GB2291670A - A warning device for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A warning device for a vehicle 16 comprises a strip 10 of material with attachment means, such as a hook 12, attaching one end of the strip to a vehicle 16, the other end of the strip 10 being located at a position remote from the vehicle 16 so that the strip 10 provides a hazard warning. <IMAGE>

Description

Warning Device For a Vehicle The invention relates to a warning device for a vehicle.

Most motorways and some major roads are provided with a hard shoulder or emergency lane for use by vehicles in the event of a breakdown. On other roads, a stationary vehicle must occupy the inside lane which can present a hazard to other road users. Hazard warning lights are provided on most cars to indicate the danger to other road users. It is often the case, however, that the hazard warning lights do not provide a warning in sufficient time for the driver of an oncoming vehicle to react. Hazard warning triangles can be purchased and in the event of a breakdown these are placed on the road some distance behind the stationary vehicle. Such triangles are intended to provide other road users with sufficient warning to avoid the broken down vehicle.Some warning triangles are rather small and therefore quite difficult to see and larger warning triangles can be blown over or knocked over by passing vehicles travelling at speed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of warning device.

According to the invention there is provided a warning device comprising a strip of material having attachment means attaching one end of the strip to a vehicle, the other end being located at a position remote from the vehicle so that the strip provides a hazard warning.

With the device, a long strip of material can be provided to warn oncoming drivers of the hazard.

The strip of material is preferably reflective. In that way an effective hazard warning is provided at night as well as during the day.

The strip of material may have arrows painted thereon or include arrow-shaped portions of contrasting material thereon to direct oncoming drivers around the hazard.

The attachment means may be releasable. In that case the device is preferably compact to be stored within a vehicle. Alternatively the attachment means may permanently fit one end of the strip to the vehicle. In that case the device is preferably provided in a housing of the vehicle and may be provided in a recess in a bumper of a vehicle which may be covered by a cover.

Where the attachment means is releasable, the attachment means is preferably a hook. In that way the strip can be attached, for example to a bumper of a vehicle by means of the hook. Alternatively, the attachment means could comprise a clamp for clamping the strip to an appropriate point on a vehicle or suction means for attaching the strip to a flat surface on the vehicle.

The said other end of the strip may be weighted. The weight will prevent the said other end of the strip from blowing around in the turbulence caused by vehicles passing at speed. In a preferred embodiment the strip is weighted along its entire length. In such a case the weights are preferably provided at regular intervals along each edge of the strip. Alternatively, a uniform cable may be provided along each edge of the strip to effect weighting.

The device may include a reel on which the strip can be wound or from which it can be unwound, the reel being attached to the vehicle by the attachment means. In that way the strip can be conveniently withdrawn or wound out to an appropriate length for use.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a warning device for a vehicle comprising a strip of material, a reel on which the strip of material can be wound or from which it can be unwound, and means by which the reel can be attached to the vehicle, the reel enabling the strip to be unwound so as to extend between the vehicle and a point remote from the vehicle to provide a hazard warning.

The reel is preferably provided with return means arranged to wind the strip back onto the reel automatically. In such a case locking means may be provided to prevent unwanted rewinding of the strip. A handle may be provided with the reel to facilitate winding out and/or rewinding of the strip.

Three warning devices in accordance with the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a rear view of a vehicle with a warning device in a first embodiment In accordance with the invention shown attached to its rear bumper, Fig 2 is a plan view of the vehicle shown in Fig 1, Fig 3 is a perspective view of the reel of the warning device of Fig 1 shown with the strip in a retracted position, Fig 4 is a perspective view of the reel of Figure 3 with the strip shown in an extended position, Fig 5 is a perspective view of a reel of a warning device in a second embodiment in accordance with the invention shown with the strip in an extended position, Fig 6 is a plan view of the suction means from the warning device of Fig 5, Fig 7 is an elevation of the suction means of Fig 6 and Fig 8 is a rear view of a vehicle with a warning device in a third embodiment in accordance with the invention shown incorporated into its rear bumper.

In Figure 1 a strip 10 of a light reflective material is attached at one end to a bar 11 having attachment hooks 12 hooked onto a rear bumper 14 of a vehicle 16. The strip 10 is laid along a road on which the car is standing to provide a hazard warning for other road users approaching from behind.

Figure 2 shows the arrangement of the strip 10 in plan, the strip being arranged so as to direct traffic around the hazard. The other end 10a of the strip 10 is suitably secured, e.g. by a weight (not shown). After use, the strip 10 can be coiled or folded and stored in a cargo space of a vehicle.

In Figure 3 the warning device includes a reel 18 on to which or from which the strip 10 can be wound or unwound.

The reel 18 has a return arrangement (not shown) which is adapted to rewind the strip 10 onto the reel from its unwound extended position. A releasable locking mechanism (not shown) is provided for preventing unwanted rewinding of the strip 10 by the return arrangement. The reel 18 has hooks 12 at each of its ends for attaching the reel to the vehicle e.g. to the rear bumper 14. Alternatively, a screw clamp arrangement (not shown) could be used to secure the reel 18 to the vehicle 16. The strip 10 has a transverse weight 20 at its end 10a and a handle 22 attached to the weight 20 which facilitates unwinding of the strip 10 from the reel 18. The weight 20 holds the end 10a of the strip 10 on the ground.

Figure 4 shows the strip 10 unwound from the reel 18. It will be noted that the strip has weights 24 located at regular intervals along each edge. The weight 20 and the weights 24 ensure that the strip is not blown around by the wind or by turbulence caused by passing vehicles.

In the event of a breakdown, the reel 18 can be attached to an appropriate point on a vehicle by means of hooks 12. The handle 22 can then be pulled to unwind out the reflective strip 10 to a desired length. The locking mechanism then engages to prevent the strip from rewinding and the unwound strip can be laid along the road with the weight 20 at a point remote from the vehicle to provide a hazard warning to other road users.

In order to rewind the strip 10 the locking mechanism is disengaged and the strip is rewound by means of the return arrangement. The reel 18 can then be removed from the bumper 14 and stored away.

The warning device shown in Figure 5 is similar to that of Figures 3 and 4 and parts corresponding to parts in Figures 3 and 4 carry the same reference numerals.

In Figure 5 the warning device comprises a reel 18 onto which or from which the strip 10 can be wound or unwound.

The reel 18 has a return arrangement (not shown) and a locking mechanism (not shown) similar to the device of Figures 3 and 4 to rewind the strip and to prevent unwanted rewinding, respectively. The reel 18 has a suction means 26 comprising four suction pads 27 (see Figs 6 and 7) which can be used to fix the device to a flat surface of a vehicle 16 such as adjacent the rear number plate or in a suitable position adjacent the offside rear corner of the vehicle.

The strip 10 has weighted cables 28 along each edge to provide weighting and a transverse weight 20 across its end. The cables 28 together with the transverse weight 20 ensure that the strip 10 is not blown around. The strip 10 also has arrow-shaped pieces of a contrasting material 30 thereon, arranged to direct oncoming traffic around the vehicle 16. Alternatively, the arrow shapes can be painted on the strip 10. The arrow-shapes may be used in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 and the embodiment of Figures 8 described below.

In Figure 8 a device in accordance with the invention is shown incorporated into a vehicle 16. The device is wound on to a reel 18 within the bumper 14. Access to the device is obtained by opening the lockable flap 32. The reel 18 is provided with return means and a locking mechanism as described in the previous embodiments. In this embodiment storage of the device in the vehicle cargo space is not necessary and the flap 32 can be locked when the device is not being used to prevent unauthorised access to the device.

Claims (20)

1. A warning device comprising a strip of material having attachment means attaching one end of the strip to a vehicle, the other end being locatable at a position remote from the vehicle so that the strip provides a hazard warning.

2. A warning device according to claim 1 in which the strip of material is reflective.

3. A warning device according to claim 1 or 2 in which the strip of material has arrows painted thereon or includes arrow-shaped portions of contrasting material thereon to direct oncoming drivers around the hazard.

4. A warning device according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the attachment means is releasable.

5. A warning device according to claim 4 in which the attachment means is a hook.

6. A warning device according to claim 4 in which the attachment means is a clamp for clamping the strip to an appropriate point on the vehicle.

7. A warning device according to claim 4 in which the attachment means comprises suction means for attachment to a flat surface on the vehicle.

8. A warning device according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the attachment means permanently fits one end of the strip to a vehicle.

9. A warning device according to claim 8 in which the device is provided in a housing on the vehicle.

10. A warning device according to claim 9 in which the housing comprises a recess on a bumper of a vehicle which is covered by a cover.

11. A warning device according to any preceding claim in which the other end of the strip is weighted.

12. A warning device according to any preceding claim in which the strip is weighted along its entire length.

13. A warning device according to claim 12 in which the weights are provided at regular intervals along each edge of the strip.

14. A warning device according to claim 12 in which the weighting is provided by means of a uniformly weighted cable running along each edge of the strip.

15. A warning device according to any preceding claim in which the device further comprises a reel on which the strip can be wound and from which it can be unwound, the reel being attachable to a vehicle by the attachment means.

16. A warning device for a vehicle comprising a strip of material, a reel on which the strip of material can be wound or from which it can be unwound, and means by which the reel can be attached to the vehicle, the reel enabling the strip to be unwound so as to extend between the vehicle and a point remote from the vehicle to provide a hazard warning.

17. A warning device according to claim 15 or 16 in which the reel is provided with return means to wind the strip back onto the reel automatically.

18. A warning device according to claim 17 in which locking means is provided to prevent unwanted rewinding of the strip.

19. A warning device according to any of claims 15 to 18 in which a handle is provided on the strip to facilitate winding in and out of the strip.

20. A warning device constructed and arranged substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings.