Vehicle safety exit apparatus
AssigneeDennis L. Chappell
InventorsJohn W. Chappell, Anthony Shangler, Dennis L. Chappell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle safety exit apparatus for use in a vehicle having a main battery, an ignition switch and a plurality of electric window and door lock operators is provided. The vehicle safety exit apparatus includes an auxiliary battery operable for delivering power to the vehicle's electrically operated window and door lock operators in emergency situations. The apparatus also includes a control assembly coupled between the auxiliary battery and the window and door lock operators for controlling the delivery of power therebetween. The control assembly automatically opens the vehicle's windows and door locks when the vehicle's main battery is destroyed or disconnected from the vehicle's electrical system during a collision.
Claims22
A vehicle safety exit apparatus for use in a vehicle having an electrical system including a main battery, an ignition switch and left and right side electric window and door lock operators, said vehicle safety exit apparatus comprising:
- an auxiliary battery;
- and
- control means for controlling the delivery of power from said auxiliary battery to the left and right side window and door lock operators, said control means including
- sensing means for sensing disablement of the main battery, and
- switching means responsive to said sensing means for switching power from said auxiliary battery to the left and right side window and door lock operators for actuating the left and right side window and door lock operators when said sensing means senses the disablement of the main battery,
- said sensing means including a dual relay having a pair of independently operating first and second relays, wherein said first relay is coupled between said main battery and the left side window and door lock operators and said second relay is coupled between said main battery and the right side window and door operators.
In combination:
- a vehicle having a main battery, an ignition switch, and left and right side electric window and door operators;
- an auxiliary battery;
- and
- control means coupled between said auxiliary battery and said left and right side window and door lock operators for controlling the delivery of power therebetween, said control means including sensing
- means for sensing disablement of said main battery, said sensing means including a dual relay having a pair of independently operating first and second relays, wherein said first relay is coupled between said main battery and said left side window and door lock operators and said second relay is coupled between said main battery and said right side window and door operators, and
- switching means responsive to said sensing means for switching power from said auxiliary battery to said left and right side window and door lock operators for actuating said left and right side window and door lock operators when said sensing means senses disablement of said main battery.
In combination:
- a vehicle including a main battery, an ignition switch, and a plurality of electric window and door operators;
- an auxiliary battery;
- an auxiliary battery low power warning circuit, said warning circuit including a warning light and a ground switch, said ground switch being operable for switching power from the vehicle main battery to said warning light when the power level of said auxiliary battery drops below a predetermined power level;
- a dual relay coupled between said auxiliary battery and said window and door lock operators for controlling the delivery of power therebetween, said relay including sensing means for sensing disablement of said main battery, said relay further including switching means responsive to said sensing means for switching power from said auxiliary battery to said window and door lock operators when said sensing means senses disablement of said main battery, whereby said window and door lock operators open said vehicle windows and door locks;
- and
- a manually activated safety exit switch connected in parallel with said dual relay, wherein said manual exit safety switch is operable for switching power from said auxiliary battery to said window and door lock operators independently of said dual relay when actuated by an occupant of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.