Patent US2718038A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3922638A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3922638A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Parking compensator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-05-03
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A device which will aid a vehicle operator in parking a vehicle close to an obstacle such as a wall, column, or the like. A positioning structure positions a movable component, which is adapted to be engaged and moved by the vehicle, close to the obstacle with a first signal being provided when the movable component is moved by the vehicle through a first increment and a second signal being provided when the movable component is moved through a second increment subsequent to the first increment. In response to the first signal the operator knows that the vehicle must be brought to a stop and attempts to bring the vehicle to a stop in synchronism with the second signal, the positioning structure positioning the movable component with respect to the obstacle in such a way as to compensate for the unavoidable small extent of movement of the vehicle even after the second signal is given.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack Mendelsohn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:38
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H6/00; E04H6/42; E04H6/426; E01; E01F; E01F13/00; E01F13/04; E01F13/06; E01F13/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A parking compensator, comprising movable means adapted to be situated in the path of movement of a vehicle such as an automobile as the latter approaches an obstacle such as a wall, column, or the like, to be moved by the vehicle, signal means operatively connected with said movable means to be actuated thereby for providing a first signal when said movable means has been moved by the vehicle through a first increment and a second signal when the movable means has been moved by the vehicle through a second increment subsequent to said first increment, so that the operator of the vehicle can be warned by the first signal that the vehicle must be brought to a stop and can attempt to bring the vehicle to a stop in response to the second signal, and positioning means operatively connected with said movable means for positioning the latter with respect to the obstacle for possible movement into direct engagement with the obstacle while being at a distance therefrom which will enable the operator to locate the vehicle close to the obstacle while compensating for the distance through which the vehicle will necessarily continue to move after said signal means provides said second signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A parking compensator, comprising movable means adapted to be situated in the path of movement of a vehicle such as an automobile as the latter approaches an obstacle such as a wall, column, or the like, to be moved by the vehicle, signal means operatively connected with said movable means to be actuated thereby for providing a first signal when said movable means has been moved by the vehicle through a first increment and a second signal when the movable means has been moved by the vehicle through a second increment subsequent to said first increment, so that the operator of the vehicle can be warned by the first signal that the vehicle must be brought to a stop and can attempt to bring the vehicle to a stop in response to the second signal, and positioning means operatively connected with said movable means for positioning the latter with respect to the obstacle for possible movement into direct engagement with the obstacle while being at a distance therefrom which will enable the operator to locate the vehicle close to the obstacle while compensating for the distance through which the vehicle will necessarily continue to move after said signal means provides said second signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein said movable means has a movable portion visible to the operator of the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein said positioning means carries said movable means and supports the latter for movement by the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination of claim 3 and wherein said positioning means includes a relatively heavy base adapted to rest on a surface on which the vehicle moves so as to be displaceable with respect to said surface in order to determine the distance of said movable means from the obstacle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein said signal means terminates said first signal before providing said second signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 3 and wherein said positioning means supports said movable means for swinging movement first through said first increment and then through said second increment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The combination of claim 6 and wherein said movable means includes a plate and a lever means having an upper end portion carrying said plate and swingably supported by said positioning means, said plate and lever means having dimensions for situating said plate in the path of movement of a part of a vehicle such as a bumper thereof when said positioning means rests on a surface on which the vehicle moves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 7 and wherein said lever means includes a means for automatically responding to engagement of the obstacle by said plate for preventing damage to said plate and lever means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 8 and wherein said means for preventing damage includes elongated lever portions which are telescopically slidable one with respect to the other for automatically elongating said lever means if the plate engages the obstacle while the vehicle continues to move toward the same.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination of claim 3 and wherein said signal means is electrically operable and includes one electrical contact means carried by said positioning means and another electrical contact means automatically responding to movement of said movable means for engaging said one contact means once to provide said first signal and a second time to provide said second signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 10 and wherein said one contact means includes at least one stationary contact carried by said positioning means and wherein said other contact means includes a pair of mutually spaced contacts which sequentially engage said stationary contact for providing the first and second signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
74 words
The combination of claim 11 and wherein said movable means includes a lever swingably carried by said positioning means to be swung with respect thereto, a plunger engaging said lever and supported for movement by said positioning means, spring means maintaining said plunger in engagement with said lever, and said pair of contacts being carried by said plunger and spaced therealong for successively moving into engagement with the stationary contact as the lever turns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein said signal means is carried at least in part by said positioning means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 13 and wherein said signal means includes a bell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein said signal means includes a lamp to be positioned where it can be seen by the operator of the vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein said signal means includes both a bell and a lamp so that said signal means provides signals which can be heard and seen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein said positioning means supports said movable means for movement, and means connected with said positioning means for situating the latter at a given elevation above a surface on which the vehicle moves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination of claim 17 and wherein said positioning means is in the form of a relatively heavy unit and said means for situating said positioning means at said elevation including rods of a given length extending downwardly from said positioning means for engaging the surface on which the vehicle travels so that the elevation of said positioning means is determined by the length of the rods.
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) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |