LED warning signal light and light supports

• US 6,504,487 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Original Assignee: 911 Emergency Products, Inc. (Safariland LLC)
• Inventors: Pederson, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu; Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/591,123
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45,907,908 362/249,362,800
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• 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 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/042 the advertising matter being fixed on the roof of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A light emitting diode (LED) warning signal light, the warning signal light comprising an array of light sources configured on a light support and in electrical communication with a controller and a power supply, battery, or other electrical source. The warning signal light provides various colored light signals for independent use or use by an emergency vehicle. These light signals may include a stationary light, strobe light, revolving light, and an oscillating light. Additionally, the warning signal light may be capable of displaying symbols, reverse characters, or arrows. Preferably, rotating and oscillating light signals are produced by sequentially illuminating columns of LED'"'"'s on a stationary light support. However, the warning signal light may also be rotated or oscillated via mechanical means. The warning signal light may also be transportable for easy connection to a stand such as a tripod for electrical connection to a power supply as a stand-alone warning signal.

Claims

1. A combination multiple warning signal light system and motorized vehicle, the warning signal light system comprising:

a) a plurality of light supports engaged to the vehicle, each of the plurality of light supports having a first visible exterior surface;

b) one or more light emitting diodes disposed about and attached to the first visible exterior surface of each of the plurality of light supports; and

c) at least one controller in electric communication with the light emitting diodes the controller constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes thereby producing more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals, wherein the more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals are produced simultaneously, said light emitting diodes receiving power from a power source.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals are produced in at least one combination.

3. The combination of claim 1, the at least one controller constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes on each of the first visible exterior surfaces with a predetermined common warning light signal.

4. The combination of claim 1, the at least one controller constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes on each of the first visible exterior surfaces independently of each other, whereby at least two different visually distinct warning light signals are illuminated on the visible exterior surface of at least one of the plurality of light supports at any moment.

5. The combination of claim 1, each of said light supports further comprising a second visible exterior surface having a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to said second visible exterior surface.

6. The combination of claim 3, the at least one controller further constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes on each of the first visible exterior surfaces with a common warning light signal for illumination of at least two of the first visible exterior surfaces at any moment.

7. The combination of claim 4, the at least one controller further constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes on each of the first visible exterior surfaces independently of each other, whereby different visually distinct warning light signals are simultaneously illuminated on at least two of the first visible exterior surfaces at any moment.

8. The combination of claim 5, the at least one controller further constructed and arranged to independently control the light emitting diodes on the first visible exterior surfaces and the second visible exterior surfaces thereby providing at least one visually distinct warning light signal to each of the first visible exterior surfaces and to the second visible exterior surface.

9. The combination of claim 7, the at least one controller further constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes on each of the first visible exterior surfaces independently of each other whereby different visually distinct warning light signals are simultaneously illuminated on at least two of the first visible exterior surfaces at any moment.

10. The combination of claim 8, the at least one controller having a microprocessor.

11. The combination of claim 10, said plurality of light emitting diodes comprising light emitting diodes of at least two different colors.

12. The combination of claim 11, the at least one controller selectively activating the light emitting diodes to create at least one of a single colored warning light signal and at least one of a multi-colored warning light signal.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are illuminated to create the appearance of rotation.

14. The combination of claim 12, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are illuminated to create the appearance of multi-colored rotation.

15. The combination of claim 12, wherein at least one of the warning light signals is a directional indicator.

16. The combination of claim 12, further comprising a programmable external controller for programming said controller.

17. The combination of claim 12, wherein the motorized vehicle is a utility vehicle.

18. The combination of claim 12, wherein the motorized vehicle is an emergency vehicle.

19. The combination of claim 12, further comprising at least one light support frame, at least one of the plurality of light supports being attached to the light support frame.

20. The combination of claim 12, wherein the warning light signals warn and direct traffic.

21. The combination of claim 12, each of the first visible exterior surfaces comprising at least one sector, the controller providing each of the at lest one sectors with at least one visually distinct warning light signal.

22. The combination of claim 21, the warning light signals comprising sequential illumination of the light emitting diodes to provide each of the sectors with at least one visually apparent directional arrow indicator, the at least one visually apparent directional arrow indicator indicating at least one direction.

23. The combination of claim 12, further comprising a rotational mechanism, at least one light support rotationally mounted to the rotational mechanism for providing at least one light support with rotational movement relative to the vehicle.

24. A combination multiple warning signal light system and motorized vehicle, the warning light signal system comprising:

a) a plurality of light supports engaged to the vehicle, each of the plurality of light supports having a first visible exterior surface;

b) one or more light emitting diodes disposed about and attached to the first visible exterior surface of each of the plurality of light supports; and

c) at least one controller in electric communication with the light emitting diodes, the controller constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes thereby producing more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals, wherein the more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals are produced in at least one combination, said light emitting diodes receiving power from a power source.

25. The combination of claim 24, the at least one controller constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes on each of the first visible exterior surfaces with a predetermined common warning light signal.

26. The combination of claim 24, the at least one controller constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes on each of the first visible exterior surface independently of each other, whereby at least two different visually distinct warning light signals are illuminated on the first visible exterior surface of at least one of the plurality of light supports at any moment.

27. The combination of claim 24, each of the light supports further comprising a second visible exterior surface having a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to the second visible exterior surface.

28. The combination of claim 24, the at least one controller further constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes on each of the first visible exterior surfaces with a common warning light signal for illumination of at least two of the first visible exterior surfaces at any moment.

29. The combination of claim 24, the at least one controller further constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes on each of the first visible exterior surfaces independently of each other, whereby different visually distinct warning light signals are simultaneously illuminated on at least two of the first visible exterior surfaces at any moment.

30. The combination of claim 27, the at lest one controller further constructed and arranged to independently control the light emitting diodes on the first visible exterior surfaces and the second visible exterior surfaces thereby providing at least one visually distinct warning light signal to each of the first visible exterior surfaces and to the second visible exterior surfaces.

31. The combination of claim 24, the at least one controller further constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes on each of the first visible exterior surfaces independently of each other, whereby different visually distinct warning light signals are simultaneously illuminated on at least two of the first visible exterior surfaces at any moment.

32. The combination of claim 24, wherein at least one of the warning light signals is a directional indicator.

33. The combination of claim 24, wherein the motorized vehicle is a utility vehicle.

34. The combination of claim 24, wherein the motorized vehicle is an emergency vehicle.

35. The combination of claim 24, further comprising at least one light support frame, at least one of the plurality of light supports being attached to the light support frame.

36. The combination of claim 24, wherein the warning light signals warn and direct traffic.

37. The combination of claim 24, each of the first visible exterior surfaces comprising at least one sector, the controller providing each of the at least one sectors with at least one visually distinct warning light signal.

38. The combination of claim 37, the warning light signals comprising sequential illumination of the light emitting diodes to provide each of the sectors with at least one visually apparent directional arrow indicator, the at least one visually apparent directional arrow indicator indicating at least one direction.