GB2500026A

GB2500026A - Elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning system

Info

Publication number: GB2500026A
Application number: GB201203985A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Hilton Alcock; Trevor Rex Cook
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-03-07
Filing date: 2012-03-07
Publication date: 2013-09-11
Also published as: GB201203985D0

Abstract

The invention is an elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety hazard warning sign element together with foldable highly reflective strip elements that are located on the roof of any distressed vehicle. This makes any distressed vehicle part of the warning sign system itself. This then sends approaching road users an early alert warning giving them an immediate and direct connection to the danger or obstacle. The physical dimensions and material construction may vary in width, length, colour, reflectivity and density.

Description

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Description and background supporting the elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning system

The Invention:

The invention is a novel elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning sign that offers extremely good visibility.

Introduction:

This invention is a great improvement over current hazard warning signs in that it offers heightened and earlier visibility and connectivity to an obstruction such as a distressed vehicle located in or next to the path of traffic, irrespective of the direction of travel of the traffic towards the distressed vehicle.

Background to this invention: Where the specific traffic hazard warning sign is visible on all sides of the foldable multi-directional sign.

The fact that vehicles are often stopped in hazardous places on public roads, can be dangerous for other road users and they can become a major contributor to or be involved in accidents.

To help prevent these accidents it is necessary to draw specific early attention to these stopped vehicles and make it more clear and obvious to other road users that these vehicles are not part of the traffic flow on the road and could be potentially hazardous to passing traffic.

Traditional hazard triangles are at present used for this purpose. These triangles are placed on the roadside at ground level at a set distance from the stopped vehicle, usually at the back of the stopped vehicle, or in certain cases, at the back and front of the stopped vehicle.

This is often at great danger and risk to the person placing these hazard triangles in these roadside positions. Some motorists are not even willing to do this at all and in many cases those signs that have been set out on the ground can be obscured by other traffic on the road or blown over by wind or passing traffic.

These triangles are not very visible and often they are only seen when approaching vehicles are adjacent to them, which in most cases is far too late. This leaves reduced time for drivers to react quickly enough to avoid collisions resulting in accidents and in some cases fatalities.

Another weakness of traditional hazard triangles and other inventions (cited in table 1) is that these devices do not enable the approaching motorist to immediately see the parked vehicle or obstacle and to accurately estimate the distance to the parked vehicle or obstacle. These traditional hazard triangles and or inventions (cited in table 1) on observation by approaching road users, do not give adequate time for processing of the information of the potential danger.

There is no immediate connectivity between the information the warning sign gives the approaching driver and the relevant distressed vehicle in the visual process. This causes delay in the response times of the approaching drivers. In moving motor vehicles any delay in response to adverse road conditions can have disastrous consequences.

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The modern type of high speed motorway has accentuated the problem of dense traffic and numerous road users and in the words of traffic experts, here summarised, "It is not enough to know what the car ahead of you is about to do; you must know what the car four, five or preferably 10 or more cars ahead of you is about to do". At modern highway speeds, legally 70 miles an hour in the UK or more in some countries, the problem is multiplied more or less by geometric progression. Increased speed directly increases the required safety distance between preceding and following vehicles.

Table 1 - Other inventions

References Cited - U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

USA Patent number

Inventor(s)

Filing Date

Published Date

Invention Limitation

2083102

R. M. Slough

27-Apr-36

12-Dec-37

Device is mounted on the bumper of the vehicle which results in an extremely low height only more for advising immediately located vehicles and not for vehicles further away. The device offers a rear unidirectional sign only and does NOT involve / incorporate the complete vehicle as an integral component of the sign. This offers very limited visibility.

2138976

G. W. Mason

12-Jun-38

14-Jul-37

2503336

E. D. Hines

08-Jan-48

04-NOV-50

2843952

W. M. Zgraggen

17-Dec-54

22-Jul-58

3

3188908

A. G. Clarke Jr.

21-Nov-62

08-Jun-65

Permanently installed onto vehicle which is a huge problem in terms of retro-fitting to the current volume of vehicles on our roads. It also adds drag to vehicles decreasing fuel efficiency during normal driving and the device does NOT involve / incorporate the complete vehicle as an integral component of the sign. This offers very limited visibility.

3226707

H. Newman ET AL

20-Jun-63

08-Dec-65

Device is mounted on the rear shelve inside the vehicle which results in a rear uni-directional sign only more for advising immediately following vehicles and not vehicles further away or approaching from the front. The device does NOT involve / incorporate the complete vehicle as an integral component of the sign. This offers very limited visibility.

3299552

H. Newman ET AL

24-Jan-67

23-Jun-64

3299553

H. Newman ET AL

27-Sep-65

24-Jan-67

3469235

Edward C. Devlin & M. R. James Phillips

03-Mar-67

23-Sep-65

3622980

Fred Russell El ledge Jr.

05-Aug-68

23-Nov-71

Trailer mounted and is only brought into appropriate location after authorities have been alerted. The sign is uni-directional only more for advising immediately following vehicles and not vehicles further away or approaching from the front. The device does NOT involve / incorporate the complete vehicle as an integral component of the sign. This offers very limited visibility.

3678457

Edward R. Lev

29-Jun-70

18-Jul-72

4

3750138

Paul G. Burgan & Richard J. Jekiel

17-Dec-71

3 l-Jul-73

The sign is not declared in terms of physical mounting on a vehicle however the limitation of this device is that at any one point in time the sign is uni-directional and requires a person to be present in the vehicle at all times to energise the sign via the vehicle electric lighter, to hold the sign and to rotate the sign to give focus and direction. This limits the devices height potential and does NOT involve / incorporate the complete vehicle as an integral component of the sign. This offers very limited visibility.

3883846

William L. Bruner

13-Jul-72

13-May-75

Trailer mounted and is only brought into appropriate location at the immediate emergency / obstruction after authorities have been alerted. The sign is unidirectional only more for advising immediately following vehicles and not vehicles further away or approaching from the front. The device does NOT involve / incorporate the complete vehicle as an integral component of the sign. This offers very limited visibility.

4109245

Robert A. Hedin

17-Feb-76

22-Aug-78

The sign is not declared in terms of physical mounting on a vehicle however the limitation of this device is that at any one point in time the sign is uni-directional and requires a person to be present in the vehicle al all times to energise the sign via the vehicle electric lighter, to hold the sign and to rotate the sign to give focus and direction. This limits the devices height potential and does NOT involve / incorporate the complete vehicle as an integral component of the sign. This offers very limited visibility.

4152854

Bernie B. Berry & Myron F. Melvin

26-Oct-77

08-May-79

4259660

Dorothy Oliver lO-Oct-78

31-Mar-81

4361828

Wanda H. Hose

18-Jul-80

30-Nov-82

This device is mounted on the rear shelve inside the vehicle which results in a rear uni-directional sign only more for advising immediately following vehicles and not vehicles further away or approaching from the front. The device does NOT involve / incorporate the complete vehicle as an integral component of the sign. This offers very limited visibility.

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4374376

Harold E. Pillifant Jr.

06-Jun-81

15-Feb-83

Device is mounted on the vehicle trunk (boot) which results in a rear uni-directional sign only, more for advising immediately following vehicles and not vehicles further away or approaching from the front. The device does NOT involve / incorporate the complete vehicle as an integral component of the sign. This offers very limited visibility.

4574269

Gregory R. Miller

10-Apr-85

04-Mar-86

4825191

Lan Ching Hwei

26-Aug-87

25-Apr-89

4833443

Cun Y. Siew

26-Mar-87

23-May-89

Device is mounted on the window of the vehicle which results in a low height only more for advising immediately located vehicles and not for vehicles further away. The device does NOT involve / incorporate the complete vehicle as an integral component of the sign. This offers very limited visibility. Should the electrics in a vehicle not function then the sign will very largely ineffective.

4835515

Julian A. McDermott & Milfred A. McDermott

13-Oct-87

30-May-89

Fitted to emergency vehicles only, NOT for general use and is only brought into appropriate location at the immediate emergency / obstruction after authorities have been alerted. The device does NOT involve / incorporate the complete vehicle as an integral component of the sign. This offers very limited visibility.

5103205

Robert C. Halligan

29-Jun-90

07-Apr-92

Device is mounted on the vehicle trunk (boot) which results in a rear uni-directional sign only more for advising immediately following vehicles and not vehicles further away or approaching from the front. The device does NOT involve / incorporate the complete vehicle as an integral component of the sign. This offers very limited visibility.

Additional "Disconnect" related to traditional traffic hazard signs

The obvious visual link between the traditional traffic hazard / warning sign and the distressed vehicle can be even more unclear and more difficult to perceive in conditions of:

a. Oncoming lights or sunshine b. Poor visibility due to mist, fog, smoke, rain bursts, snow c. Lack of light or gloom

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d. The link between the traditional hazard triangle and the distressed vehicle can be lost or obscured by movement or poor placement.

e. Undulating road surface or foliage f. Other unspecified disconnect causes

In certain conditions such as but not limited to heavy traffic on high speed motorways it is often difficult to judge which vehicle the traditional hazard triangle or other references cited table 1 has been deployed for. It might appear to be in the distance due to the disconnection if it is even see at all.

All the above shortcomings are removed by the elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning sign. When the highly reflective safety warning sign is used, it is very obvious to all approaching road users that there is a warned of hazard, exactly what and where the hazard is, and how far away it is. The vehicle or obstruction that is causing a potential hazard becomes part of the complete highly reflective safety warning sign itself.

Many accidents and hundreds of fatalities can be prevented by giving approaching motorists the information they need earlier and more clearly with immediate visual connectivity to the warned of danger through the use of the foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning sign invention now to be described.

Description of the elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning sign and the unfolding and erection thereof

The elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning sign invention includes an elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety hazard warning sign element (see paragraph a. below) and flexible highly reflective strip elements that are elevated as it is mounted on the roof of the distressed vehicle. (See paragraph b. below).

The physical dimensions and material construction may vary in width, length, colour, reflectivity and density from time to time as prescribed by the relevant authorities, regulations and strategic partners. These prescriptions are considered as inclusive of the design and are not considered as limiting the novelty and uniqueness of the complete multi-directional highly reflective hazard safety warning system.

a. Foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety hazard warning sign element

There are different ways the foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety hazard warning sign element and base element can be constructed. For example the foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety hazard warning sign element including the rigid

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base can be manufactured from a durable weatherproof material such as treated cardboard or a composite material or any other suitable durable weatherproof material that can be folded for stowage. The complete assembly comprises of multi-directional highly visible and reflective material and/or a number of LEDs. (Light emitting diodes).

The foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety hazard warning sign element including the rigid base may be orientated in a folded or in an erected position. In the folded position the folding sequence reduces the size of the sign and rigid base element for stowage. When the sign is removed from its stowage state and erected, a highly reflective multi-directional safety hazard warning triangle sign is formed at the top of the structure that is elevated by the highly reflective multi-directional rigid base at the bottom that itself includes a safety hazard warning.

The foldable elements result in multi-directional presentation of the hazard warning and foldable base that results in a firm stand which elevates the safety hazard warning sign. It is the purpose of this patent application to protect the novelty of the construction of the foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning sign as an independent invention.

b. Description of the flexible highly reflective strip element

The highly reflective strip element of the complete multi-directional highly reflective safety warning system is the element that helps to create additional connectivity between the hazard warning multi-directional highly reflective safety warning sign element and the specific stopped vehicle. It does this by causing the stopped vehicle itself to become an integral part of the complete multi-directional highly reflective safety warning system. The stopped vehicle is incorporated into the sign, (see figures B & C).

Each highly reflective strip element of the complete multi-directional highly reflective safety warning system may comprise of different colours and may also have a hazard strip or warning triangles, or any other designs as desired, printed on or attached to it. These printed sections will also be highly reflective and bright.

When the foldable multi-directional highly reflective warning sign element is located on top of the stopped vehicle these flexible highly reflective strip elements extend from the foldable multi-directional highly reflective warning sign element of the system down the length and breadth of the vehicle. These envelop or incorporate the vehicle into the complete multidirectional highly reflective safety warning system itself.

c. Description of the unfolding and erection of the elevated roof mounted multidirectional highly reflective safety warning sign

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The unfolding process is a simple sequence (see figure A). The unfolding process causes the whole assembly, comprising the foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety hazard warning sign element and the foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety hazard warning rigid base element to become very rigid. The system is locked open once erected with suitable locking mechanisms and can then be placed in an elevated position on the roof of the distressed vehicle. The base in the erected position provides a rigid and stable support for the multi-directional highly reflective safety hazard warning sign element and elevates the warning sign section above the roof of the distressed vehicle to a height that ensures a high degree of visibility to other approaching traffic from all directions. The rigid base element includes highly reflective markings to further enhance the visibility of the erected safety hazard warning sign element section mounted on it increasing the connectivity to the distressed vehicle on which it stands.

The foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety hazard warning rigid base element may further include a means to grip onto the roof of the vehicle such as suckers, magnets, Velcro, double sided tape or any other suitable fixing means.

Steps to position the elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning sign together with the highly reflective strip element comprising the complete foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning system on the roof of a distressed vehicle in a hazardous situation.

When a vehicle has stopped in a potentially hazardous position the driver will retrieve the warning system from stowage.

The driver will stand on the kerbside of the stopped vehicle and place the highly reflective strip elements on the roof of the vehicle and allow them to unroll or unfold forward and backward down the length of the vehicle.

The cross sections will then be unrolled or unfolded across the roof of the vehicle over the drivers and front passengers doors. They will then form a cross in the centre of the roof of the vehicle (see drawing F below). Each of the placed reflective tape sections can then be fixed to the bodywork of the vehicle by the prescribed means of fixing.

The elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning sign element of the complete elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning system will then be erected in a simple sequence and once fully erected it will be lifted onto the roof of the vehicle and placed onto the highly reflective strip elements on the roof of the vehicle which will securely connect the two components of the complete elevated roof mounted foldable multidirectional highly reflective safety warning system by various adhering mechanisms such as "Velcro sections" or any prescribed means of fixing in the centre of the strip elements (see figure F). This will "fix" the sign section in place.

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This can all be done from the kerbside of the road adjacent to the distressed vehicle with no need to walk away from the security of the distressed vehicle as is the case with traditional hazard warning signs. This is particularly important at night or where there is poor or obscured visibility for oncoming vehicles and minimises the risk and time required to erect the warning sign, flag the distressed vehicle and move away to safety. (See figure B)

This is a big advantage over traditional standard hazard triangles which requires that a person has to leave the safety of the distressed vehicle to install the less effective warning sign 100 yards up and / or down the road to warn oncoming vehicles of the distressed vehicle. Using the elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning system means more effective higher visibility warnings can be given to approaching vehicles without endangering the persons putting them in place.

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KEY

Figures supporting the elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning system invention

Figure A

Figure B

A key advantage of the foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning sign is that it is simple to erect, from a safe kerbside location close to the vehicle and then is easily folded to a convenient size for stowage in a vehicle when not it is not in use.

Figure C

A Side view of a passenger saloon vehicle with a complete elevated roof mounted multi-directional highly reflective safety warning system deployed. The flexible highly reflective element strips incorporate the vehicle into the sign. As can be seen the vehicle itself becomes the hazard sign.

The flexible highly reflective strip elements can be fully extended to the bumpers at the back, front and or sides of the vehicle.

The flexible highly reflective strip elements are held in place on the vehicle by suitable fixing devices. These could be magnets, suckers, or elasticated hooks or adhesive material (or by any other suitable means of attachment) which can be hooked/adhered onto the body work of the vehicle at a convenient spot. Only two of the many colour possibilities of the highly reflective material are shown in the following drawings.

Figure D

Front-on view of a recreational / commercial vehicle with a complete elevated roof mounted multidirectional highly reflective safety warning system deployed. The hazard sign system is multidirectional and highly reflective and can be seen equally effectively from the front and the rear of the stationary vehicle by other approaching vehicles. As the stopped vehicle is incorporated as an integral part of the warning system itself, the multi-directional feature is particularly effective on single carriage roads with two way traffic.

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Figure E

Rear-on view of recreational / commercial vehicle with a complete elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional flexible highly reflective safety warning system deployed. The hazard sign system is multi-directional and can be seen equally effectively from the front, rear and/or side of the stationary vehicle by other approaching vehicles. As the stopped vehicle is incorporated as an integral part of the warning system itself. This feature is particularly important on single carriage roads with two way traffic or any traffic junction.

Figure F

Top view of the highly reflective strip placed on the roof of the distressed vehicle before the erected sign element is placed upon it. The 4 separate flexible highly reflective strip elements together with assembly cross are placed across and down front, back and both side of the distressed vehicle. The assembly cross fixing section of the elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning system is shown in this drawing.

Figure G

Side on view of complete elevated roof mounted multi-directional flexible highly reflective safety warning sign element with base attached to assembly cross of the highly reflective strip element. This forms the complete elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning system separate from the distressed vehicle on which roof it will be placed. This will then form the complete warning system thereby incorporating the vehicle within the complete warning system.

Claims

12 Invention claims for the elevated roof mounted foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning system invention Invention claims

1. It is a claim of this invention to provide heightened and early visibility and connectivity to an obstruction such as a distressed vehicle located in or next to traffic flow irrespective of the direction of travel of the traffic towards the obstruction or distressed vehicle.

2. It is a further claim of this invention to provide, an elevated roof mounted foldable multidirectional highly reflective safety warning sign visible at considerable distance from the distressed vehicle or obstruction even at high road speeds of approaching road traffic.

3. It is a further claim of this invention to provide a foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning sign to be deployed at the will of the driver, passenger or any other appropriate person, from a position of safety if their vehicle becomes distressed and or an obstruction to other road traffic.

4. It is a further claim of this invention that this foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning sign can be folded for easy stowage within the vehicle.

5. It is a further claim of this invention that the elevated roof mounted foldable multidirectional highly reflective safety warning sign causes any stopped vehicle and in particular any dangerously stopped vehicle, to itself become a part of the hazard warning sign which alerts vehicles approaching from any direction well in advance of arriving at the vehicles location.

6. It is a further claim of this invention that the same device can be used for all makes and models of vehicle. All vehicles will use one design of the device which will be produced in various overall sizes so that when used on a higher / larger vehicle, such as a commercial van or SUV (Sport utility vehicle) the safety warning system is higher and larger.

7. It is a further claim of this invention that this foldable multi-directional sign is suitable as a sign declaring whatever is printed on all visual sides. As way of example, without limiting the potential variation of application, the foldable multi-directional sign can be used to warn that a ground level area of a structure (internally or externally) is wet or slippery in which case the specific presentation depicted on all its visual sides will reflect this hazard. Another example, without limiting the potential variation of application, the foldable multidirectional sign can be used to warn that a ground level area of a road, kerbside or playing field is under repair in which case the specific presentation depicted on all its visual sides will reflect this hazard. Another example, without limiting the potential variation of application, the foldable multi-directional sign can be used to advertise a particular product depending on the specific intention of the advert in which case the specific presentation depicted on all its visual sides will reflect the advert.

IB

8. It is a further claim of this invention that the sign is suitable for positioning on any surface albeit in this application it is presented as a foldable multi-directional highly reflective safety warning sign to be used on a vehicle. The presentation shown in the figures below depicts regulation traffic chevrons and hazard warning triangles on all its visual sides, which when deployed on top of a vehicle incorporates the vehicle as part of the complete warning sign itself. This inclusion ensures heightened and early visibility thereby connectively linking the hazard warning sign and the specific distressed vehicle itself emphasising that this vehicle is not part of the traffic flow.

9. It is a further claim of this invention that the physical dimensions and material construction may vary in width, length, colour, reflectivity and density from time to time as prescribed by the relevant authorities, regulations and strategic partners. These prescriptions are considered as inclusive of the design and are not considered as limiting the novelty and uniqueness of the complete multi-directional highly reflective hazard safety warning system.