Visual signaling device

• US 5,963,126 A
• Filed: 02/23/1998
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1997
• 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: Mastin, Michael F., Vukosic, Stephen T., Karlin, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/028,230
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 340/321, 340/331, 340/332, 340/815.42, 340/815.43, 340/815.44, 340/815.45, 340/815.23, 340/691.1, 340/691.4, 340/691.5, 340/691.7, 340/908 , 340/908.1, 362/102, 362/183, 362/184
• US Class Current: 340/321
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 7/00 Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/615 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits

Abstract

A visual signaling device has one or more light source modules arranged in a stack. Each module is of "Tri-liptic" i.e. generally triangular shape, but with the triangle corners rounded. Inside the triangle, is a perfect circle, to aid in the optical dispersion of the light source. The modules are each formed by back and front moldings. The front molding defines one of the sides of the module, while the back molding defines the other two sides of the module. The light source module contains a light source (incandescent, halogen, rotating, strobe or LED) on a printed circuit board. This module also contains the electronics, which operate the light source, and can cause it to flash, be illuminated constantly or operate a rotating reflector around a stationery bulb. A conduit, which is a strip of printed circuit board with connectors at its opposite ends, extends between the top and bottom of each module of the stack. The board containing the light source is inserted via guides into another connector which is attached to the conduit. The light source module may readily be removed for purposes of changing bulbs, which burn out, or to exchange light sources of different type, for example a rotating reflector source for a stationery bulb source. The back molding is closed by the front molding to form a sealed enclosure for the light source module. Modules may be inter-connected into a stack by connection of the top and bottoms of the back moldings of adjacent modules in the stack by means of interlocking projection and slots. A cover and a base may be connected to the topmost and lowermost modules of the stack. The base may contain an audible warning source. The connection of the modules into the stack does not require separate rods or screws which extend through the entire stack.

Claims

1. A visual signaling device which comprises at least one self-contained module having at least two parts which form an enclosure, an electrical assembly presenting connectors at ends thereof and intermediate connector means connected between top and bottom of said module, and a light source module interchangeably contained in at least one of said parts and connectable to said intermediate connector, said module having means for connection together of said module with at least one more self-contained, like said one module, each having electrical assemblies, light source modules and connector means like said one module, such that a plurality of said modules are assembleable in a vertical array.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of modules are in a stack forming said vertical array.

3. The device according to claim 2 whenever said modules each have a top and bottom between said sides and said connection means has inter-connections which extend between said tops and bottoms of said one parts of said modules to connect said one parts in said stack and provide rigid support for said stack.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said light source module comprises a plate and a lamp on said plate, a cable in said assembly connected to said end connections and said intermediate connector, and a second connector extending from said plate and connectable to said intermediate connector.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein said cable and a rigidifying member are integrated with each other and with said end and intermediate connectors to provide said connection means based on the word remarks.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said modules are of tri-liptic shape based on a perfect circle, having three sides, one part forming two of said sides of said module and the other part forming a third of said sides thereof.

7. The device of claim 6 further comprising a base of said tri-liptic shape on which said stack of modules is mounted at the bottom thereof.

8. The device of claim 7 further comprising an audible source in said base.

9. The device of claim 3 further comprising a cover of said tri-liptic shape attached to said stack at the top end of the uppermost module thereof.

10. The device according to claim 1 further comprising means sealingly interconnecting said parts.

11. The device according to claim 10 further comprising seals between said plurality of modules in said array.

12. The device of claim 4 wherein said light source module has means for mounting on said plate different sources of illumination.

13. A beacon comprising at least one module having a housing which provides structural support for the module and enables a plurality of modules to be stacked into a vertical array of modules, said housing having two parts, which provide a shell when assembled, of generally triangular shape having three sides, one of said parts having two of said sides meeting at an angle so as to define two sides of said generally triangular shape, said two sides presenting edges of a third side of said generally triangular shape, said one part providing the principal structural support of said module and of said vertical array, said one part also providing the support for internals of said module, said internals comprising an electrical assembly presenting a plurality of connectors and a light source module removably receivable and connectable to one of said plurality of connectors, holders in said one part engaging said light source module when connected to said one connector in supported relationship with said one part.

14. The beacon according the claim 13 wherein said one part of said module has a top and bottom extending across said two sides at opposite ends of said two sides, and means provided by said tops and bottoms disposed for engagement with others of said modules to assemble said modules into said array.

15. The beacon according to claim 14 further comprising a cover engageable with said engagement means of said top of said one module, said one module being the upper most module of said plurality of modules in said array.

16. The beacon according to claim 14 further comprising a base engageable with said engagement means of said bottom of said one module, said one module being the lower most of said plurality of modules in said array.

17. The beacon according to claim 14 wherein said electrical assembly comprises a cable supported in said one of said parts and having end connectors exposed at said top and bottom and having a third connector disposed intermediately between said top and bottom and connected to said cable, said third connector providing said one connector.

18. The beacon according to claim 17 wherein said cable is a rigid member from which said end connectors extend respectively upwardly and downwardly from the ends of said rigid cable, and said third connector extends laterally from said rigid cable.

19. The beacon according to claim 14 wherein said engagement means comprises protuberances from one of said top and bottom and openings in the other of said top and bottom which when in different ones of said plurality of modules aligns said modules into said vertical array.

20. The beacon according to claim 13 wherein a trilyptic shape provides said generally triangular shape of said shell.

21. The beacon according to claim 13 wherein said light source module comprises a plate on which a lamp is mounted having a connector removably pluggable into said one connector.

22. The beacon according to claim 21 wherein said plate is a printed circuit board.