Safety directional indicator

• US 8,648,735 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul Haynes
• Original Assignee: Paul Haynes
• Inventors: Haynes, Paul, Collins, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): MA, KAM WAN
• Application Number:
  US13/441,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20130265176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 340/944, 340/331, 340/815.42, 174/135, 24614-615, 241/70, 241/91, 241/93, 439/467, 362/103, 362/108, 362/249.02, 362/800, 119/859
• US Class Current: 340/944
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/004 Reflective safety signalling devices attached on persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09 Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions railroad crossing signals B61L; reflectors E01F, G08B; indicating arrangements for variable information by selection or combination of individual elements G09F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4016 Pivoted part or lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4072 Pivoted lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4077 Looped strap
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45524 including resiliently biased projection component or surface segment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45529 Requiring manual force applied against bias to interlock or disengage

Abstract

Provided is a safety directional indicator to improve highway safety. Embodiments of the invention include devices for guiding a driver of a vehicle in a desired direction, typically away from highway workers, pedestrians, curbs, and opposing lanes of traffic. Specifically included is a safety directional indicator system comprising a flexible belt with a plurality of light transmitting bars disposed along the belt and having a plurality of LEDs disposed at one elongated end of each light transmitting bar and in operable communication with a control system for illuminating the LEDs in a manner to indicate a direction for traffic. Safety devices according to the invention can be stand-alone devices, devices capable of being attached to objects or structures at a highway scene, or configured to be worn on a person'"'"'s body. An object of the safety devices according to embodiments of the invention is to increase driver awareness of highway situations especially during conditions of restricted visibility.

Claims

1. A safety directional indicator system comprising:

a flexible belt;

a plurality of elongated light transmitting bars, each light transmitting bar in the plurality with a first and second end, and each light transmitting bar disposed in parallel along the belt such that the longest side of one light transmitting bar is disposed parallel to the longest side of another light transmitting bar in the plurality and each light transmitting bar is disposed between a first and second edge of the flexible belt;

a plurality of LEDs wherein each LED in the plurality is disposed at the first end of each light transmitting bar such that there is an equal number of LEDs as light transmitting bars;

wherein each LED is disposed between the first end of one light transmitting bar and the first edge of the flexible belt; and

the first and second end of the light transmitting bar is disposed between the LED and the second edge of the flexible belt such that the light transmitting bar is separated from the LEDs while still allowing transmission of light from the LEDs through the light transmitting bar;

wherein the plurality of LEDs are in operable communication with a control system for illuminating the LEDs.

2. The safety directional indicator of claim 1, wherein the control system is operably configured for turning the LEDs on and off in a sequential manner.

3. The safety directional indicator of claim 1 further comprising a solar panel in operable communication with the control module for providing power to the system.

4. The safety directional indicator of claim 1 further comprising means for securing the belt to a surface.

5. The safety directional indicator of claim 4 comprising a buckle for securing the belt to a person.

6. The safety directional indicator of claim 4, wherein the means for securing the belt to a surface is disposed along the length of the belt on a side opposite where the light transmitting bars are disposed.

7. The safety directional indicator of claim 4, wherein the means for securing the belt to a surface comprises at least one of adhesive, snaps, hook and loop fasteners or staples.

12. The safety directional indicator of claim 1 comprising:

a clip system for connecting opposing ends of the flexible belt or for connecting the flexible belt to a second flexible belt, which clip system comprises;

an electrically conductive clip comprising a releaseably engageable buckle, teeth for securing the flexible belt or the second flexible belt within the buckle, and a plug and socket end in operable communication with the teeth by way of an electrical circuit;

a terminal clip comprising at one end a D-ring type buckle and at an opposing end a plug and socket configured for engagement with the plug and socket end of the electrically conductive clip.

13. The safety directional indicator of claim 1, wherein a viewing angle of the LEDs is between 30°

and 120°

.

14. The safety directional indicator of claim 1 further comprising a lens to focus light emitted from the LEDs into the light transmitting bars so as to minimize loss in flux.

15. The safety directional indicator of claim 1, further comprising a lens disposed between each LED and light transmitting bar to focus light emitted from the LEDs into the light transmitting bars so as to minimize loss in flux, and wherein a viewing angle of the LEDs is between 30°

and 120°

.

16. The safety directional indicator of claim 1 comprising a light transmitting bar with an internal reflection ranging from 50%-90%.

17. The safety directional indicator of claim 1 comprising a light transmitting bar with a refractive index ranging from 1.4-1.5.

8. A safety directional indicator comprising:

a flexible substrate strip with a first and second edge;

a plurality of light conducting rods, each light conducting rod in the plurality with a first and second end, and each light conducting rod disposed parallel to one another and along the length of the flexible substrate strip such that the longest side of one light conducting rod is disposed parallel to the longest side of another light conducting rod in the plurality and each light conducting rod is disposed between the first and second edge of the flexible substrate strip;

a plurality of LEDs wherein each LED in the plurality is disposed at the first end of a light conducting rod;

such that there is an equal number of LEDs as light conducting rods;

wherein each LED is disposed between the first end of one light conducting rod and the first edge of the flexible substrate strip; and

the first and second end of the light conducting rod is disposed between the LED and the second edge of the flexible substrate strip such that the light conducting rod is separated from the LEDs while still allowing transmission of light from the LEDs through the light conducting rod;

and a control module comprising a power source in operable communication with the LEDs and operably configured to turn on and off the LEDs in a chasing pattern.

9. The safety directional indicator of claim 8 comprising means for operably connecting the safety directional indicator with another such safety directional indicator such that a continuous system is obtained and the continuous system is operably configured to turn on and off the LEDs in a chasing pattern along the length of the continuous system.

10. The safety directional indicator of claim 9, wherein one or more safety directional indicator devices is joined electrically and physically to the end of another such device in a manner to provide the chasing pattern of light along the length of the continuous system.

11. A method of indicating a path for a driver or pedestrian to follow comprising:

providing a safety directional indicator comprising a flexible belt with a plurality of light transmitting bars, each light transmitting bar in the plurality with a first and second end, and each light transmitting bar disposed in parallel along the length of the belt and a plurality of LEDs each disposed at the first end of each light transmitting bar such that one LED is used for each light bar and each operably connected with a control module for turning the LEDs on and off sequentially such that the longest side of one light transmitting bar is disposed parallel to the longest side of another light transmitting bar in the plurality and each light transmitting bar is disposed between a first and second edge of the flexible belt, wherein each LED in the plurality is disposed between the first end of one light transmitting bar and the first edge of the flexible belt; and

the first and second end of the light transmitting bar is disposed between the LED and the second edge of the flexible belt such that the light transmitting bar is separated from the LEDs while still allowing transmission of light from the LEDs through the light transmitting bar;

installing the safety directional indicator on a surface of a structure such that upon illumination of the LEDs and each light transmitting bar a direction to follow is indicated by a chasing pattern of light along the length of the belt; and

providing power to the safety directional indicator.