US6236306B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tactual annunciating device for notifying vehicle or machinery status or condition
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1998-05-05
•
Granted: 2001-05-22
•
Expires: 2018-05-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for supplying tactile signals to the user of a vehicle or other machine to indicate the operational status or condition of the vehicle or machine, or a functional part thereof. A cam undergoes rotary movement within a flexible cylindrical wall having a corrugated inner surface, as with ridges of the like. The distal end of the cam contacts the inner surface as the cam rotates. The rotary motion of the cams modulated and regulated in response to output signals associated with operating conditions, for example, fluid pressure, engine speed, oil temperature, transmitted from corresponding sending units. The rotation of the cam causes periodic flexure of displacement of the wall which is palpable to the user. In one embodiment, the rotating cam causes one or more movable plungers to move to-and from in and out of the wall, also resulting in a tactile signal to the user. The cam may be driven by an electric motor which is responsive to the input signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Lyndon L. Liebelt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:42
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B6/00; B; B62; B62J; B62J50/00; B62J50/20; B62J50/21; B62K; B62K21/00; B62K21/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
An annunciation apparatus for a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a resilient substantially cylindrical well incorporated as part of the motor vehicle and grasped by a hand of a user of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is being operated, said wall comprising a corrugated inner surface comprising a plurality of corrugations and an outer surface; a rotatable cam disposed within said wall and contactable with said corrugated inner surface of said wall; drive means for rotating said cam; and means for receiving a motor vehicle status signal thereby causing said annuciator to annuciate thereby indicating an operating condition of the motor vehicle; wherein rotation of said cam contacts said cam with said corrugated inner surface to induce radially outward displacement of an arcuate section of said resilient wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
An annunciation apparatus for a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a resilient substantially cylindrical well incorporated as part of the motor vehicle and grasped by a hand of a user of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is being operated, said wall comprising a corrugated inner surface comprising a plurality of corrugations and an outer surface; a rotatable cam disposed within said wall and contactable with said corrugated inner surface of said wall; drive means for rotating said cam; and means for receiving a motor vehicle status signal thereby causing said annuciator to annuciate thereby indicating an operating condition of the motor vehicle; wherein rotation of said cam contacts said cam with said corrugated inner surface to induce radially outward displacement of an arcuate section of said resilient wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An annunciation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said means for rotating comprises an electric motor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An annunciation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cam is constantly in contact with said inner surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An annunciation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said corrugated inner surface comprises uniformly radially spaced ridges, and said cam periodically contacts said ridges.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said substantially cylindrical wall comprises a member selected from the group consisting of handle pipes, steering wheels, tillers, shift levers, and operator control levers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
157 words
An annunciation apparatus for a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a substantially cylindrical wall incorporated as part of the motor vehicle and grasped by a hand of a user of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is operated, said wall comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said wall defining at least one hole between said inner surface and said outer surface; a plunger movably disposed within said at least one hole, said plunger having a proximate end and a distal end; a rotatable cam disposed within said wall and contactable with said proximate end of said plunger; drive means for rotating said cam within said wall; and means for receiving a motor vehicle status signal thereby causing said annunciator to annuciate thereby indicating an operating condition of the motor vehicle; wherein rotation of said cam periodically contacts said cam with said proximate end of said plunger to induce radially outward displacement of said plunger.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
157 words
An annunciation apparatus for a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a substantially cylindrical wall incorporated as part of the motor vehicle and grasped by a hand of a user of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is operated, said wall comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said wall defining at least one hole between said inner surface and said outer surface; a plunger movably disposed within said at least one hole, said plunger having a proximate end and a distal end; a rotatable cam disposed within said wall and contactable with said proximate end of said plunger; drive means for rotating said cam within said wall; and means for receiving a motor vehicle status signal thereby causing said annunciator to annuciate thereby indicating an operating condition of the motor vehicle; wherein rotation of said cam periodically contacts said cam with said proximate end of said plunger to induce radially outward displacement of said plunger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
An annunciator apparatus for a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a substantially cylindrical well incorporated as part of the motor vehicle and grasped by a hand of a user of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is being operated; a mass contacting said cylindrical wall; a drive means for moving said mass through a range of vibrational frequencies; and means for receiving a motor vehicle status thereby causing said annunciator apparatus to annunciate thereby indicating an operating condition of the motor vehicle; wherein movement of said mass induces a range of vibrational frequencies in said substantially cylindrical wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
An annunciator apparatus for a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a substantially cylindrical well incorporated as part of the motor vehicle and grasped by a hand of a user of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is being operated; a mass contacting said cylindrical wall; a drive means for moving said mass through a range of vibrational frequencies; and means for receiving a motor vehicle status thereby causing said annunciator apparatus to annunciate thereby indicating an operating condition of the motor vehicle; wherein movement of said mass induces a range of vibrational frequencies in said substantially cylindrical wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said substantially cylindrical wall comprises a member selected from the group consisting of handle pipes, steering wheels, tillers, shift levers, and operator control levers.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claims 7 , in which said mass comprises an eccentric mass supported for cyclical movement.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of indicating that a motor vehicle signal status is active, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a substantially cylindrical wall incorporated as part of the motor vehicle and grasped by a hand of a user of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is being operated, the wall comprising a member selected from the group consisting of handle pipes, steering wheels, tillers, shift levers, and operator control levers; and b) when the motor vehicle status signal is active, inducing a range of vibrational frequencies in the substantially cylindrical wall, thereby indicating an operating condition of the motor vehicle.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of indicating that a motor vehicle signal status is active, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a substantially cylindrical wall incorporated as part of the motor vehicle and grasped by a hand of a user of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is being operated, the wall comprising a member selected from the group consisting of handle pipes, steering wheels, tillers, shift levers, and operator control levers; and b) when the motor vehicle status signal is active, inducing a range of vibrational frequencies in the substantially cylindrical wall, thereby indicating an operating condition of the motor vehicle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3623064A
Cited
US3618070A
Cited
US3618080A
Cited
US3806868A
Cited
US4731603A
Cited
US4918438A
Cited
US5007105A
Cited
US5218340A
Cited
US5547382A
Cited
US5337364A
Cited
US5392032A
Cited
US5519378A
Cited
US5523738A
Cited
US5619181A
Cited
US5684287A
Cited
US5663703A
Cited
US5767796A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-21 | 2004-11-20 | 2005-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-21 | 2008-11-20 | 2009-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-21 | 2012-11-20 | 2013-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |