Abstract:
A method and apparatus for deploying traffic warning devices, includes loading a plurality of traffic warning devices into a container through a loading port. The traffic warning devices remain stored in the container until they are needed to warn approaching vehicular or pedestrian traffic of an obstruction in a road, such as an accident. At that time, an officer causes the traffic warning devices to be dispensed from the container&#39;s deployment port and deposited upon the surface of the road. In a preferred embodiment, the container is modular and includes a top section, at least one middle section, and a bottom section. The holding capacity of the container may be increased by adding additional middle sections.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a Continuation In Part of application Ser. No. 09/934,217, filed Aug. 21, 2001 the entirety of which is included herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention pertains generally to traffic warning devices which are temporarily set out on the surface of a road to warn approaching vehicular or pedestrian traffic of an obstruction, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for deploying the traffic warning devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is common practice for law enforcement officers to carry highway flares and or orange traffic cones in their police vehicles, typically sedans and motorcycles. The trunk of the sedan is used to store and transport both the flares and the cones, however the limited cargo space of motorcycle saddle bags can only accommodate the flares. Slow burning red pyrotechnic highway flares are recognized internationally as an established means for law enforcement officers to guide or direct motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, and aircraft. However, these devices have numerous disadvantages. To wit: they have a limited shelf life; they are susceptible to moisture damage; they are highly flammable and therefore can cause accidental burns; they emit noxious fumes and smoke into the environment; they can ignite oil, gasoline, or even vegetation at the site of an accident; once lit, they are difficult to extinguish; they have a short life and can therefore burn out when they are still needed; and, they can be used by unlawful parties to start fires. 
     In view of the aforementioned disadvantages, other types of traffic warning devices have been developed. One of these comprises an elongated traffic warning device having reflectors, a bright light for night, and bright colors for day, which is placed on the surface of a road to warn approaching motorists of an anomalous traffic situation. The traffic warning devices are deployed in a manner similar to flares, however they avoid the numerous flare shortcomings. The present invention is directed toward the storage, transportation, and rapid deployment of this type of traffic warning device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for storing, transporting, and rapidly deploying traffic warning devices. A container is combined with a plurality of traffic warning device to comprise a traffic warning system, wherein the traffic warning devices may be rapidly deployed upon the surface of a road at the site of a traffic anomaly to warn vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Reflective material and a bright color are disposed upon the container to provide enhanced visibility and officer safety. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a method and apparatus for deploying traffic warning devices, includes loading a plurality of traffic warning devices into a container through a loading port. The traffic warning devices remain stored in the container until they are needed to warn approaching vehicular or pedestrian traffic of an obstruction in a road, such as an accident. At that time, an officer causes the traffic warning devices to be sequentially dispensed from the container&#39;s deployment port and deposited in spaced arrangement upon the surface of the road. 
     In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the deployment port has a retaining mechanism which inhibits the exit of the traffic warning device. 
     In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the dispensing operation includes rapidly moving the container downward to overcome the retaining mechanism and extricating a traffic warning device through the deployment port. 
     In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, the container has a top section connected to a bottom section by one or more middle sections. 
    
    
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container for storing, transporting, and deploying traffic warning devices in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a top section of the container; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the top section; 
     FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of the top section; 
     FIG. 5 is an opposite end elevation view of the top section; 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a middle section of the container; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the middle section; 
     FIG. 8 is an end elevation view of the middle section; 
     FIG. 9 is an opposite end elevation view of the middle section; 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a bottom section of the container; 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the bottom section; 
     FIG. 12 is an end elevation view of the bottom section; 
     FIG. 13 is an opposite end elevation view of the bottom section; 
     FIG. 14 is an exploded side elevation view of the container; 
     FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of the container; 
     FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of a traffic warning device; 
     FIG. 17 is an end elevation view of the traffic warning device; 
     FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the traffic warning device; 
     FIG. 19 is a reduced side elevation view of the container showing traffic warning devices being inserted into a loading port and dispensed from a deployment port; 
     FIG. 20 is a reduced side elevation view of the container with a plurality of traffic warning devices installed in stacked relationship; 
     FIG. 21 is a reduced perspective view of the container with traffic warning devices installed; 
     FIG. 22 is a reduced side elevation view of the container having a plurality of middle sections; 
     FIG. 23 is a reduced side elevation view of the container in a deployment position with a traffic warning device being dispensed from the deployment port; and, 
     FIG. 24 is a reduced side elevation view of the container in a deployment position with the traffic warning device being deposited upon the surface of a road. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a perspective view of a container for storing, transporting, and rapidly deploying a plurality of traffic warning devices (refer to FIGS. 16-18) in accordance with the present invention, generally designated as  20 . Container  20  includes a hollow housing  22  having a loading port  24  and a deployment port  26 , the loading port  24  and the deployment port  26  are each shaped and dimensioned to pass the traffic warning devices  60  (refer to FIGS. 16-18) so that the traffic warning devices  60  may enter container  20  through loading port  24  in direction  25 , reside inside container  20  (such as for storage), and exit container  20  through deployment port  26  in direction  27 . Deployment port  26  has a retaining mechanism  28  which holds traffic warning devices  60  in place within container  20 , until such time as a user desires to dispense traffic warning devices  60  from container  20 . In the shown preferred embodiment retaining mechanism  28  includes a lip over which traffic warning devices  60  must sequentially pass in order to exit container  20 . However, it may be appreciated that other forms of retaining mechanism  28  could also be employed. Also, in the shown preferred embodiment, container  20  includes a top section  30 , at least one middle section  32 , and a bottom section  34 , loading port  24  is disposed in top section  30  and deployment port  26  is disposed in bottom section  34 . Top section  30 , middle section  32 , and bottom section  34  are modular and may be disconnected from each other (refer also to FIG.  14 ). A carrying handle  36  is disposed on top section  30 . Housing  22  has an outer surface. To attract the attention of approaching night time motorists, a reflective material  38  is disposed upon the outer surface. Reflective material  38  will reflect the light from the headlights of a vehicle. For daytime use, a bright color, such as “international orange”, is also disposed upon the outer surface. 
     FIGS. 2-5 are top plan, side elevation, end elevation, and opposite end elevation views respectively of top section  30  of container  20 . Top section  30  comprises a hollow shell having an open loading port  24  disposed at one end. Elongated tenons  40  are used to connect top section  30  to middle section  32  (refer to FIGS.  6 - 9 ). 
     FIGS. 6-9 are top plan, side elevation, end elevation, and opposite end elevation views respectively of middle section  32  of container  20 . Middle section  32  comprises a hollow frame. Elongated mortises  42  accept the elongated tenons  40  of top section  30 . Elongated tenons  44  are used to connect middle section  32  to bottom section  34  (refer to FIGS.  10 - 13 ). 
     FIGS. 10-13 are top plan, side elevation, end elevation, and opposite end elevation views respectively of bottom section  34  of container  20 . Bottom section  34  comprises a hollow shell having an open deployment port  26  disposed at one end. Elongated mortises  46  accept the elongated tenons  44  of middle section  32 . 
     FIG. 14 is an exploded side elevation view of container  20  showing the disassembled relationship of top section  30 , middle section  32 , and bottom section  34 . Tenon  40  is shaped and dimensioned to be received by mortise  42  (refer also to FIG.  6 ), and tenon  44  is shaped and dimension to be received by mortise  46  (refer also to FIG.  10 ). 
     FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of container  20  showing the assembled relationship of top section  30 , middle section  32 , and bottom section  34 . Tenons  40  and  44  have been accepted by mortises  42  and  46  respectively, and screws  48  or other useful mechanical means are used to hold the sections together. 
     FIGS. 16-18 are side elevation, end elevation, and perspective views respectively of a traffic warning device in accordance with the present invention, generally designated as  60 . Traffic warning device  60  has an elongated body  62  having an outer surface, a first side, and an opposite second side. A reflector  64  is disposed upon the outer surface of the first side, and a bright color  66 , such as “international orange”, is disposed upon the outer surface of the second side. Reflector  64  reflects the lights of an oncoming vehicle at night, and bright color  66  attracts the attention of motorists during the day. The first side also has a selectively activated light  68  which provides continuous illumination at night. In its deployed state, traffic warning device  60  is disposed upon the surface  500  of a road so that either reflector  64  and light  68  or bright color  66  generally face the direction of oncoming traffic  502  (depending upon whether it is night or day respectively). 
     FIG. 19 is a reduced side elevation view of container  20  showing traffic warning devices  60  being inserted into loading port  24  in direction  25 , and dispensed from deployment port  26  in direction  27 . In the shown preferred embodiment loading port  24  and deployment port  26  are configured so that traffic warning devices  60  are received and dispensed end first. It may be appreciated however, that the loading port  24  and deployment port  26  could also be arranged to receive and dispense traffic warning devices  60  in another manner. It is also noted that traffic warning devices  60  cooperate with container  20  on a first-in-first-out basis. That is, the first traffic warning device  60  which is loaded at loading port  24 , will be the first traffic warning device  60  to be dispensed from deployment port  26 . 
     FIG. 20 is a reduced side elevation view of container  20  with a plurality of traffic warning devices  60  installed in stacked relationship. As traffic warning devices  60  are dispensed from deployment port  26 , the stack of traffic warning devices  60  is incrementally diminished. Retaining mechanism  28  (lip) holds the bottom traffic warning device  60  in place within container  20 . 
     FIG. 21 is a reduced perspective view of container  20  with traffic warning devices  60  installed. 
     FIG. 22 is a reduced side elevation view of container  20  having a plurality of middle sections  32  disposed between top section  30  and bottom section  34 . By increasing the number of middle sections  32 , the storage capacity of container  20  may be correspondingly increased so that more traffic warning devices  60  may be stored and deployed without reloading. 
     FIG. 23 is a reduced side elevation view of container  20  in a deployment position with a traffic warning device  60  being dispensed from deployment port  26 . Container  20  is in a deployment orientation wherein loading port  24  is disposed above deployment port  26 . In a preferred embodiment, traffic warning devices  60  are dispensed as follows: 
     grasping handle  36  and orienting container  20  such that loading port  24  is above deployment port  26 ; 
     pointing deployment port  26  slightly downward, and simultaneously moving container  20  downward in direction  50  so that said traffic warning devices  60  sequentially rise over lip  28  and are dispensed in direction  52 . The inertia of the lowest traffic warning device  60  causes the device to rise above lip, and the downward orientation causes the device to fall out of deployment port  26 . 
     FIG. 24 is a reduced side elevation view of container  20  in a deployment position with the traffic warning device  60  being deposited upon the surface  500  of a road. FIG. 24 shows the position of traffic warning device  60  an instant after the position shown in FIG.  23 . 
     It may be appreciated that container  20  and traffic warning device  60  combine to form a traffic warning system, wherein a plurality of traffic warning devices  60  can be stored, transported, rapidly deployed, and recovered. 
     In terms of use, a method for deploying traffic warning devices  60 , includes: 
     (1) providing a plurality of traffic warning devices  60 , each traffic warning device  60  having an elongated body  62 ; 
     (2) providing a road having a surface  500 ; 
     (3) providing a container  20  for deploying the traffic warning devices  60 , the container including: 
     a housing  22  having a loading port  24  and a deployment port  26 , the loading port  24  and the deployment port  26  each shaped and dimensioned to pass the traffic warning devices  60  so that the traffic warning devices  60  may enter the container  20  through the loading port  24 , reside inside the container  20 , and exit the container  20  through the deployment port  26 ; and, 
     the deployment port  26  having a retaining mechanism  28  which holds the traffic warning devices  60  in place within container  20 ; 
     (4) inserting the plurality of traffic warning devices  60  into loading port  24  so that the traffic warning devices  60  reside inside container  20 ; 
     (5) transporting container  20  to a desired location; and, 
     (6) causing the retaining mechanism  28  to sequentially release the traffic warning devices  60  so that the traffic warning devices  60  exit container  20  and are deposited upon the surface  500  of the road. 
     The method further including: 
     in step (1), the traffic warning devices having an outer surface, a first side, and an opposite second side, a reflector  64  and a light  68  are disposed upon the outer surface of the first side, and a bright color  66  such as “international orange” is disposed upon the outer surface of the second side; 
     in step (2), the road having a direction of oncoming traffic  502 ; 
     in step (3), the retaining mechanism  28  including a lip over which the traffic warning devices  60  must sequentially pass in order to exit container  20 ; 
     in step (3), container  20  having a handle  36 ; and, 
     in step (6), grasping handle  36  and orienting container  20  such that loading port  24  is vertically above deployment port  26 , pointing deployment port  26  slightly downward, and simultaneously moving container  20  downward so that traffic warning devices  60  sequentially rise over the lip and are deposited upon surface  500  of the road, so that either reflector  64  and light  68  or bright color  66  generally face the direction of oncoming traffic  502 . 
     The method further including: 
     in step (3), container  20  including a top section  30 , at least one middle section  32 , and a bottom section  34 , the loading port  24  disposed in top section  30  and the deployment port  26  disposed in bottom section  34 . 
     The method further including: 
     container  20  having a plurality of middle sections  32  disposed between top section  30  and bottom section  34 . 
     The method further including: 
     handle  36  disposed on top section  30 . 
     The method further including: 
     in step (3), housing  22  having an outer surface; and, 
     reflective material  38  disposed upon the outer surface. 
     The method further including: 
     in step (3), housing  22  having an outer surface; and, 
     a bright color disposed upon said outer surface.