Flashing beacon

• US 8,269,654 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carmanah Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: R.D. Jones, Stop Experts, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey, Renee
• Application Number:
  US13/230,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20120001772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/617 Illuminated or wired-up posts, bollards, pillars or like upstanding bodies or structures for traffic guidance, warning or control E01F9/559 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia

Abstract

A flashing beacon may include a signal unit, a control unit associated with the signal unit, a solar panel or collector, and an activation device that may all be mounted or otherwise positioned on a post of a roadway sign. Light units associated with the signal unit may be programmed to flash on and off in a unique wig-wag pattern. Further, a light bar may also be used with the beacon to generate an intense flash of light soon after activation of the beacon as an additional means of grabbing the attention of the operator of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for slowing vehicle traffic comprising:

providing a flashing beacon including a crosswalk sign, a control unit and a first light and a second light unit in electronic communication with the control unit;

positioning the flashing beacon proximate a roadway so that the first and second light units are visible to oncoming traffic;

switching the light units on and off to generate a wig-wag flash pattern, the pattern including emitting within a predetermined time two light flashes from one light unit, and at least three light flashes and no more than five light flashes from the other light unit for each wig-wag cycle; and

providing power to the flashing beacon using a solar collector operable to supply power to the beacon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cycle time for the first and second lights is equal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning the flashing beacon on a signpost proximate a roadway with a sign secured to the signpost.

4. A traffic directing device that provides improved driver compliance, the device comprising:

a sign with a traffic directive fixed in a location proximate to a roadway via at least one post;

a first light unit and a second light unit both in physical proximity to the sign;

a control unit coupled to the first light unit and the second light unit; and

a solar collector that provides power to the control unit, the first light unit and the second light unit;

wherein the control unit is configured to cause the first light unit and the second light unit to generate a wig-wag pattern according to a predetermined time period, the wig-wag pattern including two light flashes from the first light unit and at least three light flashes and no more than five light flashes from the second light unit for each wig-wag cycle.

5. The traffic directing device of claim 4, wherein the wig-wag pattern includes three flashes from the second light unit within the predetermined time period.

6. The traffic directing device of claim 4, wherein the wig-wag pattern including four flashes from the second light unit within the predetermined time period.

7. The traffic directing device of claim 5 further comprising a light bar that includes one or more lights positioned in proximity to the sign;

wherein the control unit is further configured to cause the light bar to temporarily switch on after the first light unit and the second light unit generate at least one wig-wag pattern.

8. The traffic directing device of claim 5, wherein the flashes from the first light unit and the flashes from the second light unit occur simultaneously.

9. The traffic directing device of claim 5, wherein each of the first light unit and the second light unit flashes more than sixty times per minute.

10. The traffic directing device of claim 5, wherein the traffic directive of the sign includes a crosswalk icon.

17. The traffic directing device of claim 4, wherein the wig-wag pattern including five flashes from the second light unit within the predetermined time period.

18. The traffic directing device of claim 17, wherein at least a flash period of at least one flash of the first light is longer than at least a flash period of at least one flash of the second light.

19. The device of claim 4, wherein for each wig-wag cycle a number of flashes of the first light unit is different from a number of flashes of the second light unit.

11. A method for controlling a traffic directing device that provides improved driver compliance, the device comprising a sign with a traffic directive, a first light unit and a second light unit both in physical proximity to the sign, a control unit coupled to the first light and the second light, and a solar collector coupled to the control unit, the first light unit and the second light unit, the method comprising:

providing power to control unit, the first light unit and the second light unit using the solar collector; and

using the control unit, causing the first light unit and the second light unit to generate a wig-wag pattern according to a predetermined time period, the wig-wag pattern including two light flashes from the first light unit and at least three light flashes and no more than five light flashes from the second light unit for each wig-wag cycle;

wherein the sign, the first light unit and the second light are fixed in a location proximate to a roadway via at least one post.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wig-wag pattern includes three flashes from the second light within the predetermined time period.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the wig-wag pattern including four flashes from the second light within the predetermined time period.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the wig-wag pattern including five flashes from the second light within the predetermined time period.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the first light unit and the second light unit flashes more than sixty times per minute.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least a flash period of at least one flash of the first light is longer than at least a flash period of at least one flash of the second light.