HIGHWAY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS-WARNING SYSTEM AND UNITS

• US 3,832,679 A
• Filed: 08/16/1972
• Issued: 08/27/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dennis J. Foley, Richard A. Gilmore
• Original Assignee: Dennis J. Foley, Richard A. Gilmore
• Inventors: Foley, Dennis J., Gilmore, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kundert, Thomas L.
• Application Number:
  US05/281,143
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 340/22,74,75,90,114,118,119,88,287,300 9/8.3E 179/1DD,2R
• US Class Current: 340/928
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/615 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/635 by shearing or tearing, e.g. having weakened zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A highway warning system is comprised of a plurality of standards erected at regularly-spaced intervals along the road side and interconnected by conventional telephonic system to a central dispatcher station. The standards are provided with communication elements and a light which is under control of the central station such that the standard at the closest point to a trouble site may be illuminated and as well standards ahead of the trouble point may be illuminated to warn motorists of potential danger ahead.

Claims

1. A highway emergency traffic advisory and warning system comprising a plurality of communications stations positioned at regularly spaced intervals along the roadside in either direction;

a central dispatch station in direct telephonic communication with at least a selected station, each station comprising a vertical column anchored in the ground at its lower end and having impact releasable connector means adjacent its lower end, an audio-visual communications head surmounting and permanently affixed to the upper end of each column, said audiovisual communications head comprising, an inverted, open topped, frusto-conical shaped bowl having a bottom recessed upwardly toward the interior thereof whereby a pronounced depending peripheral skirt is defined around the lower circumferential edge of the said bowl;

a central, tubular column depending from the bottom of said bowl and connected to said vertical column the bottom of said bowl between said skirt and said tubular column and also said tubular column having a plurality of vertically aligned grid-like openings therein, each opening being disposed above the lowermost peripheral edge of said depending skirt;

voice communicating means including a telephonic transmitter device and a telephonic receiving device positioned within said bowl and said tubular column respectively behind each of said grid-like openings, manually actuated means for actuating said voice communicating means to connect said station with the central dispatch station for telephonic two-way communication therewith;

a light source mounted in the open top of said inverted, frustoconical shaped bowl and operable only from said central dispatch station; and

a complimentary light transmitting cover encompassing said light source and in sealing engagement with the upper peripheral edge of said inverted frusto-conical shaped bowl to define therewith an integral weatherproof housing for said voice communicating means and said light source.

2. A communications system as defined in claim 1 wherein said lower peripheral outside edge of said bowl defines a protective skirt and audio trap and said manually actuated means is a switch mounted on said tubular extension depending from the center of the bottom of said bowl and aligned beneath said grid-like openings.

3. A communications system as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover is frusto-conical in shape and has its lower peripheral edge threadedly engaged with the top of said bowl and a seal means is positioned between said cover and said bowl to prevent moisture from entering said bowl at its juncture with said cover.

4. A communications system as defined in claim 3 wherein the top of said cover comprises a lens focusing rays from said light source into a vertical column defining a visual beacon.

5. A communications system as defined in claim 2 wherein said bowl includes a grill area located in the bottom surface between said peripheral skirt and said central tubular extension and wherein a speaker is disposed directly above said grill area and wherein said central tubular extension of said bowl is provided with a grill area in communication with the interior of said bowl and a microphone is mounted directly behind said grill area.

6. A communications system as defined in claim 1 wherein said impact releasable connector is comprised of a pair of abutting plates bolted to each other and said plates are inclined relative to the horizontal to impart a definite one-directional movement of said standard from the base upon impact created by a moving object such as a vehicle.