Normally Encased Patents (Class 340/482)
  • Patent number: 8002179
    Abstract: A display assembly is adapted to be received by a vehicle console and includes a chassis, a display member, a hood, and a mechanical positioning mechanism. The mechanical positioning mechanism can be easily activated to adjust the display member between a hidden or closed position and a visible or open position. In one embodiment, the display assembly has a latch mechanism to maintain the display member in the hidden position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven Feit, Luis De Santos
  • Patent number: 5589814
    Abstract: Considering the latest vehicle anti-theft systems and anti-theft warning systems that abound today, the theft of vehicles has not been slowed down to any appreciable amount. In fact, the car theft industry lids virtually kept pace with the car manufacturing industry. This invention has taken a common sense and practical approach to an anti-vehicle theft system that renders the front windshield opaque when the ignition switch is turned on and the vehicle is attempted to be stolen, while the security control switch is placed in the "on" mode. One embodiment was a thermopane type windshield with a space between two plates of unbreakable glass. The space between the two plates of glass has an opaque curtain or blind pulled up inside the void space from the bottom of the windshield to the top of the windshield to render the entire windshield opaque. Another embodiment is to provide several optional features that may be purchased by persons with limited funds although these options are not really required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Inventor: John Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5408232
    Abstract: A traffic signal device having a single, continuously-illuminating lamp and several plain reflectors constructed by optical thin film technique to receive the light beam projected from the lamp and respectively reflecting light components of pre-determined wavelengths to display differently-colored traffic signals. Also, is a lamp detection system which monitors and detects the operation of the lamp and generates a signal to actuate the lamp interchanging mechanism to automatically replace the lamp with a spare lamp once the lamp malfunctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Rung-Ywan Tsai, Chaur-Tsang Wei, Chii-Hua Lee, Fang-Chuan Ho
  • Patent number: 5212468
    Abstract: A vehicle signal system for requesting drivers to dim or turn on their vehicles' headlights comprising a signal light for transmitting a high intensity flashing beam to a driver of an oncoming vehicle, a pair of signal lights for transmitting a pair of alternating flashing beams to a driver of a vehicle behind the signalling vehicle, a control unit for controlling the flashing of the high intensity beams and a driver control for activating and de-activating the front and rear signal lights. One feature of the invention is that the driver control is mounted in a day/night rear view mirror near the eye level of the driver. Another feature is that the front signal light is mounted in the forward end of an outside mirror on the side of the vehicle. The signal system has two selectable operating states. In one operating state, the front and rear signal lights automatically flash for predetermined intervals of time. In the other operating state, the signal lights flash continuously until de-activated by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Inventor: Robert Adell
  • Patent number: 4851832
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for vehicular street traffic, including a signal disc which consumes very little energy. This signal disc is provided with signal webs separated by deep grooves and with a diffusely reflecting color coating. Pivotal slats are disposed in a frame in front of the signal disc. If the signal disc is displaced with respect to the frame, the slats are pivoted upwardly and push themselves completely into grooves. The signal disc is therefore visible at any observation angle. At dusk or at night, the signals may be given by suitably disposed, dot-shaped, colored light sources in the form of light emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Inventor: Herbert Graf
  • Patent number: 4825192
    Abstract: A protective guard is provided for a school bus. A series of telescoping members retracts along the front of the bus, and are in a compact form when the bus is moving. When the school bus stops two of the members telescope outwardly in series and extend across the lane of oncoming traffic. The members are so long and strong that any motorist attempting to pass the bus will damage his car. Flashing red lights are mounted on the extended members. The members are extended and retracted by a lead screw. The lead screw, when it extends the telescoping members, first drives the innermost member outwardly and away from the other movable member. The lead screw then engages the other movable member and drives it outwardly and it carries the innermost member to its ultimate extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Wells