Parking area level indication device

• US 7,370,428 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Camco Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: B&D Manufacturing, Inc.
• Inventors: Decker, Daniel L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): BENNETT, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US11/422,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20070245579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 333/661.1, 333/661.2, 333/661.3, 333/90, 735/140.1, 340/545.5, 340/689, 340/669, 340/671
• US Class Current: 33/366.11
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/06 Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means

Abstract

A potential parking area level indicator is provided that includes a centralized hub with a plurality of arms depending therefrom. Preferably, four arms are provided that are spaced 90 degrees from each other thereby defining two sets of opposing arms. In operation, a driver of an RV would locate the level indicator on a potential parking area thereby placing the arms onto the potential parking surface. If the line defined by a pair of opposed arms is placed on a generally level area, indicator lights will illuminate indicating that fact. If, however, the line defined by opposing arms is placed on a grade that is not acceptable for parking, the indicator lights will not illuminate showing that the potential parking area is unsafe for parking. Proper illumination of the lights is driven by accelerometers incorporated into the arms of the level indicator.

Claims

1. A parking area level indicating device, comprising:

a centralized hub;

at least two pairs of arms depending from the hub;

an indicator light associated with each of the at least two pairs of arms, the indicator light being in communication with an acceleration measuring device, and

wherein when the acceleration measuring device measures a first acceleration the indicator light is illuminated and when the acceleration measuring device measures a second acceleration the indicator light is not illuminated thereby indicating at least one of an acceptable parking space and a non-acceptable parking space.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the indicator light is comprised of at least one of a light emitting diode and a bulb.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising an on/off device that directs electricity to at least one of the acceleration measuring device and to the indicator light.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the source of the electricity is at least one battery.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the acceleration device is a MEMS accelerometer.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the acceleration measuring device is a decelerometer.

7. The device of claim 1, the at least two pairs of arms comprising a first arm, a second arm, a third arm and a fourth arm that depend from the hub, each associated with an acceleration measuring device and an indicator light, and wherein the third arm is positioned opposite from the first arm and the second arm is positioned opposite from the fourth arm.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the arms and the hub are defined by an upper housing and a lower housing, the lower housing having a cover that provides access to at least one battery.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the parking level indicator is remotely controlled.

10. The device of claim 1, further including a remote control and display device for communication with the acceleration measuring device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the indicator light is incorporated into the arm.

12. A parking area level indicating device, comprising:

a centralized hub;

at least two pairs of arms depending from the hub;

a level indicator means associated with each of the at least two pairs of arms, the level indicator area being in communication to an acceleration measuring means, and

wherein when the acceleration measuring means measures a first acceleration the level indicator means is illuminated and when the acceleration measuring means measures a second acceleration the level indicator means is not illuminated thereby indicating at least one of an acceptable parking position and a non-acceptable parking position.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the level indicator means is comprised of at least one of a light emitting diode and a bulb.

14. The device of claim 12, further comprising an on/off switch that directs electricity to the acceleration measuring means and to the level means.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the source of the electricity is a battery.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the acceleration means is a MEMS accelerometer.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the acceleration measuring means is a decelerometer.

18. The device of claim 12, the at least two pairs of arms comprising a first arm, a second arm, a third arm and a fourth arm that depend from the hub, each associated with an acceleration measuring means and a level indicator means, and wherein the third arm is positioned opposite from the first arm and the second arm is positioned opposite from the fourth arm.

19. The device of claim 12, further comprising a sound emission means incorporation into the hub that is in communication with the acceleration measuring means.

20. A method of assessing the grade of a potential parking area comprising:

identifying a potential parking area;

placing an autonomous, transportable level indication device on the potential parking area; and

assessing information related to the level of the potential parking area.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the placing further comprises:

energizing pads of the level indication device onto a portion of the potential parking area.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising sensing gravitational pull with an accelerometer.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising indicating to an operator of the leveling device that the potential parking area is at least one of acceptable and not acceptable.

24. A parking position level indicating device, comprising:

a centralized hub;

at least two pairs of arms depending from the hub;

an indicator light associated with each of the at least two pairs of arms, the indicator light being in communication with an acceleration measuring device, and

wherein when the acceleration measuring device measures a first acceleration the indicator light flashes a first color at a predetermined rate and when the acceleration measuring device measures a second acceleration the indicator light is illuminated a second color thereby indicating at least one of an acceptable parking position.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the indicator light flashes at a second predetermined rate that is slower than the predetermined rate when the acceleration measuring device measures an acceleration that is between the first acceleration and the second acceleration.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein the indicator light is comprised of at least one of a light emitting diode and a bulb.

27. The device of claim 24, further comprising an on/off device that directs electricity to at least one of the acceleration measuring device and to the indicator light.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the source of the electricity is at least one battery.

29. The device of claim 24, wherein the acceleration device is a MEMS accelerometer.

30. The device of claim 24, wherein the acceleration measuring device is a decelerometer.

31. The device of claim 24, the at least two pairs of arms comprising a first arm, a second arm, a third arm and a fourth arm that depend from the hub, each associated with an acceleration measuring device and an indicator light, and wherein the third arm is positioned opposite from the first arm and the second arm is positioned opposite from the fourth arm.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the arms and the hub are defined by an upper housing and a lower housing, the lower housing having a cover that provides access to at least one battery.

33. The device of claim 24, wherein the parking level indicator is remotely controlled.

34. The device of claim 24, further including a remote control and display device for communication with the acceleration measuring device.

35. The device of claim 24, wherein the indicator light is incorporated into the arm.