Fuel saving signaling apparatus for a motor vehicle

• US 4,178,580 A
• Filed: 03/12/1979
• Issued: 12/11/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bruce E. Schreiner, SOMMERS, STEVEN F., FIFTY-FIVE PERCENT (55%)
• Original Assignee: Anthony E. Dombrowski
• Inventors: Dombrowski, Anthony E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US06/019,504
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 D, 340/52 R, 340/53, 340/56, 307/10 R, 180/103
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0236 for economical driving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A fuel saving signaling apparatus for a motor vehicle is described including a buzzer and indicator light mounted on the dash of the vehicle. The buzzer and indicator light are operatively connected to a time delay relay which is series connected to a microswitch and the vehicle ignition. The microswitch is normally closed so that current will be supplied to the time delay relay when the vehicle ignition is on so that the buzzer and indicator light will be energized after the vehicle has been idling for a predetermined period of time. The microswitch is positioned adjacent a rotatable element such as the vehicle speedometer cable or the like whereby rotation of the speedometer cable, as the vehicle is being driven, will cause the microswitch to be moved from its closed position to its open position thereby preventing as the vehicle is brought to a halt, the microswitch closes soon as the vehicle is brought to a halt, the microswitch closes and the time delay is activated so that the indicator light and buzzer will be energized after the predetermined period of time has elapsed. A second time delay relay is also provided and is connected to the first time delay relay and is adapted to energized the vehicle horn after a predetermined length of time has elapsed after the signal light and buzzer have been energized.

Claims

1. A fuel saving signaling apparatus for a motor vehicle including an ignition system, a source of electrical energy, a motor and a rotatable means which is rotated when the vehicle is driven, comprising,

a normally closed switch means operatively electrically connected to the ignition system and source of electrical energy,

a signaling means,

a first electrical time delay means series connected to said switch means and said signaling means and imposed therebetween,

said first time delay means energizing said signaling means after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after said first time delay means has been energized by said switch means,

said switch means being positioned adjacent said rotatable means and being operatively connected thereto so that said rotatable means will cause said switch means to move from its closed position to its open position when said vehicle is being driven thereby preventing the energization of said signaling means while said vehicle is being driven but permitting said switch means to move to its closed position when the movement of the vehicle has been halted thereby energizing said first time delay means so that the signaling means will be energized when the motor vehicle has been idling for a predetermined length of time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signaling means comprises a visual signal means and an audio signal means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said vehicle also has a horn mounted thereon and wherein a second time delay means is electrically connected to said horn and said first time delay means for energizing said horn after a predetermined length of time has passed after said visual and audio signal means have been actuated.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first and second time delay means each comprise a time delay relay.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotatable means comprises a speedometer cable.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises a microswitch including a switch arm, said rotatable means comprising a speedometer cable, and means operatively connected to said speedometer cable which engages said switch arm, to move said microswitch to its open position, when said speedometer cable is being rotated.

7. A fuel saving signaling apparatus for a motor vehicle including an ignition system, a source of electrical energy, a transmission and a shift lever operatively connected to said transmission;

said shift lever being movable between neutral, forward and reverse gears, comprising,

a normally closed switch means operatively electrically connected to the ignition system and source of electrical energy,

a signaling means,

a first electrical time delay means series connected to said switch means and said signaling means and imposed therebetween,

said first time delay means energizing said signaling means after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after said first time delay means has been energized by said switch means,

said switch means being positioned adjacent said shift lever so that said shift lever will cause said switch means to move from its closed position to its open position when said shift lever is moved from its said neutral gear to either said forward or reverse gears thereby preventing the energization of said signaling means while said shift lever is in forward or reverse gears but permitting said switch means to move to its closed position when said shift lever is in its neutral position so that the signaling means will be energized when the motor vehicle has been idling in said neutral gear for a predetermined length of time.