US3872820A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Car position spotting device in garages
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-11-10
•
Granted: 1975-03-25
•
Expires: 1992-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A car spotting device for use in garages having closable doors for indicating to the driver of the vehicle entering the garage when the vehicle is at a predetermined position therein and for further indicating to the driver when he seeks to leave the garage that the door thereof is closed. Included is a target that is mounted in the garage and positioned to be engaged by a vehicle at which position it is obviously visible to the driver. The target is mounted for movement to another position not obviously visible to the driver and a connection is established between the target and the garage door for moving the target to the first position when the door is open and moving the target to the second position when the door is closed. Thus, when a vehicle entering the garage engages the target, a perceptible indication that the vehicle has attained its predetermined position is provided to the driver; and when a driver seeks to remove the vehicle from the garage, the lack of the presence of the target in the obviously visible first position provides an indication that the garage door should be opened.
Inventors
- 👤 Christian F Hess
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:07
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H6/00; E04H6/42; E04H6/426; E05; E05Y; E05Y2400/00; E05Y2400/80; E05Y2400/81; E05Y2400/818
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
301 words
A car spotting device for use in garages having closable doors to indicate to a driver of a vehicle entering the garage when the vehicle is at a predetermined position therein and for indicating to the driver of a vehicle seeking to leave the garage that the door thereof is closed, said device comprising: means defining a target visible to the driver of a vehicle in a garage and adapted to be engaged by the vehicle to be moved thereby to provide a perceptible indication of such engagement to the driver, said target being positionable in a garage so as to first be engaged by a vehicle when the vehicle is approximately at said predetermined position; means for mounting said target for movement within a garage between first and second positions, said first position being one wherein the target will be obviously visible to a driver and will be first engaged by a vehicle when a vehicle entering the garage has moved to approximately said predetermined position and said second position being one remote from said first position and wherein said target will not be obviously visible to a driver; and means associated with at least one of said target and said mounting means and connectable to the door of the garage to be responsive to movement thereof for moving said target to said first position when the garage door is open and for moving said target to said second position when the garage door is closed; whereby said target, when in said first position, provides an indication to the driver of a vehicle entering the garage that the vehicle has attained said predetermined position, and when in said second position, provides an indication to the driver of a vehicle about to exit the garage that the garage door is closed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
301 words
A car spotting device for use in garages having closable doors to indicate to a driver of a vehicle entering the garage when the vehicle is at a predetermined position therein and for indicating to the driver of a vehicle seeking to leave the garage that the door thereof is closed, said device comprising: means defining a target visible to the driver of a vehicle in a garage and adapted to be engaged by the vehicle to be moved thereby to provide a perceptible indication of such engagement to the driver, said target being positionable in a garage so as to first be engaged by a vehicle when the vehicle is approximately at said predetermined position; means for mounting said target for movement within a garage between first and second positions, said first position being one wherein the target will be obviously visible to a driver and will be first engaged by a vehicle when a vehicle entering the garage has moved to approximately said predetermined position and said second position being one remote from said first position and wherein said target will not be obviously visible to a driver; and means associated with at least one of said target and said mounting means and connectable to the door of the garage to be responsive to movement thereof for moving said target to said first position when the garage door is open and for moving said target to said second position when the garage door is closed; whereby said target, when in said first position, provides an indication to the driver of a vehicle entering the garage that the vehicle has attained said predetermined position, and when in said second position, provides an indication to the driver of a vehicle about to exit the garage that the garage door is closed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention of claim 1 further including means providing for pivotal movement of said target when in said first position and wherein said target is positionable to be engaged by the windshield of a vehicle when in said first position and is defined by a thin, flat member, whereby, upon engagement of said target by a windshield, said target will pivot to provide said perceptible indication.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said means connectable to a garage door includes an elongated flexible cord-like member having one end secured to said target, and securing means at its opposite end to be fixed to a garage door; and said mounting means includes an element having means for slidably receiving said cord-like member intermediate the ends thereof, and means connecting said mounting means to a stationary portion of a garage structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention of claim 3 further including stop means adjustable fixed to said cord-like member between said mounting means and said other end for selectively limiting slidable movement of said cord-like element and said target as said target moves toward said first position to thereby determine said first position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein said stop means is a spool thereby further defining cord-like member effective length adjusting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention of claim 5 further including means providing for pivotal movement of said target when in said first position and wherein said target is positionable to be engaged by the windshield of a vehicle when in said first position and is defined by a thin, flat member, whereby, upon engagement of said target by a windshield, said target will pivot to provide said perceptible indication.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said thin flat member is configured in the form of a hand, said mounting means and said securing means are each defined by a screw-eye; and further including additional cord-like member effective length adjusting means on said thin flat member at the point of connection Of the same to said cord-like member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
118 words
A garage incorporating the car spotting device of claim 1 including a structure having a ceiling, a floor, a wall having an entrance and exit opening and a door system for selectively opening and closing said entrance and exit opening, said floor, ceiling and wall defining a vehicle receiving space; said target being located within said structure; said mounting means being within and affixed to said structure to mount said target such that when in said first position, said target will be within said structure and said vehicle receiving space at a location intermediate said floor and said ceiling to be engaged by a vehicle entering said structure; and said moving means being connected to said door system.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |