U.S. patent application number 09/800299 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-29 for parked vehicle locator.
Invention is credited to Quinn, Sharon.
Application Number | 20010045896 09/800299 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26889738 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010045896 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Quinn, Sharon |
November 29, 2001 |
Parked vehicle locator
Abstract
A hand-held device which is used to record the site of a vehicle
that is parked in a marked location in a lot or garage. The device
may be applied to record the level, section and row in which the
vehicle is parked. An array of alpha-numeric indicia is adaptable
to accurately record almost any parking scheme. The device may be
either electronic or mechanical.
Inventors: |
Quinn, Sharon; (Baltimore,
MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard C. Litman
LITMAN LAW OFFICES, LTD.
P.O. Box 15035
Arlington
VA
22215
US
|
Family ID: |
26889738 |
Appl. No.: |
09/800299 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60194153 |
Apr 3, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
340/815.4 ;
340/932.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08G 1/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/815.4 ;
340/932.2 |
International
Class: |
G08B 005/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A device for recording the site location of a parked motor
vehicle, said device comprising: a body member; a viewing area
disposed at a first portion of said body member; an array of
alpha-numeric indicia disposed on a second portion of said body
member; first means for positioning selected ones of said
alpha-numeric indicia from said second portion of said body member
at said viewing area; and second means for locking said selected
ones of said alpha-numeric indicia at said viewing area.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said body member is of
rectangular configuration having a front face, a rear face, a first
end and a second end.
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said viewing area is
disposed on said front face adjacent said first end.
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of
push-buttons are disposed on said front face adjacent said second
end, said array of alpha-numeric indicia being individually
inscribed on a respective push-button.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said first means for
positioning includes a battery powered electronic circuit.
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said second means
includes a set switch disposed on said front face.
7. The device according to claim 6, including third means for
deleting said selected ones of said alpha-numeric indicia from said
viewing area.
8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said third means
includes a clear switch disposed on said front face.
9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said body member is of
cylindrical configuration having a longitudinal axis and a
circumferential surface area and wherein said second portion
includes the circumferential surface area.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein said first means for
positioning includes a plurality of tumblers rotatable around said
longitudinal axis.
11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said viewing area
includes an alignment window mounted adjacent said circumferential
surface area.
12. The device according to claim 11, wherein said alignment window
is a magnifying window.
13. A device for recording the site location of a parked motor
vehicle, said device comprising: a body member, said body member
having a rectangular configuration with a front face, a rear face,
a first end and a second end; a viewing area disposed at a first
portion of said body member; an array of alpha-numeric indicia
disposed on a second portion of said body member; a plurality of
push-buttons disposed on said front face adjacent said second end,
said array of alpha-numeric indicia being individually inscribed on
a respective push-button.
14. The device according to claim 13, wherein said body is
fabricated from plastic material.
15. The device according to claim 14, including a key chain
attached at said first end.
16. A device for recording the site location of a parked motor
vehicle, said device comprising: a body member, said body member
having a cylindrical configuration with a longitudinal axis and a
circumferential surface area; a viewing area disposed at a first
portion of said body member adjacent said circumferential surface
area; an array of alpha-numeric indicia disposed on said
circumferential surface area; first means for positioning selected
ones of said alpha-numeric indicia at said viewing area; and second
means for locking said selected ones of said alpha-numeric indicia
at said viewing area.
17. The device according to claim 16, wherein said body member is
fabricated from plastic material.
18. The device according to claim 17, wherein said body member has
a free end and a key chain is attached to said free end.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/194,153, filed Apr. 3, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to locator devices.
More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a device for
recording the location of a parked vehicle in large parking
facilities.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Urban sprawl and reliance on the automobile has created a
situation dominated by multi-acre parking lots at ever-popular
shopping malls and self-parking, multi-storied parking garages in
downtown areas, train depots, hospitals, etc. Finding your parked
vehicle in a parking lot or garage is often a daunting task
especially if you have forgotten the section, row and/or level
where your vehicle is parked. An inexpensive, uncomplicated device
that would allow one to easily record the exact location of the
parked vehicle would certainly be a welcome advance in the art.
[0006] The prior art abounds with devices for the general recording
of notes and/or data. For example, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 321,865
(Derocher) and Des. 413,582 (Tompkins) show designs for electronic
note pads. These devices are utilized to record general data and
are relatively expensive. Further, devices of this type are large
and cumbersome when compared to the invention as contemplated by
Applicant.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,553 (Righi) is drawn to a telecontrol
system for a motor vehicle. The above system requires extensive
electronic wiring of the motor vehicle.
[0008] U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,990,757 (Edwards et al.) and 5,710,557
(Schuette) disclose electronic identifiers for assisting the
retrieval of motor vehicles at valet-operated parking
facilities.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,556 (Oh) shows a remote-controlled,
light-emitting, alarm system for locating a parked vehicle. The
instant system requires that a receiver is placed in the vehicle
for activation by a hand-carried transmitter.
[0010] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either
singly or in combination, is seen to disclose a device for
recording the location of a parked motor vehicle as will be
subsequently described and claimed in the instant invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention, to be dubbed "Park & Find", is a
hand-held device which allows a user to easily record the site of a
vehicle that is parked in a marked location in a lot or garage. A
user may apply the device to record the level, section and row in
which the vehicle is parked. Park & Find is small enough to be
attached to a key chain, pocketbook, briefcase, etc. The device is
provided with alpha and numerical characters so as to be adaptable
to accurately record almost any marking scheme. As contemplated,
Park & Find may be either electronically or mechanically
operated. Optional features such as an emergency alarm, a vehicle
identification signal and a voice activated recording system may be
incorporated in the electronic embodiment of the device.
[0012] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to
provide a hand-held device to permit a user to determine the
location of a parked motor vehicle.
[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a hand-held
device for recording the location of a parked motor vehicle.
[0014] It is a further object of the invention to provide a
hand-held device for recording the location of a parked motor
vehicle, which device is available either for electronic or
mechanical operation.
[0015] Still another object of the invention is to provide a
hand-held device for recording the location of a parked vehicle,
which device is easy to use.
[0016] It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements in and arrangements thereof in a device for the purposes
described which are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in
accomplishing their intended purposes.
[0017] These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a locator
device according to the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an electronic embodiment of
a locator device according to the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2
according to the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mechanical embodiment of a
locator device according to the present invention.
[0022] Similar characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, a user P may employ the locator device,
generally indicated at 10, to record the site indicia 12 of a
parking space. In so recording the indicia, the user will not have
to rely on memory to recall the location of the site. All that will
be required is a quick glance at the settings recorded in locator
10.
[0024] Attention is directed to FIGS. 2 and 3 which best illustrate
the structure of the locator in its electronic embodiment. The
hand-held electronic embodiment comprises a casing 14 fabricated
from a suitable plastic material (a metallic material can be used
if desired). As contemplated, casing 14 will be about one inch
wide, two and one-half inches long and one-fourth of an inch thick.
A key ring 15 is provided at one end of casing 14 so that the
casing may easily be attached to a set of keys, a pocketbook, etc.
The casing has a front face which includes a readout section 16,
control sections 18, 18a and alpha-numeric input section 20. Light
and on/off switches are provided in section 18. Clear and set
switches are disposed in section 18a. The functions of the switches
are explained below. The rear face of casing 14 (FIG. 3) includes
an emergency button 22 which is used to activate an audible alarm
in the event of an emergency. Also provided is a voice activated
recording/playback device 24 that will allow a user to orally
record the vehicle site location for playback when needed. Button
26 will remotely activate a signal device (not shown) that is
placed in the parked vehicle. The signal device is designed to emit
audible beeps in a sound pattern which is unique to the particular
vehicle and would provide a further assist in determining the
vehicles location. As contemplated, emergency button 22,
recording/playback device 24 and signal button 26 are optional
features to be incorporated as desired. A replaceable cell battery
and electronic circuit 25 (shown in phantom lines) are housed in
casing 14 and are employed to power the elements of locator 10. The
battery and circuitry are conventional and are not, per se, part of
the inventive concept.
[0025] To operate the electronic device merely requires a user to
activate the on/off switch to the on position and manipulate the
proper alpha-numeric keys so that the required site data appears in
readout section 16. After the correct site indicia have been
recorded, manipulation of the set switch will lock the site
information in the readout section. Entries can be erased by
pressing the clear switch. If illumination is needed, a light in
the casing may be turned on by pressing the light switch.
[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention
which employs no electronic circuitry. The instant embodiment
comprises a cylindrical body 30 fabricated from a plastic or
metallic material. Body 30 is about two inches long with a diameter
of about three-fourths of an inch as presently contemplated. Four
tumblers 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d are rotatable about the central axis of
the cylindrical body 30. Tumbler 30a is inscribed with the names of
standard colors evenly spaced around the circumference thereof.
Tumbler 30b has alpha indicia inscribed there around. Tumblers 30c
and 30d are both inscribed with numeric indicia. An alignment
window 32 is disposed along the surface of body 30 and is attached
to the body at each end in any suitable and convenient manner. To
enhance viewing, window 32 is fabricated from a material which will
magnify the indicia appearing thereunder. A key ring 15 is secured
at one end of the body for purposes as indicated above. A mechanism
34 is mounted at the other end of body 30 to lock the tumblers to
prevent rotation. Mechanism 34 can also be manipulated to release
the tumblers for rotation when desired.
[0027] To operate the device of FIG. 4, a user simply rotates the
tumblers until the correct level, section and row are positioned
under alignment window 32. The tumblers are then locked against
rotation so that the user can quickly ascertain the site location
by merely glancing at the locator device.
[0028] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompass any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *