GB2297408A

GB2297408A - Distress beacon

Info

Publication number: GB2297408A
Application number: GB9600577A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Staniforth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-01-25
Filing date: 1996-01-11
Publication date: 1996-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2016-01-11
Also published as: GB9501459D0; GB9600577D0; GB2297408B

Description

Subject: DISTRESS BEACON Background: Distress beacons are used by people in different situations to: signal for help, oc alert attention, or; send a position locating signal to a rescuer.

One form of distress signal is rocket flares that are used by mountain and hill walkers.

This type of distress signal is used to signal for help. Different coloured flares convey specific messages.

Other types of distress signal are designed to be used in a marine environment. These beacons often take the form of flashing light beacons or 'strobe' light beacons. This type of beacon is used to send a position locating signal to a rescuer.

'Attack' alarms are used for personal safety in case of street attacks. Necessarily, the audible signal from an 'attack' alarm is designed to produce the maximum disruptive sound. The purpose of this is to discourage a would-be attacker by activating the alarm to alert the attention of people nearby.

Technical Details: According to the present invention a portable distress beacon emits a visual and audible signal to help rescuers locate a person or persons needing help. The visual and audible signal consists of pulses of light and sound produced by an electronic circuit. An electronic timing circuit controls the On/Off ratio of the visual and audible signals such that the on period is short in comparison with the off period. This reduces the power consumption of the beacon resulting in a long operating time from the battery. The operating time is in the order of several hours or up to several days depending on the circuit design and battery size.

During the on period of the visual and audible signal the light and sound pulses can be configured to produce a recognised distress signal. such as S.O.S.

The distress beacon can be housed in a variety of cases of different shapes. sizes and materials.

The electronic circuit of the distress beacon can incorporate a light/dark sensor which makes the visual signal turn off during daylight conditions.

The electronic circuit of the distress beacon can incorporate a radio frequency transmitter which produces radio frequency pulses in addition to the pulses of light and sound.

The distress beacon can be incorporated with a torch in a variety of cases of different shapes, sizes and materials. The torch can have one or more batteries. The torch can also have as its light source a filament bulb, LEDs or some other light emitting source.

The torch can produce a steady beam of light and/or a blinking light.

With a suitable waterproof casing the distress beacon can be used as a maritime distress beacon for use at sea or in other water activities. The body of the torch can be constructed to be buoyant in water.

The distress beacon can be incorporated with an 'attack' alanm. 'Attack' alarms differ from the distress beacon in that 'attack' alarms are designed to produce a maximum disruptive alarm signal to discourage a would-be attacker by alerting the attention of people neatly to the attack. Whereas the distress beacon produces a position locating signal over a long period of time.

A combination of all these features can be housed in a suitable case of different sizes.

shapes and materials.

Example: A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described as an example. with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the distress beacon.

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the circuitry within the distress beacon.

Referring to Figure 1.

A plastic case (7) houses the distress beacon's battery (1) and electronic circuitry (3) and (4). On top of the plastic case (7) is mounted a clear perspex cover and bulb (6).

The piezo-horn (5) is mounted at the front of the plastic case (7). A switch (2) is used to turn the distress beacon on and off.

Referring to Figure 2.

To operate the distress beacon, switch (2) is switched to connect the battery (1) to the timing circuit (3). The timing circuit (3), which has an On/Off ratio of 0.5 seconds/7 seconds operates a piezo oscillator (4) and bulb (6). The piezo osciltator (4) drives a piezo-horn (5). Since the visual and audible signal are on for 0.5 seconds and then off for 7 seconds power consumption is small. (The visual and audible signal pulse eight times per minute.) Consequently this small power consumption means the distress beacon can operate for 18.5 hours using standard batteries.

Claims

Claims:

1. A portable distress beacon that emits pulses of light and sound. The pulse of light (visual signal) and pulse of sound (audible signal) are short in duration followed by a longer period of time when the visual signal and audible signal is off. This On/Off sequence of visual signal and audible signal is then repeated. The operating time of the distress beacon depends on the circuit design and battery, cell or portable power supply size, but is in the order of several hours or up to several days.

2. A distress beacon as claimed in Claim 1 that uses one or more battery/s, cell/s or portable power supply/s.

3. A distress beacon as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 that uses filament bulb/s, LED/s or some other form of light emitter as its source of light for the visual signal.

4. A distress beacon as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 that uses a piezo-horn, loudspeaker or some other sound emitter as its source of sound for the audible signal.

5. A distress beacon as claimed in Claim 1, 2 3 or 4 that emits a recognised audible distress signal and/or a recognised visual distress signal, such as S.OvS.

6. A distress beacon as claimed in Claim 1. 2 3,4 or 5 that also produces a radio frequency distress signal.

7. A distress beacon as claimed in Claim 1, 2 3, 4, 5, or 6 that incorporates circuitry which makes the visual signal turn off during daylight conditions.

8. A distress beacon as claimed in Claim 1, 2 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 that is incorporated into a conventional torch.

9. A distress beacon as claimed in Claim 1. 2, 3, 4, 5. 6 or 7 that is incorporated into a portable torch that uses as its light source, LED/s. a fluorescent light source or some other form of light source.

10. A distress beacon as claimed in Claim 1. 2 3, 4, 5, 6. 7, or 9 that is incorporated into a torch that can produce a steady source of light and/or a blinking light.

11. A distress beacon as claimed in Claim 1, 2 3, 4, 5 6, 7 8, 9 or 10 where the casing is constructed to be waterproof.

12. A distress beacon as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 where the distress beacon is buoyant in water.

13. A distress beacon as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4. 5, 6, 7, or 11 that is incorporated into a portable 'attack alarm'.

14. A distress beacon as claimed in Claim 1, 2 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, or 12 that is incorporated into a torch and an 'attack alarm'.

15. A distress beacon substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.