Car door safety device

• US 5,074,073 A
• Filed: 10/17/1990
• Issued: 12/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ascher Z. Zwebner
• Original Assignee: Ascher Z. Zwebner
• Inventors: Zwebner, Ascher Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US07/599,050
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 49/26, 49/27, 49/28, 49/31, 49/25, 49/383
• US Class Current: 49/26
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/434 with cameras or optical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/025 specially adapted for vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/943 using a plurality of optical emitters or detectors, e.g. keyboard

Abstract

An injury-preventing system for automobiles comprises a radiation emitter for emitting electromagnetic radiation, detectors for detecting the electromagnetic radiation and an electronic control circuit which is designed to sense any disruption in the impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the detectors. The system is located to monitor the space normally occupied by an automobile door. When impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the detectors is disrupted, as by the placement of a person'"'"'s hand in the space normally occupied by the automobile door, the electrical circuit activates a mechanical device, for example a solenoid, which places a small rubber rod in the path of the closing door, causing the door to bounce off the rod without closing, avoiding injury to the hand of the person.

Claims

1. A system for use in conjunction with an automobile for preventing the door of an automobile from accidentally slamming on a person'"'"'s hand or fingers, the system comprising:

a first switch means disposed on an exterior side of the automobile door;

a second switch means disposed on an interior side of the automobile door;

a control circuit responsive to the first and second switch means; and

a door closure preventing means effective for preventing the automobile door from fully closing in response to a signal from the control circuit, the control circuit being effective to normally activate the door closure preventing means when the automobile door is in an open state and to disable the same when either the first or second switch means is held in an activated state.