Hazard alert system

• US 9,840,190 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barbara Brady
• Original Assignee: Barbara Brady
• Inventors: Brady, Barbara
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/927,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20170120806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 340468, 340435, 340471, 340463, 340470, 340472, 340473, 340469, 3404255, 3403844
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/324 for signalling that a door is open or intended to be opened

Abstract

A hazard alert system includes a vehicle that has a back side and at least one door that is hingedly coupled to the vehicle. The at least one door is positionable in an open position having the at least one door extending outwardly from the vehicle. An alert is coupled to the at least one door. The alert issues a visual alert when the at least one door is in the open position. Thus, oncoming traffic is alerted to avoid the at least one door.

Claims

1. A hazard alert system comprising:

a vehicle having a back side and at least one door being hingedly coupled to said vehicle, said at least one door being positionable in an open position having said at least one door extending outwardly from said vehicle, said door having an inner surface and an outer edge; and

an alert being coupled directly to said at least one door wherein said alert is configured to issue a visual alert when said at least one door is in said open position, said alert comprising

a panel having a first surface and a second surface, and

an adhesive layer being coupled to said first surface, said adhesive layer completely covering said first surface, said adhesive layer adhesively engaging said inner surface such that said panel is retained on said at least one door, said panel being positioned in spaced relationship adjacent to said outer edge, said panel extending between a bottom edge proximate a bottom of said at least one door to a top edge positioned proximate to a bottom edge of a window in said at least one door, said second surface facing said back side of said vehicle when said at least one door is positioned in said open position wherein said panel is configured to be visible to the oncoming traffic.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle includes an inner surface, an outer edge and at least one door switch, said at least one door switch being operationally coupled to said at least one door such that said at least one door switch detects when said at least one door is positioned in said open position.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of light emitters, each of said light emitters being coupled to said second surface wherein each of said light emitters is configured to be visible to the oncoming traffic when said at least one door is positioned in said open position, said light emitters being spaced apart from each other and distributed along said panel.

4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising a reflective layer being coupled to said second surface wherein said reflective layer is configured to enhance visibility of said panel with respect to the oncoming traffic when said at least one door is positioned in said open position, each of said light emitters extending through said reflective layer, said reflective layer completely covering said second surface.

5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising:

at least one door switch; and

a power supply being coupled to said panel, said power supply being electrically coupled between each of said light emitters and said at least one door switch, said power supply turning on each of said light emitters when said at least one door switch detects said at least one door is positioned in said open position.

6. A hazard alert system comprising:

a vehicle having a back side and at least one door being hingedly coupled to said vehicle, said at least one door having an inner surface and an outer edge, said at least one door being positionable in an open position having said at least one door extending outwardly from said vehicle, said vehicle including at least one door switch, said at least one door switch being operationally coupled to said at least one door such that said at least one door switch detects when said at least one door is positioned in said open position; and

an alert being coupled to said at least one door, said alert being positioned on said inner surface wherein said alert is configured to issue a visual alert when said at least one door is in said open position thereby facilitating oncoming traffic to avoid said at least one door, said alert comprising;

a panel having a first surface and a second surface,

an adhesive layer being coupled to said first surface, said adhesive layer completely covering said first surface, said adhesive layer adhesively engaging said inner surface such that said panel is retained on said at least one door, said panel being positioned in spaced relationship adjacent to said outer edge, said panel extending between a bottom edge proximate a bottom of said at least one door to a top edge positioned proximate to a bottom edge of a window in said at least one door, said second surface facing said back side of said vehicle when said at least one door is positioned in said open position wherein said panel is configured to be visible to the oncoming traffic,

a plurality of light emitters, each of said light emitters being coupled to said second surface wherein each of said light emitters is configured to be visible to the oncoming traffic when said at least one door is positioned in said open position, said light emitters being spaced apart from each other and distributed along said panel,

a reflective layer being coupled to said second surface wherein said reflective layer is configured to enhance visibility of said panel with respect to the oncoming traffic when said door is positioned in said open position, each of said light emitters extending through said reflective layer, said reflective layer completely covering said second surface, and

a power supply being coupled to said panel, said power supply being electrically coupled between each of said light emitters and said at least one door switch, said power supply turning on each of said light emitters when said at least one door switch detects said at least one door is positioned in said open position.