Visual accident prevention system

• US 5,280,555 A
• Filed: 02/02/1993
• Issued: 01/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David P. Ainsburg
• Original Assignee: David P. Ainsburg
• Inventors: Ainsburg, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PALMER, PHAN T H
• Application Number:
  US08/012,514
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 385/116, 385/117, 385/118, 385/119, 385/120, 385/121, 385/115, 359/843, 359/844, 359/435, 340/901, 340/902, 340/903, 340/904, 340/905, 340/555, 340/556, 340/436, 340/435
• US Class Current: 385/116
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/25 to the sides of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images

Abstract

The visual accident prevention system relates to accident prevention through the use of a lens system, a fiberoptic cable system and a display device system. A lens system is placed on each side of the vehicle, at the very least, on the front portion of the vehicle, and, preferably, on the front portion and on the rear portion of the vehicle. Each of these lens systems have a fiberoptic cable system leading from the lens system to the lens system'"'"'s corresponding display device. Each of these display devices when considered, in toto, form the display device system. Each lens system consists of a converging lens which receives the image from the blind spot which corresponds to the lens system'"'"'s position on the vehicle. This converging lens reduces the image size and outputs this reduced size image to the diverging lens on which the converging lens abuts. The diverging lens, in turn, corrects the convergence of the reduced size image output from the converging lens and delivers this corrected reduced size image to the fiberoptic cable. The fiberoptic cable then delivers the image to the corresponding display device.

Claims

1. A visual accident prevention system comprising:

an outer casing being fitted to receive at least one fiberoptic transmission cable and at least one fiberoptic reception cable through at least one port;

each of said at least one fiberoptic reception cable include at least one forward receptor and at least one rear receptor;

each of said at least one forward receptor receive a forward input through a forward light gathering area;

each of said at least one forward receptor transmit a forward output through a forward light transmitting area;

each of said at least one rear receptor receive a rear input through a rear light gathering area;

each of said at least one rear receptor transmit a rear output through a rear light transmitting area;

at least one display device;

each of said at least one port being configured for a straight tip type connector;

each of said at least one port including a switch assembly mount;

said switch assembly mount being designed to receive a mirrored surface switch assembly;

said mirrored surface switch assembly being a mobile fixture;

said mirrored surface switch assembly mounting a reflective surface at a desired angle for reflection of a transmitted signal to each of said at least one fiberoptic reception cable; and

a switch activator.

2. The visual accident prevention system according to claim 1, each of said at least one rear receptor comprising:

a structural piece composed of a high strength material;

said structural piece incorporating means for mounting a second reflective surface allowing light images to be reflected through a plurality of plurality of support legs of each of said at least one rear receptor;

said second reflective surface being attached to said structural piece by fastening means;

said plurality of support legs of each of said at least one rear receptor incorporating support fastening means, whereby said plurality of support legs are constructed so as not to obstruct said forward light gathering area, said forward light transmitting area, said rear light gathering area or said rear light transmitting area; and

a shroud support being structurally formed as part of said structural piece, whereby said shroud support is included to strengthen and stabilize said structural piece as well as reduce glare and protect said second reflective surface from dirt and debris.

3. The visual accident prevention system according to claim 2, each of said at least one rear receptor comprising:

a rear cover plate being composed of a transparent material;

said rear cover plate reducing a transmission of a plurality of harmful frequencies of light so as to protect both said visual accident prevention system and a user;

a rear converging lens retainer being constructed of said high strength material;

said rear converging lens retainer incorporating a padding material on a surface contacting a rear converging lens;

said rear converging lens being placed with a greater curvature of said rear converging lens oriented toward a rear image source;

said rear converging lens focusing a rear light image received through said rear cover plate;

said rear converging lens producing a rear reduced size light image;

a rear diverging lens being placed with a greater negative curvature of said rear diverging lens oriented toward said rear image source;

said rear diverging lens receiving said rear reduced size light image from said rear converging lens;

said rear diverging lens correcting a rear convergence of a plurality of rear light rays;

said rear convergence of said plurality of rear light rays being imparted by said rear converging lens;

said rear diverging lens producing a rear essentially coherent nonaberrant reduced image, whereby said rear diverging lens improves image transmission quality by reducing a diffraction, reflection or refraction caused when light rays enter an interface between materials of different densities at an angle;

a rear conjunction of said rear converging lens and said rear diverging lens achieves a focus of at least fifteen feet with a field of view no less than ten feet wide at a minimum focusing distance, whereby a rear converging lens orientation and a rear diverging lens orientation of said rear diverging lens is intended to reduce a natural distortion and a natural aberration produced by any lens system;

a rear lens casing being composed of said high strength material;

said rear lens casing being designed to surround and protect said rear cover plate, said rear converging lens retainer, said padding material, said rear converging lens and said rear diverging lens;

an interior of said rear lens casing incorporating a rear padded flange and a rear second flange;

said rear padded flange seating and supporting said rear converging lens;

said rear second flange seating a rear diverging lens assembly;

an exterior of said rear lens casing having a plurality of guide tabs and a rear section;

said plurality of guide tabs of said exterior of said rear lens casing aligning and supporting a plurality of rear diverging lens adjusting screws;

said rear section of said exterior of said rear lens casing being slotted to accept a rear diverging lens adjusting bracket;

said rear section of said exterior of said rear lens casing being threaded to accept a rear diverging lens assembly retaining cap, wherein a symmetrical design of said rear lens casing is intended to allow ease of manufacturing by a two piece process thus reducing cost;

a rear diverging lens assembly casing being constructed of a two piece design of said high strength material;

said rear diverging lens assembly including a rear lens piece and a rear connecting piece;

said rear lens piece of said rear diverging lens assembly incorporating a padded interior flange to seat said rear diverging lens and a plurality of slots;

said padded interior flange of said rear lens piece of said rear diverging lens assembly providing stability and consistency of adjustment to said rear diverging lens;

said plurality of slots of said rear lens piece of said rear diverging lens assembly accepting said guide tabs of said exterior of said rear lens casing at a front of said rear lens piece of said rear diverging lens assembly;

said rear connecting piece of said rear diverging lens assembly including an interior flange and an exterior retaining flange;

said interior flange of said rear connecting piece of said rear diverging lens assembly supporting a rear speed linked electromechanical shutter;

said rear speed linked electromechanical shutter being designed to open only at a low speed, whereby said rear speed linked electromechanical shutter reduces or eliminates any discomfort to a user susceptible to vertigo or motion sickness;

said exterior retaining flange of said rear connecting piece of said rear diverging lens assembly being designed to seat said rear diverging lens assembly retaining cap and to accept a straight tip type fiberoptic connector at a rear portion of said rear connecting piece of said rear diverging lens assembly;

a rear coherent fiberoptic cable being designed to receive and transmit said rear reduced image to said plurality of display devices; and

said rear coherent fiberoptic cable being connected to said rear diverging lens assembly by said straight tip type connector.

4. The visual accident prevention system according to claim 1, each of said at least one forward receptor comprising:

a cover plate being composed of a transparent material;

said cover plate reducing a transmission of a plurality of harmful frequencies of light so as to protect both said visual accident prevention system and a user;

a converging lens retainer being constructed of a high strength material;

said converging lens retainer incorporating a padding material on a surface contacting a converging lens;

said converging lens being placed with a greater curvature of said converging lens oriented toward an image source;

said converging lens focusing a light image received through said cover plate;

said converging lens producing a reduced size light image;

a diverging lens being placed with a greater negative curvature of said diverging lens oriented toward said image source;

said diverging lens receiving said reduced size light image from said converging lens;

said diverging lens correcting a convergence of a plurality of light rays;

said convergence of said plurality of light rays being imparted by said converting lens;

said diverging lens producing an essentially coherent nonaberrant reduced image, whereby said diverging lens improves image transmission quality by reducing the diffraction, reflection or refraction caused when light rays enter an interface between material of different densities at an angle;

a conjunction of said converging lens and said diverging lens achieves a focus of at least fifteen feet with a field of view no less than ten feet wide at a minimum focusing distance, whereby a converging lens orientation and a diverging lens orientation is intended to reduce a natural distortion and a natural aberration produced by any lens system;

a main lens casing being composed of a high strength material;

said main lens casing being designed to surround and protect said cover plate, said converging lens retainer, said padding material, said converging lens and said diverging lens;

an interior of said main lens casing incorporating a padded flange and a second flange;

said padded flange seating and supporting said converging lens;

said second flange seating a diverging lens assembly;

an exterior of said main lens casing having a plurality of guide tabs and a rear section;

said plurality of guide tabs aligning and supporting a plurality of diverging lens adjusting screws;

said rear section being slotted to accept a diverging lens adjusting bracket;

said rear section being threaded to accept a diverging lens assembly retaining cap, whereby a symmetrical design of said lens casing is intended to allow ease of manufacturing by a two piece process thus reducing cost;

a diverging lens assembly casing being constructed of a two piece design of said high strength material;

said diverging lens assembly casing including a lens piece and a connecting piece;

said lens piece incorporating a padded interior flange to seat said diverging lens;

said lens piece incorporating a plurality of slots;

said padded interior flange providing stability and consistency of adjustment to said diverging lens;

said plurality of slots accepting said plurality of guide tabs at a front of said lens piece;

said connecting piece including an interior flange and an exterior retaining flange;

said interior flange of said second piece supporting a speed linked electromechanical shutter;

said speed linked electromechanical shutter being designed to open only at a low speed, whereby said speed linked electromechanical shutter reduces or eliminates any discomfort to the user susceptible to vertigo or motion sickness;

said exterior retaining flange of said connecting piece being designed to seat said diverging lens assembly retaining cap and to accept a straight tip type fiberoptic connector at a rear portion of said connecting piece;

a coherent fiberoptic cable being designed to receive and transmit said reduced image to said plurality of display devices; and

said coherent fiberoptic cable being connected to said diverging lens assembly by said straight tip type connector.

5. The visual accident prevention system according to claim 1, said mirrored surface switch assembly further comprising:

said reflective surface is flat;

said switch assembly mount being a rotary switch assembly;

said rotary switch assembly consisting of a main body piece;

said main body piece having a threaded retaining coupler; and

said threaded retaining coupler having a plurality of mating threads on said outer casing and a connector for said switch activator.

6. The visual accident prevention system according to claim 1, said mirrored surface switch assembly further comprising:

said reflective surface is flat;

said switch assembly mount being a hinged switch assembly;

said hinged switch assembly incorporating an angle adjustment device;

said angle adjustment device consisting of a threaded screw passed through said outer casing to precisely adjust an angle of reflection; and

said hinged switch assembly being shaped to allow said hinged switch assembly to completely clear a light path when in a nonreflecting straight mode.

7. The visual accident prevention system according to claim 1, said mirrored surface switch assembly further comprising:

said reflecting surface is curved;

said switch assembly mount being a rotary switch assembly;

said rotary switch assembly consisting of a main body piece;

said main body piece having a threaded retaining coupler; and

said threaded retaining coupler having a plurality mating threads on said outer casing and a connector for said switch activator.

8. The visual accident prevention system according to claim 1, said mirrored surface switch assembly further comprising:

said reflective surface is curved;

said switch assembly mount being a hinged switch assembly;

said hinged switch assembly incorporating an angle adjustment device;

said angle adjustment device consisting of a threaded screw passed through said outer casing to precisely adjust an angle of reflection; and

said hinged switch assembly being shaped to allow said hinged switch assembly to completely clear a light path when in a nonreflecting straight mode.

9. The visual accident prevention system according to claim 1, said switch activator further consists of a sensor;

said sensor being set to detect a direction of rotation of, selectively, one of the group of a wheel, an axle or a drive train piece; and

said sensor being used in conjunction with an electric solenoid, whereby said sensor being used in conjunction with said electric solenoid automatically selects said forward outputs from each of said at least one forward receptor to be transmitted to each of said at least one display device when the vehicle is in a forward gear and selects said rear outputs from each of said at least one rear receptor when the vehicle is in a reverse gear.

10. The visual accident prevention system according to claim 1, said switch activator consisting of a cable assembly linked to a gear selector of a vehicle, whereby said cable assembly linked to said gear selector of the vehicle automatically selects said input from each of said at least one forward receptor to be transmitted to each of said at least one display device when the vehicle is in a forward gear and selects said input from each of said at least one rear receptor when the vehicle is in a reverse gear.

11. The visual accident prevention system according to claim 1, further comprising:

each of said at least one forward receptor including a front angled mirror, whereby said front angled mirror redirects a portion of a field of view of said visual accident prevention system according to claim 1 allowing a user a view of a road to a rear and a side of a vehicle beyond what is available with said visual accident prevention system according to claim 1;

at least one additional forward lens display device;

each of said at least one additional forward lens display device receiving an image from said front angled mirror of each of said at least one forward receptor;

each of said at least one rear receptor including a rear angled mirror, whereby said rear angled mirror redirects a portion of a field of view of said visual accident prevention system according to claim 1 allowing the user a view of the road to the rear and side of the vehicle beyond what is available with said visual accident prevention system according to claim 1;

at least one additional rear lens display device; and

each of said at least one additional rear lens display device receiving an image from said rear angled mirror of each of said plurality of rear receptor.

12. The visual accident prevention system according to claim 1, further comprising:

each of said at least one forward receptor include an front prism, whereby said front prism redirects a portion of a field of view of said visual accident prevention system according to claim 1 allowing a user a view of the road to a rear and a side of a vehicle beyond what is available with said visual accident prevention system according to claim 1;

at least one additional forward lens display devices;

each of said at least one additional forward lens display devices receiving an image from said front prism of each of said at least one forward receptor;

each of said at least one rear receptor include a rear prism, whereby said rear prism redirects a portion of the field of view of said visual accident prevention system according to claim 1 allowing the user a view of the road to the rear and the side of the vehicle beyond what is available with said visual accident prevention system according to claim 1;

at least one additional rear lens display device; and

each of said at least one additional rear lens display device receiving an image from said rear prism of each of said at least one rear receptor.