Portable emergency landing area lighting device for helicopters

• US 6,329,933 B1
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stephen J. Mikesic
• Original Assignee: Stephen J. Mikesic
• Inventors: Mikesic, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, John
• Application Number:
  US09/759,490
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 340/946, 340/321, 340/473, 340/478, 340/908.1, 362/156, 362/191, 362/187, 362/205
• US Class Current: 340/946
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 7/00 Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/18 Visual or acoustic landing aids taxiing aids B64F1/002

Abstract

A portable emergency lighting device for helicopters which transmits visible and radio signals which indicate the position of an emergency rescue area. The device has a housing with a beacon disposed on its top wall. The device also includes a battery source disposed in the housing that is rechargeable via a special adapter by an emergency vehicle using a standard 12 volt DC system. The device is easily carried to a remote location where vehicles may be unable to reach. Several lighting devices can be configured to define a landing area near the location of a patient for easy access and rescue. The device may be mounted and transported within a variety of different emergency rescue vehicles.

Claims

1. A portable emergency landing area lighting device for helicopters comprising:

a housing having a bottom surface, a top surface, a front wall surface, a rear wall surface and two side wall surfaces, said bottom surface, said top surface, said front wall surface, said rear wall surface and said two side wall surfaces defining an interior compartment;

a hinge disposed between said top surface and said rear wall surface, said top surface being hingedly movable for accessing said interior compartment;

at least one latching mechanism disposed on said front wall surface and said top surface for releasably latching said top surface to said front wall surface;

at least one handle for carrying said housing, said at least one handle being disposed on one of said two side wall surfaces;

a strobe light disposed in said top surface for providing a safety beacon;

an electrical switch disposed on said front wall surface;

an electrical coupler disposed adjacent to said electrical switch on said front wall surface;

circuit means disposed in said interior compartment for supplying a periodic transmission signal to said strobe light;

a power source positioned in said interior compartment;

wherein said electrical switch, said power source, said electrical coupler, and said strobe light are electrically connected via said circuit means for selectively applying electrical power to said strobe light;

a first apertured flange, said first apertured flange disposed on one of said two side walls and adjacent said bottom surface; and

a second apertured flange, said second apertured flange disposed on the other of said two side walls and adjacent said bottom surface.

2. The portable emergency landing area lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said power source is a rechargeable battery.

3. The portable emergency landing area lighting device according to claim 2, wherein said electrical coupler connects an external power supply to said rechargeable battery in order to replenish a power level of said rechargeable battery.

4. The portable emergency landing area lighting device according to claim 3, wherein said top wall surface, said front wall surface, said second wall surface, said third wall surface, and said fourth wall surface each including a plurality of areas having a reflective medium disposed on the exterior thereof, said reflective medium being selected from the group consisting of reflective paint and reflective tape.

5. The portable emergency landing area lighting device according to claim 4, wherein said housing has a height from the bottom wall to the top wall in the range from six inches to sever inches.

6. The portable emergency landing area lighting device according to claim 5, wherein said housing and said strobe light combine for a total height up to eight inches.