US3960104A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Back-up alarm with improved keeper
Assignee: E D Bullard Co
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Filing: 1975-05-09
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Granted: 1976-06-01
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Expires: 1995-05-09
Abstract
Abstract A wheel hub mountable back up alarm is disclosed having a plurality of ringing units mounted interiorly of a bell. Each ringing unit has an improved clapper and an improved interacting keeper to prevent forward wheel motion ringing, to retard alarm freezing and sticking, and to provide minimum wear on non-ringing rotation.
Inventors
- 👤 David H. Van Tuyl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:19
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
In a vehicle alarm for providing an audible alarm signal upon vehicle wheel rotation in a predetermined or so-called "ringing" direction, the alarm characterized in that it includes means for mounting the alarm at the hub of the vehicle wheel for mutual rotation therewith about common rotational axes; a bell having an interior surface; at least one clapper eccentrically mounted for reciprocal swinging movement of its striking surface along a path extending between a bell striking position and a cocked position, the striking position characterized by engagement of the clapper striking surface against the bell interior surface, the cocked position characterized by location of the striking surface at its furthest point of travel along the path from the bell striking position; the alarm further preferably including means for resiliently retracting the clapper from engagement with the bell as soon as the clapper strikes the bell to mitigate dampening of the bell by the clapper; and, the alarm further including a keeper for holding the clapper away from its bell striking position during alarm rotation in the opposite or so-called "non-ringing" direction, the improvement wherein the keeper maintains the clapper substantially immobile at its cocked position throughout repeated full revolutions of the alarm in the "non-ringing" direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a vehicle alarm for providing an audible alarm signal upon vehicle wheel rotation in a predetermined or so-called "ringing" direction, the alarm characterized in that it includes means for mounting the alarm at the hub of the vehicle wheel for mutual rotation therewith about common rotational axes; a bell having an interior surface; at least one clapper eccentrically mounted for reciprocal swinging movement of its striking surface along a path extending between a bell striking position and a cocked position, the striking position characterized by engagement of the clapper striking surface against the bell interior surface, the cocked position characterized by location of the striking surface at its furthest point of travel along the path from the bell striking position; the alarm further preferably including means for resiliently retracting the clapper from engagement with the bell as soon as the clapper strikes the bell to mitigate dampening of the bell by the clapper; and, the alarm further including a keeper for holding the clapper away from its bell striking position during alarm rotation in the opposite or so-called "non-ringing" direction, the improvement wherein the keeper maintains the clapper substantially immobile at its cocked position throughout repeated full revolutions of the alarm in the "non-ringing" direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 1 wherein the keeper is swingably mounted for gravity actuated movement between a clapper holding position and a clapper release position, said clapper holding position characterized by coacting interrelationship to the clapper and the keeper such that when the clappper is at its cocked position the keeper substantially maintains it there, said clapper release position characterized by lack of impediment by the keeper of clapper travel from the cocked position to the bell striking position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 2 wherein the keeper is comprised of bearing means for swingably mounting the keeper on a support within the bell interior, means for engaging the clapper when the keeper is in the clapper holding position, and means for counterbalancing the clapper engaging means to position the clapper engaging means in coacting interrelationship with the clapper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 1 wherein the alarm further includes means for limiting clapper movement at the cocked position in a direction away from the bell striking position, and wherein the clapper is provided with a bearing portion for swingable mounting of the clapper on a support within the bell interior, a body portion on which the clapper's bell striking surface is located, said body portion further having a surface for engaging the keeper when the clapper is at the cocked position and a surface for engaging said limiting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 4 wherein said keeper engaging surface is a notch formed in said body portion of the clapper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 5 wherein the clapper striking surface is located on the same side of said notch as said bearing portion, and wherein the limiting means engaging surface is located on the opposite side of said notch from said bearing portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 6 wherein the clapper is a generally Z-shaped member, having first and second bar-like segments joined by an interconnecting diagonal segment, said bearing portion located at the free end of the first bar-like segment, said clapper striking surface located at the junction of said first bar-like segment and said diagonal segment, said notch located at the junction of said second bar-like segment and said diagonal segment, and said limiting means engaging surface located at the free end of said second bar-like segment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 7 wherein the keeper is mounted on said limiting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 5 wherein the clapper is provided with means for clearing the keeper out of the path of the clapper during travel from the cocked position to the bell striking position when the keeper is in a position intermediate its said clapper holding position and its said clapper release position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 9 wherein said keeper clearing means is an inclined surface formed on the clapper.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 4 wherein said limiting means is located relatively near the rotational axis of the alarm whereas said bearing portion of the clapper is located relatively near the lip of the bell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 11 wherein the keeper is mounted on said limiting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 5 wherein said notch further serves as the seat for engagement of the clapper with the preferred resilient clapper retracting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 4 wherein the keeper is swingably mounted for gravity actuated movement between a clapper holding position and a clapper release position, said clapper holding position characterized by coacting interrelationship of the clapper and the keeper such that when the clapper is at its cocked position the keeper substantially maintains it there, said clapper release position characterized by the lack of impediment by the keeper of clapper travel from its cocked position to its bell striking position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 14 wherein the keeper is comprised of bearing means for swingably mounting the keeper on a support within the bell interior, means for engaging the clapper when the keeper is in the clapper holding position, and means for counterbalancing the clapper engaging means to position the clapper engaging means in coacting interrelationship with the clapper.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 4 wherein the means for mounting the alarm includes a plate for vertical mounting at the wheel hub, said plate serving as a support for the clapper, wherein said limiting means is mounted on said plate, and wherein the keeper is mounted on said limitng means in spaced relation to said plate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 16 wherein said limiting means comprises a flange extending radially from the center of the alarm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 3 wherein the keeper is a shaped length of wire, one end of which serves as said clapper engaging means, the other end of which serves as said counterbalancing means, and the medial portion of which is helically wound and serves as said bearing means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
71 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 4 wherein the center of gravity of said clapper in the plane of said swinging movement of said clapper is rotationally advanced in said non-ringing direction of rotation of said alarm from the line defined by the center point of said eccentric mounting of said clapper and the center point of said hub of said vehicle wheel when said clapper is in said cocked position thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The vehicle alarm of claim 1 wherein the means for mounting the alarm includes a plate for vertical mounting at the wheel hub, said plate serving as a support for the clapper, and wherein the keeper is mounted in spaced relation to said plate.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
143 words
A device for providing an audible alarm upon rotation of a vehicle wheel in a first direction comprising means for mounting said device at the wheel hub; a bell mounted on said mounting means; a clapper mounted on said mounting means, said clapper mounted eccentrically with respect to the axis of wheel rotation for gravity actuated swinging movement between a cocked position and a bell striking position; gravity actuated keeper means for permitting the clapper to swing from its cocked position to its bell striking position when the device is rotated in a first direction about a horizontal axis, and for holding the clapper in its cocked position when the device is rotated in the opposite direction about said axis even when rotation of the device in the first direction is reversed substantially immediately after said clapper has swung into its cocked position.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
143 words
A device for providing an audible alarm upon rotation of a vehicle wheel in a first direction comprising means for mounting said device at the wheel hub; a bell mounted on said mounting means; a clapper mounted on said mounting means, said clapper mounted eccentrically with respect to the axis of wheel rotation for gravity actuated swinging movement between a cocked position and a bell striking position; gravity actuated keeper means for permitting the clapper to swing from its cocked position to its bell striking position when the device is rotated in a first direction about a horizontal axis, and for holding the clapper in its cocked position when the device is rotated in the opposite direction about said axis even when rotation of the device in the first direction is reversed substantially immediately after said clapper has swung into its cocked position.
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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) | 1979-06-01 | 1979-12-01 | 1980-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-01 | 1983-12-01 | 1984-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-01 | 1987-12-01 | 1988-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |