GB2609405A

GB2609405A - A Vehicle safety device

Info

Publication number: GB2609405A
Application number: GB2110838.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Singh Dhamendra
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-07-28
Filing date: 2021-07-28
Publication date: 2023-02-08
Also published as: GB202110838D0

Abstract

A vehicle safety device for use when carrying elongate items, in particular ladders 100, which overhang the end of a vehicle comprises a warning sign 1 and an item securement mechanism 10. The item securement mechanism secures the warning sign to the end of item, such that the warning sign extends in a vertical direction from the end of the item. The warning sign preferably comprises one or more sockets 6 for receiving the end of the elongate item. The securement mechanism preferably comprises a lateral member 22 for passage through a rung of a ladder and connectors, e.g. nuts and bolts 23, 21, for connecting the lateral member to the sign. The warning sign is retroreflective and preferably perforated. It may further comprise a light source, and one or more sensors, e.g. a proximity sensor connected to a camera and arranged to communicate with a vehicle parking sensor system.

Description

A VEHICLE SAFETY DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle safety device, in particular a device for providing a warning on a vehicle; more particularly but not exclusively a device for providing a warning on a vehicle of an overhanging item such as a ladder.

Background and Prior Art

Many people carry elongate items such as ladders or pipe containers or surf-or sailboards on top of vehicles, including smaller passenger vehicles.

Such items are thereby liable to overhang the vehicle edges.

This can be dangerous as other road users may not realise the overhang, and/or the user of the vehicle may forget when parking or similar.

Typically many people tie a rag or reflective jacket on the end of the item. However 20 such can become dirtied, blown to one side and/or dislodged, reducing effectiveness.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle safety device for carrying an elongate item, such as a ladder, comprises a warning sign and an item securement mechanism, wherein the item securement mechanism secures the warning sign to the end of the elongate item, such that the warning sign extends upwards from the end of the item, the warning sign including retroreflective parts.

In this way the device thereby raises awareness that an item is overhanging the original side of a vehicle and thereby prevents an accident occurring. The warning sign is 35 arranged to stand out so is very visible to other road users. The device furthermore stops users from using a high visibility jacket on the end of ladders, which may be worn and discoloured.

It may be envisaged that the device of the present invention may advantageously provide an easily regulated and/or regulatable standard of warning or safety for elongate items on a vehicle, for example allowing for mandatory status. Additionally or alternatively the device may provide a standardised standard, for example enabling testing of road users, such as in driving tests.

In some embodiments of the device the item securement mechanism comprises sockets for receiving the item end in the warning sign. In this way it may be envisaged that the item may be secured into the sockets. The sockets may for example comprise catches for the item's ends, and/or may include a resiliently deformable catching mechanism for catching and gripping the ladder ends. In other embodiments the sockets may comprise threaded mechanism parts for screwing into or onto or against the ladder ends, for example grub screws.

In still further embodiments the sockets may be envisaged to solely and securely locate the ladder ends for the securement mechanism.

In some embodiments of the device the item securement mechanism comprises a lateral member for passage through a rung of a ladder. In this way the ladder ends may be located into the device sockets and the securement mechanism may be operated through the ladder rungs so as to pull the ladder against the warning sign or vice-versa.

In some embodiments of the mechanism the lateral member is rigid. In this way the member may be easily pushed through the central passage of the rung for securement of the member ends to the warning sign.

In some embodiments of the mechanism the lateral member is flexible. In this way the member may be passed through the central passage of the rung and secured directly to the warning sign or made available for securing to the warning sign by other parts.

In some embodiments of the device the item securement mechanism comprises connectors which are adapted to connect the lateral member and the warning sign.

Such connectors may comprise ends to the member and/or may connect into on onto the sockets.

The connectors may be permanently secured to the warning sign and/or may extend 5 from the warning sign so as to connect into or onto the member.

The connectors and/or member may allow adjustment. In this way the device may be secured at the end of the ladders for example using an adjustable strap, and/or may be secured to any extended container hanging over a vehicle such as a pipe holder 10 with different connectors.

In some embodiments of the device the warning sign is a substantially planar part. In this way the warning sign may provide a flat, easily visible sign, such as is known in the art.

In some embodiments of the device the warning sign is triangular, so as to provide a recognisable warning to other road users. It may be envisaged that the triangular form may have a point uppermost, or lowermost, distanced from the item, and the warning sign is more stable secured to the item at two points.

In some embodiments of the device the warning sign is perforated. In this way the warning sign allows passage of air in use, such that the warning sign does not act as aerodynamic block for the vehicle.

In some embodiments of the device the device comprises an energy source. For example the energy source may comprise a battery, or a socket for connection of an electrical energy source. In this way the device may be connected to a vehicular electrical supply, temporarily or permanently.

In some embodiments of the device the device comprises one or more light source providing an illumination means. For example the warning sign may comprise one or more lights, for example light emitting diodes (LEDs), which may be spaced about the warning sign face, sides or edges. This may advantageously improve effectiveness of the warning in lower light. In addition it may be envisaged that the LEDs may flash or similar.

In some embodiments of the device the device comprises one or more sensor. For example in some embodiments of the device the sensor comprises a proximity sensor. This may be arranged to allow a user to judge how far the device is from a surface, so as to aid in parking for example, wherein it may be envisaged that the item may typically extend further than the vehicle in use. This may advantageously aid the user in remembering the presence and/or length of the item. In other embodiments the sensor may comprise a light sensor, so as to control illumination or similar.

In some embodiments of the device the sensor comprises a sensor which causes an 10 imaging means to record an image, for example a video or photography means. In this way the device may be envisaged to broadcast images to aid in parking the vehicle.

In some embodiments of the device the device is arranged to communicate with a vehicle parking sensor system. For example the device may provide a connection for 15 an existing vehicular sensor, parking or proximity sensor system, such connection being physical, digital or analogue.

In some embodiments the device has displaceable connectors. In this way a plurality of connectors may be enabled, for example so as to allow for different members, and/or 20 so as to allow for different items.

In use the user simply places the device onto the end of the item, be it ladders or a pipe container, for example securing through ladder rungs, being a quick and easy securement which will take seconds to fit.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; And Figure 5 shows a sketch view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there are shown two embodiments 99, 199 of a vehicle safety device for carriage of an elongate item such as a ladder 100 generally comprising a warning sign 1 and an item securement mechanism 10, wherein the item securement mechanism secures the warning sign to the end of item, such that the warning sign extends upwards in a vertical direction from the end of the item, the warning sign comprising retroreflective bordering parts 2.

With particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a triangular shaped hazardous warning sign made of a flat plastic face 4 with sides 7 extending rearwards along the axis of the ladders item, and a rear structure extending along the axis of the item, and providing two lanyard attachment points for loop passage 13 of the ends of flexible strap member 11 with buckle type connectors 12 to secure the flexible strap member. The connectors further comprise resilient clip connectors, so as to allow easy release from the loop 13 and disconnection of the member from the ladders.

In order to secure the warning sign to the ladders the ladder ends are located into sockets 6 in the rear structure of the warning sign and an end of the member is passed through the hollow rung of the ladders and clipped to the loose connector 12.

The embodiment of the warning sign 1 has a reflective border 2 for night-time awareness and five perforations 4 on the front face 5 of the warning sign 1, and six on the sides or edges 7.

In some embodiments there may also be a high visibility or retroreflective strip around the outside edge or sides of the sign for increased visibility.

The embodiment's adjustable strap can be secured to the ladders and secured to comply with road safety.

The second pictured embodiment comprises a rigid member 22 and two side connectors 21 which are also rigid, the connectors comprising a bolt end and distal threaded end, which is used with a wing nut 23 to connect the warning sign 1 to the member 22, which has been passed through the rung.

This alternative arrangement of mechanism is useful because it allows the embodiment to adapt to ladders with rounded or smaller rungs. In other variations some ladder rungs may require a small clip otherwise.

The warning sign can be equipped with a parking sensor, wired to the inside of the vehicle, allowing the user to detect other high vehicles or obstacles approaching the back of the transported ladder.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated 25 that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1. A vehicle safety device for carrying an elongate item, such as a ladder, comprises a warning sign and an item securement mechanism, wherein the item securement mechanism secures the warning sign to the end of the elongate item, such that the warning sign extends upwards from the end of the item, the warning sign including retroreflective parts.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the item securement mechanism comprises one or more sockets for receiving the item end in the warning sign.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the item securement mechanism comprises a lateral member for passage through a rung of a ladder.
4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the lateral member is rigid.
5. A device according to claim 3 wherein the lateral member is flexible.
6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the item securement mechanism comprises connectors which are adapted to connect the lateral member and the warning sign.
7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the connectors are displaceable from the warning sign.
8. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the warning sign is a substantially planar.
9. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the warning sign is triangular.
10. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the warning sign is perforated to permit passage of air therethrough.
11. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the device includes a battery and at least one light source.
12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the device comprises one or more sensors.
13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.
14. A device according to claim 13 wherein the sensor causes an imaging means to record an image.
15. A device according to any claim 13 or 14 wherein the device is arranged to communicate with a vehicle parking sensor system.