GB2228075A

GB2228075A - Traffic sign

Info

Publication number: GB2228075A
Application number: GB9001683A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Soden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-02-11
Filing date: 1990-01-25
Publication date: 1990-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 2010-01-25
Also published as: GB8903128D0; GB2228075B; GB9001683D0

Abstract

A warning sign is made up of a casing housing a pair of lamps 24, 25 for alternate flashing at a predetermined rate wherein each of the lamps is disposed in a combination made up of a shaped reflector 22, 23, the lamp and a prismatic lens 18; each lamp is connectable to a power source by way of an electronic device including a timer 26 adapted to provide for energisation of each lamp in sequence at a predetermined rate for a preset discretionary period; a switch 27 is located within the casing which switch is operable by way of a magnetic or other field between a first position in which operation of the electronic device is initiated and a second position in which such operation is inhibited; and the assembled lamp has no clear external indication as to the part of the casing which, when subjected to the magnetic or other field, will cause the switch to operate. <IMAGE>

Description

TRAFFIC SIGN This invention relates to a traffic sign. It is concerned with a type of sign whereby an event, particularly one which is liable to recur, may be readily identified by drivers in the traffic.

Among such events are periods when there may be an increased number of people about at certain periods of the day as distinct from other periods.

Typically in the vicinity of a day school there is a morning period when there will be an influx of children, a lunchtime period during which children may be leaving and returning and an afternoon period when there will be an efflux of children. At such times it is common for traffic signs to be used in the vicinity of the school in the forms of flashing pairs of lights, the members of the pair flashing alternately at a predetermined rate. Hereafter such a sign will be referred to as a warning sign.

It is known for a warning sign to be equipped with a period timer which provides for the warning sign to flash automatically at predetermined periods at morning, lunchtime and evening. This automatic (and unattended) operation may be satisfactory during school term. However even if the period timer is suitably programmed for normal use the warning sign may continue to operate at inappropriate times for instance in the absence of the customary patroller, or when the school is not in session, or for some unforseen reason.

Whether a periodic display is either inappropriate of unsynchronised there is a recognized tendency for a driver seeing an erroneous sign to thereafter undervalue, if not disregard, its significance and consequently fail to maintain an alert observation for immature, infirm or handicapped pedestrians crossing the road.

According to the present invention there is provided a warning sign comprising a casing housing a pair of lamps adapted for alternate flashing at a predetermined rate characterised in that: 1) each of the lamps is disposed in a combination made up of a shaped reflector, the lamp and a prismatic lens; 2) each lamp is connectable to a power source by way of an electronic device including a timer adapted to provide for energisation of each lamp in sequence at a predetermined rate for a preset discretionary period; 3) a switch is located within the casing which switch is operable by way of a magnetic or other electromagnetic field between a first position in which operation of the electronic device is initiated and a second position in which such operation is inhibited; and 4) the assembled sign has no clear external indication as to the part of the sign which, when subjected to the magnetic or other electromagnetic field, will cause the switch to change between the first and second positions.

One advantage of a warning sign according to the present invention is that by having the operating switch effectively concealed from view and regulated in a way which is not immediately obvious the warning sign is rendered less vulnerable to unauthorized, inadvertent or malicious operation.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a warning sign of which: Figure 1 is a front elevation; Figure 2 is a side elevation (part sectioned); Figure 3 is a rear elevation; and Figure 4 is a plan view.

The figures variously show a warning sign 11 made up of a main housing 12 and a front panel 13 which is mounted on a support (in this case a pole 14) by way of straps secured to brackets 15, 16. The housing 11 and panel 13 are of vacuum formed ABS material which is resistant to weathering and to accidental or malicious impact damage.

Power is supplied to the sign by way of a mains supply lead 10.

The front panel 13 contains amber coloured prismatically faceted lenses 11, 18 of the Mellor type formed in high optical efficiency plastics material. The lenses are shielded by, respectively, covers 19, 20 secured to the panel 13.

The main housing sign 11 houses a support beam 21 on which are mounted shaped reflectors 22, 23 which have mounted relative to them, respectively, lamps 24, 25. The lamps 24, 25 mounted on light baffles 24A, 25A which serve to accurately locate their respective lamps relative to their reflector and to prevent inadvertent lighting of one lens by the light intended to illuminate the other lens. The lamps are powered by way of a mains supply lead 26 which feeds the lamps by way of a switch 27 and timer unit 28.

The use of shaped reflectors 22, 23 with high reflectivity surfaces ensures that, in combination with the faceted lenses 18, the illumination provided by the lamps 24, 25 is used to provide the brightest possible signal to ensure that under obscure conditions (such as occur in fog, or falling rain or snow) or on very bright days the flashing of the warning sign will be apparent to an approaching vehicle driver.

The switch 27 is operated by way of a magnetic field introduced into region 29 around switch 27. Such a field is conveniently provided by an inconspicuously packaged magnet manipulated by an authorized operator of the warning sign 10. Typically the magnet can be in the form of a pen for use by the authorized operator or in any other form approved by the local authority. More elaborate arrangements can be utilised to provide that only authorised operators can switch the unit on. Thus two or more magnets in a pen could be disposed in a particular layout so as to initiate switch operation to ensure that the field provided by a single magnet would not be sufficient to initiate the system. In addition some other form of electromagnetic radiation could be used such as an infra red or ultrasonic beam generated by a hand held device used by an authorised operator.

The timer unit 28 is a sealed plug-in assembly. When the unit 28 is initiated by the switch 27 being operated the unit 28 provides outputs in turn to each of lamps 24, 25 at a predetermined rate until the preset time period expires or until a further introduction of the magnet by the operator, whereupon the lamps no longer flash.

It will be apparent that the warning sign according to the invention provides a number of advantages over existing warning signs. In particular it provides an inherent resistance to unauthorized, accidental or malicious use; and a significantly higher degree of optical efficiency.

Claims

1 A warning sign comprising a casing housing a pair of lamps adapted for alternate flashing at a predetermined rate characterised in that: 1) each of the lamps is disposed in a combination made up of a shaped reflector, the lamp and a prismatic lens; 2) each lamp is connectable to a power source by way of an electronic device including a timer adapted to provide for energisation of each lamp in sequence at a predetermined rate for a preset discretionary period; and 3) a switch is located within the casing which switch is operable by way of a magnetic or other electromagnetic field between a first position in which operation of the electronic device is initiated and a second position in which such operation is inhibited; and 4) the assembled sign has no clear external indication as to the part of the casing which, when subjected to the magnetic or other electromagnetic field, will cause the switch to change between the first and second positions

2 A warning sign as claimed in Claim 1 wherein in at least one of the combinations the lens is prismatically facetted and of the Mellor type and the shaped reflector has a focus at which a light emitting element of the lamp is disposed.

3 A warning sign as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.