Steve S Gavrilis

US Patent:

50122223, Apr 30, 1991

Filed:

Apr 6, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/506417

Inventors:

Steve Gavrilis - Brooklyn NY

International Classification:

B60Q 500

US Classification:

340436

Abstract:

A sensor assembly for a proximity warning device for protection of a curbside parked vehicle, particularly from potential impact damage from another vehicle parking in an immediately adjacent curbside space, is pivotally mounted in a housing adapted to be mounted on a bumper of a vehicle and includes a relatively heavy body having a lighter elongated feeler element affixed to it and projecting upwardly substantially above the housing. The pivotal mounting permits the sensor assembly to oscillate toward and away from the vehicle. The location of the pivotal axis is so selected that, when the housing is affixed to a bumper of a parked vehicle and the sensor assembly is influenced only by gravity, the sensor assembly assumes a neutral orientation in which the feeler element is substantially vertical regardless of whether the surface on which the vehicle is parked is horizontal or inclined in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle. A liquid metal electrical switch in the sensor assembly is responsive to the orientation of the assembly so that the switch is open when the assembly is in its neutral orientation and is closed when the sensor element has been pushed toward the vehicle on which the device is mounted.