Smokeless automobile

• US 5,190,307 A
• Filed: 08/20/1991
• Issued: 03/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Randy M. Brown, Robert E. Rivers
• Original Assignee: Randy M. Brown, Robert E. Rivers
• Inventors: Brown, Randy M., Rivers, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/747,517
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 180/271, 180/272, 180/287, 340/573, 340/576
• US Class Current: 180/271
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

An automotive anti-smoking apparatus which includes at least one smoke sensor for detecting the presence of smoke located within a passenger compartment of an automobile, a beeper for emitting a beeping sound within the passenger compartment when smoke is detected, an illuminated "No Smoking" sign located on the dashboard of the automobile for flashing on and off when smoke is detected within the passenger compartment, an audio message playback device for broadcasting an anti-smoking message within the passenger compartment when smoke is detected, an adjustable engine governor for controlling the speed of the automobile when smoke is detected within the passenger compartment, an ignition control mechanism for preventing an operator from turning on the automobile while smoke is detected within the automobile, and a control circuit through which other elements of the present invention receive power and are controlled. If smoke is detected by the sensor while the automobile is in motion, the control circuit instructs: the beeper to emit a beeping sound, the dashboard sign to flash on and off, the audio message playback device to broadcast an anti-smoking message, the engine governor to, after a short delay, slow the speed of the automobile, and the ignition control mechanism not to allow the car, after it has been turned off, to be turned on again until the smoke has been cleared from the passenger compartment.

Claims

1. Anti-smoking apparatus for use in an automobile to deter passengers from smoking within a passenger compartment of the automobile, said anti-smoking apparatus comprising:

at least one sensor means for detecting the presence of smoke within an automobile passenger compartment;

an engine governor means for connection to an automobile engine for controlling the speed of the automobile; and

a control means connected to said at least one sensor means and said engine governor means for activating said engine governor means in response to detection of smoke by said at least one sensor means.

2. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said engine governor means includes, at least, a means for gradually reducing the speed of the automobile until a predetermined speed is reached.

3. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said engine governor means includes, at least, a means for gradually reducing the speed of the automobile until the automobile comes to a complete stop.

4. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control means includes, at least, a delay means for delaying, for a predetermined amount of time after detection of smoke by said at least one sensor means, activation of said engine governor means.

5. Apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an anti-smoking dashboard sign connected to said control means, said sign including, at least, an illumination element, and wherein said control means includes, at least, means for, while smoke is detected by said at least one sensor means, repeatedly turning on and off said illuminating element of said anti-smoking dashboard sign.

6. Apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a beeping means connected to said control means for emitting an electronic beeping noise within the passenger compartment, and wherein said control means includes, at least, a means for, while smoke is being detected by said at least one sensor means, activating said beeping means.

7. Apparatus of claim 6, wherein said beeping means includes, at least, amplification means for emitting the beeping noise at an annoyingly high volume.

8. Apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an audio message playback means connected to said control means for broadcasting an anti-smoking audio message within the passenger compartment, and wherein said control means includes, at least, a means for, while smoke is being detected by said at least one sensor means, activating said audio message playback means.

9. Apparatus of claim 8, wherein said audio message playback means includes, at least, a digital storage means for storing an anti-smoking audio message.

10. Apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ignition control means connected to said control means for preventing an operator from turning on the automobile, and wherein said control means includes, at least, a means for, while smoke is being detected by said at least one sensor means, activating said ignition control means.

11. Anti-smoking apparatus for use in an automobile to deter passengers from smoking within a passenger compartment of the automobile, said anti-smoking apparatus comprising:

at least one sensor means for detecting the presence of smoke within an automobile passenger compartment;

an engine governor means for connection to an automobile engine for controlling the speed of the automobile, said engine governor means including, at least, a means for gradually reducing the speed of the automobile until a predetermined speed is reached;

an anti-smoking dashboard sign including, at least, an illumination element;

a beeping means for emitting an electronic beeping noise within the passenger compartment;

an audio message playback means for broadcasting an anti-smoking audio message within the passenger compartment;

an ignition control means for preventing an operator from turning on the automobile; and

a control means for, while smoke is being detected by said at least one sensor means, activating said engine governor means after a predetermined period of time, said anti-smoking dashboard sign, said beeping means, said audio message playback means, and said ignition control means.

12. Anti-smoking apparatus for use in an automobile to deter passengers from smoking within a passenger compartment of the automobile, said anti-smoking apparatus comprising:

at least one sensor means for detecting the presence of smoke within an automobile passenger compartment and for emitting an electronic signal in response the detection;

a beeper means connected to said at least one sensor means for emitting an audio beeping noise in response to receiving the electronic signal from said at least one sensor means; and

an engine governor means connected to said at least one sensor means for controlling the speed of an automobile in response to receiving the electronic signal from said at least one sensor means.

13. Anti-smoking apparatus for use in an automobile to deter passengers from smoking within a passenger compartment of the automobile, said anti-smoking apparatus comprising:

at least one sensor means for detecting the presence of smoke within an automobile passenger compartment; and

a nuisance means connected to said at least one sensor means for, while smoke is detected within the automobile passenger compartment, producing an annoying situation and encouraging removal of smoke from the passenger compartment, wherein said nuisance means includes, at least, an engine governor means for controlling the speed of the automobile.