Safety directional indicator
First Claim
1. A safety directional indicator system comprising:
- a flexible belt;
a plurality of elongated light guides each with a first end and a second end, which light guides are disposed in parallel along the belt such that the longest side of one light guide is disposed parallel to the longest side of another light guide in the plurality and the longest sides are disposed perpendicular to the length of the flexible belt;
a plurality of LEDs wherein each LED in the plurality is disposed at the first end of each light guide, such that there is an equal number of LEDs as light guides, and such that during use light is transmitted from the LED through or along the light guide from the first end toward the second end of the light guide;
wherein the plurality of LEDs are in operable communication with a control system for illuminating the LEDs.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A safety directional indicator system comprising:
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a flexible belt; a plurality of elongated light guides each with a first end and a second end, which light guides are disposed in parallel along the belt such that the longest side of one light guide is disposed parallel to the longest side of another light guide in the plurality and the longest sides are disposed perpendicular to the length of the flexible belt; a plurality of LEDs wherein each LED in the plurality is disposed at the first end of each light guide, such that there is an equal number of LEDs as light guides, and such that during use light is transmitted from the LED through or along the light guide from the first end toward the second end of the light guide; wherein the plurality of LEDs are in operable communication with a control system for illuminating the LEDs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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8. A safety directional indicator comprising:
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a flexible substrate strip; a plurality of light guides, each light guide in the plurality with a first and second end, and each light guide disposed parallel to one another and along the length of the flexible substrate strip such that the longest side of one light guide is disposed parallel to the longest side of another light guide in the plurality and the longest sides are disposed perpendicular to the length of the flexible belt; a plurality of LEDs wherein each LED in the plurality is disposed at the first end of a light guide; such that there is an equal number of LEDs as light guides, and such that during use light is transmitted from the LED through or along the light guide from the first end toward the second end of the light guide; 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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method of indicating a path for a driver or pedestrian to follow comprising:
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providing a safety directional indicator comprising a flexible belt with a plurality of light guides, each light guide in the plurality with a first and second end, and each light guide disposed in parallel along the length of the belt and a plurality of LEDs each disposed at the first end of each light guide such that one LED is used for each light guide and each operably connected with a control module for turning the LEDs on and off sequentially, such that the longest side of one light guide is disposed parallel to the longest side of another light guide in the plurality and the longest sides are disposed perpendicular to the length of the flexible belt, and such that during use light is transmitted from the LED through or along the light guide from the first end toward the second end of the light guide; installing the safety directional indicator on a surface of a structure such that upon illumination of the LEDs and each light guide 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.
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Specification