Vehicle distance advise systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10190272-B2
Application number	US-201715623720-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2017
Priority date	Jun 15, 2017
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle distance advise system includes a first housing section including a first reflective strip and a first warning device connected to the first reflective strip, and a second housing section removably connected to the first housing section. The distance advise system may be connected to a vehicle and then set-up to alert other vehicle drivers of the presence of an immobilized vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle distance advise system, comprising:
a first housing section including a first reflective strip and a first warning device connected to the first reflective strip; and
a second housing section removably connected to the first housing section and including a second reflective strip and a second warning device connected to the second reflective strip.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , comprising a third housing section removably connected to the second housing section.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second housing section is magnetically connected to the first housing section.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first housing section includes a reel rotatably mounted within a housing of the first housing section.

5. The system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the first reflective strip is received on the reel.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first warning device is connected to the first reflective strip by a connector.

7. The system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the connector is a hook that connects to a bracket of the first warning device.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second reflective strip includes a different length than the first reflective strip.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first warning device includes a reflective surface.

10. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first warning device is a warning triangle.

11. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first housing section includes a first magnet and the second housing section includes a second magnet.

12. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first housing section includes a reel having a shaft disposed between opposing end disks.

13. A vehicle distance advise system, comprising:
a first housing section including a first reflective strip and a first warning device connected to the first reflective strip; and
a second housing section removably connected to the first housing section,
wherein the first warning device is movable between a non-deployed position in which it is received against a housing of the first housing section and a deployed position in which it is spaced a distance apart from the housing.

14. A vehicle distance advise system, comprising:
a first housing section including a first reflective strip and a first warning device connected to the first reflective strip; and
a second housing section removably connected to the first housing section,
wherein the first housing section includes a first magnet and the second housing section includes a second magnet,
wherein the first magnet is positioned on an exterior surface of a first housing of the first housing section and the second magnet is positioned on an exterior surface of a second housing of the second housing section.

15. A method, comprising:
connecting a distance advise system to a vehicle;
positioning a first warning device connected to a first reflective strip of the distance advise system at a first desired distance from the vehicle; and
positioning a second warning device connected to a second reflective strip of the distance advise system at a second desired distance from the vehicle, wherein the second desired distance is a different distance than the first desired distance.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein connecting the distance advise system includes:
magnetically connecting a first housing section of the distance advise system to the vehicle; and
magnetically connecting a second housing section of the distance advise system to the vehicle.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the first housing section and the second housing section are both connected to a rear portion of the vehicle.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the first housing section is connected to a rear portion of the vehicle and the second housing section is connected to a front portion of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Acosta Rodriguez Armando
• Vasquez Henao Nathali
• Zepeda Lopez Ernesto
• Ortiz Flores Jorge Arturo
• Medina Huerta Mario Alejandro

Classifications

• E01F9/654

  in the form of three-dimensional [3D] bodies, e.g. cones; capable of assuming 3D form, e.g. by inflation or erection to form a geometric body · CPC title

• B60Q7/005

  Devices without lamps · CPC title

• E01F13/02

  free-standing; {portable, e.g. for guarding open manholes (E01F9/688 takes precedence); Portable signs or signals specially adapted for fitting to portable barriers} · CPC title

• E01F9/619

  with reflectors; with means for keeping reflectors clean · CPC title

• E01F9/692

  Portable base members therefor · CPC title