Direction indicator system

• US 6,992,572 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary Fraser Bevin
• Original Assignee: Gary Fraser Bevin
• Inventors: Lovegrove, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US10/978,159
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 340/321, 340/432, 340/463, 340/468, 340/686.1, 340/686.6, 340/475, 340/476, 362/473, 362/476
• US Class Current: 340/432
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/36 using movable members, e.g. arms with built-in flashing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/055 Electrical means, e.g. lamps

Abstract

A direction indicator system and associated method for cyclists, joggers and other users includes one or more direction indicating elements and a cooperating sensor structured to sense the position of the direction indicating means such that when a direction indicating element is moved out of the sensing zones, the indicator is activated, and when the direction indicating element moves within the sensing zone, it is deactivated. In one embodiment, a pair of indicators is employed and may be used to indicate direction of intended movement of a cyclist.

Claims

1. A direction indicator system including:

(i) a first direction indicating means adapted to be moved to and from a position indicating a first direction of travel;

(ii) a second direction indicating means adapted to be moved to and from a position indicating a second direction of travel, and is able to move independently of the first direction indicating means;

(iii) a sensor adapted to be attached to an object or an user, wherein the sensor is adapted to sense the position of each direction indicating means such that when the direction indicating means are within a sensing zone the direction indicating means are deactivated and when outside the sensing zone the direction indication means are activated; and

further, wherein the first direction indicating means is adapted to be positioned adjacent to a first side of the sensor when within the sensing zone and the second direction indicating means is adapted to be positioned adjacent to a second side of the sensor when in the sensing zone; and

that when the first direction indicating means is moved away from the sensor and out of the sensing zone the first direction indicating means is activated so as to indicate the first direction of travel and when the second indicating means is moved away from the sensor and out of the sensing zone the second direction indicating means is activated so as to indicate the second direction of travel.

2. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second direction indicating means is situated on the opposite side of the sensor to which the first direction indicating means is situated.

3. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second direction indicating means is spaced substantially the same distance as the first direction indicating means is spaced from the sensor when both the first and second direction indicating means are deactivated so that the sensing field within the sensing zone is balanced with respect to both the first and second direction indicating means.

4. The direction indicator system of claim 1 wherein the direction indicating means includes lighting means adapted to be activated when the direction indicating means are moved out of the sensing zone.

5. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lighting means is at least one incandescent lamp or at least one light emitting diode or at least one other suitable lighting means.

6. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lighting means are located on the outer circumference of the first and second direction indicating means.

7. The direction indicator system of claim 1 wherein the direction indicating means are adapted to flash intermittently when activated.

8. The direction indicator system of claim 1 wherein the direction indicating means are adapted to turn off automatically after a pre-determined time period when the direction indicating means are out of the sensing zone.

9. The direction indicator system of claim 1 wherein the direction indicating means includes a sensor responsive means, a power source, circuit means and lighting means.

10. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the direction indicating means is adapted to be worn by or attached to a user.

11. The direction indicator system as claimed claim 10 wherein the direction indicating means is adapted to be worn on or attached to the wrist region of a users arm.

12. The direction indicator system of claim 10 wherein, the first direction indicating means is adapted to be worn or attached to the right wrist of a user and the second direction indicating means is adapted to be worn or attached to the left wrist of the user, wherein, in use, movement of the right arm outwards away from the sensing zone of the sensor activates the first direction indicating means to indicate bearing right and movement of the left arm outwards away from the sensing zone of the sensor activates the second direction indicating means to indicate bearing left.

13. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the first and second direction indicating means are wrist bands or other similar wrist devices.

14. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the power source of both the sensor and direction indicating means are rechargeable.

15. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

16. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the power source is a replaceable battery.

17. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor includes a housing with attachment means so that the housing is adapted to be attached by the attachment means to an object or a user, and further wherein the housing includes sensing means connected to a power source connected together by circuit means.

18. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the sensor is a wireless proximity sensor.

19. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the circuit means includes a printed circuit board.

20. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the printed circuit board is a printed circuitry board.

21. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the sensing means are sensing coils.

22. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the sensor includes two sensing means located in the housing which are spaced apart relative to one another, wherein each sensing means is adapted to sense a respective direction indicating means when said direction indicating means enters the sensing zone of the sensing means.

23. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 17 wherein, the sensor is adapted to be attached to a users apparel.

24. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the power source of both the sensor and direction indicating means are rechargeable.

25. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the direction indicating means are adapted to be attached to and extend over an outer surface of the sleeves of apparel worn by a user.

26. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor has a switch mechanism adapted to allow the direction indicator system to be turned off during daylight hours and turned on during night time hours or when visibility is poor.

27. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 26 wherein the switch mechanism includes a light sensitive means adapted to automatically turn on the direction indicating system when light intensity level falls below a predetermined level.

28. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 27 wherein the sensor includes a headlight that is adapted to be turned on by the switching mechanism when the light sensitive means senses the level of light intensity falling below said predetermined level.

29. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 26 wherein the direction indicating means, in the first instance, are adapted to be powered up, when the sensor is initially switched on, by moving the direction indicating means across the sensor.

30. The direction indicating system as claimed in claim 1, the direction indicating means is adapted to move independently relative to the sensor.

31. The direction indicating system of claim 1, wherein each direction indicating means and sensor are housed in separate housings whereby the direction indicating means housings are adapted to move independently relative to the sensor housing.

32. A direction indicator system including:

(i) two direction indicating means, a first direction indicating means adapted to be situated on a first side of the sensor and a second direction indicating means adapted to be situated on a second side of the sensor such that the first direction indicating means when activated indicates a desired first direction of travel and the second indicating means when activated indicates a second direction of travel; and

(ii) a sensor adapted to sense the position of the direction indicating means, the sensor including a housing with attachment means so that the housing is adapted to be attached by the attachment means to a set of handle bars of a, the housing further including sensing means connected to a power source connected together by circuit means wherein, in use, when the sensor senses the direction indicating means within a sensing zone the direction indicating means is deactivated and when the direction indicating means is moved out of the sensing zone the direction indicating means is activated so as to indicate the desired direction of travel, so that whilst a users hands are on the handle bars, the first and second direction indicating means are deactivated due to the first and second direction indicating means being positioned within the sensing zone of the sensor.

33. A cycle direction indicating system for indicating a direction of travel by a cyclist, the cycle direction indicator system includes:

(i) direction indicating means adapted to be worn or attached to a cyclist;

(ii) a sensor adapted to be mounted to the cycle;

wherein, in use, when the sensor senses the direction indicating means within a sensing zone the direction indicating means are deactivated and when the direction indicating means are moved out of the sensing zone the direction indicating means are activated so as to indicate the cyclists desired turning direction.

34. A method for indicating to oncoming and/or following traffic of a users intended direction of travel, comprising the steps of:

(i) attaching direction indicating means to each arms of a user;

(ii) attaching a sensor to either a user or an object so that the sensor is positioned at a mid point region between each direction indicating means when each direction indicating means are in a deactivated mode;

(iii) moving a users arm away from users body in an outward direction to indicated a desired direction of travel and to cause the direction indicating means attached to said moved arm to move out of the sensing zone of the sensor so that the direction indicating means is activated to indicate desired direction of travel;

(iv) returning said moved arm toward users body so that as the direction indicating means attached to the moved arm enters the sensors sensing zone the direction indicating means is deactivated; and

(v) repeating steps (iii) and (iv) for each change of direction during traveling.

35. A direction indicator system including:

(i) a first direction indicating means adapted to be moved to and from a position indicating a first direction of travel;

(ii) a second direction indicating means adapted to be moved to and from a position indicating a second direction of travel, and is able to move independently of the first direction indicating means;

(iii) a sensor adapted to sense the position of each direction indicating means such that when the direction indicating means are within a sensing zone the direction indicating means are deactivated and when outside the sensing zone the direction indication means are activated; and

further, wherein each direction indicating means is adapted to move independently relative to the sensor such that the first direction indicating means is moveable to a deactivated region within the sensing zone and proximate to a first side of the sensor and such that the first direction indicating means is moveable away from the sensor and out of the sensing zone to a first activated region allowing the first direction indicating means to indicate the first direction of travel, and such that the second direction indicating means is moveable to a deactivated region within the sensing zone and proximate to a second side of the sensor and such that the second direction indicating means is moveable away from the sensor and out of the sensing zone to a second activated region allowing the second direction indicating means to indicate the second direction of travel; and

the sensor includes a housing with attachment means so that the housing is adapted to be attached by the attachment means to an object or a user, and further wherein the housing includes sensing means connected to a power source connected together by circuit means.

36. The direction indicating system of claim 35, wherein each direction indicating means and sensor are housed in separate housings whereby the direction indicating means housings are adapted to move independently relative to the sensor housing.

37. A direction indicator system including:

(i) at least one direction indicating means adapted to be moved to and from a position indicating a desired direction of travel;

(ii) a sensor adapted to be attached to an object or an user, wherein the sensor is adapted to sense the position of the direction indicating means such that when the direction indicating means is within a sensing zone the direction indicating means is deactivated and when outside the sensing zone the direction indication means is activated; and

further, wherein the direction indicating means is adapted to move independently relative to the sensor such that the direction indicating means is moveable to a deactivated region within the sensing zone and proximate to the sensor and such that the direction indicating means is moveable away from the sensor and out of the sensing zone to an activated region allowing the direction indicating means to indicate the desired direction of travel.

38. The direction indicating system as claimed in claim 37, wherein the sensor includes a housing with attachment means so that the housing is adapted to be attached by the attachment means to the object or the user, and further wherein the housing includes sensing means connected to a power source connected together by circuit means.

39. The direction indicating system of claim 37, wherein the direction indicating means and sensor are housed in separate housings whereby the direction indicating means housing is adapted to move independently relative to the sensor housing.