Band-type warning device

• US 6,150,950 A
• Filed: 06/11/1999
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chin-Lien Shen Liu
• Original Assignee: Chin-Lien Shen Liu
• Inventors: Shen Liu, Chin-Lien
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/330,340
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815-42, 340/321, 340/555, 362/31, 362/32, 362/103, 362/108, 362/104, 362/806, 362/511, 2/1, 2/311
• US Class Current: 340/815.42
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/0015 Illuminated or sound-producing jewellery
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0008 Clothing or clothing accessories, e.g. scarfs, gloves or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/004 Reflective safety signalling devices attached on persons

Abstract

A band-type warning device includes a buckle body, and a light-transmissive strap member with a connecting end connected to one lateral wall of the buckle body. A detachable engaging member includes jaws disposed on the other lateral wall of the buckle body, and an enlarged head portion formed on a detachable end of the strap member. A guiding cleft and a retaining groove are defined by the jaws and the lateral wall such that the head portion can be forced and retained into the retaining groove from the guiding cleft, thereby engaging the detachable end and the buckle body. A lighting element is disposed on at least one of the lateral walls to illuminate the strap member.

Claims

1. A band-type warning device adapted to be strapped around a body part for ease of recognition in a dim environment, said warning device comprising:

a buckle body including right and left lateral walls opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction, and front and rear walls opposite to each other in a first transverse direction, and interposed between said right and left lateral walls;

a strap member made of a light-transmissive material and provided with front and rear major surfaces, said strap member including a detachable end, and a connecting end secured to said right lateral wall such that said front and rear major surfaces are proximate to said front and rear walls respectively in the first transverse direction;

a detachable engaging member disposed to bring said detachable end into engagement or disengagement with said left lateral wall such that upon engagement, said front and rear major surfaces cooperate with said front and rear walls to form outwardly and inwardly oriented circumferences, respectively; and

a lighting element disposed on at least one of said right and left lateral walls to emit luminous light in the longitudinal direction, and inwardly of said outwardly oriented circumference so as to illuminate said strap member.

2. The band-type warning device according to claim 1, wherein said detachable engaging member includes:

a pair of jaws disposed on said left lateral wall and spaced apart from each other in the first transverse direction, each of said jaws extending from said left lateral wall longitudinally and transversely so as to define with the other one of said jaws a guiding cleft which extends in a second transverse direction transverse to both of the first transverse direction and the longitudinal direction, and which is of such a dimension to admit insertion of said detachable end in the second transverse direction, and so as to define with the other one of said jaws and said left lateral wall a retaining groove which extends in the second transverse direction and which is communicated with said guiding cleft; and

an enlarged head portion integrally formed with said detachable end and of a dimension such that, when said detachable end is inserted into said guiding cleft, said enlarged head portion will be forced into said retaining groove and will be retained therein as said detachable end is pulled in the longitudinal direction.

3. The band-type warning device according to claim 2, wherein said lighting element is disposed to permit the luminous light to beam through said guiding cleft in the longitudinal direction.

4. The band-type warning device according to claim 3, wherein one of said jaws is disposed to be pivotally mounted on a respective site of said left lateral wall about a pivot axis which is parallel to the second transverse direction, thereby enabling widening of said guiding cleft by turning said one of said jaws about said pivot axis so as to facilitate insertion of said enlarged head portion into said retaining groove.

5. The band-type warning device according to claim 4, further comprising a switch member connected to said lighting element to control activation of said lighting element.

6. The band-type warning device according to claim 1, wherein said buckle body has a dial disposed on said front wall.