GB2212312A - Warning indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

The indicator comprises a temperature or humidity sensitive switch 2; signalling means 3 connected to a power source 1 so that, at a predetermined temperature or humidity, the switch activates the signalling means to produce a visual and/or audible signal; the indicator being characterised by the feature that the indicator either incorporates its own power source and/or is readily portable. One indicator embodying the invention Fig. 3 (not shown) is adapted to be installed adjacent a road, and so arranged as to provide motorists with a warning that the ambient temperature is low enough for ice to form on the road surface. Another indicator embodying the invention Fig. 2 (not shown) is adapted to be installed in a house, and is so arranged as to provide a warning when the temperature in the house drops below predetermined level. This latter indicator may be mounted in a plug housing for insertion into a mains socket. <IMAGE>

Description

WARNING INDICATORS Field of the Invention The invention relates to warning indicators.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention a warning indicator comprises a temperature or humidity sensitive switch. signalling means connected to a power source so that, at a predetermined temperature or humidity, the switch activates the signalling means to produce a visual and/or audible signal, the indicator being characterised by the feature that the indicator either incorporates its own power source and/or is readily portable.

Devices which either contain their own power source or which are readily portable, are already known. However, to the best of the applicant's knowledge, these teachings have never been applied to a warning device which monitors temperature or humidity.

The invention can be applied to several differing situations, with advantages particular to each individual case.

Thus, one indicator embodying the invention and incorporating its own power supply and a temperature sensitive switch, may with advantage be installed adjacent a road, and be so arranged as to provide motorists with a warning that the ambient temperature is low enough for ice to form on the road surface.

It is already known to mount a low temperature warning system on a vehicle. Such a system will warn the driver as the air temperature outside the vehicle approaches freezing point.

Such systems have been sold in the United Kingdom under the trade mark ICELERT.

The disadvantage of this conventional approach to ice-warning is that the driver will only be warned of freezing conditions when his vehicle is actually travelling on a stretch of potentially icy road. Also, as the system is bound to have a finite response time, the driver will travel some distance in freezing conditions before receiving any warning.

With an indicator embodying the present invention, installed adjacent a road, by contrast a driver would be warned of freezing temperatures before he reaches the area in which they are detected.

Another indicator embodying the invention and incorporating a temperature sensitive switch could with advantage be adapted to be installed in a house, and be so adjusted as to warn the occupier of the house when the temperature in the house drops below a predetermined level.

During periods of cold weather many people, particularly the elderly, die of hypothermia in their own homes. One of the resons for hypothermia being a dangerous condition is that the victims are rarely aware of the fact that they have the condition, and therefore tend not to attempt to remedy or prevent the condition.

Existing devices such as some thermo-hygrographs (which are used to monitor the environment in which public records are stored) emit a warning when a threshold of temperature or humidity has been passed. These devices are not, however, readily portable and are expensive. As a result, they are not suited for use in a domestic context.

Preferably the indicator has signalling means which include a buzzer.

Conveniently the indicator is contained in a casing which is no larger than a small hand torch. The indicator may.

then be used by climbers as a means of avoiding hypothermia, or by blind pedestrians to provide a warning of icy conditions.

In some embodiments, however, the indicator may deliberately and advantageously be housed within a relatively large handgripped case. For example in the "roadside" version first referred to.

Preferably the signalling means include at least one lightemitting element, such as a bulb or a light-emitting diode.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 of the drawings is a block circuit diagram of a system which may be used to warn motorists of icy conditions, or to provide a warning that the temperature in a room of a house has fallen to a dangerously low level.

Figure 2 shows, in perspective, an indicator for domestic wplug-in" use as a hypothermia warning; and Figure 3 shows, again in perspective, what is intended to be a much larger indicator for roadside use as an "ice-danger" warning.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment The power source of the system is provided by the battery 1, which is connected in series with the temperature sensitive switch 2, the bulb 3 and the intermittent circuit breaker 4.

The switch 2 is of a known kind, for example a , simple bimetallic strip or a device which electronically monitors the output of a resistance thermometer or a thermo-electric coupling.

The intermittent circuit breaker is also of a known kind, and causes the bulb 3 to flash when the switch 2 is closed.

The indicator shown in Figure 2 is adapted to be plugged into a domestic mains socket. This indicator may use the domestic mains supply as its power source, but preferably includes a miniature battery which acts as a back-up power source in the event of a power cut. The circuitry needed to provide the back-up facility is of a known kind, and is to be found in certain models of electrically-driven alarm clock.

At or below a predetermined temperature (say 50"F, 10 C), the indicator emits a visual signal which is produced by a light bulb shining through the lens 5 and which is intermittent.

The indicator shown in Figure 3 also uses a source of light shining through a lens 7 to produce a visual signal. In this particular case, the indicator produces a flashing signal.

The lens 7 is angled upwards so that the beam of light emitted by the indicator is directed towards oncoming traffic, All components of this indicator are housed within a shockproof, resilient casing 6. Attached to the casing 6 is a base 8, which is relatively heavy and has a treaded underside so that, once placed beside a road, the indicator will resist any tendency to move due for example to wind or the vibrations produced by passing traffic.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A warning indicator comprising a temperature or humidity sensitive switch; signalling means connected to a power source so that, at a predetermined temperature or humidity, the switch activates the signalling means to produce a visual and/or audible signal; the indicator being characterised by the feature that the indicator either incorporates its own power source and/or is readily portable.

2. An indicator according to Claim 1, which incorporates its own power supply and a temperature sensitive switch, and is adapted to be installed adjacent a road; the indicator being so arranged as to provide motorists with a warning that the ambient temperature is low enough for ice to form on the road surface.

3. An indicator according to Claim 1, which incorporates a temperature sensitive switch, and is adapted to be installed in a house; the indicator being so arranged as to warn the occupier of the house when the temperature in the house drops below a predetermined level.

4. An indicator according to any of claims 1, 2 and 3 in which the signalling means include a buzzer.

5. An indicator according to any of the preceding claims, which is contained in a casing which is no larger than a small hand torch.

6. An indicator according to any of the preceding claims in which the signalling means include at least one light emitting element.

7. An indicator substantially as described herein with reference and as illustrated in figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

8. An indicator substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.