US6232887B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Warning systems
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1999-04-08
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Granted: 2001-05-15
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Expires: 2019-04-08
Abstract
Abstract A warning system for warning a user of an approaching vehicle, wherein the approaching vehicle activates a signal transmitter. The system comprising at least one transmitter and at least one receiver. The transmitter includes a member for receiving the signal from a signal transmitter; and a member associated with the receiving means for transmitting at least one signal component. The receiver is positioned remotely from the transmitter and includes a member for receiving the at least one signal component, a member associated with the receiving means for processing the at least one signal component and a member associated with the processing means for alerting a user as to an approaching vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph E. Carson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:45
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61L; B61L23/00; B61L23/06; G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/005; G08G1/16; G08G1/164
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A warning system for warning a user of an approaching vehicle, wherein the approaching vehicle activates a signal transmitter, the system comprising: a single transmitter including means for receiving the signal from a signal transmitter; and means associated with the receiving means for transmitting at least one signal component; wherein the single transmitter is associated with an existing warning structure and the signal transmitter comprises a signal transmitter associated with an existing warning structure, and at least one receiver positioned remotely from the transmitter including means for receiving the at least one signal component; means associated with the receiving means for processing the at least one signal component; and means associated with the processing means for alerting a user as to an approaching vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A warning system for warning a user of an approaching vehicle, wherein the approaching vehicle activates a signal transmitter, the system comprising: a single transmitter including means for receiving the signal from a signal transmitter; and means associated with the receiving means for transmitting at least one signal component; wherein the single transmitter is associated with an existing warning structure and the signal transmitter comprises a signal transmitter associated with an existing warning structure, and at least one receiver positioned remotely from the transmitter including means for receiving the at least one signal component; means associated with the receiving means for processing the at least one signal component; and means associated with the processing means for alerting a user as to an approaching vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The warning system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one signal component transmitted by the transmitter comprises at least two signal components.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The warning system according to claim 2 wherein the one of the at least two signal components comprises a ping signal, which ping signal serves to verify communication between the receiver and the transmitter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
The warning system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one signal component transmitted by the transmitter comprises at least three signal components, the first of the at least three signal components comprising a warning signal to indicate an approaching vehicle; the second of the at least three signal components comprising an informational signal having information pertaining to at least one of the following: direction of the vehicle, speed of the vehicle, and approach speed of the vehicle; and the third of the at least three signal components comprising a ping signal, which ping signal serves to verify communication between the receiver and the transmitter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The warning system according to claim 1 wherein the receiver comprises a receiver box positioned remotely from the transmitter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The warning system according to claim 1 wherein the alerting means comprises at least one of a visual, an audio or a tactile alert.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The warning system according to claim 1 wherein the receiver comprises a pager receiver positioned remotely from the transmitter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The warning system according to claim 1 wherein the receiver comprises a safety receiver system positioned remotely from the transmitter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The warning system according to claim 8 wherein the safety receiver system further comprises at least one of a vest and a helmet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The warning system according to claim 9 wherein the alerting means comprises at least one of visual, audio or tactile alert.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The warning system according to claim 10 wherein the tactile alert comprises a vibrating member positionable against a user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The warning system according to claim 10 wherein the visual alert comprises an alphanumeric display unit associated with the vest.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The warning system according to claim 10 wherein the audio alert comprises: means for playing a stored voice message; at least one headphone associated with the playing means and positioned within the helmet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
114 words
The warning system according to claim 1 further comprising means for coordinating the transmitter and the receiver to minimize the instances of false signals, wherein the coordinating means comprises: a unique identifier associated with the at least one receiver; means associated with the transmitting means for processing the signal component to include the unique identifier of the at least one receiver prior to transmission thereof; and means associated with the processing means of the receiver for analyzing the received at least one signal component to determine if the received at least one signal component was directed to the receiver, to in turn, determine as to whether to process the at least one signal component.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The warning system according to claim 14 further comprising means for resetting the processing means of the transmitter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The warning system according to claim 14 further comprising: means for storing the desired unique identifier for each of the at least one receiver associated with the transmitting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The warning system according to claim 16 wherein the storing means comprises: an input device; and a storage medium associated with the processing means and with the input device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The warning system according to claim 1 further comprising means for resetting the processing means of the receiver.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
120 words
A receiver for use in association with a vehicle warning system for warning of approaching vehicles having at least one transmitter for transmitting at least one signal component, comprising: means for receiving the at least one signal component; means associated with the receiving means for processing the at least one signal component; means associated with the processing means for alerting a user as to an approaching vehicle; and a unique identifier associated with the receiver, which unique identifier is input into the transmitter of the vehicle warning system upon use in association therewith, to, in turn, facilitate the transmission by the transmitter of signals to the desired receivers, and to facilitate the maintenance by the transmitter of receivers associated therewith.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
120 words
A receiver for use in association with a vehicle warning system for warning of approaching vehicles having at least one transmitter for transmitting at least one signal component, comprising: means for receiving the at least one signal component; means associated with the receiving means for processing the at least one signal component; means associated with the processing means for alerting a user as to an approaching vehicle; and a unique identifier associated with the receiver, which unique identifier is input into the transmitter of the vehicle warning system upon use in association therewith, to, in turn, facilitate the transmission by the transmitter of signals to the desired receivers, and to facilitate the maintenance by the transmitter of receivers associated therewith.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The receiver according to claim 19 wherein the receiver comprises a safety receiver system including: a vest; and a helmet, wherein the alert means includes at least one audio, visual or tactile alert associated with at least one of the vest and the helmet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The receiver according to claim 20 wherein the alert means comprises a tactile alert associated with the vest.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The receiver according to claim 20 wherein the alert means comprises a visual alert associated with a lower surface of a bill of the helmet.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The receiver according to claim 20 wherein the alert means comprises a visual alert comprising an alphanumeric LCD display associated with the vest.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The receiver according to claim 19 wherein the receiver comprises a pager receiver.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The receiver according to claim 24 wherein the pager receiver includes at least one of an audio, visual or tactile alert.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The receiver according to claim 25 wherein the tactile alert comprises a vibrating alert.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The receiver according to claim 25 wherein the visual alert comprises an alphanumeric LCD display.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for warning of an oncoming vehicle, wherein the oncoming vehicle triggers a sensor which activates a vehicle signal transmitter comprising the steps of: (a) inputting a unique identifier associated with a receiver in use with the vehicle signal transmitter; (b) repeating the step of inputting for each receiver in use with the vehicle signal transmitter; (c) receiving the signal by a transmitter triggered by the vehicle; (d) forming a signal component for each unique identifier associated with the receiver, each such signal component comprising a warning signal component and the unique identifier; (e) transmitting the formed signal components; (f) receiving the at least one signal component by each receiver positioned remotely from the transmitter; (g) processing only the signal component having the unique identifier corresponding the unique identifier of the receiver for each receiver in use with the vehicle signal transmitter; and (h) alarming a user utilizing a receiver that has processed the signal component as to the oncoming vehicle, pursuant to the processed signal component.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for warning of an oncoming vehicle, wherein the oncoming vehicle triggers a sensor which activates a vehicle signal transmitter comprising the steps of: (a) inputting a unique identifier associated with a receiver in use with the vehicle signal transmitter; (b) repeating the step of inputting for each receiver in use with the vehicle signal transmitter; (c) receiving the signal by a transmitter triggered by the vehicle; (d) forming a signal component for each unique identifier associated with the receiver, each such signal component comprising a warning signal component and the unique identifier; (e) transmitting the formed signal components; (f) receiving the at least one signal component by each receiver positioned remotely from the transmitter; (g) processing only the signal component having the unique identifier corresponding the unique identifier of the receiver for each receiver in use with the vehicle signal transmitter; and (h) alarming a user utilizing a receiver that has processed the signal component as to the oncoming vehicle, pursuant to the processed signal component.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method according to claim 28 wherein the step of transmitting further includes the step of transmitting at least one unique identifier along with the at least one signal component, the method further comprising the step of analyzing the at least one unique identifier, to in turn, determine that the received at least one signal component should be processed.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein the signal component comprises three signal components.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-14 | 2004-11-13 | 2005-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-14 | 2008-11-13 | 2009-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-14 | 2012-11-13 | 2013-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |