Patent Publication Number: US-6213623-B1

Title: Glow and flash baton

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PATENTS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/857,169, filed on May 15, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,524, entitled HAND HELD LIGHT WAND FOR VISUAL SIGNALING. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to the field of communication and more particularly to an apparatus for hand held line of sight signaling. 
     Visual signaling is a common and easily understood method of relaying information from at least one person to another. Visual signaling is often used in environments hostile to other forms of communication. Such environments include traffic intersections, airports, mountain ranges, underwater and the like. Provided the environment is hospitable to the transmission of light from a source point to a receiver point, visual signaling provides an effective means of communication. However, such environments tend to be destructive on the visual signaling device. 
     One type of visual signaling device is a light baton or wand. Light batons are hand held devices which, at the control of the holder emit colored or white light. Light batons are used to direct pedestrians, motor vehicles, aviation vehicles, and the like. The baton may be used to generate light signals indication safe and clear passage, dangerous and hazardous conditions, direction to proceed, or identifying one&#39;s location. 
     A common problem encountered in use of light batons is the shortened life span of the baton from usage in hostile and rugged environments. These environments expose the baton to manual battering as well as the natural elements. As a result, a need exists for a light baton having characteristics that can withstand use in hostile and rigid environments. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,882 to McDermott includes a battery powered device. The device claimed is directed to a spring which supplements the gravitational force to position the device in an erect posture in the water. However, the patent does not teach an audible alarm or different modes with replaceable sleeves. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,016,549 to Finn is directed to an illuminating device with a floating device. The device is in two parts and must be detached from the illuminating portion. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,423 to Lee is a traffic control light. It is not waterproof or appear to be submersible in water. The device includes numerous LEDs for illumination. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,364,787 to Harrison et al. is related to a portable flash light carried by a person afloat in water. However, it is a two part system and does not appear submersible. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,364,787 to Meyers and 2,908,901 to Lewis each describes an audible alarm. 
     While these various inventions in the prior art have provided improvements in visual signaling devices, none provides a visual signaling light emitting baton with a choice of different colors either glowing, flashing or a combination thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The hand held light wand of the present invention is a visual signaling light emitting wand with a choice of different colors either glowing, flashing or a combination thereof. This device is sealed at each end with hemispheric end caps. The present invention provides extreme robustness and is essentially a special case of an egg shape. This shape persists the light wand to withstand extreme depths of submergence, thus making it useful for deep diving signaling applications. 
     The present invention provides a lightweight all solid state lighting source that easily changes colors by simply pressing one button. The baton is extremely easy to use with only one hand and is controlled with a single button. By pressing the button, to turn the baton on, a steady glow color is activated. Pushing the button again changes the color. Additionally, by pressing and holding the button, the user can cause the baton to flash the selected color. It is contemplated that the baton can have at least ten or more colors selected or caused to flash using this procedure. 
     The mechanical design of the baton is a tube sealed at both ends with hemispheric end caps. This type of design provides an extreme robustness and the baton can withstand extreme depths of submergence, making it useful for deep diving and submergence signaling applications. All interior electronics and solid state light sources are sealed from the outside atmosphere, thus making the glow baton explosion proof and waterproof. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a resilient watertight light baton having a multicolored light source and power source mounted therein. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide the light sources in electrical communication with the power source via interior electronics and solid state light sources. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide machined exterior walls of the light baton to effectively transmit light from the light source. 
     It is an advantage of the invention that the baton is extremely easy to use with only one hand and is controlled with a single button. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a steady glow color of light after a pushing of a button. 
     It is a further advantage of the invention to be able to select ten or more colors of light and be able to cause flashing of the light. 
     A further advantage of the invention is that this type of design is extremely robust and can withstand extreme depths of submergence, making it useful for deep diving and submergence signaling applications. 
     It is a further object of the invention to seal all interior electronics and solid state light sources from the outside atmosphere, thus making the glow baton explosion and waterproof. 
     Further novel features, advantages and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred structural system embodiment and preferred sub components of this invention are disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a partially exploded cross section along the line II—II of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the invention with a visual message sleeve. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic of the electronics and solid state light sources. 
     FIG. 6 is a simple charging circuit. 
     FIG. 7 is a current voltage light intensity curve. 
     FIG. 8 is a view of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the present invention comprises a light baton  10  having an elongated, hollow, tubular body  12 . Body  12  includes a contiguous forward portion  14  and rear portion  16  separated by a switch housing  18 . Body  12  may be made of plastic, polyethylene or any resilient waterproof material. Forward portion  14  is translucent and may include light dispersing means coated thereon. Light dispersing means. may include crushed prisms, knurled plastics or any other light dispersing means. 
     A front cap  20  is positioned at and contiguous with a forward distal end of forward portion  14 . A back cap  22  is positioned at and contiguous with a rear distal end of rear portion  16 . 
     The light baton  10  measures 13.5 inches long by 1.5 inches in diameter. It weighs a mere 9 ounces. The tubular surface area of body  12  is of a fluted design. The flutes  24  increase the surface area of the baton  10  and result in a more effective light radiation. 
     The baton  10  is extremely easy to use with only one hand and is controlled with a single button  26 . By pressing button  26 , the baton  10  activates and glows a steady color. By pushing button  26  again, the color can be changed. When button  26  is pressed and held, the selected color flashes. It is contemplated that ten colors or more may be selected or caused to flash using this procedure. The mechanical design of the baton  10  is a tube sealed at both ends with the hemispheric end caps  20 , 22 . This type of design provides extreme robustness and permits the glow baton  10  to withstand extreme depths of submergence, and thus making it useful for deep diving and submergence signaling applications. 
     FIG. 2 is a partially exploded cross section along the line II—II of FIG.  1 . With reference to FIG. 2, located in the baton  10  in the interior cavity of rear portion is a power supply  23 . The power supply  23  may be any battery source or electrical power source known by the skilled artisan that provides sufficient electrical operating power, such as alkaline batteries, nickel metal hydrides, etc. In the preferred embodiment, the baton  10  is powered by two AA size alkaline batteries  23 . Such rechargeable batteries will provide power for one week of continuous operation in the flash mode. Additionally, solar cells may be used as a charging source. Because the glow baton  10  is made of transparent plastic, solar cells are easily placed inside this waterproof structure and are totally protected from mechanical damage. All interior electronics and solid state light sources are sealed from the outside atmosphere, thus making the glow baton  10  explosion proof and waterproof. The LEDs are generally indicated by numeral  25  and in electrical communication with the power source  23 . 
     The front cap  20  has translucent walls defining a forward hemispheric shape and an elongated hollow tubular portion  34 . The tubular portion  34  is in optical communication with the LEDs  25 . In addition, the tubular portion  34  has a diameter approximately equal to the internal cavity diameter of the forward portion  14 . As a result, front cap  20  is held at the forward distal end of the baton  10  by friction fitting the tubular portion  34  within the internal cavity of the forward portion  14 . By this arrangement, the front cap  20  remains in optical communication with the internal cavity of forward portion  14 . Front cap  12  may be composed of any suitable resilient water proof material such as plastic or glass. 
     The lighting element includes a circuit card  27  accommodating transistors, resistors and light means or LEDs  25  arranged in subcircuits on the circuit card  27 . The circuit card  27  has a circular shape with approximately the same diameter as the internal diameter of rear portion  16 . Circuit card  27  is friction fit within rear portion  16  and pushed forward against the interior walls of the switch housing  18 . 
     The rear distal end of body  10  includes internal threads  21  which communicate with treading on a forward portion of back cap  22 . The two threads communicate to secure the forward portion of end cap  22  within the internal cavity of rear portion  16 . In addition, positioned about the forward portion of back cap is gasket  19 . The gasket  19  is held in place by the securing action of end cap  22  and rear portion  16 . The gasket  19  facilitates watertight communication between the end cap  22  and the rear portion  16  of glow baton  10 . 
     Another embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG.  3 . Here, a separate button  28  has been added that activates an internal whistle when pressed. With the ergonomics of such an arrangement, one can easily manipulate the thumb between button  26  and button  28 . This arrangement could provide a traffic control policeman with a signaling baton that changes colors and provides an audible attention-getting signal. When the baton  10  is glowing “red” it could signify traffic to stop. When flashing green it could be used to signify for traffic to flow, i.e., analogous to a traffic light signal. Upon each color change, the electronic whistle signal may be sounded by pressing the whistle button  28 . This action attracts attention and is analogous to a traffic policeman blowing his whistle and directing traffic flow with his hands. 
     A third embodiment of this invention is the slip over bright colored lens or transparent tube  30  with a message as depicted in FIG.  4 . This lens  30  alters the color emitted by the solid state light source and also permits easy recognition of the baton  10  during the daylight hours when a bright color is readily recognized with an advertising message. The slip over lens  30  or transparent tube can be altered with different colors such as red, green, yellow, or blue. Additionally, words such as “taxi”, “police” or even a hotel name can be printed on the transparent tube  30 . The baton  10  can be refixed by the insertion of the message carrying lens or tube  30  over the baton  10 . It covers the elongated tube  12  such that a doorman can hail a taxi or an usher may use it to announce that seats are available at a public gathering. This message carrying lens or tube  30  may also be used for advertising. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the transparent tube  30  with a message “TAXI”  33  can be slipped onto the baton  10  over the elongated hollow tubular body  12 . It is contemplated that this arrangement may be used for hailing a taxi. It can be easily seen at night when glowing or flashing. For emergency uses such as with Fire or Police, the baton  10  can simply be placed on the dash of the authorized vehicles, thus announcing arrival of Fire or Police. Of course, different colors and modes of operation are easily selected by the push of a button. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of the electronic circuitry. Note that only one control button is required to actuate all four different colors or cause the baton  10  to flash. 
     Because the blue and green LED colors require a voltage greater than 3 volts to operate effectively, a charge pump circuit configuration  40  is utilized with transistors, Q 1 , Q 2  &amp; Q 3  and thousand ohm resistors with a capacitor. A transistor circuit  42  boost the 3 volt supply voltage to 5 volts and is relatively dependent of decaying battery voltage. The transistor circuit  42  includes five transistors Q 4 , Q 5 , Q 6 , Q 7  &amp; Q 8  and thousand ohm resistors. The charge pump circuit  40  arrangement assures constant LED brightness until the batteries  23  are completely exhausted. Each time the on/off button  26  is depressed the microprocessor  50  will provide a positive going pulse or signal causing the activation of an LED in the LED circuit  25  via the lease of the appropriate transistor from the transistor circuit  42  that causes the LED to activate. Current limiting is provided via the lease R 1  connected from the charge pumping circuit  40  to the LED circuit  25 . The program jumpers in circuit  52  are arranged to be selectable with the microprocessor  50  such that the baton  10  will glow, flash or operate in a combination thereof. The mode select jumpers are as follows: 
     J 1 , J 2 , J 3 ,  1 —Color, Glow &amp; Flash LED 0   
     J 1 ,  2 —Color, Glow only, LED 0 , LED 1   
     No Jumpers,  3 —Color, Glow Only 
     J 2 , J 3 ,  2 —Color, Glow &amp; Flash 
     J 1 , J 3 ,  3 —Color, Glow &amp; Flash 
     J 3 ,  4 —Color, Glow &amp; Flash 
     J 4 ,  5 —Color, Glow Only 
     J 3 , J 4 ,  5 —Color Glow &amp; Flash 
     J 1 , J 2 , Buoy Lite,  1 —Color, Glow Only 
     J 2 , Buoy Lite,  1 —Color, Flash Only 
     A simple charging circuit  40  is shown in FIG. 6, along with a current voltage light intensity curve, FIG.  7 . The charging circuit includes a blocking diode  62  and a capacitor  64 . When charging two Ni-Cd batteries, the circuitry is as illustrated. In the case of charging 600 mAh Ni-Cd batteries with the AM-5605, the voltage and current at each illuminance are as shown in the figure. The charge current increases or decreases depending on the illuminance, while the charge voltage hardly changes. 
     With reference to FIG. 8, by arranging the program jumpers in circuit  52 , the glow baton  10  becomes a water activated light. The water activated baton-buoy light  80  serves as an emergency distress signal for boaters and sea rescue and sea rescue operations. The color that is selected and whether the unit is flashing or not flashing is useful as identification information. The baton is weighted such that the center of gravity maintains the unit in an upright position. 
     While a specific embodiment has been illustrated and described, numerous modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.