Stud for Roads

• US 20080030978A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stuart Hume
• Original Assignee: Stuart Hume
• Inventors: Hume, Stuart
• Application Number:
  US11/632,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030978A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/145
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/559 illuminated

Abstract

A road marker 20 comprises a body 22. A photodetector 26 mounted on the body is responsive to illumination by headlights of a first vehicle approaching the body. The photodetector is connected in a circuit 32 on the body also comprising a light emitting device 30. The circuit being configured to energize the light emitting device upon illumination of the photodetector by the head lights of a vehicle approaching the body in a first direction A and the light emitting device is mounted on the body to enhance visibility of the body, particularly for a driver of a second vehicle being driven in a direction B other than the first direction.

Claims

1. A road sign (20, 40, 50, 80) comprising:

a body (22, 42, 56, 85);

a photodetector (26, 84) on the body,

the photodetector being configured on the body to be sensitive to illumination by headlights of a first vehicle (16) approaching the body in a first direction;

the photodetector being connected in a circuit (32, 68) on the body also comprising a light emitting device (30, 58.1, 86);

the circuit being configured to energize the light emitting device in response to illumination of the photodetector by the head lights of the first vehicle (16); and

the light emitting device (30, 58.1, 86) being mounted on the body to enhance visibility of the body (22, 42, 56, 85) for a driver of a second vehicle (18) being driven in a direction (B) other than the first direction (A).

2. A road sign as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body comprises the body of a vehicle carrying the sign.

3. A road sign as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sign is in the form of a road side marker.

4. A road sign as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sign is a road surface mountable stud and wherein the body is configured to be mounted on a road surface.

5. A road sign as claimed in claim 1, wherein the photodetector is a photoswitch connecting the light emitting device to a power supply.

6. A road sign as claimed in claim 5, wherein the power supply is externally of the body.

7. A road sign as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least part of the power supply is mounted on the body of the sign.

8. A road sign as claimed in claim 5, wherein the power supply comprises a photosensitive power source and a charge storage device.

9. A road sign as claimed in claim 1, wherein the photodetector is connected to the light emitting device to act as power supply and to power the light emitting device upon illumination of the photodetector.

10. A road sign as claimed in claim 9, wherein a photoswitch is connected in the circuit with the photodetector and the light emitting device.

11. A road sign as claimed in claim 1, wherein the photodetector is mounted on one sidewall of the body and the light emitting device is mounted on another sidewall of the body.

12. A road sign as claimed in claim 11, wherein a retro-reflector is mounted on at least one of said one sidewall and said other sidewall of the body.

13. A road sign as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light emitting device transmits light in one of the red, orange and green parts of the visible spectrum.

14. A method of signaling to traffic on a road, the method comprising the steps of;

providing a road sign (20) comprising a body (22) carrying a photodetector (26) and an electrical circuit (32) connecting the photodetector to a light emitting device (30) on the body;

utilizing impinging light emitted by headlights of a first vehicle (16) traveling in a first direction (A) to cause the photodetector to cause energization of the light emitting device; and

causing the light emitting device to emit light in a direction wherein visibility of the body (22) is enhanced for a driver of another vehicle (18) which is being driven in a direction (B) other than the first direction (A).