Motor vehicle jack positioning system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018065543-A1
Application number	US-201615257450-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 6, 2016
Priority date	Sep 6, 2016
Publication date	Mar 8, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A motor vehicle jack positioning system includes a light source located adjacent a jack point for the motor vehicle and a controller configured to activate the light source in response to a data signal representative of a triggering event.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A motor vehicle jack positioning system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a light source located adjacent a jack point for said motor vehicle; and a controller configured to activate said light source in response to a data signal representative of a triggering event.

2 . The motor vehicle jack positioning system of claim 1 , wherein said triggering event is detection of a flat tire.

3 . The motor vehicle jack positioning system of claim 2 , including a cover for said light source, said cover being displaceable between a closed position protecting said light source and an opened position allowing passage of light from said light source.

4 . The motor vehicle jack positioning system of claim 3 , wherein said controller is configured to open said cover in response to said data signal representative of said triggering event.

5 . The motor vehicle jack positioning system of claim 1 , wherein said triggering event is removal of a spare tire from a spare tire storage point of said motor vehicle.

6 . The motor vehicle jack positioning system of claim 5 , including a cover for said light source, said cover being displaceable between a closed position protecting said light source and an opened position allowing passage of light from said light source.

7 . The motor vehicle jack positioning system of claim 6 , wherein said controller is configured to open said cover in response to said data signal representative of said triggering event.

8 . A motor vehicle jack positioning system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a first light source located adjacent a first jack point; a second light source located adjacent a second jack point; a third light source located adjacent a third jack point; a fourth light source located adjacent a fourth jack point; and a controller configured to activate one light source of said first light source, said second light source, said third light source and said fourth light source in response to a data signal representative of a triggering event.

9 . The motor vehicle jack positioning system of claim 8 , wherein said first light source and said first jack point are associated with a first tire on said motor vehicle, said second light source and said second jack point are associated with a second tire on said motor vehicle, said third light source and said third jack point are associated with a third tire on said motor vehicle and said fourth light source and said fourth jack point are associated with a fourth tire on said motor vehicle.

10 . The motor vehicle jack positioning system of claim 9 , further including a tire pressure monitoring system for monitoring tire pressures of said first tire, said second tire, said third tire and said fourth tire.

11 . The motor vehicle jack positioning system of claim 10 , wherein said controller is configured to activate said first light source when said first tire goes flat, said second light source when said second tire goes flat, said third light source when said third tire goes flat and said fourth light source when said fourth tire goes flat.

12 . A method of positioning a motor vehicle jack with respect to a motor vehicle, comprising:
locating a light source adjacent a jack point of said motor vehicle; configuring a controller to activate said light source in response to a data signal representative of a triggering event; and activating, by said controller, said light source following said triggering event.

13 . The method of claim 12 , including detecting, by detecting device, a flat tire where said flat tire is said triggering event.

14 . The method of claim 13 , including uncovering, by said controller, said light source in response to said data signal representative of said triggering event.

15 . The method of claim 12 , including detecting, by detecting device, removal of a spare tire from a spare tire storage point of the motor vehicle where spare tire removal is said triggering event.

16 . The method of claim 15 , including uncovering, by said controller, said light source in response to said data signal representative of said triggering event.

17 . The method of claim 12 , including uncovering, by said controller, said light source in response to said data signal representative of said triggering event.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Gutierrez Jose Abinadi Badillo
• Zarco Pedro Garcia
• Cortes Victor Negrete

Classifications

• B60Q1/32 Primary

  for indicating vehicle sides {, e.g. clearance lights} · CPC title

• B60Q1/0076

  Switches therefor (B60Q1/1446, B60Q1/343, B60Q1/40 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60C23/00 Primary

  Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements · CPC title

• B60Q1/247

  for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit (for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323) · CPC title

• B60R16/023

  for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems · CPC title