GB2144532A

GB2144532A - Hazard warning lamp

Info

Publication number: GB2144532A
Application number: GB08414453A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Harvey Coney; John Edwin Robert Coney; Mark Christopher Coney; Timothy James Coney; Timothy John Kirker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-06-07
Filing date: 1984-06-06
Publication date: 1985-03-06
Also published as: GB8315605D0; GB8414453D0

Abstract

A hazard warning lamp [see Fig. 6] comprises a hollow cone- shaped housing (32) formed from a translucent plastics material (e.g. fluorescent) and a light source (34) which consists of a battery powered bulb (44). The light source is housed in a casing which has a spigot fitting inside the open apex of the cone and a sleeve which engages the outer surface of the apex, thereby illuminating the interior of the casing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to hazard warning lamps This invention relates to hazard warning lamps, such as those which are used to indicate road works or lane diversions. At present these types of hazards are indicated by unilluminated road cones and battery or oil powered lamps, which may give a constant light or a flashing light.

At night time, or in conditions of bad visibility, lights, flashing or otherwise are used alone or in conjunction with road cones to indicate road hazards. These types of indication can be very confusing to the driver since what is seen is an array of lights which may not indicate with much clarity the route to be taken, or the hazard to be avoided. The situation tends to be made worse when flashing lights are used.

The present invention seeks to provide a hazard warning lamp which can be used in such a way that some of the difficulties experienced by the use of present day lamps are avoided.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a hazard warning lamp comprising a housing formed from a flexible translucent, fluorescent plastics material and a source of illumination mounted to illuminate the interior of the housing.

The light source may comprise a tungsten filament lamp, fluorescent or neon tubing, paraffin or acetylene lamp.

The lighting can be enhanced by the use of Fresnel lenses, parabolic, semi-spherical or flat reflecting surfaces.

If tungsten filament lamps are used, they can be of any suitable size and arranged either singly or in arrays.

The light when powered by electricity can be either continuous or flashing at a rate determined by the required duty. The power for the lighting source can be mains, with or without transformation or rectification, or battery, such as commercial Ni Fe, or Nickel Cadmium.

The light source can be either permanent or disposable, and can be detachable from the lamp housing.

The lamp can be of any suitable size and shape.

To provide easy storage the lamp can be cone-shaped, or the housing can be made from a thin, collapsible, translucent and fluorescent plastics material which can be inflated using air or any suitable inert gas.

When in use, the lamps can be used independently, or in a series driven from a common power source.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 shows an elevation of one form of hazard warning lamp according to the present invention, Figures la and ib show alternative bulb arrangements for the lamp shown in Fig. 1, Figure 2 shows an elevation of another form of hazard warning lamp according to the present invention, Figures 2a and 2b show alternative bulb arrangements for the lamp shown in Fig. 2, Figure 3 shows an elevation of a further form of hazard warning lamp according to the present invention, Figure 3a shows the lamp shown in Fig. 3 in a collapsed state, Figure 3b shows a number of the collapsed lamps of Fig. 3a in a storage tube, Figure 4 shows a hazard warning lamp according to the present invention having a fluorescent tube as the light source, Figure 4a is a view on arrow A in Fig. 4, Figure 5 shows a hazard warning lamp according to the present invention having an oil lamp as the light source, and Figure 6 shows a hazard warning lamp according to the present invention having an external detachable light source.

Referring to Figs 1, 1 a and 1 b, a hazard warning lamp 10 is an adaptation of an existing road cone by the addition of a mains powered light source 12, and a reflector 14.

The light source 1 2 comprises a tungsten bulb 1 6 mounted on a detachable base 1 8 and wired to a weather-proof socket plug 20.

A clear protective cover 22 is provided to minimise damage to the bulb. A single bulb or multiple bulbs can be used as shown in Figs 1 a and I b respectively.

The electrical power is supplied to the lamp through the plug/socket 20, and the mode of operation can be steady or flashing, and be controlled by a selector switch (not shown).

The electrical supply will be determined by the duty required. The flashing can be produced electrically or by a commerical flashing bulb.

The lamp can be used singly or in strings of any desired length. Through the selector switch, a string of lamps can comprise all steady lamps, all flashing lamps, or a mixture of the two types. The lamp is completely weatherproof and because of the nature of the material from which it is made, shows a difuse light over the whole of the housing.

This material is a translucent, fluorescent plastics material.

The detachable base, which can have a screw or bayonet fitting, contains a weight to give stability to the lamp.

Referring to Figs. 2, 2a and 2b, the hazard warning lamp shown, is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that it is powered by a battery 22 installed in the detachable base. The battery also acts as a stabiliser in high winds.

The battery can be of the Ni Fe or Nickel Cadmium type.

The lamp can operate as a steady or flashing light and one or more bulbs can be provided, as shown in Figs. 2a and 2b respectively.

This type of lamp has a wider range of applications because it is not supplied by cable.

Referring to Figs. 3, 3a and 3b, the lamp housing in made collapsible for ease of storage. The housing is made from a thin flexible, translucent plastics material with fluorescent properties. The body is kept in the erect form by gas under pressure supplied through valve 24. A suitable gas would be air or an inert gas. The body is collapsed by releasing the gas pressure, and the body takes up the position as shown in Fig. 3a. A number of collapsed lamps can then be stored in a tube 26, as shown in Fig. 3b.

As before the body is attached to a detachable base which contains the light source, e.g.

bulbs or a fluourescent tube, a reflector, and a detachable battery container.

The light can be steady or flashing and is enhanced by the reflecting system.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 4a, the lamp is similar to that shown except that the light source comprises a low power fluorescent tube powered by a mains supply or a battery supply.

Referring to Fig. 5, the light source comprises an oil lamp 26 mounted on the detachable base which contains the oil for the lamp. The body of the lamp has an air intake 28 and an air outlet 30.

Referring to Fig. 6, a hazard warning lamp 10 comprises a conical housing 32, similar to a standard road cone, but open at the apex as well as the base, and a light source 34 mounted externally of the housing. The light source comprises a casing 36 containing a battery 38, an electronic control 40 and a photo-electric cell 42. The battery powers a bulb 44 and the light generated is directed by a reflector 46 and a Fresnel lens 48.

The casing 36 is formed with a spigot 50 which fits internally of the opening in the apex of the cone and a conical sleeve which fits externally of the cone apex.

In use, the light source illuminates the whole surface area of the cone in a similar fashion to the previous embodiments of the invention. This arrangement has the advantages that a standard road cone can be used with a small modification to make the apex open and a standard light source with some modification to the housing to provide the spigot and conical sleeve. The light source is easily detachable from the housing so that the housings can be easily stacked and the light sources can be sored separately.

The above described embodiments of the invention provide a hazard warning lamp in which the light source illuminates a relatively large surface area with a diffuse light, a opposed to point sources which are in common use.

Claims

1. A hazard warning lamp comprising a hollow housing and a light source arranged to illiminate the interior of the casing, the casing being formed from a translucent plastics material.

2. A lamp as claimed in Claim 1 in which the light source comprises an electrically powered bulb.

3. A lamp as claimed in Claim 2 in which the electric power is derived from a mains supply.

4. A lamp as claimed in Claim 2 in which the electric power is derived from a battery

5. A lamp as claimed in Claim 2 in which the light source has a control system enabling the light to be emitted continuously or in a series of flashes.

6. A lamp as claimed in Claim 2 in which the light source is a ring-shaped fluorescent tube.

7. A lamp as claimed in Claim 1 in which the light source comprises an oil lamp.

8. A lamp as claimed in any one the preceeding claims in which the light source is located internally of the casing.

9. A lamp as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims 1 to 8 in which the light source is located externally of the casing

10. A lamp as claimed in Claim 9 in which the housing has an open upper end and a base and the light source includes a casing having a fitting arranged to engage the upper end of the housing.

11. A lamp as claimed in Claim 10 in which the casing has a spigot arranged to engage in the opening at the upper end of the housing.

12. A lamp as claimed in Claim 11 in which the casing has a sleeve arranged to engage the outer surface of the upper end of the housing.

1 3. A lamp as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims in which the hollow housing is cone-shaped.

14. A hazard warning lamp contructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as herein described and with reference to Figs. 1, la, 1b; Figs. 2, 2a, 2b; Figs. 3 and 3a; Figs. 4 and 4a; Fig. 5 and Fig. 6.