Direction indicator system
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
39 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (36)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
-
Specification