on the vehicle, such as on the dashboard thereof, when a vehicle is at a properly parked position in the garage. This provides signals both that the door is fully open, indicating that it is safe to exit or enter the garage as well as that the vehicle is in the proper position for parking. In addition, the light source itself may be arranged to glow visibly to an operator outside the garage as a further indication that it is safe to enter. Adjustable bracket means enables the location of the signaling lamp and signal-like spots to be adjusted. The light source is controlled by the position of the garage door, so as to only be illuminated when the door is fully opened. The signal lamp may be controlled by a separate normally open switch closed by the garage door when in the fully opened position thereof or may be tied into and controlled by the circuitry of the garage door operator and by the conventional limit switches, which may be modified, if necessary, to provide a normally-open contact pair for full open position of the door.

Claims

1. A vehicle positioning and signalling system for informing an operator of the vehicle when the vehicle is in a desired parking position in a garage and when a garage door is in a safe opened position for movement of the vehicle from the garage, said system comprising,

(a) an electric motor-operated garage door operator,

(b) an electric light source mounted in the garage and adapted when actuated to project a concentrated beam of light generally downwardly, said light source being electronically connected to said electric motor-operated garage door operator,

(c) means for actuating said light source only when said door is in a fully opened position, and

(d) a light target on said vehicle at a predetermined spot thereon so that when the beam of light strikes said target, the vehicle will be in the proper parked position within the garage with the door fully opened.

2. A vehicle positioning and signalling system as defined in claim 1, and including means for mounting said light source proximate to said garage door operator and adjustably positioned relative thereto.

3. Vehicle positioning and signaling system defined in claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises a slidable support attached to at least one of either the door operator or the garage ceiling.

4. A vehicle positioning and signalling system as defined in claim 1, and further comprising mounting means for said light source including a bracket pivotally mounted at one end on a support plate affixed to either said garage ceiling or said garage door operator, said light source being pivotally connected to the other end of said bracket.

5. A vehicle positioning and signalling system as defined in claim 1, wherein said light target is the vehicle dashboard top surface.