GB2041430A

GB2041430A - A portable warning sign

Info

Publication number: GB2041430A
Application number: GB7903562A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-01-23
Filing date: 1979-02-01
Publication date: 1980-09-10
Also published as: NL8000257A; HU181011B; GB2041429A; DE2952693A1; ES487762A0; ES8100396A1; IT8009318A0; BE873663A; IT1133554B; CH634889A5; FR2447425A1; FR2447425B3

Abstract

A triangular road warning sign which can be carried e.g. by motor vehicles has a base tray c, e.g. of plastics, and a hinged lid l. The lid l has a reflective or fluorescent region on its surface, and carries lamps m. Batteries f to power the lamps are carried in the base. The lamps are automatically illuminated upon opening the lid as nib k releases switch h. The sign may be used as shown, with lid l held erect by stay d. Alternatively the lid hinges n may be uncoupled to allow the lid to be reversed (arrow q) and closed on to tray c without opening switch h, whereupon the sign comprises a closed illuminated triangular box with a hanging loop at one corner. In a modification the base tray is shaped for nesting in the well of the spare wheel of a vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A portable warning sign This invention relates to a portable warning sign for highway use.

It is currently a requirement in many European countries that vehicles which have broken down or stopped for a prolonged period on the highway should display at their rear a warning sign. Such signs are often reflective and therefore rely for their visibility on the headlights of an oncoming vehicle. It would be desirable if a portable illuminated warning-sign was available.

The invention is directed to providing an illuminated sign which is, or may be, selfpowered and which will be illuminated automatically upon being opened for use.

According to the invention there is provided a portable warning sign which can be illuminated, comprising a base and a lid hinged thereto, the lid bearing reflective material and carrying one or more lamps and the base having a housing for a source of electrical power, the arrangement being such that the lamps are illuminated from the power source upon opening of the lid.

According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a portable warning sign which can be illuminated, including a base member of generally triangular shape seen in plan and having a triangular lid, the lid being hinged to the base member along one of the sides thereof and pivotable between a closed position and an upstanding extended position in which the inner surface of the lid is generally vertical, the inner surface of the lid having thereon a warning triangle of reflective material and lamps adjacent to or co-incident with the sides of the warning triangle, there being a switch arrangement such that the lamps are only illuminated when the lid is open.

Preferably the base member is of vacuum formed plastics material. It may have secured to it a triangular housing which encloses an electrical power storage means such as one or more dry cells. The lid may have a central triangular hole therein which is located and sized to correspond with the upper surface of the housing.

The preferred shape is, as stated, triangular and of such dimensions as to conform to various international requirements for signs to be used on roads to give warnings of directions to approaching drivers of motor vehicles.

One particular triangular sign, according to the invention, takes the form of an Advance Warning Triangle which has a reflective and/ or fluorescent face which relies on the illumination provided by the headlights of approaching vehicles for its efficiency.

A preferred warning triangle according to the invention has the lamps disposed around the outer edge of the sign, and a flasher unit can be included in the circuit between the electrical power source and the lamps to cause the lamps to flash intermittently. As an alternative the lamps may be placed in any position where they particularly illuminate the fluorescent or reflective portion of the face of the sign.

The invention will be better understood from the following non-limiting description of an example thereof given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a warning sign according to the invention; Figure 2 is a rear end view of the sign (shown closed); Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line A-A of Fig. 1 of the sign on a larger scale showing the lid open; Figure 4 is a partial side view with the lid open of a second example of the sign according to the invention; and Figure 5 shows a preferred method of controlling the lighting of the lamps.

Fig. 1 shows a plan of the device and the section line A-A taken for Fig. 3. At "a" is shown the position of a means of locking the device in a closed position with either face of the lid or cover showing. This locking means may be a turnbutton. A handle "b" may be of rope to facilitate the tying or fixing of the device to another object, for example a fallen tree or other obstruction. The radius "c" indicates the actual overall dimension of the device with the sharp angles removed as is usually required by the appropriate regulation and "d" indicates the physical centre of the device which is pertinent to Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 shows an elevation of the device from the rear and indicates the strap hinges at a.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section along line A-A in Fig. 1 with the device open and in operation. The device consists of a tray "c" closable by means of a cover or lid with two faces "a" and "b" held open by means of a stay "d" when in use. The cover is perforated to close over and match the shape of a control unit housing "e". The control unit "e" contains a power source "f", an electronic circuit and wiring "g" and a switch "h" and is fitted with a locking arrangement "j".

When the device is close a nib "k" on the cover opens the switch "h" which cuts off the lamps from the power source. The cover with the nib "k" is held in the closed position against the spring of switch "h" by the locking arrangement "j". Face "a" of the cover is provided with reflective and/or fluorescent material and may be with or without a legend, writing, or illumination such as a road traffic symbol. A number of light sources "m" (see Fig. 5) which may be amber in colour are provided on face "a". The light sources may be tungsten filament lamps located in bulb carriers the subject of granted British Patent No. 1 030 747 or may be fluorescent lamps.

The light sources may be made to flash on and off to provide a warning signal or may operate continuously to provide illumination to face "a" Face "b" of the cover is moulded to provide mechanical strength to the device and to house the wiring to the light sources "m". Face "b" of the cover provides protection for face "a" when the device is not in use.

The cover is fitted to the tray "c" by one or a number of hinged straps "n" which are located on studs fixed to the tray "c" and may be removed therefrom by turnbutton or other similar device "o".

The cover may be removed from the tray "c", electrical connection being provided by means of a coiled extendable wandering lead "p", and the faces "a" and "b" transposed by turning the cover or lid about a generally vertical axis as indicated by the dotted lines "q". The strap hinges "n" being re-fitted, the cover may be re-paced and closed down to tray "c" and locked in a closed position with locking arrangement "j". In this mode the device will be closed with the face "a" of the cover exposed and the nib "k" will not cause the switch "h" to open. Thus in this mode of operation the device will be illuminated in the closed position and may be handled with facility as a self-powered sign.

The power source "f" is usually a battery and may be provided with a means for recharging, augmentation or re-placement from an external power source if required.

The electronic circuit and wiring "g" may additionally be provided with a current limitation device to facilitate the charging of the power soruce "f" from an external power source.

Fig. 4 represents a slimmer version of the warning sign illustrated described above and is intended to be housed resting against the inside face of the spare wheel in a private motor car or other similar vehicle. The round protuberance on the underside of the tray "c" located in the physical centre of the triangle as shown at "d" in Fig. 1 is intended to fit into the concave cavity formed into a pressed metal wheel usually to accommodate the brake drum or disc. The device shown in Fig.

4 is similar in all major respects to that described above with the exception that the switch is fitted to be operated by the hinge and the cover opens through 270 degrees and the tray "c" is turned upside down and placed on the road surface when the device is in operation.

Fig. 5 shows a preferred method of providing the light sources ("m" in Fig. 3). The cover "d" is moulded to provide a continuing semi-sectional groove around the outer edge of the triangle. The light source "a" may be either as described in granted G.B. Patent 1 030 747 or miniature fluorescent tubes. In the latter case the protective "bubble" "b" would be made partly opaque in section to prevent light from escaping other than at such angles as would facilitate the illumination of the face of the sign. The front facing of the sign "c" may be of aluminium and may have reflective and/or fluorescent material attached to it. The facing "c" may be perforated to allow the "bubble" "b" to project through it and fix and locate "b" in position. Re-placement of lamps may be facilitated by removing the fixing screws by which facing "c" is attached to cover "d" and lifting the "bubbles".

Claims

1. A portable warning sign which can be illuminated, comprising a base and a lid hinged thereto, the lid bearing reflective meterial and carrying one or more lamps and the base having a housing for a source of electrical power, the arrangement being such that the lamps are illuminated from the power source upon opening of the lid.

2. A portable warning sign which can be illuminated, including a base member of generally triangular shape seen in plan and having a triangular lid, the lid being hinged to the base member along one of the sides thereof and pivotable between a closed position and an upstanding extended position in which the inner surface of the lid is generally vertical, the inner surface of the lid having thereon a warning triangle of reflective material and lamps adjacent to or co-incident with the sides of the warning triangle, there being a switch arrangement such that the lamps are only illuminated when the lid is open.

3. A sign according to claim 1 or 2 in which the base member is of vacuum formed plastics material.

4. A sign according to claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the lid has a central trianglular hole therein which is located and sized to correspond with the upper surface of the housing.

5. A sign according to any preceding claim in which a triangular housing is secured to the base, the housing enclosing an electrical power storage means.

6. A sign according to claim 5 in which the storage means is constituted by one or more dry cells.

7. A sign according to any preceding claim in which the lid has a reflective and/or fluorescent face which is capable of reflecting illumination provided by the headlights of approaching vehicles.

8. A sign according to any preceding claim which has the lamps disposed around the outer edge of the sign, and includes a flasher unit in one electrical circuit between the electrical power storage means and the lamps.

9. A sign according to claim 8 when de pendent on claim 7 in which the lamps are located to illuminate the said face.

1 0. A portable warning sign substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.