Vehicle fuel efficiency monitor and signalling device
US8122843B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 17, 2010 |
| Grant date | Feb 28, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 22, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02D11/08
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A fuel efficiency signal device intended to be interposed between the accelerator pedal of a vehicle and a floor below the pedal. The signal device has wedge shaped, flexible walled, self supporting air container having walls sealingly blended to adjacent walls to form the air container. The walls are a bottom wall, a fore end wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and formed with a lateral, inwardly extending living hinge, an aft end wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, a pair of opposite, outwardly bowed side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and joined to the end walls and a top wall inclined at a wedge angle to the bottom wall and joining the side walls and the end walls. A whistle extends through a wall of the air container. An adjustable air escape valve also extends through a wall of the air container device for adjustably varying the air flow rate through the air escape valve and thereby adjustably selecting a rate of accelerator pedal depression at which the whistle will emit an audible signal to the driver.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.