This invention relates generally to traffic warning and control devices and particularly to traffic and warning control devices used in relation to hazard or accident scene management.
Since the advent of motor vehicle traffic, a variety of situations have arisen that create the need for redirection and control of vehicle or traffic. In addition to the normal day-to-day traffic control provided by a variety of signal lights and signs, situations often occur that create unforeseen traffic hazards and congestion.
Such events which create unforeseen traffic hazards and congestion vary from serious collisions in which multiple vehicles and personal injury are involved to minor traffic impediments created by stalled or inoperative vehicles blocking one or more traffic lanes. Even the most basic of disabled or abandoned vehicle situations can require substantial traffic flow diversion and management to mitigate the hazards that they present.
For many years, emergency responders and associated traffic control operators have utilized a variety of warning and control devices. Such devices have included road flares, reflective signs, or traffic cones. The basic objective is to diverge or root traffic around such traffic flow impediments or accident scenes. For the most part, reflective traffic cones and reflective signs such as the well-known reflective triangle and hazard warning devices have proven to be cumbersome in use and time consuming in operation. Also, their effectiveness at night in poorly lighted areas leaves a great deal to be desired.
In the face of growing numbers of emergency situations and traffic emergencies and traffic flow impediments, practitioners in the art have endeavored to meet the need for more effective easily deployed traffic warning and control apparatus. For example, U.S. Published Patent Application US 2011/0109235 issued to Link sets forth an EXPANDABLE AND CONTROLLABLE LED LIGHTING STRIP in the form of a transparent long strip having a plurality of LEDs supported upon a flexible printed circuit board in a spaced relationship. The circuit board is coated with a transparent waterproof protective layer and includes a male and female connector at the opposed ends thereof. The connectors facilitate the serial connection of two or more of the lighting strips in an end-to-end relationship. A control chip is packaged on a reverse side of the circuit board for controlling the illumination.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,637, issued to Atchison et al, sets forth a COMPACT, FLEXIBLE LED ARRAY that provides a flexible, high density, low profile lighting system that includes a flexible printed circuit board substrate which is adapted to support and electrically interconnect surface mount electronic components. A plurality of surface mount light emitting diodes are mounted on the substrate so as to define a conformable and bendable lighting array configured for mounting upon surfaces with compound curvature. Each of the surface mount light emitting diodes includes a footprint of five square millimeters or less and when mounted adjacent and in contact with one another defines a light density output between 2 and 20 candles per square centimeter.
Published patent application US 2003/0053307 issued to Talamo et al, sets forth a LIGHTING STRIP FOR DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE SYSTEMS that includes an elongated insulating base upon which one or more light emitting diodes strips each supporting a plurality of light emitting diodes are positioned. A terminal housing supporting operative power systems and control apparatus is coupled to one end of the lighting strip while the remaining end may be coupled to an end cap. The light emitting diodes are encapsulated within a light transmission material top cover to provide physical protection and seal for the light emitting diodes.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,168,989 issued to Isobe, sets forth an LED LIGHT SOURCE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME in which the light emitting diodes of the various colors are mounted upon the frame without dicing the frame for dividing the light emitting diodes into pieces. In this manner the red, green and blue primary color light emitting diode light source may emit a selected color or white.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,837, issued to Gustafson, sets forth an INTEGRALLY FORMED LINEAR LIGHT STRIP WITH LIGHT EMITTING DIODES having first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source. A substrate strip includes a top surface and a bottom surface having a printed circuit there on. At least one light-emitting diode including electrical contact prongs is provided with the light emitting diode being mounted on the top surface of the substrate strip and with the electrical contact prongs contacting printed circuit on the bottom surface of the substrate strip. An extruded plastic material completely encapsulates the first and second bus element with the substrate strip and the light emitting diodes to provide a protective barrier and make the light strip impervious to moisture.
While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extent improved the art for traffic control light strips and have, in some instances, enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing and unresolved need in the art for evermore low cost, efficient and effective apparatus for control of traffic flow and hazard management.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved traffic control light strip. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved traffic control light strip which is flexible and supports a plurality of LEDs at spaced intervals. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved traffic control light strip that may be serially coupled to other similarly constructed light strips to form an elongated traffic control light strip. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved traffic control light strip that supports a power and control unit as a plug-in attachment and further supports a connector plug at each end of the strip.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a traffic control light strip assembly comprising: first, second and third types of elongated light strip segments each having a generally flat elongated body defining first and second ends, and LED unit supported upon the body.
The traffic control light strip is fabricated by assembling one or more of the first type of light strip segments to a serial assembly of six light strip segments of the second type and thereafter assembling the end of the last second segment to one light strip segment of the third type. The resulting light strip assembly, formed of a serial combination of one first type light strip segment, six second type light strip segments and one third type light strip segment made thereafter be utilized as a single elongated light strip.
The first type of light strip segment includes an elongated body having connectors at both ends and an LED unit there between. A connection pad, preferably near one of the end connectors, is configured to receive and couple to a power and control unit.
The second type light strip segments are identical to each other and include an elongated body having connectors on each end thereof and an LED unit, preferably near the body midpoint.
The third type of light strip segment includes an elongated body having a connector at one end compatible with the second type light strip segment and a connector compatible with another light strip assembly together with an LED unit near the elongated body midpoint.
The resulting traffic control light strip assemblies are capable of being rolled onto a storage and transport reel while remaining serially connected when not in use and extended to and unrolled configuration for deployment upon a roadway surface. Alternatively, the entire traffic control light strip may be fabricated as a single unit rather than a serial combination of light strip segments.
The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:
Light strip assemblies 20 and 50 are substantially identical and thus the detailed descriptions which follow for light strip assembly 20 will be understood to apply with equal force and effect to light strip assembly 50. The important aspect with respect to the present invention is the advantage found in the ability of the present invention traffic control light strips to be serially connected and thereby increase the traffic control light strip overall length to meet the needs of a given accident scene. It will also be noted that in the example shown in
With particular reference to light strip assembly 20, a plurality of light strip segments 21 through 28 are serially joined by a corresponding plurality of cooperating connector pairs 31 through 37. The structure of connector pairs 31 through 37 is set forth below in greater detail. Suffice it to note here that connector pairs 31 through 37 provide mechanical attachment between adjacent light strip segments together with appropriate electrical connections therebetween. Connectors 30 and 38 facilitate connection of light strip assembly 20 to other light strip assemblies in a manner that allows the action of the LED units to be synchronized. Each of light strip segments 21 through 28 supports an LED unit 41 through 48 respectively. For purposes of the example shown herein, each LED unit will be understood to support a single high power light emitting diode. Once again, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of light emitting diode configurations may be utilized within LED units 41 through 48 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, each LED unit may support a light emitting diode which emits light of a selected color, white light or infrared light to suit particular needs. By way of further alternative, pluralities of light emitting diodes, having different color, or brightness outputs, may be supported within each of the LED units to provide alternative color effects.
In the preferred fabrication of the present invention, light strip assembly 20 utilizes light strip segments 21 through 28 with each segment being approximately three feet in length. In further accordance with the preferred fabrication of the present invention traffic control light strip, eight three foot segments are combined to provide an overall length of approximately twenty-four feet for light strip assembly 20. Once again, it will be understood that, while this arrangement has been found to be advantageous, the present invention is not limited to any particular light strip segment length or number of light strip segments joined to form the inventive light strip assembly.
As mentioned above, light strip assembly 50 will be understood to be substantially identical to light strip assembly 20. In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention light strip assembly 20 includes a connector 38 while light strip assembly 50 includes a cooperating connector 61. Accordingly, the serial combination of light strip assembly 20 and light strip assembly 50 is accomplished by the connection provided by cooperating connectors 38 and 61.
A power and control unit 29 is attached to one end of light strip assembly 20 in the manner set forth below in greater detail. Suffice it to note here that the attachment of power and control unit 29 to the end of light strip assembly 20 provides electrical connection between the operative circuitry within power and control unit 29 and the electrical circuit within light strip segments 21 through 28. It will be recalled that connector pairs 31 through 37 provide electrical connections between their respective light strip segments. Similarly the connection provided by connectors 38 and 61 further couples control circuit 29 to control circuit 39 of light strip assembly 50. In this manner, a single control unit is able to control all of the light emitting diodes within light strip assemblies 20 and 50.
Once light strip assemblies 20 and 50 have been deployed and joined serially in the manner shown in
By way of overview, and as is mentioned, above, light strip assembly 20 includes light strip segments fabricated as three basic segment types. Light strip segments (such as segment 21) of the first segment type support an LED unit and are constructed to provide one connector able to make a synchronizing signal and mechanical connection to another light strip assembly together with a second connector for power and control connection to another light strip segment. The second type of light strip segments (segments 22 through 27) support an LED unit together with connectors at each end suitable for power and control coupling to another light strip segment. The third type of light strip segment (segment 28) supports an LED unit and one connector at one and for power and control connection to another light strip segment and one connector at the remaining end configured to make a control signal connection and mechanical attachment to another light strip assembly.
More specifically, light strip segment 21 (which is configured as a first type) includes a connector plug 91 at one end thereof and a connector receptacle 81 at its opposite end. Light strip segment 21 further supports an LED unit 41. For purposes of illustration, LED unit 41 is shown near the midpoint of light strip segment 21. However it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the position of LED unit 41 is a matter of design choice and the centered position of LED unit 41 shown in
Light strip segments 22 through 27 are light strip segments of the second type and are substantially identical to each other. Accordingly, light strip segment 22 supports an LED unit 42 together with a connector plug 92 and a connector receptacle 82 at opposed ends thereof. Similarly, light strip segments 23 through 27 support respective LED units 43 through 47 together with respective connector plugs 93 through 97 and respective connector receptacles 83 through 87. Lights strip segment 28 is a segment of the third type having a connector 98 suitable for power and control coupling to another strip segments such as segment 27 and a connector 88 suitable for providing control signal coupling to another light strip assembly.
The fabrication of light strip assembly 20 is carried forward by connecting light strip segments 21 through 28 in a serial fashion. This assembly is carried forward by inserting connector plugs 92 through 98 into connector receptacles 81 through 87 respectively. As mentioned above, and as is set forth below, the insertion of a connector plug into a connector receptacle provides both mechanical attachment and electrical connection. Thus, as connector plug 92 is inserted into connector receptacle 81, light strip segments 21 and 22 are joined mechanically and electrical connection is provided between the conductors (seen below) within light strip segment 21 and those of light strip segment 22. Similarly, insertion of connector plug 93 into connector receptacle 82 performs a similar mechanical and electrical connection. In the same manner, insertion of connector plugs 94 through 98 into connector receptacles 83 through 87 performs a similar mechanical and electrical connection to complete light strip assembly 20.
In the preferred fabrication of light strip assembly 20, the mechanical connection provided between connector plugs 92 through 98 within connector receptacles 81 through 87 respectively is enhanced by additional attachment operations such as thermal or sonic welding. It will be apparent that other forms of additional attachment may be utilized such as engaging spring clips or threaded fasteners. For purposes of improved safety, the attachment between connector plugs 92 through 98 and connector receptacles 81 through 87 is configured to provide a “breakaway” attachment characterized by separation of the connector plug from its respective connector receptacle when subjected to an excessive force. It has been determined that the attachment of each connector plug to its cooperating connector receptacle should separate when subjected to a stress exceeding a one hundred pound force. This breakaway characteristic is desirable to provide an enhanced safety factor in the unlikely event that a deployed traffic control light strip constructed in accordance with the present invention becomes entangled with a passing vehicle or other similar occurrence.
Connector plugs and connector receptacles used in light strip assembly 20 are fabricated of a molded plastic material which readily facilitates the breakaway characteristic. As a result, the desired separation characteristic is readily provided by controlling the thickness of material utilized in forming each of the connector receptacles and controlling the extent and number of attachment welds utilized in fabricating light strip assembly 20.
Returning to
Connector plug 91 supports a female connector 136 while connecting wire 126 provides electrical connection between female connector 136 and contact 116. Connector receptacle 81 supports a connector pin 159 which is coupled to contact 119 by a connecting wire 149. A connector plug 92 is shown inserted into connector receptacle 81 for purposes of illustration. Light strip segment 21 includes an LED unit 41. LED unit 41 is formed of a high strength material such as high strength plastic or the like which is either transparent, color tinted or light transmissive frosted material. LED unit 41 includes a dome 49 which protects light emitting diode 40 supported within LED unit 41 in the event that a vehicle runs over LED unit 41. In addition, dome 49 transmits light energy emanating from light emitting diode 40. Connecting wire 146 provides electrical connection to light emitting diode 40.
In operation, switch 120 is moved to the “on position” which activates the system components within power and control system 155. Mode select circuit 121 provides mode selection information to microprocessor 160. In response to the mode selection input, microprocessor 160 accesses memory 161. Within memory 161 a software program that is utilized in the operation of microprocessor 160 is stored. Accordingly, in response to the mode selection input and the stored operating program within memory 161, microprocessor 160 configures LED driver 162 to provide operating electrical signals to connector array 166. Light strip assemblies 20, 40 and 50 respond to the applied control and power signals to produce the desired illumination pattern within the light strip assemblies.
As mentioned above, power and control system 155 may be operated remotely utilizing the communication between handheld remote control unit 170 and remote receiver 164. Thus, the user is able to actuate handheld remote control unit 172 to communicate changes in the operation of power and control system 155. The extent of remote operation is determined by the fabrication of the remote control system. In the configuration shown in
More particularly, traffic control light strip 180 includes a pair of light strip segments 181 and 182 pivotally joined by a hinge 183. Light strip segment includes an extendable member 185 which is joined to light strip segment 181 by a telescoping junction 188. Junction 188 facilitates the extension of extendable member 185 away from light strip segment 181 for a distance of approximately twelve inches. Conversely, extension junction 188 allows extendable member 185 to be moved into light strip segment 181 to a compact configuration in which the overall length is decreased by twelve inches. Similarly, junction 187 facilitates the extension of extendable member 184 away from light strip segment 182 for a distance of approximately twelve inches. Conversely, extension joined 187 allows extendable member 184 to be moved into light strip segment 182 to a compact configuration in which the overall length is decreased by twelve inches.
Light strip segment 181 supports a light transmissive dome 191 while extendable member 185 reports a light transmissive dome 190. Similarly, light strip segment 182 supports a light transmissive dome 192 while extendable member 184 supports a light transmissive dome 193. Each of domes 190, 191, 192 and 193 supports one or more light emitting diodes which provide illumination of each of the light transmissive domes. Extendable member 185 further supports a power and control unit 200. Extendable member 184 further supports a protective lip 186. In accordance with the above-described operation, power and control unit 200 includes a battery power supply together with a microprocessor control circuit which energizes each of the light emitting diodes within domes 190, 191, 192 and 193 to produce the desired illumination pattern selected by the user. Power and control unit 200 further supports an LED work light 195. Traffic control light strip 180 is configured from the open configuration shown in
More specifically, light strip segment 210 includes an elongated generally flat body supporting a plug connector 212 at one end and a connector receptacle 220 at the remaining end. Light strip segment 210 further supports a power and control circuit 230 which is constructed in accordance with the operational circuit set forth in
A power unit 201 supports a plurality of connector posts 203 together with a pair of spring contacts 204 and 205. Power unit 201 supports a plurality of conventional batteries 202 which by conventional wiring (not shown) are electrically coupled to spring contacts 204 and 205. Power unit 201 is assembled to connector pad 211 of light strip segment 210 by aligning posts 203 with sockets 207 and pressing power unit 201 onto connection pad 211. The alignment of posts 203 with sockets 207 ensures that spring contacts 204 and 205 of power unit 201 are aligned with spring contacts 214 and 215. Once power unit 201 is fitted to contact pad 211, the operation of light strip segment 210 is substantially identical to the operation of light strip segment 21 as a type one light strip segment.
What has been shown is a traffic control light strip which supports a plurality of light emitting diode illumination devices within a plurality of LED units upon an elongated supporting strip. A power and control unit responsive to operator inputs is operatively coupled to the LED units to provide selective illumination patterns of the light emitting diodes. The traffic control light strip is supported by a flexible elongated base member which allows the entire traffic control light strip to be rolled from a deployed configuration to a convenient storage configuration. In an alternate embodiment, the traffic control light strip includes a pair of extendable hinge coupled support members that facilitate folding the traffic control light strip to a closed transport and storage configuration.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of and priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/169,729 entitled TRAFFIC CONTROL LED STRIP, filed Jun. 2, 2015 in the name of Damian Stafford, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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8262250 | Li | Sep 2012 | B2 |
8714772 | Levante | May 2014 | B1 |
9383073 | Frost | Jul 2016 | B2 |
20070291473 | Traynor | Dec 2007 | A1 |
20120182755 | Wildner | Jul 2012 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20170097128 A1 | Apr 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62169729 | Jun 2015 | US |