Blind spot alert apparatus

• US 8,072,351 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2009
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charlie A. Absher II
• Original Assignee: Charlie A. Absher II
• Inventors: Absher, Charlie A. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl
• Application Number:
  US12/506,941
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/436, 340/937, 340/475, 340/933, 340/905, 348/148, 348/143
• US Class Current: 340/904
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

The blind spot alert apparatus provides a pair of identical sensors for fit to opposite rear quadrants of a vehicle. Each sensor senses a presence or lack thereof of an obstacle proximal to either rear quadrant of the vehicle. Sensors signal the driver via instrument panel chime and buzzer and also via the “WARNING” and “OK” indicia in each side of the instrument panel. Signaling occurs only with a turn signal initiation. Blind spot related accidents are thereby avoided.

Claims

1. A blind spot alert apparatus, comprising, in combination:

a pair of identical sensors comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, each sensor having a front spaced apart from a back, a top spaced apart from a bottom, the first sensor mounted in a left rear quadrant area of a vehicle, the second sensor mounted in a right rear quadrant area of the vehicle, the front of each sensor disposed outwardly;

a pair of displays fitted within an existing instrument panel of the vehicle, the displays comprising a left display in a left side of the instrument panel, a right display in a right side of the instrument panel;

a chime fitted within the vehicle;

a beeper fitted within the vehicle;

the left display consisting of a red WARNING indicia, a green OK indicia, and a left arrow;

the right display consisting of a red WARNING indicia, a green OK indicia, and a right arrow;

each sensor and each display in communication with an existing CPU, a turn signal switch, and a speedometer of the vehicle, the chime, and the beeper;

wherein an initiation of a left turn from the turn signal switch and an absence of an obstacle proximal to the left rear quadrant area of the vehicle results in a lighting of the left display green OK indicia, the left arrow, and a ringing of the chime, a presence of an obstacle proximal to the left rear quadrant area of the vehicle results in a lighting of the left display red WARNING indicia and a beeping of the beeper, the ringing and the beeping cancelled at a speedometer speed below 5 miles per hour;

wherein an initiation of a right turn from the signal switch and an absence of an obstacle proximal to the right rear quadrant area of the vehicle results in a lighting of the right display green OK indicia, the right arrow, and a ringing of the chime, a presence of an obstacle proximal to the right rear quadrant area of the vehicle results in a lighting of the right display red WARNING indicia and a beeping of the beeper, the ringing and the beeping cancelled at a speedometer speed below 5 miles per hour.

2. A blind spot alert apparatus, comprising, in combination:

a pair of identical sensors comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, each sensor having a front spaced apart from a back, a top spaced apart from a bottom, the first sensor mounted in a left rear quadrant area of a vehicle, the second sensor mounting in a right rear quadrant area of the vehicle, the front of each sensor disposed outwardly;

an instrument panel installed into the vehicle, the instrument panel consisting of;

a plurality of gauges, the gauges including a speedometer;

a left display within a left side of the instrument panel, the left display having a left arrow, a red WARNING indicia, and a green OK indicia below the red WARNING indicia;

a right display within a right side of the instrument panel, the right display having a right arrow, a red WARNING indicia, and a green OK indicia below the red WARNING indicia;

a chime fitted within the vehicle;

a beeper fitted within the vehicle;

each sensor and each display in communication with an existing CPU, an existing turn signal switch, the speedometer, the chime, and the beeper;

wherein an initiation of a left turn from the turn signal switch and an absence of an obstacle proximal to the left rear quadrant area of the vehicle results in a lighting of the left display green OK indicia, the left arrow, and a ringing of the chime, a presence of an obstacle proximal to the left rear quadrant area of the vehicle results in a lighting of the left display WARNING indicia and a beeping of the beeper, the ringing and the beeping cancelled at a speedometer speed below 5 miles per hour;

wherein an initiation of a right turn from the signal switch and an absence of an obstacle proximal to the right rear quadrant area of the vehicle results in a lighting of the right display green OK indicia, the right arrow, and a ringing of the chime, a presence of an obstacle proximal to the right rear quadrant area of the vehicle results in a lighting of the right display WARNING indicia and a beeping of the beeper, the ringing and the beeping cancelled at a speedometer speed below 5 miles per hour.