Staying awake at the wheel
Over the years, inventors have dreamed up a variety of ways to keep drivers awake while driving.
In 1936, Carl Brown got a patent on a chin-operated alarm device. If a driver started to nod off, and his head fell forward, this would depress a trigger, setting off an electric bell that would wake him up. (Patent No. 2,066,092)
In 1940, Raymond Young had the idea that whenever a driver was feeling drowsy he could press a button on the steering wheel and this would squirt an aromatic spray in his face, waking him up. (Patent No. 2,199,060)
And just last month, Hyundai was granted a patent for a system that shoots ultrasonic beams at a driver's eyes when it senses he's falling asleep. (Patent No. 11007932)
In 1936, Carl Brown got a patent on a chin-operated alarm device. If a driver started to nod off, and his head fell forward, this would depress a trigger, setting off an electric bell that would wake him up. (Patent No. 2,066,092)
In 1940, Raymond Young had the idea that whenever a driver was feeling drowsy he could press a button on the steering wheel and this would squirt an aromatic spray in his face, waking him up. (Patent No. 2,199,060)
And just last month, Hyundai was granted a patent for a system that shoots ultrasonic beams at a driver's eyes when it senses he's falling asleep. (Patent No. 11007932)
Comments
The 1936 device had the flaw of letting the driver nod off if his head fell backward or sideways. This could be arranged by putting another bell at the back of his head, and two others on each side. However, the device looked too much like a slave's collar, you know, the kind that they wore when they tried to escape once. Maybe if we replaced the bells by buttons that would squirt an aromatic spray in the driver's face? Or would that look too much like a dog shock collar?
Posted by Yudith on 06/14/21 at 05:57 AM
Item 22 in the drawing of the steering wheel reminded me of the accessory we used for one-handed steering back in the late 50's and early 60's. It's called a Brodie knob, but we knew them as suicide knobs.
Posted by Fritz on 06/15/21 at 06:24 AM
Apparently Michael Jackson is still alive and modeling for Hyundai.
Posted by FRANK on 06/16/21 at 03:49 PM
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Category: Inventions | Patents | Sleep and Dreams | Cars