Abstract:
The present invention concerns a vehicle locator device with a deployable arm that is protected from bad weather conditions, and that can be secured to an existing vehicle&#39;s roof luggage fixture or directly secured onto a vehicle&#39;s roof. Upon a single activation of a remote control, a localization arm is deployed in a vertical position (or retracted in an horizontal position) and one or more light sources mounted on the arm as well as, preferably, an audible signal are activated (or deactivated) to help in visually locating the vehicle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a vehicle locator device and more specifically to a remotely activated deployable and retractable visual vehicle locator device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Nowadays more and more people own vehicles, and parking lots for example become bigger and bigger. It may become difficult for a person to quickly find his vehicle among many others. The exact location may not be easily remembered. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,267 granted on Jan. 1, 1974 to Thomas and entitled “Extendible vehicle light mount”, a system with a light mounted on an elevating boom already exists. However, this system is intended for emergency vehicles and could also be used when the vehicle is in motion. This invention actually increases the visibility of already existing warning devices. The warning light is by no means small or to be hidden, both in the elevated or in the retracted position, nor is the system hidden in any way while in retracted position. The warning light cannot also be protected against bad weather conditions since it always remains exposed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,697 granted on Oct. 4, 1977 to Daifotes describes an “Emergency blinker and flag display”. This invention&#39;s purpose is to give a warning signal and attract attention in the event of a robbery in a taxi for example. The warning element is a flag mounted on an arm which opens up in a jack-knife fashion once activated. This invention is activated from within the vehicle and therefore cannot be used to localize the vehicle from a remote location when nobody is on board the vehicle. The flag display mechanism needs to be manually folded back to its retracted position, which is time-consuming and not user-friendly. Furthermore, this display has an illuminating light that can serve to attract attention, but this last use is not so effective since the light is positioned inside a half tubular extension member and since it is mainly intended to illuminate the flag, hence not positioned for maximum visibility to localize a vehicle from a remote location and in the dark. 
     Another example of location device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,758 granted on Jul. 28, 1998 to Bullock and entitled “Vehicle Locator System”. This system has a remotely activated warning light and can also remotely activate the vehicle&#39;s horn. This invention however needs to be installed whenever it is to be used, and removed when the vehicle is to be in movement. Those actions can be time consuming, and could even entice the vehicle&#39;s owner not to use the system for this troublesome reason. Furthermore, the system is not even partially hidden, hence attracting the attention of every passerby towards the vehicle, even when the system is not in use but installed. The system is not ‘foldable’, nor it is compact, hence will take up useful space in the car when not in use and put away, and could also be qualified as fragile when stored in the car. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a vehicle locator device of the character described which obviates the above noted disadvantages. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle locator device that allows for remote activation. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle locator device that can be permanently installed on a vehicle and partially hidden when not activated. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle locator device that is protected against bad weather conditions when not activated. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle locator device that is easily manufacturable and that can be easily mounted to a large variety of vehicles&#39; roof notwithstanding the other devices already mounted on the vehicle, and even mounted on other devices already mounted on a vehicle&#39;s roof, such as a roof luggage fixture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention consists of a vehicle locator device comprising: 
     a remote transmitting unit including a transmitter and a first power source; 
     an activation switch mounted on said remote unit and connected to said transmitter, said transmitting unit generates and emits a signal via said transmitter upon activation of said activation switch; 
     a receiving unit generally mounted on a vehicle and including a control circuit and a receiver, both being connectable to a second power source, said receiving unit being adapted to receive said signal emitted from said transmitting unit; 
     an arm support structure including a base section adapted to be secured onto a roof of said vehicle, and an arm section pivotally mounted onto said base section via an actuator device between an activated deployed position and a non-activated retracted position; 
     one or more light sources mounted onto said arm section of said support structure, said actuator device and one or more light sources being connected to said receiving unit, both said one or more light sources and actuator device being energized by said second power source via said control circuit and disposed to either be turned on and deploy said arm section respectively as said receiving unit receives a first of said signal from said transmitting unit, or be turned off and retract said arm section respectively as said receiving unit receives a second of said signal from said transmitting unit. 
     Preferably, the vehicle locator device further comprises a first and second limit switches connected to said control circuit and detecting said retracted and deployed positions of said arm section respectively, said second limit switch being used to disconnect said actuator device deploying said arm section from said second power source and connect said light sources to said second power source, said first limit switch being used to disconnect said actuator device retracting said arm section from said second power source. 
     Preferably, the control circuit of said receiving unit includes two relays interconnected and connected to said first and second limit switches, said second power source and said actuator device. 
     Preferably, the relays being double position double contact type relays. 
     Preferably, the base section is substantially horizontally secured onto said roof and said arm section is always positioned between said retracted and deployed positions being substantially horizontal and vertical respectively. 
     Preferably, the support structure is adapted to be secured to an existing transverse roof luggage fixture. 
     Preferably, the support structure is generally elongated in shape and transversely positioned to a direction of displacement of said vehicle. 
     Preferably, the light sources and actuator device are protected against bad weather conditions by both said base and arm sections when the latter is into said non-activated retracted position. 
     Preferably, the arm section includes a first end pivotally mounted onto said base section, a second end adapted to receive said one or more light sources and a substantially mid-section adapted to pivotally engage a first extremity of a support bar, said support bar having a second extremity pivotally secured to a block slidably mounted onto said base section, said block being linearly displaced along said base section by said actuator device between said two limit switches. 
     Preferably, the actuator device includes a reversible electrical motor activated in a first operating and a second reversible operating modes to deploy and retract said arm section respectively, and said second power source being a direct current supply of said vehicle. 
     Preferably, the actuator device further includes an endless screw rotatably supported into said base section and rotatably engaging a nut fixedly secured to said block. 
     Optionally, the arm section includes a lower and upper members, said lower member includes a bottom end pivotally mounted onto said base section, a substantially mid-section adapted to pivotally engage a first extremity of a support bar, said support bar having a second extremity pivotally secured to a block slidably mounted onto said base section, said block being linearly displaced along said base section by said actuator device between a first and a second limit positions corresponding to said retracted and deployed positions respectively, said lower member being adapted to slidably receive said upper member between a lower folded and a upper unfolded positions using a second actuator device energized by said second power source via said control circuit and mounted onto said lower member, said upper member being adapted to receive said one or more light sources at an upper extremity. 
     Preferably, the vehicle locator device further comprises a first and second limit switches connected to said control circuit and detecting said retracted and deployed positions of said arm section respectively, a third and fourth limit switches connected to said control circuit and detecting said unfolded and folded positions of said upper member of said arm section respectively, said second limit switch being used to disconnect said first actuator device deploying said arm section from said second power source and connecting said second actuator device unfolding said upper member to said second power source, said fourth limit switch being used to disconnect said second actuator device unfolding said upper member from and connect said light sources to said second power source, said third limit switch being used to disconnect said second actuator device folding said upper member from and connect said first actuator device retracting said arm section to said second power source, said first limit switch being used to disconnect said first actuator device retracting said arm section from said second power source. 
     Preferably, the first actuator device includes a reversible electrical motor activated in a first operating and a second reversible operating modes to deploy and retract said arm section respectively, said second actuator device includes a second reversible electrical motor activated in a first operating and a second reverse operating modes to unfold and fold said upper member of said arm section respectively, said second power source being a direct current supply of said vehicle. 
     Preferably, the first actuator device further includes a first endless screw rotatably supported into said base section and rotatably engaging a first nut fixedly secured to said block, and said second actuator device further includes a second endless screw rotatably supported into said lower member of said arm section and rotatably engaging a second nut fixedly secured to a lower extremity of said upper member of said arm section. 
     Preferably, the control circuit of said receiving unit includes two relays interconnected and connected to said first, second, third and fourth limit switches, said second power source and said first and second actuator devices. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the annexed drawings, like reference characters indicate like elements throughout. 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment according to a vehicle locator device of the present invention showing a support structure in a non-activated retracted position on the roof of a road vehicle; 
     FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the arm support structure of FIG. 1 in the activated deployed position; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a second embodiment of the arm support structure of FIG. 1 with a weather unprotected arm section in an activated but partially deployed position; 
     FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned front perspective view showing a third embodiment of the arm support structure with a telescopic arm section; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of a fourth embodiment with a weather unprotected telescopic arm section; 
     FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a similar vehicle locator device of FIG. 4 secured on an existing vehicle&#39;s transverse roof luggage fixture; 
     FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the electrical circuit of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the switches positioned for the retracted position of the arm section; 
     FIG. 8 is a diagram similar to FIG. 7 but referring to the embodiment of FIG. 2 with the switches positioned for the deployed position of the arm section; and 
     FIG. 9 is a diagram similar to FIG. 7 but referring to the embodiment of FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a vehicle locator device  20  comprising a remote transmitting unit, preferably a remote control  22 , a receiving unit  28  and an arm support structure  36 . The remote sensing unit  22  includes a signal transmitter (not shown) connected to a first power source (not shown), preferably a standard DC battery, and an activation switch  24 . 
     The remote sensing unit  22  is preferably carried by the user, or vehicle driver, when he is away from his vehicle V. Upon activation of the activation switch  24  by the user, a signal  26  is generated and emitted from the transmitter (not shown) of the remote sensing unit  22 . 
     The receiving unit  28  is generally internally mounted to the arm support structure  36  and includes a receiver  29 , a preferably electrical circuit  30  and a power cord  32  connecting the receiver  29  to a second power source  34 , preferably the 12 VDC battery of the vehicle V. Optionally, the power cord  32  could be connected to the second power source  34  via a plug adapted to engage into preferably a standard cigarette lighter (not shown) or any other power port available inside the vehicle V. The receiver  29  of the receiving unit  28  is adapted to receive and recognize the signal  26  emitted from the transmitting unit  22 . 
     In order to be highly visible from a remote location, the arm support structure  36  is secured to the roof R of the same vehicle V. The arm support structure  36  is generally elongated in shape and preferably transversely positioned with respect to the direction of displacement of the vehicle V; any other orientation would also be acceptable. The arm support structure  36  includes a substantially horizontally positioned base section  38  secured onto the roof R of the vehicle V. Preferably, a mounting fixture  40  is mounted to the bottom interface section of the base section  38  to secure the arm support structure  36  to the roof R. A second electric connecting cord  42 , preferably hidden, connects the circuit  30  of the receiving unit  28  to an actuator, preferably including a reversible electric motor  44  located at a first extremity of the arm support structure  36 . 
     The arm support structure  36  of FIG. 1 is in a lower non-activated retracted position. FIG. 2 shows the same arm support structure  36  in an upper activated deployed position. The deployment of the arm support structure  36  is the result of the signal  26  being received by the receiving unit  28 . Consequently, the latter sends a pulse that allows power, via the circuit  30 , to reach to the motor  44  of the arm support structure  36  from the second power source  34 . 
     The arm support structure  36  also includes an arm section  46  preferably located at its central part. In a first embodiment of the vehicle locator device  20 , the arm section  46  has a first end  48  pivotally mounted to the second extremity of the base support  38  allowing the arm to move in an angular fashion between the essentially horizontal retracted position (FIG. 1) and the essentially vertical deployed position (FIG.  2 ). The second end  50  of the arm section  46  is preferably made of a strong material with a preferably semi-transparent characteristic adapted to receive one or more light sources  52 . The light sources  52  are connected to the second power source  34  via a generally hidden second connecting cord (not shown). The arm section  46  is adapted to pivotally receive a first extremity  58  of a support bar  56  at approximately mid-length  54 . The second extremity  60  of the support bar  56  is pivotally mounted onto a sliding block  62 . The block  62  is slidably mounted on the central section of the base section  38  along guiding rails (not shown). The motor  44  drives an endless rotating screw  64  of the first actuator rotatably mounted, via bearings  67 , on the base section  38 . The screw  64  engages a nut  65  fixedly secured inside sliding block  62  to slidably displace the latter upon rotation of the screw  64 . 
     The arm section  46  is preferably of a U-shape cross-section to allow for the endless screw  64 , the support bar  56  and the block  62  to fit therein and being therefore protected against various weather conditions when the arm section  46  is in its horizontal retracted position. The material for the base support  38  and the arm section  46  that are to be exposed to outside temperature, especially when the arm section  46  is in an horizontal retracted position, are of a resistant material against UV, humidity, snow, wind, etc. 
     Upon application of the second power source  34  (FIG.  1 ), the motor  44  rotates rotating screw  64 , which engages a linear sliding movement of the nut  65  and its corresponding block  62  towards the motor  44 , thereby causing, by the intermediary of the support bar  56  pivotally secured to both the block  62  and the arm section  46 , the deployment of the arm section  46  from its retracted horizontal position (FIG. 1) into its elevated vertical position (FIG.  2 ). The block  62  linearly slides along the central section of the base support  38  and the screw  64  upon activation between a first and a second limit positions determined by first and second limit switches  66 , 68  respectively and corresponding to the two retracted and deployed limit positions of the arm section  46  respectively. Upon the block  62  reaching of the second limit switch  68 , preferably a pair of parallel switches simultaneously activated, the arm  46  stops moving and the light sources  52  are energized and emit a visual signal for the user. In this fully deployed limit position of the arm  46 , the light sources  52  are high enough to be above roofs R of surrounding vehicles and visually detected by the user. 
     Upon a first activation of the activation switch  24 , a first pulse of current is sent by the receiver  29  to the control circuit  30  via second limit switch  66  (detailed in the block diagram of FIG. 7) that toggles a first double position double contact (2P2T) relay  72  to provide power to the motor  44 . The latter makes the arm section  46  to deploy from its retracted first limit position up to its deployed second limit position. When reaching the latter, the sliding block  62  activates the second limit switch  68  that toggles back the first relay  72  to cut the power going to the motor  44  and, at the same time, provides power to the light sources  52 . The vehicle locator device  20  remains in that position operating deployed until another command is sent. 
     To stop the device  20 , a second activation of the activation switch  24  is required to send a second pulse of current from the receiver  29  to the control circuit  30  via first limit switch  68  that toggles a second double position double contact (2P2T) relay  70  to provide a reverse power to the motor  44  and, the block  62  moving away from switch  68  that cuts power going to the light sources  52 . The motor  44  then makes the arm section  46  to retract back down to its first retracted limit position. When reaching the latter, the sliding block  62  activates the first limit switch  66  that toggles back the second relay  70  to cuts the power going to the motor  44 , with the vehicle locator device  20  being in a completely retracted position, as detailed in the block diagram of FIG.  8 . 
     Optionally, the second pulse of current may be caused by the vehicle user unlocking the vehicle doors or by simply starting the vehicle&#39;s engine. Ultimatly, the latter option has the advantage that the vehicle locator device  20  cannot be forgotten in deployed position before the vehicle is being displaced. 
     FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment  20   a  with a weather unprotected arm section  46   a  in a partially deployed position. 
     A third and a fourth embodiments of the vehicle locator device  20   b,    20   c  are partially shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively. This embodiment is used when it is required to locate the light sources  52   a  higher in order to better clear surrounding structures. Accordingly, the arm section  46   a  includes a telescopic upper member  74  slidably and longitudinally extending out of a lower member  76  of the arm section  46   a  under the activation of a second actuator that preferably includes a second reversible electric motor  78 . The second motor  78 , preferably secured to a first bottom end  48  of the arm section  46   a,  drives a second endless rotating screw  80 . The second screw  80  of the second actuator  78  rotatably engages a second nut  82  fixedly secured to the bottom extremity  84  of the telescopic member  74  of the arm section  46   a  and that runs along the second screw  80  between a first folded and a second unfolded limit positions extended delimited by a third and a fourth limit switches  86 ,  88  respectively (see FIG.  5 ). The telescopic member  74  internally slides into guiding grooves (not shown) and carries the light sources  52   a  at its upper extremity  90 . 
     In this third embodiment  20   b,  when the sliding block  62  activates the second limit switch  68   a  (refer to the block diagram of FIG.  9 ), the first motor  44  is stopped and the second motor  78  is turned on while moving away from the third switch  86 . When the telescopic member  74  reaches its extended limit position up to the fourth limit switch  88 , preferably a pair of parallel switches simultaneously activated, that toggles back the first relay  72  to cut the power going to the second motor  78 , and at the same time provides power to the light sources  52   a.    
     Following the second pulse, the control circuit  30  toggles the second relay  70  to provide a reverse power to the second motor  78  and cuts power going to the light sources  52   a.  Then, the telescopic member  74  reaches its lower third limit position, it activates the third limit switch  86  that provides a reverse power to the first motor  44  and cuts the power going to the second motor until a complete retracted position of the arm section  46   a  is reached. 
     FIG. 6 shows that the mounting fixtures  40  of the arm support structure  36  may also be adapted to mount on an existing roof luggage fixture F already mounted on the roof R of the vehicle V. 
     Alternatively, one skilled in the art would easily conceive that both actuators presented herein as being motors  44 ,  78  driving a respective endless screw  64 ,  80  engaging a respective nut  65 ,  82  could be respectively replaced by equivalent motors driving a respective pinion rotating the arm section  46  and engaging a sliding rack extending the arm section  46   a,  or in another way, equivalent mobile motors (motors located on the sliding block) driving a respective pinion engaging and rolling along a respective fixed rack, to reproduce the above described rotating and sliding motions. 
     Alternatively, in order to fully hide the light source  52  when the arm section  46  is in fully retracted position (as shown in FIG.  6 ), it would be possible to have the block  62  pulling the arm  46  with its bottom end  48  at the end of its run, just before hitting the switch  66 , so as to have the light  52  to slightly slide underneath the support structure  36  (bearing  67  at the first end  48  being allow to slightly slide over the screw  64 ). Upon deployment command, the entire arm  46  would first be slightly displaced to fully expose the light  52  before abutting the support structure  36  and starting its raising deployment. 
     Although embodiments have been described herein with some particularity and details, many modifications and variations of the preferred embodiments are possible without deviating from the scope of the present invention.