Communications: electrical – Traffic control indicator – Portable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-15
2001-03-20
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Traffic control indicator
Portable
C340S321000, C340S907000, C040S586000, C040S606040
Reexamination Certificate
active
06204777
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to enhancing the visibility of portable warning devices and, particularly, to increasing the conspicuousness of manually supported warning signs. More specifically, this invention is directed to improvements in and to warning signs of the type commonly employed in construction areas and, especially, to the incorporation of a periodically energized illuminated message into a manually supported warning sign. Accordingly, the general objects of the present invention are to provide novel and improved methods and apparatus of such character.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is common practice to employ “flag men” to control traffic flow in highway construction zones. These individuals manipulate passive signs which bear short, lettered, instruction messages, i.e., “SLOW” or “STOP”. The instructions are usually provided on opposite planar sides of a sign board, and that sign board is typically mounted on the top of a pole, the opposite end of the pole being positioned on the ground. The instruction transmitted to an approaching motorist is thus changeable by simply rotating the pole so that the appropriate message is presented to approaching traffic.
For many reasons, including the fact that construction zones are often characterized by a dusty environment which reduces visibility, there has been a long standing desire to increase the noticeability of portable warning signs of the type briefly described above. Obviously, any such visibility enhancements must be accomplished without significantly increasing the size and weight of the sign. Maintenance of portability has previously dictated that electrically energized devices, i.e., light sources, not be used in such signs because the power requirements for such light sources would require unduly large and heavy batteries.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the above briefly discussed and other deficiencies and disadvantages of the prior art and, in so doing, augments the lettered messages of prior art portable warning signs by adding thereto electrically energized flashing light messages. Thus, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the letters of the instructional message provided on the opposite sides of a manually supported and operated sign are each provided with an array of high intensity light emitting diodes (LED's) which define the same letter. Also in accordance with the preferred embodiment, all of the light emitting diodes associated with at least one side of the sign, and typically both sides thereof, are simultaneously and periodically energized. The construction of the sign or message board, and particularly the manner in which the LED's are packaged along with their integral control circuitry, does not add significantly to the size and weight of the sign.
A further feature of the present invention includes the provision, at the opposite end of the support post for the above-described sign board, of a “plug in” rechargeable battery which is packaged so as to be easily removed for recharging. When in use, the housing for the battery functions as the base of the pole, i.e., the ground contacting support which allows the sign to be manually rotated.
The present invention, through the use of high intensity, i.e., very bright, LED's as the light sources, and by operating the LED's in a pulsed mode with the appropriate duty cycle, significantly enhances visibility, and particularly increases the distance from which the sign will be seen. At the same time, the employment of LED arrays with intermittent energization permits use of a comparatively small and relatively light weight power source and, particularly, a battery pack similar to the type previously employed in portable hand tools.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3821860 (1974-07-01), Patty
patent: 4235033 (1980-11-01), Eilers
patent: 4271408 (1981-06-01), Teshima et al.
patent: 5023607 (1991-06-01), Staten
patent: 5276424 (1994-01-01), Hegeman
patent: 5755051 (1998-05-01), Zumbuhl
patent: 5819455 (1998-10-01), Tsuda
patent: 6035567 (2000-03-01), Cameron
Alix Yale & Ristas, LLP
Nguyen Tai T.
Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
Wu Daniel J.
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