Led warning signal light and light support

• US 20030020625A1
• Filed: 09/23/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Original Assignee: 911EP Incorporated (Safariland LLC)
• Inventors: Pederson, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,930,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 warning signal light comprising:

a) a light support having a front side;

b) a plurality of light sources arranged about and extending from the front side of the light support;

c) a controller in electric communication with the light sources, the controller for selectively activating the light sources to create a light signal; and

d) a power source for powering the light sources.

2. The warning signal light of claim 1, wherein said light sources are light emitting diodes (LED'"'"'s).

3. The warning signal light of claim 2, said light support comprising a circuit board which contains the controller.

4. The warning signal light of claim 3, wherein said light support contains the controller.

5. The warning signal light of claim 4, wherein said light support is flexible and can be formed into various shapes.

6. The warning signal light of claim 5, wherein the front side of the light support is arcuate shaped.

7. The warning signal light of claim 4, said light support further comprising a back side having a plurality of light sources extending therefrom.

8. The warning signal light of claim 4, said light sources comprising a transparent dome portion and a shoulder portion, the shoulder portion adjacent the light support.

9. The warning signal light of claim 4, said plurality of light sources comprising LED'"'"'s of at least two different colors.

10. The warning signal light of claim 9, wherein the controller selectively activates the LED'"'"'s to create one of a single colored light signal and a multi-colored light signal.

11. The warning signal light of claim 4, wherein the light sources are arranged in vertical columns, and wherein the controller sequentially activates the columns of light sources.

12. The warning signal light of claim 4, wherein the light signal is a revolving light.

13. The warning signal light of claim 4, wherein the light signal is an oscillating light.

14. The warning signal light of claim 4, wherein the light signal is a flashing light.

15. The warning signal light of claim 4, wherein the controller is a microprocessor.

16. The warning signal light of claim 4, further comprising a gyrator attached to the light support for moving the warning signal light.

17. The warning signal light of claim 16, wherein the gyrator provides one of rotation and oscillation to the warning signal light about a vertical axis.

18. The warning signal light of claim 16, wherein the gyrator provides one of rotation and oscillation to the warning signal light about a horizontal axis.

20. The warning signal light of claim 4, further comprising an external controller for programming the controller contained within the light support.

25. A warning signal light comprising:

a) a cylindrical body portion having a front surface;

b) a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED'"'"'s) arranged about the front surface; and

c) a controller for selectively activating the LED'"'"'s.

26. The warning signal light of claim 25, wherein the cylindrical body portion has a circular circumference.

27. The warning signal light of claim 25, wherein the front surface has at least 3 sides.

28. The warning signal light of claim 25, wherein the controller is a microprocessor.

29. The warning signal light of claim 28, wherein the plurality of LED'"'"'s is in the form of an array.

30. The warning signal light of claim 29, wherein the plurality of LED'"'"'s is in the form of an array wherein the LED'"'"'s are illuminated to create the appearance of rotation.

31. The warning signal light of claim 30, wherein the plurality of LED'"'"'s is in the form of an array wherein the LED'"'"'s are illuminated to create the appearance of multicolored rotation.

32. The warning signal light of claim 29, wherein the plurality of LED'"'"'s is in the form of a flat array, said flat array being encased within a flat housing mounted adjacent to an angularly offset window. The LED'"'"'s angled relative to the housing such that the light output beam is horizontal.

33. The warning signal light of claim 27, wherein the controller independently controls the LED'"'"'s on each side of the front surface, whereby the controller can produce different light signals on each side of the front surface.

34. A warning signal light in combination with an emergency vehicle light bar, the warning signal light comprising:

a) a light emitting diode (LED) support having a front;

b) a plurality of LED'"'"'s arranged about and extending from the front of the LED support; and

c) a controller in electric communication with the LED'"'"'s, the LED controller for selectively activating the LED'"'"'s to create a light signal.

35. The combination of claim 34, wherein the LED'"'"'s are arranged in an array, and wherein the controller sequentially activates columns of LED'"'"'s to create one of a revolving light signal and an oscillating light signal.

36. The combination of claim 34, wherein the front of the LED support is arcuate shaped.

37. The combination of claim 34, said LED support further comprising a back opposite the front, the back having a plurality of LED'"'"'s extending therefrom, the controller configured to selectively activate the LED'"'"'s of the back.

38. The combination of claim 34, wherein the LED support is flexible.

39. The combination of claim 38, wherein the LED support is formed into a cylinder.

40. The combination of claim 34, wherein the light bar is capable of rotating the warning signal light.

41. The combination of claim 34, wherein the light bar is capable of rotating the warning signal light about a vertical and a horizontal axis.

42. The combination of claim 34, wherein the light bar is capable of oscillating the warning signal light.

43. A warning signal light for use with an emergency vehicle, the warning signal light comprising:

a) a light support mounted to the emergency vehicle, the light support having multiple sides;

b) an array of light emitting diodes (LED'"'"'s) disposed about at least one of the sides of the light support;

c) a controller in electric communication with the array of LED'"'"'s, the controller for selectively activating the LED'"'"'s to create a light signal; and

d) a power supply in electric communication with the LED'"'"'s for powering the LED'"'"'s.

44. The warning signal light of claim 43, wherein the controller selectively activates the LED'"'"'s to create multiple light signals.

45. The warning signal light of claim 44, wherein the array of LED'"'"'s is disposed about at least two sides, and wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the LED'"'"'s on each side independently of the other sides, whereby different light signals may be created on each of the sides.

46. The warning signal light of claim 43, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the LED'"'"'s to create an arrow.

47. The warning signal light of claim 43, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the LED'"'"'s to create multiple light signals on each side.