System for preventing rear end collisions

• US 5,838,228 A
• Filed: 09/18/1997
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dennis D. Clark
• Original Assignee: Dennis D. Clark
• Inventors: Clark, Dennis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/933,064
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/435, 340/903, 340/901, 340/904, 340/479, 340/463, 340/468, 340/464, 340/467, 367/909
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance

Abstract

A system for preventing rear end collisions is provided including a warning light housing with a transparent panel mounted to a rear of the vehicle. A distance detector is directed toward a rear of the vehicle. The distance detector is adapted to detect a distance from a following car. A bulb is provided for illuminating upon the actuation thereof. Finally, control circuitry is connected between the distance detector, bulb, a speedometer, and a battery of the vehicle. The control circuitry is adapted for receiving a speed of the vehicle from the speedometer and further to calculate a distance per speed value, whereby the control circuitry actuates the bulb only upon the distance per speed value being lower than a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A system for preventing rear end collisions comprising, in combination:

a warning light housing with a rectangular configuration having a front face, a rear face, a bottom face, a top face, and a pair of side faces thereby defining an interior space, the front face having a cutout formed therein over which a transparent panel is coupled;

a mounting assembly including a sleeve connected to the bottom face of the warning light housing with a channel having a square cross-section and two pairs of oval cutouts formed in a front face and a rear face of the sleeve, the channel having a pair of side openings situated about an axis parallel and offset from the bottom face of the mounting assembly, the mounting assembly further including a pair of mounting arms each having a square cross-section and slidably situated within the channel and extending from an associated one of the side openings, each mounting arm having a pair of oval bores formed therein in a side-by-side relationship, whereby a pair of bolts may each be situated through a first one of the oval bores of the corresponding mounting arm and fixedly coupled between a corresponding pair of the oval cutouts thereby limiting the extent to which the mounting sleeve extends from the associated side opening;

whereby a second one of the oval bores of each mounting arm receives a bolt which in turn is threadedly engaged with a threaded aperture employed to couple a license plate to a rear of a vehicle;

a distance detector situated on the mounting sleeve and directed toward a rear of the vehicle, the distance detector adapted to detect a distance from a following car;

a bulb situated within the warning light housing for illuminating upon the actuation thereof; and

control circuitry situated within the warning light housing and connected between the distance detector, bulb, a speedometer, and a battery of the vehicle, the control circuitry adapted for receiving a speed of the vehicle from the speedometer and further to calculate a distance per speed value, whereby the control circuitry intermittently actuates the bulb only upon the distance per speed value being lower than one foot per mile/hour.

2. A system for preventing rear end collisions comprising:

a warning light housing with a transparent panel mounted to a rear of the vehicle;

a distance detector directed toward a rear of the vehicle, the distance detector adapted to detect a distance from a following car;

a bulb for illuminating upon the actuation thereof;

control circuitry connected between the distance detector, bulb, a speedometer, and a battery of the vehicle, the control circuitry adapted for receiving a speed of the vehicle from the speedometer and further to calculate a distance per speed value, whereby the control circuitry actuates the bulb only upon the distance per speed value being lower than a predetermined value; and

a mounting assembly including a sleeve connected to a bottom face of the warning light housing with a channel having a square cross-section and two pairs of oval cutouts formed in a front face and a rear face of the sleeve, the channel having a pair of side openings situated about an axis parallel and offset from the bottom face of the mounting assembly, the mounting assembly further including a pair of mounting arms each having a square cross-section and slidably situated within the channel and extending from an associated one of the side openings, each mounting arm having a pair of oval bores formed therein in a side-by-side relationship, whereby a pair of bolts may each be situated through a first one of the oval bores of the corresponding mounting arm and fixedly coupled between a corresponding pair of the oval cutouts thereby limiting the extent to which the mounting sleeve extends from the associated side opening, whereby a second one of the oval bores of each mounting arm receives a bolt which in turn is threadedly engaged with a threaded aperture employed to couple a license plate to a rear of a vehicle.

3. A system for preventing rear end collisions as set forth in claim 2 wherein the bulb is actuated intermittently.

4. A system for preventing rear end collisions as set forth in claim 2 wherein the warning light housing is mounted adjacent to a license plate of the vehicle.

5. A system for preventing rear end collisions as set forth in claim 2 wherein the distance detector is mounted adjacent the warning light housing.