Abstract:
A self-contained hazard marker which is easily deployed and highly visible. The hazard marker utilized a pop-up type of illumination device which utilizes LEDs. These LEDs can be illuminated in various patterns thereby producing various effects. They can produce a rotating light effect, a blinking light effect, a strobe effect and a simulated flare. The pop-up illumination device is also retractable into the body of the marker in the event a vehicle is driven over the marker. The marker also contains deployable securing devices which prevent the marker from being moved horizontally from its operative position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention is in the general field of warning devices and, more particularly, illuminated omnidirectional warning devices which can be utilized with various accessories. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Hazard markers are normally used to indicate that a problem is nearby and individuals should either stay away or proceed with caution. The most common problems are vehicle accidents or breakdowns. Some of the reasons for using hazard markers in these situations include the protection of the people involved in the accident or breakdown and discouraging other people from driving or walking into the problem area. They are also used to discourage people from intruding into areas where emergency medical personal are treating injuries resulting from the accident or other personal are cleaning up the debris from the accident. Currently the most widely used hazard markers are flares, sequentially illuminated arrows, message signs, wooden barricades with a flashing light and orange cones and barrels. 
         [0003]    While the flare has an advantage of being easily visible both during the day and after dark, it also has the disadvantage of temporarily blinding motorists who drive by them after dark. This situation endangers the motorist and the people involved in the accident or breakdown. Another more serious problem exists when flares are used at the scene of an accident which has resulted in the spillage of gasoline or other flammable fluids. Other undesirable aspects of the flare include the risk of the person igniting the flare being burned and having their clothes burned. Flares also release noxious fumes while burning. 
         [0004]    Orange cones or barrels are other popular hazard markers. They frequently have a blinking light attached thereto. A disadvantage of these is that the light cannot be readily seen outside of the immediate vicinity of the cone or barrel, especially in poor weather conditions. Another problem with these hazard markers is that the light is frequently destroyed or severely damaged whenever the cone or barrel is inadvertently struck by a passing motorist. 
         [0005]    Flares are typically used in the boating industry to indicate a vessel in peril. While being highly visible they also pose a very serious problem. Normally a vessel in peril is not moving and the opportunity for gasoline vapor accumulation is great. Also, once a flare is lit is must be held over the side of the boat to prevent the hot molten material from the flare from damaging the boat which is usually made from fiberglass or has a fiberglass outer coating. As a result the flare cannot be set down and left unattended like normally done in a roadside situation. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,486,797 discloses a highway marker comprising a disc shaped housing formed of a high impact plastic. The upper portion of the housing is transparent. A plurality of LEDs are disposed in a circle in the upper portion of the marker. The LEDs are controlled by a circuit which includes a ring counter to provide signals to transistors which sequentially drive the LEDs. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,100 discloses a LED warning lamp which comprises a housing, a printed circuit board secured within the housing, a plurality of LEDs mounted to the printed circuit board and operatively arranged to produce light in substantially a 360° arc surrounding the housing in a horizontal plane and a driving circuit operatively arranged to flash the plurality of LEDs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides a self-contained hazard marker which is easily deployed and highly visible. The hazard marker utilized a pop-up type of illumination device which utilizes LEDs. These LEDs can be illuminated in various patterns thereby producing various effects. They can produce a rotating light effect, a blinking light effect, a strobe effect and a simulated flare. The pop-up illumination device is also retractable into the body of the marker in the event a vehicle is driven over the marker. The marker also contains deployable securing devices which prevent the marker from being moved horizontally from its operative position. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, it is an objective of the instant invention to provide a self-contained hazard marker which includes a deployable and retractable illumination device. The hazard marker is formed from a plurality of component modules which are readily assembled. 
         [0010]    It is a further objective of the instant invention is to provide a hazard marker formed from a high impact plastic and including a retractable illumination device such that the marker is not damaged in the event that it is run over by a vehicle. 
         [0011]    It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide a hazard marker light including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are circularly disposed within a housing. The LEDs are oriented either to provide light which can be seen by a motorist at a substantial distance from the hazard marker or provide light that can be seen by aircraft flying above the hazard. 
         [0012]    It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a hazard marker light that can be programmed to produce different light effects such as rotating lights, flashing lights, strobe lights or a simulated flare. 
         [0013]    Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of the battery module; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the deployment module; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the illumination module; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the base unit; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a top cross sectional view of the battery module illustrating the placement of the batteries; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the deployment module; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the illumination module; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the base unit; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the illuminating module illustrating the LEDS and circuitry; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a top cross sectional view of the illumination module illustrating the placement of the light banks; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a schematic illustrating the elements of the electrical power and control circuits; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a perspective cross sectional view of the device; 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the battery module, the deployment module and the base unit; 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a cross section view of the elements in  FIG. 13  in an assembled condition; 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is an exploded view of the deployment module and the base unit; 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is a perspective cross sectional view of the device without the illumination module; 
           [0030]      FIG. 17  is a top perspective view of elements of  FIG. 13  in an assembled condition; 
           [0031]      FIG. 18  is a bottom perspective view of the device; 
           [0032]      FIG. 19  is a view of the battery holder in the battery module; 
           [0033]      FIG. 20  is a cross sectional view of the illumination module; 
           [0034]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the illumination module taken from the bottom; 
           [0035]      FIG. 22  is side view of the illumination module including an optional lens; 
           [0036]      FIG. 23  is a side view of the hazard marker with an indicator mounted on top thereof; 
           [0037]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of a cone with the hazard marker mounted on top thereof and 
           [0038]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of a hazard staff with the hazard marker mounted on top thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0039]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-23  the preferred embodiment of hazard marker  10  of the present invention has a generally cylindrical, disc shape. The marker  10  includes a lower base unit  12 , an omnidirectional illumination module  14 , a deployment module  16 , and a battery module  18 . All these components are preferably made from high impact plastic that can withstand a vehicle being driven over them without damage. The battery module, deployment module and illumination module are preferably transparent also. 
         [0040]    The base unit  12  includes a base  20  which is designed to engage a support surface such as a roadway. The base unit  20  is designed and constructed so as to not damage the surface on which it is placed. For example, the present invention can be placed on an automobile, boat or other vehicle without damaging the surface of the vehicle. The base unit includes sloped surfaces  22  which vary in height from approximately ground level to the height of the lowermost portion  32  of the upper sloped surface  30  of the upper portion of the upper housing  18 . This provides a smooth transition surface over the device in the event that a vehicle runs over the device on a roadway. The base unit also includes projections  24 . These projections are preferably equally spaced around the outer portion of base  20  and are preferably molded together with the base  20 . These projections  24  function to align and secure the deployment module  16  to the base unit, as will be explained hereinafter. The base unit and illumination module can be secured together with screws or other fastening means that are aligned with and pass through openings  50  in the base unit  20 . The base unit additionally includes securing member housings  26  preferably equally spaced around the outer portion of base  20 . The housings  26  contain deployable securing members  27 . The securing members are deployed whenever a vehicle runs over the hazard marker. The vehicle&#39;s tire will compress housing  26  downwardly thereby expelling the securing member  27 . The securing member can now engage and penetrate the surface on which the marker is resting, normally the roadway. This prevents the marker from being moved in a horizontal direction by the vehicle&#39;s tire and prevents the marker from being projected into a person or other object. The screws or fasteners which secure the base  20  to the light plug housing  16  can also be deflected into the surface below the marker and prevent the marker from moving in a horizontal direction. In the center of base  20  a support  28  is positioned. The support  28  is constructed to hold and maintain spring  34  in its operative position. 
         [0041]    The illumination module comprises an upper portion  36  and a lower portion  38 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , spring  34  engages the lower portion of illumination module  14  and urges the module into its uppermost position. Spring  34  also functions as an electrical connection between the batteries  47  and the control circuit  48  mounted in the lower portion  38  of the illumination module. The upper portion  36  is formed from a transparent material and contains a plurality of light sources mounted therein. In a preferred embodiment the light sources are LEDs. The LEDs are preferably mounted in a sidewall  42  of the upper portion  36  such that a portion of each LED protrudes through the sidewall  42 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . This type of mounting permits the light emitted from the LEDs to be viewed without interference from a lens or other clear cover. The type of material normally used to manufacture the lens or clear covers is injection molded plastic. This has very poor light transmission. Mounting the LEDs through the sidewall  42  maintains the advantage of the LEDs being visible without interference from a lens or other cover while protecting the electrical connections to the LEDS from moisture and the elements. Electrical connectors  44  and  45  connect the LEDs to the control circuit  48  and batteries. Contacts  46  connect the batteries  47  to the control circuit board  48  via the spring  34  thereby supplying power thereto. 
         [0042]    The power source and control circuit are illustrated in  FIG. 11 . A plurality of batteries  47  are connected to a power source input  52  connection on circuit board  48 . A pulse width modulation boost current regulator  54  is connected to the power source and supplies the proper current to drive the LEDs. A voltage regulator  56  controls the voltage input to the PIC controller  58 . The PIC controller controls the LED drivers  60  which in turn activate the LEDs  40 . The PIC controller can activate the LEDs simultaneously or sequentially. The PIC is programmed to activate the LEDS in at least 6 different modes of operation as will be explained herein after. The modes are rotate, strobe fast, strobe slow, fire flicker, barricade flash low power and barricade flash with night time sensor. The night time sensor preferably comprises a photo sensor  62  located on the circuit board. A battery condition sensor  64  is employed to sense low battery condition. When these conditions are sensed the PIC is programmed to activate the lowermost ring of LEDs in the illumination module. This is an indicator that the batteries need to be recharged or replaced. If rechargeable batteries are employed they can be recharged utilizing a recharger  66  connected to the circuit at  68 . A controller  70  monitors the recharging so that the batteries will not be over charged. 
         [0043]    The LEDs are preferably arranged in banks equally spaced around the circumference of the illumination module, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Each bank of LEDs is preferably formed with two columns of vertically spaced LEDs  40 A-F as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The LEDs  40  A-C being vertically offset from LEDs  40  D-F. Other arrangements of the LEDS are possible. These arrangements will produce different visual effects simulating different lighting arrangements. The LEDs preferably emit a red light. However, they may emit various other colors such as white, blue and orange. Other colors are also possible. Different color LEDs can be used together so that the hazard marker appears to be different color lights, such as red and blue. Light sources which emit infrared or ultraviolet light can also be employed. A flexible printed circuit board, preferably a Kapton® flexible board, is house in the lower portion of the illumination module. This is connected to and controls the LEDs as shown in  FIG. 9 . LEDs  40 A-F form one of the multiple banks of lights in the upper portion  36  of the illumination module. The PIC controller  58  controls the LED driver  60  which in turn provide the different patterns of illumination of the LEDs. The LEDs can appear to be a rotating light. They can also give the appearance of a strobe light. 
         [0044]    The control circuit also incorporates a matrix scan circuit design. This design cycles through the LEDS at 400 HZ. In a preferred embodiment there are eight banks of LEDs which are activated by 8 channels from the controller. Only one of the channels and corresponding bank of LEDs is on at a given time. However, since it operates at 400 HZ it has the appearance that all the LEDS are on simultaneously. This type of operation allows for extended battery life, requires a minimum of components and permits adjustable brightness that allows for a greater program capability. In certain modes of operation the battery life can be extended up to 400 hours. Preferably, each of the 8 banks of LEDs comprise 6 normal LEDs and 2 super bright LEDs. 
         [0045]    A magnetic reed switch  52  is positioned on top of the illumination module as shown in  FIG. 3 . The reed switch is used as an on-off switch for the LEDs. Also, the reed switch can be used to select the different modes of operation of the LEDs. The different modes of operation are: Rotate—the LEDs give the appearance of a rotating light; Strobe Fast—the LEDs are strobed quickly; Strobe Slow—the LED are strobed slowly; Fire Flicker—the LEDs give the appearance of a burning flare or flame; Barricade Flash (low power)—used with physical barricades to warn other individuals; and Barricade Flash (night time sensor enabled)—a photo sensor  62  activates the hazard marker after dark and turns it off after sunrise. These different modes of operation are activated by double clicking the reed switch. The controller cycles through the different modes of illumination of the LEDs. When the desired mode is reached the operator only needs to not select the next mode for a given period of time, for example 10 seconds, and the LEDs will continue to operate in that mode. This mode of operation remains in the controller after the hazard marker is turned off so that whenever the hazard marker is turned on again the LEDs will operate in the same mode as when it was last active. The illumination module is permanently sealed and completely water tight. This permits the electronic assembly to receive an underwater rating. 
         [0046]    The deployment module  16  is provided with a central cavity  46  for retaining and controlling the operation of the illumination module. The central cavity  46  is generally conical in shape and tapers inwardly toward the top portion thereof to provide a positive and secure engagement with the base portion  38  of the illumination module. The central cavity is also pentagon shaped in cross section which corresponds to the pentagon shaped cross section of the lower portion of the illumination module. This relationship prevents rotation of the illumination module whenever it is depressed. The deployment module housing is also provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, vertically aligned helix screw assembly members  72  along the outer surface thereof. These screw assembly members are arranged in vertically aligned columns  74  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 13 . The battery module  18  is also provided with a plurality of spaced circumferentially spaced, vertically aligned helix screw assembly members  76  along the inner surface thereof. These screw assembly members are arranged in vertically aligned columns  78  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 13 . The spacing between the vertical columns  74  is such that the vertical columns  78  can pass therebetween and vise versa. The helix screw assembly members  72  of the deployment module are spaced with respect to the helix screw assembly members  76  of the battery module such that when the deployment module  16  is nested within the battery module  18  and the modules are turned with respect to each other the helix screw assembly members  72  are vertically positioned between helix screw assembly members  76  as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . This arrangement allows the modules to be locked together and provides vertical support for the hazard marker against impact by vehicle tires, etc. 
         [0047]    A lens  80  can be placed over the top of the upper portion  36  of the illumination module. The lens is designed to redirect the light from the LEDs so that it is projected vertically upwardly in a pattern  82 . 
         [0048]    An indicator member  84  can be attached to the top of illumination module  14  as shown in  FIG. 23 . The indicator member can serve as a support for a flag  86  attached thereto. A securing member  86  can be formed on the top portion of illumination module. The securing member cooperates with the indicator member to securely attach the indicator member to the illumination module. The indicator member extends radially outwardly from the illumination module so as to provide shade from the sun for the LEDs in the illumination module. This arrangement permits better visibility of the LEDs during the daytime and in bright sun. 
         [0049]    The illumination module together with a power supply can be positioned within or on top of a cone  90 , as shown in  FIG. 24 . The cone may be formed of a translucent material so that the illumination from the hazard marker shows therethrough. The illumination module and a power supply could also be positioned atop or within a staff  92  as shown in  FIG. 25 . The staff could be a traffic control stick commonly employed by police officers for traffic control. The staff could also be telescopic and used as a hazard indicator. 
         [0050]    All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
         [0051]    It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein. 
         [0052]    One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.