GB2353853A

GB2353853A - Multi-functional police traffic control torch

Info

Publication number: GB2353853A
Application number: GB9920338A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darren Fenton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-08-28
Filing date: 1999-08-28
Publication date: 2001-03-07
Also published as: GB9920338D0

Abstract

A multi-functional torch which, the police can use to stop speeding motorists when using the speed detection laser gun. They can also use it to control traffic at a vehicle checkpoint (VCP) and also at a road traffic accident (RTA). It has a green light 1 to wave on motorists and a red light 2 to stop motorists by the rotation of it in a circular motion either for speeding or at a VCP. It can also be used to direct traffic at a RTA. It has alternative flashing blue lights 3, which means the torch can be placed into a police cone and act as a warning beacon. At the end of the torch there is a normal white light 4, which can be used for searching or reading driving licenses. Reflective material 9 is placed at various places on the torch to increase its visibility as this is also one of the purposes of the torch to increase the visibility of the officer. When officers are on patrol the torch can be carried in a holster on the officers gun belt. The torch runs off a rechargeable battery pack, which can be either charged up in the police car or else from mains electricity.

Description

2353853 MULTI-FUNCTIONAL POLICE TRAFFIC CONTROL TORCH This invention

relates to a multi-functional police traffic control torch. They can use this torch to stop speeding motorists when using the speed gun, to control traffic at a vehicle checkpoint or at a road traffic accident.

Police forces use various methods to stop speeding motorists or to control traffic at accidents or at vehicle checkpoints. The methods vary between police forces and countries. For example in Northern Ireland, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) use a normal torch with a red cone attachment. Since there is no set method for police forces throughout Europe or even the United Kingdom to use, it could present difficulties for a tourist from France driving in N. Ireland. If the police tried to stop this motorist, the motorist may not recognise the signal since in their own country a different method is used and this could lead to the police officer being injured. My research has shown that most motorists do not understand at a vehicle checkpoint.what the police officer requires them to do i.e. go or stop. The reason for this being that there is no clear signal between stop or go, for example, a different colour of light for each signal like the traffic lights. If police officers are out on beat patrol and come across a road traffic accident, without a police car, they have no warning beacons, but if they had a portable warning beacon they would be able to deal with the accident without the help of a police car.

The objective of this invention is a multi-functional torch, which has a red light to stop cars and a green light for go. A flashing blue light which can be placed in a police cone to act as a warning beacon at a road traffic accident and also a white light for searching and reading driving documents. It must also make the officer as visible as possible.

A multi-functional torch which comprises of the following: - A bulb that illuminates an area green, a fluorescent tube that illuminates an area red, flashing lights, which illuminate an area blue, and also a normal white light which illuminates an area. The lights will run off a battery pack.

All the areas that are illuminated should be made out of a refracted transparent coloured material to allow the light to be spread out and not concentrated in a small area. The torch should be made out of a strong and durable plastic e.g. polycarbonate.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- FIGURE 1 shows in perspective from a front view, the multi-functional torch; FIGURE 2 shows the front of the torch- 2-dimensionally; FIGURE 3 shows the back of the torch- 2-dimensionally; FIGURE 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the torch; Figure 1 shows the torch 3-dimensionally with the green light section 1 at the top with the red light section 2 below it. The red section is connected to the top of the box, which is connected to the bottom of the box 11 by screws 18 allowing the circuitry to be worked at in the case of it needing repaired. The blue light section 3 is connected to the bottom of the box 11. At the end of the torch is the white light 4. On various pieces of the torch there is reflective material 9 to make the torch more visible when car lights shine on it. All the sections 20, which light up, are made out of a refracted transparent material to spread the light out. On the box 11 there is a socket 12 to plug in the charger to charge the battery either in a police car or from mains electricity. The battery pack plugs into a socket 17 on the side of the box 11 to allow the lights to run off a battery pack.

Figure 2 shows the front of the torch but all the pieces are explained in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the layout of the reflective material 9 on the back of the torch. On the back of the box 11 is the switches to control the lights. The charger is turned on by a 2-way slide switch 13. which also works as a master switch. The flashing blue lights are controlled by a 2-way slide switch 14 with a push button switch 16 to turn the white light on. The red light and green light is controlled by a 3-way slide switch 15 to allow the officer to quickly change between red (stop) and green (go).

Figure 4 shows how the components are arranged inside the torch. The bulb 22 lights up the green area 1 and the fluorescent tube 23 lights up the red area 2. The flashing bulbs 24 light up the blue area 3 and the bulb 25 is contained inside a reflector bowl 26 which reflects the light out through the lens 19. The red light 2 and the blue light 3 are reflected in one direction by a reflector 28 behind it. Moulded bulb holders hold all the bulbs and the fluorescent tube in place with wire joining them to the circuit board and switches. The circuitry 27 is contained inside the box 11 and moulded into place. The red piece 2 is connected to the top of the box 10 by screw threads on the red piece 2 with a nut 21 screwed onto it. The blue piece 3 is connected to the bottom of the box 11 by screw threads on the blue piece 3 with a nut 21 screwed onto it. To allow the bulb 22 to be changed, there are screw threads on the green piece 1 which screws onto another screw threaded piece 5. To allow the fluorescent tube 23 to be changed, there are screw threads on the red piece 2 which screws onto another screw threaded piece 6. To allow the bulbs 24 to be changed, there are screw threads on the blue piece 3 which screws onto another screw threaded piece 7. To allow the bulb 25 to be changed, there are screw threads on the transparent piece 4 which screws onto another screw threaded piece 8.

Claims

1 - A multi-functional torch which comprises of the following: - A bulb that illuminates an area green, a fluorescent tube that illuminates an area red, flashing lights which illuminate an area blue, and also a normal white light which illuminates an area. The lights will run off a battery pack.

2- A multi-functional torch as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the red section which lights up is the signal for stop and the green light is a signal for go ie. working under the traffic light system. The white light is used for reading driving documents and for searching. The flashing blue lights can act as a warning beacon if the torch is set inside a cone.

3- A multi-functional torch as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the fluorescent tube is run by the use of an inverter to increase the battery pack voltage and to change the current from d.c. to a.c. Also a timer to allow the blue lights to flash alternatively. The flashing blue light could also be a strobe light.

4- A multi-functional torch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein all the different colours of lights have a switch to turn them on independently and are easily worked even with gloves on.

5- A multi-functional torch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein reflective material is placed around the torch to make it more visible at night when car headlights shine on it.

6- A multi-functional torch as claimed in any preceding claim,, wherein the battery pack is placed on the gun belt with a wire leading to the torch.

7- A multi-fimctional torch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the torch can be carried in a holster on the officers gun belt.

8- A multi-functional torch as claimed m claim 6 and 7 where the torch can have the battery pack built inside the torch instead of being separate.

9- A multi-functional torch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein all the compartments that house bulbs or batteries are able to be opened to allow them to be changed, for example by screw threads.

10- A multi-functional torch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the battery pack can be charged up in the torch by connecting to a power source.

11 - A multi-functional torch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the main body of the torch is made of a very strong transparent plastic which is refracted to allow the light to be spread out and the plastic is coloured the appropriate colour.

12- A multi-functional torch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the torch can be used in many other market areas by changing the colour or removing some of the lights eg. Traffic wardens, Customs and Excise, Car park attendants.

13- A multi-functional torch substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawings.