Communications: electrical – Systems – Portable self-contained
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-02
2001-05-29
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Systems
Portable self-contained
C340S332000, C340S693500, C340S693900, C040S586000, C116S06300T, C362S109000, C362S396000, C362S812000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239691
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to flashing light assemblies for use on portable, traffic-control, safety signs.
BACKGROUND ART
Portable, traffic-control, safety signs are used by various individuals such as crossing guards to protect children going to and from school as well as road construction workers to protect their fellow workers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,919 discloses a hand-held illuminated sign having a one-piece frame with a transparent border and an elongated light member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,051 discloses a battery-powered warning light and sign having a handle and a sign-receiving bracket and a power switch located on the handle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,424 discloses a hand-held, battery-powered stop sign including a plurality of individually flashing lights.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,464 discloses a light shroud for a highway sign that is hand-held and includes an indica-carrying display panel.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,090,186 and 3,821,860 disclose hand-held illuminated road signs that are battery-powered.
While the prior art generally shows lights associated with safety signs, there are thousands of safety signs currently in use which would have to be replaced with safety signs having lights if such safety signs were to be used. In other words, the cost associated with replacing currently used safety signs with safety signs having lights would be cost prohibitive.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a flashing light assembly for use on a portable, traffic-control, safety sign wherein the light assembly can be easily fastened to the safety sign without using any special hardware or tools.
In carrying out the above object and other objects of the present invention, a flashing light assembly for use on a portable, traffic-control, safety sign is provided. The light assembly includes a lamp and an electrical circuit including a DC voltage source electrically coupled to the lamp for controllably energizing the lamp so that the lamp flashes. The light assembly also includes a housing for housing the electrical circuit and the lamp and a bracket having an upper wall portion for supporting the housing and a pair of spaced resilient side wall portions which are connected to and extend downwardly from the upper wall portion. The side wall portions define a channel therebetween and move apart to receive and grip a retaining member of the safety sign in the channel therebetween during mounting of the light assembly on the safety sign. The lamp attracts attention to the safety sign when the lamp is flashing.
The lamp may be an incandescent lamp or a strobe.
The electrical circuit preferably includes a switch such as a mercury switch which allows electrical current to flow to the lamp when the switch has a predetermined orientation in an upright position of the safety sign.
The light assembly may further include a plurality of teeth extending inwardly from both of the side wall portions and adapted to cooperate with the retaining member for affixing the light assembly on the safety sign during mounting of the light assembly on the safety sign.
The plurality of teeth may he adapted to bite into opposing surfaces of the sign to retain the retaining member within the channel.
The plurality of teeth may be adapted to engage a bottom surface of the engagement member to retain the retaining member within the channel.
Preferably, the DC voltage source includes at least one battery such as a rechargeable battery.
The bracket may be a snap-on bracket and the side wall portions define a snap-on channel. The side wall portions receive and grip the retaining member of the safety sign during snap-fit mounting of the light assembly on the safety sign. The teeth have inclined surfaces for cooperating with the retaining member for sliding the light assembly onto the retaining member.
The light assembly of the present invention is an easy-to-attach enhancement to preexisting traffic-control safety signs and attracts attention to the safety signs, thereby providing greater safety.
The above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3821860 (1974-07-01), Patty
patent: 4042919 (1977-08-01), Patty
patent: 4090186 (1978-05-01), Renner
patent: 4587755 (1986-05-01), Sunshine
patent: 4959637 (1990-09-01), Woods et al.
patent: 5276424 (1994-01-01), Hegemann
patent: 5440464 (1995-08-01), Nowlin et al.
patent: 5755051 (1998-05-01), Zumbuhl
patent: 6031468 (2000-02-01), Tsao et al.
patent: 6035567 (2000-03-01), Cameron
patent: 6134820 (2000-10-01), Martinez
patent: 6150957 (2000-11-01), Henz et al.
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Wu Daniel J.
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