WO2005059873A1

WO2005059873A1 - Device for identifying a vehicle involved in an accident

Info

Publication number: WO2005059873A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/014355
Authority: WO
Inventors: Remo Giovanni Barosso
Original assignee: Remo Giovanni Barosso
Priority date: 2003-12-19
Filing date: 2004-12-16
Publication date: 2005-06-30
Also published as: ITMI20032530A1

Abstract

A device (2, 6) suitable for signalling the identification data of vehicles (1) involved in an accident and vehicle (1) equipped therewith.

Description

DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING A VEHICLE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT

The invention provides a device suitable for signalling the identification data of vehicles involved in an accident and vehicles equipped with said device. There are many situations in which it would be desirable to know the identity of the vehicle involved in an accident or of its owner. Particularly important are those situations in which pedestrians are hit or run over by a vehicle, sometimes suffering serious consequences. In these cases it may happen that the guilty driver runs away without giving assistance to the injured persons and without leaving traces. There are also situations in which a vehicle can cause damages to other vehicles, for example bumping into them while parking, or to a great variety of traffic and road signals, including guard-rails, traffic lights and their control boxes, telephone switch boxes, lighting poles and the like, and also damages caused to private structures like gates, protection walls, buildings and others. Also in these situations, the guilty driver often cannot be traced or identified. In the absence of adequate controls, the driver is almost sure of going unpunished. A system suitable for identifying the vehicle involved in an accident or causing damage by bumping into other vehicles would be a deterrent against unfair or even criminal behavior of drivers. The present invention provides a solution to this problem through a device to be installed in a vehicle, said device being provided with means that in case of accident activate the opening or breaking of a container in which a number of supports or tags carrying the identification data of the vehicle are placed. The supports of tags may be in the form of leaflets, optionally plasticized or rain-proof, on which the vehicle identification or proprietor identity are printed. The device according to the invention is provided with an inertial sensor suited to identify bumps or collisions or to detect sharp speed variations in a vehicle, which is connected with means that, upon receipt of a suitable signal, cause the spreading of a plurality of supports or tags carrying the vehicle identification data or the proprietor's name. The presence of the supports or tags in the area where the accident has occurred allows to unequivocally identify the vehicle involved. The invention is described in detail making reference to attached

Figures 1 to 3, which schematically illustrate different designs of the device installed in a vehicle. With reference to Figure 1, a vehicle 1 is provided with a device including an inertial sensor 2 able to detect a bump or collision, or an intense speed variation (e.g. deceleration) of the vehicle, and to generate a corresponding signal. The inertial sensor 2 is connected through cable 3 to a switch, which can be the same switch controlling and managing the whole vehicle, which in turn is connected by means of cable 5 to a system that controls the opening of a container 6. The latter may be advantageously located in the rear vehicle, underneath the luggage compartment, and carries a plurality of vehicle identification supports or tags, like plasticized leaflets, upon which the identification data of the vehicle or of its owner are printed. The container 6 is provided with a hatch 7 which opens towards the exterior of the vehicle allowing the identification supports or tags to exit and spread on the ground when the hatch opens. Different systems governing the hatch opening can be envisaged. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the hatch 7 may be provided with pivots 8 engaged by a closing hook 9 which is connected to a system that, upon receiving a signal from the operational switch 4, disconnects the hook from the pivot on the hatch. Different hatch opening systems may also be used. Figure 3 schematically shows an opening mechanism which is similar to the one used in the vehicle airbags. Basically, the controlled ignition of a little charge placed in the container allows the hatch to open at the moment of vehicle collision. Mechanical hatch opening systems can also be envisaged. With reference to Figure 4, for example, there can be provided a couple of containers 6 positioned in the front and rear parts of the vehicle and carrying the vehicle identification data. In this case, a lever 10, attached to a plate positioned in direct contact with the internal part of the bumper, ends with a hook that engages the pivots of the hatch 7. When the impact force exceeds an established value, the bumper deforms causing the recess of the lever which opens the container thereby spreading the identification supports or tags contained therein. The supports or tags can also be placed, instead of in a solid container, in an inflatable container like a baloon or similar; in this case, the vehicle impact activates a device that punctures the baloon causing its explosion and the scattering of the identification supports in the nearby area. Any different design of the device can be envisaged, provided that an effect of scattering of the identification supports or tags from the vehicle is achieved following the vehicle collision. It is pointed out that the electrical and electromechanical systems hereby referred to are known and therefore do not need a detailed description. The device according to the invention can be applied to existing vehicles by simply equipping them with the container and suitable connections to the control system and to the vehicle electrical apparatus. Any modifications or variations of the device described herein are considered as falling within the general scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A device to be installed in a vehicle and useful for its identification in case of accident, which is provided with means that at the moment of vehicle collision cause the spreading of supports or tags in the surrounding area, said supports or tags carrying the identification data of the vehicle or the name of its owner.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the supports or tags are leaflets on which the identification data of the vehicle or the name of its owner are printed.

3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said means include an inertial sensor that at the moment of vehicle collision activates the opening of a container in which the supports or tags are placed.

4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that the inertial sensor is directly connected with the locking systems of said container.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said container is closed by a hatch blocked by means of hooks connected to a lever which is in contact with the internal part of the vehicle bumper, whereby a distortion of the bumper allows the hatches to unhook with consequent opening of the container.

6. A device according to claim 3, which is provided with an inflatable container and means suitable to break the container in consequence of vehicle collision.

7. A device according to claims 3-6, which is provided with two containers, one located in the front part and the other in the rear part of the vehicle.

8. A vehicle equipped with a device according to any previous claims.