Patent ID: 7567167
Filing Date: 2009-07-28
Classification: B60Q

Abstract:
1. A back-up safety apparatus that enables a driver of a vehicle to receive indications from a spoiler positioned outside of the vehicle in a position that provides the spoiler with a view of one or more blind spots of the driver positioned in a driver seat of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a handheld wireless transmitter configured for single-hand use by the spoiler, the handheld wireless transmitter comprising a button having only a depressed position and a released position, wherein the handheld wireless transmitter is configured to transmit a first wireless signal only when the button is in the depressed position, wherein the handheld wireless transmitter is configured to be held in a single hand of the spoiler in any orientation with respect to an orientation of the vehicle so that the button is selectively depressable by the spoiler's single hand that is also holding the transmitter, wherein the spoiler indicates that the vehicle is clear to move in a reverse direction by depressing the button and the spoiler indicates that the vehicle is not clear to move in the reverse direction by releasing the button, and the handheld wireless transmitter does not include a mechanism for providing indications of steering directions to the driver; a wireless receiver configured for positioning on the vehicle, the wireless receiver being configured to detect reception of the first wireless signal that is transmitted from the handheld wireless transmitter while the button is depressed, wherein the handheld wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are configured for programmable communication so that the handheld wireless transmitter is progranmed to transmit a unique identifier in the first signal that is recognized by the wireless receiver as being transmitted from the handheld wireless transmitter and not by other handheld wireless transmitters in close proximity; and an audio signal device configured for positioning on the vehicle such that audio tones output by the audio signal device are audible to the driver of the vehicle regardless of where the driver's visual attention is focused, wherein the audio signal device is configured to output a tone indicating that the driver is clear to back-up the vehicle in response to the wireless receiver receiving the first wireless signal while the button is in the depressed position.