Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to alert devices and more particularly pertains to a new alert device for alerting an observer to a hazard. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a base structured to retain a flare on a support surface so the flare is visible to an observer. A frame is coupled to the base so the frame may be visible to the observer. The frame alerts the observer to a hazard. An arrow is coupled to the frame so the arrow is may indicate a direction the observer should travel to avoid the hazard. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hazard alert assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a front side view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 7  thereof, a new alert device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the hazard alert assembly  10  generally comprises a base  12 . The base  12  has a perimeter edge  14  extending between each of a front side  16  and a back side  18  of the base  12 . Moreover, the base  12  has a first end  20  and a second end  22 . The base  12  is elongated between the first  20  and second  22  ends. 
     The base  12  is positionable on a support surface  24  so a bottom side  26  of the perimeter edge  14  of the base  12  abuts the support surface  24 . The support surface  24  may be ground. A top side  28  of the perimeter edge  14  of the base  12  has a first groove  30  extending downwardly therein. The first groove  30  is centrally positioned on the base  12 . 
     A pair of tubes  32  is provided. Each of the tubes  32  has a top end  34  and a bottom end  36 . The top end  34  of the tubes  32  is open. Additionally, the tubes  32  are each coupled to an associated one of the first  20  and second  22  ends of the base  12 . The top ends  34  of the tubes  32  are directed upwardly from a top side  28  of the perimeter edge  14  of the base  12 . 
     A holder  38  is provided. The holder  38  includes a sleeve  40 . The sleeve  40  has an uppermost end  42  and a bottommost end  44 . The holder  38  additionally includes a plate  46 . The uppermost end  42  of the sleeve  40  is coupled to a bottom surface  48  of the plate  46 . Additionally, the sleeve  40  is centrally positioned on the bottom surface  48  of the plate  46 . 
     An exterior edge  50  of the plate  46  is curved so the plate  46  has a disk shape. A rim  52  is coupled to and extends upwardly from a top surface  54  of the plate  46 . The rim  52  is coextensive with the exterior edge  50  of the plate  46 . Additionally, the rim  52  extends around less than an entire circumference of the plate  46 . The sleeve  40  is insertably positionable within a selected one the tubes  32  so the bottom surface  48  of the plate  46  abuts the top end  34  of the selected tubes  32 . 
     A flare  58  is positionable on the top surface  54  of the plate  46  after the holder  38  is positioned within the selected one of the tubes  32 . The rim  52  retains the flare  58  in the holder  38 . The holder  38  is positioned in the selected tubes  32  so the flare  58  is visible to an observer. The flare  58  may be a traffic flare of any conventional design. A tab  60  is coupled to and extends outwardly from the exterior edge  50  of the plate  46 . The tab  60  may be gripped. 
     A frame  62  is provided. The frame  62  comprises a plurality of arms  64 . A pair of vertical ones  66  of the arms  64  is coupled to and extends upwardly from opposite ends  68  of a horizontal one  70  of the arms  64 . The pair of vertical arms  66  intersects at a point so the frame  62  has a triangular shape. A lower side  72  of the horizontal arm  70  has a second groove  74  extending upwardly therein. The second groove  74  is centrally positioned on the horizontal arm  70 . 
     The second groove  74  on the horizontal arm  70  of the frame  62  removably engages the first groove  30  in the base  12 . Moreover, the horizontal arm  70  of the frame  62  is oriented transversely to the base  12 . The vertical arms  66  of the frame  62  extend upwardly from the base  12  so the frame  62  may be visible to the observer. The frame  62  alerts the observer to a hazard. The hazard may be a traffic hazard. 
     An arrow  76  is provided. The arrow  76  has a primary end  78  and a secondary end  80 . Additionally, the arrow  76  is elongated between the primary  78  and secondary  80  ends. The arrow  76  is structured so the primary end  78  of the arrow  76  defines a point  82  of the arrow  76  and the secondary end  80  of the arrow defines a tail  84  of the arrow  76 . 
     The arrow  76  is coupled to the frame  62  so the arrow  76  intersects each of the vertical arms  66  of the frame  62 . The primary  78  and secondary  80  ends of the arrow  76  are positioned proximate an associated one of the vertical arms  66  of the frame  62 . Additionally, the arrow  76  is positioned closer to the intersection of the vertical arms  66  of the frame  62  than the horizontal arm  70  of the frame  62 . The arrow  76  is oriented at an angle with respect to the horizontal arm  70  of the frame  62 . Moreover, the primary end  78  of the arrow  76  is spaced further from the horizontal arm  70  of the frame  62  than the secondary end  80  of the arrow  76 . 
     Indicia  86  are printed on a front surface  88  of the frame  62 . The indicia  86  comprise a plurality of chevrons pointing toward the intersection of the vertical arms  66  of the frame  62 . Indicia  86  are printed on a forward surface  92  of the arrow  76 . The indicia  86  comprise a plurality of chevrons pointing toward the primary end  78  of the arrow  76 . The arrow  76  and the frame  62  may be comprised of a reflective material so the arrow  76  and the frame  62  are highly visible to the observer. 
     In an alternative embodiment  94 , a panel  96  is coupled to and extends upwardly from a top side  98  of a platform  11 . The panel  96  extends between a first  13  end and a second end  15  of the platform  11 . The platform  11  is positionable on the support surface  24  so a bottom side  17  of the platform  11  abuts the support surface  24 . An extraneous edge  19  of the platform  11  extends outwardly proximate each of the first  13  and second  15  ends of the platform  11  with respect to a middle  21  of the platform  11 . The platform  11  may have an I-shape Each of a forward side  23  and a rearward side  25  of the panel  96  are spaced apart to define a channel  27  between the forward  23  and rearward  25  sides of the panel  96 . 
     A pair of legs  29  is provided. The legs  29  have a coupled end  31  and a free end  33 . The coupled end  31  of the legs  29  is hingedly coupled to an associated one of a front side  35  and a back side  37  of the extraneous edge  19  of the platform  11 . An outer edge  39  of the legs  29  extends outwardly proximate the free end  33  of the legs  29  with respect to the coupled end  31  of the legs  29 . The legs  29  may have a T-shape. Each of the legs  29  is positionable in a deployed position having the legs  29  extending away from the associated front  35  and back  37  sides of the platform  11 . The legs  29  keep the platform  11  stable on the support surface  24 . 
     The secondary end  80  of the arrow  76  is hingedly coupled to the forward  23  and rearward  25  sides of the panel  96 . The arrow  76  is positioned within the channel  27  between the forward  23  and rearward  25  sides of the panel  96 . A knob  56  is coupled to a lowermost edge  47  of the arrow  76 . The knob  56  is positioned proximate the primary end  78  of the arrow  76 . The arrow  76  is positioned adjacent to a first lateral side  49  of the panel  96 . 
     The arrow  76  is positionable in a stored position that has the arrow  76  concealed within the channel  27  in the panel  96 . The knob  56  abuts an uppermost edge  51  of each of the forward  23  and rearward  25  sides of the panel  96 . The knob  56  may be gripped to position the arrow  76  in a deployed position. The arrow  76  extends laterally away and upwardly away from the first lateral side  49  of the panel  96  in the deployed position. Additionally, the arrow  76  directs the observer away from the hazard. 
     A cylinder  41  is coupled to a second lateral side  39  of the panel  96 . A topmost end  90  of the cylinder  41  is directed upwardly from the uppermost edge  51  of the forward  23  and rearward  25  sides of the panel  96 . The cylinder  41  may insertably receive the flare  58 . 
     Indicia  86  are printed on a forwardmost surface  43  of the forward side  23  of the panel  96 . The indicia  86  comprise the word “Caution”. The indicia  86  additionally comprise a diamond with a plurality of stripes positioned on opposite sides of the diamond. Indicia  86  are printed on an onword  45  surface of the arrow  76 . The indicia  86  comprise a plurality of intersecting diamonds. 
     In use, the base  12  is orientable on the support surface  24  so the point  82  of the arrow  76  directs the observer away from the hazard. The base  12  is positioned a suitable distance from the hazard so the observer has enough time to react to the hazard. The assembly  10  is utilized with or without the flare  58 . In the alternative embodiment  94 , the platform  11  is positioned on the support surface  24  so the arrow  76  directs the observer away from the hazard. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Technology Category: 3