Warning beacon

• US 5,929,788 A
• Filed: 12/30/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Star Headlight & Lantern Company Incorporated (Grote Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Star Headlight & Lantern Company Incorporated (Grote Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vukosic, Stephen T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIEU, JULIE BICHNGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/001,017
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 340/908, 340/468, 340/471, 340/473, 340/475, 340/981, 340/984, 340/908.1, 340/332, 362/243, 362/245, 362/296, 362/297, 362/341, 362/346, 362/347, 362/800, 362/249
• US Class Current: 340/908.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/06 flashing, e.g. with rotating reflector or light source signalling lighting devices mounted on vehicles B60Q1/26
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/08 with a standard F21S6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0016 on lighting devices that also provide for direct lighting, e.g. by means of independent light sources, by splitting of the light beam, by switching between both lighting modes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/06 with parabolic curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/90 on two opposite sides of supports or substrates
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A warning beacon or a light where clusters of LED are mounted on a circuit board and emit light into a conical reflector so as to provide omni directional illumination has improved illumination intensity over its pattern of illumination by utilizing separate reflective sections each of which is preferably parabolic. Separate clusters of LEDs (light emitting devices) are arranged along circular paths (in rings) of diameter commensurate with the diameter of each section of the reflector aimed at approximately the middle thereof. The illumination is deflected radially outward from each section. The total number of LEDs which provide the illumination is increased over other arrangements thereby enhancing the brightness or intensity of illumination provided by the beacon.

Claims

1. A warning beacon comprising a reflector having first and second surfaces, first and second clusters each having a plurality of LEDs projecting light beams, said LEDS of said first cluster being opposed to said first surface such that said beams from said first cluster are incident upon said first surface which deflects said beams outwardly from said first surface to provide a part of warning illumination from said beacon, said LEDs of said second cluster being opposed to said second surface so that said beams from said second cluster are incident on said second surface and deflected therefrom to provide another part of said warning illumination from said second surface, said first and second clusters are of smaller and greater diameter and said first and second surfaces are parts of an outwardly flaring generally conical surface.

2. The warning beacon according to claim 1 wherein said first and second surfaces are parabolic and deflect said beams outwardly from said beacon.

3. The warning beacon according to claim 1 wherein said first and second surfaces are annular and said first and second clusters are separate rings of said LEDs.

4. The warning beacon according to claim 1 wherein said first and second surfaces are annular surfaces which are parts of a generally conical surface.

5. The warning beacon according to claim 1 wherein said first and second clusters each contain a plurality of said LEDs disposed along a generally circular path concentric with said axis and of smaller and greater diameter.

6. The warning beacon according to claim 1 wherein said first and second surfaces are parabolic to project said illumination in a generally omni directional pattern perpendicularly with respect to said axis.

7. The warning beacon according to claim 6 further comprising wiring for applying power to said LEDs extending to said plate via a path internally of said body and through its said neck.

8. The warning beacon according to claim 6 further comprising another cluster of LEDs arranged on a side of said plate opposite to said side facing said surfaces and from which beams project in a direction opposite from said beams which are incident upon said first and second surfaces.

9. The warning beacon according to claim 8 further comprising a base to which said body and said cover are connected in assembled relationship enclosing said body, plate and LED clusters.

10. The warning beacon according to claim 6 further comprising a cup-shape optically transmissive cover over and around said conical body and said plate.

11. A warning beacon comprising a reflector having a first and a second surface, first and second clusters each having a plurality of LEDs projecting light beams, said LEDs of said first cluster being opposed to said first surface such that the beams from said first cluster are incident upon first surface which deflects said beams outwardly from said first surface to provide a part of warning illumination from said beacon, said LEDs of said second cluster being opposed to said second surface such that the beams from said second cluster are incident on said second surface and deflected therefrom to provide another part of said warning illumination from said second surface, said first and second surfaces are surfaces of revolution about an axis and are spaced axially and are of different radial size, said beams project to incidence upon said surfaces in the same direction along said axis and are deflected radially outward from said axis.

12. The warning beacon according to claim 11 further comprising a generally conical tubular body having an exterior surface providing said first and second surfaces and also having a neck, a plate mounted on said neck and carrying said first and second clusters in the form of said LEDs arranged along generally circular paths around said axis on the side of said plate facing said first and second surfaces, the diameter of said circular paths corresponding to the diameters of said surfaces centrally thereof, generally central rays of said beam are incident generally at points around said surfaces at the centers thereof.