ILLUMINATED REFLECTIVE WARNING TRIANGLE

Abstract: A collapsible reflective warning triangle formed by interconnected side members (2, 4, 6) with reflex reflective lens strips (24) illuminated by spaced light emitting diodes (28) or other light sources powered through a flasher unit (30) from batteries (40) in a battery housing (36). The battery housing is releasably connected with the triangle or pivoted relative the base of the triangle, during erection of the latter, this action serving both to power the diodes through the flasher unit, and to provide a support and ballast weight for maintaining the triangle in a near vertical plane.

Description: ILLUMINATED REFLECTIVE WARNING TRIANGLE This invention relates to reflective warning triangles of the type used to provide warning of road hazards, particularly at night. Such triangles have been used for a number of years, and commonly are folding or collapsible to facilitate storage when not required for use. A shortcoming of such triangles is that they are entirely dependent for their efficiency upon reflection of light from oncoming vehicles. Proposals have been made for the incorporation of lights into such triangles, for example in EP 0135756A, but the resulting units are bulky and not self contained. The present invention seeks to provide an illuminated warning triangle which can be stored compactly and yet is conveniently erected and becomes effective automatically on erection, and accordingly the invention provides an illuminated warning triangle as set forth in the appended claims. Preferred ■ embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a triangle in accordance with the invention, in an erected and operative condition; Figure 2 is a front view of the triangle; SUBSTITUTE SHEET Figure 3 is a rear view of the triangle; Figure 4 is a detail of part of the triangle with a battery housing removed; Figure 5 shows end views of the triangle and battery housing in unerected condition; Figure 6 is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a simplified circuit diagram of the embodiment of Figure 6. Referring to Figures 1-5 of the drawings, the triangle itself is of generally conventional construction, having a base side member 2, interconnected with further side members 4 and 6. The side member 2 is joined at one end to one end of the side member 4 by a first hinge 8, and the other end of the side member 4 is joined to one end of the side member 6 by a second oppositely folding hinge 10. A tab 14 formed at the other end of member 2 enters an aperture 16 formed at the other end of member 6 so that a pin 18 may engage in a slot 20, thus locking the three side members together to form a triangle. Each side member consists of a synthetic plastic strip 22 overlaid by reflex reflective reflector and lens strip 24 moulded from transparent red synthetic plastic material. A flexible cord 26 having two conductors links a number, typically four per side member, of spaced light emitting diodes 28 arranged so as to radiate into and illuminate the lens strips 24, typically by being located between the strips 22 and 24. Loops of the cord 26 bridge the hinges 8 and 10. The strips 22 and/or the strips 24 may be moulded on their facing surfaces with recesses to receive the diodes 28. The cord is also connected to a flasher circuit 30 housed between the strips 22 and 24 of the base side member 2. The flasher circuit has power supply terminals 32 and 34 protruding through the rear surface of strip 22 of side member 2 (see Figure 4) . The flasher circuit itself may be constructed as generally described in our International Application WO 92/04206, using a driver circuit adapted to drive a number of light emitting diodes in parallel. Whilst this arrangement is preferred because of its efficiency and effectiveness, other flasher circuits could be utilized, driving either light emitting diodes or incandescent lamps. The triangle, when erected, is both powered and supported by a battery housing 36. The housing 36 is cylindrical, and provided with a removable cap 38 through which dry cells 40 may be inserted. Typically, two "D" type cells will provide power to flash the LEDs at least for several hours, and also have sufficient mass to ballast the housing 36 and firmly support the triangle when a flange 42 at a front end of the housing is pressed into a socket formed by a semicircular slot 44 defined in a semicircular protuberance 46 from the rear surface of the base side member 2. The front end of the housing has contacts 48 and 50 connected to internal contacts with the cells. The contact 48 is central and presses against the terminal 32, which is at the centre of the protuberance 46, whilst the contact 50 is annular so as to assure contact with the terminal 34 which is radially displaced from the contact 32 relative to the protuberance 46. If a switching action is desired, the contact 50 may be part annular so that the power to the flasher circuit 30 may be switched on or off simply by rotating the battery housing in the slot 44. It is preferred however to ensure that the triangle is illuminated whenever it is erected by using a full annulus as shown, bearing in mind that the unit can be turned off simply by removing the battery housing. When installed, the battery housing also acts as a support strut and a ballast weight for the triangle, maintaining it in a substantially vertical plane. For storage, the battery housing may be removed and the triangle folded as shown in Figure 5. Other forms of quick engagement coupling may of course be employed between the battery housing and the triangle, provided that they combine the function of establishing electrical connections to the triangle, and that of providing a secure and easily operated mechanical connection by means of which the battery housing can support and act as a ballast for the triangle. Although the flasher circuit 30 has been shown within the member 2, it could instead be located within the battery housing 36 provided that it is arranged to draw no significant current when the battery housing is not connected to the triangle. The members 2, 4 and 6 could be provided with strips 24 on both sides, with the diodes 28 or other light emitting devices housed in apertures in the strips 22. The number, size and arrangement of cells 40 in the housing could of course be different. The terminal 34 could be made annular instead of the contact 50. Referring now to Figures 6 and 7a, a further embodiment of the invention is described, applied to a reflective red warning triangle 90 such as is utilized or approved as an emergency warning device in many jurisdictions. Such a triangle in its usual form is an essentially passive device, relying on the reflex reflection of light from approaching vehicles to provide a warning to such vehicles. Such triangles often have a folding or collapsible structure to facilitate storage, a commercially successful example of a folding triangular emergency warning sign being described in United States Patent No. 3,934,541 (May et al) issued January 27, 1976. This consists of a horizontal base member 92 of the triangle ' having reflective strips mounted to either side, and two side members 94, 96 pivotally connected to opposite ends of the basic side member and initially parallel to it, which can be folded upward and linked to one another to complete the triangle. These members also have reflective strips mounted to either side. The base member 92 is connected at its centre point by a vertical pivot 84 to a support member 70 which can be moved about the pivot from a position parallel to the base member to a position substantially perpendicular to it in which the triangle formed by the base and side member is stably supported in a deployed condition by the support member and feet 98 formed at opposite ends of the base member. Although it has been proposed in European Patent Application No. 0135756A1 to incorporate a flashing light into an emergency warning triangle of rigid construction, we have found that the principles of our invention can advantageously be applied to the provision of an improved hazard warning triangle. Not only can the flashing hazard warning light disclosed be advantageously incorporated into a hazard warning triangle as mentioned above, but as in the previous embodiment relative motion of parts of the triangle structure during deployment of a supporting structure for the triangle can be utilized to activate the hazard warning light. Moreover, unlike other flashing signals of this type, there is no dependence on the power supply of a vehicle. The hazard warning triangle of U.S. Patent No. 3,934,541 is modified so as to form a hazard warning device in accordance with the invention. The support member 70 is provided with a removable cover 82 providing access to a battery compartment containing battery cells 72 supplying a circuit, shown in Figure 8, comprising a reed switch 86. and an array of, for example, twelve light emitting diodes 76 are connected in parallel and driven through a high current switching transistor Ql. The block 74 represents an integrated circuit such as the industry standard 555 and associated timing components providing a suitable flash rate and a low duty ratio. Current through the light emitting diodes is limited by the internal resistance of the battery cells and the transistor, possibly supplemented if necessary by a low value resistor in series with the collector of Ql. The light emitting diodes 76 are located at spaced intervals between the reflective strips 80 (which are of transparent red synthetic resin) on opposite sides of the triangle, so as to form a triangular array, the reflex reflective configuration of the strips in respect of incident light also acting to diffuse the light from the diodes 76. Flexible wiring (not shown) is provided between side and base members of the triangle, and further flexible wiring (not shown) passes from the diodes through the pivot 84 connecting the base member to the support member 70 which houses, in addition to the battery cells 72, the remaining components of the circuit shown in Figure 3 including a normally open reed switch 86 mounted adjacent but offset from the pivot. A magnet 88 is housed in the base member adjacent but offset from the pivot so that it is moved into closer proximity with the reed switch as the support member is deployed into a position perpendicular to the base member and thus completes a circuit from the cells 72 to the remainder of the circuit. The diodes are thus caused to flash at high intensity in a low duty cycle, as the device is deployed in the manner described in ore detail in U.S. Patent No. 3,934,541. In a further embodiment of the invention, a unit as described in Figures 1-7 or 8-12 of our International Application WO 92/04206 may be modified by replacing the lens portion and lamp assembly by a folding reflective illuminated triangle assembly generally similar to that of the previous embodiments and having side members pivotally supported at their top ends and connected to the body of the unit in place of the lens portion and lamp assembly, and a centre hinged base member pivotally connected at its ends to the side members and at its centre hinge to the movable collar of the unit, whereby movement of the collar to deploy the supporting legs of the unit also activates the lamps in the triangle assembly in place of those in the lamp assembly which it replaces.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A collapsible illuminated traffic warning triangle, comprising an electrically powered flashing warning display, a battery powering said display, a collapsible supporting structure for said display containing said battery and including at least two parts which are relatively movable during deployment of the supporting structure between a collapsed and a deployed condition, and means for completing an electrical circuit between said battery and said -flashing warning display as said supporting structure is moved from said collapsed to said deployed condition, wherein the warning display is incorporated in the collapsible reflective hazard warning triangle, and said supporting structure comprises a base member of said triangle and a supporting member containing said battery, which in said deployed condition extends substantially perpendicular and is connected to said base member. 2. A hazard warning device according to claim 1, wherein the base member and the supporting member are connected by a pivot, and the means for completing an electric circuit is a switch operated by relative rotation of the members from a mutually parallel to a mutually perpendicular position. 3. A hazard warning device according to claim 2, wherein the switch comprises a reed switch offset from the pivot in one of said members, and a magnet offset from the pivot in the other of said members. 4. A device according to claim 1, .wherein the supporting member provides a housing for the battery. 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the supporting member is a combined battery holder, support and ballast releasably securable behind said base member in a position which establishes contact between terminals on said base member and contacts on said battery holder in an electrical circuit with battery cells in said holder, and which supports said triangle in a substantially vertical plane. 6. A collapsible illuminated traffic warning triangle, comprising interconnected side members erectable into a triangle and provided on at least front sides with reflex reflective lens strips, multiple electrically powered light emitting devices located around the triangle and radiating into the lens strips, and an electric circuit connecting the light emitting devices to terminals on a bottom side member of the triangle, and a combined battery holder, support and ballast releasably securable behind said bottom said member in a position which establishes contact between said terminals and contacts on said battery holder in an electrical circuit with battery cells within the holder, and which supports said triangle in a substantially vertical plane. 7. A warning triangle according to claim 6, wherein the battery holder is cylindrical and one end is engageable with a socket on a rear surface of the bottom side member to form a strut extending rearwardly of and perpendicular to the plane of the triangle. 8. A warning triangle according to claim 6, wherein the socket is formed by a semicircular groove in a semicircular protuberance from the rear surface of the bottom side member, engageable by a peripheral nm on the battery holder. 9. A warning triangle according to claim 8, wherein one terminal on the triangle is at the centre of the protuberance, and the other is radially outward of it, and one contact is at the centre of said one end and the other is radially outward of it, one of the radially outward terminal and the radially outward contact forming at least part of an annulus. 10. A warning triangle according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting devices are light emitting diodes.

Inventors: DAWE WAYNE, HOLMES JOHN, DAWE, WAYNE, HOLMES, JOHN
Applicants: BOLAN TRADING INC, DAWE WAYNE, HOLMES JOHN, BOLAN TRADING INC.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B60Q7
IPC codes: B60Q7