Device used to aid in the loading and unloading of vehicles and implements

• US 7,034,666 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2002
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott William Knutson
• Original Assignee: Scott William Knutson
• Inventors: Knutson, Scott William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/081,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20040004544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/679, 340/684, 340/691.1, 340/691.6, 340/693.1, 340/472, 340/474
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 33/10 Crop collecting devices, with or without weighing apparatus

Abstract

A communication device is provided which is intended to aid farm workers in the coordination of harvesting and hauling vehicles in the field during crop harvesting operations. This communication device consists of a transmitter and receiver which are mounted at convenient points within the harvesting vehicle and produce hauling truck respectively. The receiver contains four lighted directional arrows representing directional changes of forwards, backwards, left, and right. The transmitter contains four buttons that correspond in location and function to the directional arrows on the receiver. Thus, when a button on the transmitter is depressed by the harvester operator, the corresponding directional arrow on the receiver will light up signaling the truck driver to make a change in the position of his truck relative to the harvester.

Claims

1. A device used to aid in the loading and unloading of vehicles or implements said device comprising:

a wireless transmitter unit having an upper surface and a lower surface said upper surface having a forward, a backward, a left and a right directional button, said lower surface having a cavity access door, said wireless transmitter unit further having a transmitter power supply;

a wireless receiver unit having an upper surface and a lower surface said upper surface having a forward, a backward, a left and a right directional indicator, said lower surface having a cavity access door, said wireless receiver unit further having a receiver power supply such that when a directional button on said transmitter is activated the corresponding receiver directional indicator is activated;

a transmitter dip switch for encoding a signal on said transmitter and a receiver dip switch for decoding said signal on said receiver; and

said transmitter and receiver having a maximum effective range of less than 1000 feet so as to limit interference.

2. A device used to aid in the loading and unloading of vehicles or implements as in claim 1 wherein said directional indicators are lights.

3. A device used to aid in the loading and unloading of vehicles or implements as in claim 2 wherein said transmitter power supply and said receiver power supply is a battery contained in said transmitter and said receiver behind said cavity access door.

4. A device used to aid in the loading and unloading of vehicles or implements as in claim 3 wherein said transmitter power supply and said receiver power supply is a cigarette lighter plug for attachment to said vehicle or implement.

5. A device used to aid in the loading and unloading of vehicles or implements said device comprising:

a wireless transmitter unit having an upper surface and a lower surface said upper surface having a forward, a backward, a left and a right directional button, said lower surface having a cavity access door, said wireless transmitter unit further having a transmitter power supply;

a wireless receiver unit having an upper surface and a lower surface said upper surface having a forward, a backward, a left and a right directional indicator, an audible indicator, said lower surface having a cavity access door, said wireless receiver unit further having a receiver power supply such that when a directional button on said transmitter is activated the corresponding receiver directional indicator is activated and said audible indicator is sounded;

a transmitter dip switch for encoding a signal on said transmitter and a receiver dip switch for decoding said signal on said receiver; and

said transmitter and receiver having a maximum effective range of less than 1000 feet so as to limit interference.

6. A device used to aid in the loading and unloading of vehicles or implements as in claim 5 wherein said directional indicators are lights.

7. A device used to aid in the loading and unloading of vehicles or implements as in claim 6 wherein said transmitter power supply and said receiver power supply is a battery contained in said transmitter and said receiver behind said cavity access door.

8. A device used to aid in the loading and unloading of vehicles or implements as in claim 7 wherein said transmitter power supply and said receiver power supply is a cigarette lighter plug for attachment to said vehicle or implement.

9. A device used to aid in the loading and unloading of vehicles or implements said device comprising:

a wireless transmitter unit having an upper surface and a lower surface said upper surface having a forward, a backward, a left and a right directional button, an audible indicator button, said lower surface having a cavity access door, said wireless transmitter unit further having a transmitter power supply;

a wireless receiver unit having an upper surface and a lower surface said upper surface having a forward, a backward, a left and a right directional indicator, an audible indicator, said lower surface having a cavity access door, said wireless receiver unit further having a receiver power supply such that when a directional button on said transmitter is activated the corresponding receiver directional indicator is activated and when said audible indicator button is activated said audible indicator is sounded;

a transmitter dip switch for encoding a signal on said transmitter and a receiver dip switch for decoding said signal on said receiver; and

said transmitter and receiver having a maximum effective range of less than 1000 feet so as to limit interference.

10. A device used to aid in the loading and unloading of vehicles or implements as in claim 9 wherein said directional indicators are lights.

11. A device used to aid in the loading and unloading of vehicles or implements as in claim 10 wherein said transmitter power supply and said receiver power supply is a batter contained in said transmitter and said receiver behind said cavity access door.

12. A device used to aid in the loading and unloading of vehicles or implements as in claim 11 wherein said transmitter power supply and said receiver power supply is a cigarette lighter plug for attachment to said vehicle or implement.

13. A method for telling a driver of a first vehicle how to position said first vehicle by the driver of a second vehicle as said second vehicle unloads its contents into said first vehicle comprising the steps of:

supplying said first vehicle with a wireless receiver unit having an upper surface and a lower surface said upper surface having a forward, a backward, a left and a right directional indicator, said lower surface having a cavity access door, said wireless receiver unit further have a dip switch for decoding a signal;

connecting said wireless receiver to a power supply;

supplying said second vehicle with a wireless transmitter unit having an upper surface and a lower surface said upper surface having a forward, a backward, a left and a right directional button, said lower surface having a cavity access door, said wireless transmitter unit further have a dip switch for encoding a signal;

connecting said wireless transmitter to a power supply;

setting said receiver and said transmitter dip switches to duplicate settings;

activating the appropriate button on said transmitter thereby activating the corresponding directional indicator of said receiver; and

limiting the maximum effective range of said transmitter and said receiver to less than 1000 feet so as to limit interference.

14. A method for telling a driver of a first vehicle how to position said first vehicle by the driver of a second vehicle as said second vehicle unloads its contents into said first vehicle as in claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

supplying said wireless receiver with an audible indicator; and

sounding said audible indicator so as to alert said first driver that a directional indicator is activated and appropriate action is necessary.