US3571790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle external speed indicator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1967-11-01
•
Granted: 1971-03-23
•
Expires: 1987-11-01
Abstract
Abstract This patent discloses a vehicle speed and direction of travel visual indicator adapted for mounting on an external surface of the vehicle. The device employs a signal element the displacement of which indicates the speed, acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle and a rotating signal ball which indicates in all directions when the brakes of the vehicle are applied. The direction of travel of the vehicle is indicated by suitable color coding of the signal element.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter D Lusebrink
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:01
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/50; B60Q1/54; G; G01; G01P; G01P1/00; G01P1/07; G01P1/08; G01P15/00; G01P5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
A vehicle signal and warning device which comprises: a. a main body having a traNsparent portion with one or more air inlets and outlets, said inlets being open to ambient impact air surrounding the vehicle, b. a resilient accordionlike signal element encased within the main body, positioned so that it is at least partially visible through the transparent portion and so that it communicates with the inlets and outlets, with both ends of the element attached to the body, c. a valve positioned within and attached to the signal element between an inlet and an outlet, whereby the valve and a portion of the signal element is displaced relative to the main body by a stream of ambient air passing into the air inlets and through the signal element, valve and air outlets at a rate directly responsive to vehicle speed, d. a signal means mounted in the main body for rotational movement within the transparent portion of the body and having signal surfaces and a plurality of vanes, e. a means of directing an air stream to impinge on the vanes of the signal means, and f. a means of selectively positioning the signal surfaces of the signal means relative to the main body, whereby the directing means causes an air stream passing through the signal element to impinge on the vanes thereby imparting a rotational movement to the signal means and actuation of the positioning means prohibits the rotation of the signal means and positions the signal surfaces relative to the transparent portion of the main body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
A vehicle signal and warning device which comprises: a. a main body having a traNsparent portion with one or more air inlets and outlets, said inlets being open to ambient impact air surrounding the vehicle, b. a resilient accordionlike signal element encased within the main body, positioned so that it is at least partially visible through the transparent portion and so that it communicates with the inlets and outlets, with both ends of the element attached to the body, c. a valve positioned within and attached to the signal element between an inlet and an outlet, whereby the valve and a portion of the signal element is displaced relative to the main body by a stream of ambient air passing into the air inlets and through the signal element, valve and air outlets at a rate directly responsive to vehicle speed, d. a signal means mounted in the main body for rotational movement within the transparent portion of the body and having signal surfaces and a plurality of vanes, e. a means of directing an air stream to impinge on the vanes of the signal means, and f. a means of selectively positioning the signal surfaces of the signal means relative to the main body, whereby the directing means causes an air stream passing through the signal element to impinge on the vanes thereby imparting a rotational movement to the signal means and actuation of the positioning means prohibits the rotation of the signal means and positions the signal surfaces relative to the transparent portion of the main body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
A vehicle signal and warning device as defined in claim 1 in which: a. the signal means is a generally spherical-shaped ball having integral vane surface areas, a positioning stop, and two generally hemispherical signal surfaces, b. the directing means is a plate with an aperture through it enclosed in the main body and positioned between the signal means and the signal element, and c. the positioning means is a solenoid mounted on the plate and positioned so that it will engage the positioning stop when it is activated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle signal and warning device as defined in claim 2 in which the valve is weighted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vehicle signal and warning device as defined in claim 2 in which a resilient biasing means urges the valve and a portion of the signal element toward the air inlet end of the transparent portion of the main body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
182 words
A vehicle signal and warning device which comprises: a. a main body having a transparent portion with one or more air inlets and outlets, said inlets being open to ambient impact air surrounding the vehicle, b. a resilient accordionlike signal element encased within the main body, positioned so that it is at least partially visible through the transparent portion and so that it communicates with the inlets and outlets, with both ends of the element attached to the body, c. a valve positioned within and attached to the signal element between an inlet and an outlet, whereby the valve and a portion of the signal element is displaced relative to the main body by a stream of ambient air passing into the air inlets and through the signal element, valve and air outlets at a rate directly responsive to vehicle speed, the valve being composed at least in part of a transparent material, and d. a light source embedded in the valve whereby the valve acting as a light pipe provides a band of light between two portions of the signal element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
182 words
A vehicle signal and warning device which comprises: a. a main body having a transparent portion with one or more air inlets and outlets, said inlets being open to ambient impact air surrounding the vehicle, b. a resilient accordionlike signal element encased within the main body, positioned so that it is at least partially visible through the transparent portion and so that it communicates with the inlets and outlets, with both ends of the element attached to the body, c. a valve positioned within and attached to the signal element between an inlet and an outlet, whereby the valve and a portion of the signal element is displaced relative to the main body by a stream of ambient air passing into the air inlets and through the signal element, valve and air outlets at a rate directly responsive to vehicle speed, the valve being composed at least in part of a transparent material, and d. a light source embedded in the valve whereby the valve acting as a light pipe provides a band of light between two portions of the signal element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A vehicle signal and warning device as defined in claim 5 in which the accordionlike signal element is composed of a translucent material which reflects light from a source outside of the signal element and permits light from the source within the signal element to be transmitted through the element, whereby the intensity of the transmitted and reflected light varies as the angular relationship of the accordionlike surfaces of the signal element to each other is varied.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
A speed responsive signal device comprising: a. a housing having transparent walls adapted for mounting on a vehicle, b. a relatively flat disclike rotor mounted for rotation on an axis between opposed walls of said housing in a direction transverse to the normal direction of motion of the vehicle, and c. said housing having an inlet opening positioned to direct impact air resulting from motion of said housing to rotate said rotor, and an outlet opening to exhaust said impact air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
A speed responsive signal device comprising: a. a housing having transparent walls adapted for mounting on a vehicle, b. a relatively flat disclike rotor mounted for rotation on an axis between opposed walls of said housing in a direction transverse to the normal direction of motion of the vehicle, and c. said housing having an inlet opening positioned to direct impact air resulting from motion of said housing to rotate said rotor, and an outlet opening to exhaust said impact air.
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) | 1974-03-22 | 1974-09-21 | 1975-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-22 | 1978-09-21 | 1979-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-22 | 1982-09-21 | 1983-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |