US3964045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Operator alerting device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-12-09
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Granted: 1976-06-15
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Expires: 1994-12-09
Abstract
Abstract The operator of a motor vehicle is provided with a glove or hand-worn member to which one end of a cord or other flexible member is attached with the other end being attached to the operating member of a switch or the trigger of an attention-producing device mounted to a fixed elevated portion of the vehicle located generally above the steering wheel. The cord or other flexible member is of such length that it is not taut when the operator's hand is in a normal driving position on the steering wheel but becomes taut before the operator's hand drops to his or her thigh. The alarm-producing device may be the horn with which the vehicle is normally equipped and the switch for the horn may be electrically interconnected to the storage battery with which the vehicle is normally equipped. When the operator drowses off or goes to sleep, his or her hand will fall from the steering wheel, but before it reaches the operator's thigh the cord or flexible member will become taut and thereby trigger the attention-producing device or operate the switch which sets off the horn or other electrically energized alarm.
Inventors
- 👤 Cecil Conley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:45
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/02; G08B21/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S200/00; Y10S200/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
Means for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle who has drowsed off, comprising, in combination, an attention-producing means including trigger or switch means for setting off the same, means for mounting said attention-producing means on a fixed part of said vehicle generally above the steering wheel thereof, a glove or hand-worn member of the operator's hand, and a cord or other flexible member interconnecting said trigger means and said glove or hand-worn member, said cord or other flexible member having a length such that it is not taut when the operator's hand is on the steering wheel but becomes taut before the operator's hand drops to his thigh and said glove including a thumb-receiving pocket and an index finger-receiving pocket with said pockets being attached to each other in juxtaposed relationship so that the wearer's thumb cannot by itself hook over the rim of the steering wheel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
Means for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle who has drowsed off, comprising, in combination, an attention-producing means including trigger or switch means for setting off the same, means for mounting said attention-producing means on a fixed part of said vehicle generally above the steering wheel thereof, a glove or hand-worn member of the operator's hand, and a cord or other flexible member interconnecting said trigger means and said glove or hand-worn member, said cord or other flexible member having a length such that it is not taut when the operator's hand is on the steering wheel but becomes taut before the operator's hand drops to his thigh and said glove including a thumb-receiving pocket and an index finger-receiving pocket with said pockets being attached to each other in juxtaposed relationship so that the wearer's thumb cannot by itself hook over the rim of the steering wheel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
158 words
Means for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle who has drowsed off, comprising, in combination, a switch having an operating member, and mounted on a fixed part of said vehicle generally above the steering wheel thereof, an electrically energized attention-producing means electrically interconnected with the storage battery of said vehicle and said switch, a glove or hand-worn member of the operator's hand, and a cord or other flexible member interconnecting said switch operating member and said glove or hand-worn member, said cord or other flexible member having a length such that it is not taut when the operator's hand is on any portion of the steering wheel but becomes taut before the operator's hand drops to his thigh and said glove including a thumb-receiving pocket and an index finger-receiving pocket with said pockets being attached to each other in juxtaposed relationship so that the wearer's thumb cannot by itself hook over the rim of the steering wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
158 words
Means for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle who has drowsed off, comprising, in combination, a switch having an operating member, and mounted on a fixed part of said vehicle generally above the steering wheel thereof, an electrically energized attention-producing means electrically interconnected with the storage battery of said vehicle and said switch, a glove or hand-worn member of the operator's hand, and a cord or other flexible member interconnecting said switch operating member and said glove or hand-worn member, said cord or other flexible member having a length such that it is not taut when the operator's hand is on any portion of the steering wheel but becomes taut before the operator's hand drops to his thigh and said glove including a thumb-receiving pocket and an index finger-receiving pocket with said pockets being attached to each other in juxtaposed relationship so that the wearer's thumb cannot by itself hook over the rim of the steering wheel.
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) | 1979-06-15 | 1979-12-15 | 1980-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-15 | 1983-12-15 | 1984-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-15 | 1987-12-15 | 1988-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |