Patent Publication Number: US-9837004-B2

Title: Slippery surface warning apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority to, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/565,806, filed on Aug. 3, 2012, titled SLIPPERY SURFACE WARNING APPARATUS, which application is incorporated by reference in this application in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to safety equipment and a method for warning of a potential safety hazard, and more particularly, is a warning apparatus and method for alerting people in the vicinity of a slippery surface of such potential safety hazard. 
     2. Related Art 
     In virtually every business, most notably businesses with visiting customers or clients, it is incumbent upon the employees to maintain the floors and other surfaces in a professional manner. This means that floors have to be cleaned and sanitized daily, and oftentimes, several times a day depending upon the amount of foot traffic. In addition, to keep up appearances, some floors may have to be waxed, buffed, and treated with various chemicals, several of which may be in fluid form. 
     To this end, many businesses, or even property management corporations with condominiums and apartments task their employees with the assignment of polishing, cleaning, or otherwise treating various surfaces such as floors. One example is a retail or service location open for business 24 hours per day, such as various grocery stores, or fitness gym establishments. On occasion, various treatments must be made to the floors or other surfaces, which may create a hazardous condition on the floor. And although the employee may be able to warn a patron of the condition himself, there may be times when the patron may be out of his or her line of sight (e.g., her back is to the patron). 
     Additionally, one of the greatest concerns of any retail store such as a grocery store, or the like, is the danger of slip and fall litigation. Each year, many store customers wind up slipping on slippery surfaces in various aisles at a time before an employee can clean up slippery surface and/or make the premises safe for customers. Oftentimes, these slippery surfaces come from leaking beverage containers or other liquid filled containers, which may have been punctured in transit, or through the handling of either employees or customers. 
     For these reasons, many lawsuits are filed each year, which engenders an extraordinary expense to brick and mortar based industries. As a result, these stores have been required to carry various insurance policies, which charge hefty premiums. 
     To mitigate exposure, many restaurants and stores have implemented 15 to 30 minute sweep checks, which require employees to sweep the floor on all the aisles and to keep a lookout for dangerous slippery surfaces. And when an employee spots a slippery surface, they must immediately stop what they are doing and find a mop, sign, etc. to make sure no one gets hurt. 
     Unfortunately, there may be times when an employee may not be able to sufficiently remove the fluids from the floor immediately. This may be due to the relative toxicity of the fluids, or perhaps the existence of additional slippery surfaces elsewhere. And in the case where the fluids are transparent, their opacity lends itself to an even greater safety threat. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a system that will alert persons to where a dangerous slippery surface exists and precisely the borders of that slippery surface. 
     SUMMARY 
     A method and apparatus for warning of a slippery surface is provided. In one implementation, the apparatus features a light emitting device, a mounting unit for supporting and elevating the light emitting device, and a light-refracting liquid or powder to be added to a cleaning solution or other fluid. Through the use thereof, light emitted from the light emitting device is directed to the slippery surface imbued with light-reflecting cleaning solution for the purpose of showing persons where a slippery surface or hazardous condition exists. 
     Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention are or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The invention may be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one example of an implementation of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one example of an implementation of a light emitting device engaged with a mounting assembly. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a container holding light-refracting liquid or powder. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one example of an implementation of a light emitting device mounted to a tri-pod mounting assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one example of an implementation of a light emitting device mounted on a tri-pod apparatus located on a corner walkway. 
         FIG. 6  is an elevated view of an implementation of a light emitting device emitting light in a variety of different directions. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an implementation of a light emitting device emitting light at angles relative to persons. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one example of an implementation of the slippery surface warning apparatus  100  that includes a light emitting device  101 , a mounting unit  110 , including a sign  102  and a mount  103 , and a light-refracting liquid or powder to be added to a cleaning solution or other fluid  300  ( FIG. 3 ) to a slippery surface or hazardous condition  104 . The light emitting device  101  is used for the purpose of illuminating the slippery surface or hazardous condition  104  in which people walk. 
     In one example of an implementation, the light emitting device  101  may be affixed to mounting unit  110 , which in  FIG. 1  is mount  103 , which is affixed to the sign  102 . The light emitting device  101  may contain an LED light source. It should be noted that other light sources known in the art may be incorporated into the light emitting device, including but not limited to, fluorescent, compact fluorescent, incandescent, or halogen light sources. As such, the aforementioned example should not be construed as limited to only the utilization of LED emitting devices. The light emitting device  101  may emit any light or radiation in all directions (360°) or in one or more directions. 
     The light-refracting liquid or powder  300  ( FIG. 3 ) that is added to the cleaning solution or other fluid is responsive to the wavelength of the light that is emitted from the light emitting device  101 . It should be noted that the type of light that is emitted from the light emitting light source  101  may include any light within the light reflecting spectrum that is able to refract or reflect off the light-refracting liquid or powder  300  to illuminate a slippery surface or hazardous condition. The light reflecting spectrum includes ultra-violet light, visible light and infrared light. The wavelength of the light reflecting spectrum that is emitted may have a range between approximately 100 nm-1 mm (ultra-violet light has a wavelength range of approximately 100 nm-400 nm, visible light has a wavelength range of approximately 400 nm-780 nm, and infrared light has a wavelength range of approximately 780 nm-1 mm). Accordingly, the light-refracting liquid or powder  300  that is added to the cleaning solution or other fluid is capable of reflecting the type of light and wavelength that is emitted from the light emitting light source  101 . Thus, the type of light that can be reflected by the light-refracting liquid or powder  300  may include the light reflecting spectrum or any light therein, such as ultra-violet light, visible light, or infrared light. 
     For example, the light emitting device  101  may emit a ultra-violet light at a wavelength of 350 nm. The light-refracting liquid or powder  300  that is added to the cleaning solution or other fluid is then capable of reflecting the ultra-violet light that is emitted from the light emitting light source  101  such that the reflection can be visibly seen by a person or patron. In another example, the light emitting device  101  may emit royal blue visible light at a wavelength of 440 nm-465 nm. The light-refracting liquid or powder  300  that is added to the cleaning solution or other fluid is then capable of reflecting the royal blue visible light that is emitted from the light emitting light source  101  such that the reflection can be visibly seen by a person or patron. Moreover, the light emitting device  101  may have a flash light setting or strobe light setting. In some implementations, the light emitting device  101  may operate on rechargeable batteries. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the mount  103  may attach to the sign  102 . The sign  102  may be used to elevate the light emitting device  101  above the slippery surface and/or to provide another means of warning of the hazardous condition. The mount  103  may be used for the purpose of affixing the light emitting device  101  to the sign  102 . The mount  103  can attach to the sign  102  by, for example, a clip, a clamp, a fastener, adhesive, or any other securing mechanism known in the art. The light emitting device  101  and mount  103  may be attached to a variety of different signs, having various different shapes or sizes. In one example, the sign  102  may have indicia  105 , which may include warnings in the form of words or images regarding a slippery surface or other hazardous condition to notify shoppers or other people of the hazardous condition. Moreover, in some implementations, the sign  102  can be a sandwich board style frame. In another example, the light emitting device  101  may also be integrated into the sign  102  rather than being attached to the sign  102  as a separate component. The light emitting device  101  may also be integrated or built into the structures of walls or buildings. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates one example of an implementation of a light emitting device  101  affixed to a mount  103 . The light emitting device  101  may be affixed to the mount  103  by any fastening or securing mechanism. The mount  103  may itself be a clip, a clamp, a fastener, adhesive, or any other securing mechanism known in the art for securing the light emitting device  101  to another object for the purposes of supporting the light emitting device  101 . In one example, the light emitting device  101  may be contoured. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a container holding light-refracting liquid or powder  300  that may be added to the cleaning solution or other fluid cause the slippery or hazard condition. The light-refracting liquid or powder  300  to be added to a cleaning solution or other fluid is used for the purpose of showing persons within the vicinity of the slippery surface or hazardous condition where the slippery surface or hazardous condition is located. In one example, the light-refracting liquid or powder  300  may also include a cleaning solution, such as a combination of water and cleaning soap, for purposes of cleaning the surface. 
     As stated above, the light-refracting liquid or powder  300  may have the ability to reflect a wide range of light, including but not limited to ultra-violet light, visible light, and infrared light, or to only reflect certain types of light within the light reflecting spectrum, including, but not limited to, ultra-violet light and royal blue light. The primary use of the fluid is to highlight the peripheral boundaries of the fluid on the ground in a clear, unmistakable, and loud fashion, which is attention-grabbing. Also, the light-refracting liquid or powder  300  may be added to a cleaning solution or other fluid, which is imbued into a slippery area on a surface. 
     In another example, the light refracting liquid or powder  300  is used to make a fluorescent solution which comprises water, cleaning soap (option), and fluorescent chemicals (in the form of dyes, powders, fluids, etc.). In another example, the light-refracting liquid or powder  300  may be fluorescent in nature. However, other examples, may utilize other similar compounds which achieve the same effect. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one example of an implementation of a light emitting device  101  mounted to a tri-pod mounting assembly  410 . In this example, the mounting unit  420  is a tri-pod mounting assembly  410  for supporting the light emitting device  101 . However, other similar mounting units  420  may be used interchangeably with the tri-pod apparatus  410 . 
       FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  illustrate the angles in which the light emitting device  101  may emit light.  FIG. 5  shows a light emitting device  101  mounted on a tri-pod apparatus  410  that is located in a corner of a walkway  501 . The light emitting device  101  is shown to emit light in two different directions of the walkway. In other examples, the light emitting device  101  may be adjusted such that it emits light in any direction where the light is desired. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the light emitting device  101  structured in such a way to emit light (L) 360° with respect to the vertical axis (V). The light emitting device  101  may also emit light in one or more concentrated directions if desired. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the light emitting device  101  mounted on a tri-pod apparatus  410  at a height lower than the eye-level of a person  701 . The light emitting device  101  light emissions are angled such that the highest angle of light rays (A1) does not directly reach the eye-level of a person  701 . Instead, the light rays are angled such that the light rays are reflected from the light-refracting liquid or powder  300  that is added to the cleaning solution or other fluid to a slippery surface or hazardous condition  104  in upwardly direction which does come into the person&#39;s line of sight. In other words, while light rays emitted from the light emitting device  101  does not reach the eye-level of a person  701  directly, the light rays that are reflected off of the light-refracting liquid or powder  300  added to a slippery surface or hazardous condition  104  do reach the eye-level of a person  701 . 
       FIGS. 1-7  illustrate various ways in which the light emitting device  101  can be supported and elevated above a ground surface. For purposes of this application, any device that supports and elevates the light emitting device  101  may be known as a mounting unit. As seen in  FIG. 1 , the mounting unit  110  can be a sign  102 , a mount  103 , or any combination of a sign  102  and mount  103 . Furthermore, as seen in  FIG. 4 , the mounting unit  420  may be a tri-pod apparatus  410  or any other structure that supports and elevates the light emitting device  101 . A mounting unit may further include a mount  103  in combination with a tri-pod apparatus  106  or any other structure that supports and/or elevates the light emitting device  101 . In some examples, the mounting unit may also be formed as part of the light emitting device  101  or may be a separate structure. 
     The foregoing description of implementations has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the claimed inventions to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.