FIELD OF INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to portable traffic control devices.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Pointsmen usually wear white gloves when directing traffic at intersections in order to improve visibility or accentuate hand signals given to road users. A pointsman needs to give clear, direct signals in order to ensure safe crossing of road users at the intersection. At large intersections, a number of pointsmen have been seen directing traffic simultaneously. This joint exercise of directing traffic requires greater concentration from the pointsmen to ensure that they do not provide contradicting signals as well as requiring a greater level of concentration from the road users. However, in inclement weather conditions or at night, it may become increasingly difficult for road users to identify and follow a pointsmen’s hand signals.

The present invention aims to alleviate the drawbacks discussed above.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a signalling device for use when directing traffic, the signalling device including: a wearable item which is configured to be worn by a user; a power source connected to the wearable item; control circuitry coupled to the power source, the control circuitry including at least one gesture sensor; and a plurality of indicators, coupled to the control circuitry, and configured to communicate at least two different signals to onlookers in order to control traffic flow, wherein the control circuitry is configured automatically to control operation of the indicators based upon at least one user gesture sensed by the gesture sensor.

The indicators may be visual indicators. The visual indicators may be LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). The LEDs may be multicolour LEDs. The wearable item may be a glove. The glove may be multi-layered and may define internal pockets or passageways for accommodating wiring and electronic components. The glove may be weatherproof or water-resistant. The power source may be a battery.

The control circuitry may include at least two gesture sensors. Each gesture sensor may be configured to sense a different user gesture in response to which different signals are communicated via the indicators.

Preferably, the control circuitry includes three gesture sensors. Each gesture sensor is configured to sense a different user gesture in response to which different signals are communicated via the indicators.

The gesture sensor may be in the form of a mechanical switch. It is conceivable that the gesture sensor may take the form of an accelerometer or other position sensor such as a mechanical Reed switch, magnetic switch or capacitive switches. In the case of an accelerometer, the control circuitry may include a processor configured to output signals to the indicators based upon input received from the accelerometer.

The mechanical switch may take the form of a miniature contact switch which is biased to an open position to prevent accidental closure of the switch.

Each gesture sensor may be in the form of a mechanical switch disposed at a different position of the wearable item. Each mechanical switch may be configured to open/close a separate circuit, each including a plurality of visual indicators, in response to a unique user gesture being performed by the user. In the case in which the wearable item is a glove, the control circuitry including the gesture sensors may be embedded in the glove or accommodated in cavities formed in the multi-layer glove. A first dorsal gesture sensor may be disposed in a wrist region of the glove. A second palmar gesture sensor may be disposed in a palm region of the glove. A third gesture sensor may be disposed in a thumb region of the glove.

In response to rearward extension of the wrist, the first dorsal gesture sensor may be closed which lights up a first set of visual indicators in a red colour. This indicates to traffic to stop. The first set of visual indicators are disposed toward distal ends of glove fingers.

In response to closing of the hand, the second palmar gesture sensor may be closed which lights up a second set of visual indicators in a green colour. This indicates that traffic may proceed. The second set of visual indicators are also disposed toward distal ends of respective glove fingers.

In response to flexion of the thumb, the third gesture sensor may be closed in response to which the control circuitry lights up a third set of visual indicators comprising dorsal indicators and palmar indicators. The dorsal indicators are lit up in red and the palmar indicators are simultaneously lit up in green. This is used by the pointsman to indicate that traffic may turn right or left depending on which hand is used.

When in a neutral or handshake position, none of the gesture sensors of the control circuitry are closed and therefore no indicators are lit up.

The user gesture may include any one or more of wrist extension, palmar flexion and thumb flexion.

The signals of the indicators may include emission of red light to indicate that traffic should stop and emission of green light to indicate that traffic should proceed. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of directing traffic using a wearable signalling device, the method including: detecting, using a gesture sensor of the wearable signalling device, at least one user gesture; and signalling, using indicators of the wearable signalling device, at least one of two different signals to traffic in response to the user gesture sensed by the gesture sensor.

The wearable signalling device may be a signalling device as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a posterior/dorsal side view of a signalling device in accordance with the invention, a first control circuit being illustrated;

Figure 2 shows a palmar side view of the signalling device of Figure 1 with a second control circuit being illustrated;

Figure 3 shows a third control circuit of the signalling device;

Figure 4 shows a front view of a user performing a stop gesture using the signalling device;

Figure 5 shows a front view of the user performing a calling/proceed gesture using the signalling device; and

Figure 6 shows a front view of the user performing a turn gesture using the signalling device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognise that many changes can be made to the embodiments described, while still attaining the beneficial results of the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present invention can be attained by selecting some of the features of the present invention without utilising other features. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognise that modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances, and are a part of the present invention. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not a limitation thereof.

In the Figures, reference numeral 10 refers generally to signalling device for use in directing traffic in accordance with the invention. The signalling device 10 includes a wearable item in the form of a multi-layered glove 12 which is configured to be worn on a user’s hand. The signalling device 10 further includes a power source in the form of a battery 13 which is operatively secured in a cavity defined in a broad wristband of the glove 12 or in another suitable position in the glove 12. The signalling device 10 is characterised in that it includes control circuity 14 which is coupled to the battery 13 as shown in Figures 1 to 3 and comprises at least three separate circuits (see Figures 1 to 3), each circuit including a gesture sensor in the form of a mechanical switch 15.1 , 15.2, 15.3 which is operatively biased to its open position and is configured to be closed when the user 20 performs a specific gesture whilst wearing the glove 12. In respect of each separate circuit, visual indicators in the form of LED pairs 16.1 , 16.2, 16.3 are provided toward a distal end of each glove finger, one LED of each pair being provided on a dorsal side and the other on a ventral side of the finger. As can be seen in Figures 1 to 3, the LED pairs of the respective circuits may be combined into dorsal and ventral light clusters formed at the distal end of each finger.

The LED pairs of each circuit are connected in parallel as can be seen in Figures 1 to 3. Each mechanical switch 15.1 , 15.2, 15.3 is connected in series with the LED pairs such that when the switch is open, the LEDs are not illuminated. However, when the switch is closed, the circuit is complete and the parallel LED pairs are illuminated. The first circuit 14 shown in Figure 1 has red LED pairs. Accordingly, when the user 20 performs a STOP gesture as shown in Figure 4 by rearward extension of the wrist to approximately 90 degrees in a rearward or dorsal direction, the first switch 15.1 or gesture sensor is closed which causes the red LED pairs 16.1 to be illuminated indicating to road users that they should stop. Both dorsal and ventral LEDs of each pair are illuminated in red. The signalling device 10 therefore accentuates conventional hand signals performed by a pointsman by automatically illuminating LED pairs based upon a gesture performed by the pointsman wearing the glove 12 as sensed by the switches 15.1 , 15.2, 15.3 or gesture sensors.

Accordingly, the signalling device 10 is configured to communicate at least two different signals (i.e. red LEDs indicate a STOP signal and green LEDs indicate a GO signal) to onlookers in order to control traffic flow. To this end, the control circuitry 14 is configured automatically to control operation of the indicators (LEDs) based upon the user gesture sensed by the respective gesture sensors.

The LEDs may be multicolour LEDs. The glove 12 defines internal pockets or passageways (not shown) for accommodating wiring and circuit components i.e. battery 13 and switches 15. The glove 12 may be weatherproof or water- resistant.

Each gesture sensor (switch) is configured to sense a different user gesture in response to which different signals are communicated via the respective LED pairs 16.1 , 16.2, 16.3.

The mechanical switches 15.1 , 15.2, 15.3 may take the form of a miniature contact switch which is biased to an open position to prevent accidental closure of the switch.

As can be seen in Figure 1 , the first switch 15.1 or dorsal gesture sensor is positioned in a dorsal wrist region of the glove 12 such that only upon rearward extension of the wrist it is closed. Each mechanical switch is positioned in a predetermined location in the glove 12 which corresponds with the gesture it is sensing.

With reference to Figure 2, a second switch 15.2 or palmar gesture sensor is disposed in a palm region of the glove 12 such that upon closure or flexion of the fingers, the second switch 15.2 is closed. This results in illumination of the second pairs of dorsal and ventral LEDs in green light indicating a “proceed” or “GO” signal to traffic as the pointsman calls traffic by gesturing with his hand (see Figure 5). With reference to Figures 3 and 6, a third switch 15.3 or gesture sensor is disposed in a thumb region of the glove 12. Accordingly, in order to give a “TURN” signal to traffic, the thumb is flexed which closes the switch 15.3 in response to which a third set of LED pairs 16.3 are lit. In this instance, however, ventral or palmar LEDs of the pair are illuminated in green and dorsal LEDs are simultaneously lit in red. This is used by the pointsman to indicate that traffic may turn right or left depending on which hand is used whilst traffic behind the pointsman must stop as indicated by the red LEDs.

When in a neutral or handshake position, none of the gesture sensors or switches 15.1 , 15.2, 15.3 of the control circuitry 14 are closed and therefore no LEDs are lit.

The Applicant believes that the wearable signalling device 10 in accordance with the invention will significantly improve visibility of hand signals in general and especially during inclement weather and at night.