Abstract:
A vehicle barrier gate arm is pivotable between an upward and downward position. The gate arm has an exterior wall and one or more recessed light housings within visor channels. Each light housing may contain a light system such as an LED light strip or a light rope. The light housing is positioned at the inward end of a visor channel. The visor channel is defined by two opposing, parallel visor channel walls extending inward from the exterior wall. Each visor channel wall has a retaining fin extending perpendicularly from the visor channel wall into the visor channel, thereby forming an aperture in the light housing. The light housing is situated behind the retaining fins. The retaining fins and the visor channel walls form crooks within the upper and lower corners of the visor channels. The visor channels and the crooks shade the light housing and create dark regions of the channels. The shaded visor channels provide a stronger contrast between illuminated and non-illuminated LED lights strips, allowing an observer to better determine whether the LED lights strips, which often act as signals, are activated or are not activated.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/337,482 filed on May 17, 2016, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to a gate arm having recessed lighting. More particularly, the invention relates to barrier gate arms illuminated by lighting systems located in recessed channels that minimize sunlight reflection. 
       Description of the Related Art 
       [0006]    Movable barriers, such as pivoting gate arms, have long been used to control access to parking lots, parking decks, residential subdivisions and other areas. Typically, a barrier includes a gate arm supported by a gate arm housing on one side of a pathway such as a vehicle roadway and extending across substantially all of the pathway. These barrier gate arms may pivot upward, pivot horizontally, or retract. Unfortunately, these various gate arms are not always easily visible to the operators of vehicles. Nighttime, fog, distractions, misunderstandings of the gate arm itself and driver error all result in an accidental collision between a vehicle and a gate arm. 
         [0007]    A variety of devices and methods have been utilized to minimize or prevent accidental collisions between the vehicle and a barrier gate arm. Reflective tape, bright colors, sound accompanying the pivoting of the gate arm and lighting have all been used to attract a driver&#39;s attention to prevent mishap. Of these, light systems are probably the most common accessory to a gate arm. The addition of light systems to barrier gate arms has significantly reduced the number of accidental collisions during nighttime. 
         [0008]    As lighting systems for barrier gate arms have evolved, many gate arms now utilize lighting not only to enhance a barrier&#39;s visibility but also to provide additional information. For example, some barrier gate arms emit green light when the arm is retracted or pivoted out of a vehicle&#39;s way and emit red light when the arm is positioned to deny passage. Light systems now also may emit yellow lights or blinking lights as an arm transitions from one configuration to another. The signaling aspects of barrier gate arm lighting systems increases the importance of a vehicle operator&#39;s ability to accurately see a light system and correctly interpret the signal and information conveyed by the lighting system. 
         [0009]    To minimize the amount of power required to pivot a gate arm when allowing access to a vehicle, it is often desirable to minimize the overall weight of a gate arm. Gate arms are often therefore constructed by extruding a lightweight material such as aluminum as a single piece. One method of minimizing the amount of material used is to integrate the structure of the light system housing with the outer casing or exterior wall of the gate arm. In the past, when gate arms were only designed to attract attention to their presence, this was a benefit. It allowed inexpensive reflective tape to reflect sunlight and make the gate arm more visible. Light systems generally have a protective casing that is also reflective and also reflects sunlight. 
         [0010]    However, where light systems are now utilized to emit different colors as light signals, the reflection of sunlight can be confusing or deterimental. An observer can have difficulty determining whether an LED light strip is actually turned on and emitting light, or whether reflected sunlight is only producing a “phantom” light. Any signal intended to be conveyed by light color or flashing patterns can be difficult or impossible to determine in bright sunlight. 
         [0011]    Thus, although the problem of gate arm visibility during the night has been well addressed, the new problem of correctly interpreting a gate arm&#39;s lighting signals in bright daylight has arisen as a new problem. Bright sunlight reflecting off the housing of a lighting system may often create the appearance of illumination when in fact an observer is seeing sunlight reflecting off a surface of a light system that is not illuminated. As a result, it can be very difficult to tell whether a lighting system of a gate arm is in fact self-illuminated in order to convey a “start” or “stop” signal, or is merely reflecting the sun. 
         [0012]    When the now ubiquitous traffic signal lights were first introduced several decades ago, designers encountered this problem and added visors or sunshades to prevent sunlight from reflecting off of the traffic lights so that drivers could accurately identify the light signals being presented. However, such visors and shades are unwieldly, cumbersome and undesirable in barrier gate arms, which strive for simplicity, low weight and minimal cost of manufacture. 
         [0013]    The above-described deficiencies of today&#39;s systems are merely intended to provide an overview of some of the problems of conventional systems, and are not intended to be exhaustive. Other problems with the state of the art and corresponding benefits of some of the various non-limiting embodiments may become further apparent upon review of the following detailed description. 
         [0014]    In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a barrier gate arm lighting system that reduces sunlight reflection off a light or light housing. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Disclosed is an oblong gate arm having an outer casing comprised of an exterior wall, having an elongate channel extending longitudinally along its length, and a light housing recessed within the channel. A light strip is placed in the light housing and emits light which travels out of the channel and can be seen by an observer. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, a vehicle barrier gate system comprises an elongate gate arm defined by an exterior wall and having a length. An elongate visor channel extends along the length of the gate arm and is defined by an upper visor channel wall and an opposing parallel lower visor channel wall. The upper visor channel wall extends inward from an upper terminating end of the exterior wall and the lower visor channel wall extends inward from a lower terminating end of the exterior wall. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment, an upper retaining fin extends perpendicularly from the upper channel wall into the channel. An opposing lower retaining fin extending perpendicularly from the lower channel wall into the channel. The upper retaining fin and the lower retaining fin are coplanar and define an aperture. The recessed light housing is medial to the visor channel and defined by the upper and lower retaining fins, the aperture and a backwall. The upper channel wall and the upper retaining fin meet at a right angle, thereby forming an upper crook in the upper corner of the visor channel. The lower channel wall and the lower retaining fin meet at a right angle, thereby forming a lower crook in the lower corner of the visor region. An LED light strip within the recessed light housing and emitting light through the aperture when the LED light strip is illuminated. A housing pivotally coupled to a proximal end of the gate arm, the housing having a control system and a power supply to selectively pivot the gate arm between a horizontal position and a vertical position. The gate arm is cylindrical or parallelepiped. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment, a vehicle barrier gate system comprises an elongate gate arm having an exterior wall, a length, a first side and a second side. A first visor channel in the first side of the gate arm extends along the length of the gate arm. The first visor channel comprises a first upper visor channel wall and an opposing, parallel first lower visor channel wall. The first upper visor channel wall extends inward from a first upper terminating end of the exterior wall, and the first lower visor channel wall extends inward from a first lower terminating end of the exterior wall. A first upper retaining fin extends perpendicularly into the first visor channel from the first upper channel wall. A first lower retaining fin extends perpendicularly into the first visor channel from the first lower channel wall. The first lower retaining fin and the first upper retaining fin are parallel, coplanar and define a first aperture between them. A first recessed light housing at a medial end of the first visor channel is defined by the first upper retaining fin, the first lower retaining fin, and a first backwall medial to the first visor channel. The first upper channel wall and the first upper retaining fin meet at a right angle, thereby forming a first upper crook in the upper corner of the first visor channel. 
         [0019]    The first lower channel wall and the first lower retaining fin meet at a right angle, thereby forming a first lower crook in the lower corner of the first visor region. A first LED light strip within the first recessed light housing and emits light through the first aperture when the first LED light strip is illuminated. A second visor channel in the second side of the gate arm extends along the length of the gate arm, the second visor channel comprises a second upper visor channel wall and an opposing, parallel second lower visor channel wall. The second upper visor channel wall extends inward from a second upper terminating end of the exterior wall, and the second lower visor channel wall extends inward from a second lower terminating end of the exterior wall. A second upper retaining fin extends perpendicularly into the second visor channel from the second upper channel wall. A second lower retaining fin extends perpendicularly into the second visor channel from the second lower channel wall. The second lower retaining fin and the second upper retaining fin are parallel, coplanar and define a second aperture between them. A second recessed light housing at a medial end of the visor channel is defined by the second upper retaining fin, the second lower retaining fin, and a second backwall medial to the second visor channel. 
         [0020]    The second upper channel wall and the second upper retaining fin meet at a right angle, thereby forming a second upper crook in the upper corner of the second visor channel. The second lower channel wall and the second lower retaining fin meet at a right angle, thereby forming a second lower crook in the lower corner of the second visor region. A second LED light strip within the second recessed light housing emits light through the second aperture when the second LED light strip is illuminated. A housing pivotally coupled to a proximal end of the gate arm, the housing having a control system and a power supply to selectively pivot the gate arm between a horizontal position and a vertical position. 
         [0021]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a vehicle barrier system in accordance with principles of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a gate arm in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a visor channel of a gate arm in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a gate arm in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of a gate arm in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of a gate arm in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    The invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0030]    The disclosed subject matter is described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments of the subject disclosure. It may be evident, however, that the disclosed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the various embodiments herein. 
         [0031]    As used herein, the terms “medial” and “inward” refer generally to the center or middle of an object and the terms “lateral” and “outward” refer to the exterior of an object. For example, when referring to the gate arm, a component or structure is medial relative to another component if it is closer to internal center of the gate arm. Conversely, when a component or structure is referred to as lateral relative to another component, it is in a direction toward the outside or exterior of the gate arm. In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in the subject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. 
         [0032]    Disclosed is a barrier gate arm having a recessed light housing in accordance with principles of the invention. The barrier gate arm is an elongate structure such as the barrier gate arms commonly in use today. The gate arm has an exterior wall, or outer casing, that may be substantially hollow on the inside. The gate arm may also optionally have an internal framework or honeycomb. An elongate channel extends longitudinally along a substantial portion of the length of the exterior outer casing wall. A recessed light housing is positioned at the medial, or inward, end of the channel, and the channel itself acts as a sun visor, shielding the light strip from sunlight, thereby preventing “phantom” lighting due to sunlight reflection off the light system within the housing. A lighting device, such as an LED light strip, emits light through an aperture in the light housing at the medial end of the visor channel. Two retaining fins that extend into the visor channel from two opposing parallel visor channel walls. These retaining fins serve a dual function of both defining the lateral end of the light housing and forming crooks in the corners of the visor channel, where they form right angles between the visor channel walls and the retaining fins. These crooks are particularly darkly shaded regions in the upper and lower corners of the visor channel. The retaining fins also separate the light housing from the visor channel. Because the light housing is recessed inside the visor channel and is not flush with the exterior wall of the gate arm, the visor channel appears dark when the light system is not emitting any light. The dark appearance of the channel is accentuated by the crooks. When the light system is turned on its light is emitted through the aperture, the channel no longer appears dark, and the shaded crooks are not visible. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  shows a barrier gate  10  in accordance with the principles of the invention. The barrier gate  10  includes a housing  12  affixed to a horizontal surface  14  at its base  16 . The housing  12  contains a motor and actuator for pivoting the gate arm  18 . In this embodiment, the horizontal surface  14  is the ground. A gate arm  18  is pivotally mounted to the housing by a pivoting bracket  20 . The proximal region  24  of the gate arm  18  is inserted into a sleeve  26  that is attached to the bracket  20 . The distal region  28  of the gate arm  18  has an end cap  30  removably affixed. An elongate channel  32  in the gate arm  18  extends longitudinally along a substantial portion of the gate arm. A light strip  34  is retained within a light housing inside the channel. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-section of the elongate gate arm  18  in accordance with the principles of the invention. In this embodiment, the gate arm  18  is cylindrical, having a substantially circular cross-section. The shape of the gate arm  18  is defined by an exterior wall  36 . Optionally, the gate arm  18  may have different cross-sectional geometries and may optionally include an internal frame or honeycomb. On a first side  38 , a visor channel  32  extends along a substantial portion of the length of the gate arm  18 . Because the gate arm  18  is cylindrical, the first side is distinguished from the top  40 , bottom  42  and second side  44  by orientation. Generally, the first side  38  and second side  44  refer to regions of the gate arm facing opposite horizontal directions. The top  40  refers to the region of the gate arm facing upward, while the bottom  42  refers to the region of the gate arm facing downward. Because this gate arm  18  is radially symmetric, the visor channel  32  could be positioned facing any direction. Because the gate arm  18  is defined only by the geometry of the exterior wall  36 , the exterior wall  36  may optionally be described as having a first side wall, a second side wall, a top member and a bottom member. 
         [0035]    A recessed light housing  56  is positioned at the medial end of the visor channel  50 . The visor channel  50  of this embodiment is defined by two opposing planar channel walls  52  and  54 . The upper visor channel wall  52  extends inward from the upper terminating end  46  of the exterior wall  36 . The lower channel wall  54  extends inward from the lower terminating end  48  of the exterior wall  36 . An LED light strip  34  is housed within the recessed light housing  56  and, when turned on, emits light through an aperture  68 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  shows the visor channel  32  in greater detail, with the LED light strip  34  removed for clarity. The upper channel wall  52  extends inward from the upper terminating end  46  of the exterior wall  36 . Similarly, the opposing lower channel wall  54  extends inward from the lower terminating end  48  of the exterior wall  36 . The upper channel wall  52  and the lower channel wall  54  are parallel and coextensive. An upper retaining fin  60  extends perpendicularly from the upper channel wall  52  into the visor channel  50 . Similarly, a lower retaining fin  62  extends perpendicularly from the lower channel wall  54  into the visor channel  50  and is coplanar with the upper retaining fin  60  and the aperture  68 . 
         [0037]    The recessed light housing  56  is a cavity positioned behind the retaining fins  60  and  62 , and is defined by the retaining fins  60  and  62  and a back wall  64 . In this embodiment, the backwall  64  is parallel to the retaining fins  60  and  62  and the light housing  56  has a rectangular cross-section. An aperture  68  is located between and defined by the retaining fins  60  and  62 . Light from the LED light strip is emitted through the aperture  68  and out of the opening  32  when the LED light strip is turned on. The visor channel  50  shades the recessed light housing  56  and its aperture  68  from sunlight or other ambient light. This prevents an observer from seeing “phantom” light caused by sunlight reflecting off the light strip. 
         [0038]    The upper channel wall  52  and the upper retaining fin  60  are perpendicular and thus form an upper crook  70  in the upper corner of the visor channel  50 . The lower channel wall  54  and lower retaining fin  62  similarly form a lower crook  72  in the lower corner of the visor channel  50 . One or both of the crooks  70  and  72  in the visor region  58  will remain shaded even in strong ambient light and/or sunlight at a low angle, such as shortly after sunrise or before sunset. Therefore, when light is not emitted through the aperture  68 , the channel will appear at least partially darkened to an observer, even in bright sunlight. When light is emitted through the aperture  68 , the darkened crooks are not visible to an observer. The visor region  58  thereby substantially improves an observer&#39;s ability to determine whether or not the LED light strip is turned on and emitting light. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-section of another alternative embodiment of a gate arm  100  having lighting systems on opposite sides. The gate arm  100  includes an exterior wall  102  having a first opening  104  on a first side  106  and a second opening  108  on a second side  110 . The first opening  104  leads to a first recessed light housing  112  containing a first LED light strip  114  at the medial end of a first visor channel  116  defined by first visor channel walls  117 . The first recessed light housing  112  is defined by two coplanar, opposing first retaining fins  118 , the first visor channel walls  117  and a first back wall  120 . Similarly, the second opening  108  leads to a second recessed light housing  118  containing a second LED light strip  124  at the medial end of a second visor channel  122  on the second side  110 . The second recessed light housing  118  is also defined by two coplanar, opposing second retaining fins  126  and a second back wall  128 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section of another alternative embodiment of a gate arm  150 . This embodiment also includes an exterior wall  152  and a visor channel  154  defined by an upper visor channel wall  164  extending from an upper terminating end  156  to an upper retaining fin  166  and a lower channel wall  168  extending from a lower terminating end  158  to a lower retaining fin  170 . The visor channel  154  has a recessed light housing  162  positioned at the medial end of the visor channel  154  behind the retaining fins  166  and  170 . The light housing  162  is defined by two retaining fins  164  and a curved back wall  168 . In this embodiment, the recessed light housing  162  contains an LED light rope  170 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  shows a cross-section of another alternative embodiment of a gate arm  200 . The gate arm  200  has a parallelepiped shape and a rectangular cross section defined by an exterior wall  202  having curved corners. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that gate arms may have many different geometries and therefore many different cross-sectional shapes. Generally, most gate arms are cylindrical, parallelepiped or prismatic. The external wall  202  has a first side  204  and a second side  206  separated by a top region  208  and a bottom region  210 . The first side  204  has a first recessed light housing  212  in the medial part of a first visor channel  214 . The first recessed light housing  212  is separated from the first visor channel  214  by two opposing retaining fins  216  that define an aperture through which light emitted by the first LED light strip  220  passes. The second side  206  has a second recessed light housing  222  in the medial part of a second visor channel  224 . The second recessed light housing  222  is separated from the second visor channel  224  by two opposing retaining fins  226  that define an aperture through which light emitted by the second LED light strip  228 . 
         [0042]    Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention. Descriptions of the embodiments shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting or defining the ordinary and plain meanings of the terms of the claims unless such is explicitly indicated. 
         [0043]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.