Vehicle window breaker tool and alert

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11998775-B2
Application number	US-202117479102-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2021
Priority date	Sep 20, 2021
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

A window breaker tool for use on a vehicle includes a body having a handle to enable a user to grip the tool, a glass breaker member extending from the handle configured to contact a glass window with force to break the glass window, and an accelerometer operatively coupled to the body to sense acceleration during impact and generate a signature signal. The tool also includes an RF signal communication device located on the tool for communicating with a plurality of RF signal communication devices on the vehicle to determine a location of the tool relative to the vehicle, wherein the RF signal communication device communicates with a controller for processing the signature signal and determining whether the signature signal is indicative of the tool in use to break a window, and wherein the controller further determines the tool is within the vehicle based on the location and outputs an alert signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A window breaker tool for use on a vehicle, the vehicle having a plurality of RF signal communication devices, the tool comprising:
a body having a handle to enable a user to grip the tool;
a window breaker member extending from the handle configured to impact a glass window with force to break the glass window;
an accelerometer operatively coupled to the body to sense acceleration during the impact and generate a signature signal; and
an RF signal communication device located on the tool for communicating with the plurality of RF signal communication devices on the vehicle to determine a location of the tool relative to the vehicle, wherein the RF signal communication device communicates with a controller for processing the signature signal and determining whether the signature signal is indicative of the tool in use to break a window, wherein the controller further determines the tool is within the vehicle based on the location and outputs an alert signal, wherein the tool is attached to the vehicle to form an assist handle on the vehicle, wherein the tool has a first connector at a first end and a second connector at a second end, wherein the first and second connectors are releasably connected to supporting portions of the vehicle and wherein the tool comprises a release button to enable a user to remove the tool from the supporting portions.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the controller is located on the vehicle.

3. The tool of claim 2 , wherein the RF signal communication device comprises an RF transmitter and wherein the plurality of RF signal communication device on the vehicle comprise RF receivers, and wherein the controller processes the signals received with the RF receivers and determines the location of the tool based on the received RF signals.

4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool further comprises a battery.

5. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool further comprises a lighting device, wherein the lighting device is illuminated when the controller determines that the vehicle is located in a body of water.

6. The tool of claim 5 , wherein the body of water is determined based on a water sensor provided on the vehicle.

7. The tool of claim 6 , wherein the water sensor comprises one or more capacitive sensors.

8. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the handle serves as the assist handle.

9. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the alert signal is transmitted to a service center.

10. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool further comprises a cutter.

11. A window breaker tool for use on vehicle, the vehicle having a plurality of RF signal communication devices, the tool comprising:
a body having a handle to enable a user to grip the tool;
a window breaker member extending from the handle configured to impact a glass window with force to break the glass window;
an accelerometer operatively coupled to the body to sense acceleration during the impact and generate a signature signal; and
an RF signal communication device located on the tool for communicating with a plurality of RF signal communication devices on a vehicle to determine a location of the tool relative to the vehicle, wherein the RF signal communication device communicates with a controller for processing the signature signal and determining whether the signature signal is indicative of the tool in use to break a window, wherein the controller further determines the tool is within the vehicle and outputs an alarm signal when the tool is in use in the vehicle and the vehicle is determined to be in a body of water, wherein the tool is attached to the vehicle to form an assist handle on the vehicle, wherein the tool has a first connector at a first end and a second connector at a second end, wherein the first and second connectors are releasably connected to supporting portions of the vehicle and wherein the tool comprises a release button to enable a user to remove the tool from the supporting portions.

12. The tool of claim 11 , wherein the controller is located on the vehicle.

13. The tool of claim 12 , wherein the RF signal communication device comprises an RF transmitter and wherein the plurality of RF signal communication device on the vehicle comprise RF receivers, and wherein the controller processes the signals received with the RF receivers and determines the location of the tool based on the received RF signals.

14. The tool of claim 11 , wherein the tool further comprises a battery.

15. The tool of claim 11 , wherein the body of water is determined based on a water sensor provided on the vehicle.

16. The tool of claim 15 , wherein the tool further comprises a lighting device, wherein the lighting device is illuminated when the controller determines that the vehicle is located in the body of water.

17. The tool of claim 11 , wherein the tool further comprises a cutter.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Roseman Mark
• Seaman Jeff Robert
• Glickman David Brian
• Huebner Annette Lynn

Classifications

• A62B3/005 Primary

  Rescue tools with forcing action · CPC title

• B60R22/32

  Devices for releasing in an emergency, e.g. after an accident {; Remote or automatic unbuckling devices (unlocking devices for retractors B60R22/3416)} · CPC title

• B60W40/02

  related to ambient conditions · CPC title

• B60W50/14

  Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention · CPC title

• F21V33/0084

  Hand tools; Toolboxes · CPC title