APPARATUS FOR ROOFING A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AREA

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of roofing apparatuses and more particularly the present invention is a roofing apparatus for a pedestrian crossing area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Pedestrian crossings are used by pedestrians all over the world and under all kinds of weather conditions. While the improvement of road and pavement infrastructures and the placement of traffic signposts improve the safety of using pedestrian crossings, very limited solutions are provided to improve pedestrian comfort when using a pedestrian crossing and when waiting in the area adjacent to the pedestrian crossing, under inclement weather conditions such as rain, sun, snow, etc. Inclement weather may cause the deterioration of pedestrian safety, when crossing at a pedestrian crossing or waiting at the pedestrian crossing area. A pedestrian may, for example, hurry across the street to avoid waiting on the pavement area under a heavy rain. Therefore, providing roofing to the pedestrian crossing area, and thereby protection from inclement weather to pedestrians in a pedestrian crossing area may improve pedestrian safety.

[0003] Patent number RU2189418, by V.P. Sopromadze, discloses a method for improving weather related pedestrian discomforts in pedestrian crossings, by building the pedestrian crossings as roofed, bridged crossings that can be used as the foundations of buildings that are built on top of the bridged crossings. While Sopromadze provides weather protection for the pedestrians, the roofed, bridged

crossings may be very expensive and complicated to build, especially in small pedestrian crossings or in places where building a bridge or a building unit is not possible.

[0004] Patent number US2006090824, by Wade B. Kreft, discloses a reusable weatherproof, protective single-sheet cover comprising a sleeve, a fastener and a storage pouch that provides protection from the weather to a conventional pedestrian crossing signal. Kreft does not disclose such protection for the pedestrians when they cross a pedestrian crossing or when they wait at the area adjacent to the pedestrian crossing. [0005] None of the related art provides a solution for protecting a pedestrian crossing area from inclement weather that is simple to build and install and does not require building foundations. Furthermore, none of the related art discloses a pedestrian-crossing roofing apparatus that can be converted or reshaped to adjust to several weather conditions or traffic conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention is a roofing apparatus (RA) for a pedestrian crossing area that comprises at least one pole supporting at least one roof , wherein said roof roofs at least part of a pedestrian crossing and at least one pavement waiting-area. The waiting area may be defined as an area of the pavement that is adjacent to the pedestrian crossing, where pedestrians may stand and wait prior to crossing a pedestrian crossing

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the RA may be adjustable according to various weather conditions as well as according to various traffic conditions. The RA may be adjusted by constructing at least part of the roof to be movable. The movable part of the roof may open and close and thereby allow the roof to be adjusted to fit various weather conditions.

[0008] According to embodiments of the present invention, the movable part of the roof may be extended so that the RA may roof various areas of the pedestrian crossing area. For example, the roof may be extended to cover the pedestrian crossing as well as the waiting area and may be folded or retracted to cover only the waiting area.

[0009] According to embodiments of the present invention, the closed and open positions of the movable roof part allow adjustment of the RA to traffic conditions. Further according to the traffic conditions may include illuminating the RA to improve visibility of the pedestrian crossing area, according to embodiments of the present invention. Illumination of the RA may be carried out through various mechanisms, devices, designs and materials. For example, the RA may be illuminated by lamps. The traffic lights may automatically operate the lamps. When the traffic light is red the RA is illuminated in a greenish illumination, to signal the to drivers

that pedestrians may be crossing; and when the traffic light is green the RA is illuminated in a reddish illumination to signal to the drivers that pedestrians should not be crossing, while at the same time highlighting the pedestrian crossing area to the drivers.

[0010] The RA provides a safe as well as a convenient solution. The RA may improve pedestrian convenience in crossing a pedestrian crossing and in waiting at the waiting area by protecting the pedestrians from inclement weather condition at these areas. The RA may also improve pedestrian safety around the pedestrian crossing by providing a clear visual indication of the presence of the pedestrian crossing area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The subject matter regarded as the invention will become more clearly understood in light of the ensuing description of embodiments herein, given by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the present invention only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

Fig. IA and Fig- IB are schematic illustrations of a roofing apparatus for a pedestrian-crossing area, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0012] The drawings together with the description make apparent to those skilled in the art how the invention may be embodied in practice.

[0013] No attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention. [0014] An embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions. The various appearances of "one embodiment", "an embodiment" or "some embodiments" do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments. Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention is a roofing apparatus (RA) 100 for a pedestrian crossing 200 area. RA 100 comprises at least one pole 12 supporting at least one roof 14, wherein roof 14 roofs at least part of pedestrian crossing 200 and at least one waiting area 300.

[0016] While the description below contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of the preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other possible variations that are within its scope. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

[0017] Reference in the specification to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "some embodiments" or "other embodiments" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions. It is understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only.

[0018] The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples. It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construe a limitation to an application of the invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description below.

[0019] It is to be understood that the terms "including", "comprising", "consisting" and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers. The phrase "consisting essentially of", and grammatical variants thereof, when used herein is not to be construed as excluding additional components, steps, features, integers or groups thereof but rather that the additional features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, device or method. [0020] If the specification or claims refer to "an additional" element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to "a" or "an" element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element. It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic "may", "might", "can" or "could" be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

[0021] Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described.

[0022] Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks. The term "method" refers to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known

manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs. The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only. [0023] Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined. The present invention can be implemented in the testing or practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein. [0024] Any publications, including patents, patent applications and articles, referenced or mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in the description of some embodiments of the invention shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.

[0025] According to embodiments of the present invention, RA 100 includes at least one pole 12 supporting at least one roof 14. RA 100 may be positioned over at least one waiting area 300. Waiting area 300 may be defined as an area adjacent to pedestrian crossing 200 where pedestrians 10 may wait to cross pedestrian crossing 200 such as a pavement area that is adjacent to pedestrian crossing 200, for example. RA 100 may further provide weather protection for pedestrians 10 while crossing pedestrian crossing 200, since roof 14 of RA 100 may be extended to provide roofing over at least part of pedestrian crossing 200.

[0026] According to embodiments of the present invention, poles 12 may be made of any material that supports roof 14, such as metal, wood, plastic, stone, concrete, etc., or any combination of materials.

[0027] According to embodiments of the present invention, poles 12 may be telescopic or non telescopic.

[0028] According to further embodiments of the present invention, at least one part of roof 14 may be movable. For example, at least part of roof 14 may be reshaped, closed, opened or folded. Such a feature allows roof 14 to be adjusted according to weather conditions. [0029] Reference is now made to Fig. IA and Fig. IB, which schematically illustrate a roofing apparatus (RA) 100, according to some embodiments of the present invention. According to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. IA and Fig. IB, roof 14 is movable and poles 12 are telescopic. Opening and closing of roof 14 may, for example, cover and uncover pedestrian crossing 200 area to fit various weather conditions. For example, roof 14 can extend to an open position, as illustrated in Fig. IB, to roof pedestrian crossing 200 and protect pedestrians 10 crossing in rainy weather; and may be folded to a closed position, as illustrated in Fig. IA, in nice weather, when pedestrians 10 do not need protection from the rain or sun. [0030] According to embodiments of the present invention, the open position of roof 14 that covers pedestrian crossing 200 area may limit the crossing of vehicles that exceed a certain height, wherein that height is limited according to the height of roof 14. Telescopic poles 12 may provide various height limitations. The closed position of roof 14, according to embodiments of the present invention, may remove the height limitations.

[0031] According to some embodiments of the present invention, roof 14 provides roofing for pedestrians 10. Roof 14 may provide roofing in various weather conditions such as rain, snow and sun. Roof 14 may be constructed in any shape that provides protection from said weather conditions over waiting area 300 and pedestrian crossing 200 area. For example, roof 14 may be a flat platform, a series of arched roofs integrated into a single roof 14, a pyramid -like shape, etc.

[0032] According to embodiments of the present invention, RA 100 may be constructed of telescopic poles 12 supporting a non-movable roof 14, non-telescopic poles 12 supporting a non-movable roof 14, non-telescopic poles 12 supporting a movable roof 14, or telescopic poles 12 supporting a movable roof 14.

[0033] According to embodiments of the present invention, roof 14 may be open and closed manually or automatically. Roof 14 may also be electronically controlled by pedestrians 10 and by a remotely control unit that may be computerized. For example, the RA 100 may include "open" and "close" buttons that pedestrians 10 may press to control, for example, the closing and opening of roof 14.

[0034] According to some embodiments of the present invention, at least part of RA 100 may be illuminated, through illumination devices or light reflecting substances or both, that are attached to RA 100. The illumination devices and reflectors may be controlled by, for example, pedestrians 10 or traffic supervision controllers such as traffic supervising personnel or automated traffic controlling systems.

[0035] For example, pedestrians 10 may turn on a light switch when they reach waiting area 300, turning on the switch may automatically illuminate roof 14 and poles 12 for a predetermined time interval. The illumination may provide additional safety for pedestrians 10, since once pedestrian 10 presses the switch, the light

illuminated through RA 100 signals drivers that pedestrian 10 is waiting at the waiting area 300 to cross pedestrian crossing 200. The illumination may be automatically controlled by traffic controlling systems and may be coordinated with the changing of nearby traffic lights. For example, a traffic light that signals pedestrians 10 if they can cross or wait at the waiting area 300, may be coordinated with the illumination of RA 100. When the pedestrians' 10 traffic light is signaling, for example, red or "stop", RA 100 illumination may be low prior to the pedestrian traffic light turning to, for example, green or "walk". RA 100 illumination may be enhanced during the "walk" interval and may then be lowered again during the "stop" interval. According to another example, instead of lowering or enhancing the illumination of RA 100, various colors can be used. The colors may be, for example, the same colors as are used in a traffic light that is located at the pedestrian crossing 200. According to such an embodiment, when the traffic light signals "red" for the vehicles to stop and pedestrians 10 to safely use pedestrian crossing 200, RA 100 may be automatically illuminated in a reddish illumination. When the traffic light signals "green" for the vehicles to drive and pedestrians 10 to wait, RA 100 may automatically become illuminated in a greenish illumination.

[0036] According to some embodiments of the present invention, movable roof 14 may comprise a frame with shutters connected to said frame. Roof 14 may move between the open and close positions manually or automatically by rotating the shutters.

[0037] According to some embodiments of the present invention, movable roof 14 may comprise a frame with a single weatherproof sheet connected to the frame. The frame can be folded and unfolded like an accordion, folding the connected sheet along

with it. Roof 14 may move between the open and closed positions manually or automatically by extending and contracting the frame.

[0038] According to some embodiments of the present invention, movable roof 14 may be a roof comprising window units, wherein the window units can be automatically or manually opened and closed.

[0039] Movable roof 14 may be constructed and designed in any way that is know in the art, providing that at least part of roof 14 is movable.

[0040] According to some embodiments of the present invention, RA 100 may include at least one wall at the waiting area 300, wherein the wall connects to at least two poles 12 and to roof 14. Such a wall may provide pedestrians 10 additional protection from the inclement weather. Three such walls may form a station-like roofed shed for pedestrians 10 to stand in when waiting at waiting area 300. [0041] According to some embodiments of the present invention, at least one area of RA 100 may be used to advertise and promote a product, a company and the like. For example, RA 100 may be designed according to a company logo or with familiar colors and shapes designated to a known company such as the shape of a Coca Cola bottle. Advertisements and advertising accessories may be displayed on at least one component of RA 100.

[0042] According to some embodiments of the present invention, RA 100 may include at least one screen and at least one receiver, for displaying written and visual massages or advertising materials such as slogans and filmed commercials. For example, a screen that receives and represents on line massages regarding traffic conditions or announcements relating to the area of pedestrian crossing 200, or slogans and announcements regarding travel safety etc.

[0043] According to embodiments of the present invention, RA 100 may further include at least one sensor that enables the detection of pedestrians 10 in waiting area 300 or pedestrians 10 that are crossing pedestrian crossing 200. The detection of pedestrians 10 by such a sensor or sensors may enable automatically indicating to drivers that there are pedestrians 10 in crossing 200 through a visible indicator on RA 100. The visible indicator may be, for example, illumination of at least part of the RA 100 or the projecting of a warning message on the screen attached to RA 100. [0044] According to embodiments of the present invention, RA 100 may include sensors for sensing pedestrians 10 in waiting area 300 or in pedestrian crossing 200 area or in both areas.

[0045] According to embodiments of the present invention, RA 100 may include a solar-based power source, wherein the power source may provide the power supply for the illumination of RA 100 and for the operation of the screen. [0046] According to embodiments of the present invention, RA 100 may further include at least one bar that is connected to at least one pole 12, wherein the bar may prevent pedestrians 10 from crossing pedestrian crossing 200. The bar may be manually or automatically controlled by pedestrians 10, by the traffic lights or by any other controlling units. For example, the bar may automatically allow pedestrians 10 to cross when the traffic light that signals the passing vehicles is red, by lifting of the bar, and may prevent crossing when the traffic light is green by moving the bar to a position that physically blocks passage to pedestrians 10 at crossing 200 area. [0047] According to some embodiments of the present invention, operation of the bar, the sensors, the traffic lights, the illumination of RA 100, and the screen may be associatively coordinated. For example, the illumination of RA 100 may correspond to the sensing of pedestrians 10 by the sensors.