Signal light for attracting deliveries

• US 20050151666A1
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metalex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Beacons, LLC
• Inventors: Saban, Alex, Lafon, Ned F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,991,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.450
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/00 Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A compact signal light is provided with LEDs arrayed across its front face, and a magnet and/or suction cup on its rear face so that a user may readily mount it on a refrigerator door or the like. The front face of the signal light may bear the name and telephone number of a delivery or emergency service so that a user may resort to the signal light when making an emergency or delivery call. The user may then turn on the signal light so that its LEDs are illuminated (with one or more of the LEDs preferably flashing), and place the signal light on a door or window where the delivery or emergency service is to be rendered, so that the location is more easily found by the delivery or emergency personnel without “hunting.” The signal light provides a particularly valuable tool for pizza delivery companies and the like because it serves as an advertising tool reminding the consumer of the company, as well as providing the company with a way to more quickly and efficiently render its delivery services.

Claims

1. A signal light comprising:

a. a casing having a front face, an opposing rear face, and sidewalls extending therebetween, wherein the casing has;

(1) a width dimension measured between opposing sidewalls;

(2) a height dimension measured between opposing sidewalls perpendicularly to the width dimension; and

(3) a thickness dimension measured between its front and rear faces, the thickness dimension being less than each of the width and height dimensions;

b. two or more LEDs spaced about the front face of the casing, wherein at least two of the LEDs are spaced apart by a distance at least as great as approximately one-half of the greater of;

(1) the width dimension, and

(2) the height dimension;

c. one or more batteries enclosed within the casing;

d. a switch on the casing;

e. a powering circuit supplying power from the batteries to the LEDs when the switch is activated, the powering circuit causing at least one of the LEDs to be illuminated at a frequency of greater than 0.5 Hz;

f. mounting means affixed to the casing for mounting the signal light to a surface.

2. The signal light of claim 1 wherein the powering circuit includes reconfiguration means for allowing a change in the frequency at which at least one of the LEDs is illuminated.

3. The signal light of claim 2 wherein the reconfiguration means includes an electronic memory storing LED illumination instructions therein.

4. The signal light of claim 1 wherein the thickness dimension of the casing is less than or equal to 0.75 inches.

5. The signal light of claim 1 wherein the casing has a front face area of less than 8 square inches;

6. The signal light of claim 1 further comprising one or more button cell batteries powering the LEDs, wherein the button cell batteries each have their terminals oriented in a plane at least substantially parallel to the front face of the casing.

7. The signal light of claim 1 wherein at least two of the LEDs are each illuminated:

a. at a frequency of greater than 0.5 Hz, and

b. at different times.

8. The signal light of claim 1 wherein the mounting means includes both a suction cup and a magnet, and wherein:

a. the suction cup is flexible and protrudes outwardly from the casing past the magnet, and

b. pressing the suction cup against a surface brings the magnet against the surface.

9. The signal light of claim 1 wherein a major portion of the front face of the casing is at least substiantally opaque, whereby the opaque portion may bear indicia printed or adhered thereon without obscuring an adjacent one of the LEDs.

10. The signal light of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the front face of the casing adjacent the LEDs is at least substantially opaque, and bears the name of a service provider thereon.

11. The signal light of claim 1 wherein the front face of the casing bears the name and telephone number of a service provider.

12. A signal light comprising:

a. a casing having a front face, an opposing rear face, and sidewalls extending therebetween, wherein the thickness dimension of the casing as measured between its front and rear faces is smaller than the width or height dimensions measured between opposing points on the sidewalls;

b. three or more LEDs on the front face of the casing;

c. one or more batteries enclosed within the casing;

d. a switch on the casing;

e. a powering circuit supplying power from the batteries to the LEDs when the switch is activated, the powering circuit including reconfiguration means for allowing a change in the frequency at which one or more of the LEDs is illuminated;

f. at least one of;

(1) a suction cup, and

(2) a magnet,

affixed to the casing.

13. The signal light of claim 12 wherein the casing has a thickness which is less than or equal to half of the greater of its width or height.

14. The signal light of claim 13 further comprising one or more button cell batteries powering the LEDs, wherein the button cell batteries each have their terminals oriented in a plane at least substantially parallel to the front face of the casing.

15. The signal light of claim 12 further comprising one or more button cell batteries powering the LEDs.

16. The signal light of claim 12 wherein at least one of the LEDs is illuminated at a frequency of greater than 0.5 Hz.

17. The signal light of claim 12 wherein at least two of the LEDs are each illuminated:

a. at a frequency of greater than 0.5 Hz, and

b. at different times.

18. The signal light of claim 12 wherein at least two of the LEDs are spaced apart by a distance at least as great as approximately one-half of the greater of:

a. the width dimension, and

b. the height dimension.

19. The signal light of claim 12 wherein at least one of the LEDS does not rest along a line defined by two of the other LEDs.

20. The signal light of claim 12 wherein the casing has a thickness of less than 0.75 inches.

21. The signal light of claim 12 wherein the front face of the casing has an area of less than 8 square inches.

22. The signal light of claim 12 wherein the reconfiguration means includes an electronic memory storing LED illumination instructions therein.

23. The signal light of claim 12 wherein the casing includes both a suction cup and a magnet, and wherein:

a. the suction cup is flexible and protrudes outwardly from the casing past the magnet, and

b. pressing the suction cup against a surface brings the magnet against the surface.

24. The signal light of claim 12 wherein the casing bears the name and telephone number of a service provider thereon.

25. A signal light comprising:

a. a casing having a front face, an opposing rear face, and sidewalls extending therebetween, wherein the thickness dimension of the casing as measured between its front and rear faces is smaller than the width or height dimensions measured between opposing points on the sidewalls;

b. two or more LEDs spaced about the front face of the casing;

c. one or more batteries enclosed within the casing;

d. a powering circuit supplying power from the batteries to the LEDs when the switch is activated, the powering circuit causing at least one of the LEDs to be illuminated at a frequency of greater than 0.5 Hz;

e. a magnet affixed to the casing, and

f. a suction cup;

(1) affixed to the casing, and

(2) fixed adjacent to the magnet and extending outwardly past the magnet,

wherein pressing the suction cup against a surface brings the magnet against the surface.

26. The signal light of claim 25 further comprising one or more button cell batteries powering the LEDs.

27. The signal light of claim 25 further comprising one or more button cell batteries powering the LEDs, wherein the button cell batteries each have their terminals oriented in a plane at least substantially parallel to the front face of the casing.

28. The signal light of claim 25 wherein at least two of the LEDs are each illuminated:

a. at a frequency of greater than 0.5 Hz, and

b. at different times.

29. The signal light of claim 25 wherein at least two of the LEDs are spaced apart by a distance at least as great as approximately one-half of the greater of:

a. a width dimension measured between opposing sidewalls, and

b. a height dimension measured between opposing sidewalls perpendicularly to the width dimension.

30. The signal light of claim 25 wherein the powering circuit includes reconfiguration means for allowing a change in the frequency at which at least one of the LEDs is illuminated.

31. The signal light of claim 30 wherein the reconfiguration means includes an electronic memory storing LED illumination instructions therein.

32. The signal light of claim 25 wherein the casing bears the name and telephone number of a service provider thereon.

33. The signal light of claim 25 wherein the front face of the casing has an area of less than 8 square inches;

34. The signal light of claim 25 wherein the casing has a thickness of less than or equal to 0.75 inches.