Communications: electrical – External condition vehicle-mounted indicator or alarm – Transmitter in another vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-19
2001-05-01
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
External condition vehicle-mounted indicator or alarm
Transmitter in another vehicle
C340S435000, C180S169000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06225918
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT RE FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to an automatic warning signal system for a leading vehicle (e.g., an automobile, car, truck, tanker, van, bus, motor home, motorcycle, or other vehicles, etc., as well as trailers of all kinds in-tow, etc.) to caution or warn the driver of a following vehicle that it is following the leading vehicle too close and to either slow down, change lanes, or pass, etc.
2. Background Art
A preliminary patentability search produced the following patents which appear to be relevant to the present invention:
Katiraie, U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,273, issued Sep. 13, 1994, discloses an adjustable ultrasonic collision warning system for an automobile or the like which warns the driver of that automobile or the like of the presence of an obstruction, another automobile, etc., within a detection field.
Kajiwara, U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,509, issued Jul. 11, 1995, discloses a warning apparatus for a vehicle that generates a warning for the driver of that vehicle when the separation between that vehicle and an obstacle located in front of that vehicle falls below a prescribed value.
Nothing in the known prior art discloses or suggests the present invention. More specifically, nothing in the known prior art discloses or suggests an automatic warning signal system for a leading vehicle that warns the driver of a following vehicle when the following vehicle comes within a target area behind the leading vehicle.
One of the most common problems in automobile accidents is rear end collisions resulting in thousands upon thousands of deaths and injuries, as well as countless millions of dollars of property damages. The problem of being hit at the rear end is simply being followed too close for the most part. Hectic daily lives, poor driving habits, not paying attention, driving while tired and sleepy, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, etc., all contribute to automobile accidents. Nothing in the known prior art provides any means for use by the driver of the leading vehicle to prevent or hinder such rear end collisions.
What the driver of the leading vehicle needs is a warning signal to automatically warn the driver of the following vehicle that he or she is following too close behind the leading vehicle. It is desirable that such a warning signal will effectively cause the driver of the following vehicle to slow down, thus increase the distance between the leading and following vehicles and prevent a rear end collision in case of an emergency or the like. It is further desirable that such a warning signal be simple and inexpensive to make.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an automatic warning signal system for a first or leading vehicle to warn or signal the driver of a second or following vehicle that the second or following vehicle is following the leading vehicle too closely.
The automatic warning signal system of the present invention is for use with a leading vehicle, an energy source and a signal means that produces a warning signal when energized, and comprises, in general, detector means for detecting when a following vehicle comes within a target area behind the leading vehicle, and circuit means for coupling the detector means to the signal means and the energy source and for energizing the signal means to produce a warning signal to caution or warn the driver of the following vehicle when the detector means detects the following vehicle within the target area behind the leading vehicle.
One object of the present invention is to provide an automatic warning signal system for a leading vehicle that turns on the brake lights of the leading vehicle without actual application of the brakes of the leading vehicle by means of a detector such as an ultrasonic sensor installed at the tail end of the leading vehicle for detecting any following vehicle within some predetermined distance of the tail end of the leading vehicle, causing the driver of the following vehicle to instinctively slow down, thus increasing the distance between the two vehicles and prevent a rear end collision in case of an emergency or the like.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such an automatic warning signal system for a leading vehicle with warning means for warning the driver of the following vehicle when the brake lights of the leading vehicle are activated by the automatic warning signal system and not by the actual application of the brakes of the leading vehicle. The warning means may include a caution means for spelling out an informative message, and or distinctive caution lights (e.g., amber colored caution lights).
Another object of the present invention is to provide such an automatic warning signal system for a leading vehicle with the warning means wired in series with the brake lights and in front of the brake lights so that malfunction of the warning means prevents the automatic warning signal system from operating the brake lights.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such an automatic warning signal system for a leading vehicle with indicator means for indicating to the driver of the leading vehicle when the warning means has malfunctioned and has prevented the automatic warning signal system from operating the brake lights.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such an automatic warning signal system for a leading vehicle that provides an extra safety feature in the case of slippery or icy road conditions when a driver of a leading vehicle may avoid or minimize the application of the brakes to slow down and, instead, use the vehicle's transmission to slow down by shifting into a lower gear whereby the brake lights of the leading vehicle will not be activated to warn the driver of any following vehicle that the driver of the leading vehicle has taken active steps to slow down, etc. The automatic warning signal system of the present invention will, in such a case, alert and warn the driver of the following vehicle to slow down and help prevent rear end collisions, etc.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such an automatic warning signal system for a leading vehicle that causes the brake lights and warning means to come on intermittently, simulating tapping of the brake pedal of the leading vehicle, by means of a delayed flasher or a parallel series of flashers of different time intervals, designed to come on alternatively.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such an automatic warning signal system for a leading vehicle to automatically warn the driver of a following vehicle repeatedly as long as the following vehicle is within the target area behind the leading vehicle, causing the driver of the following vehicle to stay back, change lanes, or pass, etc.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such an automatic warning signal system for a leading vehicle that alerts the driver of the following vehicle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic warning signal system for a leading vehicle with an automatic range selection so that the automatic warning signal system is normally set on short range (i.e., for city driving, etc.), but will automatically switch to a long range upon the occurrence of one of a number of predetermined conditions such as, for example, if the speed of the leading vehicles increases to a predetermined amount (e.g., for highway driving), if the headlights of the leading vehicle are turned on (e.g., for night time or foggy driving conditions), or if the windshield wipers of the leading vehicle are turned on (e.g., for driving in the rain or on wet pavement), etc., that require a greater safe distance between the leading and following vehicles, and will automatically switch back to the short range when the speed of the leading vehicles decreases below that
Hofsass Jeffery
La Anh
Walker, McKenzie & Walker P.C.
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