Audible vehicle monitoring apparatus

• US 5,436,612 A
• Filed: 03/30/1994
• Issued: 07/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard N. Aduddell
• Original Assignee: Richard N. Aduddell
• Inventors: Aduddell, Richard N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US08/220,203
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/442, 340/443, 340/445, 340/447, 340/446, 116/34 R, 381/169, 381/188, 381/205
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies

Abstract

A new and improved audible vehicle monitoring apparatus includes a sound monitoring assembly adapted for connecting to an undercarriage portion of a wheeled vehicle. A monitor housing assembly connects to the undercarriage portion of the wheeled vehicle. A microphone assembly and a first power source are retained by the monitor housing assembly. A wave transmitter assembly is powered by the first power source and is retained by the monitor housing assembly. The wave transmitter assembly is connected to the microphone assembly and transmits waves representing sounds picked up by the microphone assembly. An audible signalling assembly is retained in a cab portion of a motor vehicle in proximity of a driver within easy hearing and easy reach of the driver. The audible signalling assembly includes a signaling housing assembly, and a second power source is housed within the signaling housing assembly. A wave receiver assembly is retained by the signaling housing assembly and is powered by the second power source. The wave receiver assembly receives the transmitted waves from the sound monitoring assembly. The audible signalling assembly includes a speaker assembly which receives audio signals from the wave receiver assembly and provides audible signals to the driver of the motor vehicle. A plurality of sound monitoring assemblies can be connected to selected locations of the undercarriage portion of the wheeled vehicle, and the audible signalling assembly includes a selector switch assembly for selecting which respective sound monitoring assembly is to be listened to by a motor vehicle driver.

Claims

1. A new and improved audible vehicle monitoring apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of sound monitoring assemblies adapted for connecting to selected undercarriage portions of a wheeled vehicle, each sound monitoring assembly including a monitor housing assembly adapted for connecting to a respective selected undercarriage portion, a respective microphone assembly retained by each of said monitor housing assemblies, a first power source housed within each respective monitor housing assembly, a wave transmitter assembly powered by each respective first power source and retained by each respective monitor housing assembly, each respective wave transmitter assembly connected to a respective microphone assembly and adapted for transmitting waves representing sounds picked up by said respective microphone assembly, wherein each wave transmitter assembly includes a transmitter antenna for transmitting said waves representing sounds picked up by each respective microphone assembly, and

an audible signalling assembly adapted to be retained in a cab portion of a motor vehicle in proximity of a driver, said audible signalling assembly including a signaling housing assembly, a second power source housed within said signaling housing assembly, a wave receiver assembly retained by said signaling housing assembly and powered by said second power source wherein said wave receiver assembly includes a wave receiving antenna adapted for receiving said transmitted waves from each of said respective wave transmitter assemblies of said sound monitoring assemblies, said audible signalling assembly including a speaker assembly housed within said signalling housing assembly and powered by said second power source wherein said speaker assembly receives audio signals from said wave receiver assembly and provides audible signals to the driver of the motor vehicle, wherein said audible signalling assembly includes a volume control assembly for adjusting a level of audible signals heard by the driver of the motor vehicle, and

a selector switch assembly, housed in said signaling housing assembly, for selecting which respective sound monitoring assembly is to be listened to by the motor vehicle driver.