GB2166180A - Warning device - Google Patents

Abstract

A warning device for increasing the visibility of a person or an animal, to, for example, the drivers of vehicles. When the device is mounted by means of quick release straps on e.g. guide dog harness, the exposed surfaces extend at least partially around the harness, whereby the device has a wide field of view. Leather panels support a plurality of spaced apart high intensity light emitting diodes with a viewing angle of 80 DEG . A pouch, fig 3, fastened to the middle of the panels contains an on/off switch that isolates the power from the circuit. When the switch is pressed to the on position the control circuit supplies energising current to the light emitting diodes, so that their light varies cyclically, and supplies a current to a Piezo transducer producing an audible sound. This is in synchronism with the flashing lights, giving confidence to the blind person using the device that it is correctly switched on. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Warning device The present invention relates to a warning device, and in particularto a warning device for increasing the visibility of a person, animal or other moving objects to, for example, the drivers of vehicles.

Display device are known whiih are in the form of a badge and incorporate a few low output light emitting diodes powered bya small battery. These badges are worn as novelties by young people in, for example, discotheques where the ambient light level is relatively low. The light output of such devices are such that were they to be worn on the street at night they would not appreciably improve the visibility ofthe wearer.

Furthermore they are relatively small so that they can only be seen ciearly if positioned on the side ofthe wearer directed towards the viewer, i.e. device has a limited field of view.

It is known to clip lights ofthetype used on bicycles to, for example, the bags of young children who have to walk home from school in the dark. Unfortunately such lights have a limited field of view, and although this is nottoo serious a problem when such lights are used on bicycles where the orientation ofthe bicycle is relative to traffic is generally straight ahead or behind, it is a problem when the lights are used such that their relative orientation is unpredictable.

It is an object of the present invention, to provide a warning device which obviates or mitigates the above problem.

According to the present invention, there is provided a warning device for increasing the visibility of an object on which the device is mounted, comprising of at least one display panel,the or each display panel supporting a plurality of spaced apart light emitting devices on an exposed surface thereof, a i trol circuit for supplying pulses of energising current to the light emitting devices so that the intensity of their light output varies cyclically, and means for receiving at least one batteryto provide power to the control circuit, the panel or panels being arranged such that when the device is mounted on the said object the said exposed surfaces extend at least partially around the object, whereby the device has a wide field of view.

Preferably the light emitting device are diodes spaced apart on the flexible panel or panels the warning device comprising, for example, eighteen light emitting diodes.

The diodes may be supported on a panel made up from three sheets of flexible material, for example, leather, the diodes being located in hole provided in the top sheet ofthe material and the terminals of the diode being connected to the middle sheet with the terminals going through tothe bottom sheetwhere they are sandwiched with their associated wiring.

Such an arrangement is advantageous as the diodes are protected against damage in normal use, and the associated wiring is concealed.

The panel or panels from now on will be described as the saddle, may be secured to a suitable harness by press studs located on the saddle for easy attachment.

The harness may be used on guide dogsforthe blind forexample,two light emitting panels being provided for positioning at each side ofthe harness. Where the warning device is to be used by blind people, and an audible signal may be generated when the diodes are flashing to give the user confidence that the device has been correctly switched on.

An embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig lisa perspective view of a conventional guide dog harness to which the warning device is fitted.

Fig 2 illustrates the outline shape and electrical characteristics of the saddle for clipping, by press studs, to the sides and top respectively of the harness of Fig 1.

Fig 3 illustrates the outline shape ofthe pouch that holds the sound generator, battery and switch and is connected to the leather saddle panels 29 and 30 by means offour revets 23.

Fig 4 illustrates the method of positioning diodes in the panels of Fig 2.

Fig 5 illustrates a circuit for energising the generator and the diodes in the panels of Fig 2.

Fig 6 illustrates the shape of the leather guard (28) which protects the diodes 27, and illustrating the method offixing the leather guard to panels 29 and 30 by means ofthree rivets No. 23.

Referring to Fig 1, the illustrated harness comprises of strap 1 which is intended to pass round the guide dog's chest behind the dog's front legs, straps 2 and 3 which extend from the strap 1 beneath the dog's head, and a detachable handle 4 normally connected to pads 5 which are secured to the strap 1 behind the dog's head. A pad 6 is provided which is connected to the straps 2 and 3 beneath the dog's head. This arrangement of straps is used in most harnesses currently used on guide dog's.

The harness supports the warning device (known as the saddle) such as that shown in Fig 2. Studs 8,9, 10, 11,12, 13 and 14 are clipped together round the straps 1,2,3,1 B, 2B,3B and 7 ofthe harness in Fig 1, my means of over clipping saddle straps 15, 16, 17, 18, 9, 20and21.

Fig. 2 shows the saddle for connection to harness straps 1,2,3, 1 B, 2B, 3B and 7 for Fig 1.

The diodes in the panels on Fig 2 may supplied by wires concealed in a similar manner shown in Fig 4, the light emitting bodies 27 ofthe diodes being located in hole punched in one sheet of leather, 28 which is secured to a second sheet 29 by any suitable means, e.g.fixing studs, stitching, adhesive etc. The leather 28thus provides some protection to the diodes. The terminals ofthe diodes are slotted through leather panel 29 and the sandwiched between panel 30 giving excellent protection against damp etc.

Thesupplywires andthe diodesthemselves may be further protected against damp etc. by coating them with shelackoralternative protective films.

With the illustrated arrangement, the negative and positive supply wires form two circuits, one to each of The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

the L.E.D. panels.

Referring to Fig 5, the electrical circuit supplying the L.E.D.'s of Fig 2 is illustrated, only one L.E.D. 22 of the 18 parallel connected L.E.D.'s being showThe diode 22 is connected to the collector of an amplifier transistor 36 (e.g. type BC1 83L), thetransistor's emitter being connected to ground and its base connected to pin 3 ofthe l.C. 4011 B.

The 4011 B is energised from a PP3 nine volt battery 32 when a switch 34 is closed by the user. Pulses of current are then supplied to the base of transistor 36, and amplified pulses ofcurrentare drawn through the L.E.D.'s 22. The pulse repetition rate can be increased bychangingthecapacitorto pin 10.

This circuit also comprises of a piezo electric sound generator35,that is energized by pulses of current supplied from pin 1 of l.C 4011 B. When the circuit is turned on, and the power supply is adequate, the generator emits pulsesofsound in synchronism with the flashing of diodes, e.g. once per second. If the circuit is disabled as a result of, for example, a bad connection, no sound is heard.

The L.E.D.'s 22 may be 20mA red light emitting diodes of intensity 3, a viewing angle of 80 . With such LE.D.'s a visually, very noticeable display results which can be clearly seen from both sides of the guide dog. A blind usertravelling at night can have much greater confidence that his dog will be seen and recognised as a guide dog, and can hearthatthe device is working correctly. Failure of one or a few diodes will not impairthe effectiveness of the device significantly as the remaining diodes continue to function because of their parallel connection. Faulty L.E.D.'s can be easily removed and replaced.

Although the described embodiment ofthe invention relates to a warning device for guide dogs for the blind. The invention has many other applications, e.g.

warning deviceforfitting around the boot of a rider on horse back, around the arm of a blind person's clothing.

Claims (6)

1. A detachable battery operated warning device comprising of at least one display panel. The or each display panel supporting a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes on an exptsed surface thereof, a switch to islolate the powerfrom the circuitthat suppliestheenergising currenttothelightemitting diodes so that the intensity of their light output varies cyclically, an audible signal generates atthe same timeasthe lightsareflashing.

2. A detachable battery operated warning device claimed in Claim 1, wherein quick release straps extend around the object to which the device isto be fitted.

3. Adetachable battery operated warning device claimed in Claims 1 or 2, where in a display panel or panels support a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes.

4. A detachable battery operated warning device claimed in Claims 2 and 3, wherein an on/off switch isolates the control circuit from the battery.

5. A detachable battery operated warning device claimed in Claims 3 and 4, wherein a printed circuit and its components control the energising currentto the light emitting diodes and sound generator, so that the intensity of their output and sound varies cyclically.

6. A detachable, quick release battery operated warning device substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 - 6 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A detachable battery operated warning device claimed in Claims 4and 5, wherein a Piezo Electric sound generator emits pulses of sound in synchronism with the flashing ofthe diodes, giving the blind person confidence the device is correctly switched on.

7. A detachable battery operated warning device substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 -6oftheaccompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claims 1-7 above have been deleted.

New claims have been filed as follows: CLAIMS

1. A detachable, quick release battery operated warning device comprising of at least one display panel, extending around the object giving a wide field of view. The or each display panel supporting a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes in the formation of a horizontal diamond on the exposed surface thereof. Aswitch to isolate the power to the circuitthatsupplies the energising current to the light emitting diodes so intensity oftheir light outputvaries cyclically, and also to operate an audible sound generator in synchronism with the flashing light emitting diodes to give confidence to the blind person that the device is correctly switched on.

2. A detachable, quick release battery operated warning device claimed in Claim 1 wherein quick release straps extend around the object to which the device is to be fitted.

3. A detachable, quick release battery operated warning device claimed in Claims 1 and 2 wherein the light emitting diodes' electrical terminals extend through leather panel 29 giving rigid supportto the light emitting diodes and allowing a further panel 30to enclose all existing waterproof connection to the controlling circuit and finally a third panel 28 covering the body ofthe light emitting diodes, but allowing just the head ofthe diodes to protrude, allowing enough lightto givethe 80"viewing angle required.

4. A detachable, quick release battery operated warning device claimed in Claims 2 and 3 wherein an onloff switch isolated the currentfrom the battery and gives an audible warning the device is switched on.

5. A detachable, quick release battery operated warning device claimed in Claims 3 and 4wherein a printed circuitand itscomponents contral the energis- ing currenttothe light emitting diodes and sound generator, so that the intensity of their output and sound varies cyclically, and can easily be adjusted to different speeds offlashing lightand pulsing sound.