Vehicle back up alarm with associated back up light

• US 6,977,584 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Franklin L. Milliken
• Original Assignee: Franklin L. Milliken
• Inventors: Milliken, Franklin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie Bichngoc
• Application Number:
  US10/654,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/431, 340/435, 340/463, 340/468, 340/471, 340/436, 340/438, 340/474, 180/167, 180/169, 280/477, 280/DIG.14, 348/135, 348/148, 348/149
• US Class Current: 340/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0017 Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/14 Tractor-trailer backing connections

Abstract

A vehicle-in-motion warning apparatus having one or more warning device and a light source in a housing. The warning device may be an audible, visual, or objecting-sensing device, and is mounted behind a grill which is integrally formed with the housing face. The light source is mounted in front of the housing face and covered with a removeable transparent cover. The housing may be either formed to fit a vehicle recess or alternatively formed to fit into a trailer hitch receiver. The associated wiring harness is terminated with a standard connector which allows the apparatus to be plugged into the existing vehicle wiring harness without modification, or a pigtail for splicing into the wiring harness.

Claims

1. A vehicle-in-motion warning apparatus comprising:

a housing having a mid-section, the mid-section having an enlargement for attaching the apparatus to a vehicle by insertion into at least one pre-formed vehicle recess selected from a group consisting essentially of a light assembly recess and a warning device recess, the at least one recess being defined by at least one edge, and the housing being secured within the at least one recess by means for resiliently and cooperatively locking with the at least one edge and the enlargement;

a warning device residing in the housing;

a front face defined on the housing, the face defining a grill covering the warning device;

a light source replaceably connected with the housing in front of the plane of the front face;

a replaceably removable substantially transparent hemispherical cover over the light source, and

means for electrically connecting the apparatus with a vehicle wiring harness.

2. An apparatus, as recited in claim 1, further including a reflector connected with the housing, the reflector residing essentially in the plane of the front face, wherein the light source is mounted in front of the reflector.

3. An apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the warning device comprises at least one device selected from a group consisting of an audibly warning device, a visually warning device, a device for sensing an object, and a televising device.

4. An apparatus, as recited in claim 3, wherein the audibly warning device comprises at least one device selected from a group consisting of a sound generating electronic circuit, an audio detector, and a speaker.

5. An apparatus, as recited in claim 3, wherein the object sensing device comprises at least one device selected from a group consisting of a proximity radar device, a Doppler radar device, a sonar device, an ultrasound device, an ultraviolet sensor, an infrared sensor, and a microwave sensor.

6. An apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the warning device is sealed into the housing by a water-resistant compound.

7. An apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the replaceably removable cover is attached to the housing by a cover retaining means selected from a group consisting of a compression snap-in fitting, circumferential threads, a snap-ring retainer, and a retainer-plus-threaded fastener.

8. A vehicle-in-motion warning apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a front face, the face defining a grill, wherein a light reflector is connected therein disposed in the plane of the front face the front face;

a warning device residing in the housing, the warning device comprising at least one device selected from a group consisting of an audibly warning device, a visual warning device, an object sensing device, and a device for televising;

a light source comprising at least one device selected from a group consisting of an incandescent lamp, a strobe light, a steady halogen lamp, and a light-emitting diode, wherein the light source is mounted in front of the reflector;

a detachable reattachable substantially transparent cover over the light source;

means for mounting and securing the apparatus to a vehicle trailer hitch receiver; and

means for electrically connecting the apparatus to a vehicle electrical system.

9. An apparatus, as recited in claim 8, wherein the device for televising comprises a television camera being electrically connected with a television display, the television display being adapted for viewing by a vehicle operator.

10. An apparatus, as recited in claim 8, wherein the audibly warning means comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a sound generating electronic circuit, an audio detector, and a speaker.

11. An apparatus, as recited in claim 8, wherein the retachably detachable cover is attached to the housing by a cover retaining mechanism selected from a group consisting of a compression snap-in fitting, circumferential threads, a snap-ring retainer, and a retainer-plus-threaded fastener.

12. An equipment-in-motion warning apparatus comprising:

a housing having a front face, the face defining a grill;

a warning device residing in the housing and covered by the grill;

a light source comprising at least one element selected from a group consisting of an incandescent lamp, a strobe light, a steady halogen lamp, and a light-emitting diode,

a reflector residing essentially in the plane of the front face, wherein the light source resides in front of the reflector;

a replaceably removable substantially transparent cover over the light source and attached to the face by a mechanical attachment selected from a group consisting of a compression snap-in fitting, a circumferential threads, a snap-ring retainer, and a retainer-plus-threaded fastener; and

means for electrically connecting the apparatus with the equipment.

13. An apparatus, as recited in claim 12, wherein the face includes an aperture for covering a sound detection means.

14. An apparatus, as recited in claim 12, wherein the warning means comprises at least one means selected from a group consisting essentially of means for audibly warning, means for visually warning, means for sensing an object, and means for televising.

15. An apparatus, as recited in claim 14, wherein the audibly warning means comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a sound generating electronic circuit, an audio detector, and a speaker.

16. An apparatus, as recited in claim 14, wherein the object sensing means comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a proximity radar device, a Doppler radar device, a sonar device, an ultrasound device, an ultraviolet sensor, an infrared sensor, and a microwave sensor.

17. An apparatus, as recited in claim 12, wherein the light source is a light-emitting diode and the replaceably removable cover is replaced by a fixed, non-removable cover.

18. An apparatus, as recited in claim 12, wherein the housing includes a mid-section, the mid-section having an enlargement for attaching the apparatus to a vehicle by insertion into at least one pre-formed vehicle recess selected from a group consisting essentially of a light assembly recess and an alarm assembly recess, the at least one recess being defined by at least one edge, and the housing being secured within the at least one recess by means for resiliently and cooperatively locking with the at least one edge and the enlargement.

19. An apparatus, as recited in claim 12, further including means for mounting and securing the apparatus to a vehicle trailer hitch receiver.

20. An apparatus, as recited in claim 12, wherein the means for electrically connecting the apparatus with a vehicle wiring harness comprises an electrical connector residing on the housing.