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US 9,387,897 B2Granted
Smart horn system and method
AssigneeORP Industries LLC
InventorsToren Orzeck, Timothy Steven Glaser, Vincent O'Malley, Cory Evan Pearman, David S. Perry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A smart horn in the form of a combination dual tone, high decibel bicycle horn and beacon light is disclosed. In one embodiment, the smart horn includes a horn for producing sound, a light source for producing light and a housing in which the horn and light source are included. The housing includes light ports and sound ports. The sound ports surround the light ports.
Claims20
An audio/visual warning apparatus comprising:
- a battery;
- a horn for producing sound;
- a light source for producing light;
- at least one first switch;
- a second switch;
- a controller operatively connected to the battery, the horn, the light source, the at least one first switch, and the second switch;
- a housing in which at least the battery, the horn, the light source, the at least one first switch, and second switch are included, wherein the housing includes light ports and sound ports, wherein the sound ports surround the light ports;
- a toggle supported by the housing for pivoting movement in first and second directions and operatively connected to the at least one first switch;
- and
- a deformable skin arranged over the toggle and a portion of the housing, wherein a tail portion of the deformable skin is arranged over the toggle;
- wherein
- when the tail portion is displaced to move the toggle in the first direction, the toggle places the at least one first switch in a first on configuration in response to which the controller controls the horn to produce a first sound and the light source to produce light in a first pattern and at a first brightness;
- and
- when the tail portion is displaced to move the toggle in the second direction, the toggle places the at least one first switch in a second on configuration in response to which the controller controls the horn to produce a second sound and the light source to produce light in a second pattern and at a second brightness;
- the second sound differs from the first sound;
- the second pattern differs from the first pattern;
- and
- the second brightness differs from the first brightness.
15 more elements
An audio/visual warning apparatus for a bicycle comprising:
- a first circuit board comprising a controller, a power/mode switch, at least one sound switch, and an electrical connector;
- a second circuit board comprising a light source for producing light;
- a battery;
- a horn for producing sound;
- a housing defining a light port, a sound port, an electrical port, and a cradle, where the housing supports the battery, the first circuit board such that the electrical connector is accessible through the electrical port, the second circuit board such that light from the light source may pass through the light port, and the horn such that sound from the horn may pass through the sound port;
- a toggle operatively connected to the at least one sound switch and supported by the housing for pivoting movement in first and second directions;
- and
- a deformable skin arranged over the toggle and at least a portion of the housing, wherein the deformable skin over the toggle defines a tail portion and the deformable skin defines a strap defining a hook portion;
- wherein
- the controller is operatively connected to the battery, the horn, the light source, the power/mode switch, the at least one sound switches, and the electrical connector;
- when the hook portion of the strap engages the cradle, the strap covers the electrical port;
- selective activation of the power/mode switch turns the controller on and off and, when the controller is on, causes the controller to energize the light source according to at least one pattern;
- when the controller is on and the tail portion is displaced to move the toggle in the first direction, the toggle places the at least one sound switch in a first on configuration in response to which the controller controls the horn to produce a first sound and the light source to produce light at a first brightness;
- and
- when the controller is on and the tail portion is displaced to move the toggle in the second direction, the toggle places the at least one sound switch is in a second on configuration in response to which the controller controls the horn to produce a second sound and the light source to produce light at a second brightness;
- the second sound differs from the first sound;
- and
- the second brightness differs from the first brightness.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.