Device for reminding a driver of a vehicle of dates specific to the vehicle

• US 6,091,326 A
• Filed: 05/26/1999
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Antonio Castellano
• Original Assignee: Antonio Castellano
• Inventors: Castellano, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/320,289
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457.4, 340/457, 340/691.6, 340/692, 340/693.5, 340/693.9, 340/309.15, 340/457.2, 340/571, 340/572
• US Class Current: 340/457.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions

Abstract

A device for reminding a driver of a vehicle of the expiration date of the associated inspection sticker. The device includes a housing, a microprocessor, a LCD, a calendar chip for generating a date, a clock chip for generating a time, an alarm chip the provides a visible alarm and an audible alarm, a select button that selects either the clock chip, the calendar chip, or the alarm chip, and a value button that sets either the clock chip, the calendar chip, or the alarm chip that was selected by the select button. The device further includes a piece of two-sided tape that is attached to the rear wall of the housing and attaches the housing to the windshield of the vehicle, behind the inspection sticker. The audible and visible alarms have duty cycles with frequencies and durations that are selected by a menu brought up on the LCD display by the select button and set by the value button. The duty cycles are intermittent as opposed to constant for preventing drain on the battery. The alarm chip is set to activate at a predetermined time prior to the expiration date of the inspection sticker so as to remind the driver of the vehicle that the expiration date of the inspection sticker is approaching.

Claims

1. A device for reminding a driver of a vehicle having a windshield with an inspection sticker thereon having an expiration date of the expiration date of the inspection sticker, said device comprising:

a) a housing;

said housing being disk-shaped and having;

i) a front wall that is circular;

ii) a rear wall that is circular; and

iii) a longitudinal wall that is cylindrically-shaped and extends from said front wall thereof to said rear wall thereof;

b) a microprocessor contained in said housing;

c) a LCD display electrically communicating with said microprocessor and being visible through said housing;

d) a calendar chip contained in said housing and electrically communicating with said microprocessor and displaying a date by way of said LCD display;

e) a clock chip contained in said housing and electrically communicating with said microprocessor and displaying a time by way of said LCD display;

f) an alarm chip contained in said housing and electrically communicating with said microprocessor;

said alarm chip being set to activate at a predetermined time prior to the expiration date of the inspection sticker so as to remind a driver of the vehicle that the expiration date of the inspection sticker is approaching;

said alarm chip providing an audible and a visible alarm;

g) a select button extending outwardly from said housing and electrically communicating with said microprocessor and selecting one of said clock chip, said calendar chip, and said alarm chip; and

h) a value button extending outwardly from said housing and electrically communicating with said microprocessor and setting one of said clock chip, said calendar chip, and said alarm chip selected by said select button;

said audible and visible alarm having duty cycles with frequencies and durations selected by a menu brought up on said LCD display by said select button and set by said value button.

2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said rear wall of said housing contains a replaceable access cap that is circular-shaped and concentrically disposed thereon so as to allow formation of a ring therearound, and when removed, provides an access in said rear wall of said housing for replacing a battery.

3. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein said replaceable access cap has a plurality of resilient feet that extend therefrom and engage in said housing, through said access therein so as to allow replaceable maintenance of said replaceable access cap in said rear wall of said housing.

4. The device as defined in claim 2;

further comprising a piece of two-sided tape that is attached to said rear wall of said housing for attaching said housing to the windshield of the vehicle, behind the inspection sticker, with said alarm chip being set to activate at a predetermined time prior to the expiration date of the inspection sticker so as to remind the driver of the vehicle that the expiration date of the inspection sticker is approaching.

5. The device as defined in claim 4, wherein said piece of two-sided tape is ring-shaped to cover only said ring of said rear wall of said housing so as not to interfere with removal of said replaceable access cap.

6. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said LCD display is disposed on said front wall of said housing.

7. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said select button is a push button that extends outwardly from said longitudinal wall of said housing.

8. The device as defined in claim 7, wherein said value button is a push button that extends outwardly from said longitudinal wall of said housing, adjacent said select button.

9. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said visible alarm is provided by an LED that is disposed on said front wall of said housing and is in electrical communication with said microprocessor.

10. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said audible alarm is provided by a sound chip that is contained in said housing and is in electrical communication with said microprocessor.

11. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said duty cycles are intermittent as opposed to constant for preventing drain on the battery.

12. The device as defined in claim 11, wherein said duty cycles include a set of four individual bursts of X second duration, with each burst in said set separated from another burst in said set by a Y second duration, and with each said set of four individual bursts separated from another said set by a Z second duration.