Vehicle level alarm
First Claim
1. A tilt responsive switch comprising:
- a housing including a bottom, a conductive top, a first pair of parallel sides being spaced from each other by a first dimension, and a second pair of parallel sides being spaced from each other by a second dimension;
a pendulum having a weighted end and a pivot end, said pendulum having a conductive bar disposed between said weighted end and said pivot end, and said pendulum being pivotally mounted within said housing, whereby said pendulum is free to pivot about a pivot axis passing through said pivot end; and
first and second conductive bolts symmetrically disposed on either side of the pivot axis of said pendulum, said conductive bolts matingly engaging respective threaded openings provided in said conductive top, whereby an amount of a protrusion of said first and second conductive bolts into said housing can be set by a user, and tilting said housing, relative to a vertical direction, to a user defined angle will cause an electrically conductive contact between said conductive bar and one of said first and second conductive bolts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle tilt alarm system including a tilt angle responsive switch having a pendulum that can swing to make contact with conductive bolts provided on either side of the pendulum'"'"'s pivot point. The amount of the protrusion of the bolts into the pendulum housing can be adjusted, thereby allowing the user to set the angle of vehicle tilt at which the switch will activate the alarm system. The switch is incorporated in an circuit including an alarm device such as a buzzer or flashing light. The alarm system is mounted on a vehicle whereby the tilting of the vehicle past a predetermined angle will activate the alarm system, thus informing the vehicle operator that the vehicle is dangerously close to rolling over.
28 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A tilt responsive switch comprising:
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a housing including a bottom, a conductive top, a first pair of parallel sides being spaced from each other by a first dimension, and a second pair of parallel sides being spaced from each other by a second dimension; a pendulum having a weighted end and a pivot end, said pendulum having a conductive bar disposed between said weighted end and said pivot end, and said pendulum being pivotally mounted within said housing, whereby said pendulum is free to pivot about a pivot axis passing through said pivot end; and first and second conductive bolts symmetrically disposed on either side of the pivot axis of said pendulum, said conductive bolts matingly engaging respective threaded openings provided in said conductive top, whereby an amount of a protrusion of said first and second conductive bolts into said housing can be set by a user, and tilting said housing, relative to a vertical direction, to a user defined angle will cause an electrically conductive contact between said conductive bar and one of said first and second conductive bolts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A vehicle tilt alarm system comprising:
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a power supply; an alarm device provided within an electrical circuit including said power supply; and a tilt responsive switch including; a housing including a bottom, a conductive top, a first pair of parallel sides being spaced from each other by a first dimension, and a second pair of parallel sides being spaced from each other by a second dimension, a pendulum having a weighted end and a pivot end, said pendulum having a conductive bar disposed between said weighted end and said pivot end, and said pendulum being pivotally mounted within said housing, whereby said pendulum is free to pivot about a pivot axis passing through said pivot end, and first and second conductive bolts symmetrically disposed on either side of the pivot axis of said pendulum, said conductive bolts matingly engaging respective threaded openings provided in said conductive top, whereby an amount of a protrusion of said first and second conductive bolts into said housing can be set by a user, and tilting a vehicle, to which said tilt responsive switch is mounted, to a user defined angle will cause an electrically conductive contact between said conductive bar and one of said first and second conductive bolts thereby activating said alarm device. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification