Object sensing arrangement
First Claim
1. An object sensing arrangement for a vehicle having a frame, said frame having first and second spaced apart sides and first and second spaced apart end portions connected to and between the first and second spaced apart sides, comprising:
- a first reflective target;
a first mounting means for movably connecting the first reflective target to the frame first side at a location on the frame first side adjacent the frame first end portion;
first signaling means for delivering a first signal to the first reflective target and receiving a reflection of said first delivered signal from said first reflective target;
first connecting means for movably connecting said first signaling means to said frame first side at a first location on the frame first side between the frame first and second end portions and adjacent the frame second end portion, and for maintaining said first signaling means for movement in a direction toward said frame first side, in a passing relationship with said frame first side, and to a location between the frame first and second sides in response to an external force being applied to said first connecting means in a direction toward said frame first side.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An arrangement for sensing an object relative to the side of a vehicle requires physical contact between the arrangement and the object. Therefore, mechanically operated object sensing arrangements are prone to damage, frequent malfunctions, and premature failure. An object sensing arrangement for identifying an object within a preselected minimum distance spaced from a first side of a vehicle has first reflective target movably connected to the first side at a location on the first side adjacent a first end portion, and a first connecting apparatus movably connects a first signaling apparatus to the first side at a first location on the first side adjacent a frame second end portion. The first signaling apparatus delivers a first signal to the first reflective target and receives a reflection of the first delivered signal from the first reflective target. The first connecting apparatus is movable in a direction toward the first side and in a passing relationship with the first side in response to an external force being applied to the first connecting apparatus. Therefore, the aforementioned problems related to damage caused by physical contact and the like are alleviated. The object sensing arrangement is particularly suited for use on a material handling vehicle.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An object sensing arrangement for a vehicle having a frame, said frame having first and second spaced apart sides and first and second spaced apart end portions connected to and between the first and second spaced apart sides, comprising:
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a first reflective target; a first mounting means for movably connecting the first reflective target to the frame first side at a location on the frame first side adjacent the frame first end portion; first signaling means for delivering a first signal to the first reflective target and receiving a reflection of said first delivered signal from said first reflective target; first connecting means for movably connecting said first signaling means to said frame first side at a first location on the frame first side between the frame first and second end portions and adjacent the frame second end portion, and for maintaining said first signaling means for movement in a direction toward said frame first side, in a passing relationship with said frame first side, and to a location between the frame first and second sides in response to an external force being applied to said first connecting means in a direction toward said frame first side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 9, 10, 11)
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4. An object sensing arrangement for a vehicle having a frame, said frame having first and second spaced apart sides and first and second spaced apart end portions connected to and between the first and second spaced apart sides, comprising:
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a first reflective target; a first mounting means for movably connecting the first reflective target to the frame first side at a location on the frame first side adjacent the frame first end portion; first signaling means for delivering a first signal to the first reflective target and receiving a reflection of said first delivered signal from said first reflective target; first connecting means for movably connecting said first signaling means to said frame first side at a first location on the frame first side adjacent the frame second end portion, said first signaling means being movable in a direction toward said frame first side, in a passing relationship with said frame first side, and to a location between the frame first and second sides in response to an external force being applied to said first connecting means in a direction toward said frame first side, said frame first side having a first aperture positioned at said first location on the frame first side adjacent the frame second end portion, and said first connecting means includes; an elongate strip having first and second spaced apart end portions and a middle portion; a fastener connecting the first end portion of the elongate strip to the frame; and means for securing the first signaling means to the elongate strip middle portion, said elongate strip middle portion being disposed in and extending through said first aperture at the aligned position of the first signaling means. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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12. A material handling vehicle, comprising:
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a frame having first and second spaced apart sides and first and second spaced apart end portions connected to and between the first and second spaced apart sides; a first bumper having first and second spaced apart end portions and an upper edge, said first bumper first end portion being connected to the frame first side at a location on the frame first side adjacent the frame first end portion, and said first bumper second end portion being connected to the frame second side at a location on the frame second side adjacent the frame first end portion; a second bumper having first and second spaced apart end portions and an upper edge, said second bumper first end portion being connected to the frame first side at a location on the frame first side adjacent the frame second end portion and said second bumper second end portion being connected to the frame second side at a location on the frame second side adjacent the frame second end portion; a first reflective target connected to the first bumper first end portion and extending elevationally from the first bumper first end portion to a location spaced above the first bumper upper edge; a second reflective target connected to the second bumper first end portion and extending elevationally from the second bumper first end portion to a location spaced above the second bumper upper edge; first signaling means for delivering a first signal to said first reflective target and receiving a reflection of said first delivered signal from said first reflective target; second signaling means for delivering a second signal to said second reflective target and receiving a reflection of said second delivered signal from said second reflective target; first connecting means for movably connecting said first signaling means to said frame first side at a first location on the frame first side between the frame first and second end portions and adjacent the frame second end portion, and for maintaining said first signaling means for movement in a direction toward said frame first side, in a passing relationship with the frame first side, and to a location between the frame first and second sides in response to an external force being applied to said first connecting means in a direction toward said frame first side; and second connecting means for movably connecting said second signaling means to said frame first side at a second location on the frame first side spaced from the first location between the frame first and second end portions and adjacent the frame first end portion, and for maintaining said second signaling means for movement in a direction toward said frame first side, in a passing relationship with the frame first side, and to a location between the frame first and second sides in response to an external force being applied to said second connecting means in a direction toward said frame first side. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification