Truck trailer impact warning system

For use with a pick-up truck having a cab, a bed extending rearwardly of the cab and providing an upwardly extending peripheral wall with front and side sections, and an electrical power source,

• a warning system removably mounted on the truck for warning the driver of the truck should one of the forward outer corners of a fifth wheel trailer pivotally supported on a hitch secured in the bed of the truck approach a point of impact with the cab during a turning maneuver of the truck, said warning system comprising
• a warning device disposed within the cab and comprising at least one transducer for converting an electrical signal into an audio and/or visible and/or other event readily discernible by the driver,
• a pair of alarm assemblies spaced apart on the front wall section, each of said alarm assemblies comprising
• a mounting member positioned on the front wall section and provided with
• a generally horizontally disposed support plate,
• a pair of spaced generally parallel legs depending from said support plate and straddling the top edge of the front wall section, and
• a manually operable screw member for removably clamping said mounting member on the front wall section,
• a positioning mechanism carried on said mounting member and comprising
• a first element pivoted on said support plate for limited rotary movement thereon,
• a second element slidable on said first element for limited linear movement thereon, and
• manually operable screw members for selectively restraining said first and second elements against movement relative to each other and to said support plate,
• a contact member pivoted for limited rotary movement on said second element, said contact member normally being resiliently biased in a generally vertical position,
• said first and second elements of said positioning mechanism being movable relative to each other and to said support plate to permit manual positioning of said contact member between the cab and the adjacent forward outer corner at a predetermined distance from the cab,
• an electrical switch mounted on said second element and provided with an operating member movable in response to movement of said contact member
• between an extended position closing said switch and
• a retracted position opening said switch,
• said operating member
• normally being disposed in its said retracted position with said switch open when said contact member is in its generally vertical position and
• moving to its extended position to close said switch upon pivotal movement of said contact member away from its said generally vertical position, and
• an electrical circuit removably connected to the power source and extending between said switches and said transducer means,
• pivotal movement of the contact member of either alarm assembly moving the operating member of the switch of that assembly from its retracted to its extended position to close the said switch and electrically connect said transducer means to the power source and actuate said transducer means to create said discernible event in response to contact between said one contact member and the adjacent forward outer corner should such corner rotate beyond said predetermined distance during a turning maneuver of the truck.

An alarm assembly for use in a warning system employing an electrically operated warning device to warn the driver of a pick-up truck that the forward extension of a fifth wheel trailer pivotally supported on a hitch secured in the bed of the truck is approaching a point of impact with the cab of the truck during a turning maneuver of the truck, the alarm assembly comprising

• a mounting member removably mounted on the bed externally of the cab,
• a positioning mechanism carried on said mounting member,
• a contact member supported on said positioning mechanism for limited pivotal movement thereon,
• biasing means normally maintaining said contact member in a generally vertical position
• a switch supported on said positioning mechanism and provided with an operating member movable with said contact member between
• a first position opening said switch when said contact member is disposed in its said generally vertical position and
• a second position closing said switch and connecting the warning device with the electrical system of the truck to activate the warning device when said contact member is pivoted from its said generally vertical position,
• said positioning mechanism being manually adjustable relative to the cab to position said contact member between the cab and the forward extension for engagement with such forward extension at a predetermined distance from the point of impact,
• said contact member and said operating member being moved and operating said switch to activate the warning device to gain the attention of the truck driver in response to contact between such contact member and the forward extension upon rotary movement of such forward extension beyond said predetermined distance during a turning maneuver of the truck.