GB2102608A

GB2102608A - Indicating device

Info

Publication number: GB2102608A
Application number: GB08131751A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Herbert Richter
Original assignee: Richter Herbert & Co GmbH
Current assignee: Richter Herbert & Co GmbH
Priority date: 1981-07-24
Filing date: 1981-10-16
Publication date: 1983-02-02
Also published as: GB2102608B

Abstract

For indicating the proximity of a vehicle to a fixed boundary 14 such as the rear wall of a garage, there is provided a mechanical indicating device comprising a fixed portion such as a housing 1, a feeler bar 13 on one end 3a of a two-armed lever 3 which is mounted at 2 on the fixed portion, and a signal arm 5 which is mounted pivotably at 4 on the fixed portion adjacent the other end 3b of the lever. The signal arm and the adjacent end of the lever have inter-engaging tooth systems (7 and 6 respectively) such that the signal arm is raised (indicating STOP) when the vehicle contacts the feeler bar and moves it towards the fixed boundary, thereby causing the lever to pivot on its mounting 2 against a biasing force (provided by a coil spring, unreferenced). The feeler bar is preferably made of slightly elastic material or incorporates a spring 11 or 15 in its connection to the lever 3 or in its construction, which may be in several lengths to facilitate packaging. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Indicating device The invention relates to an indicating device for indicating the spacing of a vehicle such as a motor car from a fixed boundary (i.e. its proximity to such boundary) by means of a feeler bar which is arranged pivotably on a fixed portion of the indicating device.

Such indicating devices serve more particularly for indicating the correct spacing of the front or rear surface of a motor car from a rear garage wall or some other such boundary surface. In these cases a projecting front or rear structure of the car contacts the feeler bar of the indicating device, the rocking of which then initiates a signal, usually "stop". When this signal appears the vehicle is then at the desired correct spacing from the fixed boundary surface.

In known constructions of such indicating devices, the rocking of the feeler bar is used for operating an electric switch situated in the control circuit of a signalling arrangement. When the feeler bar is rocked the switch is closed and a signal lights up. To extinguish the signal, the circuit has to be opened. This can be effected either manually by the opening of a switch which is provided at the indicating device and which has to be closed again after the vehicle drives away, or - in almost all cases -by a time switch automatic arrangement which breaks the circuit after a short period of time, and closes it again automatically after the motor car drives away. In these devices the current supply is from batteries. If the battery no longer supplies current adequately, the device fails.Of course it fails likewise if there is any failure in the control system, which is relatively delicate from the feeler bar switch to the automatic means for putting the signal out and switching it on again.

The invention has as its object to provide an indicating device of the type described which manages without electrical indicating means, which is so robust that it needs no maintenance, and which can also be produced in an extremely simple and therefore economical manner. This is achieved in that the feeler bar is arranged on one end of a two-armed rocking lever which is mounted on the fixed portion and which comprises at its other end a tooth system engaging in a tooth system of a signal arm mounted pivotably on the fixed portion.

Thus, instead of closing an electric switch as in the case of the known devices, the rocking movement is here used directly for producing a swinging movement of a pivotable signal arm which in its swung-up or erected state also indicates "stop". With this indicating device, moreover, a relatively small rocking movement of the feeler bar is sufficient if, according to a further feature of the invention, the length of the lever arm of the rocking lever beyond the mounting point is distinctly greater than at the feeler bar side.

Since the rocking movement of the feeler bar or of the rocking lever is limited by the erection of the pivotable signal arm, it is advisable, to obviate damaging the feeler bar in the event of too strong a rocking movement, to make the feeler bar from slightly elastic material, or to provide a flexural spring at the connection zone between feeler bar and rocking lever. The feeler bar may also be divided into several lengths and be provided with coupling elements at the joint regions, to allow simple packaging when despatching the device. In this case it is also possible to insert a flexural spring instead of the coupling element at the topmost feeler bar part, to allow the feeler bar to yield in the event of too strong a rocking movement.Adjustment of the desired spacing of the motor car from the fixed boundary can be provided for by arranging on the short end of the rocking lever a rotatable and lockable adjusting element, to which the feeler bar can be secured.

All in all, therefore, an indicating device is provided for the purpose of indicating the spacing of a vehicle from a fixed boundary, which is of very simple construction, which requires no maintenance, and which also can be manufactured very economically.

A constructional example of the subject of the invention is shown diagrammatically in the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a view of such a device with housing open; and Fig. 2 shows the connection region between two lengths of feeler bar.

A lever 3 is mounted to be rockable about a pivot 2 and a pivotable signal arm 5 is mounted to be pivotable on a pivot 4 in a fixed portion constituted by a housing 1.The rocking lever 3 is atwo-armed lever with a short arm 3a and a distinctly longer arm 3b.

Provided on the end of the long lever arm 3b is a tooth system 6which engages in a corresponding tooth system 7 ofthe pivotable signal arm 5. An adjusting element 9 terminating in a screw-threaded sleeve 10 is arranged rotatably and lockably by means of a screwing connection 8 on the short lever arm 3a. A flexural spring 11 is inserted into the screw-threaded sleeve 10 and its end is itself inserted into a screw-threaded element. Finally, a feeler bar 13 is screwed into this screw-threaded element 12.

When the feeler bar 13 is rocked by a vehicle running against it, after slight bending of the flexural spring 11 the rocking lever 3 is rocked into the position shown in the drawings, whereby by means of the tooth systems 6/7 the pivotable signal arm 5 is erected into the illustrated position. Thus the person driving the vehicle is signalled the correct distance from the fixed boundary 14 to which the indicating device is secured.

Fig. 2 shows the connection region between two feeler bar parts 13, and the coupling element used is not a screw-threaded sleeve in this case but a tightly coiled spring 15. This allows inflection at this connection, and thus obviates damage to the feeler bar parts being caused if there is too strong a rocking movement.

1. Indicating device for indicating the spacing of a vehicle from a fixed boundary by means of a feeler bar arranged rockably on a fixed portion of the indicating device, characterised in that the feeler bar is provided on one end of a two-armed rocking lever

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Indicating device The invention relates to an indicating device for indicating the spacing of a vehicle such as a motor car from a fixed boundary (i.e. its proximity to such boundary) by means of a feeler bar which is arranged pivotably on a fixed portion of the indicating device. Such indicating devices serve more particularly for indicating the correct spacing of the front or rear surface of a motor car from a rear garage wall or some other such boundary surface. In these cases a projecting front or rear structure of the car contacts the feeler bar of the indicating device, the rocking of which then initiates a signal, usually "stop". When this signal appears the vehicle is then at the desired correct spacing from the fixed boundary surface. In known constructions of such indicating devices, the rocking of the feeler bar is used for operating an electric switch situated in the control circuit of a signalling arrangement. When the feeler bar is rocked the switch is closed and a signal lights up. To extinguish the signal, the circuit has to be opened. This can be effected either manually by the opening of a switch which is provided at the indicating device and which has to be closed again after the vehicle drives away, or - in almost all cases -by a time switch automatic arrangement which breaks the circuit after a short period of time, and closes it again automatically after the motor car drives away. In these devices the current supply is from batteries. If the battery no longer supplies current adequately, the device fails.Of course it fails likewise if there is any failure in the control system, which is relatively delicate from the feeler bar switch to the automatic means for putting the signal out and switching it on again. The invention has as its object to provide an indicating device of the type described which manages without electrical indicating means, which is so robust that it needs no maintenance, and which can also be produced in an extremely simple and therefore economical manner. This is achieved in that the feeler bar is arranged on one end of a two-armed rocking lever which is mounted on the fixed portion and which comprises at its other end a tooth system engaging in a tooth system of a signal arm mounted pivotably on the fixed portion. Thus, instead of closing an electric switch as in the case of the known devices, the rocking movement is here used directly for producing a swinging movement of a pivotable signal arm which in its swung-up or erected state also indicates "stop". With this indicating device, moreover, a relatively small rocking movement of the feeler bar is sufficient if, according to a further feature of the invention, the length of the lever arm of the rocking lever beyond the mounting point is distinctly greater than at the feeler bar side. Since the rocking movement of the feeler bar or of the rocking lever is limited by the erection of the pivotable signal arm, it is advisable, to obviate damaging the feeler bar in the event of too strong a rocking movement, to make the feeler bar from slightly elastic material, or to provide a flexural spring at the connection zone between feeler bar and rocking lever. The feeler bar may also be divided into several lengths and be provided with coupling elements at the joint regions, to allow simple packaging when despatching the device. In this case it is also possible to insert a flexural spring instead of the coupling element at the topmost feeler bar part, to allow the feeler bar to yield in the event of too strong a rocking movement.Adjustment of the desired spacing of the motor car from the fixed boundary can be provided for by arranging on the short end of the rocking lever a rotatable and lockable adjusting element, to which the feeler bar can be secured. All in all, therefore, an indicating device is provided for the purpose of indicating the spacing of a vehicle from a fixed boundary, which is of very simple construction, which requires no maintenance, and which also can be manufactured very economically. A constructional example of the subject of the invention is shown diagrammatically in the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a view of such a device with housing open; and Fig. 2 shows the connection region between two lengths of feeler bar. A lever 3 is mounted to be rockable about a pivot 2 and a pivotable signal arm 5 is mounted to be pivotable on a pivot 4 in a fixed portion constituted by a housing 1.The rocking lever 3 is atwo-armed lever with a short arm 3a and a distinctly longer arm 3b. Provided on the end of the long lever arm 3b is a tooth system 6which engages in a corresponding tooth system 7 ofthe pivotable signal arm 5. An adjusting element 9 terminating in a screw-threaded sleeve 10 is arranged rotatably and lockably by means of a screwing connection 8 on the short lever arm 3a. A flexural spring 11 is inserted into the screw-threaded sleeve 10 and its end is itself inserted into a screw-threaded element. Finally, a feeler bar 13 is screwed into this screw-threaded element 12. When the feeler bar 13 is rocked by a vehicle running against it, after slight bending of the flexural spring 11 the rocking lever 3 is rocked into the position shown in the drawings, whereby by means of the tooth systems 6/7 the pivotable signal arm 5 is erected into the illustrated position. Thus the person driving the vehicle is signalled the correct distance from the fixed boundary 14 to which the indicating device is secured. Fig. 2 shows the connection region between two feeler bar parts 13, and the coupling element used is not a screw-threaded sleeve in this case but a tightly coiled spring 15. This allows inflection at this connection, and thus obviates damage to the feeler bar parts being caused if there is too strong a rocking movement. CLAIMS

1. Indicating device for indicating the spacing of a vehicle from a fixed boundary by means of a feeler bar arranged rockably on a fixed portion of the indicating device, characterised in that the feeler bar is provided on one end of a two-armed rocking lever which is mounted on the fixed potion and which at the other end comprises a tooth system mashing in a tooth system of a pivotable signal arm mounted pivotably on the fixed portion.

2. Indicating device according to claim 1, characterised in that the lever arm length of the rocking lever beyond the bearing point is markedly greater than the lever arm length at the feeler bar side.

3. Indicating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at the short end of the rocking lever there is arranged an adjusting element which can be rotated and locked in position and to which the feeler bar can be secured.

4. Indicating device according to claim 1, characterised in that the feeler bar is divided into a plurality of lengths and is provided with coupling elements at the joint regions.

5. Indicating device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the feeler bar is made of slightly elastic material.

6. Indicating device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a flexural spring is provided at the point of connection between feeler bar and rocking lever.

7. Indicating device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the coupling element between two feeler bars is a tightly coiled flexural spring.

8. An indicating device substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 1 ofthe accompany ing drawings with or without the modification described with reference to Fig. 2.