Maintenance reminder

• US 5,705,977 A
• Filed: 07/20/1995
• Issued: 01/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James L. Jones
• Original Assignee: James L. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US08/504,821
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457.2, 340/438, 340/439, 340/457.4, 340/457, 340/945, 364/424.04, 364/424.03, 116/299
• US Class Current: 340/457.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling

Abstract

A maintenance scheduling device having a face plate with a front surface providing a plurality of aligned maintenance item description labels, a plurality of recommended interval description labels, a plurality of aligned numeral wheel assemblies for displaying last service maintenance and a plurality of aligned numeral wheel assemblies for displaying next service maintenance. The device may also include a programmable electrical signal processor interconnected with a power source, an odometer of the vehicle, and a memory device containing recommended maintenance mileage information for each maintenance item, the processor serving to signal a user when a recommended service interval has elapsed on the actual mileage recorded on the odometer. The device opens to reveal a set of maintenance guide charts for the vehicle of choice.

Claims

1. A maintenance scheduling device comprising:

a vertically oriented face plate having a front surface, the surface providing a plurality of aligned first marks for receiving maintenance item description labels, the surface further providing a plurality of aligned second marks for receiving recommended maintenance interval description labels, the face plate mounting a plurality of lamps and a plurality of reset switches, each one of the first marks being aligned with one of the second marks, and with one each of the lamps and reset switches;

a programmable electrical signal processor interconnected with a memory device, the memory device storing recommended maintenance mileage interval information corresponding to each of the recommended maintenance interval description labels, the signal processor further electrically interconnected with a power source, an odometer of a vehicle, and with the lamps and the switches, the processor enabling the lighting of each of the lamps when the corresponding maintenance item is due in accordance with the mileage interval information and the actual mileage information, each of the reset switches disabling each of the lit lamps respectively;

the device further including a side wall integral with an exterior peripheral edge of the face plate and extending rearwardly therefrom and a rear plate hingably fastened to the side wall, the rear plate positionable in a closed orientation enclosing the side wall and face plate so as to form a space therebetween, and further positionable in an open orientation exposing the space, and a plurality of flat maintenance cards enclosed within the space and a means for supporting the maintenance cards comprising a pair of hooks positioned in spaced apart relationship on the sidewall, the cards each providing a pair of holes in spaced alignment corresponding to the hooks so that the cards are pivotally movable on the hooks to reveal either of the sides of each of the cards while maintaining the cards in an ordered sequence.

2. The device of claim 1 further including a datachable clear cover positioned over the front surface of the face plate.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the clear cover is hingably fastened to the face plate so that the cover may be moved to a position for exposing the front surface of the face plate for access to the reset switches.

4. The device of claim 1 further including a side wall integral with an exterior peripheral edge of the face plate and extending rearwardly therefrom.

5. The device of claim 4 further including a rear plate hingably fastened to the side wall, the rear plate positionable in a closed orientation enclosing the side wall and face plate so as to form a space therebetween, and further positionable in an open orientation exposing the space.

6. The device of claim 5 further including a plurality of flat maintenance cards enclosed within the space.

7. The device of claim 6 further including a means for supporting the maintenance cards so that the cards may be turned over for viewing both sides of the cards.

8. The device of claim 6 further including a mirrored surface on the rear plate.

9. The device of claim 1 further including a means for attachment of the device to a visor of a vehicle.