DE8815710U1 - Warning triangle for use in road traffic - Google Patents

Description

'I Warning triangle for use in road traffic

The invention relates to a warning triangle for use in road traffic consisting of P

a base plate with an equilateral triangle of red color arranged on it.

A traffic sign is known from the road traffic regulations which consists of a red equilateral triangle on a white background, with one of the sides having the horizontal base and consequently the opposite corner pointing upwards in the middle.

According to the road traffic regulations, this sign means "Attention, caution".
Furthermore, in motor vehicles, the carriage of

of warning triangles regulation, which m

serves to protect the vehicle that has broken down due to an accident or defect from following traffic by moving it backwards |

is placed on the road at a sufficient distance in front of the broken-down vehicle and clearly indicates possible dangers or bottlenecks to all road users approaching the broken-down vehicle. The warning triangle is a device that uses the red triangle on a white background and known as a traffic sign to warn road traffic of dangers.

ii * &igr;�iacgr;&igr;&igr; ¹ M ¹¹ Ii'

In contrast to road traffic signs, the warning triangle is used by the user of the broken-down vehicle without government authorization to warn following traffic.

Experience shows that accidents occur precisely when the road and visibility conditions are impaired. To increase the visibility of the warning triangle, it is therefore usual for the red equilateral triangle indicating dangerous situations to be fitted with reflectors so that the light from the headlights is reflected and the visibility of the warning triangle is increased.

.15 kes and the provision of information is significantly improved. Applying a reflective layer has no effect if the warning triangle is not detected by the headlights of following traffic, for example due to a curved road.

Based on this, the invention has set itself the task of further developing the well-known warning triangle so that its visibility is significantly improved, especially in poor visibility conditions.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the triangle is provided with lamps that are connected to batteries arranged in the warning triangle.

The core idea is to illuminate the equilateral red triangle

« ·« fit Ii

'&iacgr;&iacgr;&iacgr;·&iacgr; · !

«»· ·* 4MUlI &Mgr;

or its design as a self-illuminating device. In contrast to the warning triangles known from the state of the art/ with a reflective layer, it can be easily and safely recognized at night and without the need to be detected by headlights. Since the warning triangle is usually set up independently and at a great distance from the vehicle, the power supply for the lamps is a problem. This is solved according to the invention by arranging the batteries that provide the power inside the warning triangle. It should be made clear that it is not the warning triangle as a whole that is illuminated and/or designed as a self-illuminating device, but only the equilateral red triangle on it. The focus is on transmitting the information to the following traffic.

The decisive advantage of the invention is the significant improvement

_2g the visibility of the warning triangle and thus the fulfilment of its function of conveying information in the sense of a danger warning to following traffic.

In a preferred embodiment, the lamps are connected to an interval switch. The result is a significant improvement in visibility through flashing of the lamps. The set flashing frequency is in the

* it

·* « t I

* Ml t

"fit I

it > « &iacgr; f

I t t t it

I'm you

I * I I » I

I tilt

• lilt Ii 11

The scope of the invention is wide-ranging free/ provided that the blinking processes can still be perceived by the human eye.

As is well known, after a certain

duration of use, the batteries will discharge. To avoid the necessary replacement and to save the costs associated with this, it is recommended to use a rechargeable battery. An elegant option would then be to store the warning triangle when not in use

_lg During transport in the vehicle

to connect the vehicle electrical system and thereby fill it with electrical energy. When the warning triangle is removed from the vehicle, it is then ensured that the

Battery is fully charged and

therefore maximum usage time is guaranteed.

In an advantageous further development, a sign with additional inscriptions is attached above the equilateral red triangle to provide further information. The inscription "Accident" or "Breakdown" provides additional information to following traffic about the impairment and the

js convey driving situation. With interchangeable

the user could proceed by replacing and inserting just the appropriate sign that best describes the situation .

• ■» ■ ·» »r ··

• 1 Cl · ■ »

de Information is conveyed. The interchangeability increases the possibilities for conveying information.

To minimize the storage space required when transporting the warning triangle, it is equipped with a collapsible support. During use, the warning triangle must be protected from wind and

~q withstands gusts and has a correspondingly secure support on the road surface. For this purpose, space-consuming supports - generally a support extending backwards from the base plate and forming a kind of tripod - must be installed, whereas during transport the bulkiness and space requirement should be as small as possible.

2Q The well-known collapsibility of the support represents an ideal solution here.

Finally, in _one embodiment, the attachment of a magnetic holder is provided, by means of which the warning triangle can be easily attached to the metal surfaces of bodies, posts, etc. In certain cases, this makes the attachment of the warning triangle even easier.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention can be found in*

The following description section explains an embodiment of the invention in more detail using the drawing. They show:

Figure 1 shows a warning triangle according to the invention in front view,

Figure 2 shows the same embodiment in side view.

The basic structure of the warning triangle shown in Figure 1 consists of a base plate (1) and an equilateral triangle (2) attached to it, which in turn is made of three individual strips (3) that roughly form the side length of the triangle (2). An opening (4) is cut out in the middle.

On each of the strips (3) you will find

In the example shown, there are six lamps (5) which, when switched on, create an illuminated equilateral triangle.

2Q The lamps (5) are powered by batteries (7) located in the lower part, namely the base side (6). The base plate (1) is extended upwards and is provided with a plate (8) on which, in this case, the letters (9) forming the word "Panne" are printed.

The embodiment just described is shown in Figure 2 in side view. One can now clearly see the

• 4t t HIiIIII » Il

» · * I I · ItIII

» ·« < III I · I I

&bull; It· it 111

&igr; · · » ·&igr;·&igr;&igr;

I Il I Il »II I Kill

25

30

35

■ · II · II

—9—

₁₅ 2Q

strips (3) applied to the base plate (1)/ the opening (4) located inside, as well as the fact that the base plate (l) continues upwards into the plate (8) provided with letters (9).

The base side (6) on the underside and shown in elevation clearly shows the location of the lamps (5) and the batteries (7) underneath. The latter are led out via a plug (10) and allow a connection to the vehicle's electrical system when in transport mode, which means that the batteries (7) used are rechargeable batteries that allow recharging.

The result is a warning triangle that is easy to see even in poor visibility conditions.

Claims (6)

PATENT ATTORNEY Dipl.-Phys. Dr. W. Pöhner European Patent Attorney ■ European Patent Representative · Mandataire en Brevets Europeens Kaiserstr. 27 · D-8700 Würzburg 1· PO Box 6323 · * 0931/14566 CLAIMS 1) Warning triangle for use in road traffic consisting of a base plate and an equilateral triangle of red color arranged thereon, characterized in that the triangle (2) is provided with lamps (5) which are connected to the battery (7) arranged in the warning triangle. 2) Warning triangle according to claim 1, characterized in that the lights (5) are connected to an interval circuit. 3) Warning triangle according to claim 1 or item _1, characterized by the accumulator as a battery (7). characterized by a 4) Warning triangle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by a preferably replaceable key (8) above the triangle (2). 4 4 44 4 it it int it it t ttt H 4 1111 4 4 ti t* 444444 4 I to tt 5) Warning triangle according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by a collapsible support. 6) Warning triangle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a magnetic holder. 10 15 y 20 30 35