IMPROVEMENTS IN WARNING APPARATUS

Abstract: Warning apparatus comprises pivotally interconnected arms (5, 6, 7) bearing light emitting elements (L1,---,L9) along their lengths and an electric circuit adapted to cyclically activate the elements. The arms are foldable such that they nest for storage against a support structure, and will normally be provided with retro-reflective surfaces, on both sides of desired, to enhance their visibility. The elements are preferably activated in sequence to simulate a moving light source, the path of which can be made continuous, for example around the perimeter of a triangle. The circuit described provides for the inclusion of means (3A, 3B) for sensing the intensity of light impinging on the apparatus, which means is effective to adapt the speed of cyclic activation of the elements. Thus, the speed of a simulated light source movement can be made to increase as the intensity of impinging light increases. In this way, the headlamps of an oncoming vehicle can cause the activation of the light source to accelerate as the vehicle approaches, thereby drawing the attention of the driver of the vehicle to an imminent hazard.

Description: IMPROVEMENTS IN WARNING APPARATUS The present application relates to warning apparatus. It is known to provide markers or reflectors constituting a triangular plate or frame having a reflective surface as a marker or indicator for use, for example, in a situation of hazardous roadway conditions. In particular, such triangular markers or indicators are required by law to be carried by drivers in Europe, Japan, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. Existing indicators or markers, however, suffer from a number of disadvantages and in particular certain markers depend solely on reflected light for their visibility. They are of limited value in adverse weather conditions such as fog, rain or similar conditions. It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome or mitigate some of the disadvantages related to the prior art. Accordingly, there is provided warning apparatus comprising a support structure, stabiliser means to assist in steadying the apparatus when resting on the ground in use, retro-reflective warning arm means connected to and foldable so as to nest against the support structure, and a plurality of light emitting elements spaced along the warning arm means and activatable by an electric circuit adapted to switch the elements on and off, preferably in sequence to provide the appearance of a moving light source. The retro-ref1-ective warning arms means may include foldable arms which .form a triangular shape when erected on the support structure. They may form any other shape if required. However, for simplicity, the remaining description will be in relation to a triangular embodiment although it is to be understood that this is in no way restrictive of the invention. The foldable warning arm means may comprise a base and first and second arms. The base of the foldable warning member may be attached to the top section of the support structure. The attachment may be at one or more points. All of these retro-reflective arms may be of the same size and shape. The base may be attached to a support structure, e.g. of aluminium or synthetic plastics material, by means of brackets. Preferably the first arm is pivotally attached to or adjacent one end of the base arm and similarly the second arm is pivotally attached to the other end of the base arm. In a further preferred form the base and the first and second arms are arranged in juxtaposition to each other so that when folded they form a solid rectangular shape; the folded arms then rest on the support structure. The base, first arm and second arm may be arranged in juxtaposition to each other so that, when folded, their total height is approximately the width of the largest member. It will be understood that in use the triangle may be formed by raising the free ends of the first and second arms and attaching the free ends together by means of a clip or press stud. Alternatively, when the triangle may be formed by lifting the first arm and allowing the second arm which is pivoted to the end of the first arm to swing out and contact a detent member which may be placed on the top of the support structure. The foldable warning apparatus may have any shape and configuration such that a triangular shape is formed when the apparatus is opened. Each of the arms may have a similar shape and cross-section. The shape of the base and first and second arms may be that of an elongated rectangle. They may have a rectangular cross-section; each part may be solid or hollow. In another form they may have a channel shaped cross-section. The warning arm means may be made of translucent or transparent material. Desirably the arms are constructed from a retro-reflecting material. Synthetic plastics materials may be used. The arms may be strengthened by providing a reinforcing member around at least one edge thereof. The reinforcing member may be a channel-shaped member. This member may be of any suitable material. A metal, e.g. aluminium, is preferred. Where the reinforcing member is a channel-shaped member, it is preferred that the companion part of the warning arms be a channel-shaped member. Each part may have an inverted configuration relative to the other so that when assembled, a tubular member is formed. If desired the tubular member may be sealed at each end. The support structure may have a box-like configuration when closed. It may be formed from a pair of superimposed opposed channel-shaped members to form a tubular section. The support structure may have a number of storage compartments for, for example, batteries and/or a lead to connect the apparatus to a vehicle's battery. In one form a centrally mounted stabilising beam constituting the stabiliser means is provided. This beam may be rotatable about a central mounting, preferably to a position normal to the remainder of the warning apparatus, in order to stabilise the unit when in use. The centrally mounted stabilising beam may constitute the entire base section of the housing or merely a centrally located portion thereof. The centrally mounted stabilising beam may be of tubular or channel shape. The beam may have a generally rectangular cross-section. Where the base section of the housing is formed from a pair of superimposed opposed channel-shaped members the centrally mounted stabilising beam and storage compartments may simply be formed by cutting through the lower of the channel-shaped members at appropriate _ positions. It will be understood that the cutting may occur before or after assembly. In a preferred form the stabiliser beam has two legs, e.g. of channel-shaped metal or synthetic plastics material, pivotally attached at either end of the stabiliser beam. Then when the apparatus is in use, they are rotated on their pivot attachments so that they form a lengthwise extension of the stabiliser beam and so improve stability of the apparatus when in use. The stabiliser beam may comprise of a long box-like structure in order to house the electric circuit unit and in a preferred form is attached to the support structure by means of hollow rivet or threaded tube and nuts, the tube allowing passage of the wires between the electric circuit and the light emitting elements with minimal strain on the wires when the stabiliser beam is rotated under the support structure. The box-like structure attached to the ends of the support structure may be made of metal or plastic and in a preferred form are shaped to house two identical battery packs, an on-off switch, a miniature jack socket for external power supply and the two oppositely mounted light dependent resistors, or similar light sensing devices. In a preferred embodiment the electric circuit may be so designed that changes in ambient light cause the rate of switching of the light emitting elements to change. Thus in total darkness switching, or in the preferred embodiment the moving light effect of the warning apparatus is slow but with increasing ambient light is speeded up in proportion with the intensity of the ambient light. According to this embodiment the apparatus comprises light sensing means for detecting the level of light impinging on the apparatus, the output from the sensor being arranged to alter the rate of switching of the light emitting elements, whereby the brighter the light the faster is the rate of switching. The light emitting elements may be selected from, for example, bulbs, cathode tubes, light emitting diodes or optical fibres. The illumination may be powered, for example, by a source of AC power from which a suitable DC supply may be derived if necessary. However, the warning apparatus is normally used in an emergency situation so desirably the apparatus is provided with its own source of power. This may be in the form of dry cells. Alternatively, the warning apparatus may be provided with a cord and plug for insertion into the cigar lighter of a vehicle. Such a cord or plug or other connection may be stored in a storage compartment in the base of the support structure. The warning apparatus is provided with an electrical circuit which will allow for the light emitting elements to be switched on and off in sequence. The sequence may be timed to produce the appearance of a light source tracing a continually repeating path. It has been found that such an arrangement provides a particularly distinct warning to on-coming vehicles and the like. The electronic circuitry for such a sequentially timed circuit may comprise a pulse generator, counter element and switching means in order to produce sequential switched outputs to a series of light emitting elements. The pulse generator may be in the form of a square wave oscillator. The frequency of the oscillator output may be varied by the timing elements coupled to it in <cluding the light dependent resistors or similar light detecting elements. The oscillator output may be received by a counter such as a decade counter which will provide a sequential switched output. Between the counter and the light emitting elements there may be provided a buffering system. The buffering system may comprise a series of transistors operating in the emitter follower mode to provide current drive to the light emitting elements. The light emitting elements as specified above may be of any suitable form, however it has been found suitable to use miniature instrument type lights which have a low current drain and high light output. A readily available type has a D.C. resistance of around 180 ohms and gives a long battery pack life. If other types are selected, e.g. having a lower DC resistance, higher light output may be produced but at the cost of reduced battery _ life. In a particularly preferred arrangement the following warning apparatus in use, constitute an equilateral triangle with nine light emitting elements. The light emitting elements may be equally spaced around the base and first and second arms. It will be understood that with nine light emitting elements and a sequential switched output from 1 to 10 there is a slight delay after each cycle of nine but it has been found that this slight delay does not impair the visual effect of the rotation. Where the internal DC battery source is used it has been found suitable to use two battery packs of six volts wired- in series to produce 12 volts. It has been found that as the battery voltage drops the device will continue to operate even when the voltage is down to around 6 volts but the light output is of course diminished. With intermediate use the batteries tend to recover towards their nominal output voltage. This occurs because of the pulsating current arrangement tends to maximise battery life. The wiring of the electronic circuit to the light emitting elements may be achieved in any suitable manner which will allow the folding arms to be folded or opened with minimum wear. In a particularly preferred arrangement the wires to the first and second arms pass through hollow rivet or threaded tubing from the base arm. Thus the wires are at the center of turning moment and have minimal twisting. Alternatively a standard hook-up wire may be used for the circuit. Preferably, a more robust wire which is not as susceptible to wear may be used in part or all of the circuit. For example ribbon cable may be used. Such ' cable is preferred for the links between the first and second arms and the base from another form of a narrow strip of printed board may be used. The light emitting elements may be supported on printed board strips which allow for the double use of wiring runs and the support for the light emitting elements. Various further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, by way of example, of embodiments of the invention in which reference will be made to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the features illustrated and described can be adapted either alone or in combination in apparatus of the invention. Where appropriate, the same references are used for the same components in each embodiment. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of the warning apparatus according to the present invention when closed for storage purposes; Figure 2 is a plan view; Figure 3 is an under-plan view with the « - structural member rotated and the end supports rotated for greater stability; Figure 4 is a elevation with the arms of triangle erected for use; Figure 5 is a perspective view in the erected position of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a front elevation of the erected apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention with the front covers removed and the stabiliser arms folded away; Figure 7 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 6 when closed for storage; Figure 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of Figure 6; and Figures 6 and 7 are partially schematic circuit and wiring diagrams which may be used in accordance with the present invention. The warning apparatus shown in the drawings has a base support structure 12, a pivotally attached stabiliser beam 13, a base arm 6 and first and second arms 5 and 7 which together form the triangular reflector when in use. The pivotally attached stabiliser beam 13 houses an electronic printed circuit board 8 and the wires 23 from the circuit board pass to light emitting elements L to L . Two battery packs 10 and 11 are housed in end compartments C- and C_ together with an on-off slide switch 1 for controlling actuation of the circuit. One light dependent resistor 3B is fitted to the side of compartment C.. A second light dependent resistor 3A is fitted to the opposite side of the other compartment C_ which also carries an external power socket 14. It will be noted that the resistors 3A and 3B face in opposite direction. The base arm 6 is attached to the support structure 12 by brackets 14A and 14B which extend up from the structure. The first and second arms 5 and 7 are pivotally about these brackets and so can be pivoted up from the stored position shown in Figure 1 to the in use position ofFigures 4 and 5 where the arms form an equilateral triangle. The arms are of transparent translucent synthetic plastics retro-reflective material, e.g. with a diamond cut pattern such as materials used for vehicle tail lights. The arms 5 and 7 can be joined together in the in use position where the arms form the triangle by male and female press studs 25. The light emitting elements L. to L are preferably miniature instrument type lamps and are mounted with three equally spaced along each arm 5 to 7 so that they are equally spaced around the triangle formed by the arms. The stabiliser beam 13 is pivotally joined to the structure 12 about a swivel 9. When in the stored position shown in Figures 1 and 2 the stabiliser beam 13 is in line with the structure 12 and fits between the two end compartments C. and C 2 attached to the structure 12. To stabilise the warning apparatus when in use, the stabiliser beam is swivelled out at 90° to the structure 12 as shown in Figures 3 and 5. Additionally feet 13A pivotally joined to the ends of the stabiliser beam 13 can be turned outwardly to increase the overall length of the stabiliser beam 13 and so further steady the apparatus when in use. As with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, that of Figures 6 to 9 has a support structure 12 to which base arm 6 is fixedly attached. Arm 5 is pivotally attached to base arm 6 at 40, and arm 7 to arm 5 at 42. The triangle is erected by the sequential rotation of the arms from the closed position of Figure 7 to the open position of Figure 6, and the free end of arm 7 secured at 44. The light dependent resistors 3A and 3B are located on the arms 5 and 7 respectively to show at the apex of the erected triangle. The base arm 6 is secured to the support structure 12 by brackets 44. The support structure 12 houses batteries 46 in compartments C. and C_ which are closed by removable plastic end caps 48. Preferably there are four batteries in each compartment, providing a possible total battery life of up to six hours using 1.5 volt batteries in a circuit as described below. Again though, an external power socket is provided for connection to an external supply such as a car battery. A printed circuit board 8 is _ also mounted in compartment C. on a removable inner end cap 50. The possibility of easily replacing the circuit board also increases the potential life of the device, and enables the performance characteristics of the device to be altered for different situations as desired. The base of the support structure comprises two stabliser beams 52 respectively pivoted at 54 and 56. Their free ends are complementarily slanted at 58 to nest and permit opening only away from one another to form an S-shaped support surface for the erected triangle. Figure 10 illustrates a preferred form of circuit for use in the present invention. It is described with reference to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, but is readily adaptable to that of Figures 6 and 10 as will be apparent. Power may be obtained from the dry cell batteries 10 and 11 carried within the compartments C. and C„ and connected through the switch 1. Alternatively the switch jack plug and socket 14 may be used to connect the apparatus to a car battery or other external power source. A diode D- acts as a protection against accidental reversal of voltage polarity. The circuit includes an oscillator 19 to provide power pulses to a counter 20 at a rate determined by the resistance of the light dependent resistors 3A and 3B and thus at a rate determined by the amount of ambient light since the resistance of the light dependent resistors is proportional to the ambient light. In this connection it will be noted that the resistors 3A and 3B are mounted in parallel across points 30 and face opposite ways from the support 12. Therefore if one or other is subject to light from say the headlights of an on-coming vehicle, the resistance across the points 30 will reduce and so alter the rate of oscillation. The arrangement is such that the brighter the ambient light, the faster will the oscillator 19 work. Preferred oscillators are those sold as NE 555 or LM 555. The pulses are coupled to the clock input of counter 20 which provides sequentially switched output signals from one to nine and is then reset by the connection of pin 11 to pin 15. These output signals are coupled to switching transistors T. to T q whose emitters are respectively connected to the lamps L to L q . The preferred counter illustrated is of the 4017 type while the preferred switching transistors are of the NPN small power type such as BC548. Figure 11 illustrates the wiring used on the movable arms 5 and 7 and in the arm 6. Flexible wirings 21 and 22 are provided at the hollow pivot points of the brackets 14A and 14B and the wiring passes through the hollow pivot point. Narrow circuit board strips 24, 25 and 26 are used both to support the lamps L.. to L q and to carry the power to each lamp in the arms 5 to 7. The wires 23 from the electronic circuit board 8 pass through the hollow swivel 9. The apparatus is simple to use in an emergency. It is brought to its in use condition shown in Figures 3 to 5 and in Figure 6 by pivoting the arms 5 and 7 to form the warning triangle and turning the stabiliser beam 13 and feet 13A or beams 52 so that the apparatus will stand on the ground without risk of falling over. The circuit is energised by switching on the switch 1, the power either coming from the batteries 10 and 11 or 46, or by joining the jack input 14 to a vehicle's cigar lighter for example to obtain current from the vehicle battery. The circuit illuminates the lamps L. to L g in turn so that there is the appearance of a light source tracing a continually repeating path around the triangular structure formed by the arms 5 to 7. When a vehicle with headlights approaches the apparatus, one or other of the light sensitive resistors 3A and 3B will receive the light and alter in resistance, so increasing the frequency of the oscillator 19 and speeding up the flashing of the lights L.. After use the apparatus folds down into a compact form for convenient storage. For daytime use the lights L- to L g will not be energised but the arms 5 to 7 will still operate like a conventional warning triangle.

Claims: WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Warning apparatus comprising a support structure, stabiliser means to assist in steadying the apparatus when resting on the ground in use, retro-reflective warning arm means connected to and foldable so as to nest against the support structure, and a plurality of light emitting elements spaced along the warning arm means and activatable by an electric circuit adapted to switch the elements on and off. 2. Warning apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the electric circuit includes a pulse generator, a counter and switching means to produce a sequential switched output to the light emitting elements. 3. Warning apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 in which the pulse generator is a square wave oscillator. 4. Warning apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the counter element's sequential output is provided by a decade counter. 5. Warning apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 in which, between the counter and light emitting element, there is provided a buffering system comprising a series of transistors. 6. Warning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the switching sequence of the electric circuit provides the appearance of a light source tracing a continually repeated path around or along the warning arm * means. 7. Warning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which further comprises light sensing means for detecting the level of light impinging on the apparatus, the output from the sensor being arranged to alter the rate of switching of the light emitting elements, whereby the brighter the light the faster is the rate of switching. 8. Warning apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 in which the light sensor comprises a light sensitive resistor forming part of the electric circuit. 9. Warning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the warning arm means comprise a base and first and second arms, the base being attached to the top section of the support structure and the first and second arms being pivotally attached to the base arm to form a triangle when in use. 10. Warning apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 in which the base, first and second arm are arranged in juxtaposition to each other so that when folded they form a solid rectangular shape on top of the support structure. 11. Warning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the stabiliser means include a beam pivotally attached at its centre to the support structure so that it can in use extend out transversely from the support structure and which in turn has pivotally attached support legs at each end to increase its length when stabilising the apparatus 12. Warning apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 in which the stabiliser means house the electric circuit. 13. Warning apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 in which battery compartments are housed at the ends of the support structure. 14. Warning apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: RECORD ROBERT ALEXANDER, RECORD, ROBERT, ALEXANDER
Applicants: JERANCH INT, JERANCH INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Application year: 1985
Main classification: B60Q7
IPC codes: B60Q7, G08B5