US 5,483,442 AGranted

Accident documentation system

AssigneeInvestigator Marketing Inc.

InventorsBarry Black, David Mowry, Gary Smith

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Abstract

An accident documentation system comprising an accident documentation assembly and a computerized tracking system integrated therewith. The accident documentation assembly comprises a strap fixedly attached to pouch, with a plurality of members coordinated to routinely document an automobile accident. Slidably attached to this strap through an elongated slot is a substrate upon which is imprinted documentation-directing indicia. The accident documentation assembly includes a camera for visually recording the accident scene and continuous-feed pen and a marker for recording the accident scene on predefined forms and involved pavement, as appropriate. Also included in this assembly is a flashlight for securing the accident scene at night or under exigent conditions characterized by smoke and the like. To avoid flashlight and camera from malfunctioning because of battery and film expiration problems, a computerized tracking system is provided for calculating expected longevity of batteries and film, and then generating, in turn, a replacement warning and a notice to promote proper operation of such flashlight and camera.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An accident documentation system having a unique identification number, for use by a person who is either an accident victim or a bystander, said accident documentation system comprising:

an accident documentation assembly having a pliable strap means and a plurality of retaining means fixedly attached to said pliable strap means, and configured to be releasably received by said person's neck without inhibiting use of either arms or hands thereof;
substrate means having slot means configured to slidably receive said strap means;
said substrate means comprising first indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident disposed on one side of said substrate means in an overlapping relationship therewith and second indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident disposed on another opposite side of said substrate means in an overlapping relationship therewith;
said slot means configured to expose said first indicia means and second indicia means, respectively, by suitably twisting said substrate means to render either of said first indicia means or second indicia means readable to said person;
marker means releasably attached to one of said plurality of retaining means, for depicting relationship between a plurality of automobiles involved in said accident scene;
writing means releasably attached to one of said plurality of retaining means, for verbally recording said accident scene on a plurality of accident information form means releasably attached to a clipboard means;
illumination means releasably attached to at least one of said plurality of retaining means, for providing illumination at said accident scene;
and
camera means releasably attached to at least one of said plurality of retaining means, for visually recording an accident scene;
said camera means having a plurality of additional indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident and for recording estimated replacement dates for said camera means and said illumination means, disposed on a corresponding plurality of surfaces contained upon said camera means and further disposed in an overlapping relationship therewith;
and
computerized tracking means based upon said identification number for monitoring service time of said camera means and said illumination means and for notifying said person when to replace said camera means and said illumination means.

9 more elements

An accident documentation system having a unique identification number, for use by a person who is either an accident victim or a bystander, said accident documentation system comprising:

an accident documentation assembly having a pliable strap means comprising a reflective material and a plurality of retaining means comprising a reflective material and fixedly attached to said pliable strap means, and configured to be releasably received by said person's neck without inhibiting use of either arms or hands thereof;
substrate means having an elongated slot means proximal and parallel to an edge thereof and configured to slidably receive said strap means;
said substrate means comprising first indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident disposed on one side of said substrate means in an overlapping relationship therewith and second indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident disposed on another opposite side of said substrate means in an overlapping relationship therewith;
said slot means configured to expose said first indicia means and second indicia means, respectively, by suitably twisting said substrate means to render either of said first indicia means or second indicia means readable to said person;
marker means releasably attached to one of said plurality of retaining means, for depicting relationship between a plurality of automobiles involved in said accident scene;
writing means releasably attached to one of said plurality of retaining means, for verbally recording said accident scene on a plurality of accident information form means releasably attached to a clipboard means;
illumination means releasably attached to at least one of said plurality of retaining means, for providing illumination at said accident scene;
and
camera means releasably attached to at least one of said plurality of retaining means, for visually recording an accident scene;
said camera means having a plurality of additional indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident and for recording estimated replacement dates for said camera means and said illumination means, disposed on a corresponding plurality of surfaces contained upon said camera means and further disposed in an overlapping relationship therewith;
and
computerized tracking means based upon said identification number for monitoring service time of said camera means and said illumination means and for notifying said person when to replace said camera means and said illumination means.

9 more elements

An accident documentation system having a unique identification number, for use by a person who is either an accident victim or a bystander, said accident documentation system comprising:

an accident documentation assembly having a pliable strap means comprising a reflective material and a retaining means comprising a reflective material and fixedly attached to said pliable strap means, and configured to be releasably received by said person's neck without inhibiting use of either arms or hands thereof;
substrate means having an elongated slot means proximal and parallel to an edge thereof and configured to slidably receive said strap means;
said substrate means comprising first indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident disposed on one side of said substrate means in an overlapping relationship therewith and second indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident disposed on another opposite side of said substrate means in an overlapping relationship therewith;
said slot means configured to expose said first indicia means and second indicia means, respectively, by suitably twisting said substrate means to render either of said first indicia means or second indicia means readable to said person;
marker means releasably attached to said retaining means, for depicting relationship between a plurality of automobiles involved in said accident scene;
writing means releasably attached to said retaining means, for verbally recording said accident scene on a plurality of accident information form means releasably attached to a clipboard means;
illumination means releasably attached to said retaining means, for providing illumination at said accident scene;
and
camera means releasably attached to said retaining means, for visually recording an accident scene;
said camera means having a plurality of additional indicia means for providing directions for documenting a motor vehicle accident and for recording estimated replacement dates for said camera means and said illumination means, disposed on a corresponding plurality of surfaces contained upon said camera means and further disposed in an overlapping relationship therewith;
and
computerized tracking means based upon said identification number for monitoring service time of said camera means and said illumination means and for notifying said person when to replace said camera means and said illumination means.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.