Contact alarm apparatus

• US 5,185,592 A
• Filed: 10/04/1991
• Issued: 02/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth B. Hamilton
• Original Assignee: Kenneth B. Hamilton
• Inventors: Hamilton, Kenneth B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US07/771,118
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/437, 340/438, 340/942, 340/933, 340/901, 340/903, 340/932.2, 340/958, 116/28 R, 200/61.44, 180/274, 293/4, 293/108, 293/142
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/003 using physical contactors, e.g. arms that trigger alarm upon contact with obstacle

Abstract

A first cylinder is orthogonally mounted relative to a vehicular bumper extending exteriorly thereof telescopingly receiving a second cylinder relative to the first cylinder in a coaxially aligned relationship, with the second cylinder extending beyond the first cylinder and arranged for retraction within the first cylinder. A first spring mounted between a rear terminal end of the second cylinder and the first cylinder maintains the second cylinder in an extended orientation. A first sensor mounted within the second cylinder sensitive to a lessening of light directed through the second cylinder is operative to engage an alarm light upon an object becoming in proximation to the forward distal end of the second cylinder. An alarm switch is mounted adjacent a rear terminal end of the first cylinder cooperative with an actuator rod mounted to the second cylinder to further provide actuation of the alarm light. The first light sensor is sensitive to light within a limited range, whereupon diminishing or additional reflected light effects closure of the switch to effect illumination of the alarm light. A second sensor is operative to effect illumination of a bulb within the second cylinder to effect illumination of the bulb during evening hours of lessened available light.

Claims

1. A contact alarm apparatus fixedly mounted to a vehicular bumper, including a first cylinder mounted to the vehicular bumper and extending beyond the vehicular bumper, with a second cylinder telescopingly received with and coaxially aligned relative to the first cylinder, the first cylinder includes a first cylinder end wall spaced from the second cylinder, and the second cylinder includes a second cylinder rear distal end and a second cylinder forward distal end, a second cylinder flange is mounted to the rear distal end, and includes a first spring captured between the second flange and the first cylinder end wall to maintain the second cylinder in the projected orientation relative to the first cylinder, and

the second cylinder including a first light sensor mounted within the second cylinder operative to detect available light within a predetermined light range and in electrical communication with an alarm light member to effect actuation of the alarm light member upon variance of said available light from the predetermined light range, and

a second sensor mounted to the first cylinder adjacent the first cylinder end wall, the second sensor including a chimney positioned in surrounding relationship relative to the second sensor and extending beyond the second sensor, where the chimney is obliquely oriented relative to the first cylinder and the second cylinder, and an illumination bulb housing mounted adjacent the forward distal end of the second cylinder, with an illumination bulb mounted within the housing, and the illumination bulb projecting into the second cylinder, wherein the second light sensor is arranged for actuation of the illumination bulb upon lessening of available light directed into the chimney.