Patent Document

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION 
   A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, but the copyright owner otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention generally relates to signs and, more particularly, to a sign carried by an automotive vehicle. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Safety devices are often used to control or to direct traffic. These safety devices, such as brightly colored (e.g., orange) cones, flags, and barrels, alert passing motorists and pedestrians to be aware of approaching conditions. These safety devices are deployed to direct traffic around an accident scene, a disabled vehicle, or a construction site. These safety devices, for example, are frequently deployed by utility repair crews. When a telecommunications technician, or other technician, must perform a repair, the technician deploys the safety devices. The technician positions bright orange safety cones, and other safety devices, around the perimeter of the repair vehicle and of the work site. These safety devices alert passing motorists and pedestrians to the presence of the stationary repair vehicle, and these safety devices alert passing motorists and pedestrians to be aware when in the vicinity of the repair vehicle. 
   These existing safety devices, however, are expensive to replace. Because these safety devices are placed in the vicinity of passing motorists, the bright orange cones and barrels are often hit by passing vehicles. When a passing vehicle impacts the safety device, the damage is often significant and the safety device must be replaced. The safety devices are also frequently forgotten and repair crews drive off without stowing the cones, etc. The safety devices are also frequently stolen, further adding to the problem of replacement. The cost of replacing these damaged, lost, and stolen safety devices has proven to be a wasteful expense. There is, accordingly, a need in the art for a safety device that is less susceptible to damage from passing motorists, that is not easily forgotten at the job site, and that is less expensive to replace. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is a safety device. This safety device has a brightly-colored banner, pennant, flag, or, in general, a standard extending from a mount. The standard alerts a person to be aware while in the vicinity of the standard. This invention is smaller than conventional bright orange cones, and thus this invention is easily stowed. This invention, in fact, is preferably narrow enough to stow within the door or seat pocket of a vehicle. This invention also quickly and easily mounts to many surfaces, such as a door frame, window sill, or vehicle side window. This invention may even include a magnetic mount that quickly attaches to metallic surfaces, such as a vehicle&#39;s door skin, fender, roof, or side. Because this safety device may be quickly mounted at a variety of points on the vehicle, this invention can be placed at the eye level of approaching motorists, thus improving visibility of the standard and providing an enlarged zone of caution. Should, however, the standard of this invention be struck by a passing motorist, this invention includes a feature that allows the standard to fold or pivot on impact, thus reducing damage to the standard. All these features reduce the need to replace the safety device, and thus reduce the replacement costs. 
   One embodiment of this invention describes a safety device. This safety device comprises a mount and a rigid standard extending from the mount. The term “standard” means a flag, banner, pennant, or other like ensign. The standard is extensible in length, and the standard comprises at least a first section moving in relation to a second section to extend the length of the standard. The standard alerts a person to be aware while in the vicinity of the standard. Although the preferable embodiment of this invention is a safety device, the standard may also comprise words, numbers, logos, etc. The standard, for example, may have “CAUTION” produced on a surface of the standard. The surface of the standard, however, could also be produced with a logo or trademark to signify support or loyalty for a group, such as a sporting team. 
   Another embodiment also describes a safety device. This embodiment comprises a mount and a rigid standard extending from the mount. Here, however, the standard comprises a tubular cross-section. This telescopic feature of the standard has an inner section sliding within an outer section. The standard telescopes in length (similar to a telescopic antenna) to enhance visibility. 
   Still another embodiment of this invention also describes a safety device. This embodiment comprises a rigid standard extending from, and pivoting about, a magnetic mount. The mount comprises a generally “C”-shaped bracket having an upper support member spaced from a lower support member. The upper support member has an elongate shape defining an upper longitudinal axis, and the lower support member also has an elongate shape defining a lower longitudinal axis. The upper support member and the lower support member each extend from an body portion of the mount. The upper support member and the lower support member each have an aperture at a distal end thereof, and the mount also comprises a permanent magnet. The standard has an upper pin and a lower pin at a common end of the standard. The upper pin and the lower pin are each aligned along a pivot axis. The upper pin inserts into the aperture in the upper support member, while the lower pin inserts into the aperture in the lower support member. The upper pin and the lower pin each rotate within their respective apertures to allow the standard to pivot about the pivot axis. The lower support member also comprises a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel. The first channel is approximately perpendicularly oriented to the lower longitudinal axis and radially extends from an outer edge of the aperture to an outer edge of the distal end. The second channel is approximately oriented along the longitudinal axis and radially extends from the outer edge of the aperture to the outer edge of the distal end. The third channel is oriented between the first channel and the second channel and radially extends from the outer edge of the aperture to the outer edge of the distal end. The first, second, and third channels each have a width sized to accept a thickness of the standard, and the first, second, and third channels each have a depth sufficient to retain a portion of the standard within the channel. As the standard pivots about the pivot axis, the standard falls into either the first, second, or third channel, thus orienting the standard along the respective channel. 
   The safety device of this invention may have various mounts. The invention may have a mount designed to slip onto, or hook over, a door frame, a window sill, or a window sash. The safety device could also have a mount designed to slip onto a vehicle&#39;s door, bumper, mirror, or window. The mount of this invention could also include a permanent magnet, allowing the safety device to magnetically attach to metallic surfaces. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this invention are better understood when the following Detailed Description of the Invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric drawing of a safety device according to this invention; 
       FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4  are schematics showing additional details of the safety device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic showing an alternative embodiment of this invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic showing yet another alternative embodiment of this invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is an isometric drawing of a safety device  10  according to this invention. The safety device  10  comprises a rigid standard  12  extending from a mount  14 .  FIG. 1  shows the standard  12  resembling a pennant  16 , although the standard  12  may have any shape. The mount  14  preferably includes a permanent magnet  18 , and the permanent magnet  18  allows the mount  14  to be attached to any magnetizable surface (such as a vehicle  20 ). The standard  12  preferably has a highly-visible surface color  22  (such as bright orange, bright yellow, etc.), and the standard  12  alerts a person to be aware while in the vicinity of the standard  12 . When the mount  14  is magnetically attached to the vehicle  20 , the standard  12  alerts an approaching motorist, or pedestrian, to be aware while in the vicinity of the vehicle  20 . 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  are schematics showing additional details of the safety device  10  shown in FIG.  1 .  FIG. 2  is an orthographic view of the safety device  10 , while  FIG. 3  is a partial, enlarged view of a portion of the safety device  10 . Although the mount  14  resembles a generally “C”-shaped bracket  24 , the mount  14  may have any shape to suit the application. The bracket  24  has at least one support member  26  extending from a body  28 . An upper support member  30  and a lower support member  32 , for example, cantilever from the body  28 . The upper support member  30  has an elongate shape defining an upper longitudinal axis L U —L U  (shown as reference numeral  34 ). The upper support member  30  has a hole, or an aperture  36 , approximate a distal end  38 . The aperture  36  is preferably aligned along the upper longitudinal axis L U —L U . The lower support member  32 , likewise, has an aperture  40  approximate a distal end  42 , and the aperture  40  is preferably aligned along a lower longitudinal axis L L —L L  (shown as reference numeral  44 ). The standard  12  has an upper pin  46  and a lower pin  48  at a common end  50  of the standard  12 . The upper pin  46  and the lower pin  48  are preferably aligned along a pivot axis L P —L P  (shown as reference numeral  52 ). The upper pin  46  inserts up into the aperture  36  in the upper support member  30 , while the lower pin  48  inserts down into the aperture  40  in the lower support member  32 . The upper pin  46  and the lower pin  48  each rotate within their respective apertures  36 ,  40 , thus acting as trunnions to allow the standard  12  to pivot about the pivot axis L P —L P . 
   As  FIG. 3  best shows, the lower support member  32  includes at least one channel. A first channel  54 , for example, is approximately perpendicularly oriented to the longitudinal axis L L —L L  and radially extends from an outer edge  56  of the aperture  40  to an outer edge  58  of the distal end  42 . A second channel  60  is approximately oriented along the longitudinal axis L L —L L  and radially extends from the outer edge  56  of the aperture  40  to the outer edge  58  of the distal end  42 . A third channel  62  is oriented between the first channel  54  and the second channel  60 , and the third channel  62  radially extends from the outer edge  56  of the aperture  40  to the outer edge  58  of the distal end  42 . Because the first channel  54  is approximately perpendicularly oriented (e.g., 90°) to the longitudinal axis L L —L L , and because the second channel  60  is approximately oriented along the longitudinal axis L L —L L  (e.g., 0°), the third channel  62  is preferably oriented between about zero degrees (0°) and about ninety degrees (90°), more preferably between about fifteen degrees (15°) and about seventy five degrees (75°), and most preferably between about thirty degrees (30°) and about sixty degrees (60°). 
   The standard reposes within either channel. Each channel  54 ,  60 , and  62  has a width sized to accept a thickness  64  of an end portion  66  of the standard  12 . Each channel  54 ,  60 , and  62  also has a depth sufficient to retain the end portion  66  within the channel. As the standard  12  pivots about the pivot axis L P —L P  (shown as reference numeral  52 ), the end portion  66  of the standard  12  falls into either channel  54 ,  60 , or  62 . Each channel  54 ,  60 , or  62  thus retains the standard  12  in one of three positions: the first channel  54  retains the standard  12  in a position approximately perpendicular to the lower support member  32 , the second channel  60  retains the standard  12  in a position approximately along the lower support member  32 , and the third channel  62  retains the standard  12  in an intermediate position. These three channels  54 ,  60 , and  62  allow the standard  12  to be oriented to improve visibility of the standard  12 . If a user desires to change the orientation of the standard  12 , the upper support member  30  and the lower support member  32  are spaced such that the standard  12  may be lifted out of the channel (either  54 ,  60 , or  62 ) and pivoted to another channel. When the standard  12  is lifted from the channel (either  54 ,  60  or  62 ), the lower pin  48  preferably has a length sufficient to retain the lower pin  48  within the aperture  40  in the lower support member  32 . When the standard  12  drops into either channel ( 54 ,  60 , or  62 ), the upper pin  46 , likewise, preferably has a length sufficient to retain the upper pin  46  in the aperture  36  in the upper support member  30 . The standard  12  may thus be lifted from engagement with one channel ( 54 ,  60 , or  62 ) and pivoted to engage another channel. 
   Not only do the channels  54 ,  60 , and  62  orient the standard  12 , but the channels also reduce damage. Although the channels have a depth sufficient to retain the end portion  66 , the channels also provide a folding feature during impact. If a passing motorist impacts the standard  12 , the force of the impact snaps the end portion  66  from the channel. The standard  12  is thus able to pivot about the pivot axis L P —L P  (shown as reference numeral  52 ). As the standard  12  pivots, impact energy is absorbed and damage is reduced. 
     FIG. 4  is a schematic showing additional details of the mount  14  shown in FIG.  1 .  FIG. 4  is a partial, exploded view of the mount  14  and the permanent magnet  18 . The body  28  has a channel  68  sized to accept the permanent magnet  18 . The channel  68  is preferably sized such that the permanent magnet  18  frictionally engages, or “press fits” into, the channel  68 . The channel  68 , for example, may include one or more protruding posts  70  spaced along the channel  68 . Each post  70  outwardly protrudes from a bottom surface  72  of the channel  68 . Each post  70  inserts into and through a corresponding hole  74  in the permanent magnet  18 . As  FIG. 4A  best shows, each post  70  has a cone-shaped top portion  76 , a left finger halve  82 , and a right finger halve  84 . An open slot  86  separates the left finger halve  82  from the right finger halve  84 . Because the conical top portion  76  has a major diameter greater than the corresponding hole  74 , the finger halves  82  and  84  squeeze together as the cone-shaped top portion  76  inserts into and through the hole  74 . When the cone-shaped top portion  76  emerges through the hole  74 , the finger halves  82  and  84  expand and the conical top portion  76  retains the permanent magnet  18  in the channel  68 . 
   The channel  68  alternatively or additionally may include a inwardly protruding lip or flange along at least one side of the channel  68 . The permanent magnet  18  would insert into an open end of the channel  68  and slide along the channel  68 . The flange helps retain the permanent magnet  18  in the channel  68 . The channel  68  is preferably sized such that the permanent magnet  18  frictionally slides along the channel  68 . The permanent magnet  18 , however, may alternative or additionally be secured to the mount  14  using any other securement. Tabs, tangs, adhesives, threaded fasteners, welds, and/or any other means of securing the permanent magnet  18  are suitable. 
   Once the standard  12  is deployed, the standard  12  alerts others. If, for example, the standard  12  has a highly-visible surface color (shown as reference numeral  22  in FIG.  1 ), the standard  12  alerts a person to be aware while in the vicinity of the standard  12 . When the mount  14  is magnetically attached to the vehicle (shown as reference numeral  20  in FIG.  1 ), the standard  12  alerts an approaching motorist, or pedestrian, to be aware while in the vicinity of the vehicle. The standard  12 , however, could alternatively be produced with a logo or trademark to signify support or loyalty for a group, such as a sporting team. The standard  12  could be imprinted with a photograph, picture, icon, logo, trademark, cartoon character, scene, word, phrase, or number(s). The standard  12  could then be marketed to sporting/cultural/artistic fans or participants. 
     FIG. 5  is a schematic showing an alternative embodiment of this invention.  FIG. 5  shows an extensible safety device  88 . This safety device  88  comprises a rigid standard  90  extending from a mount  92 . The standard  90 , however, comprises at least a first section  94  moving in relation to a second section  96 . The first section  94  moves to extend a length L (shown as reference numeral  98 ) of the standard  90 . The standard  90  may even comprise more sections moving in relation to the first  94  and second  96  sections to further extend the length L of the standard  90 . The term “moving” means at least one of the sections  94  and  96  slide, pull, translate, extend, screw, spin, thread, push, and/or raise to increase the length L of the standard  90 . 
     FIG. 5 , for example, shows the section  94  sliding to increase the length L of the standard  90 . The first section  94  is a rigid panel  100  that slides along a track  102 . The track  102  outwardly extends from a top  104  and a bottom  106  of the second section  94 , the second section also being shown as a panel  108 . The track  102  has a track channel  110  extending along at least a portion of the bottom  106  of the second panel  108 . The track channel  110  preferably has a width slightly larger than a thickness of the first panel  100 , thus allowing a bottom edge  112  of the first panel  100  to insert into, and slide along, the track channel  110 . The extensible standard  90  may have as many sections, in any length, to suit the application. The panels  100  and  108 , for example, may each have a length of about twelve inches (12 in.) and a height of eight inches (8 in.), thus providing almost twenty four inches (24 in.) of length L. The panels may have smaller dimensions or larger dimensions to suit the application. The standard  90  may also have more or less than the two panels shown. 
     FIG. 5  also shows additional details of the safety device  88 . While the standard  90  is rigid, the standard  90  may be constructed of any polymer material and/or metal material that permits the extensible feature of the invention. The standard  90  preferably has a highly-visible surface color  114 , and the standard  90  may include reflective material  116  to enhance visibility of the standard  90 . The standard  90  may extend from the mount  92 , and the mount  92  may include a permanent magnet (not shown). The standard  90  may be supported by at least one support member  118  extending from the mount  92  to the standard  90 . The at least one support member  118  may have a swivel feature (not shown) at either end of the support member  118 . This swiveling feature allows the support member  118  to swivel at the mount  92  and/or the standard  90 , thus permitting the standard  90  to be oriented for visibility. 
     FIG. 6  is a schematic showing yet another alternative embodiment of this invention.  FIG. 6  shows a telescopic safety device  120  to enhance visibility. This safety device  120  comprises a rigid standard  122  extending from the mount  92 . Here the standard  122  has an inner section  124  and an outer section  126 . The outer section  126  has a tubular cross-section  128 , and the inner section  124  is sized such that the inner section  124  slides within the outer section  126 . Although only one inner  124  and outer  126  section is shown, the telescoping standard  122  may have successive pairs of inner and outer sections. The successive pairs of inner and outer sections are sized such that an inner section of one pair is also the outer section of an adjoining pair (e.g., similar to a telescopic antenna). 
   While the standard  122  is rigid, the standard  122  may be constructed of any polymer material and/or metal material that permits the extensible feature of the invention. The standard  122  preferably has the highly-visible surface color (such as that shown as reference numeral  22  in FIG.  1 ), and the standard  122  may include reflective material to enhance visibility of the standard  122 . The standard  122  may extend from the mount  92 , and the mount  92  may include a permanent magnet. The mount  92  may include the swivel feature allowing the standard  122  to be oriented for visibility.  FIG. 6  shows the telescopic standard  122  having an oval tubular cross-section, however, any tubular cross-section is suitable for this invention. 
   While the present invention has been described with respect to various features, aspects, and embodiments, those skilled and unskilled in the art will recognize the invention is not so limited. Other variations, modifications, and alternative embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Technology Category: 7