Apparatus for indicating motor vehicle impact

• US 5,847,643 A
• Filed: 04/15/1997
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William B. Keith
• Original Assignee: William B. Keith
• Inventors: Keith, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/839,717
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/437, 340/932.2, 340/590, 340/598, 340/665-667, 180/274, 180/271, 200/61.44, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.53, 200/DIG. 10, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/003 using physical contactors, e.g. arms that trigger alarm upon contact with obstacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 200/10 Curb, bumper and fender

Abstract

A honk strip comprising an electrical power source, electrical leads, electrically conducting members and an alarm. The honkstrip being useful for detecting vehicular impact with other objects and signaling a vehicle operator that an impact has occurred.

Claims

1. An apparatus for indicating motor vehicle impact in combination with a motor vehicle comprising:

first and second elastically deformable, electrically conducting members positioned in close proximity and substantially parallel to each other when applied to the body of a motor vehicle;

an electrical power source in electrical communication with said first member;

an alarm in electrical communication with said electrical power source and said second member; and

said first member being movable from a first position in close proximity to said second member and leaving an open circuit between said power source and said alarm to a second position contacting said second member and placing said power source and said alarm in electrical communication thus causing said alarm to produce a discernible signal, said contacting position occurring when an external force is applied to either of said first or said second members, the elasticity of said first and second members causing said first member to return to said first position in close proximity to said second member when the external force is removed therefrom.

2. The first and second electrically conducting members of claim 1, being comprised of adjacent, substantially parallel metal strips.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a spacer positioned between said first and second members.

4. The first and second electrically conducting members of claim 1, being disposed in a casing.

5. The casing of claim 4 being comprised of a vehicle molding strip.

6. The first and second electrically conducting members of claim 1, being disposed on the outer periphery of a motor vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said alarm is comprised of an auditory response element.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said alarm is comprised of a visual response element.

9. An apparatus for indicating contact between a motor vehicle and another object comprising:

a first and a second electrically conducting member;

an electrical power source in electrical communication with said first member;

an auditory or a visual response element in electrical communication with said electrical power source and said second member;

said first and second members being positioned in a noncontacting first position in close proximity to each other leaving an open circuit between said power source and said response element, and a contacting position placing said power source and said response element in electrical communication thus causing said response element to produce a signal, said contacting position occurring when an external force is applied to either member; and

said first and second members being comprised of adjacently parallel, elastically deformable metal strips

and disposed in a flexible casing comprised of vehicle molding strips

disposed on the outer periphery of a motor vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 additionally comprising a spacer positioned between said first and second members.

11. Apparatus for indicating an impact when mounted on a motor vehicle comprising:

first and second electrically conducting members mounted substantially parallel to each other on a motor vehicle;

an electrical power source in electrical communication with said first member;

an alarm in electrical communication with said second member and said electrical power source;

said first member being movable from a first position in close proximity to said second member and leaving an open circuit between said power source and said alarm to a second contacting position contacting said second member and placing said power source and said alarm in electrical communication thus causing said alarm to produce a discernible signal, said contacting position occurring when an external force is applied to either of said first or said second members; and

a resilient spacer between said first and second members for returning said first member to said first position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first and second members are disposed in a casing on the motor vehicle.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said casing comprises a molding strip.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said alarm is comprised of an auditory signal response element.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said alarm is comprised of a visual signal response element.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first and second members are comprised of metal strips.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said first and second members are additionally comprised of a resilient material.