Patent US4064501A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4064501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control system
Assignee: UNITROL Inc
•
Filing: 1975-08-28
•
Granted: 1977-12-20
•
Expires: 1995-08-28
Abstract
Abstract By this invention a system for controlling the servicing of customers arriving in a vehicle at a service area is provided, in which system the arrival of the vehicle, the supplying of the services and the departure of the vehicle is monitored. The system includes a number of signals which keep the attendants in or near the service area fully informed as to the status of the operations that are going on relative to a given vehicle. Thus, the arrival of the vehicle is announced and that arrival sets into operation a control means which is responsive to an unauthorized departure of the vehicle. In other words, if a vehicle attempts to leave the service area before the service is completed or before the services have been paid for, an alarm is activated by the control means announcing the impending unauthorized departure. Present also in the system is a means for preventing any of the signals from functioning in the absence of a vehicle that has come into the service area for service. Also present is a means for announcing the proper completion and authorized departure of a given vehicle from a given service area. The various steps involved in a given service that is being offered are programmed and the system includes a means for preventing the actuating of any given alarm other than in its programmed sequence. The system provided by this invention includes the monitoring of several different service areas. Electrical circuitry is involved with respect to each of the given service areas so that the control information is fed from the given service area independently of events that are happening in any other service area, but all of the electrical circuitry relative to the various service areas are powered from the same power source. Thus, this invention comprises the processes involved for effecting the monitoring, the overall system, and the electrical circuitry involved, all of which appear hereinafter.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles N. Yost
- 👤 Millard R. Bolyard
- 👤 Leon M. Whitmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:39
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B15/00; G08; G08B; G08B13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A system for controlling the servicing of vehicles driven by customers arriving in service areas where a vehicle is brought to a stop to obtain service which system comprises, in combination: means responsive to said arrival of said vehicle in a service area for announcing its arrival and means for electrically energizing a control means which is responsive to an unauthorized departure of said vehicle; said control means; an alarm means for effecting an alarm when activated by said control means when it responds to an unauthorized departure; means for preventing the energizing of said control means in the absence of a stopped vehicle; means for announcing an authorized departure of said vehicle; and means for preventing the operation of any of the aforesaid means except in a programmed sequence, the first of which sequence after said announced arrival is the activation of said control means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
A system for controlling the servicing of vehicles driven by customers arriving in service areas where a vehicle is brought to a stop to obtain service which system comprises, in combination: means responsive to said arrival of said vehicle in a service area for announcing its arrival and means for electrically energizing a control means which is responsive to an unauthorized departure of said vehicle; said control means; an alarm means for effecting an alarm when activated by said control means when it responds to an unauthorized departure; means for preventing the energizing of said control means in the absence of a stopped vehicle; means for announcing an authorized departure of said vehicle; and means for preventing the operation of any of the aforesaid means except in a programmed sequence, the first of which sequence after said announced arrival is the activation of said control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 containing means for effecting the announcement of said arrival of said vehicle, said departures of said vehicle, and other facets of the involved transactions to an area removed from said service area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 containing a set of electrical lights, each of a different color, as indicia of stages in the service transactions and located in an area separate from the service area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system in accordance with claim 3 containing a plurality of two colors of said lights and being located in the service area to indicate an allowance of departure or an unauthorized departure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system in accordance with claim 3 containing means activated in said remote area to signal said service area that the said vehicle has authority to depart.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said alarm means contain means for activating an intercommunication device.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
202 words
A method for monitoring the servicing of a vehicle driven by a customer arriving at areas to obtain service, which method comprises: directing a said vehicle into a service area in which said vehicle is to be brought to a stop; affording at said stopping place a signal means whereby the arrival of said vehicle is announced at such remote area as is desired; effecting through a request for service via an intercom call-in switch the activation of a control, whereby an alarm is activated in the event said vehicle leaves the said service area in an unauthorized departure and whereby said control means effects a signal in said service area and such remote area as is desired for approving an authorized departure of said vehicle; providing a means for preventing the activation of said control and its alarms in the absence of a stopped vehicle; and effecting the activation of the various signals only in a programmed sequence, said sequence after said arrival of said vehicle being activation of said control, start of said service, finish of said service, payment for said service, and authorized departure of said vehicle, said alarm being activated in the event said sequence is not followed.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
202 words
A method for monitoring the servicing of a vehicle driven by a customer arriving at areas to obtain service, which method comprises: directing a said vehicle into a service area in which said vehicle is to be brought to a stop; affording at said stopping place a signal means whereby the arrival of said vehicle is announced at such remote area as is desired; effecting through a request for service via an intercom call-in switch the activation of a control, whereby an alarm is activated in the event said vehicle leaves the said service area in an unauthorized departure and whereby said control means effects a signal in said service area and such remote area as is desired for approving an authorized departure of said vehicle; providing a means for preventing the activation of said control and its alarms in the absence of a stopped vehicle; and effecting the activation of the various signals only in a programmed sequence, said sequence after said arrival of said vehicle being activation of said control, start of said service, finish of said service, payment for said service, and authorized departure of said vehicle, said alarm being activated in the event said sequence is not followed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method in accordance with claim 7 in which the various signals are given through a set of electric lights, each of a different color and each indicating a particular stage in the service transactions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 in which two colors of said lights are located in the service area to indicate an allowance of departure or an unauthorized departure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method in accordance with claim 7 in which a plurality of service areas are simultaneously handled, each of which contains means for activating the said controls and alarms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 in which each of the plurality of service areas is equipped so that the attendant in said service area may activate the sending of said signals to an area remote therefrom and a second attendant located in said remote area may return signals to a given service area independently of other service areas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
185 words
Electrical equipment for a system for controlling the service of vehicles driven by customers arriving in areas to obtain service which equipment comprises: a source of low voltage, direct current power for all elements in said equipment, a detector capable of activating a signal upon the stopping of said vehicle in said area and activating a second signal upon an unauthorized departure of said stopped vehicle, said signal and an inductive switch therefor, said switch being closed by said arrival of said vehicle, a first relay in parallel with and activated by the closure of said inductive switch, in a parallel shunt with said first relay an alarm control and in parallel with said relay a second relay, ohmically connected to a second relay an alarm activation switch for said alarm control, said switch closing and activating said alarm upon a deactivation of said detector caused by said unauthorized departure and the resultant activation of said second signal, in series with said alarm control a reset switch, a double-pole, single-throw switch the closure of which activates at least one service signal, and said service signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
185 words
Electrical equipment for a system for controlling the service of vehicles driven by customers arriving in areas to obtain service which equipment comprises: a source of low voltage, direct current power for all elements in said equipment, a detector capable of activating a signal upon the stopping of said vehicle in said area and activating a second signal upon an unauthorized departure of said stopped vehicle, said signal and an inductive switch therefor, said switch being closed by said arrival of said vehicle, a first relay in parallel with and activated by the closure of said inductive switch, in a parallel shunt with said first relay an alarm control and in parallel with said relay a second relay, ohmically connected to a second relay an alarm activation switch for said alarm control, said switch closing and activating said alarm upon a deactivation of said detector caused by said unauthorized departure and the resultant activation of said second signal, in series with said alarm control a reset switch, a double-pole, single-throw switch the closure of which activates at least one service signal, and said service signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
Electrical equipment in accordance with claim 12 containing a standby power source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
Electrical equipment in accordance with claim 12 containing a diode in parallel with said inductive switch affording suppression of electrical interference.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
Electrical equipment in accordance with claim 12 containing a reset switch for said alarm control.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
Electrical equipment in accordance with claim 12 containing a diode as a block device for voice communications unless the alarm switch is activated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
Electrical equipment in accordance with claim 12 in which said double-pole switch activates a series of signals.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
Electrical equipment in accordance with claim 17 in which said double-pole switch is ohmically connected to an electrical latch which once activated affords continuous activation of said signals until said relay is de-energized.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
Electrical equipment in accordance with claim 17 in which said signal in said series is activated separately and only in its proper turn as to the other signals, there being as to each signal a relay and a diode to effect said activation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
Electrical equipment in accordance with claim 19 in which the last of said signals is ohmically connected to a service completed switch of the double-pole, single-throw type, the activation of which effects a signal showing the completion of said service and the deactivation of which deactivates all elements in said equipment.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
Electrical equipment in accordance with claim 12 containing a film or video tape camera to obtain evidence in the event of the alarm activation.
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) | 1980-12-19 | 1981-06-20 | 1981-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-19 | 1985-06-20 | 1985-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-19 | 1989-06-20 | 1989-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |