Pedestrian crossing safety device

• US 5,307,251 A
• Filed: 10/30/1992
• Issued: 04/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terry L. Shaffer
• Original Assignee: Terry L. Shaffer
• Inventors: Shaffer, Terry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US07/969,719
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 362/102, 362/158, 362/84, 362/185, 362/186, 362/203, 362/205, 362/191, 362/195, 362/310, 40/542, 40/586
• US Class Current: 362/102
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0064 Health, life-saving or fire-fighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/006 Portable traffic signalling devices G08B5/004 takes precedence; emergency signalling devices to be placed on roads or vehicles B60Q7/00

Abstract

The present invention provides a relatively lightweight elongated staff having a particularly well arranged strobe light and sign which provides an enhanced warning while maximizing its ease of transportability for the carrier and use.

Claims

1. A battery powered pedestrian crossing safety device to aid in walking pedestrians across a traffic intersection, comprising:

a light weight elongated tubular member having a first end, a second end, and a surface portion axially spaced from said first end which transversely extends across said tubular member so that said first end forms an inner surface defining shaped to fitably receive a battery therein, wherein said tubular member is of a sufficient length to act as a bar to adjacent pedestrians and wherein said tubular member has a fluorescent outer surface coloring particularly well suited for attracting the attention of an approaching motor vehicle operator;

means for conducting a current from the battery to a high intensity light emitting element, said conducting means connected to said inner surface of said tubular member;

means for switching on and off the current in said conducting means, said switching means sealingly, integrally formed in a portion of said first end of said tubular member;

a light weight sheet-like material slidably connectable to said tubular member having a fluorescent coloration on exposed surfaces thereof, said fluorescent coloration of said sheet-like material being complimentary to said fluorescent coloration of said tubular member; and

strobe light means operatively associated with said conducting means for emitting a relatively intense wavelength of light in generally all directions, wherein said strobe light means includes a conducting portion positionable within said first end of said tubular member for contacting said conducting means, an intermittent power control unit operatively connected with said conducting portion, said high intensity light emitting element operatively connected to said intermittent power control unit and extending out from said first end, a reflective backing interposed between said light emitting element and both said conducting portion and said intermittent power control unit such that when said conducting portion and said intermittent power control unit are disposed in said first end of said tubular member said reflective backing extends adjacent a plane formed by an outermost portion of said first end of said tubular member, and a substantially translucent hemispherical cover sealingly connectable to said first end of said tubular member and surrounding said light emitting element and cooperative with said reflective backing to substantially allow for a 360°

light emission effect and which serves as a beacon for said device and enhances said fluorescent colored elongated tubular member and said fluorescent colored sheet-like material, the combination thereof providing for said pedestrian safety crossing device.

2. A battery powered pedestrian crossing safety device to aid in walking pedestrians across a traffic intersection, comprising:

a light weight elongated tubular member having a first end, a second end, and an inner surface defining a chamber shaped to fitably receive a battery therein, wherein said tubular member is of a sufficient length to act as a bar to adjacent pedestrians and wherein said tubular member has a fluorescent outer surface coloring particularly well suited for attracting the attention of an approaching motor vehicle operator;

means for conducting a current from the battery to a high intensity light emitting element, said conducting means connected to said inner surface of said tubular member;

means for switching on and off the current in said conducting means, said switching means sealingly, integrally formed in a portion of said first end of said tubular member;

a light weight sheet-like material slidably connectable to said tubular member having a fluorescent coloration on exposed surfaces thereof, said fluorescent coloration of said sheet-like material being complimentary to said fluorescent coloration of said tubular member; and

strobe light means operatively associated with said conducting means for emitting a relatively intense wavelength of light in generally all directions, wherein said strobe light means includes a conducting portion positionable within said first end of said tubular member for contacting said conducting means, an intermittent power control unit operatively connected with said conducting portion, said high intensity light emitting element operatively connected to said intermittent power control unit and extending out from said first end, a reflective backing interposed between said light emitting element and both said conducting portion and said intermittent power control unit such that when said conducting portion and said intermittent power control unit are disposed in said first end of said tubular member said reflective backing extends adjacent a plane formed by an outermost portion of said first end of said tubular member, and a substantially translucent hemispherical cover sealingly connectable to said first end of said tubular member and surrounding said light emitting element and cooperative with said reflective backing to substantially allow for a 360°

light emission effect and which serves as a beacon for said device and enhances said fluorescent colored elongated tubular member and said fluorescent colored sheet-like material, the combination thereof providing for said pedestrian safety crossing device.

3. A battery powered pedestrian crossing safety device to aid in waling pedestrians across a traffic intersection, comprising:

a generally cylindrical light weight elongated tubular member having an inner surface defining a chamber shaped to fitably receive a battery therein, wherein said tubular member is of a sufficient length to act as a bar to adjacent pedestrians and wherein said tubular member has a fluorescent outer surface coloring particularly well suited for attracting the attention of an approaching motor vehicle operator, said tubular member to receive about an outer surface thereof a light weight sheet-like material slidably connectable to said tubular member having a fluorescent coloration on exposed surfaces thereof and being complimentary to said fluorescent coloration of said tubular member;

means for conducting a current from the battery to a high intensity light emitting element, said conducting means connected to said inner surface of said tubular member;

means for switching on and off the current in said conducting means, said switching means formed in a portion of said tubular member; and

strobe light means operatively associated with said conducting means for emitting a relatively intense wavelength of light in generally all directions, wherein said strobe light means includes a conducting portion positionable within said tubular member for contacting said conducting means, an intermittent power control unit operatively connected with said conducting portion, said high intensity light emitting element operatively connected to said intermittent power control unit and extending out from an end of said tubular member, a reflective backing interposed between said light emitting element and both said conducting portion and said intermittent power control unit such that when said conducting portion and said intermittent power control unit are disposed in said end of said tubular member said reflective backing extends adjacent a plane formed by an outermost portion of said end of said tubular member, and a substantially translucent hemispherical cover sealingly connectable to said end of said tubular member and surrounding said light emitting element and cooperative with said reflective backing to substantially allow for a 360°

light emission effect and which serves as a beacon for said device and enhances said fluorescent colored elongated tubular member and said fluorescent colored sheet-like material, the combination thereof providing for said pedestrian safety crossing device.