CA1189162A

CA1189162A - Driver alarm

Info

Publication number: CA1189162A
Application number: CA000398304A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Ernest French
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-03-15
Filing date: 1982-03-15
Publication date: 1985-06-18

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A safety device for waking a driver who falls asleep while driving his car is described. The device comprises a housing which contains an audible alarm, battery and on-off switch connected in series. The housing is preferably mounted on the cross-member of the steering wheel to the rim of which is attached a hand operated pressure switch also connected in series with the other circuit components described above. When the on-off switch is closed, relaxation of the driver's grip on the pressure switch causes the circuit to be complete through the battery thus energising the audible alarm.

Description

This invention relates to a sa-fety device for aiding the driver o:E a vei:icle, and more particularly to means for waking a driver who falls asleep while driving.
It is, of course, an object of such a device to save the driver from possible serious acciden-t or injury, wh:ich can result from a period of inattention which is not cut short quickly enough by some kind of positive interruption oE the sleeping state.
According to a broad aspect of the present invention, a sleep-interrupting safety device for a driver oE a motor vehicle comprises, in combination; a housing adapted to be at-tached to a cross arm of the steering wheel of said motor vehicle, said housing accommodating an on-off switch, an electrically-energis-able audible alarm and electrical circuitry therefor; a hand-actuatable pressure switch associated with the rim of said steer-ing wheel and incorporated in said electrical circuitry; and a source of electrical energy; the geometry of said pressure switch being such that the hand-contacting portion thereof has a low profile so as to project above the surface of said s-teering wheel rim to an extent not enough to:mpede sliding movement of the driver's hand therealong; whereby, when said ON-OFF switch is in the closed posi-tion, relaxatior of the driver's grip on said pressure swit~ hand-contacting portion causes energisa-tior o:E said audible alarm.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pressure switch is substantial]y recessed in the s-teering wheel rim.

The auclible alarm may be energised by a bat-tery wi-thin the housing or via a connection be-tween -the electrical circuitry and the electrical supply of the vehicle.
One embodiment of the in~Jention defined in the preced-ing paragraph will now be described herewith wi-th reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 shows a plan view of a steering wheel incorpor-ating the invention, F'igure 2 shows, in Eront elevation, a box which houses certain electrical components, Figure 3 is a view taken along the line A-A of E'igure

2, and Figure 4 shows schematically an electrical circui-t which includes said components.

' -la-Upon referring to the drawings it will be seen that, behind the cross-arm member of a typical steering wheel, a small box 1, formed from plastic or other rigid material, is held with respec~ to said member by a mounting strap 2. The box 1 contains a buzzer or similar audible alarm 4, a switch 5 and a battery 6.
Also, mounted upon the rim of the steering wheel, is a low-profile switch 3, a part of which is preferably recessed within said rim, although it may simply be strapped to the exterior of said rim.
I'he above-mentioned electrical components are wired together in accordance with the circuit of ~igure 4.
The switch 3 is normally urged into a closed contact condition by suitable pressurising or spring-biasing means, but its contacts may be opened simply by the inevitable squeezing action when the driver's hand grips the portion of the rim upon which this switch is mounted.
As the driver assumes control of the vehicle, especially if he suspects that he might readily fall asleep, he arms the system by moving the conveniently located switch 5 to the 'lon" position. Provided that the wheel is left untouched, this action connects the buzzer 4 to the battery 6 via the normally closed switch 39 and the alarm will sound.
To silence the alarm, the driver need merely grasp the steering wheel, whereupon switch 3 opens, and the vehicle can then be driven in the normal manner.
If and when the driver should fall asleep, his grip on the wheel will relax sufficiently for switch 3 to close again under the influence of its spring-loading, whereupon the alarm sounds with a pre-determined loudness which is designed to ensure that the driver will be awakened immediately.

It will be appreciated that the switch 3 may be molmted in various positions around the rim of the steering wheel as desired, to suit the idiosyncrasies of the driver, and to allow for either right-hand or left-hand operation.
Furthermore, in a modification of the invention, the indepenclent battery 6 may be replaced by a suitable connection to the vehicle's own elec.trical supply, for example~ via wires running to the circuit of the horn 7 which is normally located within the steering wheel hub.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A sleep-interrupting safety device for a driver of a motor vehicle, said device comprising, in combination; a housing adapted to be attached to a cross arm of the steering wheel of said motor vehicle, said housing accommodating an on-off switch, an electrically-energisable audible alarm and electrical circuitry therefor; a hand-actuatable pressure switch associated with the rim of said steering wheel and incorporated in said electrical circuitry; and a source of electrical energy; the geometry of said pressure switch being such that the hand-contacting portion thereof has a low profile so as to project above the surface of said steering wheel rim to an extent not enough to impede sliding movement of the driver's hand therealong; whereby, when said ON-OFF switch is in the closed position, relaxation of the driver's grip on said pressure switch hand-contacting portion causes ener-gisation of said audible alarm.

2. The sleep-interrupting safety device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said low-profile pressure switch is substantially recessed in said steering wheel rim.

3. The sleep-interrupting safety device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said audible alarm is energised by a dry cell battery housed within said housing and included in said circuitry.

4. The sleep-interrupting safety device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said audible alarm is energised via a connection between said circuitry and the vehicle's own electrical supply.