Self contained device for giving audible messages to occupants of a vehicle

• US 4,987,403 A
• Filed: 01/16/1990
• Issued: 01/22/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen M. Apfel
• Original Assignee: Stephen M. Apfel
• Inventors: Apfel, Stephen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/465,774
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457, 340/457.1, 340/384 R, 340/384 E, 340/392, 340/693, 340/309.15, 340/309.2, 340/309.3, 340/692
• US Class Current: 340/457
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4816 for sensing locking of buckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A self contained device for giving audible messages to occupants of a vehicle is disclosed. The device includes a housing having a top, a side, and a front, a power source disposed remotely from the housing, a VELCRO® strap disposed on the top of the housing so that the self contained audible message device can be mounted under the dashboard of the vehicle, a first negative electrode disposed from the housing, a first positive electrode disposed from the housing, the first positive electrode and the first negative electrode together connecting the present invention to the remote power source, an normally open switch disposed remotely from the housing, a light emitting diode, a second negative electrode disposed from the housing, and a second positive electrode disposed from the housing, the seecond positive electrode and the second negative electrode together connecting the normally open switch to the light emitting diode (L.E.D.).

Claims

1. A self contained device for giving audible messages to occupants of a vehicle, comprising:

(a) a housing having a top, a side, and a front;

(b) a power source disposed remotely from said housing;

(c) a hook and loop fastening strap disposed on said top of said housing so that the self contained device for giving audible messages to occupants of the vehicle can be mounted under the dashboard of the vehicle;

(d) a first negative electrode disposed from said housing;

(e) a first positive electrode disposed from said housing, said first positive electrode and said first negative electrode together connecting the self contained device for giving audible messages to said remote power source;

(f) a normally open switch disposed remotely from said housing;

(g) a light emitting diode;

(h) a second negative electrode disposed from said housing; and

(i) a second positive electrode disposed from said housing, said second positive electrode and said second negative electrode together connecting said normally open switch to said light emitting diode.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a speaker disposed in said side of said housing.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising volume control switch disposed on said front of said housing so that the audible message volume can be controlled.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said power source is the cigarette lighter in the vehicle.

5. A device as defined in claim 2, further comprising a voice synthesizer that provides the messages through said speaker.

6. A device as defined in claim 2, further comprising interval control means for starting the audible messages at pre-determined time intervals.

7. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein said interval control means includes a variable resistor switch disposed on said front of said housing.

8. A self-contained device for giving audible messages to occupants of a vehicle, comprising:

(a) a housing having a top, a side, and a front;

(b) a power source disposed remotely from said housing;

(c) a hook-and-loop fastening strap disposed on said top of said housing so that the self-contained device for giving audible messages to occupants of the vehicle is mountable under a dashboard of the vehicle;

(d) a first negative electrode disposed from said housing;

(e) a first positive electrode disposed from said housing, said first positive electrode and said first negative electrode together connecting the self-contained device from giving audible messages to said remote power source;

(f) a normally open switch disposed remotely from said housing;

(g) a light emitting diode;

(h) a second negative electrode disposed from said housing;

(i) a second positive electrode disposed from said housing, said second positive electrode and said second negative electrode together connecting said normally open switch to said light emitting diode; and

,

(j) interval control means for starting the audible messages at pre-determined time intervals, said interval control means having a variable resistor switch disposed on said front of said housing.

9. A device as defined in claim 8, further comprising a speaker disposed in said side of said housing.

10. A device as defined in claim 9, further comprising a voice synthesizer that provides the messages through said speaker.

11. A device as defined in claim 9, further comprising a volume control switch disposed on said front of said housing so that the audible message volume can be controlled.

12. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein said power source is the cigarette lighter in the vehicle.