GB2273765A - A visibilty aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A visibility aid for improving the visibility of the wearer of the aid or the object to which the aid is attached, said aid including at least one light source mounted for electrical connection to a power source and an electrical switch. The light source and electrical connections are provided within a reflective band with an outer and inner layer and the outer layer is formed of retroreflective material and forms the outer face of the visibility aid. The aid is improved over conventional devices by the use of substantially flat light sources which are displaced from the retroreflective material and in substantially the same plane as the electrical connections. The electrical connections are also provided on a flexible material to enable the visibility aid to be flexible in use. <IMAGE>

Description

Visibility Aid The present invention relates to improvements to a visibility aid; the said visibility aid adaptable to be worn by people, animals or attached to inanimate objects. The said visibility aid is designed such that the visibility of the object to which it is attached is enhanced by use of the aid.

Environments which are in darkness or of poor visibility due perhaps to fog or smoke, would be particularly suitable for use of the visibility aid therein. In this specific case reference is made to the instance where the visibility aid is worn on the person.

It is desirable for a person to be visible in the dark and for there to be a means at their disposal by which they can indicate to others their presence and location. To meet this there are several visibility devices currently available which are designed such as to enhance the visibility of the person wearing the visibility device. There has been shown to be considerable demand for such devices and the demand for improvements in such devices is constant. In particular application WO 91/18374 discloses a device which is of particular relevance to the particular needs discussed.

Other visibility devices have the disadvantage that they require illumination from a source external to the visibility device. With no external light source available the effect of the visibility device is nullified. A further disadvantage of the said visibility devices are that they merely mirror the external light source and afford the device wearer no control over the form or intensity of reflection given out. Control of the reflective power of such visibility devices is desirable especially if it is desired that the reflection be minimised, for whatever reason.

The co-pending application WO 91/18374 has been developed with the aim of providing enhanced visibility and reflection to the wearer and also providing to the wearer control of the said visibility aid, wherein the device comprises reflective material, with one or more light source means mounted thereon, wherein the light source means, when illuminated, interact with the reflective characteristic of the material to increase the visibility of the said visibility aid.

Typically the reflective material comprises an inner and outer layer and the light sources will protrude through the inner layer of the material but be protected and reflected by the outer layer of the reflective material. The material also typically has retroreflective properties such that a multiplicity of lights will be apparent to the onlooker.

While the visibility aid has been found to be effective problems have been encountered in respect of the electrical circuit by which the lights are connected to a power source and also in the means provided to complete the circuit when the aid is worn.

In particular, problems have been encountered in respect to the damage caused to the electrical circuitry by the bending of the visibility aid when worn. This bending causes the wired connections to become disengaged and hence the visibility aid does not operate. Furthermore the location of the engaging means to complete the circuit when worn has proved to be difficult and to require precise location. Both of these problems are undesirable and it is an aim of this invention to provide an improved visibility aid which eliminates the disadvantages described.

Further problems have arisen when the light sources protrude from the inner layer into the outer retroreflective layer as this leaves the light sources susceptible to damage when the visibility aid is worn. Furthermore, as the sources are commonly in contact with the retroreflective outer layer the multiplicity of lights created is relatively narrow and close to the actual light from each light source. A further problem is that the visibility aid is required to be relatively thick particularly in the areas adjacent the light sources in oorder to accomodate the dimension of the wearer and this can lead to the aid being uncomfortable to wear.

The aim of the invention is to provide an improved visibility aid which is thinner in size than conventional aids and is therefore more comfortable to wear and to arrange the light sources in relation to the outer retroreflective layer in a manner such that the multiplicity of lights created are sufficiently spaced apart to create a larger illuminated area to the onlooker.

The present invention relates to a visibility aid comprising at least one layer of reflective material, at least one light source covered by the outer reflective layer and through which illumination from the light source passes, a power source and electrical connection means between said light source and power source wherein the said light source is provided to lie in substantially the same plane as the electrical connections and is displaced from the outer reflective layer.

Preferably the light sources will be substantially planar LED devices.

In one embodiment the electrical connections of the visibility aid will be provided on a flexible printed circuit board, held within the outer and inner layers of the reflective material. Preferably the light sources will also be mounted on the printed circuit board.

In a second embodiment the electrical connections will be provided on a circuit mounting material held within the material through which the light sources will protrude and the electrical connections will be provided by screen printing said connections on to the mounting material.

Typically said mounting material will be leather, PVC or another flexible material.

The completion of the electrical connections of the visibility aid will be provided by the completion of electrical switching means contained within the visibility aid. In one embodiment the switching means will be provided such that when the two ends of the band are brought into contact the circuit is completed.

In one embodiment the switching means will be a magnetic stud fastening with one part mounted on one end of the visibility aid and the other matching part mounted at the other end such that when the two are brought together the electrical connection is complete.

The said electrical circuit may be designed to include a flasher unit such that the lights will flash intermittently upon the circuit being completed.

The band may be provided with an adjustment mechanism so that it may be worn or attached to persons or articles of differing dimensions.

The visibility aid shall be capable of attachment to inanimate objects such that their location is indicated to onlookers.

In a second embodiment the light sources will be in the form of optical fibres, the ends of which will be provided to direct light onto the outer layer of the reflective material.

Typically, in this embodiment one light source will be provided at an end of the visibility aid.

The visibility aid shall be waterproof and water resistant and the said electrical circuit shall be prevented from being exposed outwith the said aid.

An embodiment of the improved visibility aid is described below by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of the visibility aid; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the visibility aid of Figure 1 along line A-A; and Figure 3 is an elevation of the automatic switching device.

Describing one embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings and firstly to Figures 1 and 2 which show the visibility aid 10 which comprises a reflective band 12 within which are mounted light source means 14. The said light source means are powered by means of a power source 16, the power transmitted to the light sources 14 by an electrical circuit (not shown). Serving to complete the electrical circuit is an automatic contacting means in the form of a male stud fastening element 17 and a female stud fastening element 17' which also serve to fasten together the ends of the aid.Covering the said light source means is an outer layer 20 formed of rectroreflective material which serves to produce a visual multiplicity of lights 24 in Figure 3 produced by each of the light source means 14 and hence the area of illumination from each lights source which is apparent to the onlooker is greater than that which would normally be apparent from the light source in conventional devices. This enlargement is produced by the multiplication of each of the illuminated light sources, said multiplication dependent on the form of the retroreflective material used and the area dependent on the distance of the light source means 14 therefrom. Preferably this distance is between 0.25 cm to 0.75 cm.In this invention the light sources are maintained at sufficient distance from the retroreflective material to ensure that the multiplicity of lights which are created are spaced apart to create a substantial area of illumination apparent to the onlooker from each light source.

Figure 2 illustrates the method of mounting the planar light source means 14 in the visibility aid and the various layers of material so joined to form the visibility aid. The light source means 14 are mounted such that they are substantially in the same plane as the electrical connections 26 and connected by either screen printed or printed electrical circuitry 26 to a power source 16. The circuitry 26 is either provided on flexible circuit board or directly screen printed on circuit mounting material 30 with the light sources covered by the outer part 20 of retroreflective material. The inner layer 28 of the material is placed at the back of the aid and between the inner and outer layers the circuit mounting material or flexible circuit board 30 through which the light sources 14 protrude is provided.By providing substantially flat light sources they do not protrude into contact with the outer layer and hence are less susceptible to damage. Furthermore the visibility aid is substantially slimmer and easier to wear than conventional devices.

The inner layer 28 is joined at the edges to the edges of the outer layer 20 of retroreflective material to form a sealed watertight join. The light source means 14 and circuitry 26 are mounted between the inner part 28 and the circuit mounting material 30, with small holes 34 cut in the said mounting material to allow the upper part of the light sources 14 to pass therethrough.

One form of switch for the visibility aid, the magnetic stud fastening device, is shown in more detail in Figure 3 wherein there is shown the reflective band 12 and mounted thereon the male and female fastening studs 17 and 17'. Within one end 38 of the said reflective band there is mounted a male stud element 17 and in the other end 42 a female stud element 17'.

The said elements are connected to the main electrical circuit of the said visibility aid.

The operation of the visibility aid 10 is relatively straightforward in that the said aid, when worn is placed around, for example, the arm and the two ends 38 and 42 are fastened together by means of the stud fastenings 17 and 17'.

The light sources are not illuminated until the two ends 38 and 42 are brought in to contact via the stud fastenings as shown in Figure 3. The closure of the stud fastening serves to complete the electrical circuit and so the power from the power source 16 is supplied by the electrical circuit to the light sources 14 which are illuminated. When it is desired that the light sources 14 be extinguished the two ends 38 and 42 are moved apart such that the contact is broken and the power source disconnected from the light sources.

The provision of the electrical circuitry either on flexible circuit board or screen printed onto material 30 eliminates the need for wiring to be used with the inherent disadvantages thereof while at the same time ensuring that the visibility and is sufficiently flexible to ensure that it can be won comfortably and practically.

The simplicity of the automatic switching mechanism is of great advantage when used in emergency situations wherein the user wishes to quickly and simply switch on the said light sources, this being effected by the same movement used in the fitting of the said visibility aid to the person.

Furthermore the fact that the automatic switch is wholly encased within the visibility aid itself decreases the risk of damage to the said switch when the visibility aid is being used especially when in use in hazardous conditions. The fact that the switch automatically disconnects the power from the light sources upon the removal of the visibility aid serves to save power drain from the power source which could occur if for example the switch was manually operated and the wearer forgot to switch the power supply off upon ceasing to wear the visibility aid.

The use of flat light sources serves to make the visibility aid substantially slimmer than conventional devices. Thus sue of these light sources renders the visibility aid easier to wear and there is less opportunity for the light sources to be broken during use than with conventional visibility aid where the light sources either protrude through the reflective material or come into contact with the covering outer layer. Finally the arrangement of the multiptlicity of lights is greatly improved by the use of light sources which are not in contact with the outer layer as this allows a greater spread of the multiplicity of lights to be achieved.

Claims (17)

1. A visibility aid comprising at least one layer of reflective material, at least one light source covered by the reflective layer and through which illumination from the light source passes, a power source and electrical connection means between said light source and power source wherein the said light source is provided to lie in substantially the same plane as the electrical connections and is displaced from the outer reflective layer.

2. A visibility aid as in claim 1 wherein the reflective material has a backing layer and at least the light source and electrical connections are provided between the outer reflective layer and the backing layer.

3. A visibility aid as in claim 1 wherein the electrical connections and light source are mounted on a flexible printed circuit board.

4. A visibility aid as in claim 1 wherein the light source and electrical connections are mounted on a mounting material through which each light source protrudes and onto which the electrical connections are screen printed.

5. Mounting material as in claim 4 wherein the material is any of leather, PVC or any other flexible material.

6. A visibility aid as in claim 1 wherein the electrical connections are completed for the illumination of the light sources by the provision of a switching means on the visibility aid.

7. A visibility aid as in claim 6 wherein the switching means are located to allow the electrical connection to be completed when the two ends of the aid are brought together.

8. A switching means as in claim 7 wherein the switching means are in the form of a stud fastening with one part of same mounted at one end of the aid and the other part mounted at the other end of the aid.

9. A switching means as in claim 8 wherein the parts thereof are magnetically attracted to one another.

10. A visibility aid as in claim 1 wherein the light source used is a substantially flat LED unit.

11. A visibility aid as in claim 1 wherein the light source is an end of a fibre optic cable leading from a main light source mounted in the visibility aid.

12. A light source as in claim 10 or 11 wherein the light source is provided in substantially the same plane as the electrical connections.

13. A visibility aid as in claim 1 wherein the light sources are displaced from the reflective layer by a distance of between 0.25 cm - 0.75 cm.

14. A visibility aid as in any of the preceding claims wherein the aid includes a light source flasher unit to cause the light source to illuminate intermittently.

15. A visibility aid as in any of the preceding claims wherein the aid incorporates a plurality of light sources.

16. A visibility aid as in any of the preceding claims wherein the reflective outer material has retroreflective characteristics.

17. A visibility aid as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.