GB2256888A

GB2256888A - Warning device

Info

Publication number: GB2256888A
Application number: GB9113006A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Oliver Way
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-06-17
Filing date: 1991-06-17
Publication date: 1992-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-17
Also published as: GB9113006D0; GB2256888B

Abstract

A warning device comprises a harness 2 to which is secured a flexible wand 4 carrying a display 6, 7. The display 6 may be illuminated internally and controlled by wires extending through a tubular wand 4 from a battery and control means carried on the harness. <IMAGE>

Description

"Child indicating means" The present invention relates to child indicating means. It is recognised that children, particularly in the age group 3 to 10 years, are at risk when playing or walking in the vicinity of moving traffic, this is usually because their presence may be unobserved by drivers of vehicles. This is especially so where many accidents occur by children running into a road from behind a parked vehicle and the driver of a moving vehicle does not become aware of the child's presence until it is too late to avoid an accident. It is an object of the present invention to provide means by which the aforementioned risk of accident may be alleviated.

According to the present invention there is provided a child indicating means which comprises strap means for attachment to the torso of a child, a rod having a lower end firmly carried by the strap means so that when the strap means is fitted to a child, the rod projects upwardly to a considerable height above the child and display means prominently carried by an upper end of the rod.

The display means is preferably carried on the upper end tip of the rod and conveniently comprises a ball or otherwise shaped relatively large component which may be brightly coloured to present a prominent indication of the presence of a child. The strap means may be designed to carry the rod for the latter to project above a shoulder of the child. Typically the rod will be straight and of a length, say 3 to 4 feet, so that with an average height child in the age range of 3 to 10 years, the display means is carried prominently above the average height of a parked car to be visible to drivers in moving traffic.

The rod will usually be of a plastics. The rod is preferably flexible and in the form of a relatively thin wand so that it flexes to wave the display means as the child moves and thereby render the display means more prominent.

The rod is preferably secured firmly at its lower end part length to the strap means to be carried on the back of a child so that the rod pivots and moves with the child as the latter bends from the waist. This has the advantage that if a child bends at the waist to peer from behind a parked vehicle, the rod will projects outwardly from the vehicle further than the childs head and present a prominent display to an oncoming vehicle.

The belt means preferably has a brightly coloured light relfective surface as is well known for wear by cyclists and can be in the form of a single strap or a harness which is releasably attached to the childs torso, conveniently by VELCRO (Trade Mark) fastening. The rod may be carried by the belt to be removable so that the belt means can be used as a conventional light reflective road safety belt.

If required, the display means can be illuminated, usually internally, by a simple battery operated, continuous or flashing, light. Conveniently such a light may be operated by a switch and power source on the belt means through wiring within a tubular rod.

Whilst being primarily developed for improving childrens road safety, it will be apparent that the indicating means of the present invention can be used with advantage for general indication purposes, for example in locating a child in a crowd.

One embodiment of a child indicating device constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sketch of a front view of a child wearing the device, and Figure 2 is a rear view of the child shown in Figure 1.

The indicating device has a body harness 1 comprising a shoulder strap 2 which extends from a waist belt 3. The harness has a conventional light reflective surface and is of a vivid colour to be distinct and prominent when fitted to a child as shown in the drawings with the strap 2 extending over a shoulder of the child. Conveniently the harness is removably attached to the child by means of a buckle or VELCRO fastenings (not shown). Carried by the shoulder strap 2 at a position on the back of the child is a straight thin rod 4 of brightly coloured plastics. The lower end part length 5 of the rod is firmly attached to the shoulder strap 2, for example by stitching, adhesive or by being received in an elongated pocket in the shoulder strap.

The rod 4 is approximately 3 feet in length and with the child standing extends generally vertically over the shoulder to a considerable height above the child.

Located on the tip at the upper end of the rod 4 is a display in the form of a prominent and brightly coloured plastics ball 6.

The rod 4 is flexible to sway as the child walks or runs and thereby oscillate the ball 6 for an even more prominent display.

Other display designs can, of course, be substituted for the ball 6 such as brightly coloured figures or characters which may be currently popular with children.

Also prominent displays can be carried along the length of the rod 4 as shown at 7 to improve the popularity of the device with children.

Preferably the lower end 5 of the rod is carried by the shoulder strap to provide a firm fit on the childs back so that the rod will tilt and move with the upper part of the child as the child bends from the waist.

A battery operated electric light bulb can be provided in the display 6 to provide greater prominence when illuminated. Batteries and a control switch for the light can be carried at a convenient position 8 on the belt.

The rod 4 is conveniently tubular to accommodate wiring for the light bulb from the control switch. The control switch may incorporate a flasher unit for the light.

Claims

1. A child indicating means which comprises strap means for attachment to the torso of a child, a rod having a lower end firmly carried by the strap means so that when the strap means is fitted to a child, the rod project upwardly to a considerable height above the child and display means prominently carried by an upper end of the rod.

2. Indicating means as claimed in claim 1 in which the display means is carried on the upper free end tip of the rod.

3. Indicating means as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 in which the rod is carried by the strap means for the rod to project above a shoulder of a child to which the strap means is fitted.

4. Indicating means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the rod comprises a relatively thin wand to flex and wave the display means as a child to which the indicating means is attached moves.

5. Indicating means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the rod is firmly secured at its lower end part to the strap means to be carried on the back of a child so that the rod pivots and moves with the child as the latter bends from the waist.

6. Indicating means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the strap means comprises a harness for releasable attachment to a childs torso.

7. Indicating means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the strap means has a brightly coloured light reflective surface.

8. Indicating means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the rod is removably attached to the strap means.

9. Indicating means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the lower end of the rod is received in an elongated pocket in the strap means.

10. Indicating means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the display means can be illuminated.

11. Indicating means as claimed in claim 10 in which the display means is capable of being illuminated internally by a continuous or flashing light having a power source and control means for the illumination carried by the strap means.

12. Indicating means as claimed in either claim 10 or claim 11 in which the rod is tubular and wiring for illumination of the display means extends within the rod.

13. A child indicating means substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.