Vehicle load warning system
First Claim
1. A vehicle and load warning system, comprising:
- a vehicle having a load-support portion adapted to receive a load thereon, a frame coupled to the load-support portion, and a vehicle-support portion coupled to the frame, the frame being movable relative to the vehicle-support portion;
an engagement portion movable with one of the vehicle-support portion or the frame;
a load indicator coupled to another one of the vehicle-support portion or the frame, the load indicator spaced apart from the engagement portion when in a first position and configured to move to a second position and engage the engagement portion when the frame moves a selected distance relative to the vehicle-support portion in response to the load being applied to the load-support portion, the load indicator having a sensor assembly and a trigger coupled to the sensor assembly, the trigger being resiliently bendable against the engagement portion after the load indicator is moved to the second position; and
a warning indicator coupled to the load indicator and configured to provide a warning to a user in response to the load indicator moving to the second position.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A load warning system for use with a vehicle having a load-support portion, a frame, and a vehicle-support portion movably coupled to the frame. The system has an engagement portion mountable to the vehicle-support portion or the frame and is movable therewith as a unit. A load indicator is mountable to the other one of the vehicle-support portion or the frame, and is spaced apart from the engagement portion when in a first position. The load indicator moves to a second position and engages the engagement portion when the frame moves a selected distance in response to the load applied to the load-support portion. The load indicator provides a signal upon being moved to the second position. A warning indicator is coupled to the load indicator and provides an improper load warning to a user in response to the signal from the load indicator.
51 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A vehicle and load warning system, comprising:
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a vehicle having a load-support portion adapted to receive a load thereon, a frame coupled to the load-support portion, and a vehicle-support portion coupled to the frame, the frame being movable relative to the vehicle-support portion; an engagement portion movable with one of the vehicle-support portion or the frame; a load indicator coupled to another one of the vehicle-support portion or the frame, the load indicator spaced apart from the engagement portion when in a first position and configured to move to a second position and engage the engagement portion when the frame moves a selected distance relative to the vehicle-support portion in response to the load being applied to the load-support portion, the load indicator having a sensor assembly and a trigger coupled to the sensor assembly, the trigger being resiliently bendable against the engagement portion after the load indicator is moved to the second position; and a warning indicator coupled to the load indicator and configured to provide a warning to a user in response to the load indicator moving to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A vehicle and load warning system, comprising:
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a vehicle having a load-support portion adapted to receive a load thereon, a frame coupled to the support portion, and a vehicle-support portion coupled to the frame, the frame being vertically movable relative to the vehicle support portion and being rotatable about a point of rotation relative to the vehicle support portion; an engagement portion movable with one of the vehicle-support portion or the frame; a load indicator coupled to another one of the vehicle-support portion or the frame, the load indicator spaced apart from the engagement portion when in a first position and configured to move to a second position and engage the engagement portion when the frame moves vertically and rotationally a selected distance relative to the vehicle-support portion in response to the load being applied to the load-support portion, the load indicator having a sensor assembly and a trigger member coupled to the sensor assembly, the sensor assembly is spaced laterally apart from the engagement portion so as to be out of vertical alignment with the engagement portion, at least a portion of the trigger member is in vertical alignment with the engagement portion and being directly engagable with the engagement portion; and a warning indicator coupled to the load indicator and configured to provide a warning to a user in response to the load indicator moving to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A vehicle and load warning system, comprising:
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a vehicle having a load-support portion adapted to receive a load thereon, a frame coupled to the support portion, and a vehicle-support portion coupled to the frame, the frame being movable relative to the vehicle support portion; an engagement portion movable with one of the vehicle-support portion or the frame; a load indicator coupled to another one of the vehicle-support portion or the frame, the load indicator spaced apart from the engagement portion when in a first position and configured to move to a second position and engage the engagement portion when the load applied to the load-support portion exceeds a first maximum load, and the load indicator is configured to rotate and move vertically relative to the another one of the vehicle support or the frame to the second position and engage the engagement portion substantially along a point contact when the load applied to the load-support portion exceeds a second maximum load less than the first maximum load and the load is positioned rearward of the at least one of the load indicator and the engagement portion; and a warning indicator coupled to the load indicator and configured to provide a warning to a user in response to the load indicator moving to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A load warning system for use with a vehicle having a load-support portion adapted to receive a load thereon, a frame coupled to the load-support portion, and a vehicle-support portion movably coupled to the frame, comprising:
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an engagement portion mountable to one of the vehicle-support portion or the frame and being movable with the one of the vehicle-support portion or the frame as a unit; a load indicator mountable to another one of the vehicle-support portion or the frame, the load indicator spaced apart from the engagement portion when in a first position and configured to move to a second position and engage the engagement portion when the frame moves a selected distance relative to the vehicle-support portion in response to the load being applied to the load-support portion, the load support portion having a switch assembly and a trigger coupled to the switch assembly, the trigger being resiliently bendable against the engagement member after the load indicator is moved to the second position; and a warning indicator coupled to the load indicator and configured to provide an overload warning in response to the load indicator moving to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A load warning system for use with a vehicle having a load-support portion adapted to receive a load thereon, the vehicle having a first portion coupled to the load-support portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion upon application of a selected load on the load-support portion, comprising:
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an engagement portion movable with the one of the vehicle-support portion or the frame; a load indicator coupled to another one of the vehicle-support portion or the frame, the load indicator spaced apart from the engagement portion when in a first position and configured to move to a second position and engage the engagement portion when the load applied to the load-support portion exceeds a first maximum load, and the load indicator is configured to rotate and move vertically relative to the another one of the vehicle support or the frame to the second position and engage the engagement portion substantially along a point contact when the load applied to the load-support portion exceeds a second maximum load less than the first maximum load and the load is positioned rearward of the at least one of the load indicator and the engagement portion; and a warning indicator coupled to the load indicator and configured to provide a warning to a user in response to the load indicator moving to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A vehicle and overload warning system, comprising:
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a vehicle having a power source, an electrical control with a starter relay, a load-support portion adapted to receive a load thereon, a first portion coupled to the support portion, and a second portion movable relative to the first portion upon application of the load on the load-support portion; an engagement portion connected to one of the first or second portions; a load indicator coupled to the power source and connected to another one of the first or second portions, the load indicator spaced apart from the engagement portion and in a first position when the load on the load-support portion is less than a maximum load, and the load indicator being configured to engage the engagement portion and to move to a second position when the load on the load-support portion is greater than the maximum load, the load indicator drawing power from the power source when in the second position and drawing no power from the power source when in the first position; a warning indicator coupled to the load indicator and configured to provide a warning to a user in response to the load indicator moving to the second position; and a relay assembly coupled to the load indicator and to the starter relay;
the relay assembly being configured to allow for generation of the warning when the vehicle is in a park or neutral gear condition. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52)
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Specification