US3569788A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple function control device for controlling emergency equipment in motor driven vehicles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-03-28
•
Granted: 1971-03-09
•
Expires: 1989-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A multiple-function control device for installation in emergency vehicles for controlling special lights, sirens, radio communications equipment, radio teletype equipment, horns bells and other alerting devices, comprising a compact control unit accessible to the operator of the vehicle and a separate adapter unit, both removably mounted in a portable housing. The adapter serves as a universal separable connector between the control unit and the various emergency equipment controlled thereby and permits alternations, substitutions and replacements of the emergency equipment by quick plug-in connection to the adapter. The control means may be altered to meet the requirements of the emergency equipment without disturbing the adapter unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis L Niblack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:30
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B29/00; G08B29/12; B; B60; B60Q; B60Q11/00; B60Q11/005; B60Q11/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
A multiple-function control device for controlling various communications and other emergency equipment in motor driven vehicles, comprising: a. a portable housing having a top, spaced-apart sidewalls, a partial bottom wall adjacent the rear end of the housing, and longitudinally extending side flanges on the bottom of the sidewalls, the front and rear ends of the housing being open; b. a control unit having a bottom shorter than the length of the housing, a rear end wall, a front end panel, and manually actuated multiple function control means on the front end panel surface exposed to the driver of the vehicle in which the housing is mounted, said control unit bottom being slidable in the housing on said side flanges; c. a multiple connector on the control unit rear end wall; d. electrical wiring in the control unit between the front end panel control means and the multiple connector; e. a separate adapter unit having inner and outer end plates connected together in spaced-apart relationship slidably supported on the said partial bottom wall adjacent the rear end of the housing; f. a multiple connector on the adapter unit inner end plate separably engaging the connector on the control unit; and g. a plurality of sockets on the outer end plate of the adapter unit for detachably receiving plug-in means on the various emergency equipment in the vehicle, whereby alterations, substitutions and replacements of the emergency equipment is permitted by quick plug-in connection through the adapter unit to the control unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
A multiple-function control device for controlling various communications and other emergency equipment in motor driven vehicles, comprising: a. a portable housing having a top, spaced-apart sidewalls, a partial bottom wall adjacent the rear end of the housing, and longitudinally extending side flanges on the bottom of the sidewalls, the front and rear ends of the housing being open; b. a control unit having a bottom shorter than the length of the housing, a rear end wall, a front end panel, and manually actuated multiple function control means on the front end panel surface exposed to the driver of the vehicle in which the housing is mounted, said control unit bottom being slidable in the housing on said side flanges; c. a multiple connector on the control unit rear end wall; d. electrical wiring in the control unit between the front end panel control means and the multiple connector; e. a separate adapter unit having inner and outer end plates connected together in spaced-apart relationship slidably supported on the said partial bottom wall adjacent the rear end of the housing; f. a multiple connector on the adapter unit inner end plate separably engaging the connector on the control unit; and g. a plurality of sockets on the outer end plate of the adapter unit for detachably receiving plug-in means on the various emergency equipment in the vehicle, whereby alterations, substitutions and replacements of the emergency equipment is permitted by quick plug-in connection through the adapter unit to the control unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The control device defined by claim 1, in which the control unit is inserted by sliding movement into the housing through the forward open end, into contact with the inner edge of said partial bottom of the housing, and the adapter unit is inserted into the housing through the rearward open end, with its sockets exposed at said end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The control device defined by claim 1, in which the multiple connectors on the control unit and on the adapter unit are of the rack-to-panel type separable by movement of one of the units away from the other longitudinally of the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The control device defined by claim 1, in which the multiple connectors on the control unit and on the adapter unit are of the rack-to-panel type and one of said connectors is loosely mounted to permit limited movement relatively to its support for self-adjustment to the cooperating connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The control device defined by claim 1, in which the manually actuated control means on the front end panel comprise a plurality of frequency selection switch buttons, communication control switches, and multifunction rotating knobs mounted on the panel for quick access to the driver of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The control device defined by claim 1, in which the control unit and the adapter unit are quickly separately removable from the housing by sliding movement in opposite directions through said opposite open ends in housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The control device defined by claim 1, in which the control unit, adapter unit, wiring between the front panel control means and connector on the control unit, and wiring between the adapter connector and the sockets on the outer end plate of the adapter are located within and concealed by the housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-08 | 1974-09-07 | 1975-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-08 | 1978-09-07 | 1979-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-08 | 1982-09-07 | 1983-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |