Low power safety flasher

• US 5,006,971 A
• Filed: 07/23/1990
• Issued: 04/09/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lloyd T. Jenkins
• Original Assignee: Lloyd T. Jenkins
• Inventors: Jenkins, Lloyd T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US07/556,669
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• Field of Search: 362/800, 362/108, 362/249, 362/335, 362/340, 362/252, 362/103, 362/184, 362/186, 362/191, 362/200, 362/208, 362/311, 362/205, 362/225, 362/295, 362/230, 362/235, 362/251
• US Class Current: 362/246
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/006 applied to portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/10 for personal use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/00 Light sources with three-dimensionally disposed light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/006 Portable traffic signalling devices G08B5/004 takes precedence; emergency signalling devices to be placed on roads or vehicles B60Q7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A miniature strobe-type flashing safety light source, to be worn by a person or pet after dark. A plurality of high-intensity LED'"'"'s producing a total of at least 6 candelas when energized are surrounded by a striated refracting lens, the axes of the intense light cones being oriented between 20 and 40 degrees above the horizontal plane and impinging on the striations. The LED'"'"'s are periodically and simultaneously energized.

Claims

1. A low-power light-weight flashing light source, said source comprising:

a. a plurality of high-intensity separate LED'"'"'s, said LED'"'"'s producing when energized a total of at least 6 candelas, each said separate LED producing when energized an intense central cone of light directed along an axis individual to said separate LED, said axes being oriented between 20 and 40 degrees above the horizontal plane;

b. a refracting lens having a perimeter, said lens surrounding and covering said plurality of LED'"'"'s, said lens comprising a plurality of refracting striations about said perimeter, said LED'"'"'s and said striations being positioned and oriented such that said striations intercept and scatter said intense central cones of light whereby said light source may be readily seen by observers 360 degrees around said light source; and

c. electronic power supply means for periodically and simultaneously energizing said plurality of LED'"'"'s.

2. The light source defined in claim 1, wherein said LED'"'"'s are spaced and oriented such that said intense cones of light impinge on said striations at locations substantially equally spaced about said perimeter.

3. The light source defined in claim 2, wherein there are three LED'"'"'s oriented such that said axes lie in vertical planes spaced substantially 120 degrees apart.

4. The light source defined in claim 1, wherein said axes are oriented between 20 and 30 degrees above the horizontal plane.