GB2172724A - Location device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for aiding visual location, e.g. a dog collar, comprises a flexible strip (10) and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (24) which are arranged to flash at a predetermined rate. The light-emitting diodes are powered by a rechargeable battery (34). The light-emitting diodes may be arranged to flash sequentially, and their rate of flashing may be variable. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Location device The present invention relates to a device for aiding visual location.

Methods currently employed of rendering people and animals more visible in poor light rely on them wearing fluorescent or reflective items of clothing which, to a great extent, depend upon light being reflected from them to make them more visible. However without incident light such clothing is still difficult to see in twilight or darkness. For example, a person walking along a road in the dark wearing a reflective sash will be easily visible to the driver of a car with fully operative headlights, but, will not be so noticeable to the drivers of cars with faulty headlights or with the headlights turned off. When an owner is taking a dog for a walk in the evening it is easy to lose sight of the animal which can lead to the animal becoming lost.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device to aid visual location of a human, animal or object in poor light or darkbess, and/or to act as a warning device for use in an emergency.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a device for aiding visual location, comprising a flexible strip, at least one light source mounted on the strip and an energy source for the light source mounted on the strip.

Preferably, the light source comprises a light emitting diode. Preferably, a lens is positioned over the light emitting diode, and the lens may be transparent or translucent. The lens may protrude through a hole in the strip, and may be prevented from passing through the hole by means of a protrusion, e.g. a rim, on the lens.

Preferably, the energy source comprises at least one electrical cell, which preferably comprises a rechargeable cell, and more preferably comprises a nickel cadmium cell. Preferably, the invention also includes a switch for operation of the device.

Preferably, there is a plurality of light sources, and preferably the light sources are arranged to flash at predetermined intervals.

The intervals may be controlled by a timer, e.g. an electronic timer, incorporated into the device. The intervals between flashes may be variable by means of a control, which may be incorporated into the timer device. The light sources may be arranged to be switched on and off sequentially in a predetermined manner, and the sequence in which the light sources flash and/or the speed of the sequence may be controllable by control means which may be incorporated into the device.

The flexible strip may be reflective, e.g. silvered, in the vicinity of the light source.

Preferably, the strip is one component of a hook and pile fastening, e.g. Velcro (Trade Mark). Preferably the flexible strip comprises means for fastening upon itself to form a closed loop and/or for fastening upon other material. The flexible strip may comprise, for example, a dog collar, an armband or a headband. The strip may be, for example, leather, plastics, cloth or rubber.

By way of example, a specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dog collar in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a view in the direction of arrows ll-ll in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 illustrates a dog collar, comprising a leather strip 10 with a plurality of holes 12, a buckle 14 with a securing pin 16 pivotally mounted thereon, a leather loop 18 extending transversely across the strip and a metal ring 20 for attaching a dog lead (not illustrated).

The collar is attached to a dog in a conventional manner by placing the strip 10 around the neck of a dog, passing the free end of the strip through the buckle 14, locating the pin 16 in one of the holes 12 and feeding the excess length of strip through the loop 18.

Referring to Fig. 2, a light-emitting diode 22 is secured in the base of a clear plastics lens 24. The plastics lens comprises a cylindrical portion, of circular cross-section, surmounted by a domed head. The lens 24 serves to distribute the light produced from the light-emitting diode over a wider solid angle. The electric current for the light-emitting diode is conducted by a wire 26. The base of the cylindrical portion is provided with a rim 28.

A plurality of holes 30, of substantially the same dimensions as the cross-section of the cylindrical portion of the lens, is provided in the strip 10 at regularly-spaced intervals, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes 22 and associated lenses 24 is positioned in the holes, and the lenses are prevented from passing through the holes by the rims 28 on the lenses, which rims abut the collar around the holes 30. The wires 26 and the bases of the lenses 24 are covered with a fabric strip 32 which is glued to the strip.

Also mounted on the strip 10 is a power supply box 34. The box 34 contains a rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery which may be recharged by inserting a suitable plug into a recharging socket 36 which is provided on the box. The box also contains an electronic timer which is arranged to interrupt the current to the light-emitting diodes at predetermined intervals. Provided on the box is an operating switch 38, via which the wire 26 and electronic timer are connected to the battery.

When the collar is in position on the dog, the switch is operated, connecting the battery to the light-emitting diodes. The electronic timer interrupts the circuit at intervals of approximately a second, so that the light-emitting diodes flash together until switched off.

When it is desired to recharge the battery, the collar is removed from the dog, and a plug is inserted into the socket 36. Alternatively, the box 34 may be removable from the collar so that the collar may be left on the dog, and only the box need be removed in order to recharge the battery.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. For example, there may be a solar cell provided on the collar for recharging, or for assisting in recharging, the battery. There may be a control to vary the rate of flashing of the light-emitting diodes. Moreover, the light-emitting diodes may be arranged to be switched on and off in a predetermined sequence, and the sequence may be variable by means of a control.

Claims (19)

1. A device for aiding visual location, comprising a flexible strip, at least one light source mountedon the strip and an energy source for the light source mounted on the strip.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is arranged to flash at predetermined intervals.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intervals are controllable by means of a timer incorporated into the device.

4. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

5. A device as claimedin any of the preceding claims, wherein a lens is positioned over the light source.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lens is transparent or translucent.

7. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the energy source comprises at least one electrical cell.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cell is rechargeable.

9. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of light sources.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the light sources are arranged to be switched on and off sequentially in a predetermined manner.

11. A device as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the sequence in which the light sources flash and/or the speed of the sequence is controllable by control means which may be incorporated into the device.

12. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the strip is reflective in the vicinity of the light source.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the strip is silvered in the vicinity of the light source.

14. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible strip comprises means for fastening upon itself to form a closed loop.

15. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the strip comprises means for fastening upon other material.

16. A device as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the strip is one component of a hook and pile fastening.

17. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible strip comprises one or more of leather, plastics, cloth or rubber.

18. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising a dog collar.

19. A device for aiding visual location, substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.