HAZARD WARNING APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a hazard warning apparatus and a method of warning road users of a hazard, such as a broken down motor vehicle .

Motor vehicles , such as cars , vans and trucks are very reliable. However, due to a large increase in number of motor vehicles on the roads in recent years, breakdowns are still commonplace . Breakdowns occur for a variety of reasons , such as running out of petrol , diesel or more recently electrical charge. Furthermore, punctured tyres and mechanical failures remain a problem.

Traditionally, when a motor vehicle breaks down, the driver pulls to a standstill on a side of a road or into a central reservation and switches on emergency lights . The emergency lights include all four indictor lights, flashing simultaneously at their normal flash rate . The driver may also place a reflective triangle at a distance to the broken down motor vehicle to aid early warning of the broken down motor vehicle . The reflective triangle reflects light beams provided by an oncoming vehicle back towards the driver of the oncoming vehicle, which will hopefully provide enough time to react to the situation and make appropriate manoeuvres to avoid a collision or other unwanted incident.

The inventors noted that a large number of accidents involve a broken down vehicle . Even if the broken down vehicle pulls up in a hard shoulder, the broken down vehicle has a real risk of being hit by surrounding traffic. The invention attempts to address road safety issues.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hazard warning apparatus comprising a display having an array of light elements and at least one foot

SUBSTITUTE SHEET RULE 26 for fixing said display to a surface of a vehicle. The light display optionally comprises an array of light elements .

Preferably, the hazard warning apparatus of the present invention will work alongside a motor vehicles traditional hazard warning lights and may be an alternative or an addition to a hazard warning triangle. Advantageously, the hazard warning apparatus of the present invention is, in use, placed at a higher point on the motor vehicle than the traditional hazard warning lights, such as on a roof, bonnet, boot or on a front or rear windscreen. This preferably provides oncoming traffic with a more advanced warning of the broken down motor vehicle, giving the oncoming traffic more time to react and more time to make the correct manoeuvre to avoid the broken down car without a traffic incident.

Optionally, the hazard warning apparatus further comprises a controller for controlling the light elements of the array. Optionally, the light elements are controlled to flash and preferably to flash in a predetermined order. Optionally, the light elements are light emitting diodes (LEDs) . Preferably, the array forms a plurality of arrow heads. Optionally, the controller controls the light elements to simultaneously light all light elements in one arrow head of said plurality of arrow heads and optionally whilst the light elements of at least one other arrow head are controlled to simultaneously be off or be at a significantly lower brightness (lumens) . Preferably, all the light elements in each arrow head are controlled to be on in a timed order, starting with a single arrow at a distal end of the display being on and the others off and ending with the light elements on in all arrow heads along the display up to the proximal end. A time period of preferably 0.1 second between light elements in each adjacent arrow turning from off to on.

Optionally, the hazard warning apparatus further comprises a battery. Optionally the battery is rechargeable and is rechargeable using a recharging lead. Optionally, the hazard warning apparatus further comprises an electrical lead with a twelve volt connector for insertion into a cigarette lighter connector within a vehicle. Optionally, the hazard warning apparatus further comprises an electrical lead with a five volt USB connector. Optionally, the at least one foot comprises a suction cap. Optionally, the display is arranged on a board. Optionally, the board is a planar board and optionally made from a poly carbonate material, a rigid plastics material, a resin impregnated wooden board or the like. Optionally, the board is a solid panel with no openings therein. Alternatively, the board has a number of openings therein. The openings may provide a passage for airflow to reduce the impact of wind on the display to facilitate the display standing in its intended position. Optionally, the board is foldable. Optionally, the board comprises panels with hinges therebetween to facilitate folding, which may reduce the length and/or width of the board to facilitate storage of the hazard warning apparatus in the motor vehicle. The hinge may be a continuous, piano type hinge or a reduced section. The panels may separate and have male and female connection means to join the panels together for use and disconnect for storage.

Optionally, the foot comprises a suction cup. Optionally, the foot forms part of a stand. The stand may comprise a leg having a distal and proximal ends with the foot arranged at the distal end and the display arranged at a proximal end. The stand may comprise one, two three, four or more legs, with at least one leg provided with a foot and preferably all of the legs provided with a foot. The foot may be provided with a universal joint, such as a ball and socket joint to allow a base of the foot to be angled to be parallel with a roof or other surface of the motor vehicle to which the apparatus is to be attached.

Optionally, the at least one foot is arranged on a stand for mounting on the roof of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has a substantially smooth and/or planar surface.

Optionally, a foot arranged on a face of said display to facilitate attachment to a windscreen.

Optionally, the hazard warning apparatus has a plurality of suction cup attachment means , such as a threaded recess or spigot or threaded spigot, so that the suction cup movable therebetween. Having one attachment means on the back and/or front of the display and one on a stand provides a plurality of attachment means, such that only one high quality suction cup is required to be supplied with the apparatus.

The present invention also provides a method of warning road users of a hazard, the method comprising the steps of placing a foot on a display to form a hazard warning apparatus and fixing the hazard warning apparatus on a roof of a motor vehicle.

The present invention also provides a method of warning road users of a hazard, the method comprising the steps of placing a foot on a display to form a hazard warning apparatus and fixing the hazard warning apparatus on a windscreen or window of a motor vehicle.

The invention is preferably for use with motor vehicles including cars, light vans and trucks.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 1A, is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 ready for use on a roof of a car;

Figure IB is a perspective view of a stand of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the stand shown in a ready for use position;

Figure 1C is a perspective inverted view of the stand shown in Figure IB in a position suitable for storage ;

Figure ID is a front view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1A, in use on the roof of a car;

Figure IE is a perspective view of a display of the apparatus shown in Figure 1A;

Figure IF is a perspective view of part of the display of the apparatus shown in Figure 1A;

Figure 1G is a front view of apparatus shown in

Figure 1A, shown ready for use mounted on a rear windscreen of car;

Figure 1H is a perspective view of a part of the display shown in Figure IE ;

Figure II is a schematic view of a control box of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 1J shows a suction cup suitable for use in the stand as shown in Figure IB or on a face of the display as shown in Figure IE;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a display for an apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2A shows a rear elevation of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention showing the display shown in Figure 2 with a stand for use therewith or any other display disclosed herein;

Figure 3 is a front view of a third embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention, shown ready for use mounted on a roof of a car;

Figure 3A is a front view of part of the display shown in Figure 3;

Figure 4 is a front view of a fourth embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention, shown ready for use mounted on a roof of a car;

Figure 4A is a front view of part of the display shown in Figure ;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5A is a perspective view of part of an alternative display for an apparatus in accordance with the present invention, such as the apparatus shown in Figure 5 ;

Figure 5B is a view in cross-section of the display shown in Figure 5A;

Figure 5D is a side view of a stand shown in the apparatus of Figure 5A, the stand shown in a folded position ;

Figure 5E is a top plan view of the stand shown in

Figure 5D in a position ready for use;

Figure 5F is a rear elevation of display of the apparatus shown in Figure 5 ;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention ;

Figure 6A is a front view of a display of the apparatus shown in Figure 6; and Figure 6B is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 6, in a storage position with a handle.

Figure 1 shows an apparatus in accordance with the present invention generally identified by reference numeral 1. The apparatus comprises a display 2 and a stand 3.

The display 2 has overall dimensions of approximately 915mm wide, 230mm high and 25mm deep. However, other suitable sizes may suffice, such as 500mm to 1500mm wide, 150mm to 450mm high and 5mm to 50mm deep. As shown in Figure IE, the display

As shown in Figure IE, the display 2 is foldable to halve its width for storage. The display 2 comprises two parts 4 and 5 which are foldable about a hinge 6, best shown in Figure 1H. The hinge 6 comprises a thin flexible film sandwiched between back panels 7, 8 and front panels 9, 10. The front and back panels 7 to 10 may be made from rigid or semi-rigid material such as a 2 to 10mm thick polycarbonate, plastics material or resin impregnated board.

Part 4 also comprises four arrow heads 11, 12, 13 and 14, each arrow head formed by a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 20. Part 5 also comprises four arrow heads 15, 16, 17 and 18, each arrow head formed by a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 20. The preferred number of LEDs forming each arrow head 11 to 18 is between seven and nineteen and most preferably between nine and seventeen. Each arrow head is also formed with a fluorescent tape 21, which may be from 25 to 50mm wide. The tape 21 is adhered to a front face 22 of front panels 9 and 10 forming an arrow head shape.

The LEDs 20 are each arranged in respective holes 23 in the front panels 9 and 10 arranged along a centre line of fluorescent tape 21. Back panels 7 and 18 are secured to the front panels 9 and 10 to inhibit the LEDs falling out of their respective holes 23. The back panels 7 and 8 are secured to the front panels 9 and 10 with an adhesive 24 and/or mechanical fixings (not shown) . The LEDs 20 may also be secured to the back panel 7, 8 with a glue or wax or the like.

In between each pair of arrow heads 11 to 18, there may be a further strip of fluorescent or phosphorescent tape in the shape of a further arrow head or chevron (not shown) .

The LEDs 20 for each arrow 11 to 18 are electrically linked with wires 29, which may be joined to form a ribbon, which leads to a control box 26 located on part 4. The LEDs 20 on part 5 are electrically connected back to the control box 26 with a ribbon 27, which is laid loose between parts 4 and 5 to allow for a hinging action between the two parts 4 and 5.

As shown in Figure II, the control box 26 comprises an electronic control circuit 28, to which ribbon wires 27 and 29 are connected. A switch 30 is also connected to the circuit board 28, although the switch 30 may be connected in line with a power source. Three power sources are provided:

a direct 12v supply 31 from a car cigarette light socket;

a 5v supply from a USB supply, which powers the control circuit 28 directly through a DC to DC converter to increase the supply voltage to 12v or to charge a rechargeable 12v battery 33 built in to the control box 26;

a 12v battery supply, which may be recharged through line 34 to a 12v supply via line 31. The control circuit 28 may comprise a processor 35 and a read only memory chip (EPROM) 36. The EPROM contains instructions controlling a sequence for switching the LEDs 20 in each arrow head 11 to 18 on and off. The processor 35 commands LEDs 20 in each arrow head 11 to 18 when command by activation of switch 30.

The sequence for switching the LEDs 20 in each arrow preferably follow the sequence:

Starting at a distal end 40 of the display, switch on LEDs in arrow head 11, whilst all other arrow heads 12 to 18 are switched off; then carry out the following moving arrow head procedure four times - wait between 0.2 and 3 seconds, preferably 2 seconds and switch on the LEDs in the adjacent arrow head 12; wait between 0.2 and 3 seconds, preferably 2 seconds and switch on the LEDs in the adjacent arrow head 13; and repeat this arrow head procedure until all the LEDs 20 in all arrow heads 11 to 18 up to the proximal end 41 are on simultaneously, for between 0.2 and 3 seconds, preferably 2 seconds, the LEDs in arrow heads 12 to 18 and then switched off.

Once the moving arrow head procedure, as described above, has been carried out four times, all of the LEDs in all of the arrow heads 11 to 18 are operated to flash five times with an on/off interval of between 0.3 and 3 seconds and preferably 1 second.

The part 4 is provided with a lug 42 which is rigidly fixed thereto with an adhesive or mechanical fixings (not shown) . Once the part 5 has been unfolded from part 4 about hinge 6 to form a planar display, bolts or other mechanical fixings 43 are used to rigidly join the lug 42 to the part 5. The lug 42 is provided with a vertical hole 44 for receiving any stand 3 or suction pad disclosed herein.

A rear face 46 of back panels 7 and/or 8 is provided with a threaded bolt 45 to which a suction cup foot 48 may be attached. This allows the display to be attached to a windscreen of a car or other smooth vertical or near vertical surface. It should be noted that the use directional LEDs may be useful, but if the display panel is to be used at angles to oncoming traffic, having a polar dispersal of light with a range of up to 180 degrees may be preferred to a polar dispersal of light of 30 degrees .

Figure 1J shows a suitable suction cup foot 48, which is optionally a Ram Mounts RAM-B-224-1U Suction Cup Twist Lock Base supplied by Clas Ohlson and shown and described in US Patent No. US-A-6 , 666 , 420. The suction cup 48 preferably has a twist lock mechanism 49 to activate and lock suction on a smooth surface. This type of suction cup 48 allows a margin of flexibility when attaching the suction cup to a convex window surface.

A suitable stand 3 is shown in Figure IB and 1C. A leg 50 is inserted into the vertical hole 44 and into a threaded hole 51 of a hub 52. The hub 52 has three tapering legs 53, 54, 55 extending therefrom and thereabout at 120 degree intervals and pivoted thereto. Each leg 53, 54, 55 are each provided with a suction cap 56, 57 and 58 to facilitate attachment to a motor vehicle roof, bonnet or the like.

Figure 1A and ID show the hazard warning apparatus 1 arranged on a roof 99 of a car 98, with suction cups 56, 57 and 58 activated to lock the apparatus to the roof 99 of the car 98.

Figure 1G shows the display 2 mounted on an exterior of a rear windscreen 97 of a car 99 using a suction cup 48.

A second embodiment of a display is shown in Figure 2, which is generally similar to the display 2 shown and described above, with the same reference numerals used in the one hundred series .

The display 102 differs from display 2 in that portions of the front and rear panels 125 are removed to reduce weight and to reduce the impact of wind and rain on the display to reduce the likelihood of the display being blown from a roof of a motor vehicle in inclement conditions .

Figure 2A shows a stand 103 which comprises a rigid leg 150 inserted into hole 144 in lug 142. A suction cup foot 148 comprises a threaded bolt 160 which is threaded in a threaded recess 159 of leg 103. The suction cup foot 148 may be of the type shown in Figure 1J. Thus the stand comprises a single suction cup foot 148 on the end of a fixed leg 150. A threaded recess 161 is also provided in a rear face of the lug 142. The suction cup foot 148 can be unthreaded from the leg 150 and subsequently threaded in to the threaded recess 161 to facilitate attachment to an exterior face of a rear or front windscreen or side windows .

Figure 3 shows an inverted display 102, particularly but not exclusively for use in countries in which cars proceed on the right hand side of a road. The display 102 is mounted on to a roof 399 of a car 398. This can be achieved by inverting the display 102 and inserting a leg 50, 150 of a stand 3, 103 therein.

Figure 3A shows a back panels 107, 108 which are generally similar to back panel 7, 8, save for the LEDs 120 which are arranged on a tape 170. The tape comprises an electrically conductive element to convey electric power to the LEDs 120. The LEDs 120 are rated at 1020 lumens per metre. The colour emitted by the LED may be any suitable colour, although it is preferred the colour is yellow or orange in the order of 1600 to 2200 kelvin and optionally 2000 Kelvin.

Figure 4 shows a display 402 which comprises four arrow heads 411, 412, 413, 414 pointing in one direction and four arrow heads 415, 416, 417 and 418 pointing in an opposite direction. This arrangement may be suited for cars which have broken down in a central reservation.

Figure 4A shows a suitable array of LEDs which can achieve all three arrangements of arrow heads with appropriate control provided by processing unit instructions contained in EPROM 36 and activated using processor 35. Back panels 407, 408 which are generally similar to back panel 7, 8, save for the LEDs 420 which are arranged on a tape 470. The tape 470 comprises an electrically conductive element to convey electric power to the LEDs 120. The LEDs 120 are rated at 1020 lumens per metre. The colour emitted by the LED may be any suitable colour, although it is preferred the colour is yellow or orange in the order of 1600 to 2200 kelvin and optionally 2000 Kelvin. The LED tape 470 is arranged in a chevron pattern overlaid with a chevron pattern in an opposing direction. This allows arrow heads to be directed left, right and half left and half right.

Figure 5 shows a hazard warning apparatus generally similar to the apparatus shown in the previous Figures, comprising a display 502, a stand 203 and suction cup feet 548. with the exception of the pattern of LEDs 520, which are of a uniform rectangular array comprising columns and rows of LEDs 520. The display 502 is generally rectangular with a tapered portion 575 at one end.

The stand 503 has a leg 550 which is rotatable about a pivot pin 551 as shown in Figure 5F. A switch 530 is arranged on a rear face of the display 502.

Figure 5A shows the display is formed of two parts

504 and 505 which are hinged together using a piano or continuous hinge 506. Each part comprises a backing board 507, a transparent or translucent front layer 509, with an array of LEDs 520, preferably on tape 570. The LEDs may alternatively be arranged in the shape of arrow heads, as shown in the first embodiment in Figure 1.

A suction cup foot 548 may be removeably provided in a rear wall of the backing board 507.

The stand 503 is generally similar to the stand described above with reference to Figure 1, although the stand comprises a leg 550 joined to a hub 552 with a pivot pin 549 about which two arms 553 and 554, each arm 553 and 554 has a suction cup or rubber foot 555, 556, 557, 558 at each end. can rotate.

Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, wherein the display 602 is similar to any of the displays disclosed herein, save for two hinges 606a and 606b and three parts comprising a central portion 604 and two wing portions 607a, 607b. The wing portions may take the form of triangles, giving an indication of direction to oncoming traffic. The central portion 604 is hinged or otherwise attached to a stand 603 in the form of a box. The box contains a control box 628, similar to control box 28 as well as a separate battery 633 and a compartment 631a for a power lead 631.