US4101869A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle warning devices
Assignee: ALERT O DRIVE Pty Ltd
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Filing: 1976-06-02
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Granted: 1978-07-25
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Expires: 1996-06-02
Abstract
Abstract A safety device for use particularly with vehicles embodies a switching arrangement which is closed when excessive accelerative forces are applied thereto. Recording means are included to record "faults" sensed by the device and means are also provided for limiting the number of "faults" recorded by the device during a single prolonged closure of the switching arrangement.
Inventors
- 👤 Henning M. Henderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:02
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/44; B60Q1/445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
In a device for detecting and recording the occurrence of excessive inertial forces acting on a vehicle, said device having force detecting means actuated when excessive forces are acting on said vehicle, indicator means responsive to said force detecting means for indicating "faults" when said detecting means is actuated, said indicator means including timing means for preventing said indicator means from indicating additional "faults" during a predetermined time interval following the indication of a "fault," the improvement comprising counting means responsive to said indicator means and said detecting means for counting "faults" and for disabling said indicator means from indicating "faults" when the number of "faults" counted during a single actuation of said detector means exceeds a predetermined number.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a device for detecting and recording the occurrence of excessive inertial forces acting on a vehicle, said device having force detecting means actuated when excessive forces are acting on said vehicle, indicator means responsive to said force detecting means for indicating "faults" when said detecting means is actuated, said indicator means including timing means for preventing said indicator means from indicating additional "faults" during a predetermined time interval following the indication of a "fault," the improvement comprising counting means responsive to said indicator means and said detecting means for counting "faults" and for disabling said indicator means from indicating "faults" when the number of "faults" counted during a single actuation of said detector means exceeds a predetermined number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement according to claim 1 further characterized in that said predetermined number is three.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement according to claim 1 further characterized in that said counting means includes a flip-flop circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement according to claim 1 further including means to reset said counting means in response to termination of the actuation of said detecting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement according to claim 4 further including second timing means for delaying actuation of said means to reset for a second predetermined time interval following termination of the actuation of said detecting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement according to claim 5 further characterized in that said second timing means is a resistor-capacitor timing circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement according to claim 5 further characterized in that said second predetermined time inverval is approximately 1/2 second.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement according to claim 4 further including means for controlling said reset means to prevent reset of said counting means until said termination of actuation of said detecting means persists continuously for a second predetermined time interval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement according to claim 8 wherein said means for controlling is a resistor capacitor timing circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement according to claim 8 wherein said second predetermined time interval is approximately 1/2 second.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
85 words
A device for detecting and recording occurrences of excessive inertial forces acting on a vehicle comprising: detecting means actuated when excessive inertial forces are acting on a vehicle, indicator means responsive to said detecting means for indicating "faults" when said detecting means is actuated, and counting means responsive to said detecting means and said indicator means for counting "faults" and preventing said indicating means from indicating "faults" when the number of "faults" counted during a single actuation of said detecting means exceeds a predetermined number.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
85 words
A device for detecting and recording occurrences of excessive inertial forces acting on a vehicle comprising: detecting means actuated when excessive inertial forces are acting on a vehicle, indicator means responsive to said detecting means for indicating "faults" when said detecting means is actuated, and counting means responsive to said detecting means and said indicator means for counting "faults" and preventing said indicating means from indicating "faults" when the number of "faults" counted during a single actuation of said detecting means exceeds a predetermined number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
A device as in claim 11 wherein said predetermined number is three.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 11 wherein said counting means includes a flip-flop circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as in claim 11 wherein said indicator means includes timing means for preventing the indication of more than one "fault" for each of a plurality of successive first predetermined time intervals during which said detector means remains actuated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 14 wherein each of said first predetermined time intervals is approximately 3 seconds.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as in claim 11 further comprising means to reset said counting means in response to termination of the actuation of said detecting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as in claim 16 further comprising means for controlling said reset means to prevent reset of said counting means until said termination of actuation of said detecting means persists continuously for a second predetermined time interval.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as in claim 17 wherein said means for controlling is a resistor capacitor timing circuit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as in claim 17 wherein said second predetermined time interval is approximately 1/2 second.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as in claim 14 further comprising timing means for allowing said indicator means to be responsive to said detector means to indicate a "fault" only after said detector means remains actuated for a second predetermined time interval.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as in claim 27 wherein said second predetermined time interval is approximately 0.13 seconds.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as in claim 14 further comprising means to reset said counting means in response to termination of the actuation of said detecting means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as in claim 22 further comprising means for controlling said reset means to prevent reset of said counting means until said termination of actuation of said detecting means persists continuously for a third predetermined time interval.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as in claim 23 wherein said means for controlling is a resistor capacitor timing circuit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as in claim 23 wherein said third predetermined time interval is approximately 1/2 second.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as in claim 14 wherein said indicator means includes an oscillator circuit which, when activated, oscillates for said predetermined first time interval as determined by said timing means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
63 words
A device as in claim 26 wherein said oscillator circuit comprises a pair of NOR gates, a first of said NOR gates serving as the input to said oscillator, one input of said first NOR gate being normally low and said oscillator rendered operative when said actuated detecting means causes a second normally high input of said first NOR gate to go low.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device as in claim 27 wherein said counting means prevents said indicator means from counting "faults" by holding said second input normally high when said counter detects that said predetermined number of "faults" has been exceeded during a single actuation of said detecting means.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
201 words
A device for detecting and recording occurrences of excessive inertial forces acting on a vehicle comprising: detecting means actuated when excessive inertial forces are acting on a vehicle, indicator mean responsive to said detecting means for indicating "faults" when said detecting means is actuated, said indicator means including first timing means for preventing said indicating means from indicating additional "faults" during a first predetermined time interval following the indication of a "fault", second timing means for preventing said indicator means from indicating a "fault" until said detecting means remains actuated for a second predetermined time interval, first counter responsive to said indicator means to count the total number of "faults" indicated, second counter responsive to said indicator means and said detecting means for counting "faults" and for disabling said indicator means from indicating "faults" when the number of "faults" counted during a single actuation of said detector means exceeds a predetermined number, means for resetting said second counter in response to termination of said actuation of said detecting means, and means for controlling said reset means to prevent reset of said second counting means until the termination of actuation of said detecting means persists continuously for a third predetermined time interval.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
201 words
A device for detecting and recording occurrences of excessive inertial forces acting on a vehicle comprising: detecting means actuated when excessive inertial forces are acting on a vehicle, indicator mean responsive to said detecting means for indicating "faults" when said detecting means is actuated, said indicator means including first timing means for preventing said indicating means from indicating additional "faults" during a first predetermined time interval following the indication of a "fault", second timing means for preventing said indicator means from indicating a "fault" until said detecting means remains actuated for a second predetermined time interval, first counter responsive to said indicator means to count the total number of "faults" indicated, second counter responsive to said indicator means and said detecting means for counting "faults" and for disabling said indicator means from indicating "faults" when the number of "faults" counted during a single actuation of said detector means exceeds a predetermined number, means for resetting said second counter in response to termination of said actuation of said detecting means, and means for controlling said reset means to prevent reset of said second counting means until the termination of actuation of said detecting means persists continuously for a third predetermined time interval.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as in claim 29 further comprising an alarm circuit responsive to said indicator means for providing an audible indication of a "fault".
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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) | 1981-07-24 | 1982-01-23 | 1982-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-24 | 1986-01-23 | 1986-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-24 | 1990-01-23 | 1990-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |