Trailer alarm
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A trailer alarm for use with a towing vehicle having one or more vehicle indicator lights comprising:
- an alarm unit coupled to the towing vehicle and disposed in a first electrical circuit through which a light activation signal flows between the vehicle and a trailer, the alarm unit including;
an alarm input configured to accept the light activation signal;
an alarm output configured to output the light activation signal to a corresponding trailer indicator light on the trailer; and
alarm circuitry configured to pass the light activation signal from the alarm input to the alarm output;
detect a presence of the trailer indicator light in the first electrical circuit; and
provide an alert signal when the trailer indicator light is not detected;
an alert mechanism in communication with the alarm circuitry configured to receive the alert signal and provide one or more perceptible alerts in response to the alert signal; and
a sensor disposed within a second electrical circuit through which a sensor detection signal flows between the alarm circuitry and the sensor and wherein the alarm circuitry is configured to detect the presence of the sensor within the second electrical circuit and provide an alert signal when the sensor is not in the circuit.
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Abstract
A trailer/cargo alarm detects the proximity of trailer or cargo attached to a vehicle with an alarm system. If the trailer/cargo is moved out of proximity of the vehicle, the alarm system issues an alert. The proximity of the trailer or cargo may be detected, for example, by detecting the presence of the trailer lighting within the vehicle'"'"'s electrical circuit, by dedicated hardwired sensors, or wireless detection apparatus.
39 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A trailer alarm for use with a towing vehicle having one or more vehicle indicator lights comprising:
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an alarm unit coupled to the towing vehicle and disposed in a first electrical circuit through which a light activation signal flows between the vehicle and a trailer, the alarm unit including; an alarm input configured to accept the light activation signal; an alarm output configured to output the light activation signal to a corresponding trailer indicator light on the trailer; and alarm circuitry configured to pass the light activation signal from the alarm input to the alarm output;
detect a presence of the trailer indicator light in the first electrical circuit; and
provide an alert signal when the trailer indicator light is not detected;an alert mechanism in communication with the alarm circuitry configured to receive the alert signal and provide one or more perceptible alerts in response to the alert signal; and a sensor disposed within a second electrical circuit through which a sensor detection signal flows between the alarm circuitry and the sensor and wherein the alarm circuitry is configured to detect the presence of the sensor within the second electrical circuit and provide an alert signal when the sensor is not in the circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of detecting the proximity of a trailer to a towing vehicle, wherein the trailer includes one or more trailer indicator lights that correspond to the one or more vehicle indicator lights, the method comprising:
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mounting an alarm unit to the towing vehicle wherein the alarm unit includes alarm circuitry that is placed within a first electrical circuit through which light activation signals flow between the vehicle and the trailer; detecting a presence of the trailer indicator lights within the first electrical circuit; and providing an alert signal when the trailer indicator lights are not detected within the first electrical circuit; wherein the step of detecting a presence of the trailer indicator lights is performed by sending a trailer indicator light detection signal through the first electrical circuit and monitoring a response of at least one electrical circuit parameter to the detection signal; further wherein the step of providing an alert signal is performed in response to detection that the trailer indicator lights are not in the first electrical circuit; and further wherein the step of providing an alert signal is delayed such that the signal is not provided until the occurrence of two or more successive detections that the trailer indicator lights are not in the first electrical circuit.
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10. An alarm for use with a vehicle, the alarm comprising:
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a first alarm component mounted to cargo carried by the vehicle; a second alarm component mounted to the vehicle, wherein the first and second alarm components are disposed within a communication circuit covering a predetermined area; detection circuitry that is configured to detect the presence of both the first and second alarm components within the communication circuit and to provide an alert signal when one of the first and second alarm components is not detected; and an alert mechanism in communication with the detection circuitry configured to receive the alert signal and provide one or more perceptible alerts in response to the alert signal; wherein the first alarm component comprises a sensor that includes a circuit completion mechanism that is activated to complete the communication circuit when the sensor is mounted on the cargo and wherein when the sensor is not mounted on the cargo the communication circuit is not completed and wherein when the sensor is mounted on the cargo, the sensor is not electrically connected to the cargo. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification