GB2097520A

GB2097520A - A contact lamp

Info

Publication number: GB2097520A
Application number: GB8206213A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: THIELEN HANS J
Current assignee: THIELEN HANS J
Priority date: 1981-04-25
Filing date: 1982-03-03
Publication date: 1982-11-03
Also published as: ES8303712A1; DE8112297U1; EP0063718A1; ES511661A0; GB2097520B

Description

A contact lamp This invention relates to a contact lamp for the signalling of sympathies. One continuing problem in the modern consumer society is the increasing isolation felt by many people. Some of these people are shy, while others lack the skill to respond to a sympathetic partner when the situation is favourable. Favourable opportunities frequently offer in large gatherings of people, for example, during communal events such as skittles outings, on holiday or in health resorts. The invention is intended to facilitate initial contact for the establishment of personal relationships. The object of the invention is to provide a contact lamp for the signalling of sympathies, which is also adapted to signal a reserved attitude or even rejection and is both outstandingly simple in construction and yet functionally reliable. According to the present invention, a contact lamp for the signalling of sympathies comprises a lamp case containing an optical or mechanical indicating device having at least two differently coloured faces, a switch to actuate the indicating device, and a battery. The invention arises from the realization that a contact lamp showing various colour signals is suitable for signalling a readiness to establish contact. For example, if one uses at least the two colours "Green" and "Red" and preferably "Amber" in addition, as in conventional traffic lights, one can signal sympathy by the green setting, antipathy by the red setting and a reserved attitude by the amber setting. The person approached can respond in like manner if also wearing a contact lamp of the invention, or may adopt other means of indicating sympathy or antipathy. Further and preferred features of the invention will now be described. The optical indicating device preferably has two orthree light sources, for example incandescent bulbs, glow-discharge lamps or optical diodes, set behind two or three transparent indicating faces, either the light sources having transparent coatings of different colours orthe transparent indicating faces being themselves of different colours. If there are only two light sources, the colours chosen are "Green" and "Red"; with three light sources, the colour "Amber" is added for the reserved attitude setting. In an embodiment of the invention of independent significance, the optical indicating device is an optical diode having two or more light sources of differing colours, and the coloured light sources are disposed behind a common transparent indicating face. This leads to a particularly compact layout.It is also possible for a mechanical indicating device to have at least one rotor disc mounted swivellably on a diametral axle, a permanent magnet carried by the disc, and an electromagnet to generate a magnetic field of prescribed polarity acting on the permanent magnet, the rotor disc having differently coloured coatings on its two faces, more particularly "Green" and "Red". Another possibility within the scope of the invention is that when using three light sources or rotor discs, these three light sources and/ortheir colour faces, or the three rotor discs, are set in line, vertically or horizontally; and, with three discs, one side of each rotor disc carries an identically coloured coating, for example black, while the second sides carry differently coloured coatings, for example "Green", "Amber" and "Red". An embodiment having three light sources and/or coloured faces set in line vertically is of special significance, since it simulates the appearance of traffic lights. The switchgear can incorporate on, off and selection switches for the individual light sources, or reversal switches for the individual rotor discs. However, it is also possible forthe switchgear to incorporate single switches for each light source or each rotor disc, or a single forward-sequencing switch. Finally, the switchgear can incorporate an electronic pulse emitterto give flashing signals. The advantages accruing from the invention are to be seen substantially in that it provides a contact lamp forthe signalling of sympathies, antipathies and if required reserved attitudes, of outstandingly simple yet functionally reliable construction. In fact, a contact lamp, in accordance with the invention assists shy persons in particular to make contact with partners sympathetic to them. Three embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a contact lamp in accordance with the invention, having three light sources; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic vertical section through the lamp of Figure 1; Figure 3 is another embodiment of the invention, having an optical diode with three differently coloured light sources; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic vertical section through the lamp of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a circuit diagram for an embodiment of the invention, having an optical diode or incandescent lamp system with a switch. Each embodiment is a contact lamp for the signalling of sympathies, antipathies and if required reserved attitudes. The contact lamps of Figures 1 and 2 and Figures 3 and 4 respectively are each characterised by a lamp case 1 containing an optical indicating device 2 having differently coloured faces 3, a switch 4 to actuate the indicating device 2 and a battery 5. The optical indicating device 2 in Figures 1 and 2 has three light sources 6, for example incandescent bulbs, set in line vertically behind three transparent indicating faces; and the transparent indicating faces 3 may be of different colours or the light sources may have transparent coatings of different colours. In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, the optical indicating device 2 is an optical diode having three light sources 6 of differing colours set behind a common transparent indicating face 3. Instead of the three light sources 6 being set in line vertically, they may be set side by side, i.e., horizontally (not shown). The same choice is open for an indicating device (not shown) having rotor discs on diametral axles. The switch 4 in the embodiment of Figure 5 is adapted as an on, off and selector switch for the individual light sources 6 and incorporates an electronic pulse emitter for flashing signals. However, the switchgear4 could alternatively comprise single switches for each light source 6 or a single forwardsequencing switch.

Claims

1. A contact lamp for the signalling of sympathies, comprising a lamp case containing an optical or mechanical indicating device with differently coloured faces, a switch to actuate the indicating device, and a battery.

2. A contact lamp as in Claim 1, wherein the optical indicating device has two or three light sources for example incandescent bulbs, glow-discharge lamps or optical diodes, set behind two or three transparent indicating faces, either the light sources having transparent coatings of different colours or the transparent indicating faces being of different colours.

3. A contact lamp as in Claim 1, wherein the optical indicating device is an optical diode having two or more light sources of differing colours, and the coloured light sources are disposed behind a common transparent indicating face.

4. A contact lamp as in Claim 1, wherein the mechanical indicating device has at least one rotor disc mounted swivellably on a diametral axle, a permanent magnet carried by the disc, and an electromagnet to generate a magnetic field of prescribed polarity acting on the permanent magnet, the rotor disc having differently coloured coatings on its two faces.

5. A contact lamp as in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein three light sources and/or their colour faces are set in line vertically or horizontally.

6. A contact lamp as in Claim 4, wherein three rotor discs are set in line vertically or horizontally, one side of each rotor disc carrying an identically coloured coating, while the second sides carry differently coloured coatings.

7. A contact lamp as in any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the switchgear incorporates on, off and selection switches for the individual light sources, or reversal switches for the individual rotor discs.

8. A contact lamp as in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the switchgear incorporates single switches for each light source or each rotor disc, or a single forward-sequencing switch.

9. A contact lamp as in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the switchgear incorporates an electronic pulse emitterto give flashing signals.

10. A contact lamp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.