Crosswalk warning light system

• US 5,734,339 A
• Filed: 09/20/1996
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terry B. Ogle
• Original Assignee: Terry B. Ogle
• Inventors: Ogle, Terry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LA, ANH V
• Application Number:
  US08/710,751
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 340/944, 340/908, 340/908.1, 340/925, 340/555, 340/557, 340/691, 116/63 R, 362/800
• US Class Current: 340/944
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator

Abstract

A crosswalk warning light system for warning drivers that a pedestrian has entered a crosswalk by shining a light onto the crosswalk and any pedestrians in the crosswalk. The crosswalk warning light system detects a pedestrian entering the crosswalk and activates the light so that a driver can see and avoid the pedestrian in the crosswalk. The crosswalk warning light system is timed so as to deactivate the light after a predetermined interval of time. The light source is selected from any conventional light source such as a scanning laser, a focused strobe light, or a focused incandescent light. The light source is supported above the crosswalk and aimed down toward the crosswalk so that the entire area defined by the crosswalk is illuminated. Further, by aiming the light source down on the crosswalk, the pedestrians are also illuminated.

Claims

1. A crosswalk warning light system for giving visual indication to motor traffic on a selected road that at least one pedestrian is within a crosswalk crossing the selected road by illuminating the crosswalk and objects therein, the crosswalk terminating at first and second ends on either side of the road and defining first and second side boundaries, said crosswalk warning light system comprising:

a power supply;

a first light source vertically spaced from the ground for illuminating at least a portion of the crosswalk with a first portion of said visual indication, said illuminated portion defining an illumination area including at least an area defined by the crosswalk;

a first light support for supporting at least said first light source above the crosswalk;

at least one sensor for detecting a pedestrian entering the crosswalk at either of the first and second ends of the crosswalk; and

a controller for activating and deactivating said first light source, said controller activating said first light source upon detection by said sensor the pedestrian entering the crosswalk.

2. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second light source vertically spaced from the ground for illuminating at least a portion of said illumination area with a second portion of said visual indication; and

a second light support for supporting said second light source above the crosswalk.

3. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 1 wherein said first light source is positioned in spaced relation from the crosswalk such that said first portion of said visual indication is projected into the crosswalk in the direction of traffic flow.

4. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 2 wherein said second light source is positioned in spaced relation from the crosswalk such that said second portion of said visual indication is projected into the crosswalk in the direction of traffic flow.

5. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 1 wherein said first light source is positioned directly above said crosswalk.

6. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 2 wherein each of said first light source and said second light source is a scanning laser.

7. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 2 wherein each of said first light source and said second light source is a focused strobe light.

8. A crosswalk warning light system for giving visual indication to motor traffic on a selected road that at least one pedestrian is within a crosswalk crossing the selected road by illuminating the crosswalk and objects therein, the crosswalk terminating at first and second ends on either side of the road and defining first and second side boundaries, said crosswalk warning light system comprising:

a power supply;

a first light source vertically spaced from the ground for illuminating at least a portion of the crosswalk with a first portion of said visual indication, said illuminated portion defining an illumination area including at least an area defined by the crosswalk;

a second light source vertically spaced from the ground for illuminating at least a portion of said illumination area with a second portion of said visual indication;

a light support for supporting at least one of said first light source and said second light source above the crosswalk;

at least one sensor for detecting a pedestrian entering the crosswalk at either of the first and second ends of the crosswalk; and

a controller for activating and deactivating said first light source, said controller activating said first light source upon detection by said sensor of the pedestrian entering the crosswalk.

9. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 8 further comprising a second light support for supporting one of said first light source and said second light source above the crosswalk.

10. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 8 wherein said first light source is positioned in spaced relation from the crosswalk such that said first portion of said visual indication is projected into the crosswalk in the direction of traffic flow.

11. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 8 wherein said second light source is positioned in spaced relation from the crosswalk such that said second portion of said visual indication is projected into the crosswalk in the direction of traffic flow.

12. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 8 wherein said first light source is positioned directly above said crosswalk.

13. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 8 wherein each of said first light source and said second light source is a scanning laser.

14. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 8 wherein each of said first light source and said second light source is a focused strobe light.

15. A crosswalk warning light system for giving visual indication to motor traffic on a selected road that at least one pedestrian is within a crosswalk crossing the selected road by illuminating the crosswalk and objects therein, the crosswalk terminating at first and second ends on either side of the road and defining first and second side boundaries, said crosswalk warning light system comprising:

a power supply;

at least one light source vertically spaced from the ground for illuminating at least an area defined by the crosswalk with said visual indication;

at least one light support for supporting said light source above the crosswalk;

at least one sensor for detecting a pedestrian entering the crosswalk at either of the first and second ends of the crosswalk; and

a controller for activating and deactivating said light source, said controller activating said light source upon detection by said sensor of the pedestrian entering the crosswalk.

16. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 15 wherein each of said at least one light source is positioned in spaced relation from the crosswalk such that said visual indication is projected into the crosswalk in the direction of traffic flow.

17. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 15 wherein each of said at least one light source is positioned directly above said crosswalk.

18. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 15 wherein each of said at least one light source is a scanning laser.

19. The crosswalk warning light system of claim 15 wherein each of said at least one light source is a focused strobe light.