Hand-held visual signaling device

A visual signaling device having interspersed arrays of red/amber/green LED signal lamps and a center flashing strobe lamp. A side mounted joy-stick type toggle switch on the housing is operated by the user's thumb to provide the control of the signal lamps. One position of the joy-stick button operates an on/off switch, and the other three positions each operate one of the three color arrays. A separate strobe light switch is provided adjacent the toggle switch. The housing of the signaling device is bowl-shaped and held in the palm of the user's outwardly extended hand. A strap extending around the back of the hand provides assistance. A battery pack is recharged through a standard socket for connection through a cord and utility plug to a power source.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to signaling devices, and more particularly 
to a portable, hand-held visual signaling device for directing and 
controlling people and vehicles of air, land and water. 
Hand-held pedestrian and vehicle control aids are commonly used by safety 
officers to direct and control traffic. The most common portable aid is 
simply a flashlight, or a sign-type signaling device. However, the signals 
from these prior art devices are often not noticed or misinterpreted by 
motorists resulting in general confusion and inefficiency for the officer 
directing and controlling traffic, as well as for the motorist. This 
shortcoming results in extended risk and liability for the traffic 
controller, as well as for the motorist, and in extreme cases accidents do 
happen causing injury, and even deaths. 
In response to these restrictions, and other limitations inherent in the 
commonly used flashlights, there have been several attempts to design an 
operationally, as well as commercially, successful hand-held traffic 
control signal. One draw back seems to have been that these hand-held 
traffic control signaling devices attempt to maintain the desirable 
features of flashlights, such as providing the light for the signaling 
device, or removed for use as a flashlight itself, while being 
manipulatable with one hand. This approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 
4,042,919 to Patty. An illuminated sign includes a perimeter frame wall 
supporting a translucent sign panel that carries the word message, such as 
"Stop." A standard flashlight with a threaded annular cap is attached to 
the frame so it can be easily removed. A separate strobe light and push 
button control switch are situated at the top of the sign. This particular 
hand-held traffic control signal device is relatively large and heavy, 
requires two-hand operation, and is thus cumbersome for the officer to use 
and store. Another shortcoming is the relative high cost that prevents it 
from being commercially successful. 
Another prevalent approach has been a lantern type, such as the traffic 
control signal device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,799,854 to Barnes. A 
rectangular housing includes three different colored lens, each with its 
own light source. Each light is individually controlled by separate push 
buttons vertically situated on one side. Additionally, the officer or 
other user holds the casing in one hand, but it must be in a posture such 
that the fingers are in position to operate the push buttons. It takes a 
physically large hand to hold and operate this device, leaving it a 
problem for male officers with small hands, or more frequently female 
officers, to use. The weight of these lantern type devices is a problem, 
as well as the relatively high initial cost, just like the flashlight-type 
devices described above. 
As the world shrinks and becomes more homogeneous, the use of 
internationally recognizable signals becomes more important. Signals of 
green (go), yellow (caution), and red (stop) are now internationally used 
and accepted. Also, people walking from one point to another, and persons 
operating a variety of vehicles, are becoming more dependent on a 
non-verbal mode (visuals) for following directions from enforcement 
officers. The following are examples justifying the need for an improved 
visual signaling device. 
As the population grows, public events draw attendance ranging from 60,000 
to 100,000 and up, making the problem of controlling pedestrian and 
vehicle traffic even more acute. This proposition covers a variety of 
events; national basketball tournaments, professional football and 
basketball events, concerts, presidential inaugurations, marches and 
parades. These masses of people must be directed in a safe, effective, and 
efficient manner to and away from the event. There are different modes of 
transportation involved, making it even more imperative for everyone to 
see and understand the signals of the enforcement officer. Events of this 
nature also occur routinely on a smaller scale in every community, town, 
and city where efficient control, while not on the same scale, is still so 
very important. 
As more and more people have time for recreation, ski boats, personal 
watercraft, fishing boats, pontoon boats and other watercraft are 
proliferating. Water recreation of this type is a fun and relaxing way to 
enjoy the waters in the oceans, rivers, streams and lakes. There are 
general rules governing the use of watercraft enforced by waterway 
officers that have similar enforcement powers as officers on land. 
Environmental conditions, including the broad spans of space, motor noise, 
and limited visibility, makes it even more difficult for these officers to 
communicate with the individual operators of watercraft. Limited state, 
federal and local funds have also reduced the number of waterway officers 
that are available for duty at any one time. To add to the burden, these 
watercraft also operate at dusk and at night. Thus, there is an increasing 
need for efficient visual communication between officer and the operator 
in this environment, just as in the other environments described above. 
In addition, a variety of businesses use the waterways as a means for 
profit. From tour boats for hire to fishing boats, and from cruise ships 
to fishing exhibition boats and from barge and tug to ocean going freight 
vessels, communicating with one another is very important. There are times 
when only a visual means of communicating is available. For example, 
emergencies while operating at night, during storms, in fog and in 
congested areas, demand a way of efficient visual signaling. 
Similarly, a variety of aircraft are affected and need a means for visual 
communication through the use of a signaling device. These incidences are 
primarily in slow moving, relatively small craft, such as powered and hang 
gliders and hot air balloons. Persons responsible for directing these 
aircraft, especially where a large number are concentrated in a relatively 
small space, such as at a rally, need a visual signaling control device, 
in addition to whatever audible communication is used. Noise of the 
aircraft, as well as long distances, and even the relative large size in 
case of balloons, tends to limit audible communication making the need for 
an easy to use and universally recognizable signaling device a necessity 
here also. 
Another very important factor to consider is that persons responsible for 
so directing the people and the vehicles are responsible for completing 
this task in a safe manner. The signal control device helps in 
accomplishing this result, and in turn in reducing this liability. 
Personal, as well as vehicular accidents related to human error of the 
person responsible for their safety and control, are increasing with the 
increased numbers and concentrations that are prevalent today. Not only 
the individual, but also the municipal (or the like) employer, become 
liable for these errors. This factor adds still further impetus to finding 
an efficient and cost effective way to provide control signals from one 
person to another, with or without a vehicle being involved. 
Thus, there is a need identified for a portable, hand-held visual signaling 
device that provides the universally recognized red, green and amber 
(yellow) signal lights, and is efficient in operation, as well as being 
relatively low cost so that it can be widely used by enforcement officers, 
and others responsible for personal safety. In one form, it should be 
packaged in a compact and lightweight housing assembly and designed to fit 
comfortably in the palm of a hand in the natural command position. It 
should be applicable to directing and controlling people and vehicles of 
air, land and water. Its commands should be easy to understand and highly 
visible under all environmental conditions. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Thus, a primary object of this invention is to provide an improved 
hand-held visual signaling device for use by a person responsible for 
directing people and vehicles of air, land and water. 
Another object is to provide a visual signaling device wherein the housing 
is of a generally dish or bowl shape designed to fit comfortably in the 
palm of a hand in the natural command position for a person responsible 
for directing and controlling people. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a compact, easy to hold 
and operate visual signaling device. 
A related object is to provide such a device having a joy stick type 
control switch positioned to be easily manipulated by the user. 
Another object is to provide a signaling device that is small and 
lightweight to be easily used by male and female officers alike, and is 
easy to store for quick access when needed. 
Another and related object is to provide at least one red, at least one 
green and at least one amber light source arranged behind a single lens to 
minimize the overall size and weight of the assembly, and to utilize the 
universally recognized color traffic control signals. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a hand-held 
visual signaling device of the type described, and having a center strobe 
light as an additional attention command and focus for alerting, directing 
and controlling the people and vehicles, as desired. 
To achieve the foregoing and other objectives, and in accordance with the 
purposes of the present invention as described herein, a novel hand-held 
visual signaling device for directing and controlling persons and 
vehicular traffic is provided. The signaling device adds to the safety for 
the person(s) controlled, as well as those responsible for the directing 
and controlling function. It applies to people as pedestrians as well as 
operators of vehicles on the land or water, and in the air. 
The portable visual signaling device includes a generally dish or 
bowl-shaped housing that fits comfortably in the palm of a hand in the 
natural command position of an enforcement officer or other person 
responsible for directing and controlling the people. A wrap around strap 
secures the signaling device to the user's hand. 
The hand-held visual signaling device advantageously includes at least one 
red, at least one green and at least one amber light source in an array 
behind a single lens. A joy stick switch makes control very easy and a 
center strobe increases the attention and focus of the person being 
controlled. The entire device is housed within the generally bowl-shaped 
housing. 
Preferably, multiple red, green and amber signal lamp arrays make-up the 
light sources in the signaling device. The lamps are preferably LED lamps 
suitable for outside use. The red, green and amber arrays of lamps are 
interspersed with each other. Thus, when one array is activated to provide 
the desired color signal from the face of the housing, a bright, easy to 
see and interpret visual signal is available. Preferably, the lamps are 
placed on a circuit board which is mounted to the inside of the housing 
and positioned to project a signal toward and through the single lens 
covering the face of the housing. The circuit board and array of lamps 
receive power from a rechargeable power supply positioned between the 
inside of the housing and the circuit board. 
The center strobe lamp is provided in the center of the signaling device 
and also mounted on the circuit board. Its flashing action right in the 
center of the colored visual signal adds a significant factor for 
attention command and focus to provide an extra margin of safety for both 
the person being controlled, as well as the one responsible for doing the 
directing and controlling. 
The colored arrays of signal lamps and the strobe lamp are enclosed within 
the housing by a circular dispersing lens, which is secured on the inner 
wall of the housing. The lens disperses the colored light making it easy 
for interpreting the conveyed message of stop, go or caution. The 
enclosure by the lens provides protection to the internal components of 
the signaling device from potentially harmful contact with foreign objects 
and from the environmental elements, such as rain or snow. 
The joy-stick type toggle switch is provided on the side of the housing in 
position for easy contact by the thumb of the user. The toggle control 
action holds the switch in an on-off position, or in the red, amber and 
green signal positions, until another position is pressed. In this way the 
switch does not have to be held down in the on position. The joy-stick 
toggle switch advantageously replaces four separate switches that would 
otherwise be required. 
Similarly, a push button switch is provided on the side of the housing to 
activate the center strobe light, and is advantageously positioned in 
close proximity to the LED lamp control toggle switch for ease of 
operation when necessary. 
A charging socket is also provided on the housing to provide power to the 
rechargeable power supply. The charging socket accepts a standard input 
jack connected through an extension cord to a standard cigarette/utility 
plug, or other suitable source of power. 
Still other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those 
skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown 
and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, simply by way of 
illustration of one of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. 
As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different 
embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in 
various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. 
Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as 
illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Reference is now made to the drawings showing the preferred embodiment of a 
hand-held visual signaling device according to the present invention, and 
generally represented by the reference number 10. As best shown in FIG. 1, 
the signaling device 10 is particularly adapted for portability and is 
compact to it comfortably in the palm of the right or left hand in the 
natural command position for a person responsible for directing and 
controlling people and vehicles of air, land and water. 
In the preferred embodiment, a round dish/bowl shaped housing, represented 
by the reference number 11, best accomplishes the objective to fit 
comfortably in the palm of a hand. A holding device, such as a strap 15, 
secures the hand to the housing 11. 
As illustrated in FIG. 2, a circuit board 21 is fixedly supported by the 
housing 11. An array of at least one red LED lamp 31, at least one amber 
LED lamp 29 and at least one green LED lamp 19 is fixedly supported by the 
circuit board 21 to provide an optimal intensity of illumination within 
the desired hand-held size limitations. The LED lamps are of the outdoor 
type, and may be, for example, Toshiba LED lamps TLSH180P, TLYH180P and 
TLGA183P, respectively. Additionally, a strobe light 17 is fixedly 
supported at the center of the circuit board 21. 
A clear plastic lens 37 is fixedly supported along the inner wall of the 
housing 11 (see FIG. 3). The lens 37 disperses the selected signal evenly. 
As schematically represented in FIG. 5, a rechargeable battery pack 25 
provides power to joy-stick type toggle switch 13 and the strobe 
push-button switch 39. The toggle switch 13 is a four position switch with 
the positions representing in sequence off/on red, amber or green signals, 
and operating to hold each position until another position of the switch 
is activated. Power from the battery pack 25 is selectively switched in 
parallel through the circuit board to either an array of red LED lamps 
wired in series or parallel, an array of amber LED lamps wired in series 
or parallel, or an array of green LED lamps wired in series or parallel 
and interspersed with each other (see FIG. 3). 
The toggle switch 13 in the off position creates an open circuit and power 
for all of the LED lamps is interrupted. Additionally, the strobe light 
switch 39 is a two position push-pull-type switch controlling power from 
the circuit board 21 to the strobe light 17. With the strobe light switch 
in the on position, power from the battery pack 25 is selectively provided 
through the circuit board 21 to the strobe light 17 to provide a high 
intensity flashing signal. Of course, the switch 39 in the off position 
creates an open circuit and the power for the strobe light 17 is 
interrupted. 
A socket is supported by the housing 11 and provides the rechargeable 
battery pack 25 access to an external power source. An input jack 
connected through a cord to a cigarette/utility plug is utilized for this 
purpose. 
As best seen in FIG. 4, the joy-stick type toggle switch 13 is fixedly 
supported on the side of the housing 11 in a position to be easily 
operable by the thumb while the signaling device 10 rests comfortably in 
the palm of the hand. Similarly, the strobe light switch 39 is fixedly 
supported on the side of the housing 11 and is positioned to be easily 
operable by the user. 
From the foregoing description, it can be seen that substantial improved 
results are obtained with the signaling device 10 of the present 
invention. The generally rounded and compact bowl-shaped housing 11 allows 
the device to be held comfortably in the palm of the hand in the natural 
command position of the officer, or other person, for efficient operation. 
Three arrays of LED lamps 31, 29 and 19 interspersed with each other 
behind a single lens 37 are selectively operated to direct persons, such 
as pedestrians, vehicle operators or the like. A center strobe lamp 17 
commands and focuses the attention of the person being directed. A 
joy-stick type (4-way) toggle switch 13 and push button switch 39 controls 
the various light functions in an efficient manner providing exceptional 
ease of operation. 
The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has 
been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not 
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form 
disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of 
the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to provide 
the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical 
application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize 
the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as is 
suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and 
variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the 
appended claims when interpreted in accordance with breadth to which they 
are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.