GB2255851A

GB2255851A - Vehicle attention attracting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2255851A
Application number: GB9110478A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernest John Mair
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-05-15
Filing date: 1991-05-15
Publication date: 1992-11-18
Also published as: GB9110478D0

Abstract

A vehicle attention attracting apparatus for attracting attention to a vehicle or occupant in distress includes a tubular member 1 having an internal bore 2 within which may be secured a rod member 6. The rod member 6 is arranged to carry a flexible material 7 adapted to carry a message. The tubular member 1 has a slot 4 so that the member may be secured to an openable window of the vehicle. The tubular member is arranged to support the rod member and flexible material for storage (Fig. 3c). In an alternative arrangement. members 1 and 6 may be replaced by a rigid plastics arm carrying a flag (Fig. 6). <IMAGE>

Description

VEHICLE ATTENTION ATTRACTING APPARATUS This invention relates to an apparatus for attracting attention to a vehicle or occupant in distress whereby the occupant is able to signal for help from the safety of their vehicle.

When a vehicle breaks down or a problem occurs to an occupant of the vehicle, it is often necessary for the occupant to leave the vehicle to summon help. This can lead to difficulty and may be dangerous. Furthermore, the danger to women in vehicles that break down has recently been highlighted in national newspapers.

The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for attracting attention to a vehicle or occupant in distress.

According to this invention there is provided an apparatus for attracting attention to a vehicle or occupant in distress including a message conveyancing means which is connected to an arm means adapted for attachment to an edge of a vehicle window.

Preferably, the arm means is arranged to carry said message conveyancing means at one end thereof and said arm means has a clip means at the other end thereof, whereby said clip means is arranged to clip over a top edge of a vehicle window.

Conveniently, the clip means is a slot extending generally transversely to an axial direction of said arm means.

Preferably, the arm means has a stop member on an opposite side of said arm means from said slot for ensuring the window cannot be completely closed and, advantageously, said stop member is made of resilient material.

In a preferred embodiment, said arm means is formed by a tubular member and a rod to which the message conveyancing means connected, said tubular member being capable of supporting said rod and said message conveyancing means therein for storage and said tubular member also being capable of supporting said rod and said message conveyancing means such that said rod is formed as an extension of said tubular member.

Conveniently, mating screw threads are provided on an internal surface of the tubular member and an external surface of said rod, whereby the tubular member and rod may be threadably interconnected in both the storage and extended positions thereof.

Advantageously, said message conveyancing means is releasably connected to said rod by a spring clip and a plurality of different message conveyancing means, each conveying a different message, may be provided.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded side view of the apparatus in accordance with this invention, Figure 2 shows a detail of the part of the apparatus encircled II in Figure 1, Figures 3(a), (b), (c) show stages in storing the apparatus, Figure 4 shows another window bracket of the apparatus, Figure 5 shows a further window bracket of the apparatus, Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the invention located in position on a window of a vehicle, Figure 7 shows a rear view of a vehicle to which the apparatus is attached, and Figure 8 shows a manner of connecting the message conveyancing means to a rod.

In the Figures like reference numerals denote like parts.

The apparatus shown in Figure 1 has a tubular member 1 having an internal bore 2 with an internal screw thread being provided at the open end of the member 1. Opposite to the screw thread 3 is a generally transverse slot 4 having an angle, width and length such that the slot is capable of holding the apparatus over a top edge of a vehicle window. On an opposite side of the slot 4 is a resilient stop member 5 made, for example, of high impact foam. A rod member 6 for supporting a message conveyancing member 7, such as a flexible material, has an external screw thread 8 at one end thereof which is arranged to mate with the screw thread 3 so that the rod 6 may be inserted either within the tubular member 1 or formed as an extension of the member 1. The flag 7 may have a reflective outer edge 9. The flag may carry a message such as S.O.S. or Help In Emergency.

Figure 3(a) shows the flag in the course of being rolled around the rod 6, Figure 3(b) shows the rod firmly rolled around the rod 6 and the rod inverted for location within the tubular member 1 and Figure 3(c) shows, in partial cross-section, the rod and flag located within the tubular member.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the tubular member in which the end of the tubular member which encompasses the slot is formed of a spring material so that the end 11 of the tubular member may be held firmly to a window. In this respect, the end 11 is spring biassed in the direction of arrow-headed line 12. Furthermore, the end 11 of the tubular member 1 has an integrally formed stop member 15.

In a further embodiment shown in Figure 5, the tubular member 1 is attached to the portion which affixes to the window at an oblique angle and the slot has a bulbous internal portion 16.

Referring to Figure 6, the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 5 is shown fixed over a top edge of a window 20 of a vehicle 21 and Figure 7 shows the apparatus from a rear view of the vehicle.

The flag may be fixedly attached to the rod or may be attached to the rod by a spring clip 30. If a spring clip 30 or some such other means for releasably attaching a flag to the rod 6 is used then a plurality of flags each with a different message may be employed.

The invention has been described in relation to an apparatus which may be telescoped, which is preferred for ease of storage in a vehicle glove box. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited thereto and a rigid arm, as shown in Figure 6, may alternatively be used and in such an instance the arm could be made of black plastic, carrying a flag.

The dimensions shown on Figure 1-are intended to be exemplary and in no way limiting. Furthermore, although the message conveyancing means has been described as flexible material which may be Dayglow yellow plastic type material, but if a telescoping arrangement of the apparatus is not required, the flag could be of rigid material.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for attracting attention to a vehicle or occupant in distress including a message conveyancing means which is connected to an arm means adapted for attachment to an edge of a vehicle window, said arm means being formed by a tubular member and a rod to which the message conveyancing means is connected, said tubular member being capable of supporting said rod and said message conveyancing means therein for storage and said tubular member also being capable of supporting said rod and said message conveyancing means such that said rod is formed as an extension of said tubular member.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein mating screw threads are provided on an internal surface of the tubular member and an external surface of said rod, whereby the tubular member and rod may be threadably interconnected in both the storage and extended positions thereof.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said message conveyancing means is releasably connected to said rod by a spring clip and a plurality of different message conveyancing means, each conveying a different message, may be provided.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the arm means is arranged to carry said message conveyancing means at one end thereof and said arm means has a clip means at the other end thereof, whereby said clip means is arranged to clip over a top edge of a vehicle window.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the clip means is a slot extending generally transversely to an axial direction of said arm means.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the arm means has a stop member on an opposite side of said arm means from said slot for ensuring the window cannot be completely closed.

7. An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1-4 or 5 and 6-7 of the accompanying drawings.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said stop member is made of resilient material.

8. An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1-4 or 5 and 6-8 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been fiied as folows 1. An apparatus for attracting attention to a vehicle or occupant in distress including a message conveyancing means which is connected to an arm means adapted for attachment to an edge of a vehicle window, said arm means being formed by a tubular member and a rod to which the message conveyancing means is connected, said tubular member being capable of enclosing said rod and said message conveyancing means therein for storage in one position thereof and said tubular member also being capable of supporting said rod and said message conveyancing means such that said rod is formed as an extension of said tubular member in another position thereof, the transition from said first position to said second position requiring removal and inversion of said rod with respect to said tubular member, wherein at said another position the arm means is arranged to carry said message conveyancing means at one end thereof and a clip means is provided at the other end of said arm means whereby said clip means is arranged to clip to said vehicle.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the clip means is a slot in said tubular member extending generally trUnsversely to an axial direction of said tubular member for clipping over a top edge of a vehicle window.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the arm means has a stop member on an opposite side of said arm means from said slot for ensuring the window cannot be completely closed.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said stop member is made of resilient material.