Automobile or vehicle proximity sensor and warning display mounted on outside rear view mirror

• US 10,150,416 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2017
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexilex 770, LLC
• Original Assignee: Alexilex 770, LLC
• Inventors: Masckauchan, Alejandro
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US15/601,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20180272947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 340903, 340904
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0076 Switches therefor B60Q1/1446, B60Q1/343, B60Q1/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2615 mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/078 easily removable; mounted for bodily outward movement, e.g. when towing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots

Abstract

The automobile proximity sensor and warning display is mounted on an outside rear view mirror of a vehicle. A flat base plate, adhered to the outside mirror, coacts with a removable body on a front side of the base. The battery powered system includes a proximity detector, responsive to approaching vehicles, generating an alarm signal sent to a lighted display. The body may have a removable mirror. The body may be coupled to the base by complementary coupling sub-systems or an insertable body portion coacting with a shelf on the base wherein a depressible tab is sized to fit within a shelf orifice. As a power saver, an accelerometer detects motion and a timeout circuit turns OFF system power when no motion is detected for a predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. An automobile or vehicle proximity sensor and warning display adapted to be mounted on an outside rear view mirror of a vehicle comprising:

a substantially flat plate planar base having an adhesive layer on a rear side of said base whereby said base is adapted to be attached to said outside rear view mirror;

a body removably mounted on a front side of said base;

a battery disposed in a cavity in either said base or said body, said battery adapted to be removed from said cavity by removing said body from said base;

an automobile proximity detector disposed in said body and powered by said battery, said proximity detector adapted to respond to an approaching vehicle and generate an alarm signal; and

a light generating display powered by said battery, coupled to said proximity detector, which is illuminated in the presence of said alarm signal;

including a means for removable attachment between said body and said base.

2. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body has an outboard facing mirrored surface.

3. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 1 including a rotating platform on said outboard facing surface, said platform having said mirrored surface is which adapted to rotate.

4. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for removable attachment is an attachment from the group of attachments including a hook and loop attachment;

a magnetic attachment;

a snap attachment;

a tongue and groove attachment;

a flat head pin and channel attachment; and

a threaded attachment.

5. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body has a substantially flat outboard facing surface upon which is mounted a removable mirror, said removable mirror is a mirror from the group of mirrors including a mirror having a substantially flat mirrored surface;

a mirror having a fully convex mirrored surface;

a mirror having a fully concave mirrored surface;

a mirror having a convex mirrored surface formed atop a flat mirrored surface; and

a mirror having a convex mirrored surface formed atop a flat mirrored surface.

6. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display is located in either said base or said body.

7. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 1 including a solar panel on an outboard surface of either said body or said base coupled to said battery and adapted to recharge said battery.

8. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 1 including an accelerometer powered by said battery generating a motion signal, a timer coupled to said accelerometer which generates a time-out signal after a predetermined period of time, and a system power switch coupled to and interposed between said battery and said proximity detector, said system power switch coupled to said timer and turned OFF in the presence of said time-out signal.

9. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

a shelf rising above a portion of said substantially flat plate planar base and forming sleeve opening between said substantially flat plate planar base and said shelf;

said shelf having an orifice thereon;

said body having an insertion section adapted to be inserted into said sleeve opening; and

said insertion section having a depressible tab sized to fit within and extend through said shelf orifice;

whereby said body is removably mounted onto said base by insertion of said insertion section into said sleeve opening and is locking onto said base by coaction of said depressible tab in said shelf orifice and is removable by depression of the tab and withdrawal of the insertion section from the sleeve opening.

10. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 9 wherein said body has a substantially flat outboard facing surface beyond said insertion section and said body has one of (a) an outboard facing mirrored surface beyond said insertion section;

(b) a rotating platform on said outboard facing surface, said platform having said mirrored surface is which adapted to rotate;

CD a removably mounted mirror, wherein said removable mirror is one mirror from the group of mirrors including a mirror having a substantially flat mirrored surface, a mirror having a fully convex mirrored surface;

a mirror having a fully concave mirrored surface;

a mirror having a convex mirrored surface formed atop a flat mirrored surface; and

a mirror having a convex mirrored surface formed atop a flat mirrored surface.

11. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 10 wherein said display is located in either said base or said body and including an accelerometer powered by said battery generating a motion signal, a timer coupled to said accelerometer which generates a time-out signal after a predetermined period of time, and a system power switch coupled to and interposed between said battery and said proximity detector, said system power switch coupled to said timer and turned OFF in the presence of said time-out signal.

12. An automobile or vehicle proximity sensor and warning display adapted to be mounted on an outside rear view mirror of a vehicle comprising:

a substantially flat plate planar base having an adhesive layer on a rear side of said base whereby said base is adapted to be attached to said outside rear view mirror;

a body removably mounted on a front side of said base;

a battery disposed in a cavity in either said base or said body, said battery adapted to be removed from said cavity by removing said body from said base;

an automobile proximity detector disposed in said base and powered by said battery, said proximity detector adapted to respond to an approaching vehicle and generate an alarm signal; and

a light generating display powered by said battery, coupled to said proximity detector, which is illuminated in the presence of said alarm signal;

a shelf rising above a portion of said substantially flat plate planar base and forming sleeve opening between said substantially flat plate planar base and said shelf;

said shelf having an orifice thereon;

said body having an insertion section adapted to be inserted into said sleeve opening; and

said insertion section having a depressible tab sized to fit within and extend through said shelf orifice;

whereby said body is removably mounted onto said base by insertion of said insertion section into said sleeve opening and is locking onto said base by coaction of said depressible tab in said shelf orifice and is removable by depression of the tab and withdrawal of the insertion section from the sleeve opening.

13. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 12 wherein said body has a substantially flat outboard facing surface beyond said insertion section and said body has one of (a) an outboard facing mirrored surface beyond said insertion section;

(b) a rotating platform on said outboard facing surface, said platform having said mirrored surface is which adapted to rotate;

(c) a removably mounted mirror, wherein said removable mirror is one mirror from the group of mirrors including a mirror having a substantially flat mirrored surface, a mirror having a fully convex mirrored surface;

a mirror having a fully concave mirrored surface;

a mirror having a convex mirrored surface formed atop a flat mirrored surface; and

a mirror having a convex mirrored surface formed atop a flat mirrored surface.

14. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 13 wherein said display is located in either said base or said body and including an accelerometer powered by said battery generating a motion signal, a timer coupled to said accelerometer which generates a time-out signal after a predetermined period of time, and a system power switch coupled to and interposed between said battery and said proximity detector, said system power switch coupled to said timer and turned OFF in the presence of said time-out signal.

15. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 12 wherein said display is located in either said base or said body and including an accelerometer powered by said battery generating a motion signal, a timer coupled to said accelerometer which generates a time-out signal after a predetermined period of time, and a system power switch coupled to and interposed between said battery and said proximity detector, said system power switch coupled to said timer and turned OFF in the presence of said time-out signal.

16. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 14 including a coupler permitting attachment and detachment between said body and said base, said coupler being one from the group of couplers including hook and loop complementary couplers;

a magnetic complementary couplers;

a snap system;

tongue and groove complementary couplers;

a flat head pin coacting with a channel coupler; and

threaded complementary couplers.

17. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 16 including a solar panel on an outboard surface of either said body or said base coupled to said battery and adapted to recharge said battery.

18. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 17 including a manual ON-OFF switch coupled to the battery power, said switch activated by said depressible tab.

19. A proximity sensor as claimed in claim 12 including an accelerometer powered by said battery generating a motion signal, a timer coupled to said accelerometer which generates a time-out signal after a predetermined period of time, and a system power switch coupled to and interposed between said battery and said proximity detector, said system power switch coupled to said timer and turned OFF in the presence of said time-out signal.

20. An automobile or vehicle proximity sensor and warning display adapted to be mounted on an outside rear view mirror of a vehicle comprising:

a substantially flat plate planar base having an adhesive layer on a rear side of said base whereby said base is adapted to be attached to said outside rear view mirror;

a body removably mounted on a front side of said base;

a battery disposed in a cavity in either said base or said body, said battery adapted to be removed from said cavity by removing said body from said base;

an automobile proximity detector disposed in said body and powered by said battery, said proximity detector adapted to respond to an approaching vehicle and generate an alarm signal; and

a light generating display powered by said battery, coupled to said proximity detector, which is illuminated in the presence of said alarm signal;

including a rotating platform on said outboard facing surface, said platform having said mirrored surface is which adapted to rotate.

21. An automobile or vehicle proximity sensor and warning display adapted to be mounted on an outside rear view mirror of a vehicle comprising:

a substantially flat plate planar base having an adhesive layer on a rear side of said base whereby said base is adapted to be attached to said outside rear view mirror;

a body removably mounted on a front side of said base;

a battery disposed in a cavity in either said base or said body, said battery adapted to be removed from said cavity by removing said body from said base;

an automobile proximity detector disposed in said body and powered by said battery, said proximity detector adapted to respond to an approaching vehicle and generate an alarm signal; and

a light generating display powered by said battery, coupled to said proximity detector, which is illuminated in the presence of said alarm signal;

including an accelerometer powered by said battery generating a motion signal, a timer coupled to said accelerometer which generates a time-out signal after a predetermined period of time, and a system power switch coupled to and interposed between said battery and said proximity detector, said system power switch coupled to said timer and turned OFF in the presence of said time-out signal.

22. An automobile or vehicle proximity sensor and warning display adapted to be mounted on an outside rear view mirror of a vehicle comprising:

a substantially flat plate planar base having an adhesive layer on a rear side of said base whereby said base is adapted to be attached to said outside rear view mirror;

a body removably mounted on a front side of said base;

a battery disposed in a cavity in either said base or said body, said battery adapted to be removed from said cavity by removing said body from said base;

an automobile proximity detector disposed in said body and powered by said battery, said proximity detector adapted to respond to an approaching vehicle and generate an alarm signal; and

a light generating display powered by said battery, coupled to said proximity detector, which is illuminated in the presence of said alarm signal;

a shelf rising above a portion of said substantially flat plate planar base and forming sleeve opening between said substantially flat plate planar base and said shelf;

said shelf having an orifice thereon;

said body having an insertion section adapted to be inserted into said sleeve opening; and

said insertion section having a depressible tab sized to fit within and extend through said shelf orifice;

whereby said body is removably mounted onto said base by insertion of said insertion section into said sleeve opening and is locking onto said base by coaction of said depressible tab in said shelf orifice and is removable by depression of the tab and withdrawal of the insertion section from the sleeve opening.