Car locator

• US 5,921,199 A
• Filed: 12/21/1994
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Gross, Leon S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): WORTH, WILLIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/360,267
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 116/28 R, 116/173, 116/209, 40/591, 40/592, 40/597, 40/600, 40/611, 40/542, 40/549, 40/661
• US Class Current: 116/28.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/482 for locating vehicle in parking lot
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/1852 for fastening magnetically or by suction or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure

Abstract

A car locator is provided having a base for attaching the locator to a car. A cantilevered support rod is pivotally connected with the base to permit pivotal movement and positioning of the rod relative to the base. A hollow marking sleeve having an outer transparent tube and an inner fluorescent liner disposed within the tube slidably mounts onto the support rod for marking the car. The sleeve engages the support rod with sufficient contact force to retain the sleeve in position on the support rod. The sleeve is slidably removable from the support rod so that the sleeve may be pulled from the support rod.

Claims

1. A vehicle locator comprising:

(a) a base for mounting the locator to the vehicle, the base having a mounting section for engaging the vehicle to permit the locator to be mounted on the vehicle and a rod support;

(b) a cantilevered support rod projecting from the base having a free end of predetermined outside width and a mounting end pivotally connected at the rod support of the base to permit the rod to be pivotally moved between selected positions relative to the base, the rod being frictionally held by the rod support relative to the base to enable the rod to remain in position after the rod is moved between positions; and

(c) a highly visible marking post on the support rod, wherein the marking post comprises a clear plastic outer tube and an inner liner visible through the tube.

2. The locator according to claim 1 wherein the marking post has an open end to permit slidable mounting of the marking post or to the cantilevered support rod for marking of the vehicle, the open end of the marking post having an inside width that enables cooperating contact between the marking post and the rod to retain the marking post in position on the rod.

3. The locator according to claim 2 wherein the free end of the rod is of a sufficient width relative to the width of the open end of the marking post so that the marking post engages the rod in slip fit and wherein the rod is of a sufficient length relative to the length of the marking post to retain the marking post on the rod.

4. The locator according to claim 2 wherein the free end of the rod is of a sufficient width relative to the width of the open end of the marking post so that the marking post engages the rod in friction fit to retain the outer tube on the rod.

5. The locator according to claim 1 wherein the liner includes a flouresent color.

6. The locator according to claim 1 wherein the rod support includes a pathway and wherein the mounting end of the rod is disposed within the pathway to permit the pivotal movement of the rod.

7. The locator according to claim 6 wherein the locator includes a pin traversing the pathway of the rod support and wherein the mounting end of the rod is mounted on the pin for rotational movement of the rod about the pin.

8. The locator according to claim 7 wherein the mounting end of the rod is in friction fit with the rod support of the base for maintaining the rod in position upon rotational movement of the rod.

9. The locator according to claim 8 comprising adjustment means for adjusting the friction fit between the rod support of the base and the mounting end of the rod.

10. The locator according to claim 6 wherein the mounting end of the rod is generally flat and includes a rounded end portion to permit pivotal movement of the mounting end within the pathway.

11. The locator according to claim 6 wherein the base includes a clearance slot in alignment with the pathway and wherein the mounting end of the rod is flat and includes an end portion disposed within the clearance slot to provide swing room for the end portion of the mounting end of the rod through the clearance slot during pivotal movement of the rod.

12. The locator according to claim 1 comprising an adhesive mounting attachment on the mounting section of the base to permit mounting of the locator to the vehicle.

13. A vehicle locator comprising:

(a) a base for mounting the locator to the vehicle, the base having a mounting section for engaging the vehicle to permit the locator to be mounted on the vehicle and a rod support;

(b) a cantilevered support rod projecting from the base having a free end of predetermined outside width and a mounting end pivotally connected at the rod support of the base to permit the rod to be pivotally moved between selected positions relative to the base, the rod being frictionally held by the rod support relative to the base to enable the rod to remain in position after the rod is moved between positions; and

(c) a highly visible marking post on the support rod, wherein the marking post includes a transparent tube and a fluorescent insert disposed within the tube.

14. The locator according to claim 13 wherein the transparent tube includes a free end and wherein the locator comprises a cap mounted on the free end of the tube to enclose the tube.

15. A vehicle locator comprising:

(a) a base for mounting the locator to the vehicle, the base having a mounting attachment for attaching the locator to the vehicle and a rod support having a pair of support ribs forming a,groove therebetween;

(b) a pin supported by the support ribs traversing the groove;

(c) a cantilevered support rod having a free end extending away from the base and a mounting end disposed within the groove of the base, the mounting end of the rod being mounted on the pin for pivotal movement of the rod and being held in friction fit between the sup port ribs of the base to retain the rod in position after pivotal movement of the rod; and

(d) a highly visible marking post on the support rod, wherein the marking post includes a marking sleeve having an opening at one end to permit slidable mounting of the sleeve onto the rod for marking of the vehicle, the sleeve including a transparent tube and a fluorescent liner disposed within the tube.

16. The locator according to claim 15 wherein the mounting end of the rod includes an end portion having generally square corners and wherein the base includes a clearance slot aligned with the groove of the base and wherein the end portion of the rod moves within the slot to permit pivotal movement of the rod.

17. A vehicle locator for marking a vehicle comprising:

(a) a base for mounting the locator to the vehicle, the base having a mounting section for engaging the vehicle to permit the locator to be mounted on the vehicle and a rod support having a pair of support ribs projecting from the base to provide a groove therebetween;

(b) a pivot pin traversing the groove supported by the support ribs;

(c) a cantilevered support rod projecting from the base having a free end of predetermined outside width and a mounting end disposed within the groove and pivotally connected with the pivot pin at the rod support of the base to permit the rod to be pivotally moved between selected positions relative to the base, the rod being frictionally held by the rod support relative to the base to enable the rod to remain in position after the rod is moved between positions; and

(d) a highly visible marking post having an open end to permit slidable mounting of the post onto the cantilevered support rod in slip fit for marking of the vehicle, the open end of the post having an inside width that is generally the same as the outside width of the free end of the rod so that the cooperating contact between the post and the rod retains the post in position on the rod , wherein the marking post includes a marking sleeve having a clear plastic outer tube and an inner liner visible through the tube.

18. The locator according to claim 17 wherein the mounting end of the rod is in friction fit between the support ribs of the base for maintaining the rod in position upon rotational movement of the rod and wherein the locator includes adjustment means for adjusting the friction fit between the support ribs of the base and the mounting end of the rod.

19. The locator according to claim 17 wherein the base includes a clearance slot in alignment with the groove and wherein the mounting end of the rod is flat and includes an end portion disposed within the clearance slot to provide swing room for the end portion of the mounting end of the rod within the clearance slot during pivotal movement of the rod.

20. A vehicle locator for marking a vehicle comprising:

(a) a base for mounting the locator to the vehicle, the base having a mounting section for engaging the vehicle to permit the locator to be mounted on the vehicle and a rod support having a pair of support ribs projecting from the base to provide a groove therebetween;

(b) a pivot pin traversing the groove supported by the support ribs;

(c) a cantilevered support rod projecting from the base having a free end of predetermined outside width and a mounting end disposed within the groove and pivotally connected with the pivot pin at the rod support of the base to permit the rod to be pivotally moved between selected positions relative to the base, the rod being frictionally held by the rod support relative to the base to enable the rod to remain in position after the rod is moved between positions; and

(d) a highly visible marking post having an open end to permit slidable mounting of the post onto the cantilevered support rod in slip fit for marking of the vehicle, the open end of the post having an inside width that is generally the same as the outside width of the free end of the rod so that the cooperating contact between the post and the rod retains the post in position on the rod, wherein the marking post includes a marking sleeve having a transparent tube and a fluorescent insert disposed within the tube.