GB2207231A - Warning device - Google Patents

Abstract

A warning triangle for use on roads, comprising three arms, 10, 11 and 12 and a base 19, for supporting the triangle when erected, so as to upstand from a road surface. The triangle is provided with three light units 14, and a flasher unit 25 (not shown) adapted to cause intermittent energisation of the light units 14. A length of cable may be used to connect the flasher unit to a motor vehicle battery. The arm members of the triangle 10, 11 and 12 are pivoted one to another adjacent their ends, one connection 15 being releasable to allow the three arms to be pivoted to lie alongside one another. <IMAGE>

Description

WARNING DEVICE This invention relates to a warning device for use on roads, to give a warning of a possible hazard.

A known form of warning device for use on roads, to give drivers of motor vehicles an advance warning of a hazard on the road, consists of a collapsible triangle which may be erected to stand with the plane of the triangle generally vertical and with an apex uppermost.

Such a triangle may be placed on a road at some distance in advance of a hazard, to give other road users a warning of that hazard. A typical warning triangle has a base arm and two further arms each pivoted to the base arm, the other two arms being connectible together at their ends remote from the base arm when the triangle is erected. To collapse the triangle, the three arms may be folded to lie substantially one adjacent the others, to make a package which easily may be stowed in a motor vehicle. Most often, such triangles are coloured white but include a reflective area on each arm and which is usually coloured red, so as to ensure the warning triangle is easily visible when in use, both at night and during the day.

The use of warning triangles as has been described above is compulsory throughout much of continental Europe whenever an unusual hazard is present on a carriageway, such as may be presented by a disabled vehicle, and moreover it is compulsory that all vehicles carry such warning triangles. The carriage and use of warning triangles by motor vehicles in the United Kingdom has not been made compulsory, partially because the triangles themselves may constitute a hazard when in use, especially if poorly positioned on roads of restricted width and visibility, such as are frequently encountered in the United Kingdom. It is therefore a principal aim of the present invention to provide a warning device for use on roads and which is intended to be more noticeable by other road users, thereby to give better warning of a potential hazard.

Accordingly, this invention provides a warning device for use on roads, which device comprises arm members defining a collapsible triangle, means for supporting the triangle when erected so as to upstand from a road surface, and at least one light unit mounted on the triangle to direct light out of the plane of the triangle, the light unit being adapted for connection to an electrical power source via flasher means adapted to cause intermittent energisation of the light unit.

It will be appreciated that by virtue of the incorporation of at least one light unit in the warning triangle of this invention, which light unit is caused to be intermittently energised by the flasher means when the triangle is in use, the likelihood of other drivers noticing the presence of the triangle on the roadside is much heightened, especially during the hours of darkness, so giving a better advance warning of a hazard.

Most preferably, the collapsible triangle of this invention is provided with three light units each adapted for connection to an electrical power source via the flasher means, whereby all three light units will be caused to be intermittently energised either in synchronism or sequentially, when the triangle is in use. In one embodiment of this invention, each of the three light units has one lamp therein, respectively.

It would be possible in this case for each light unit to be provided with its own flasher means, whereby the consequent irregular flashing of the three light units is even more likely to attract the attention of other drivers. Yet another possibility would be to drive the three light units by a sequencing switch arrangement, whereby the light units are energised in sequence, with only one light unit illuminated at a time. In another embodiment of this invention, each light unit comprises a plurality of lamps arranged linearly within a tube which is at least partially translucent. In this case the flasher means is preferably adapted to cause repetitive sequential energisation of the lamps within the light units.

The warning device of this invention may include its own self-contained power source and flasher means, to cause the or each light unit of the triangle to flash on and off. However, it is most preferred for the triangle to be provided with a length of cable and a suitable connector, allowing the or each light unit to be coupled via a suitable flasher means to the battery of a motor vehicle - such as the motor vehicle which is itself causing the hazard. The cable may thus be provided with a connector suitable for use in connection with a conventional socket provided on a motor vehicle for use with a caravan or trailer, whereby operation of the vehicle hazard warning lights will also cause the lamp units of the warning device of this invention to flash on and off.Alternatively, one part of an independent connector may be provided on a motor vehicle, for receiving the other part of the connector provided on the cable from the warning device, a flasher means being associated with the independent connector such that when the warning device draws power through that connector, the power supply is automatically and repeatedly interrupted, thereby causing the or each light unit of the warning device to be flashed on and off.

Most conveniently, the warning device of this invention has three arm members each of a generally similar form, one arm member having adjacent its ends the second and third arm members pivoted thereto, and the second and third arm members being releasably pivoted together adjacent their other ends. To collapse the triangle, the second and third arm members may be disconnected, and then by relative pivoting movement with respect to said one arm member, all three arm members may lie closely adjacent and generally parallel one another. Each arm member may have provided at one end thereof a light unit comprising one lamp, whereby when the triangle has been erected by relative pivoting of the three arm members, a light unit is disposed substantially adjacent each apex of the triangle.

Alternatively, each arm member may have a light unit with a plurality of lamps arranged linearly within a partially translucent tube, which units are affixed to extend along the length of the arm members.

Any suitable stand means may be provided to allow the triangle to be erected on a road surface. For example, a prop arrangement may be disposed on the triangle adjacent the upper apex thereof. Alternatively, said stand means may comprise a substantially flat plate having an upstanding bracket on which is mounted the lowermost arm member of the triangle. Whichever form be adopted, the triangle when erected should have sufficient mass and stability so as to ensure that the warning device may remain standing upright where placed on a road surface, notwithstanding passing traffic, winds and so on.

By way of example only, two specific embodiments of warning device of this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view on the embodiment of a warning triangle of this invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the embodiment of warning triangle of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of the warning triangle, when collapsed; Figure 4 is a side view on the warning triangle, when erected and as shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a front view of the second embodiment of a warning triangle of this invention; Figure 6 is a rear view of the embodiment of the warning device of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a front view of the embodiment of the warning device of Figure 5, when collapsed.

The first embodiment of warning device of this invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 comprises a collapsible triangle constructed from three generally similar arms 10, 11 and 12. Each arm has adjacent one end an enlarged end portion 13, on which is mounted a light unit 14, comprising a bulb holder and lamp (neither of which are shown) and an external lens unit.

Each arm is pivoted to the others by means of pivot pins 15, 16 and 17, disposed adjacent the respective ends of the arms, pin 15 being secured by means of a nut 18, but pivot pins 16 and 17 being fitted permanently in position. Removal of the nut 18 thus allows the lower end of arm 12 to be removed from pin 15, whereafter arm 12 may be pivoted with respect to arm 11 so that the lower end of arm 12 lies adjacent the lower end of arm 11, and then arm 11 may be pivoted with respect to arm 10 so that the upper end of arm 11 lies closely adjacent pivot pin 15. This collapsed position of the triangle is illustrated in Figure 3.

The warning triangle is provided with a stand comprising a relatively heavy flat metal plate 19 having an angle bracket 20 secured thereto; the lower arm 10 is bolted to the bracket 20 so as to upstand generally vertically from the plate 19. The plate 19 should be suitably massive and of such dimensions that the warning triangle may reliably be left in an upstanding position, when in use.

Each light unit 14 has a current supply wire 21 which enters the light unit from the rear thereof, as illustrated in Figure 2. The wires from all three light units are led to a connector 22, where the three light units are connected in parallel and are also connected to a power supply cable 23. If required, the cable 23 may be readily removable from the connector 22: for such a case the cable may have on one end thereof one half of a plug-and-socket connector, with the other half thereof mounted on the base arm 10 of the triangle. Sufficient slack cable should be provided between each lamp unit 14 and the connector 22, to allow the triangle to be collapsed and unfolded, between the positions shown respectively in Figures 1 and 3.

The lens of each light unit 14 should suitably be coloured to give a good visual warning when the device is in use. Thus, each lens unit should be coloured red, yellow or orange. Typically, the lamp in each light unit may be a filament bulb of about 5W power rating.

In order to energise the bulbs, the cable 23 should be connected via a flasher unit (not shown) to a suitable power source, which conveniently comprises a motor vehicle battery. For this purpose, a motor vehicle may be provided with a socket (not shown) at a suitable point, the socket being connected within the vehicle to the vehicle battery, via a flasher unit of a suitable rating. Then, whenever power is drawn from the socket by the cable 23 to illuminate the bulbs within the three light units 14, the flasher unit will cause repeated periodic interruption of the power supply, so causing all three light units 14 to flash on and off.

To enhance the likelihood of the warning device being noticed by other road users, it should be coloured generally white, but include reflective strips, for example coloured red, on each arm 10, 11 and 12.

As an alternative to driving the light units 14 of the warning device from a motor vehicle battery via cable 23, a self-contained power source may be provided, for example mounted on plate 19 and including a battery and a flasher unit.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 7, there is shown a second embodiment of the warning device of this invention. Like parts with those of Figures 1 to 4 are given like reference characters, and those parts will not be described again here.

In this second embodiment the collapsible triangle is again constructed from three generally similar arms 10, 11 and 12. Each arm has affixed thereto a respective light unit 24, each light unit comprising a plurality of linearly connected lamps within a translucent tube, for example of a plastics material.

These light units extend along the lengths of arms 10, 11 and 12 respectively.

Each light unit 24 is connected by the use of a flexible printed circuit 28, which consists of conductors 27 on a flexible plastics backing 26. The flexible printed circuit 28, which is fixed to the rear of the arms, serves to feed electric current to each light unit 24. The current supply from all the three light units 24 is led to a connector 22, which is in turn connected through a flasher unit 25 to a power supply cable 23, which may be connected to a suitable power source, such as a motor vehicle battery.

A flexible printed circuit as described above, may be used as an alternative to the cables 21, used in the first embodiment of the warning device. It would also be possible for a warning device of this invention to incorporate both the light units 14, as described in the first embodiment of the warning device, and light units 28 as described in the second embodiment.

Claims (12)

1. A warning device comprising arm members defining a collapsible triangle, means for supporting the triangle when erected so as to upstand from a road surface, and at least one light unit mounted on the triangle to direct light out of the plane of the triangle, the light unit being adapted for connection to an electrical power source via flasher means adapted to cause intermittent energisation of the light unit.

2. A warning device according to claim 1, wherein there is one lamp in the or each light unit.

3. A warning device according to any of claim 1 or 2, wherein three light units are provided, one at or adjacent each apex of the triangle respectively.

4. A warning device according to claim 3, wherein the flasher means is adapted to cause repetitive sequential energisation of the light units.

5. A warning device according to claim 1, wherein the or each light unit comprises a plurality of lamps arranged linearly within a tube which is at least partially translucent.

6. A warning device according to claim 5, wherein affixed to each arm member is a respective light unit, which extends along the length of that arm member.

7. A warning device according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said flasher means is adapted to cause repetitive sequential energisation of the lamps within the light units.

8. A warning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and further comprising a flasher means and a length of electrical cable connected at one end to the flasher means to drive the or each light unit and provided at its other end with means for connecting the cable to the battery of a motor vehicle.

9. A warning device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a flexible printed circuit is provided to feed electric current to the or each light units, which circuit is affixed to the arm members in such a manner as to allow the triangle to be collapsed and erected.

10. A warning device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said arm members of said collapsible triangle are of a generally similar form.

11. A warning device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein there are provided the arm members pivoted together at or adjacent their ends, the pivotal connection between two arm members being releasable to permit collapsing of the triangle by relative pivoting movement of the arm members.

12. A warning device substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the Figures 1 to 4 or in Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.