Patent Application
20080088470
Further features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of a device according to the invention, which is described as a non-limiting example with the help of the annexed drawings, in which:
Referring to the above figures, the device of the invention, which is generally designated by numeral 1, is essentially composed of a base 2, to be secured to an external support 3, light-emitting means 4 being mounted thereto for generating a light beam 5.
The light emitting means 3 are powered by power supply means 6.
According to the invention, optical means 7 are provided, operating on the light beam 5 to model and orient it in such a manner as to illuminate a substantially circular area in space A and/or on the ground A′.
By this arrangement, a safety area will be actually defined around the device, regardless of whether the illuminated area is in space A, on the ground A′, or both. If both areas are illuminated, the device will be particularly effective, as it will simultaneously highlight a ring in space and a circular protection area on the ground.
Mirrors or prisms may be used for proper configuration of the beam 5.
Conveniently, the optical means 7 may comprise a convex mirror 8 placed in front of the light emitting means 3 with its convexity facing toward them.
Thanks to this arrangement, the beam 5 generated by the light emitting means 4, which hits the mirror 8, will be appropriately reflected to provide the above mentioned signaling. The beam 5 will obviously have various orientations depending on the radius of curvature R of the mirror 8.
Advantageously, the mirror 8 may be of the semispherical type, and have at least two semispherical portions 9 and 9′, superimposed and geometrically aligned to each other, having different radiuses of curvature R and R′.
By conveniently positioning the light emitting means 4, so that the beam 5 generated thereby impacts the separation line L between the two portions 9 and 9′, the same beam 5 will generate two reflected beams 10 and 10′ having different orientations.
Proper selection of the radiuses of curvature R and R′ will provide beams that illuminate different areas: for example, it may provide a beam 10 that illuminates a substantially circular area in space, parallel to the bearing surface for the support 3, and a downward beam 10′ illuminating the area underlying the support 3 itself.
In another configuration, the same effect may be obtained by using optical prisms to suitably deviate the beam 5.
Suitable stands 11 may be obviously used to maintain the mirror 8 in a proper position.
Advantageously, the light-emitting means 4 may include at least one projector 12 having semiconductor light sources 13, preferably of the laser or LED type.
In one preferred configuration, there may be provided three sources 13, arranged over the base 2 at 120° from each other.
The use of a laser or LED source adds advantages to the device 1: this kind of light is well visible under bad weather conditions, so that signaling thereby may be effective even under rain, snow or fog.
Also, it has the property of materializing persistent atmospheric suspension so that, in the above conditions, a beam 10 projected in the space A will actually form a protection disk, and/or a beam 10′ projected over the area A′ will actually form a safety barrier.
As a result, especially in the configuration where the mirror 8 has different radiuses of curvature R and R′, hence with the beam 4 being reflected both in A and A′, signaling provided by the device 1 has a maximized effectiveness.
Furthermore, in high visibility conditions, light projection will be more visible than that obtained using traditional light sources, thanks to the higher sensitivity of human vision to laser sources.
Furthermore, as is known, the semiconductor source has a lower power absorption than an incandescent source.
Advantageously, the projector 12 may be equipped with control means 14, preferably comprising a microprocessor unit interposed between the power supply means 6 and the source 13.
Thanks to its small size and consequent minimized space requirements, the device 1 is particularly suitable for nighttime emergency signaling on roads and highways, which require the highest possible visibility, to prevent injuries and damages to persons and properties.
Therefore, the power supply means 6 may include a battery or an accumulator, whereby the device 1 may be used where the mains is not available, as is usually the case in the above mentioned places.
In terms of construction, the light-emitting means 4 may be mounted to the top surface S of the base 2, which will further support the mirror 8 and a protection dome 15.
The base 2 will further have a bottom surface S′ having connection means 16 for removable attachment to the support 3.
These connection means will preferably include a magnet 17, allowing to attach the device 1 to a metal surface, such as the roof of a disabled motor vehicle.
In another preferred configuration, the means 16 allow the device 1 to be attached to a cap or helmet 18, and provide a small size, practical wearable safety structure, which can avoid any injury to the wearer by highly effective signaling.
In a preferred configuration, the connection means 16 may allow the device 1 to be attached to a traffic cone 19, as shown in
A process for providing high visibility visual emergency signaling includes the following steps.
First, in steps a) and b) a base 2 and light-emitting means 4 are provided, both having the above features.
These steps are followed by a step c) in which the light-emitting means 4 are arranged over the base 2 to define a substantially circular area.
In step d), optical means 7 are placed in the optical path of the light beam 5 as described above.
Then, in step e) the means 4 are connected to the means 6.
The final step is step f) in which the light-emitting means 4 are sequentially powered.
This process provides rotating beacon type signaling, with the advantage that no mechanical moving parts are provided, which affords a higher signaling effectiveness, and a lower risk of signaling failure due to wear of mutually rotating parts.
The above disclosure shows that the inventive device fulfils the proposed objects, and particularly the object of highlighting a safety area beneath and/or around the device.
Thanks to the optical means 8 highly effective and visible signaling may be obtained.
The device of this invention is susceptible to a number of changes and variants, within the inventive concept disclosed in the appended claims. All the details thereof may be replaced by other technically equivalent parts, and the materials may vary depending on different needs, without departure from the scope of the invention.
While the device has been described with particular reference to the accompanying figures, the numerals referred to in the disclosure and claims are only used for the sake of a better intelligibility of the invention and shall not be intended to limit the claimed scope in any manner.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| VI2004A000251 | Oct 2004 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB05/03149 | 10/21/2005 | WO | 00 | 8/4/2007 |
