Patent Publication Number: US-2022219534-A1

Title: Vehicle Safety System

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 63/136,286, filed on Jan. 12, 2021. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a vehicle safety system for vehicles comprising a bed-mounted hitch. 
     B. Prior Art 
     There are many situations when operating a vehicle with a bed-mounted hitch can be dangerous if proper precautions are not taken. Many types of trailers require bed-mounted hitches for towing. Bed-mounted hitches, such as fifth-wheel hitches or gooseneck hitches, assist in distributing a concentrated payload imparted by a trailer coupler to the rear axle(s) of the vehicle. 
     Vehicles with bed-mounted hitches often have a tailgate which is commonly positioned in an upright, closed position. When connecting a trailer to a bed-mounted hitch, a driver must remember to perform a variety of sequential steps to avoid damaging the vehicle and/or trailer before, during and after the trailer is attached to the vehicle&#39;s bed-mounted hitch. The driver must be fully alert and maintain a heightened level of awareness throughout the entire process to ensure the trailer is properly attached to the bed-mounted hitch. Unfortunately, lapses in concentration during the process can result in costly damages to the vehicle and/or trailer as well as the driver and occupants within the vehicle. What is needed is a system which assists the driver in safely connecting a trailer to a bed-mounted hitch and protects the occupants of the vehicle and the vehicle itself. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a vehicle safety system for vehicles comprising bed-mounted hitches. The vehicle safety system, hereinafter referred to as the “safety system”, is configured to be retrofitted and integrated within a vehicle infotainment system to assist a driver when connecting a trailer to the vehicle&#39;s bed-mounted hitch. The safety system assists the driver both before and after the trailer is mechanically attached and electrically connected to the vehicle. 
     The safety system comprises a plurality of wiring harnesses and a tailgate switch assembly. Once the vehicle is retrofitted with the safety system, the safety system provides automatic safety alerts to the driver before (pre-installation) and after (post-installation) a trailer is attached to the vehicle&#39;s bed-mounted hitch. Prior to the trailer being attached, the safety system automatically alerts the driver when the tailgate is in an upright, closed position and the vehicle is in reverse and within a predetermined distance from an object relative to the rear of the vehicle. Such an alert prompts the driver to open the tailgate before attaching and connecting the trailer to the vehicle. 
     After the trailer is attached to the bed-mounted hitch, the safety system automatically alerts the driver if the tailgate is in an open position when the vehicle&#39;s transmission is not in a park position and the trailer wiring harness is electrically connected to the vehicle infotainment system. Such an alert prompts the driver to close the tailgate before towing the trailer after it has been attached and connected to the vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a top view of a vehicle and a trailer. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an isometric view of the vehicle and the trailer showing the vehicle in reverse, located substantially near a predetermined distance from the trailer, with the vehicle&#39;s tailgate in an upright, closed position. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of an isometric view of the vehicle and the trailer showing the vehicle in a stationary position with its tailgate in a substantially horizontal, open position. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of an isometric view of the vehicle and the trailer showing the vehicle&#39;s tailgate in a substantially horizontal, open position and the vehicle positioned such that the trailer&#39;s gooseneck is above the bed of the vehicle. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of an isometric view of the vehicle and the trailer showing the trailer attached to and supported by the bed-mounted hitch and the vehicle&#39;s tailgate in an upright, closed position. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic flow chart showing the logic used by a vehicle safety system. 
         FIG. 7  depicts the interconnections between various electronic components of the vehicle safety system. 
     
    
    
     NUMBERING REFERENCE 
     
         
           1 —Vehicle safety system 
           10 —Vehicle 
           10   a —Front end 
           10   b —Rear end 
           11 —Vehicle infotainment system 
           12   a —Center high mounted stop light 
           12   b —Center high mounted stop light camera 
           13   a —Tailgate 
           13   b —Tailgate backup camera 
           14 —Bed-mounted hitch 
           15 —Plurality of vehicle side cameras 
           20 —Trailer 
           21 —Gooseneck 
           22 —Trailer coupler 
           23 —Trailer drop leg 
           24 —Plurality of trailer cameras 
           25 —Trailer wiring harness 
           50 —Wiring harness 
           51 —First end 
           52 —Second end 
           55 —First cable 
           56 —Second cable 
           57 —Third cable 
           60 —Tailgate switch assembly 
           70 —System controller 
           80 —OEM Wiring Harness 
         A—Predetermined distance 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     A non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a vehicle safety system  1 , hereinafter referred to as the “safety system”  1 , is disclosed for vehicles  10  comprising one or more bed-mounted hitches  14 . The safety system  1  is detachably coupled to a vehicle infotainment system  11  to assist a driver when attaching and connecting a trailer  20  to the vehicle  10 . The safety system  1  assists the driver both before and after the trailer  20  is mechanically attached and electrically connected to the vehicle  10 . 
     There are a variety of trailers  20  which require the vehicle  10  comprise a bed-mounted hitch  14  for towing trailers  20 . In addition to the bed-mounted hitch  14 , the vehicle  10  also comprises a front end  10   a , a rear end  10   b , a transmission, the vehicle infotainment system  11 , a tailgate  13   a , a tailgate backup camera  13   b , a center high mounted stop light  12   a , a center high mounted stop light camera  12   b , and an OEM wiring harness  80 . Such trailers  20  comprise a gooseneck  21 , one or more trailer drop legs  23 , and a plurality of trailer cameras  24 . The gooseneck  21  comprises a fixed end and a free end. The fixed end is rigidly attached to the trailer  20 . The free end further comprises a trailer coupler  22 , which is used to mechanically attach to the bed-mounted hitch  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The elevation of the bottom of the trailer coupler  22  is adjustable within a predetermined range. However, vehicles  10  comprising bed-mounted hitches  14  also frequently have tailgates  13   a.    
     The tailgate  13   a  comprises a plurality of sides. The plurality of sides is further comprised of a top end, a bottom end, and two side ends. The bottom end is pivotally attached to the vehicle  10 . One or more of the other sides may be secured to the vehicle  10  by one or more securement mechanisms. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the tailgate  13   a  can be oriented in a substantially upright position, hereinafter referred to as a “closed position”. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the tailgate  13   a  can pivot about its bottom end such that it is oriented in a substantially horizontal position, hereinafter referred to as an “open position”. 
     When a tailgate  13   a  is oriented in its closed position, it will often not allow the trailer coupler  22  to clear the top side of the tailgate  13   a  without the tailgate  13   a  colliding with the trailer coupler  22 . Accordingly, most vehicles  10  require the tailgate  13   a  be oriented in its open position prior to positioning the vehicle  10  such that the bed-mounted hitch  14  is substantially aligned with and able to engage the trailer coupler  22 . However, unfortunately, drivers often forget to open the tailgate before reversing the vehicle  10  towards the trailer  20 . To overcome this problem, the safety system  1  provides a pre-installation alert notification that notifies the driver that the tailgate  13   a  is oriented in its closed position when the transmission is in reverse and the rear end  10   b  is at or within a pre-determined distance A from the trailer  20 . Thus, the pre-installation alert notification mitigates the risk of the driver accidentally damaging the vehicle  10  and/or trailer  20  when the vehicle  10  is reversing towards the trailer  20 . 
     The safety system  1  comprises a wiring harness  50  and tailgate switch assembly  60 . The wiring harness comprises a system controller, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The system controller  70  comprises a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is configured to electronically control a variety and plurality of external components and can control one or more signal inputs transmitted to the vehicle infotainment system  11 . 
     The vehicle  10  further comprises a dual backup camera system. The dual backup camera system may be factory installed or installed as an aftermarket upgrade. The dual backup camera system comprises the tailgate backup camera  13   b  and the center high mounted stop light camera  12   b , hereinafter referred to as the “CHMSLC”  12   b . The tailgate backup camera  13   b  is substantially positioned at the rear end  10   b , as shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , the CHMSLC  12   b  is located substantially adjacent to a center high mounted stop light  12   a . Each camera  12   a ,  12   b  transmits a distinct video feed to the system controller  70 . The system controller  70 , being electronically coupled to the vehicle infotainment system  11 , determines which camera&#39;s video feed is to be displayed on the vehicle infotainment system&#39;s display screen using a predetermined decision matrix. A non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the predetermined decision matrix is shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The wiring harness  50  comprises a first end  51 , a second end  52 , a first plurality of wires, and a second plurality of wires. Each end  51 ,  52  comprises one or more connectors. The one or more connectors may be comprised of either female or male connectors. The first plurality of wires span between the first end  51  and the controller system  70 . The second plurality of wires span between the controller system  70  and the second end  52 . The two ends  51 ,  52  are electrically coupled to the controller system  70  as well as each other. The wiring harness  50  is configured to receive and transmit electrical signals through both ends  51 ,  52 . The electrical signals received from each end  51 ,  52  are transmitted to the system controller  70 . 
     The vehicle  10  further comprises an OEM wiring harness  80 . The OEM wiring harness  80  is electrically coupled to a variety of factory installed sensors and cameras within the vehicle  10 . One or more of the variety of factory installed sensors configured to substantially determine the distance between the tailgate  13   a  and an object located behind the vehicle  11 . Conventionally, the OEM wiring harness  80  is directly connected to the vehicle infotainment system  11 . However, the OEM wiring harness  80  is configured to be disconnected from the vehicle infotainment system  11 , without damaging the vehicle infotainment system  11 , and electrically coupled to the first end  51 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     In an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of safety system  1 , the OEM wiring harness  80  is first disconnected from the vehicle infotainment system  11  and subsequently the one or more connectors provided by the first end  51  are electrically coupled to the OEM wiring harness  80  and the one or more connectors provided by the second end  52  are electrically coupled to the vehicle infotainment system  11 . Accordingly, the OEM wiring harness is thereby electrically coupled to both the system controller  70  and the vehicle infotainment system  11 . 
     The safety system  1  may further comprise a first cable  55 , a second cable  56 , and a third cable  57 . Each cable  55 ,  56 ,  58  is configured to transmit video signals and, optionally, power. The first cable  55  spans between, and thereby electrically couples, the system controller  70  and CHMSLC  12   b . The second cable  56  spans between the controller system  70  and the tailgate switch assembly  60 . The third cable spans between the system controller  70  and tailgate backup camera  13   b . Each of the cables  55 ,  56 ,  57  are preferably installed after the wiring harness is fully installed. 
     The tailgate switch assembly  60  is retrofitted to the tailgate  13   a . However, it is also anticipated that the tailgate switch assembly  60  may be factory installed. The tailgate switch assembly  60  is communicably coupled to the system controller  70  via the second cable  56 . The tailgate switch assembly  60  communicates the position of the tailgate  13   a . The system controller  70  is configured to determine whether the tailgate  13   a  is oriented in an open or closed position. In the exemplary embodiment, the tailgate switch assembly  60  comprises a magnetic momentary switch. 
     Upon electrically coupling the wiring harness  50  to the vehicle infotainment system  11  and OEM wiring harness  80  and installing the second cable  56  between the system controller  70  and the tailgate switch assembly  60 , the pre-installation alert notification is activated. Accordingly, when the orientation of the tailgate  13   a  is not in a closed position, the system controller  70  electronically disconnects the video feed of the tailgate backup camera  13   b  from the vehicle infotainment system  11 . Subsequently, the system controller  70  switches the video feed displayed on the vehicle infotainment system&#39;s display screen to the video feed provided by the CHMSLC  12   b . Thus, the driver is able to maintain a clear visual of the general area behind the vehicle  10 , as well as a visual of the bed-mounted hitch  14 , while positioning the vehicle  10  to attach to the trailer coupler  22 . 
     The system controller  70  is configured to control the video feed presented on the display screen of the vehicle infotainment system  11 . It is anticipated that when the tailgate  13   a  is in its closed position and the transmission is in reverse and within a predetermined distance A from the trailer  20  relative to the rear of the vehicle  10 , the system controller  70  may modify the color of the image displayed on the display screen of vehicle infotainment system  11  to further alert the driver. When the tailgate  13   a  is not in its closed position, the tailgate switch assembly  60  communicates this information to the system controller  70  and the system controller  70  switches the video feed displayed on vehicle infotainment system&#39;s display screen from the tailgate backup camera  13   b  to the CHMSL  12   b.    
     The automated transition of the video feed from the tailgate backup camera  13   b  to the CHMSLC  12   b  when the tailgate  13   a  is not in a closed position while the vehicle  10  is in reverse, ensures the driver is able to maintain a visual of the general area behind the vehicle  10 . The pre-installation alert notification mitigates the risk that the driver will damage the vehicle  10  and/or the trailer  20  while attempting to attach the trailer  20  to the vehicle  10 . 
     Once the trailer coupler  22  is mechanically attached to the bed-mounted hitch  14 , the trailer wiring harness  25  must be electrically coupled to the OEM wiring harness  80 . After the trailer  20  is electrically coupled to the OEM wiring harness  80 , the system controller  70  automatically displays the video feed from the plurality of trailer backup cameras  24  when the transmission is in reverse. Additionally, when the OEM wiring harness  80  and the trailer wiring harness  25  are electrically coupled to one another, the safety system  1  further utilizes a post-installment alert notification to prevent the driver from towing the trailer  20  while the tailgate  13   a  is not oriented in a closed position. 
     Driving with the tailgate  13   a  oriented in its open position, while the vehicle  10  is towing a trailer  20 , reduces the turning radius of the vehicle  10 . Consequently, reducing the turning radius of the vehicle  10  can be very dangerous and may lead to costly damages to the vehicle  10  and/or trailer  20 . Thus, the post-installation alert notification, being controlled and activated by the system controller  70 , mitigates this risk by notifying the driver that the tailgate  13   a  is not oriented in a closed position while the transmission is not in park. It is anticipated that the system controller  70  may modify the color of the image displayed on the vehicle infotainment system&#39;s display screen to further alert the driver. 
     The pre-installation alert notification and post-installation alert notification each communicate with the driver using one or more alert mechanisms. Such alert mechanisms may comprise visual, audible, or physical alerts. Visual alerts may be displayed through the vehicle infotainment system&#39;s display screen or by a retrofitted light assembly installed within the interior of the vehicle&#39;s cabin. Audible alerts may be executed by the vehicle infotainment system  11 , a retrofitted alarm assembly installed within the interior of the vehicle&#39;s cabin, or through the driver&#39;s mobile phone via a wireless connection with the vehicle infotainment system  11 . Physical alerts may be utilized by the safety system  1  if the vehicle  11  is equipped with a vibrating seat feature. In such vehicles  11 , the controller system  70  would communicate with the vehicle infotainment system  11  to activate the seat vibration feature. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the pre-installation alert notification comprises a retrofitted visual and audible alert system, using a light indicator and audible alarm, each located within the cabin of the vehicle  10 . The retrofitted alert system is controlled by the system controller  70 , which may either continuously or intermittently activate the pre-installation alert notification when the tailgate  13   a  is oriented in its closed position, the transmission is in reverse, and the vehicle  11  is within a determined distance A of the trailer  20 . Additionally, the retrofitted alert system may also be utilized as the post-installation alert notification. 
     It is further anticipated that the safety system  1  may comprise an override switch which would allow the driver to deactivate the safety system  1 . 
     While the embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, certain modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to modify the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.