Garage parking position indicator

• US 5,177,479 A
• Filed: 11/12/1991
• Issued: 01/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John B. Cotton
• Original Assignee: John B. Cotton
• Inventors: Cotton, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US07/790,948
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/933, 340/942, 340/943, 340/988, 340/908.1, 340/928, 340/435, 180/167, 180/168, 180/199, 180/204, 368/90
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/004 using wave sensors radar designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicles and fixed obstacles G01S13/931

Abstract

A garage parking position indicator operable on principles of wave energy. A wave energy detector such as an infrared receiver is mounted to one side of the garage access door at a point displaced from the rear wall of the garage by a distance greater than the length of the vehicle. A wave energy source, such as an infrared transmitter, is mounted on the opposite side of the garage access door from the receiver. The transmitter and the receiver are mounted at a height suitable for cross-secting the traveling vehicle from his leading edge to its trailing edge, preferably from bumper to bumper. The transmitter constantly transmits and directs wave energy toward the receiving means so that the presence of any portion of the vehicle between the transmitter and the receiver will interrupt reception of the wave energy by the receiver.

Claims

1. For use in indicating proper positioning of a vehicle travelling along an entry path into a garage for parking between a vehicle access door of the garage and a rear wall of the garage, apparatus comprising:

means for receiving wave energy mountable inwardly of the access door on one side of the entry path at a point displaced from the rear wall by a distance greater than the length of the vehicle and at a height suitable for cross-secting the travelling vehicle from a leading to a trailing edge thereof;

means mountable inwardly of the access door on an opposite side of the entry path from said receiving means for constantly transmitting and directing wave energy toward said receiving means along a path substantially transverse to the vehicle entry path whereby the presence of any portion of the vehicle on said transverse path interrupts reception of said wave energy by said receiving means; and

means responsive to interruption of reception of said wave energy by said receiving means for indicating passage of the leading edge of the travelling vehicle across said transverse path and responsive to restoration of reception of said wave energy by said receiving means for indicating passage of the trailing edge of the travelling vehicle across said transverse path.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, said responsive means comprising an electrically operable audible alarm mountable in the garage and a switching means electrically connectable between said alarm and said receiving means for controlling said alarm, said switching means being actuable in response to interruption of reception of said wave energy to activate said alarm and deactuable in response to restoration of reception of said wave energy to deactivate said alarm.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, said responsive means comprising an electrically operable visual alarm mountable in a rear portion of the garage and a switching means electrically connectable between said alarm and said receiving means for controlling said alarm, said switching means being actuable in response to interruption of reception of said wave energy to activate said alarm and deactuable in response to restoration of reception of said wave energy to deactivate said alarm.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, said visual alarm comprising a light.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, said transmitting and receiving means being infrared.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, said transmitter being able to transmit a coded infrared signal distinguishable from ambient infrared signals.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, said transmitting and receiving means being photoelectric.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, said receiving means being mountable at approximately the bumper level of the vehicle.

5. For use in indicating proper positioning of a vehicle travelling along an entry path into a garage for parking between a vehicle access door of the garage and a rear wall of the garage, apparatus comprising:

means for receiving wave energy mountable inwardly of the access door on one side of the entry path at a point displaced from the rear wall by a distance greater than the length of the vehicle and at a height suitable for cross-secting the travelling vehicle from a leading to a trailing edge thereof;

means mountable inwardly of the access door on an opposite side of the entry path from said receiving means for constantly transmitting and directing wave energy toward said receiving means along a path substantially transverse to the vehicle entry path whereby the presence of any portion of the vehicle on said transverse path interrupts reception of said wave energy by said receiving means; and

first and second electric lights mountable in a rear portion of the garage and switching means electrically connectable between said lights and said receiving means for activating said first light in response to interruption of reception of said wave energy and for deactivating said first light and activating said second light in response to restoration of reception of said wave energy.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising means for electrically disconnecting said second light a predetermined time after activation thereof.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, said first light being green and said second light being red.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, said lights being mountable at approximately eye level of a driver of the vehicle.

13. For use in indicating proper positioning of a vehicle travelling along an entry path into a garage for parking between a vehicle access door of the garage and a rear wall of the garage, apparatus comprising:

means for receiving infrared wave energy mountable inwardly of the access door on one side of the entry path at a point displaced from the rear wall by a distance greater than the length of the vehicle and at a height suitable for cross-secting the travelling vehicle from a leading to a trailing edge thereof;

means mountable inwardly of the access door on an opposite side of the entry path from said receiving means for constantly transmitting and directing coded infrared wave energy toward said receiving means along a path substantially transverse to the vehicle entry path whereby the presence of any portion of the vehicle on said transverse path interrupts reception of said coded wave energy by said receiving means; and

a green and a red electric light mountable in a rear portion of the garage at approximately eye level of a driver of the vehicle;

switching means electrically connectable between said lights and said receiving means for activating said green light in response to interruption of reception of said wave energy and for deactivating said green light and activating said red light in response to restoration of reception of said wave energy, and

means for electrically disconnecting said red light a predetermined time after electrical connection thereof.