Patent Publication Number: US-2022235526-A1

Title: Portable lighted barrier

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the filing priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/141,106 titled “PORTABLE LIGHTED BARRIER” and filed on Jan. 25, 2021. The &#39;106 application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to lighted barriers. More specifically, the invention relates to portable, lighted barriers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Utility and road workers often need to put a temporary barrier around work areas to keep people out. The “barrier” is typically erected around a hazardous area to warn people of a potential danger and indicate the area to be avoided. The barricaded area might present a trip and fall hazard, a work zone, an accident, or it might present some other reason and need to keep people out. Workers, first-responders, road-side assistance personnel, and the like (collectively referred to herein as “workers”) have blocked off areas in various ways using such devices as flares, cones, folding barricades, caution tape, free standing barricades, cones with cone bars, and combinations of these devices. 
     Workers who need to “barricade” an area for a short period of time to work (i.e., they want to barricade the area, work, then move within a couple of hours), have identified a need for a new system. These workers want and need a system that is simple to transport, easy to set up and take down, as well as one which provides a complete temporary solid barrier that is highly visible in the daytime and at night. 
     The existing prior art devices can be useful, but each has a substantial drawback. For example, traffic cones “highlight” an area, but the implied “line” between cones can be easily crossed, intentionally and even accidentally, due to the gap between cones. Sawhorse style barriers solve that problem by providing a physical barrier without large gaps, but these devices are much more difficult to transport and set up. Caution tape is far easier to transport and set up, while also providing a “solid” line perimeter. However, tape requires connection to a structure (e.g., cones, trees, signs, etc.), can be flimsy, and is easily altered or broken by crossing the barrier. Cone bars, which bridge the gap between two cones, provide a “solid” line and are easy to transport and set up, but are most visible during daylight or when used in well-lighted areas. 
     Until the invention of the present application, these and other problems in the prior art went either unnoticed or unsolved by those skilled in the art. The present invention provides a “solid” line style barrier, which is easy to set up and transport, and is visible during daylight or in darkness. The present system provides a lighted cone bar to maximize portability and visibility while providing a “solid” line barrier. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     There is disclosed herein an improved lighted barrier system which avoids the disadvantages of prior devices and systems while affording additional structural and operating advantages. 
     Generally speaking, the lighted temporary barrier comprises a body comprised of at least one length of hollow translucent tubing, a string of LEDs with a power source, and connectors on each end for coupling to a structure such as a traffic cone or traffic tube so as to provide a solid barrier between the two structures. 
     In specific embodiments, the body is comprised of at least a first length of translucent tubing forming a body and an optional second length of translucent tubing fitting within the first length of translucent tubing to form an extendible body. 
     In another specific embodiment, the body is comprised of a plurality of telescoping tubes, in one or both ends. 
     In still another embodiment, the LED strand is secured to the outside of the body. 
     These and other aspects of the invention may be understood more readily from the following description and the appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a collection of different prior art temporary barrier devices; 
         FIGS. 1B-1H  illustrate various prior art temporary barrier devices in use, including cones ( FIG. 1B ), caution tape ( FIG. 1C ), molded linking barriers ( FIG. 1D ), traffic horse barrier ( FIG. 1E ); reflector traffic cones ( FIG. 1F ), traffic horse with light ( FIG. 1G ), and traffic cones with caution tape ( FIG. 1H ); 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a prior art extendible cone bar in (A) a collapsed position, (B) a partially extended position, and (C) a fully extended position; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates another prior art temporary barrier combination using traffic cones and extendible cone bars; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosed lighted portable barrier having a fixed length and internal LED strand; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosed lighted portable barrier having an adjustable length and a coiled internal LED strand; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosed lighted portable barrier having a fixed length and lighted connector ends; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosed lighted portable barrier having an adjustable length and lighted connector ends; 
         FIG. 8A  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosed lighted portable barrier having a telescoping adjustable length; 
         FIG. 8B  is another side view of an embodiment similar to  FIG. 8A  illustrating the telescoping segments of the adjustable barrier; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosed lighted portable barrier having a fixed length and an exterior mounted LED strand; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosed lighted portable barrier as it would be seen in a low-light condition. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail at least one preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to any of the specific embodiments illustrated. 
       FIGS. 1A-1K  show a myriad of temporary and short-term barriers used by workers to block or otherwise close off an area to traffic, be it vehicular and/or pedestrian. Each of these systems and devices, used either alone or in any combination, suffers from at least one of four problems: (1) no solid line barrier (e.g., cones); (2) difficult to transport and set up (e.g., sawhorses, jersey-type barriers); (3) flimsy and/or easily broken (e.g., caution tape); and (4) not sufficiently visible in low light conditions, including dusk, dawn, tunnel, underpass, and inclement weather (i.e., all current devices). 
     As to problem #1, traffic can easily pass on either side of a cone barrier, and it may not be clear in which direction traffic should or should not proceed. Problem #2 requires special transportation, such as a flatbed truck, for placing these types of temporary barriers. This can be an issue when a temporary barrier is needed quickly by, for example, a first responder. Problem #3 is an issue when there are no available structures, such as signs, trees, or other barricades, to which caution tape can be attached. It is also very unreliable in windy conditions. Finally, Problem #4 is perhaps the most significant issue of prior art devices. Barrier visibility in all conditions is paramount to both effectively warning traffic of potential hazards and protecting workers who rely on such barriers for their safety. The presently disclosed portable lighted barrier addresses and solves each of these issues. 
       FIG. 2  shows currently existing extendible cone bars  50  at three different lengths: (A) not extended or collapsed; (2) partially extended; and (3) fully extended. The cone bar device is typically comprised of two hollow tubes nested in one another and including a connector  52  on each end to allow attachment to a cone  60 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In use, these devices provide a reasonably sturdy “solid line” barrier and are easy to transport and set up. However, in poorly lit areas, the cone bar device is difficult to see even using reflective striping  54 . This is exacerbated by the usual low-profile—i.e., well below eye level—of the system when in use. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-10 , there are illustrated various embodiments of a lighted short-term barrier, generally designated by the numeral  10 . The particular illustrated lighted barrier  10  is for attachment to traffic cones or similar vertical structures. However, while all the embodiments illustrated are directed to what is known as a “cone bar,” it should be understood that the principles of the invention can be more broadly applied to a lighted device which is compatible with other structures to impose a solid line barrier for short-term use. For example, though all embodiments are positioned horizontally, it is possible to use the devices in a vertical or diagonal position, if desirable. 
     A first embodiment of the disclosed lighted barrier  10 , shown in  FIG. 4 , is comprised of a fixed length of translucent tube  12  (preferably red) with a string of LEDs  14  positioned within the tube  12 . A photocell, battery pack and/or other power supply  16  attaches to the LEDs  14  and can be switched on and off. Each end of the barrier  10  includes a ring-type connector  18  for coupling to a traffic cone (not shown), or similar device. The two connectors  18  may be the same or for two different types of stationary bodies—e.g., a traffic cone and a traffic tube. 
     A second embodiment is shown in  FIG. 5 , which is very similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . However, this cone bar device  10  is comprised of two lengths of hollow translucent tube  12   a,    12   b,  one fitting within the hollow of the other. This configuration allows adjustability of any gap between support cones. For example, the illustrated bar device  10  may have adjustability from four feet (i.e., collapsed) to 10 feet (fully extended) and any distance between. For this reason, the string of LEDs  14  is preferably coiled within the tubes  12   a - b  to allow adjustability without stretching the string  14 . A locking collar  20  at the insertion point for the two tubes  12   a - b  can be used to secure the connection. Other mechanisms are also possible. 
     In third and fourth embodiments, the lighted barrier  10  includes end lit connectors  18 L to vastly improve visibility. The connectors  18 L can be lit by having light from LEDs directed into the plastic molded body of the connector  18 L. Alternatively, fine wire LEDs can be threaded into the hollow plastic molded body of the connector  18  and connected to the power supply  16  (see  FIG. 4 ). These lit connectors  18 L can be used with either the fixed length embodiment of  FIG. 6  or the adjustable length embodiment of  FIG. 7 . 
     A fifth embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . This lighted bar  10  has at least one telescoping end  24 , preferably two, as shown. Again, a coil of LED lights  14  would be used to allow full extension of the lighted bar  10 . Though not shown, lighted end connectors  18  (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) may also be used with this embodiment. 
     Finally, in a sixth embodiment, shown in  FIG. 9 , comprises attachment of at least one strip of LEDs  14  to an outer surface of a fixed length tube  12  (or any of the other configurations). Lighted end connectors  18  may also be used with this embodiment. 
     The effectiveness of the lighted bar  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 10 , which shows a length of the LEDs  14  within an extended bar  10  are very visible in low-light conditions. 
     The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.