GB2614731A

GB2614731A - 362-1 illuminated cable protection device

Info

Publication number: GB2614731A
Application number: GB2200465.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Ponting Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-01-14
Filing date: 2022-01-14
Publication date: 2023-07-19

Abstract

A cable protection device incorporates audible and visible means to warn passers-by of its presence. The device comprises a control box 2 having a lid 1, and a flexible member 5 which is connected to the control box by means of connection members (Fig. 9: 36) which fit into slots 37 in the flexible member. Both the control box 2 and the flexible member 5 have cavities (Fig. 4: 21) that are open at the bottom (Fig. 4: 17) of the protection device and accommodate a cable 8 to be protected. Continuous linear light sources are incorporated along the length of the protection device. The light sources may comprise light pipes 4 located within open elongate cavities in the surface of the flexible member 5 and illuminated by LEDs (Fig. 5: 26). The surface of the member which engages the light pipe may have ridges (Fig. 4: 19) to allow the light pipe to move in the cavity. The flexible member is shaped with sides tapered in order to minimise a trip hazard and allow wheels to pass over. The protection device may accommodate multiple cables. The linear light source may be mounted entirely below the surface of the member 5, in which case light can be transmitted through the member 5. Automatic turn on and off functions may be controlled by an ambient light level sensor (Fig. 5: 28).

Description

An Illuminated Cable Protection Device

Background

The use of cable protection devices is well known, such devices being arranged to protect cables from the wheels of vehicles, prams, etc, to protect persons from tripping and to provide easy transition over the cable for the likes of prams and scooters. Available protectors include flexible and rigid devices that allow the cable to be placed inside a protected cavity. Commonly available cable protectors are shaped to provide a tapered ramp each side of the cable protection cavity.

The present invention seeks to improve on currently available cable protectors by providing visual and audible indication to alert passers-by of its presence.

The present invention.

The present invention will now be described by referring to the attached Figures where-.

Fig # 1 shows a three-dimensional view of the invention looking generally from the top and from the cable entry end. For the purpose of illustration, the length of the flexible member (5) is drawn shorter than it would normally be.

Fig #2 shows a three-dimensional view of the invention looking generally from the top and from the cable exit end. For the purpose of illustration, the length of the flexible member (5) is drawn shorter than it would normally be and the light pipe (4) is shown protruding from the end, which it would not normally do. Also, no end cap is shown at the terminating end of the flexible member (5).

Fig #3 shows a three-dimensional view of the invention looking generally from the underside.

Fig # 4 shows a section across the flexible member (5).

Fig #5 shows a three-dimensional view of the invention looking generally from the top and with the control box lid (1) removed.

Fig # 6 shows a section across the control box taken so as to show the supply cable clamp (14) Fig # 7 shows a section along the light pipe (4) and showing the light pipe retaining collar (22) and the illuminating LED (26).

Fig # 8 shows a section across the control box base (2) and control box lid (1) taken to show the magnetic operating key (3) Fig #9 shows a three-dimensional view of the control box lid (1) and control box base (2) with the flexible member (5) removed.

To clarify the numbers 16 and 20 have not been used in numbering the features of the invention in the various figures.

Description of the primary parts of the invention

Item (1) is a lid and item (2) is a base of a control box. The control box is operated by a magnetic key (3). The control box is attached to a flexible member (5) by means of two connection members (36). The flexible member (5) has two open cavities to locate two light pipe members (4). Both the control box and the flexible member (5) have cavities that are open at the bottom and arranged to accommodate a supply cable (8) that is to be protected.

Description of the invention

The cable protector consists of a member (5) of the required length. The member (5) is shaped as shown in fig # 4 with the sides tapered in order to minimise any trip hazard and to allow small wheels to pass over freely. The cable (8) is enclosed in a cavity (21). A slit (17) can be opened up to allow insertion of the cable (8) into the cavity (21) as the member (5) has a degree of flexibility. The base of the member (5) has ribs (18) to enhance its stability when placed on a ground surface that is not completely flat. Cavities (37) are formed in the member (5) these serve to provide a location for connection members (36) on the control box, thus providing a means of connecting the control box to the member (5). The connection members (36) can have barbs added to the form, not shown in the figures, to enhance their resistance to pulling out of the cavity (37). The connection members (36) can also have their resistance to pulling out of the member (5) greatly enhanced by adding screws or the like that pass through the base of the member (5) and the member (36).

The top surface of the member (5) has open cavities to accommodate a light pipe (4), the surface of the member (5) that engages the light pipe (4) can have ridges (19) to allow the light pipe (4) to move in the cavity when the member (5) is coiled.

The top surface of the member (5) can have stripes (6) of one or more colours that differ from the colour of the member (5) in order to make the invention more easily seen. The visibility of the invention can be further enhanced by making at least one of the coloured stripes (6) from a finish that fluoresces.

The member (5) can be made rigid, or it can be flexible allowing it to be rolled up when not in use.

The end of the member (5) that is remote from the control box can have a cosmetic finishing cap fitted if required.

In another embodiment of the invention the light pipe can be replaced with another light source.

Attached to the member (5) is a control box consisting of a body (2) and a lid (1), these parts are held together by screws (13) and the control box is sealed at the junction of the lid (1) and body (2) by the presence of a seal (31). The protected cable (8) passes under the control box and can be secured by a clamp (14), which is held in place by screws (15). The light pipe (4) passes through entry hole (35) and is retained in the control box by a collar (22) and the light pipe is sealed by ring (32) to prevent water from entering the control box.

The light pipe is illuminated by a LED (26). An indicator LED (27) is arranged to illuminate the light pipe (4) as shown in fig # 7 or to illuminate a window (11) as shown in fig #2.

A light sensor (28) can be positioned behind a light pipe LED (26) as shown in fig # 5, or it can be positioned behind a window (7) as shown in fig # 1.

A magnetic operating key (3) consists of an enclosure to contain a magnet (33), and the magnet (33) is held in place by friction or snatches or by sealing compound (34) or by a combination of these retention methods as shown in fig # 8. The magnetic operating can be retained under the control box by its magnet being attracted to a steel plate (25) which is retained inside the control box.

Two printed circuit boards (38) and (39) are secured inside the control box, these are connected together by wires (23). Attached to the printed circuit boards (38) and (39) are battery holders (29), an audible sounder (24) and function setting switches (30).

In order to turn the invention on or off or to alter settable control functions the magnetic operating key (3) must be removed from its normal position under the control box and one of the large flat faces presented to the sensitive position (12) on top of the control box lid (1).

The invention is intended to operate for more than a month on its internal batteries.

The preferred position for the control box is with the cable (8) arranged such that its exit from the control box goes to the supply (9) and its exit from the member (5) goes loo to the supplied equipment (10) as shown in fig # 1, but in some instances, it can be preferred to reverse these connections.

The description of the invention refers to the protection of a cable, it is intended that the invention can be used to protect multiple cables or other linear members such as pipes, fibre cables providing the overall profile of the linear members can fit within the space provided by the invention.

In some applications where it is not practical to have one item of the invention because of the required length then two or more items of the invention can be used in series with each other.

In other embodiments of the invention there can be no light pipes (4) or at least 1 light pipe (4) along with or without the sounder (24) and with or without automatic turn on and off functions controlled by the ambient light level sensor (28).

In another embodiment of the invention the light pipe or an alternative linear light source can be mounted entirely below the surface of the member (5) when at least the surface above the light source is able to pass the light through.

Accordingly, the invention comprises a cable protection device that incorporates at least one visible and substantially continuous linear light source along its length.

Claims

An Illuminated Cable Protection Device Claims 1 A cable protection device that incorporates at least one visible and substantially continuous linear light source along its length.
2 A claim as claimed in claim 1 where the light source is a light pipe with side 205 illumination.
3 A claim as claimed in claim 1 where the light source is derived from another medium.
4 A claim as claimed in claims 1 to 3 where the light source is turned on and off to preserve battery power and to make it more noticeable to nearby persons.210 5 A claim as claimed in claims 1 to 4 where an audible sounder is added to the invention to enhance its noticeability to nearby persons.