Driver attention alarm

• US 5,684,462 A
• Filed: 01/16/1996
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bert Joseph Gold
• Original Assignee: Bert Joseph Gold
• Inventors: Gold, Bert Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US08/586,223
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/575, 340/576, 340/309.15, 340/309.13, 340/309.4, 180/272
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

The invention is characterized by a box adapted for mounting on the dashboard of a motor vehicle containing an electrical circuit connected to the vehicle electrical system. The circuit activates sequentially two alarms, first a visual display, then an audio alarm. The alarm is activated by a random timer which is capable of recycling when a deactivating bar is depressed. A series of five time intervals are capable of determining the time interval between recycling periods of the random timer.

Claims

1. A driver attention alarm comprising:

an enclosure having four walls and a top and bottom;

an electrical circuit positioned within the enclosure;

a source of electrical power applied to the electrical circuit;

a means for controlling the power into the circuit;

a first alarm means activated by the electrical circuit to attract a drivers attention;

a random timer circuit connected to the source of electrical power for activating the first alarm means;

an adjustable timer circuit connected between the source of electrical power and the random timer circuit for selectively controlling the time between activation of the random timer circuit;

a second alarm means connected to the random cycle timer to attract a drivers attention after a preset period of time, and

a means for recycling the random timer circuit after the first alarm is activated, whereby the random timer will deactivate the alarms and renew its cycle.

2. A driver attention alarm according to claim 1 wherein:

the means for controlling the power into the circuit is a toggle switch.

3. A driver attention alarm according to claim 2 wherein:

the first alarm means is a light.

4. A driver attention alarm according to claim 3 wherein:

the first alarm means is a flashing light.

5. A driver attention alarm according to claim 4 wherein:

the adjustable timer circuit includes five degrees of selectivity.

6. A driver attention alarm according to claim 5 wherein:

the second alarm is an audio alarm.

7. A driver attention alarm according to claim 5 wherein:

the means for recycling the random timer circuit is actuated by a bar mounted on the outside of the container, whereby depression of the bar by the driver will cause the random timer to recycle and deactivate the alarms.