Patent Publication Number: US-10332368-B2

Title: Emergency sign with orientable light asssemblies

Description:
The current application claims priority to U.S. design application Ser. No. 29/580,256 filed on Oct. 6, 2016. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to an emergency sign. More specifically, the present invention is an emergency sign with orientable light assemblies. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In order for public buildings to meet safety regulations, emergency signs must be installed throughout the building. Emergency signs typically illuminate or reflect light in order to present a message to nearby individuals. The illumination of emergency signs allows nearby individuals to be visually alerted regardless of the hazardous conditions. However, the range of illuminated emergency signs may be limited depending on visibility of the surrounding environment. 
     An objective of the present invention is to maximize the range of illumination of an emergency sign. The present invention does so with the use of orientable light assemblies. The present invention is an emergency sign with orientable light assemblies on either side of the sign which not only illuminate the surrounding area of the sign, but alert nearby individuals of an emergency or an event. The orientable light assemblies are manually operated so that an individual may direct light towards a specific path or exit. The orientable light assemblies each have a strobe light so that the present invention is sure to catch the attention of nearby individuals. Thus, the present invention is able to display a message that may provide nearby individuals with information or directions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the planar mount is connected to the sign. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of a light fixture of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the planar mount is connected to the sign. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of  FIG. 3  of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the brace, the post, the sleeve, the incremental interface, the carriage, and the track of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the planar mount of the present invention, wherein the adapter plate is disconnected from the connecting plate. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of the electric connection between the notification light source and the portable power source of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the optical communication between the emergency light source and the transparent cap of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention is an emergency sign with orientable light assemblies. The present invention visually alerts individuals of an emergency. More specifically, the present invention ensures to catch the attention of nearby individuals via the orientable light assemblies. The present invention is able to visually alert individuals regardless of conditions of the surrounding environment. The present invention comprises a sign  1 , a first orientable light assembly  6 , and a second orientable light assembly  7 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The sign  1  displays a message to an individual. The sign  1  may alert the individuals of the current situation or direct individuals of further action. The first orientable light assembly  6  and the second orientable light assembly  7  illuminate the surrounding environment of the sign  1  so that present invention effectively catches the attention of nearby individuals. The first orientable light assembly  6  and the second orientable light assembly  7  also amplifies the illumination of the present invention so that nearby individuals may better maneuver in the surrounding area. The present invention informs and alerts individuals in the event of an emergency. 
     The first orientable light assembly  6  and the second orientable light assembly  7  extend the range of illumination so that individuals positioned at certain distances from the present invention are quickly alerted. The first orientable light assembly  6  and the second orientable light assembly  7  each comprise a brace  8 , a post  9 , a sleeve  19 , an incremental interface  11 , a carriage  14 , a track  15 , and a light fixture  16 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 6 . The light fixture  16  illuminates a specific area around the present invention. The brace  8  positions the light fixture  16  onto the sign  1 . The post  9  allows the light fixture  16  to completely rotate about the sleeve  19 , which is housed within the brace  8 . The incremental interface  11  allows the orientation of the light fixture  16  about the sleeve  19  to be incrementally adjusted by an individual. The carriage  14  connects the light fixture  16  to the post  9 . The carriage  14  allows the light fixture  16  to move along the track  15 , which further extends the range of illumination of the present invention. 
     The overall configuration of the aforementioned components allows the present invention to maximize the range of illumination of the surrounding area. The first orientable light assembly  6  is mounted adjacent to the sign  1 , and the second orientable light assembly  7  is mounted adjacent to the sign  1 , opposite the first orientable light assembly  6 , as shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 5 . The opposing positions of the first orientable light assembly  6  and the second orientable light assembly  7  allows the present invention to extend the range of illumination about the sign  1 . The first orientable light assembly  6  and the second orientable light assembly  7  mirror each other about the sign  1 . More specifically, the brace  8  is peripherally attached to the sign  1  so that the light fixture  16  may be accessed by an individual. The sleeve  19  is integrated into the brace  8 , and the post  9  is rotatably and terminally connected within the sleeve  19  so that the rotation of the light fixture  16  is not limited by the brace  8 . The incremental interface  11  is mechanically integrated into the rotatable connection between the post  9  and the sleeve  19  so that the desired orientation of the light fixture  16  is maintained, unless altered by an individual. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the incremental interface  11  comprises a first set of ridges  12  and a second set of ridges  13 . The first set of ridges  12  is internally mounted around the sleeve  19 , and the second set of ridges  13  is externally mounted around the post  9 . The first set of ridges  12  and the second set of ridges  13  are ratchetably engaged to each other, preventing the unwanted movement of the post  9  about the sleeve  19 . Moreover, the carriage  14  is terminally mounted to the post  9 , opposite the sleeve  19  so that the movement of the light fixture  16  is not limited by the brace  8 . The track  15  is integrated into the light fixture  16 , and the carriage  14  is slidably engaged with the track  15  so that the light fixture  16  may be oriented in a variety of positions. 
     In order to provide illumination, the light fixture  16  comprises a transparent cap  17 , a casing  18 , a slot  19 , and an emergency light source  29 . The components of the light fixture  16  are shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 . The transparent cap  17  allows the light from the emergency light source  29  to traverse through the casing  18 . The casing  18  prevents the emergency light source  29  from being damaged from any hazardous conditions of the surrounding environment. The slot  19  allows the emergency light source  29  to connect to the sign  1 . In order for the emergency light source  29  to be housed and protected from surrounding elements, the casing  18  is peripherally connected around the transparent cap  17 . The emergency light source  29  is mounted in between the transparent cap  17  and the casing  18  so that the light of the emergency light source  29  is directed towards the transparent cap  17 . The emergency light source  29  is preferably a strobe light so that the orientable light assembles capture the attention of nearby individuals in all circumstances. The track  15  is externally integrated about the casing  18 , which allows the carriage  14  to follow the track about the casing  18 . The slot  19  traverses into the casing  18  and through the track  15  so that the emergency light source  29  remains electrically connected to the sign  1  regardless of both the position and movement of the light fixture  16  about the track  15 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light fixture  16  further comprises a reflector  33  and a diffuser  34 . The reflector  33  directs the light, and the diffuser  34  is used to convert the light from the emergency light source  29  into soft light. The reflector  33  and the diffuser  34  are mounted within the casing  18 , and the emergency light source  29  is positioned between the reflector  33  and the transparent cap  17 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . This configuration allows all the light from the emergency light source  29  to be directed towards the transparent cap  17 . The emergency light source  29  and the transparent cap  17  are in optical communication with each other through the diffuser  34  such that the light that exits the light fixture  16  through the transparent cap  17  is evenly distributed across the transparent cap  17 . 
     In order to transfer electrical power from the sign  1  to the light fixture  16 , both the first orientable light assembly  6  and the second orientable light assembly  7  further comprises a plurality of electrical wires  21 . The emergency light source  29  is electrically connected to the sign  1  by the plurality of electrical wires  21  so that the activation of the light fixture  16  is in unison with the activation of the sign  1 . The plurality of electrical wires  21  traverses from the casing  18 , through the slot  19 , through the carriage  14 , through the post  9 , and into the sign  1 . This arrangement allows the emergency light source  29  to remain connected to the sign  1  as the casing  18  moves about the track  15  and as the post  9  rotates about the sleeve  19 . 
     In order to secure the desired position of the carriage  14  along the track  15 , both the first orientable light assembly  6  and the second orientable light assembly  7  further comprises a pawl  22  and a plurality of ratcheting teeth  23 . The pawl  22 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , prevents the carriage  14  from sliding past a tooth of the plurality of ratcheting teeth  23  unless purposefully moved by an individual. The plurality of ratcheting teeth  23 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , orients the casing  18  about the carriage  14 . The plurality of ratcheting teeth  23  is connected along and onto the track  15 , and the pawl  22  is mounted onto the carriage  14 , opposite to the post  9 , thereby preventing the carriage  14  from slipping along the track  15 . More specifically, the pawl  22  engages to the plurality of ratcheting teeth  23  such that the carriage  14  moves along the track  15  only if an individual manually forces the pawl  22  across the plurality of ratcheting teeth  23 . 
     The present invention is preferably fastened onto a wall so that the present invention is visible by many individuals. A planar mount  24  attaches the sign  1  onto a wall, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The planar mount  24  comprises an adapter plate  25  and a connecting plate  26 . The sign  1  is detachably attached to the adapter plate  25 , and the adapter plate  25  is detachably attached to the connecting plate  26 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The engagement between the adapter plate  25  and the connecting plate  26  allows an individual to securely mount the sign  1  onto the wall while allowing the individual to access the sign  1  and the first orientable light assembly  6  and the second orientable light assembly  7 . The connecting plate  26  is preferably to a wall via a plurality of screw, a plurality of bolts, or a variety of comparable fasteners. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of fastening mechanisms  27  allows an individual to easily connect and disconnect the adapter plate  25  to the connecting plate  26 . The plurality of fastening mechanisms  27  is distributed across the planar mount  24 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . More specifically, each of the plurality of fastening mechanisms  27  comprises a clip-receiving hole  29 , a clip-locking tab  30 , and a snap clip  28 . The clip-receiving hole  29  traverses normal and through the connecting plate  26  so that the snap clip  28  may traverse through the connecting plate  26 . The clip-locking tab  30  is fixed to the connecting plate  26  and traverses into the clip-receiving hole  29  so that the snap clip  28  is secured within the clip-receiving hole  29 . The snap clip  28  is mounted normal and onto the adapter plate  25 . The snap clip  28  is positioned into the clip-receiving hole  29  and is engaged by the clip-locking tab  30 , so that the adapter plate  25  is secured to the planar mount  24 . More specifically, the engagement between the snap clip  28  and the clip-locking tab  30  secures the adapter plate  25  onto the planar mount  24 . 
     In preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sign  1  comprises a housing  2 , a display cover  3 , and a notification light source  4 , as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . The housing  2  contains the notification light source  4  and the plurality of electrical wires  21  of the first orientable light assembly  6  and the second orientable light assembly  7 . The housing  2  effectively contains these components as the housing  2  is peripherally attached around the display cover  3 . The display cover  3  presents message or symbol and allows the illumination of the notification light source  4  to traverse through the sign  1 . The notification light source  4  is mounted in between the display cover  3  and the housing  2  so that, the notification light source  4  illuminates a message or symbol on the display cover  3  so that the message or symbol is visible to an individual in a variety of conditions. In order to illuminate the message or symbol, the sign  1  further comprises a portable power source  5 . The portable power source  5  delivers the necessary power to the electric components of the present invention. More specifically, the notification light source  4  is electrically connected to the portable power source  5 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The portable power source  5  may comprise an on-and-off switch that is integrated into the exterior of the sign  1  so that an individual may manually turn on or turn off the notification light source  4 . The portable power source  5  is preferably at least one battery. More specifically, the portable power source  5  comprises a main battery and an emergency battery. The main battery delivers the power to the notification light source  4  throughout the use of the present invention, and the emergency battery delivers power to the notification light source  4  once the main battery is depleted. The portable power source  5  may further comprise a test switch that tests the functionality of the portable power source. The test switch interrupts the electrical current from the portable power source. More specifically, upon the activation of the test switch, the test switch interrupts the electrical current from the main battery so that the emergency battery may deliver power to the notification light source  4 . An individual may access the at least one battery upon the separation of the housing  2  from the display cover  3 . 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.