Patent Publication Number: US-RE39594-E

Title: Triangle road sign with solar power-driven flashing light means

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a triangle road sign, and more particularly to such a triangle road sign, which comprises a flashing light circuit assembly selectively driven by solar power, battery power, or alternating current power source to give a flashing warning signal. 
     A conventional triangle road sign  8 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , is generally comprised of a left frame bar  81 , a right frame bar  82 , a bottom frame bar  83 , a stand  84 , and reflectors  811 ,  821  and  831  respectively covered on the frame bars  81 ,  82  and  83 . This structure of triangle road sign  8  is less effective because it can only give a static warning signal. 
     It is one object of the present invention to provide a triangle road sign, which is folding collapsible. It is another object of the present invention to provide a triangle road sign, which actively gives a warning signal. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a triangle road sign, which selectively uses solar power, battery power, or solar power source to drive flashing light circuit means to give a flashing warning signal. According to one aspect of the present invention, the triangle road sign is comprised of a folding collapsible triangle rack formed of a bottom rack, a left frame bar and a right frame bar, mounting means for securing the triangle rack to the inside of a car, flashing light circuit means mounted on the triangle rack and controlled to give a flashing warning signal, and solar power circuit means that converts solar energy into electricity for the flashing light circuit means. According to another aspect of the present invention, battery power supply and alternating current power adapter are provided and selectively controlled to provide the necessary working voltage to the flashing light circuit means. In an alternate form of the present invention, the mounting means for securing the triangle rack to the inside of a car is eliminated, and a folding collapsible stand is provided to support the triangle rack on the road. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a triangle road sign according to the prior art. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a triangle road sign according to the present invention (the top mounting device and the connecting members excluded). 
         FIG. 3  is an assembly view of  FIG. 2 , showing the left frame bar and the right frame bar respectively pivoted to the bottom rack and extended out. 
         FIG. 4  is a plain view showing the assembly of  FIG. 3  installed in a part inside a car. 
         FIG. 5  shows the triangle road sign set in the operative position in a car. 
         FIG. 6  is a front side view of the triangle road sign after removal of the top mounting device and the connecting members. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear side view of FIG.  6 . 
         FIG. 8  illustrates the triangle road sign installed in the car near the rear window according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an elevational view of an alternate form of the triangle road sign according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. from  4  through  8 , a triangle road sign in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of a bottom mounting plate  1 , a bottom rack  2 , a left frame bar  3 , a right frame bar  4 , a top mounting device  5 , and two connecting members  7 . 
     The bottom mounting plate  1  has one side edge  11  hinged to the bottom rack  2 , and a bottom side wall  12  fixedly fastened to a part  61  inside a car  6  near the rear window by adhesive or fastening members (see FIG.  8 ). The bottom rack  2  comprises a transparent rack shell  20  hinged to the bottom mounting plate  1 , a solar collector panel  24  mounted on a front side of the transparent rack shell  20 , a signal light  25  mounted in a back side of the transparent rack shell  20  (see FIGS.  7  and  8 ), a control switch  27  mounted on the transparent rack shell  20 , a flashing circuit (not shown) installed in the transparent rack shell  20  and controlled by the control switch  27  to flash the signal light  25 , a solar battery circuit (not shown) installed in the transparent rack shell  20  and connected between the flashing circuit and the solar collector panel  24  throught he control switch  27  to convert solar energy collected from the solar connector panel  24  into electricity and to store the electricity thus obtained for the flashing circuit and the signal light  25 , an indicator light  29 , which indicated battery charging status of the solar battery circuit, a rechargeable battery (not shown) installed in the transparent rack shell  20  and controlled by the control switch  27  to provide the necessary working voltage to the flashing circuit and the signal light  25 , an alternating current adapter  28  installed in the transparent rack shell  20  for receiving external alternating current power supply to charge the rechargeable battery, and a battery box  26  installed in the transparent rack shell  20  and controlled by the control switch  27  to provide the necessary working voltage to the flashing circuit and the signal light  25 . The transparent rack shell  20  comprises two coupling notches  221  and  231  at two distal ends thereof for receiving the left frame bar  3  and the right frame bar  4 . The left frame bar  3  comprises a transparent body  30 , a coupling rod  31  extended from one end of the transparent body  30  and pivotally secured to one coupling notch  221  at the transparent rack shell  20  of the bottom rack  2  by a pivot  201 , a signal light  32  installed in the back side of the transparent body  30  and controlled by the control switch  27  to flash, a raised portion  34  raised from one end of the transparent body  30  remote from the coupling rod  31 , and a locating ring  33  disposed near one end of the transparent body  30  adjacent to the raised portion  34  for the mounting of one connecting member  7 . The right frame bar  4  comprises a transparent body  40 , a coupling rod  41  extended from one end of the transparent body  40  and pivotally secured to one coupling notch  231  at the transparent rack shell  20  of the bottom rack  2  by a pivot  202 , a signal light  42  installed in the back side of the transparent body  40  and controlled by the control switch  27  to flash, a recessed portion  44  formed on one end of the transparent body  40  remote from the coupling rod  41  for engagement with the raised portion  34  at the transparent body  30  of the left frame bar  33 , and a locating ring  43  disposed near one end of the transparent body  40  adjacent to the recessed portion  44  for the mounting of one connecting member  7 . The top mounting device  5  comprises a top mounting plate  51  fastened to the ceiling of the car  6  by adhesive or fastening means, and a bottom coupling loop  52  suspended from the top mounting plate  51  to hold the connecting members  7 . The connecting members  7  are elastic members, each having one end terminating in a first hook  71  hooked on the bottom coupling loop  52  of the top mounting device  5  and a bottom end terminating in a second hook  72  hooked on the locating ring  33  and  43  at the left frame bar  3  or right frame bar  4 . 
     When sunlight is available, the triangle road sign is put under the sun, enabling the solar collector panel  24  to collect the radiating energy of the sun for converting into electricity. When not in use, the bottom mounting plate  1  and the bottom rack  2  are turned toward each other and closely attached together to minimize space occupation. When in use, the left frame bar  3  and the right frame bar  4  are turned upwards from the bottom rack  2  toward each other to force the recessed portion  44  at the transparent body  40  of the right frame bar  41  into engagement with the raised portion  34  at the transparent body  40  of the right frame bar  41  into engagement with the raised portion  34  at the transparent body  30  of the left frame bar  3 , and then connecting members  7  and the top mounting device  5  are fastened to the frame bars  3  and  4 , and then the bottom mounting plate  1  and the top mounting device  5  are fastened to the inside of the car  6  to secure the triangle road sign in position, keeping the signal lights  25 ,  32  and  42  facing the rear window of the car  6 . By menas of operating the control switch  27 , the signal lights  25 ,  32  and  42  are driven to give a flashing warning signal. The signal lights  25 ,  32  and  42  can be any of a variety of light emitting elements, for example, light emitting diodes. 
       FIG. 9  shows an alternate form of the triangle road sign. This alterante form eliminates the aforesaid bottom mounting plate  1 , top mounting device  5  and connecting members  7 . Further, the bottom rack  2  of this alternate form is mounted with a folding collapsible stand formed of two foot members  203  and  204 . 
     It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended for use as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.