Distance indicating device and method

[0003] The present invention relates to distance indicating devices and methods, and more particularly to such a method and device for mounting on a vehicle for easy determination of the distance between an object and the vehicle when maneuvering or parking the vehicle. Ever since automobiles have become common place and are parked in garages, everyone has experienced the difficulty of positioning an automobile in a garage without contacting one of the garage walls or an item stored in the garage. Parking airplanes in hangers and attempting to gauge the side by side parking of other vehicles without either vehicle to vehicle contact or vehicle to stationary object contact have frustrated many over the years. Thus it is highly desirable to provide an improved distance indicating device and method. It is also highly desirable to provide an improved distance indicating method and device which would mount on a vehicle to indicate predetermined distances from the vehicle and other stationary objects when maneuvering the vehicle.

[0004] Various structures have been proposed in indicating distances between a moving vehicle and a stationary object. Lights, hanging objects, painted lines have all been utilized to guide vehicles into a proper position with regard to adjacent stationary objects. Aircraft are guided into loading bays by lights at which the nose is pointed. Automobile owners have hung from the ceiling small balls or other objects which are aligned with the hood ornament to position the automobile in spaced alignment from stationary objects. Each of these devices have failed in one or more instances and are deficient in operational characteristics, primarily because these objects are attached or secured or mounted on stationary objects surrounding the position at which the vehicle is desired to be located. Thus it is also highly desirable to provide an improved distance indicating method and device which can be attached to the vehicle to position the vehicle optimally from stationary objects.

[0005] While spacing automobiles from curbs have been desirably accomplished using curb feelers or flexible wire objects extending from a vehicle to scrape against a curb indicating that the vehicle is correctly positioned with respect to the curb, these devices extend from the car, are relatively unsightly, and often break due to repetitive flexing or impact. Thus it is highly desirable to provide an improved distance indicating method and device for a vehicle which has no structure extending from the vehicle subject to breakage or which is esthetically unpleasant.

[0006] While radar technology, sonar technology and laser technology all are well known and used to determine distances between objects and devices without extending between the objects, little of this technology has been utilized in distance indicating devices for use on vehicles both because of the difficulty in utilizing this technology and the expense involved. Thus it is highly desirable to provide an improved distance indicating method and device for vehicles which has all of the aspects of radar, sonar and laser technology but which can be utilized on vehicles relatively easily and inexpensively to indicate distances between the vehicle and fixed objects.

[0007] Distance indicating devices utilizing energy wave generators that produce directional focused beams of wave energy are most useful for this purpose. Some of these energy wave generators have become relatively inexpensive and are now available for such use. Thus it is also highly desirable to provide an improved distance indicating method and device for vehicles utilizing conventional wave energy generators and focusing mechanisms to produce directionally focused beams of wave energy to determine the distance between a vehicle and stationary objects. Thus it is also highly desirable to provide an improved distance indicating method and device including conventional wave generators to impinge on or reflect from stationary objects thereby to indicate the distance therefrom.

[0008] It is also highly desirable to provide an improved wave generator which cooperate with existing features of known vehicles.

[0009] It is also highly desirable to provide improved distance indicating method and devices which are mechanically simple, require little or no maintenance, and are relatively inexpensive.

[0010] Finally it is highly desirable to provide an improved distance indicating method and device having all of the above identified features.

[0011] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved distance indicating method and device.

[0012] It is also an object of the invention to provide and improved distance indicating device which can be mounted on vehicles to indicate predetermined distances from the vehicle and other stationary objects when maneuvering the vehicle.

[0013] It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved distance indicating method and device which can be attached to the vehicle to position the vehicle optimally from stationary objects.

[0014] It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved distance indicating method and device for vehicles which has no structure extending from the vehicle subject to breakage or which is esthetically unpleasant.

[0015] It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved distance indicating method and device which has all of the advantages of radar, sonar and laser technology, but which can be utilized on vehicles relatively easily and inexpensively to indicate distances between the vehicle and fixed objects.

[0016] It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved distance indicating method and device for vehicles utilizing conventional wave energy generators and focusing mechanisms to produce directionally focused beams of wave energy in determining the distance between a vehicle and stationary objects.

[0017] It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved distance indicating method and device including conventional wave generators which impinge on or reflect from stationary objects thereby to indicate the distance therefrom.

[0018] It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved wave generator which cooperate with existing features of known vehicles.

[0019] It is also an object of the invention to provide improved distance indicating method and devices which are mechanically simple, require little or no maintenance, and are relatively inexpensive.

[0020] It is finally an object of the invention to provide an improved distance indicating method and device having all of the above identified features.

[0021] In the broader aspects of the invention there is provided a distance indicating device having at least one energy wave generator. Each of the generators have a focusing device to produce a directional focused beam of wave energy. Each of the wave generators have a means for mounting the generator to a vehicle and a means for adjustably positioning the generator to intersect or impact an object at a predetermined distance from the generator or the vehicle on which it is mounted utilizing the point of intersection or impact to determine the distance between the vehicle and a fixed object.

[0022] An improved method for indicating the distance between a vehicle and a fixed object is also provided utilizing the focused energy wave beam generators of the improved distance indicating device of the invention.

[0023] The above-mentioned and other features and objects of the invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a vehicle having the improved distance indicating device mounted thereon;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the improved distance indicating device of the invention using an energy wave beam device;

[0026] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram like FIG. 2 of a light or laser beam device;

[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram like FIG. 2 of a radar device;

[0028] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram like FIG. 2 of a sound beam device;

[0029] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an automobile head lamp incorporating the improved vehicle distance indicating device using intersecting focused light beams and the structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0030] FIG. 7 is a view of a modified version of the improved vehicle distance indicating device of the invention using multiple intersecting light beams and the structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 which can be mounted on either side or either end of a vehicle; and

[0031] FIG. 8 is a side-view of the device illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0032] The improved distance indicating device of the invention 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to include two energy wave generators 12 each of the generators have a focusing device 14 to produce a directional focused beam 16 of wave energy. The generators are shown mounted to an vehicle 18 at the front such that the energy wave beam 16 passes through the grill outwardly of the vehicle, but may be mounted to the sides and rear of a vehicle 18 behind a decorative lens or grill as desired. The means by which the generators 12 are mounted to the automobile allows for aiming the beams 16 such that they intersect at a predetermined distance X from the automobile. In a specific embodiment, these mounting means may be similar to the means by which conventional head lights are mounted to automobiles. While vehicle 18 is illustrated as an automobile, it should be fully understood that vehicle 18 could be any type of vehicle such as an airplane, a boat, or any other vehicle that is routinely docked, parked or stored adjacent to other structures in which the distance between those structures and the vehicle is critical to efficiently use space and the desire not to engage the vehicle with those structures.

[0033] The generators 12 are interconnected to the automobile battery 20 through electrical leads 22 and to ground 24 through electrical leads 26. In the electrical leads 26 between the generators 12 and ground 24 is an indicator 28 which illuminates whenever the device is activated; shown to be a lamp positioned on the dash.

[0034] In specific embodiments, generators 12 may be wave energy generators including light generators including, lasers, sound generators including sonar, and energy wave generators out of the hearing and visual spectrum such as radar and the like.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 3, a modified version is shown in which there is a single energy wave generator 12 in the form of a laser 32 which directs a light beam 16 outwardly of the vehicle. On the other side of the car there is light receptor cell 30 which receives the reflected laser 32 and actuates indicator 28 whenever cell 30 receives sufficient reflected laser light. The generator and cell are aimed such that reflected laser light is received by cell 30 when the generator 12 and the reflector 30 are spaced from a reflective object a predetermined distance X away.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 4 another version of the improved distance indicating device of the invention 10 is shown. Here a generator 12 is a radar generator or emitter 36 and a radar receptor 38 which generates a radar beam 40 outwardly of the vehicle. Whenever the radar beam 40 is detected by the receptor 38, indicator 28 is actuated. In the particular embodiment illustrated, generator 36 and receptors 38 are mounted side by side both on the left hand side and the right hand side of the vehicle. Thus, indicator 28 will be actuated if either of the beams 40 are reflected from the object, X distance away.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown still another version of the improved distance indicating device of the invention utilizing sound waves. In this version, generator 12 is a sound emitter and a sound receptor 42 is a sound speaker and microphone. This version is otherwise structured and functions like the version shown in FIG. 4.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 6, the generator 12 is shown in the form of a lamp 50. In this version, lamp 50 is mounted and aimed as a conventional automobile head lamp. The head lamp has a filament 52, a lens 54, and a reflector 56 which directs a beam 58 from the lamp. In the lens 60 is a lens system 58 which takes a portion of the light from filament 52 and focuses the same into a small beam 16. In a specific embodiment, the lens 60 is monochromatic such that the beam 16 is colored and is more easily visible both during the night and during the day and is easily distinguishable from the headlight beam 58.

[0039] Surrounding the lens system 60 is a light receptor cell 62 which is connected to the vehicle electrical system as shown in FIG. 2 via a lead 22. Lamp 50 shown in FIG. 6 is configured for the left side of a vehicle. A lamp 50 having the same structure, but being the mirror image of lamp 50 as shown in FIG. 6 is paired with lamp 50 for use on the right side of the vehicle. The monochromatic beams 16 intersect and function as above described with regard to FIG. 2 when the head lamps are properly mounted.

[0040] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate still another version having similarities to head lamp 50 which could be mounted in the rear or in the sides of the vehicle or, alternatively to using the lamp 50 illustrated in FIG. 6, in the front of the vehicle in addition to a conventional head lamps to accomplish each of the objects of the invention. The sensor 70 is mounted on a vehicle in much the same way as a conventional head lamp is mounted to an automobile, the vehicle having a recess in which the sensor 70 is positioned. Sensor 70 is held in place flush with the exterior surface of the vehicle by a frame which engages sensor 70 at its periphery and is secured to the vehicle. Sensor 70 has a face which can be either generally rectangular as shown or circular as desired for aesthetic purposes.

[0041] Sensor 70 has a plurality of lenses 54 or lasers 32 each of which directs a light beam 16 outwardly thereof. In one embodiment sensor 70 has two rows of lenses 54 or lasers 32 which are arranged in spaced apart rows and to cross at different distances from vehicle 18, for example 1 foot, 5 feet, 10 feet respectively. In another version, lenses 54 or lasers 32 may be aligned in a vertical row 72 on one side of sensor 70. On the other side of sensor 70 are positioned the same number of cells 30 arranged in a vertical row corresponding to each of the lasers 32 or lenses 54 respectively. Preferably, lasers 32 or lenses 54 direct a light beam 16 outwardly of the sensor 70 of a different monochromatic color. This will minimize the interference between the cells 30 which are tailored to receiving a different monochromatic colored reflection. Furthermore, each of the lasers 32 or lenses 54 are directed at slightly different angles outwardly of the vehicle such that in accordance with the description given hereinabove with regard to FIGS. 1 and 2, lasers 32 or lenses 54 for example indicate that the vehicle is 1 foot, 5 feet and 10 feet from adjacent structures, respectively.

[0042] In another version, sensor 70 has a single row of systems 60 with lens 54 in the center thereof surrounded by a receptor cell 62 as shown in FIG. 6. In this version, each of these lens systems 60 emanate a focused monochromatic beam 16 outwardly of the vehicle 18 to minimize interference, and each are aimed so as to indicate when the vehicle is 1 foot, 5 feet and 10 feet away from adjacent structures in accordance with the circuitry shown in FIG. 2 respectively.

[0043] In still other versions of the sensor 70 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 lasers 32 and the lens systems 60 and 54 may be substituted by radar generators 36 and to function in accordance with the circuitry shown in FIG. 4 or sound emitters and receptors 42 and to function in accordance with the circuitry shown in FIG. 5. Both radar generates 36 and sound emitters and receptors 42 may be provided at different frequencies to correspond to various distances, i.e., 1 foot, 5 feet, and 10 feet respectively and to minimize interference as above described.

[0044] In operation, of all of the versions of the improved distance indicating device 10 of the invention, the energy wave generators 12 emanate a focused beam 16 of energy wave outwardly of the vehicle. As the vehicle approaches an object, indicator 28 will indicate to the driver that the vehicle is at the preset distance away from the object whenever the receptors receives sufficient reflected wave energy from the object.

[0045] The distance X may be adjusted by adjusting the positional relationships of the energy wave generators 12 on the vehicle and the focusing devices 14 pertaining thereto.

[0046] In the versions illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6 wherein the two energy wave beams 16 intersect in front of the automobile, the driver can visually determine when the vehicle is at distance X away from the stationary object when the intersecting beams appear as a single dot on the object in front of the vehicle. If the vehicle is too close or too far apart, the two beams will not intersect at the object, but will be visible as two dots on the object.

[0047] In each of the other versions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, indicator 28 will be actuated whenever the receptors 38, 42 receive the reflected energy waves 16.

[0048] The indicators 28 in each of the embodiments may be a light on the dash board, a buzzer, or any other indicator which the owner of the vehicle desires.

[0049] The invention provides an improved distance indicating device and such a device that can be mounted on vehicles to indicate predetermined distances from the vehicle and other stationary objects and to position the vehicle optimally from stationary objects. The improved device of the invention has no structure extending from the car subject to breakage or which is esthetically unpleasant. The invention also provides an improved distance indicating device which has all of the aspects of radar, sonar and laser technology, but which can be utilized on vehicles relatively easily and inexpensively to indicate distances between the vehicle and fixed objects utilizing conventional wave energy generators and focusing mechanisms to produce directionally focused beams of wave energy which either impinge on or reflect from stationary objects to indicate when a vehicle is a predetermined distance from an object. The devices of the invention cooperate with existing features of known vehicles and are mechanically simple, require little or no maintenance, and are relatively inexpensive. The invention also provides an improved distance indicating method having all of the above identified features.

[0050] While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein for purposes of illustration, the protection afforded by any patent which may issue upon this application is not strictly limited to the disclosed embodiment; but rather extends to all structures and arrangements which fall fairly within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.