GB2443152A

GB2443152A - Light emitting direction indicator harness

Info

Publication number: GB2443152A
Application number: GB0502124A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Johnny Vincent Henriksen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-14
Filing date: 2005-02-02
Publication date: 2008-04-30
Also published as: GB0502124D0

Abstract

An adjustable harness to be worn by, e.g. cyclists and horse riders, comprises a plurality of battery powered light emitting diode (LED) displays 1,3 which are designed to provide other road users with an indication of changes of direction. The lights are activated by a switch unit 4 which may either be contained within a pocket of the harness or be mounted on the handlebars of a bicycle. A rechargeable battery 2 is mounted to a belt 5 of the harness. Preferably, wide angle coloured LED's are used to form amber arrows to signal right and left turns and green arrows to signal forward movement. In an emergency all amber lights may be lit. The harness is adapted to be fitted on to a fully adjustable mother harness and secured by hook and loop type straps. It may also be attached to rucksacks. All exposed parts of the harness will be comprised of high reflecting material and are designed to be water resistant and be able to withstand climatic changes.

Description

PERSONAL DIRECTION INDICATOR

The personal direction indicator is a wearable device which, by means of ultra bright light emitting diodes orchestrated into coloured arrow displays shows the users intentions of changing direction. The primary function of this device will be for the cyclist but there may be many other adaptation for its use, for example, horse-riders, firemen, Police, airport workers but to name a few.

Many deaths or near fatal accidents on the roads are caused by drivers not knowing a cyclists intentions whether the motorist is following the cyclist or approaching them from the front. With the direction indicator the brightly coloured arrows will give a clear indication to the motorist of the wearers intentions. Each arrow or combination of arrows will flash on and off at the same rate as a standard car indicator, this is intended not to confuse the motorist.

Fig. I on page 2/6 shows the complete basic layout with all the components and their locations. The main directional display (1) is located in the centre of the wearers back, the front display arrows (3) are attached to the shoulder straps which in turn are secured to a belt (5). Beneath the main display is housed the power pack (2) which is a fully rechargeable power cell. From the power cell is an umbilical wire leading to the switch unit (4) the switch may be attached either to the handle bars of a bicycle or a belt clip.

Page 3/6 shows the layout of the rear display unit (1). The centre arrow (7) is coloured green which indicates going sfraight ahead. The left and right arrows coloured amber (6) indicate turning left or right which ever is activated from the switch, when each one is activated its counterpart arrow on the shoulder strap front (3) will also flash in the same sequence. An additional button on the switch (4) will be used in emergency, which when activated, lights up all four amber arrows.

Page 4/6 shows the switch layout incorporating a housing block (9) which is attached the handle bars (10) by means of two nuts and bolts. The switch assembly slides into a wedged groove (8) for handle bare operation, it also includes four switches (12) and four indicator lights (11) which light up when a circuit is activated.

All circuitry and displays are comprised of flexible systems, brightly reflecting materials and circuit screens for users with pace makers etc; shoulder and belt straps are fully adjustable to fit any size

Claims

1. I claim that my invention is a device to indicate to oncoming and following traffic the users intentions of moving direction by the use of a powerful Light Emitting Diode display unit incorporated into a self contained, self generated harness worn by an individual where a direction indicator would be advantageous.

2. The rear Light Emitting Diode display unit is attached to the harness.

Wide angle LEDs are used for greater visibility in varied postural positions of the user.

3. The control switch unit 4 is detachable from the handle bar sledge housing and may be re-attached to a similar housing incorporated into the belt area of the device for different adaptations, i.e., horse riding.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A Light Emitting Direction indicator indicates to oncoming and following traffic the users intentions of moving direction comprising of a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) display units attached to an adjustable mother' harness or rucksack (back pack) worn by an individual where a direction indicator would be advantageous.

2. The LED display units, as defined in claim 1, are positioned in three separate location, one on the rear to be viewed by following traffic and one on each side of the front shoulder straps to be viewed by oncoming traffic.

3. The rear display, described in claim 2, comprises of two large amber illuminating arrows facing left and right respectively and a single ifiuminating green arrow located between the two amber arrows.

4. The front displays, as described in claim 2, comprise of two individual illuminating amber arrows located on each side shoulder straps and positioned to give maximum visibifity to other road users.

5. All display arrows (claims 2, 3, 4,) are made from reflecting backing fabric, coloured plastic lenses and are illuminated by a series of ultra bright light emitting diodes all sealed together for weather proofing.

6. Each display arrow (claim 2) are interconnected via a flexible wire loom moulded into straps (described to in claim 8) and are attached to a power pack (claim 9) and the switch unit (claim 7).

7. A personal direction indicator, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a control switch unit is provided for operating the display units is attached to the belt by an umbilical and is mounted on a sledge type housing on the handle bars and in consequence be re-attached to a similar housing incorporated onto the side of the belt area for different adaptations i.e. horse-riding.

8. The mother' harness (indicated in claim 1) comprises of an adjustable front fastening belt, two shoulder straps which are fixed to the belt at the back but allowed to slide along the belt at the front, the slides incorporate the vertical adjusters, this mother' harness is specifically designed to incorporate all the relevant devices as with the rucksack (back pack).

9 power pack referred to in claim 6 is a small box located at the bottom of the rear display unit and houses the rechargeable batteries which give power to the display units 10. All electrical circuits, wiring, displays and power units are shielded against interference and magnetic emissions to conform to European and British regulations.