GB2216248A

GB2216248A - Vehicle danger light

Info

Publication number: GB2216248A
Application number: GB8903661A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alberto Garnerone
Original assignee: Sirena SpA
Current assignee: Sirena SpA
Priority date: 1988-02-29
Filing date: 1989-02-17
Publication date: 1989-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-17
Also published as: IT214517Z2; DE8902373U1; ES1009102Y; IT8852927V0; FR2627729A3; GB8903661D0; ES1009102U; FR2627729B3; GB2216248B

Abstract

A danger light comprises a base (2) adapted to be secured to a support carried by a vehicle, the base (2) carrying an electric connector (30) for connecting to the electric system of the vehicle; an at least partly transparent body (3) mounted on the base (2) and defining a closed environment therewith, and an electric device for generating light signals (13 - 17) disposed in said environment and electrically supplied during operation by the connector (30) carried by the base (2). The base (2) is made of resilient material and has an integrally formed shank (5) for attachment to the vehicle and adapted during use to permit limited movement of the base (2) and body (3) relative to the support and with respect to a normal working position, and resilient return thereof to the aforementioned position. <IMAGE>

Description

"A DANGER LIGHT, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR SLOW VEHICLES." The invention relates to a danger light, more particularly for use on slow vehicles.

More specifically the invention relates to a danger light of the kind comprising: a base adapted to be secured to a support carried by a vehicle, the base carrying an electric connector for connecting to the electric system of the vehicle; an at least partly transparent body mounted on the base and defining a closed environment therewith, and an electrical device for generating light signals disposed in said environment and electrically supplied during operation by the connector carried by the base.

In accordance with recent national and European standards, danger lights of this kind are mainly used for vehicles defined in the Highway Code as "slow", e.g. tractors (breakdown lorries and snowploughs), agricultural machines, etc. The lights can comprise electric generators of light signals such as flashing lights or rotary light beams.

Danger lights of the previously-defined kind are adapted to be mounted in a clearly visible position (e.g. above the vehicle driver's cab) and are therefore also exposed to impact by obstacles, e.g.

branches of trees.

To obviate this disadvantage it has been proposed to mount the light in question in protective metal cages. This method, however, is not completely satisfactory owing to the greater difficulty of access when replacing the lamp, the inevitable reduction in the power of the light signal, and the fact that impact against unyielding obstacles may still deform the metal cage and consequently damage the light.

The object of the invention is to construct a danger light such that it is less susceptible to damage through impact against an obstacle.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a light of the kind specified hereinbefore, the main characteristic of which is that the aforementioned base is made of resilient material and has an integrally formed shank for attachment to the vehicle and adapted during use to permit limited movement of the base and body relative to the support and with respect to a normal working position, and resilient return thereof to the aforementioned position As a result of this feature, in the event of an impact against an obstacle the light according to the invention yields resiliently and then returns to the normal working position after passing the obstacle.

According to another feature, the body and base of the light together substantially form a sphere, from which the shank extends downwards Preferably, the aforementioned at least partly transparent body of the light is made of unbreakable material, e.g. a polycarbonate.

Other features and advantages of the danger light according to the invention will appear from the following detailed description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of non-limitative example only and in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the light according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a view in axial section and on a larger scale of the light in Fig. I, and Fig. 3 is a partial view, partly in section, of a shank for attaching a light according to the invention.

In Fig. 1, the general reference 1 denotes a danger light according to the invention. The light comprises a substantially cup-shaped base 1 surmounted by an at least partly transparent body 3.

Base 2 is made of an elastomeric material, more particularly rubber, and near its top edge is preferably provided with a reinforcing annular metal core 4 (Fig. 2).

Body 3 is made of an unbreakable material, preferably a polycarbonate, and at the bottom has an annular externally threaded edge 3a which is coupled to a corresponding thread on base 2.

Alternatively, the body can be connected to base 2 by a spring-catch coupling.

At the bottom, base 2 is integral with an almost tubular shank 5.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the shank is substantially in the form of a bellows, whereas in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3 the shank has a thickened wall in which longitudinal reinforcing metal sheets 6 are embedded.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, shank 5 has at the bottom a pair of coaxial circular lips 7, 8 between which a metal tubular element 9 is inserted. A bipolar electric connector 30 of known kind, e.g. according to ISO Standard 4148-1978 (F) form A, is secured inside lip 8 of shank 5.

The tubular element 9 is adapted to be threaded on to a support (reference 10 in Fig. 1) secured to a motor vehicle in known manner.

A locking band, hoop, clip or the like 11 is advantageously provided around the bottom end of tubular element 9 for permanently securing the base to the support 10.

A shaped plate 12 is secured inside base 2 and serves as a support for a device for generating light signals which, in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, is of the kind comprising a stationary lamp 13 associated with a rotary reflector 14 driven in rotation in known manner by a motor and reduction gear unit 15. Unit 15 is carried by plate 12 and comprises a drive shaft having an endless screw 16 coupled to external teeth on the hub 17 of the reflector.

The motor and reduction gear unit 15 includes an electric motor connected to the connector 30 (Fig. 2) by conductors 18. During use, the motor and reduction gear unit 15 can be supplied via the connector by the electrical system of the vehicle on which the danger light signalling device is installed.

Body 3 and base 2 together form substantially a sphere, from which the shank 5 extends at the bottom. The shank, both because of the characteristics of the material of which it is made and because of its shape, is adapted during use to allow limited movement of the base and the body 3 above it, with respect to a normal working position, in the event of impact against an obstacle, followed by elastic return thereof to the normal position once the deforming force has been reduced. As a result of this characteristic and the practically spherical shape, the light according to the invention is very difficult to damage through impact against obstacles such as branches of trees.

The invention of course includes all models giving equal advantages owing to the same inventive ideas,

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A danger light, more particularly for slow vehicles, comprising a base adapted to be secured to a support carried by a vehicle, the base carrying an electric connector for connecting to the electric system of the vehicle; an at least partly transparent body mounted on the base and defining a closed environment therewith, and an electrical device for generating light signals disposed in said environment and electrically supplied during operation by the connector carried by the base, characterised in that the base is made of resilient material and has an integrally formed shank for attachment to the vehicle and adapted during use to permit limited movement of the base and body relative to the support and with respect to a normal working position, and resilient return thereof to the aforementioned position.
2. A light according to claim 1, characterised in that the body and base together substantially form a sphere, from which the shank extends downwardly.
3. A light according to claim 2, characterised in that the base is substantially cup-shaped, and the integrally formed attachment shank extends from underneath it.
4. A light according to claim 3, characterised in that the base is made of an elastomeric material, more particularly rubber, and near the top edge is preferably provided with an annular reinforcing metal core.
5. A light according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body is connected to the base by a threaded coupling.
6. A light according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the body is connected to the base by a spring-catch coupling.
7. A light according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body is made of unbreakable material, preferably a polycarbonate.
8. A light according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the shank is tubular.
9. A light according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the shank is substantially bellows-shaped.
10. A light according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that longitudinal reinforcing inserts, preferably of metal, are embedded in the wall of the shank.
11. A danger light substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.