Vehicular accident locator and identification system

• US 5,910,766 A
• Filed: 12/04/1997
• Issued: 06/08/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen M. Evans
• Original Assignee: Stephen M. Evans
• Inventors: Evans, Stephen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/985,169
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/590, 340/429, 200/61.08, 200/61.18
• US Class Current: 340/426.19
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A vehicular accident locator system is provided including a plurality of sensor assemblies each including a brittle conductive element. The sensor assemblies are mounted throughout the body and the elements thereof are connected in series via insulated wires. As such, an activation signal is transmitted upon the breaking of any one of the elements by way of an accident. A transmitter housing has a transmitter connected to the elements of the sensor assemblies for transmitting a coded signal upon receipt of the activation signal. Finally, a receiver base is positioned distant the vehicle and adapted to receive the coded signal to triangulate the exact location of the vehicle such that an emergency vehicle may be dispatched.

Claims

1. A vehicular accident indication and locator system comprising, in combination:

a vehicle having a body and an interior compartment having a dash;

a plurality of sensor assemblies each including an elastomeric disk having a front face, a rear face, and a periphery formed therebetween defining an interior space, the front face having an adhesive lining situated thereon for adhering the same to an inner surface of the body of the vehicle, ears formed on diametrically opposed sides of the disk for facilitating mounting, an elongated protrusion with a triangular cross-section integrally formed on the rear face within the interior space, a pair of stanchions coupled to the rear face within the interior space and extending toward the front face, a brittle conductive element comprising a fuse with a glass casing having a pair of ends mounted on ends of the stanchions such that the element is situated in perpendicular relationship with the protrusion and further spaced therefrom, the sensor assemblies being mounted throughout the body of the vehicle and the elements thereof being connected in series via insulated wires such that an activation signal is transmitted upon the breaking of any one of the elements by way of an accident;

a transmitter housing situated on the dash of the vehicle with a display situated thereon, the display adapted to provide a first indication in the form of a visual light upon the lack of receipt of power and further provide a second indication in the form of a visual light having the shape of a word upon the receipt of the activation signal, the transmitter housing further having transmitter means connected to the elements of the sensor assemblies for transmitting a coded signal unique to the vehicle upon receipt of the activation signal wherein the, transmitter means continues transmission of the coded signal unconditionally until power is depleted; and

a receiver base positioned remote from the vehicle and adapted to receive the coded signal to identify the vehicle associated therewith and further triangulate the exact location of the vehicle such that an emergency vehicle may be dispatched.

2. A vehicular accident indication and locator system comprising, in combination:

a plurality of sensor assemblies each including a brittle conductive element, the sensor assemblies adapted for being mounted throughout a body of a vehicle such that an activation signal is transmitted upon the breaking of any one of the elements by way of an object impacting against the body of the vehicle;

a transmitter housing adapted for being situated on a dash of the vehicle, the housing having a display situated thereon, the display adapted to provide a first indication in the form of a visual light upon the lack of receipt of power and further provide a second indication in the form of a visual light upon the receipt of the activation signal, the transmitter housing further having transmitter means connected to the elements of the sensor assemblies for transmitting a coded signal unique to the vehicle upon receipt of the activation signal; and

a receiver base positionable remotely from the transmitter housing and adapted to receive the coded signal to identify the vehicle associated therewith and further identify the exact location of the vehicle such that an emergency vehicle may be dispatched.

3. A vehicular accident indication and locator system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the plurality of sensor assemblies each include an elastomeric disk having a front face, a rear face, and a periphery formed therebetween defining an interior space, the front face having an adhesive lining situated thereon and adapted for adhering the same to an inner surface of a body of a vehicle, ears formed on diametrically opposed sides of the disk for facilitating mounting, an elongated protrusion with a triangular cross-section integrally formed on the rear face within the interior space, a pair of stanchions coupled to the rear face within the interior space and extending toward the front face, a brittle conductive element having a pair of ends mounted on ends of the stanchions such that the element is situated in perpendicular relationship with the protrusion and further spaced therefrom, the sensor assemblies adapted for being mounted throughout the body and the elements thereof connected in series via insulated wires.