WO2015031917A2

WO2015031917A2 - A signalling device

Info

Publication number: WO2015031917A2
Application number: PCT/ZA2014/000043
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andries Johannes Joubert
Original assignee: Andries Johannes Joubert
Priority date: 2013-08-26
Filing date: 2014-08-26
Publication date: 2015-03-05
Also published as: WO2015031917A3

Abstract

The signalling device 10 includes a retaining means in the form of a bracket 12 configured and dimensioned to receive and retain four light sources. The light sources are removeably mounted on the bracket 12. A controller is provided for controlling operation of the light sources. A connector is provided for connecting the device 10 to a source of power, the connector being arranged in electrical communication with charging means in the form of electrical connectors 18 for the light sources, the electrical connectors 18 being arranged on the bracket 12.

Description

A smn&Lum DEVICE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a signalling device that can be used to signal distress, warning, and/or to indicate a particular location or area In an emergency situation.

Background f© the Inventi n

In -situations where a vehicle is stationary next to a road or highway, warning trsangle is typically placed behind the vehicle for safety reasons to alert other roads users. Th triangle is however not readily visible In daylight. At night, the reflective surface of the triangle makes it more visible when headlights of other vehicles shine directl onto it so that it is only clearly visible when other vehicles are relativel close to the stationary vehicle. in- situations where persons wis to- indicate thei location such as, for example, a sea or in a remote area, flares are used. Flares are readil visible at night as well as during the day but only for a short period of time. Accordingly, if rescue team is not close enough to^' the location to notice the flare, its use is futile.

The inventor therefore believes that need exists for providing a signalling device that is visible¹ at night as well as during the day and which is visible for a sufficiently long time to be able to function as a warning device as well as an emergency signalling device.

Summary ©f the invention

According to the invention, there is provided a signalling device including:-

~ a retaining means configured and dimensioned to receiv and retain two or more light sources; ~ two or more light sources that are removeably mountable on the retaining means; - a controller for controlling operation of the light sources; and - a connector for connecting the device to a source of power, the connector being arranged n electrical communication with charging means for the l g t sources, the charging means being arranged on the retaining means.

The retaining means may be i the form of a bracket having two or more receiving formations for receiving two or more light sources.

The light sources may be configured and dimensioned to sfideabiy engage the receiving formations so as to permit easy insertion and removal thereof.

The charging means for the tight sources may be arranged on a surface of the receiving formations and may form an electrical connection with the light sources when these are located in the receiving formations.

The bracket ma include flanges or wings in which apertures may fee defined to permit attachment of the bracket to a surface by suitable attachment means such as, for example, screws.

Alternatively or additionally, a rear wall of the bracket may be provided wit -a magnet to permit magnetic attachment of the. bracket to a metal surface.

The signalling device may include four, eight, or twelve fight sources.

Each of the light sources may include:

- a housing;

~ a plurality of individual light sources arranged in the housing; and - a transparent cover covering the individual light sources.

The housing may Include a magnet to permit attachment of the fight source to a metal surface.

The housing may further include a solar panel for generating sola power for powering the Individual light sources. The individual light sources may be in the form of LED fights.

The cover may be coloured. The colour may be selected from the grou including; yellow, amber, red, and blue. The colour of the housing may be selected according to the needs of a user, e.g. red to signal an emergency, amber or yellow as a warning signal, and blue for use - by police officials.

Each Sight source may include an ON/OFF switch to permit individual operation of each light source.

The signalling device may include a back-up battery to perms! it to operate independently from a source of power,

The controller may control the operation of the light sources when the are retained by the retaining means, specifically activation and de-activation of the individual light sources. The controller ma also control a flashing frequency of the individual light sources.

The controller may additionall control charging of the back-up battery as well as monitoring its condition.

The connector may facilitate connection of the signalling device to a source of power such as, for example, a batter of a vehicle by an electrical cable connected to a cigarette lighter socket of the vehicle. Alternatively, th connector may be connected directly to a battery of a car to permit permanent charging of the signalling device.

A male member may be arranged at a free end of the cable for insertion into a cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle. In use, the signalling device may be mounted to a body of a vehicle. The device may alternatively be mounted to an inside of a vehicle boot so that the device becomes visible when the boot is opened.

Individual light sources may be removed from the retaining means and placed directly on a body of a vehicle or around the periphery of a sea-going rescue vessel. The signalling device may be mounted to a backpack of a hiker.

A plurality of signalling devices may be arranged to demarcate an area such as, fo example, an area in which a helicopter is to land. Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will now be described by way of the following, non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings. n the drawings:- Figure 1 is a front view of a retaining means of a signalling devic in accordance with the present Invention;

Figure 2 is a rear view of t e retaining means of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a front view of the retaining means of Figure 1 wth one light source mounted thereon; Figure 4 is a three-dimensional side vie of a retaining means of a signalling device in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a front view of a light source of a signalling device in accordance with the present invention.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates an embodiment of a signalling device In accordance wit the present Invention;

The signalling device 10 includes a retaining means in the form of a bracket 12 configured and dimensioned to receive and retain four light sources 14.

Four light sources 14 are removeab!y mounted on the bracket 12.

A controller {not shown) is provided for controlling operation of the light source 14, A connector 16 is provided for connecting the device 10 to a source of power (not shown), the connector 18 being arranged in electrical communication with charging means in the form of electrical connectors 18 for the light sources 14, the electrical connectors 18 being arranged on the bracket 12 as shown in Figure 1. in particular, the electrical connectors 18 are arranged on a surface of the receiving formations 20 and form an electrical connection with th light sources 14 when these ar located in the receiving formations 20, thereby charging them when the connector 16 is connected to a source of power. The bracket 12 has four receiving formations 20 for receiving the light sources .; 14 therein.

The light sources 14 are configured and dimensioned to slideable engage the receiving formations 20 so as to permit easy insertion and removal thereof. Referring now to Figure 4, the receiving formations 20 are defined by a supporting ledge 22, dividers 24, roof formations 26 from which the dividers 24 extend, and side panels 28 arranged at either side of the bracket 12.

The bracket 12 Includes flange 30 in which apertures 32 are defined to permit attachment of the bracket 12 to a surface by suitable attachment means such as, for example, screws,

Alternatively or additionally, a rear wall of tri bracket 12 can be provided with a magnet (not included in the embodiment shown) to permi magnetic attachment of the bracket 12 to a metal surface.

Although a signalling device 10 with four light sources 14 is shown, i is to be appreciated, that the device 10 can include more or less light sources, the bracket 12 being configured accordingly.

Referring now to Figure 5, each of the ligh sources 14 includes a housing 34, a plurality of individual light sources in the form of LED's 36 arranged in the housing 34 and a transparent cover 36 covering the LED's 36. The housing 34 can include a magnetic permit attachment of the light source 14 to a metal surface.

The housing 34 can further include a solar panel for generating solar power for powering the LED's 38.

The cover 38 can be coloured. The colour is selected from the group including: yellow, amber, red, and blue according to the needs of a user, e.g. red to signal an emergency, amber or yellow as a warning signal, and blue fo use by police officials,

Each light source 14 can include an ON/OFF switch to permit individual operation of each light source 14,

s The signalling device 10 can include a back-up battery to permit it to operate ndependently from a source of power.

The controller controls the operation of the light sources 14 when they are retained by the bracket 12, specifically activation and deactivation of the LED's 38. The controller also controls a flashing frequency of the LED's 38.

The controller can additionally control charging^■ of ^'the back-up battery as well as monitoring its condition.

The connector 16 facilitates, connectio of the signalling devic 10 to a source of powe such as, for example, a battery of a vehicle by an electrical cable 40 connected to a cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle. Alternatively, the connector 16 can be connected directly to a battery of a car to permit permanent charging of the signalling device 10.

A male member (not shown) is arranged at a free end of the cable 40 for insertion into a cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle.

It is to be appreciated, that the inventio is not.- limited, to any particular embodiment or configuration as hereinbefore described and/or illustrated.

Claims

1. A signalling device including;-

- a retaining means configured and dimensioned to receive and retain two or more light sources; s - two or more light sources thai are removeabiy mounfabte on the retaining means;

- a controller for controlling operation of the light sources; and

~ a connector for connecting the device to a source of power, the connector being arranged in electrica communication with charging means for the lig t sources, the charging means being arranged on the retaining means. 0 2 , A signalling device as claimed in claim , wherein the retaining means is in the form of a bracket having two or more receiving formations for receiving two or more light sources.

3, A signalling device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light sources are configured and dimensioned to sildeab!y engage the receiving formations so5 as to permit easy insertion and removal thereof.

4, A signalling device as claimed in an one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the charging means for the light sources is arranged on a surface of the receiving formations and forms an electrical connection with the fight sources when these are located in the receiving formations, 0 5. A signalling device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining means includes flanges or wings in which apertures are defined to permit attachment of the retaining means to a surface by suitable attachment means.

6. A signalling device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a5 rear wall of the retaining means is provided with a magnet to permit magnetic attachment of the retaining means to a metal surface.

7 A signalling device as claimed In any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the light sources includes: - a housing;

- a plurality of individual light sources arranged in the housing; and

- a transparent cover covering the individual light sources.

8. A signalling device as claimed i claim 7. wherein the housing includes a 5 magnet to permit attachment of the light source to a metal surface,

9. A signalling device as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the housing further Includes a solar panel for _.generating.^' solar power for powering the individual light sources,

10. A signalling device as claimed i an one of claims to 9, wherein the ID individual light sources are in the form of LED lights.

1 1. A signalling device as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the cover is coloured and the colour is selected from the grou Including: yellow, amber, red, and blue,

12. A signalling device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein 15 each light source Includes an ON/OFF switch to permit individual operation of each light source.

13. A signalling device as claimed In any one of the preceding claims, wherein the signalling device includes a back-up battery to permit it to operate independently from a source of power.

20 14. A signalling device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the controller controls the operation of the light sources when they are retained by the retaining means as well as charging of the back-up battery and monitoring its condition,

15, A signalling device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector facilitates connection of the signalling device to a source of power.

25 18. A signalling device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the connector includes an electrical cable at a fre end of which a male member is arranged for insertion into a cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle.

17. A signalling device according to the invention, as hereinbefore generally described.

18. A signalling device as specifically described with reference to or as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings. 19. A signalling device including any new and inventive integer or combination of integers, substantially as herein described.