Patent US3686938A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3686938A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automotive safety side wind indicator
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-06-28
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Granted: 1972-08-29
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Expires: 1991-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A portable lightweight safety device formed from three parts that may be easily assembled and mounted on the hood portion of an automotive vehicle without the use of tools. The device when so mounted may be used in conjunction with the speedometer of the vehicle to determine the magnitude of the component of a side wind that is blowing in a direction normal to the longitudinal sides of the vehicle, a camper body mounted on the vehicle, or a trailer drawn by the vehicle. Such information is of vital importance to the safety of a vehicle driver in certain desert areas where side winds reach a magnitude sufficient to overturn a vehicle supporting a camper and trailers drawn by a vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Earle T Binckley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P13/00; G01P13/02; B; B60; B60Q; B60Q7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
A safety device capable of being mounted on a portion of an automotive vehicle forwardly of the driver thereof for determining the magnitude of the component of a side wind that exerts a normally directed force on a side of said vehicle, said device comprising: a. a rigid tubular member having first and second end portions; b. first means that are secured to said first end portion and are capable of being secured to said portion of said automotive vehicle to support said tubular member in a substantially vertical position; c. an insignia defined on the rearward portion of said tubular member that is visible to said driver; d. a vane assembly pivotally supported at a fixed elevation on said tubular member, with the vane portion of said assembly being parallel to the direction in which said vehicle is moving due to airstreams of equal velocity flowing by opposite sides of said vane when said vehicle is subjected to no side wind; and e. visual indicating means on said assembly that cooperate with said insignia to inform said driver when said vane is disposed at an angle of substantially 45* to the direction of travel, with the driver of the vehicle being able to use said device to obtain the velocity of the component of a side wind directed normal to the side of said vehicle by varying the speed of said vehicle until said vane is disposed at an angle of 45* to the direction of travel of said vehicle, and said speed being the velocity of said component of said side wind that exerts a normally directed force on one longitudinal side of said vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
277 words
A safety device capable of being mounted on a portion of an automotive vehicle forwardly of the driver thereof for determining the magnitude of the component of a side wind that exerts a normally directed force on a side of said vehicle, said device comprising: a. a rigid tubular member having first and second end portions; b. first means that are secured to said first end portion and are capable of being secured to said portion of said automotive vehicle to support said tubular member in a substantially vertical position; c. an insignia defined on the rearward portion of said tubular member that is visible to said driver; d. a vane assembly pivotally supported at a fixed elevation on said tubular member, with the vane portion of said assembly being parallel to the direction in which said vehicle is moving due to airstreams of equal velocity flowing by opposite sides of said vane when said vehicle is subjected to no side wind; and e. visual indicating means on said assembly that cooperate with said insignia to inform said driver when said vane is disposed at an angle of substantially 45* to the direction of travel, with the driver of the vehicle being able to use said device to obtain the velocity of the component of a side wind directed normal to the side of said vehicle by varying the speed of said vehicle until said vane is disposed at an angle of 45* to the direction of travel of said vehicle, and said speed being the velocity of said component of said side wind that exerts a normally directed force on one longitudinal side of said vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as defined in claim 1 in which said first means is a vacuum cup formed from a resilient material, which cup includes an outwardly extending tubular boss that is frictionally engaged by said first end portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
A device as defined in claim 1 in which said vane assembly includes a tab and ring that project from said vane, and a pin that extends from said tab towards said ring and is longitudinally aligned with the center of said ring, and said assembly pivotally supported from said tubular member when said ring is in rotatable engagement with the exterior surface thereof, and said pin extends downwardly into the upper interior of said tubular member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A device as defined in claim 3 in which said indicating means are two pointed members that project outwardly from said ring and have the centers thereof separated by ninety degrees, with said pointed members being disposed forty-five degrees from the center of said insignia and on opposite sides thereof when said vehicle is being driven forwardly and there is no side wind.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as defined in claim 4 in which said insignia is of triangular shape.
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) | 1975-08-29 | 1976-02-28 | 1976-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-29 | 1980-02-28 | 1980-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-29 | 1984-02-28 | 1984-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |