EP0003349A1 - Signaling disk - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A signaling stick, made up of a handle (1), a support (2) fixed to said handle and at least one exchangeable marker (3) supported by the support (2), characterized in that the support (2) is made up of a back part (7) in the form of a plate and a front part (6) in the form of a frame and between the front and back parts at least one such marker (3) may be placed, in that the support (2) has U-like cross-section where the back part (7) and the front part (6) are joined together, in that the support (2) on the two side outer edges (15 and 16) and at the lower edge (17) nearest the handle (1) is closed in and in that the top edge (18) has a narrow opening (19) for putting in one or more markers (3).

Description

The invention relates to a signal trowel, consisting of a handle and a disk-shaped symbol carrier attached to it.

Such signaling cells are known in particular by their use by the road traffic police, which thus prompts road users to stop.

There is often a need among civilian road users to give signals to third-party road users to draw attention to an emergency. It proves to be advantageous to the special type of he to make it clear that they are praying for help, for example to persuade third parties who are not to stop to call the police or a roadside guard at the next petrol station.

The object of the invention is to provide a signal ladle which is simple and inexpensive to produce and which can be used to selectively transmit a plurality of different items of information.

This object is achieved by means of a signal trowel of the type mentioned at the outset in that the handle is firmly connected to a holder and the symbol carrier is held interchangeably by the holder. It is advantageous that the symbol carrier is held by the holder in such a way that it can be exchanged for another symbol carrier quickly and without complication. As a result, the user of a signal trowel according to the invention can insert the symbol carrier with the corresponding signal into the holder and thus request the passing road users to act accordingly on the signal.

The holder advantageously engages around the symbol carrier at least at edge areas. The holder can consist of a plate and a frame, between which the symbol carrier is arranged.

The frame according to the invention forms the front of the signal cell and leaves a section free, through which the signals can be recognized on the symbol carrier. The back of the holder consists of a plate that completely covers the symbol carrier and even with a non-interchangeable signal, e.g. can be permanently marked with the SOS mark.

In another advantageous embodiment, the holder consists of two frames, between which the symbol carrier is arranged. In this case e.g. a signal carrier can be used which bears the same symbol on both its front and back and thus has the same signal effect in both directions of travel.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the holder consists of two plates, at least one of which is made of transparent material. This ensures that the disc-shaped symbol carrier against weather influences, e.g. Rain and snow are protected.

According to the invention, the holder is closed on the two lateral outer edges and the lower side facing the handle and the upper edge has an insertion slot for inserting the symbol carrier. This design ensures that the symbol carriers can be replaced quickly and easily. The holder is designed as a U-shaped frame, which holds the symbol carrier in the simplest way.

The plates and / or frames forming the holder advantageously clamp the symbol carrier in a resilient manner. This design prevents the symbol carriers used from falling out during use of the signal trowel.

In the event that the holder consists of a frame part and a plate part forming the rear side, the outer and / or inner surface of this plate can be designed as a symbol carrier. As a result, the signal trowel can be used as signaling means without the use of a separate symbol carrier.

Several symbol carriers are advantageously arranged in the holder stacked one above the other and consist of an opaque substrate. The symbol carriers can be attached to one another with joint-like connections on parallel side edges. Through this arrangement of a symbol carrier stock according to the invention, the user of this signal trowel can insert the desired symbol into the signal trowel at any time and without having to carry a special storage container.

The handle of the signal cell is advantageously designed as a hollow cylindrical tube and as a battery receptacle. Furthermore, a transition piece can be provided between the handle and the holder, which contains at least one incandescent lamp and at least one light outlet opening opposite the holder at its lower end. Furthermore, the transition piece and the handle can be fastened to one another by a threaded connection.

Due to this advantageous design, the signal ladder can be used in the dark without having to take care that the reflecting symbols are also struck by the light of the oncoming vehicles or the signal ladle is held at an angle which has a favorable influence on the reflection.

In order to obtain a good light distribution over the symbol carrier, a clear plastic block receiving the light bulb is inserted in the transition piece, which collects the light of the light bulb and lets it emerge bundled out of the light exit openings. Due to the arrangement of the clear plastic block, the arrangement of a single light bulb is sufficient, which in turn has a favorable effect on battery operation.

In a further embodiment, the incandescent lamp has a supply line provided with a plug, which can be connected to the cigar lighter or a separately provided socket of the vehicle. This eliminates the need to control the operational readiness of batteries.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the free end of the handle can be plugged in with a removable foot and the foot has a suction plate. Using this suction plate, the signal ladle inserted in the foot e.g. be attached to the vehicle roof.

Handle, bracket and transition piece of the signal trowel are advantageously formed from two plastic half-shells. This ensures that the signal trowel can be produced in the simplest and cheapest way and that the signal trowel is also easy to assemble. Exemplary embodiments which do not restrict the invention are described in more detail below and illustrated with the aid of the drawings.

• Fig. 1 die Vorderansicht der Signalkelle mit teilweise aus der Halterung herausgezogenem Symbolträger einer ersten Ausführungsform;
• Fig. 2 die Rückansicht der ersten Ausführungsform, jedoch mit aufgestecktem Saugfuß;
• Fig. 3 die Seitenansicht der Signalkelle in der ersten Ausführungsform;
• Fig. 4 ein vergrößerter Teilschnitt gemäß Linie IV-IV in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 eine Ansicht einer Mehrzahl von zusammenhängend ausgebildeten Symbolträgern, gestreckt ausgelegt;
• Fig. 6 eine teilweise Ansicht einer beleuchteten Ausführun^gs-form der Signallekelle und
• Fig. 7 den Schnitt durch eine andere beleuchtete Ausführungsform.

Show it

• 1 shows the front view of the signal ladle with the symbol carrier of a first embodiment partially pulled out of the holder;
• 2 shows the rear view of the first embodiment, but with the suction base attached;
• 3 shows the side view of the signal ladle in the first embodiment;
• Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial section along line IV-IV in Fig. 1;
• 5 shows a view of a plurality of coherently designed symbol carriers, stretched out;
• Fig. 6 is a partial view of an illuminated Ausführun ^g S-shape of Signallekelle and
• Fig. 7 shows the section through another illuminated embodiment.

All of the embodiments of the signal trowel essentially consist of a handle 1, a holder 2, at least one plate-shaped symbol carrier 3 arranged interchangeably in this holder and a transition piece 12 arranged between the handle and holder.

The handle 1 is designed as a hollow cylindrical tube which is closed at the bottom. On the free end 9 of the handle 1, a foot 10 is attached with a tubular end to which a suction plate 11 is molded. This suction plate 11 is preferably suitable for attaching the signal trowel to the roof of the car or another smooth-surfaced body (see FIG. 2).

The holder 2 consists essentially of a plate 7 forming the back of the signal trowel and a frame 6 arranged parallel to it at a distance of one or a few millimeters. The frame 6 and the plate 7 are on the lower side 17 and up to over half Height of the lateral outer edges 15 and 16 connected to each other, so that a U-shaped guide is formed in the cross section and in the upper region of the outer edges 15 and 16, and on the upper edge 18, an insertion slot 19 remains free (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

The frame 6 and the plate 7 have an outer outline shape of a substantially rectangular shape, with all sides being bent outward in a pillow shape, with radii of curvature that approximate that correspond to the respective height or width of the plate or frame, the corners being rounded off with significantly smaller radii of curvature. A symbol 8, for example an inscription “SOS” made of reflective material, is provided on the outer surface of the plate 7 (see FIG. 2). A corresponding or different symbol can also be provided on the inner surface of the plate 7 facing the frame 6. In a modified embodiment, the holder 2 can also consist of two frames instead of a plate and frame. Another modified embodiment consists in forming the holder 2 from two plates, at least one of which is made of transparent material.

At least one disk-shaped symbol carrier 3 is interchangeably arranged in the holder 2 and has different symbols 4 on both sides, which are formed from reflective material (see FIG. 1). If the outside and inside of the plate 7 are provided with symbols, it is possible to display a total of four different items of information. However, it is easily possible to use the holder 2 for storing several symbol carriers 3 and thereby to make a variety of different symbols optionally visible. The holder 2 thus also has the function of a storage container. The frame 6 and the plate 7 or, in the modified embodiments, the frame and the plates lie resiliently against one another at the upper edge 18, so that they may be supplemented by inwardly projecting lugs or the like. hold the symbol carrier (s) 3 securely.

An embodiment which allows safe handling of the symbol carriers is obtained if, in the case of a plurality of symbol carriers 3 ', 3 ", 3"', 3 "", they are connected to one another on parallel side edges with articulated connections 20. The desired symbol can then be made visible on the frame 6 by suitable folding (cf. FIG. 5).

The handle 1, the transition piece 12 and the holder 2 can consist in their entirety of only two half-shells 13, 14 made of plastic material, which are connected to one another at a parting line 34 by welding or gluing. This parting line 34 lies in a plane which contains the longitudinal axis of the handle 1 and runs between the frame 6 and the plate 7 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 7).

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment with an illumination device. In the transition piece 12 located between the handle 1 and the holder 2, a conventional light bulb 21 used in motor vehicles is provided, which is connected to a plug 23, e.g. can be connected to the cigar lighter or a specially provided socket in the motor vehicle. In the handle 1, an outlet opening 24 is provided for the passage of the line 22, which is arranged on the side of the handle 1 so that the insertion of the handle 1 into the foot 10 is not hindered.

FIG. 7 shows another illuminated embodiment of the signal cell, which is battery-powered independently of the motor vehicle Lighting device is provided. In the handle 1, which is designed as a hollow cylindrical tube 5, at least two rod-shaped flashlight batteries 25 are arranged, which are connected via conventional contact devices 26 and 27 and by means of a switch 28 to a light bulb 29 inside the transition piece 12. Handle 1 and transition piece 12 are provided with threads 30, so that both parts for replacing the batteries or the light bulb can be separated and reassembled at any time. The light bulb 29 is held within the transition piece 12 in a clear plastic block 31, which collects the light from the light bulb and lets it emerge from the light exit openings 32 and 33, so that both sides of the holder 2 or the symbol carrier 3 used can be illuminated.

Claims (19)

1.) Signal trowel consisting of a handle and a disk-shaped symbol carrier attached to it, characterized in that the handle (1) is firmly connected to a holder (2) and that the symbol carrier (3) is held interchangeably by the holder (2) . 2.) Signal trowel according to claim 1, characterized in that the holder (2) engages around the symbol carrier (3) at least at edge regions. 3.) Signal trowel according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the holder (2) consists of a plate (7) and a frame (6), between which the symbol carrier (3) is arranged. 4.) Signal trowel according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the holder consists of two frames, between which the symbol carrier (3) is arranged. 5.) Signal trowel according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the holder consists of two plates, of which at least one is made of transparent material. 6.) Signal trowel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder (2) on the two lateral outer edges (15 and 16) and the handle (1) facing the lower side (17) is closed and that the upper edge (18) has an insertion slot (19) for inserting the symbol carrier (3). 7.) Signal trowel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder (2) is designed as a U-shaped frame. 8.) Signal trowel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the, the bracket (2) forming plates (7) and / or frame (6) clamp the symbol carrier (3) resiliently. 9.) Signal trowel according to claim 3, characterized in that the outer and / or inner surface of the plate (7) is designed as a symbol carrier. 10.) Signal ladle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the holder (2) a plurality of symbol carriers (3 '- 3 "") are arranged one above the other and that the symbol carriers (3' - 3 "") consist of an opaque substrate . 11.) Signal ladle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized gekennzeic et that several symbol carriers (3 '- 3 "") with joint-like connections (20) on parallel side edges hang together. 12.) Signal trowel according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle (1) is designed as a hollow cylindrical tube (5) and as a battery receiving space. 13.) Signal trowel according to claim 1, characterized in that between the handle (1) and holder (2) a transition piece (12) is provided, which has at least one incandescent lamp (21) and at least one, the holder (2) at its lower end contains opposite light exit openings (32 and 33). 14.) Signal trowel according to claim 13, characterized in that the incandescent lamp (21) has a feed line (22) which can be connected to a cigar lighter or a socket of the vehicle. 15.) Signal trowel according to claim 12, characterized in that the transition piece (12) and the handle (1) are fastened to one another by a threaded connection (30). 16.) Signal ladle according to claim 13, characterized in that in the transition piece (12) a light bulb (29) receiving clear plastic block (31) is inserted, which collects the light of the light bulb and from the light exit openings (32 or 33) can emerge bundled. 17.) Signal trowel according to claim 1, characterized in that the free end (9) of the handle (1) with a removable foot (10) is plugged in. 18.) Signal ladle according to claim 17, characterized in that the foot (10) has a suction plate (11). 19.) Signal ladle according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle (1), the holder (2) and possibly the transition piece (12) are formed from two plastic half-shells (13, 14).

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