GB2508932A - Safety aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety aid 1 comprises an elongate flexible member 2 arranged in use to surround an item, such as a wrist. The member has a first end 4 and a second end 5, wherein first end 4 is arranged in use to connect to second end 5, by a connector 6 such as a magnet. The member 2 may comprise high visibility material 3 spirally wrapped around it. The member 2 may also include material which is reflective and/or luminescent.

Description

A SAFETY AID

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a safety aid, mare particularly but not exclusively a safety aid to aid visibility low light or darkness.

Background

Whilst in low light conditions it is important to be visible to others so as to be safe.

Typically users carry torches or lights to improve visibility, however such items often rely on batteries and therefore have limited working times which may lead to inconvenient failure.

Also such devices may need to be carried by the user, restricting use of hands.

Holsters and straps may be provided to attach the lights to the user or to an item such as a bag or bike, however holsters and straps may not be easily attached without specific attachments for each item with cost implications.

Users may also wear reflective or fluorescent clothing, but this requires some forethought and may not always be practical in all situations, and may be costly.

Alternatively reflective strips or stickers may be added to clothing or items however these may become worn, damaged or tarnished over time and may also not be suitable for fitting to all, for example stickers may easily come off clothing and users may not wish to use such semi-permanent means for temporary purposes.

The present invention arose to overcome the problems associated with improving visibility of people in low light or dark conditions in a fashion that addresses all of the foregoing problems.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the prqblem or similar, including the following: United States patent application US 2011 235 311 (STONE) discloses a method protecting a pedestrian or cyclist from accidental collision with a vehicle comprising the following steps: a) mounting either directly or indirectly a first strip on the rear of a user; said first strip comprising a plurality of light emitting devices that emit red light * 5 upon activation by a power means; and b) mounting either directly or indirectly a second strip on the front of a user; said second strip comprising a plurality of light emitting devices that emit white or near white light upon activation by said power means.

Granted Spanish patent ES 2 201 905 (SANCHEZ et al) discloses a reflective harness, intended to distinguish the location of a pedestrian, cyclist, professional or other person who for whatever reason must use and/or remain on a road, public thoroughfare or in any other place with reduced or zero visibility, so that the user can be visualised with complete quickness and safety, characterised in that a portion is provided with rear positioning, preferably shaped as a triangle simulating a danger signal, which includes a perimeter band of reflective material, with strap portions capable of being connected to the shoulders of a user, running from the top apex of the triangle, filled with reflective portions in correspondence with the portions positioned at the rear, and joined by the opposing ends to belt portions, also made of reflective material, extending to both sides of the triangular piece, as a continuation of the base of the latter.

Granted European patent EP 1 090 252 (CROSS) discloses a portable reflective belt to be worn by a user of the device comprising a belt formed of a flexible material and having a length to allow it to encircle the waist of the user, a battery pack and circuit mounted on said belt, said belt providing an elongated envelope containing a plurality of light sources spaced along the length of the belt, and at least one elongated light transmitting member having said light sources positioned therealong and acting to transmit the light along the length of said member, said member being formed of a substantially transparent hot-melt adhesive thermoplastic material providing exceptional light transmission characteristics.

In contrast the present invention provides a temporary, effective and multiple use means of drawing attention to a user in low light conditions.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a safety aid comprising an elongate flexible member arranged in use to surround an item, said member having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is arranged in use to connect to said second end, and wherein said member comprises high visibility material.

The material may be reflective, being formed of material containing reflective particles or coating.

The material may be fluorescent1 photoluminescence or luminescent at least in part and capable of accepting, storing and emitting light or photons.

The member may comprise material combining luminescence and reflective properties, simultaneously, contemporaneously or contiguously.

The safety aid may be deformable. The aid may comprise a pliable core with a sleeve fitted coaxially over said core. Connectors may be provided at each end allowing connection of an endless ring and in addition or the alternative enabling one aid to connect to another. The aid may include safety enhancing light provision properties so as to provide a longer aid.

The aid may be advantageously wrapped around an object so as to enhance visibility of the object in low light or minimal light situations or locations. Advantageously the aid or aids may be repeatedly reshaped for different purposes or objects, for example so as to fit a bicycle frame, the user's arm, or a bag handle.

In preferred embodiments the aid's pliable core may enable bending and modelling into a shape in which the aid will remain until changed by the user, thereby ensuring the aid is secure whilst in use.

Typically the pliable core is cylindrical in shape, and formed from metal such as a steel alloy or material which is strong, durable and malleable, being suitable for multiple remodellings In preferred embodiments the core may covered with a flexible sleeve, which concentrically or coaxially encloses and surrounds the core, preventing the core from scratching the object's surface, and limiting the core from tarnishing and damage.

In other embodiments the core may be ovaloid, square, rectangular, flat or curved.

Typically the flexible sleeve fits around the core and is formed from a flexible synthetic plastic, rubber or elastomer so as to be durable, lightweight and resiliently deformable, enabling the aid to be remodelled and minimising damage.

In preferred embodiments the sleeve may include luminescent material in part or whole so to be visible in low light or dark conditions wherein ideally the luminescence is provided by luminescent portions able to emit light independently of any real-time light source.

Preferably the aid also includes retro-reflective or reflective material to reflect light back towards a real-time light source, for example a vehicle headlight. Thereby the aid is visible in low light by virtue of the luminescent means, and enhanced safety is further provided by lights such as headlights hitting the reflective material, thereby providing maximal safety benefits in a plurality of situations.

Advantageously no power source is required in the preferred embodiments. Further the aid may further include light emitting diodes for luminescence backup.

The material may provide luminescent or reflective material in sequential portions so as to define a broken! staggered, chevron and/or repetitive pattern at or from any one viewpoint, to further enhance notice effectiveness to third parties.

In preferred embodiments for example, the luminescent andfor reflective material may be arranged in use to wrap around the sleeve helically so to be repetitively visible when viewed from any angle. It may be envisaged that in some embodiments only fluorescent or reflective material may be used to simplify manufacture and for example layers or coverings of the reflective or fluorescent material may be available far retail separately to enhance the sleeve if required.

in other embodiments the luminescent and retro-reflective or reflective material may be provided in a regular pattern such as banding, striped or chequered.

In yet further embodiments the luminescent or reflective material may be provided on further structures on the aid, for example wherein projections from the aid may provide luminescent properties.

In preferred embodiments the aid is dimensioned so that it may be easily handled, manipulated or remodelled by the user, and provide sufficient surface area for the fluorescent and reflective material to be clearly visible in use.

The aid ends may include connectors so that one aid may be easily and effectively joined to another aid sequentially thereby increasing overall length and permitting use in a larger variety of situations.

The connectors may comprise mutually engageable male and female interlocking * connectors, wherein one end has a male connector and the distal or opposite end includes a female connector. Preferably the connectors may be colour coded so as to provide a visual indication to the user as to which ends to connect.

Ideally the male connector is accepted into the female connector and then * manipulated such as twisted, to secure in position the aids in respective engagement, enabling the aids to be remodelled without unauthorised disconnection.

Preferably the aid ends are generally flat, apart from the connector parts, so that when joined one aid end is flush with or to another end, giving the appearance and effect of one continuous or contiguous aid. The ends are alternatively arranged with corresponding male and female parts. Said parts or connectors more generally may require arrangement that avoids axial twisting of the core. In other embodiments twisting of the core may be consolidated by the connection.

In other embodiments the connectors may be joined by means of a push filling or screw mechanism in addition or the alternative.

Alternatively the connectors may comprise magnets so as to removably connect to one another or to a ferromagnetic surface. In some embodiments for example the connectors may include a magnetic cap, so that the mutually engageable connectors may be used but if magnetic surfaces are available the cap may be added.

Advantageously therefore one aid may be connected to another so as to increase overall length for example from 300mm to 600mm in order that the aids may be used for or around larger objects or may be wrapped around objects more times to provide greater visibility to third parties, In other embodiments smaller aid lengths may be provided wherein the aid is less than 300mm so as to suit smaller fittings such as the user's wrist or a bicycle cable.

Additionally the aid diameter may be reduced so as to suit smaller fittings.

In some embodiments the connectors may comprise a fluorescent or reflective coating or be formed of a such material, so as to provide safety benefits in low light, advantageously in addition making for easy connection and disconnection of one aid from another.

It may be further envisaged that the aids may be available in a plurality of colours and patterns so as to appeal to different users.

In some embodiments the sleeve may be embossed with an image or text such as a logo or with user information such as an emergency cOntact number. In other embodiments the fluorescent and retro-reflective material means may be provided as a pattern, image or as text.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of two preferred embodiments of the aid connected together; Figure 2 shows a side view of one of the embodiments shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side view of the two aids connected together as shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a plan view of the two aids connected together as shown in Figure 1; Figures 5 show two end views of the embodiment shown in Figure 2; And Figure 6 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

Detailed Description of Figures

In preferred embodiments the aids 1 are at least 200mm and preferably at least 300mm long so as to be of a suitable length to wrap around an object.

With reference to the figures the aid 1 has two distal ends 4, 5 wherein said ends comprise a male connector 5 and a female connector 6, wherein said male connector 5 is inserted into said female connector 6 and twisted to cause a connection.

In order to maintain said connection, ideally the connectors are offset radially.

Further embodiments may include twistable collars or end mountings 6. Said mountings 6 and/or ends 4, 5 may be provided in luminescent or reflective material.

The material used in the preferred embodiment comprises reflective stripe binding 2 about a luminescent base 3.

Preferably the aid's diameter is greater than 10mm and ideally 15mm The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. Claims 1. A safety aid, comprising an elongate flexible member arranged in use to surround an item, said member having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is arranged in use to connect to said second end, and wherein said member comprises high visibility material.
2. 2. A safety aid according to claim 1 wherein said material is reflective at least in part.
3. 3. A safety aid according to claim 1 wherein said material is luminescent at least in part.
4. 4. A safety aid according to any of the preceding claims wherein the first end includes a male connector and the second end includes a female connector and said connectors are capable of forming the connection through rotation.
5. 5. A safety aidaccording to claim 4 wherein the connectors are radially offset prior to connection.