Self contained universal front end protector

Claim 1

Apparatus for use with a moving vehicle or parked vehicle to automatically alert the operator of said moving vehicle to an impending collision between said moving vehicle and said parked vehicle, said apparatus comprising: means selectively actuable to emit a perceptible alarm signal; means including a switch coupled to said alarm means for selectively enabling said alarm means, said switch having push-button actuator means for opening and closing said switch; a wand; means mounted to one of said vehicles and extending outwardly therefrom to support said wand; means for pivotably coupling said wand to said support means, said coupling means comprising a yoke coupled to said support means and means including a tongue member coupled to said wand, said yoke having a pair of horizontally displaced finger members extending outwardly from said support means and said tongue being positioned between said yoke finger members, said coupling means including a pin for pivotably coupling said tongue to said yoke finger members so that said wand extends in a generally vertical direction at a predetermined distance from said one vehicle, said switch being mounted in said yoke with said push-button actuator extending outwardly between said yoke finger members to selectively engage said tongue; and means for biasing said tongue to a quiescent position relative to said push-button actuator means where said switch is open-circuited, said switch being close-circuited to enable said alarm means whenever said wand is moved responsive to encroachment by said moving vehicle to within said predetermined distance of said parked vehicle.