Patent Publication Number: US-2006006989-A1

Title: Device for warning and protection

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
      The present invention consists of a device for warning for physical contact of vehicles with solid objects in its surrounding, as walls, pillars etc., and protection of the vehicle in case of contact, comprising a detecting unit and a warning unit. The detecting unit is adapted to be attached to a surface and detect a contact of a vehicle with the detecting unit, and the warning unit is adapted to warn a driver of said vehicle at said detection.  
     DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART  
      Different means of aid for handling vehicles in narrow spaces are previously known. Those can somewhat simplified be called run-into warning devices and with this should be understood that they are adapted to situations where a vehicle manoeuvres in narrow spaces with a very low speed in connection with e.g. parking, backing up to loading docks etc. There exists in connection with traffic also run-into protections that are adapted to catch vehicles at high speed to minimize damage in connection with accidents. It shall be understood that the invention at hand is of the first sort of run-into warning devices and that run-into means vehicles running into objects at low speed.  
      This type of run-into warning devices can be divided into different categories.  
      There exist different devices adapted to help visually in connection with parking.  
      Publication US 2002/0041239 shows a system where a display shows the position of the vehicle in relation to the space that shall be used for parking.  
      Publication DE 201 11 974 shows an arrangement of mirrors that provides the driver of a vehicle with a view of the distance between the vehicle and a wall that the vehicle approaches.  
      There exist also several active distance-warning devices. Those are adapted to measure the distance from a vehicle to surrounding objects and actively warn the driver when the vehicle comes to close to some object. Those types of systems are shown among others in the publications U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,887, U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,586, DE 100 12 788, WO 92/18879 and FR 2 452 721.  
      There are also a number of known systems based on to physically constitute an obstacle for the tire of a vehicle, where the driver feels this obstacle and stops the vehicle before the driver runs into an object. Those types of systems are shown among others in the publications U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,994, DE 297 19 117, JP 2001-262857 and GB 2 361 752.  
      There are also systems building on that a device in some way detects a running-into and shows a warning signal to the driver. All of them are adapted to running into them straight from the front, this means in the last phase of a parking e.g. when the driver wants to come as close as possible to a wall with the vehicle. Those types of systems are shown in the publications DE 196 04 963, U.S. Pat. No. 3,261,321, EP 0 014 726, DE 28 44 428, WO 99/27510, U.S. Pat. No. 3,621,807, U.S. Pat. No. 3,977,354 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,065.  
      There are also a number of publications that show how a vehicle is protected mechanically in a garage, those publications show different elastic resistances that are placed in a garage to protect a vehicle when running-into it. Examples of such publications are U.S. Pat. No. 1,496,626, FR 2 773 376, DE 299 16 563 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,853.  
      Finally it is also known to use devices that are adapted to avoid damage of a vehicle at a run-into and at the same time warn the driver.  
      The publication DE 28 45 683 shows an air-filled rubber cushion where the air in the cushion is pressed out through a whistle when the cushion is subject to compression.  
      The publication U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,484 shows a device that is adapted to be put around pillars and poles, where an external casing can rotate at a running-into it and where a sound is generated at the rotation of the external casing.  
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      Problems  
      Starting with a device for warning at physical contact of vehicles with solid objects in the surrounding and protection of the vehicle at such contact, consisting of a detecting unit and a warning unit, where the detecting unit is adapted to be attached to a surface and detect a contact of a vehicle with the detecting unit, and where the warning unit is adapted to warn a driver of the vehicle at the detection, is it a technical problem to provide a device that easily can be attached to different surfaces, flat as well as e.g. cylindrical surfaces or corners.  
      It is a technical problem to provide a device that as well warns the driver as protects the vehicle that is running into an object.  
      It is further on a problem to be able to provide a device that warn not only if the running-into occurs straight from the front against the surface on which the device is attached but also a running-into where the vehicle only touches the device in a direction that is almost parallel with the surface to which the device is attached.  
      It is a technical problem to be able to provide a device that easily can be adapted to different sizes and different applications, such as for small garages for private cars, parking houses or loading docks for heavy vehicles.  
      It is a problem to be able to provide a detecting unit that can notice where on the detecting unit the contact has occurred and to indicate this position on the warning unit.  
      Solution  
      With the intention to solve one or several of the problems specified above, and with starting-point from a device for warning at physical contact of vehicles and protection of the vehicle at such a contact, comprising a detecting unit and a warning unit, where the detecting unit is adapted to be attached to a surface and detect contact with a vehicle against the detecting unit, and where the warning unit is adapted to warn the driver of the vehicle at the detection, the present invention teaches that the detecting unit comprises a force-absorbing plate, and a with this plate cooperating contact device, where a first side of the plate is adapted to be attached to the surface.  
      With the intention to protect the running-into vehicle the present invention indicate that the plate is given an elasticity adapted to be able to absorb a part of the forces that can occur at contact with the vehicle.  
      Further the present invention shows that the contact device is adapted to close an electric circuit at the contact, and that the warning unit is adapted to give a visual signal and/or an acoustic signal when the electric circuit is closed.  
      According to the present invention the contact device can consist of different types of electric closed circuits, such as e.g. an elastic material that is isolating at normal pressure and is electrically conductive when it is exposed to external pressure or a traditional mechanic contact that is open at normal pressure and closed when exposed to external pressure.  
      The sensitivity to pressure and elasticity of the detecting unit makes that it also easily can detect a contact of a vehicle that runs into the detecting unit in a direction that is almost parallel with the surface on which the detecting unit is attached, and this without the on-running vehicle being damaged by the contact with the detecting unit.  
      With the intention not only to be able to indicate that a contact has occurred against a detecting unit but also to point out where on the detecting unit the contact has taken place the present invention teaches that the detecting unit comprises several cooperating contact devices and that those contact devices are positioned in a pattern, such as in a row, or several rows or columns, where the contact devices are electrically connected to different electrical circuits in a way that makes it possible to detect which one of the contact devices that closes an electrical circuit, where the warning unit is adapted to show where on the detecting unit a physical contact has taken place.  
      With the intention to provide a detecting unit that can be attached to others than flat surfaces the present invention shows that the plate and all or parts of it are provided with one or more notches, placed towards the first side, whereby the detecting unit is adapted to be bent around and attached to not flat surfaces, such as pillars, poles or corners.  
      It is also possible to make the plat bendable, so that the detecting unit is adapted to be attached to not flat surfaces, such as pillars, poles or corners.  
      It is further on possible to make the plate in the shape of an angle, whereby the detecting unit is adjusted to be attached around a corner.  
      With the intention to protect the running-into vehicle the present invention teaches that the total elasticity of the detecting unit is adapted to be able to absorb a part of the forces that can occur at the contact of a vehicle, and that the warning unit is adapted to give a warning signal at such a contact, in a way so that the driver of the vehicle can observe the warning signal before the forces have a damaging influence on the vehicle.  
      According to the present invention the warning unit may stand in electrical connection with the detecting unit. But there is nothing that prevents that the warning unit stands in wireless connection with the detecting unit hereby making the device more adaptable to different situations. It is e.g. then possible to let the warning device be placed inside a vehicle.  
      Advantages  
      The most important advantages connected with the present invention is that a devise according to the invention is simple and inexpensive to produce, it is simple to place in different environments, it can be attached to plane surfaces as well as to pillars, poles, corners or other non-flat surfaces, and it can be adapted to light private cars as well as to heavier vehicles. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      A device according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  schematically and very simplified shows a device according to the present invention,  
       FIG. 2  schematically shows a first embodiment of a contact device,  
       FIG. 3  schematically shows a second embodiment of a contact device,  
       FIGS. 4   a  and  b  schematically shows different contact bodies in a contact device aiming to giving a contact device springy or elastic properties,  
       FIG. 5  schematically shows a detecting unit with a number of cooperating contact devices,  
       FIG. 6  schematically shows a detecting unit adapted to be attached to rounded surfaces, such as pillars or poles,  
       FIG. 7  schematically shows a detecting unit adapted to be attached around a corner, and  
       FIG. 8  schematically shows a device with a wireless communication between the detecting unit and the warning unit. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS AS PRESENTLY PREFERRED  
      With reference to  FIG. 1  is here showed schematically a device A for warning at physical contact of vehicles with solid objects in the environment and protection of the vehicle at such contact.  
      The device A comprises a detecting unit  1  and a warning unit  2 , where the detecting unit  1  is adapted to be attached to a surface B and detect a contact of a vehicle against the detecting unit  1 , and where the warning unit  2  is adapted to warn a driver of the vehicle at this detection.  
      The present invention teaches that the detecting unit  1  comprises a force absorbing plate  11 , and a with the plate cooperating contact device  12 .  
      A first side  11   a  of the plate  11  is adapted to be attached to a surface B, such as a wall in a garage. The plate  11  is given an elasticity adapted to be able to absorb a part of the forces that can occur at a contact with a vehicle.  
      The contact device  12  is shown in the figure as being enclosed by the plate  11 . It must however be understood that that the contact device also can be placed outside the plate or between the plate and the surface to which the plate is attached.  
      The contact device  12  is adapted to close an electric circuit  13  at a contact, and the warning unit  2  is adapted to give a visual signal and/or an acoustic signal when the electric circuit  13  is closed. It shall be understood that the electrical circuit  13  not in itself must be the circuit that powers the warning unit  2  but that it only needs to be the circuit that indicates that the detecting device  1  has been subject to a contact.  
      It is possible to use different types of contact devices. According to a preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  comprises the contact device an external contact surface  12   a , an internal contact surface  12   b , and a between those contact surfaces placed elastic material  12   c  that at normal pressure is electrically isolating and when it is subject to external pressure is electrically conductive. In this way a detecting unit with good elastic properties is achieved.  
      According to one further preferred embodiment that is shown in  FIG. 3  the contact device  12  comprises an external contact surface  12   a , an internal contact surface  12   b , and an elastic or springy distance  12   d , which distance is adapted to at normal pressure produce a gap  12   e  between the external contact surface  12   a  and the internal contact surface  12   b . The distance  12   d  is adapted to be compressed when exposed to external pressure, whereby the external contact surface  12   a  is brought to mechanical and electrical connection with the internal contact surface  12   b . In the case when the contact device  12  is completely enclosed by the plate  11  is it normal that the distance  12   d  is an integrated part of the plate  11 .  
       FIG. 4  shows that the external or internal contact surface  12   a ,  12   b  can be given a contact body  12   f , adapted to give the contact device  12  elastic or springy properties also in the situation when the contact device  12  is closed.  
      The present invention indicates that the contact body  12  can be springy or elastically designed.  FIG. 4   a  shows as an example that the contact body  12   f  can be made of an electrically conducting spring and  FIG. 4   b  shows a contact body  12   f ′ of elastic material, e.g. rubber, with the contact surface  12   b  positioned at the end of the contact body  12   f′.    
       FIG. 5  is made to show a preferred embodiment where the detecting unit  1  comprises a number of cooperating contact devices  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124 ,  125 ,  126 , 127 . A number of contact bodies  121 ,  125 ,  126 ,  127  can be connected to each other to a common electric circuit  131 . It is also possible to let a number of contact devices  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124  be positioned in a pattern, such as in a line, or a number of lines or columns, where they are electrically connected to between themselves different electrical circuits  131 ,  132 ,  133 ,  134  in a way that makes it possible to detect which of the contact devices that closes an electric circuit.  
      In this embodiment the warning unit  2  can be adapted to indicate where on the detecting device  1  a physical contact occurs by means of e.g. different light-emitting means  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  being placed in the warning device  2  in a pattern that is according to the positions of the different contact devices  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124  in the detecting unit  1 , where each light-emitting mean  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  is adapted to give a light signal when accordingly placed contact device  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124  closes its corresponding electric circuit  131 ,  132 ,  133 ,  134 .  
       FIG. 6  shows that the plate  11 ′ and all or parts of the distances  12   d  are given one or several, against the first side  11   a  directed, notches  141 ,  142 ,  143 , which makes it possible to adapt the detecting unit  1  to be bent around and attached to non-flat surfaces B′, such as pillars, poles or corners.  
      The present invention shows that the plate can be made bendable, so that the detecting unit can be adapted to be attached to non-flat surfaces, such as pillars, poles or corners in the case that a surface only diverts a little from a flat surface.  
       FIG. 7  is meant to show an embodiment where the detecting unit  1  is adapted to be attached around a sharp corner B″ by means of that the plate  11 ″ is given angular shape.  
      To be able to supply a mechanical protection to vehicles that at low speed comes in contact with an inventive device A shows the present invention that the total elasticity of the detecting unit  1  shall be adapted to be able to absorb part of the forces that can occur at a contact with a vehicle, and that the warning unit  2  shall be adapted to give a warning signal at such a contact, in a way so that a driver of the vehicle can become aware of the warning signal before the forces have a damaging influence on the vehicle.  
      The detecting unit  1  and the warning unit  2  can communicate with each other by different means. Again referring to  FIG. 1 a  preferred embodiment is shown where the warning unit  2  stands in electrical connection with the detecting unit  1 . In this case can the electrical circuit  13  that is closed by the detecting unit  1  also constitute the electrical circuit that powers the warning unit  2 .  
      According to another preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  stands the warning unit  1 ″ in wireless connection with the detecting unit  2 ″, here schematically shown by radio emitter  15  and warning unit  2  adapted to receive radio signals via a receiving antenna  25 . This embodiment leaves great liberty where the warning unit can be placed. E.g. in this embodiment the warning unit can be placed inside a vehicle.  
      The present invention is independent of how the electric circuit  13  is powered. It can however be of advantage to let the electric circuit  13  be powered by low-tension current because low-tension current can be handled by a non-professional, hence it follows that everybody can handle and mount a device according to the invention.  
       FIG. 1  shows that the detecting device  11  as an example can be powered by a battery  13   a  or by main voltage through a transformer  16 . It is also possible to let the battery  13   a  be emergency power to the main voltage  16 . It must be understood that the warning unit  11  can be powered completely separate and independent of the detecting unit  12 .  
      It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the aforedescribed and illustrated exemplifying embodiments thereof and that modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept as illustrated in the accompanying Claims.