US3946288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety device for dynamic units
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-06-07
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Granted: 1976-03-23
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Expires: 1994-06-07
Abstract
Abstract Safety apparatus for vehicles, machinery, and the like to provide a distinctive signal in the event of the incapacitation or drowsiness of an operator. Spaced electrical conductors are supported on a hand-grip control means such as the steering wheel of a vehicle to provide thereby an open circuit which is capable of being bridged by a body portion of the operator such as the hand of the driver on the steering wheel during normal vehicle operation. An output means is also provided which gives a distinctive signal, and this output means is controlled by a circuit coupled between the conductors and such output means. The circuit is effective to control the output means to provide its distinctive signal indicative of incapacitation of the driver both under the condition where the conductors are open circuited or bridged by a resistance whose value lies above a predetermined range as well as by a short circuiting of the conductors which may occur by, for example, a ring or bracelet or the like worn by the vehicle operator.
Inventors
- 👤 Ove Isaksson
- 👤 Rolf Engberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:47
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K28/00; B60K28/02; B60K28/06; F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/02; F16H61/26; F16H61/28; F16H61/32; F02; F02B; F02B61/00; F02B61/04; F02B61/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
Safety apparatus for vehicles, machinery, and the like to provide a distinctive signal in the event of incapacitation or drowsiness of an operator including: spaced electrical conductors supported on a hand-grip control means to provide thereby an open circuit which is bridged by a body portion of the operator during manual operation, output means for providing said distinctive signal only when operated to a second distinctive condition from a first normal condition, and circuit means connected between said conductors and said output means, said circuit means controlling said output means to its said first normal condition only for values of resistance bridging said conductors which fall within a predetermined range, said circuit means controlling said output means to its said second distinctive condition both when said conductors are fully short-circuited and open-circuited as well as bridged by a resistance whose value is above said predetermined range.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
Safety apparatus for vehicles, machinery, and the like to provide a distinctive signal in the event of incapacitation or drowsiness of an operator including: spaced electrical conductors supported on a hand-grip control means to provide thereby an open circuit which is bridged by a body portion of the operator during manual operation, output means for providing said distinctive signal only when operated to a second distinctive condition from a first normal condition, and circuit means connected between said conductors and said output means, said circuit means controlling said output means to its said first normal condition only for values of resistance bridging said conductors which fall within a predetermined range, said circuit means controlling said output means to its said second distinctive condition both when said conductors are fully short-circuited and open-circuited as well as bridged by a resistance whose value is above said predetermined range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conductors comprise two conductors spaced parallel to each other, said circuit means comprising a transistor amplifier stage and voltage divider means including said conductors for providing a controllable bias voltage for said transistor stage, said voltage divider means controlling said bias voltage to operate said transistor stage to one conductive state when said conductors are bridged by a resistance falling within said predetermined range and to another conductive state when said conductors are either short-circuited or bridged by a resistance whose value is above said predetermined range, said circuit means controlling said output means to provide said distinctive signal only when said transistor stage is in its said another conductive state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said transistor amplifier means comprises a first transistor and said voltage divider means comprises in series connection said conductors and also a resistor with the junction therebetween connected to the base of said first transistor, said voltage divider means controlling said first transistor to cause substantially all of the current in said transistor to flow through its emitter-base circuit when said conductors are short-circuited, said transistor stage including means responsive to the collector current of said transistor for controlling said output means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3026503A
Cited
DE1918401A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-23 | 1979-09-22 | 1980-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-23 | 1983-09-22 | 1984-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-23 | 1987-09-22 | 1988-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |