GB2539520A

GB2539520A - Modular bridge for emergency vehicle lighting

Info

Publication number: GB2539520A
Application number: GB1521449.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sarda Vallduvi Rafel
Original assignee: Federal Signal Vama SA
Current assignee: Federal Signal Vama SA
Priority date: 2015-06-15
Filing date: 2015-12-04
Publication date: 2016-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-04
Also published as: FR3037296B3; DE202015106951U1; PT11263T; CH711188A2; GB201521449D0; CH711188B1; FR3037296A3; ES1140731Y; NO20151771A1; GB2539520B; ES1140731U

Abstract

Modular bridge for emergency vehicle lighting comprising a lower support base 6 with a central part where a central module 1 is coupled to, and ends where two lateral modules 2, equipped with warning lights inside them, are coupled to; said lateral modules comprising bearing surfaces (2a, Fig.2) that rest on the ends of the lower support base 6. The central module and the two lateral modules comprise male fixed connectors 3 and female fixed connectors 4 that plug into each other and are located on the pairs of opposing sides of the central module and the lateral modules. The ends of the lower support base and the bearing surfaces of the lateral modules comprise guiding and fixing means based on complementary lugs and slots (7,8). The slots may have widened ends (8a, Fig.5) where the heads (7a) of the lugs may pass through. May further comprise open slots for attachment of lateral modules to base. Screw fixings may be used to further secure the assembly and a skirting (5, fig. 2) may extend around the circumference of the assembly to conceal the edges of the central module opposing sides.

Description

MODULAR BRIDGE FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLE LIGHTING DESCRIPTION

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as expressed in the title of this description, refers to a modular bridge for emergency vehicle lighting that is coupled to, for example, the roof of a police car. It basically comprises a central module and two lateral modules.

From this premise, the object of the invention is to be able to couple the two lateral modules with the central module without using cables, ensuring water and air tightness, and allowing the user to easily remove and place the lateral modules, as well as ensuring that the lateral modules equipped with warning lights inside them are safely anchored.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO ADDRESS AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently there are a number of modular bridges for emergency vehicle lighting, notably those comprising a central module and two lateral modules equipped with warning lights inside them, which are powered by means of cables, so that when the lateral modules need to be dismounted, said cabling complicates the process, and the bridge for emergency lighting also needs to be dismounted beforehand.

Utility model bearing publication no. ES 1068039 U is known, referring to a bridge for emergency lighting comprising a lower support base where a central module and two lateral modules are mounted on, which are also equipped with warning lights inside them. The two lateral modules and the central module define a central space where an articulated panel is located, which can be folded and unfolded, sticking out from above the three modules to send a message with LED diodes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to reach the goals and avoid the drawbacks mentioned in the above paragraphs, the invention proposes a modular bridge for emergency vehicle lighting comprising a lower support base with a central part where a central module is coupled to, and the ends of the bridge where two lateral modules, equipped with warning lights inside them, are coupled to. Said lateral modules also comprise bearing surfaces that rest on the ends of the lower support base.

The central module and the two lateral modules comprise male fixed connectors and female fixed connectors that plug into each other and are located on the pairs of opposing sides of the central module and the lateral modules.

The ends of the lower support base and the bearing surfaces of the io lateral modules comprise guiding and fixing means; where the guiding means comprise slots in combination with headed lugs, and said lugs are inserted and guided in said slots.

The headed lugs run from the bearing ces of the lateral modules and are set facing the main closed slots located on the ends of the lower Is support base, and these slots have widened ends where the heads of the lugs are inserted while mounting and dismounting the lateral modules.

The ends of the lower support base comprise additional open slots where other headed lugs are inserted, which also run from the bearing surfaces of the lateral modules.

The fixing means of the lateral modules comprise screws threading threaded orifices in the bearing surfaces of the lateral modules, where said screws are first inserted through a series of holes located on the ends of the lower support base.

The ends of the lower support base of the central module comprise centred channels facing a series of central threaded orifices located on the bearing surfaces of the lateral modules, which are used as means to fix said lateral modules using screws.

Hereinafter, in order to give a better understanding of the description, the object of the invention has been detailed in a series of drawings that are an integral part of the report and are for illustration purposes and without limitation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1,-Shows a perspective view of the modular bridge for emergency vehicle lighting that is the object of the invention. It basically comprises a central module and two lateral modules.

Figure 2.-Shows a perspective view of a part of the bridge for emergency lighting that is the object of the invention, Figures 3 and 4,-Show perspective views of some of the details representing how a lateral module and the central module are mounted.

Figure 8,-Shows an exploded perspective view of a lateral module and a lower support base where the lateral module is fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF A SAMPLE EMBODIMENT

Considering the numbering adopted for the figures, the modular bridge iO for emergency vehicle lighting comprises a central module (1) and two lateral modules (2) equipped with warning lights inside them, which receive power through fixed male connectors (3) and fixed female connectors (4) that plug into each other and are located on the pair of opposing sides of the central module (1) and the lateral modules (2).

is Therefore, when the lateral modules (2) are mounted on the central module (1), their opposing sides are close to each other creating a gap between them that matches the width of the plugged connectors (3), (4), so that said gap between them is hidden by means of exterior skirtings (5) that run from the edges defined by the opposing sides of the central module (1), thus concealing the edges of the opposing sides of the lateral modules (2) under said exterior skirtings (5).

In addition, the bridge for emergency lighting also comprises a lower support base (6) with a central part where the central module (1) is fixed, and ends where the two lateral modules (2) are anchored so that they can be 25 dismounted, as described below.

in order to achieve this, each of the lateral modules (2) comprises a bearing surface (2a) with two emerging headed (7a) lugs (7) facing a series of main dosed slots (8) located on the ends of the lower support base (6), these main slots (8) having widened ends (8a) where the heads (7a) of the lugs (7) are inserted when the lateral modules (2) are mounted and dismounted.

Therefore, in order to mount the lateral modules (2) described, their bearing surfaces (2a) rest on the ends of the lower support base (6) inserting the lugs (7) through the widened ends (8a) of the main slots (8), to subsequently slide the lateral modules (2) towards the central module (1), so that across this first displacement direction the lugs (7) are guided along the main slots (8) of the lower support base (6), and simultaneously when this first-direction motion takes place the fixed male connectors (3) and the female fixed connectors (4) are coupled into each other.

Finally, when the lateral modules (2) across their guided displacement reach the end of their path defined by the connectors (3), (4) plugging into each other, the lateral modules (2) are secured by means of screws (9) threaded into threaded orifices in the bearing surface (2a) of the lateral modules (2), where said screws are first inserted through a series of holes located on the ends of the lower support base (6).

The ends of the lower support base (6) comprise L-shaped flanges (10) facing a transverse part of the lateral modules (2).

in another embodiment such as the one shown on figure 2, the ends of the lower support base (6) comprise additional open slots (11) where other headed (7a) lugs (7) are inserted, which also run from the bearing surface (2a) of the lateral modules (2).

In another embodiment, the ends of the lower support base (6) of the central module (1) comprise centred channels (12) facing a central threaded orifice located on the bearing surfaces (2a) of the lateral modules (2), which are used as means to fix said lateral modules (2) using other screws (9).

in order to dismount the lateral modules (2), first the screws (9) are dismounted, and then said lateral modules (2) slide in a second displacement direction in order to unplug the male (3) and female (4) connectors, so that the headed (7a) lugs (7) can be released from each of the different slots: the main (8) and/or additional (11) slots.