Vehicle locating apparatus

• US 7,119,679 B1
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eugene F. Crom
• Original Assignee: Eugene F. Crom
• Inventors: Crom, Eugene F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US11/002,040
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.32, 340/539.1, 340/425.5, 340/426.18, 340/426.22, 340/426.23
• US Class Current: 340/539.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/482 for locating vehicle in parking lot

Abstract

A vehicle locating apparatus includes a first housing that is translucent and has an enclosed interior having an aperture therein for receiving a coupler that is adapted for removably attaching the first housing to a vehicle antenna. A light emitter assembly is mounted on the coupler and extends into the first housing. A first control is electrically coupled to the light emitter for selectively turning the light emitter on or off. A second housing is removably attachable to the vehicle. A sound emitter assembly is mounted in the second housing. A second control is electrically coupled to the sound emitter for selectively turning the sound emitter on or off. An actuator is adapted for selectively sending a remote signal to the first control or the second control so that a respective one of the light and sound emitters is turned on.

Claims

1. A vehicle locating apparatus for removably attaching to an antenna of a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

a first housing having an enclosed interior, said first housing having an aperture extending therein, a peripheral flange being attached to said first housing and extending around a peripheral edge of said aperture, said first housing being comprised of a translucent material;

a coupler being adapted for removably attaching said first housing to the antenna, said coupler having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end having a bore extending therein, the antenna being removably extendable into said bore, said upper end of said coupler being removably positioned in and frictionally couplable to said flange, said coupler being comprised of a resiliently elastic material;

a light emitter assembly being mounted on said upper end of said coupler, said light emitter assembly emitting a light when said light emitter assembly is turned on;

a first control being electrically coupled to said light emitter for selectively turning said light emitter on or off;

a second housing being removably attachable to said vehicle;

a sound emitter assembly being mounted in said second housing, said sound emitter assembly emitting a plurality of sounds when said sound emitter assembly is turned on;

a second control being electrically coupled to said sound emitter for selectively turning said sound emitter on or off;

an actuator being adapted for selectively sending a remote signal to said first control or said second control such that a respective one of said light emitter assembly and said sound emitter assembly is turned on.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first housing has a substantially spherical shape.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said coupler has a threaded opening therein extending into said bore, a fastener being removably extendable into said opening and abuttable against said antenna.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light emitter assembly includes a light socket, and a light bulb removably mounted in said socket.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said sound emitter includes a memory storage means for storing a plurality of sounds and a speaker being electrically coupled to said storage means.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

said first control includes;

a first receiver for receiving a wireless first signal from said actuator;

a first processor being electrically coupled to said first receiver and being adapted for receiving a first signal from said first receiver, said first processor being electrically coupled to said light emitter assembly, said first processor turning on said light emitter assembly when said processor receives said first signal from said first receiver;

a first power supply being electrically coupled to said first processor; and

said second control includes;

a second receiver for receiving a wireless second signal from said actuator;

a second processor being electrically coupled to said second receiver and being adapted for receiving a second signal from said second receiver, said second processor being electrically coupled to said sound emitter assembly, said second processor turning on said second emitter assembly when said second processor receives said second signal from said second receiver;

a second power supply being electrically coupled to said second processor.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said actuator includes:

a third processor being adapted for selectively producing said first signal or said second signal;

a transmitter being electrically coupled to said third processor and being adapted for wirelessly transmitting to said first and second receivers a signal produced by said third processor;

a first switch being electrically coupled to said second processor for inducing said third processor to produce said first signal;

a second switch being electrically coupled to said third processor for inducing said third processor to produce said second signal; and

a third power supply being electrically coupled to said third processor.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said first control includes;

a first receiver for receiving a wireless first signal from said actuator;

a first processor being electrically coupled to said first receiver and being adapted for receiving a first signal from said first receiver, said first processor being electrically coupled to said light emitter assembly, said first processor turning on said light emitter assembly when said processor receives said first signal from said first receiver;

a first power supply being electrically coupled to said first processor; and

said second control includes;

a second receiver for receiving a wireless second signal from said actuator;

a second processor being electrically coupled to said second receiver and being adapted for receiving a second signal from said second receiver, said second processor being electrically coupled to said sound emitter assembly, said second processor turning on said second emitter assembly when said second processor receives said second signal from said second receiver;

a second power supply being electrically coupled to said second processor.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said actuator includes:

a third processor being adapted for selectively producing said first signal or said second signal;

a transmitter being electrically coupled to said third processor and being adapted for wirelessly transmitting to said first and second receivers a signal produced by said third processor;

a first switch being electrically coupled to said second processor for inducing said third processor to produce said first signal;

a second switch being electrically coupled to said third processor for inducing said third processor to produce said second signal; and

a third power supply being electrically coupled to said third processor.

10. A vehicle locating apparatus for removably attaching to an antenna of a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

a first housing having an enclosed interior, said first housing having an aperture extending therein, a peripheral flange being attached to said first housing and extending around a peripheral edge of said aperture, said first housing being comprised of a translucent material, said first housing having a substantially spherical shape;

a coupler being adapted for removably attaching said first housing to the antenna, said coupler having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end having a bore extending therein, the antenna being removably extendable into said bore, said coupler having a threaded opening therein extending into said bore, a fastener being removably extendable into said opening and abuttable against said antenna, said upper end of said coupler being removably positioned in and frictionally couplable to said flange, said coupler being comprised of a resiliently elastic material;

a light emitter assembly being mounted on said upper end of said coupler, said light emitter assembly emitting a light when said light emitter assembly is turned on, said light emitter assembly including;

a light socket;

a light bulb removably mounted in said socket;

a first control being electrically coupled to said light emitter for selectively turning said light emitter on or off, said first control including;

a first receiver for receiving a wireless signal;

a first processor being electrically coupled to said first receiver and being adapted for receiving a first signal from said first receiver, said first processor being electrically coupled to said light emitter assembly, said first processor turning on said light emitter assembly when said processor receives said first signal from said first receiver;

a first power supply being electrically coupled to said first processor;

a second housing being removably attachable to said vehicle, a securing member being attached to said second housing, said securing member being adapted for securing said second housing to the vehicle;

a sound emitter assembly being mounted in said second housing, said sound emitter assembly emitting a plurality of sounds when said sound emitter assembly is turned on, said sound emitter including;

a memory storage means for storing a plurality of sounds;

a speaker being electrically coupled to said storage means;

a second control being electrically coupled to said sound emitter for selectively turning said sound emitter on or off, said second control including;

a second receiver for receiving a wireless signal;

a second processor being electrically coupled to said second receiver and being adapted for receiving a second signal from said second receiver, said second processor being electrically coupled to said sound emitter assembly, said second processor turning on said second emitter assembly when said second processor receives said second signal from said second receiver;

a second power supply being electrically coupled to said second processor;

an actuator being adapted for selectively sending a remote signal to said first control or said second control such that a respective one of the light and sound emitters is turned on, said actuator including;

a third processor being adapted for selectively producing said first signal or said second signal;

a transmitter being electrically coupled to said third processor and being adapted for wirelessly transmitting to said first and second receivers a signal produced by said third processor;

a first switch being electrically coupled to said second processor for inducing said third processor to produce said first signal;

a second switch being electrically coupled to said third processor for inducing said third processor to produce said second signal; and

a third power supply being electrically coupled to said third processor.