GB2067236A

GB2067236A - Portable crossing sign

Info

Publication number: GB2067236A
Application number: GB8000840A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Topley A W J; Topley D M
Current assignee: Topley A W J; Topley D M
Priority date: 1980-01-10
Filing date: 1980-01-10
Publication date: 1981-07-22

Abstract

A portable crossing sign has a hollow handle (8) adapted to receive at least one battery and carries a planar sign plate (2). A pair of electric lamps (5) is mounted on each face of the plate and intermittent switching of electric current to the lamps from the battery is controlled by an electronic circuit within the handle. The control circuit may include an electronic bleeper to signal operation of the lamps. By providing flashing lamps, the sign provides a clearly visible warning with reduced drain on the battery. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Portable crossing sign This invention relates to a portable crossing sign, and is especially applicable to a portable children:s crossing sign.

Sign of this type are known in which a hollow handle carries a hollow sign whose translucent faces are illuminated from within by lamps powered by batteries contained within the handle.

A disadvantage with this type of sign is that unless a relatively large weight of batteries is carried, either the sign is insufficiently brightly illuminated to offer an advantage over reflective, nonilluminated, signs, or replacement batties are required at frequent intervals. A large weight of batteries makes the sign inconvenient and tiring to use.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a portable crossing sign comprising a hollow handle adapted to accommodate at least one battery and carrying a planar sign plate on each face of whidh is mounted an electric lamp, control means switching electric current to the lamps intermittently and a manually operable switch between the battery and the control means.

Preferably the sign plate has two lamps on each face, the lamps on each face being illuminated alternately. A sound generating device, such as a bleeper, may be included with the control means to produce an audible warning in addition to the flashing lamps.

The control means is preferably an electronic circuit, which may be mounted on a circuit board contained within the handle. The switch may be a reed switch within the handle and controllable by a manually-movable magnet located on the outside of the handle and positioned next to the reed switch. The magnet may be moved by a spring-loaded push-button or lever. This arrangement avoids the need to seal the switch against ingress of rain which might short-circuit or corrode a conventional externally-mounted switch.

The hollow handle may include a detachable part containing rechargeable batteries, the part being detached to enable the batteries to be recharged.

The portable crossing sign of the invention provides a clearly visible warning by means of flashing lamps, which consume less power than continuously operating lamps illuminating the whole of the sign with equal brightness.

Reference is made to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a portable children's crossing sign according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a diagram of the electrical circuit of a crossing sign according to the invention.

The crossing sign is generally of conventional form, having an elongate tubular handles 1 carrying at one end a planar circular sign plate 2 to which reflective transfer material 3 and indicia 4 are applied to form the appropriate conventional road sign.

Each face of the sign plate 2 has fixed thereto two electric lamps 5 having transparent amber coves and mirror reflectors. The lamps 5 on one face are each mounted in back-to-back relationship with a lamp on the other face, and the insulated electrical wires connecting the lamps to an electronic circuit board mounted within the handle 1 pass beneath the reflective material 3 on one face, to enter the handle 1 at its upper end.

The circuit board carries a reed switch controlling the current flow from the battery to the electronic circuit, and this reed switch is opened 'and closed by the action of a movable magnet mounted in a housing 6 located on the handle 1 immediately over the reed switch. The magnet is spring-biased away from the handle and is moved towards the handle when a push-button 7 is depressed in the housing 6.

The batteries for example five 1.5 V cylindrical dry cells, are located in a housing 8 at the lower end of the handle, access to the inside of the housing 8 being achieved through an end cap or plug.

Referring to Figure 2, the battery 20 is connected between the metal handle 1 as ground and the reed switch 21, which is in turn connected to an electronic: control circuit. The control circuit includes an integrated electronic circuit 22 providing alternate timed switching pulses to two switching sub-circuits 23 and 24. The integrated circuit 22, which is not shown or described in detail, is a circuit manufactured by R C A under the designation C D 4001 A Y. However, any circuit which performs the same function, whether of the integrated type or not, may be used.

The switching sub-circuits 23 and 24 each comprise a Darlington amplifier controlling the flow of current through a pair of lamps 5, suitably a back-to-back pair on opposite sides of the sign plate 2. The second switching sub-circuit 24 also controls the flow of current through an audio device 25 to produce a tone each time the lamps 5 controlled by that sub-circuit 24 illuminate. The whole circuit is positive-earthed through the handle 1 and sign plate 2.

1. A portable crossing sign comprising a hollow handle adapted to accommodate at least one battery and carrying a planar sign plate on each face of which is mounted an electric lamp, control means switching electric current to the lamps intermittently, and a manually operable switch between the battery and the control means.

2. A portable crossing sign according to Claim 1, wherein the sign plate has two lamps on each face, and the control means is arranged to switch electric current to each lamp on a face alternately or to both lamps on each face alternately.

3. A portable crossing sign according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means comprises a sound generating device arranged to operate when any of the lamps is lit.

4. A portable crossing sign according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the control means comprises an electronic circuit within the handle.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Portable crossing sign This invention relates to a portable crossing sign, and is especially applicable to a portable children:s crossing sign. Sign of this type are known in which a hollow handle carries a hollow sign whose translucent faces are illuminated from within by lamps powered by batteries contained within the handle. A disadvantage with this type of sign is that unless a relatively large weight of batteries is carried, either the sign is insufficiently brightly illuminated to offer an advantage over reflective, nonilluminated, signs, or replacement batties are required at frequent intervals. A large weight of batteries makes the sign inconvenient and tiring to use. Accordingly, the present invention provides a portable crossing sign comprising a hollow handle adapted to accommodate at least one battery and carrying a planar sign plate on each face of whidh is mounted an electric lamp, control means switching electric current to the lamps intermittently and a manually operable switch between the battery and the control means. Preferably the sign plate has two lamps on each face, the lamps on each face being illuminated alternately. A sound generating device, such as a bleeper, may be included with the control means to produce an audible warning in addition to the flashing lamps. The control means is preferably an electronic circuit, which may be mounted on a circuit board contained within the handle. The switch may be a reed switch within the handle and controllable by a manually-movable magnet located on the outside of the handle and positioned next to the reed switch. The magnet may be moved by a spring-loaded push-button or lever. This arrangement avoids the need to seal the switch against ingress of rain which might short-circuit or corrode a conventional externally-mounted switch. The hollow handle may include a detachable part containing rechargeable batteries, the part being detached to enable the batteries to be recharged. The portable crossing sign of the invention provides a clearly visible warning by means of flashing lamps, which consume less power than continuously operating lamps illuminating the whole of the sign with equal brightness. Reference is made to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a portable children's crossing sign according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a diagram of the electrical circuit of a crossing sign according to the invention. The crossing sign is generally of conventional form, having an elongate tubular handles 1 carrying at one end a planar circular sign plate 2 to which reflective transfer material 3 and indicia 4 are applied to form the appropriate conventional road sign. Each face of the sign plate 2 has fixed thereto two electric lamps 5 having transparent amber coves and mirror reflectors. The lamps 5 on one face are each mounted in back-to-back relationship with a lamp on the other face, and the insulated electrical wires connecting the lamps to an electronic circuit board mounted within the handle 1 pass beneath the reflective material 3 on one face, to enter the handle 1 at its upper end. The circuit board carries a reed switch controlling the current flow from the battery to the electronic circuit, and this reed switch is opened 'and closed by the action of a movable magnet mounted in a housing 6 located on the handle 1 immediately over the reed switch. The magnet is spring-biased away from the handle and is moved towards the handle when a push-button 7 is depressed in the housing 6. The batteries for example five 1.5 V cylindrical dry cells, are located in a housing 8 at the lower end of the handle, access to the inside of the housing 8 being achieved through an end cap or plug. Referring to Figure 2, the battery 20 is connected between the metal handle 1 as ground and the reed switch 21, which is in turn connected to an electronic: control circuit. The control circuit includes an integrated electronic circuit 22 providing alternate timed switching pulses to two switching sub-circuits 23 and 24. The integrated circuit 22, which is not shown or described in detail, is a circuit manufactured by R C A under the designation C D 4001 A Y. However, any circuit which performs the same function, whether of the integrated type or not, may be used. The switching sub-circuits 23 and 24 each comprise a Darlington amplifier controlling the flow of current through a pair of lamps 5, suitably a back-to-back pair on opposite sides of the sign plate 2. The second switching sub-circuit 24 also controls the flow of current through an audio device 25 to produce a tone each time the lamps 5 controlled by that sub-circuit 24 illuminate. The whole circuit is positive-earthed through the handle 1 and sign plate 2. CLAIMS

3. A portable crossing sign according to Claim

1 or 2, wherein the control means comprises a sound generating device arranged to operate when any of the lamps is lit.

5. A portable crossing sign according to any preceding claim, wherein the switch is a reed switch within the handle and controllable by a manually-movable magnet located on the outside of the handle and positioned next to the reed switch.

6. A portable crossing sign according to Claim 5, wherein the magnet is movable by a springloaded push-button or lever.

7. A portable crossing sign according to any preceding claim, wherein the hollow handle comprises a detachable portion containing the battery or batteries.

8. A portable crossing sign, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.