GB2239137A

GB2239137A - Arrangement to warn of braking or swerving of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2239137A
Application number: GB8921865A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William James * Bell George
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-09-28
Filing date: 1989-09-28
Publication date: 1991-06-19
Also published as: GB8921865D0

Abstract

A metal disc is mounted at the top of a wire spring so that hard braking or swerving causes movement of the disc to complete a circuit energising the hooter and hazard lights or the hooter and head lights. A rear hooter and rear fog lights may also be energised. The disc is mounted within a plastics cylinder carrying a front contact to sense braking and side contacts to sense swerving. The separate contacts may alternatively be omitted, the cylinder then being of metal and the disc position being vertically adjustable to vary the effective length of the spring thereby adjusting the sensitivity of the swerving/braking sensor, (Fig B). <IMAGE>

Description

THE HOOTALERTER The Hootalerter is a device fitted to a motor vehicle, to sound the hooter (and extra rear hooter if fitted), and to switch on hazard lights, rear fog and bright head lights in the event of sudden braking or swerving.

ItSs purpose is to warn other persons or vehicles that one is braking or swerving sharply, especially pedestrians in front, or closely following traffic. Usually in an emergency brake or swerve situation, one is unable to blow the hooter quickly enough to warn others to get out of the way, or to keep clear. On motorways, the hazard lights would immediately warn motorists approaching from the rear of an impending dangerous situation by drawing their attention to heavier braking.

It consists of a small metal or plastic cylinder, containing a heavy metal disc mounted horizontally near the top, inside, at the top end of a stiff flexible wire, which is in turn mounted to the base of the cylinder. At the top end of the cylinder are three screws, which can be knurled, for easy finger adjustment, with knurled locking nuts. These line up with the edge of the disc. When the cylinder is mounted to the vehicle, in any convenient vertical position, the centre screw must be facing the front, with the other two screws at right angles to it; ie one to the left and one to the right side of the vehicle.The screws are connected together electrically with a metal strip, or wire, and connected via a relay switch to the hooter or hooters, head or hazard lights and rear fog lamps. (A rear hooter may be fitted as an additional warning for following traffic) The positive electric supply is connected to the bottom of the spring wire. With sudden braking, the metal disc contacts the front screws, completing the circuit and sounding the hooter and switching on the hazard lights and if required, the fog lights and head lights.

With a violent swerve, the side contact is engaged and the same things occur.

The body of the cylinder, if metal, is insulated from the disc, spring and adjusting screws. The device is described in drawing A.

A simpler and cheaper version shown in drawing B is made by raising or lowering the disc for adjustment inside a metal cylinder. When the disc is low and the spring short and stiffer, heavier braking will be required to complete the circuit.

Since contacts would be infrequent, proper electrical contact points may not be necessary, but could be used if required. In this version, the body forms part of the circuit and has to be insulated from its mounting clamp.

Claims

THE HOOTALERTER : CLAIMS ,

1. A Hootalerter, comprising a small cylinder, mounted vertically in an independant electric supply circuit to a vehicle's hooter. A metal disc, spring mounted, upon hard braking or swerving, closes a contact, thereby completing the circuit and sounding the horn instantly, allowing the driver to keep both hands on the wheel for saber control.

2. A Hootalerter as described in claim 1, with adjustable interconnected terminals at the front and sides of the cylinder, for making contact with the weighted disc during hard braising or swerving. These terminals are electrically isolated from the disc and spring in normal conditions. (See Fig A).

3. A Hootalerter as described in claims 1 and 2 with a spring wire of circular cross section, mounted into the base of the cylinder, to which spring is connected a power supply.

4. A Hoolalerter as described in claims 1, 2 and .3 with a mounting clamp for attaching the cylinder in a vertical position in a vehicle. The clamp is insulated from the cylinder if a metal cylinder is used.

5. A Hootalerter as described in claims 1,2,3 and 4 where a metal body acts as the contact with the spring metal disc (See Fig B).

6. A Hootalerter as described in claims 1,2,3,4 and 5 where the adjustment is made by raising or lowering the disc through the base, thereby changing the length of spring. The base in this format is non-conductive, such as plastic.

r. A Hootalerter as described in preceding claims where the output terminals are also connected, via a relay switch, directly to the hazard lights to warn closely following traffic especially at night, of harder than normal braking.

8. A Hootalerter as described in preceding claims where the output terminals are connected to the hazard lights via the flasher unit and so cause the lights to flash warnings of hard braking.

9. A Hootalerter as described in preceding claims where the output terminal is connected via a relay switch to the bright headlights to enable a driver to see better and to warn other traffic or pedestrians of hard braking.

10. A Hootalerter as described in preceding claims connected to a second (or third) hooter fitted in the rear of the vehicle, to warn closely following vehicles of hard braking THE HOOTALERTER : CLAIMS : 1. A small cylinder for vertical mounting in a motor vehicle, with a weighted metal disc mounted inside near the top, on a spring fastened to the bottom Figs A and B. With hard braking or swerving, the disc contacts terminals inside of the cylinder and closes an electric circuit thereby blowing the hooter and turning on the hazard lights. The bright headlights and rear fog can also be used if desired.

2. A cylinder as in Fig A with base and lid.

3. A spring wire of circular cross section mounted into base of cylinder in claim 2.

4. A heavy disc fastened to the top of the spring wire in claim 3.

5. Adjustable terminals with locking screws to be adjusted to make contact with heavy disc in claim 4 when hard braking applied to vehicle.

6. Metal strip or wire connecting terminals described in claim 5, together.

7. Terminal at base connecting power supply wire to spring and thence to disc.

8. Insulated base and or sides made of plastic or similar material. Fig A.

9. Output terminal, to activate system via a relay switch if more than one option is used, when the circuit is completed by the disc contacting one of the terminals.

10. A small cylinder as described in claim 1 except that the disc contacts the metal wall of the cylinder to complete the circuit, instead of the adjustable terminals. Fig B.

11. The adjusting screw Fig B, allows the spring to be adjusted up or down for different stiffnesses, to make contact during hard braking.

12. The base, through which passes the spring is made of plastic or some other non conductive material Fig B

13. A terminal connecting the body of the cylinder to the electrical circuit Fig B.

14. A clamp, insulated if used with the metal cylinder, to mount the cylinder in a vertical position in any convenient position in a vehicle. Fig B.