GB2287975A

GB2287975A - A reflector

Info

Publication number: GB2287975A
Application number: GB9406429A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Robert Eric Picton
Original assignee: DAVIES SANDRA
Current assignee: DAVIES SANDRA
Priority date: 1994-03-31
Filing date: 1994-03-31
Publication date: 1995-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2014-03-31
Also published as: GB2287975B; GB9406429D0

Abstract

A reflecting device for a road cone or for mounting on a bicycle comprises a vaned rotatable reflecting member provided within a housing. The reflecting member is preferably rotated by incident air flow but may be electrically driven. The member may be a multi-vaned rotor or an S-cross-section disc. <IMAGE>

Description

A REFLECTOR The invention relates to a reflecting device and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with a reflecting device for road traffic use.

In darkness or poor lighting conditions, devices used for gaining the attention of road users are often ignored or not seen because of the static and unchanging nature of said devices. In particular, static reflectors for bicycles, and traffic cones for marshalling traffic are less conspicuous in the peripheral vision of road users than objects whose appearance is changing or which are in motion. In the particular case of traffic cones, a flashing lamp is sometimes affixed to the apex of the cone to improve conspicuousness. However, such a cone requires a source of electrical power, typically a patter.

Batteries can be costly to replace or maintain and can run flat during use thereby reducing reliabili+Z.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved reflecting device which reduces the foregoing problems of existing reflecting devices.

According to the invention, there is provided a reflecting device comprising a reflecting member and a housing for the reflecting member, the reflecting member being movable within the housing.

In use, light will be reflected from the reflecting member as it moves. In such a manner, the reflecting device will provide a flashing, flickering or other intermittent effect which is more likely to attract attention than a static device.

The device is preferably arranged to be used on a vehicle or on or next to a road.

The reflecting member may be shaped and arranged so that an air flow incident on its surface will cause it to move.

Alternatively the reflecting member may be arranged to be moved by a source of electrical powder, and may include means to supply the electrical power from solar or other energy sources.

The reflecting member may be rotatable relative to the housing.

Preferably said reflecting member comprises one or more vanes emanating from the axs. of rotation of said reflecting member. There may be two oppositely disposed vanes or alternatively there may be four vanes. The or each vane may be curved in crosssection transverse to the axis of rotation of the reflecting member. The curved vanes will facilitate continuous rotation of the reflecting member as air passes over the member. The or each vane may have a radial depth relative to the axis of rotation which increases along the axis of rotation. The or each vane of the reflector member may be decorated in reflective material to create a conspicuous appearance.

Preferably the housing defines an envelope and the maximum extent of the reflecting member is the same shape as the shape of the smallest cross-section of the envelope through the axis of rotation. Preferal further the maximum extent of the reflecting member is just smaller than the smallest cross-sectIon of the envelope through the axis of rotation. In this way the reflecting member matches and fills the housing.

In one embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises an elongate tube. Where the reflecting member is rotatably mounted, the axis of rotation of the reflecting member is preferably transverse to the axis of the tube.

The elongate tube preferably has inlet and outlet means for the flow of air. The tube may have at least one of its inlet and outlet means at an end of the tube and, in addition or alternatively, the tube may have at least one of its inlet and outlet means in a side wall, at a position so as to guide the flow of air in the correct direction to cause movement of the reflecting member.

Said reflecting member may be formed from a sheet material. The reflecting member may b substantially S-shaped in cross-section transverse to its axis of rotation. The S-shape of the reflecting member will facilitate continuous rotation of the reflecting member as air passes over the member.

The elongate tube may be circular in ross-sec ion nd the reflecting member may sweep a spherical ozme anA.

preferably may also be circular.

The reflecting member may have opposite side surfaces one or both of which may comprise a reflec-ve surface. Where each side surface is reflective, the side surfaces may be of different colours or combinations of colours.

The housing may include fastening wears t enable ; to be secured to a bicycle or other object. The fastening means may be arranged on a stalk provided on the housing.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the hcusing is substantially conical in shape.

The housing may have apertures for air circulation therein or if the reflecting member is not moved by air flowing past it, transparent window material msy be included in the housing to prevent water and detritus from impinging on it.

The reflecting member may have an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of the housing.

A bearing member may be housed at least partially inside the housing. The said bearing member may locate on protrusions on the interior of the housing.

The said bearing member may include in its upper face engaging means for engaging with complementary engaging means in the centre of the base of the reflecting member. The reflecting member may inclllde engaging means at the apex of said reflecting member.

and may engage with complementary engaging means ifl the centre of the underside of an apex portion of the housing. Said engaging means and complementary engaging means may engage whereby the reflecting member is able to rotate against an acceptable minimum resistive torque.

Drainage means may be provided in the housing to allow water and detritus to drain away.

The device may comprise a road cone comprising the conical housing.

Several cones may be stacked whereby the apex cf one cone will be inserted inside the base of another Tone.

To prevent damage to the reflecting member and its operation, preferably the cone includes at least one inwards projection such that on stacking one ccne on another, the or each projection engages the lower cone such that the apex of the lower cone is spaced 2 rorn the reflecting member.

The housing may include, or be mounted to, a bse.

The said base may be hollow and may be at least partially filled with an acceptably high densit material to act as ballast.

Three embodiments of the invention wi'l now be described by way of example and wh reference to 'he accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side perspective view from one side of the first embodiment of the invention which is a bicycle reflector; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the bicycle reflector of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-section along line 3-3 of Fig.

2; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the second embodiment of invention which is a road cone reflector; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cone of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a cross-section along line 5-5 of Fig.

5; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a reflecting member of the road cone of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a plan of the reflecting member of Fig.

7; and, Fig. 9 is a side elevation in partial crosssection of the reflecting device of the third embodiment.

As shown in Fig. 1, the bicycle reflector includes a section of tube 12, of circular cross-section, the tube being open at one end. Projecting radially from the side of the tube 12 is a bar 1 which is shown incomplete in Fig. 1 but may extend to a bracket (not shown) for fixing the reflector to a bicycle (not shown). As can be seen in igs. 2 and 3, the tube 12 has rotatably mounted within it a reflecting member 16 on an axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of the tube 12 and upright. The reflecting member 16 is substantially circular, and is mounted within the be to rotate about a diameter 17 of the tube 12. The reflecting member 16 has angled sections 8, 19, being angled in opposite directions to the central part of the reflector member 16 about fold lines 20, 21 which are substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 17 of said reflecting member 16. As can be seen in Fig.

3, this results in a reflecting member having a shallow "S" shaped profile. This profile of reflecting member 16 means that air flowing through the tube 12 causes the reflecting member 16 to rotate.

An air vent 22 is provided in one wall of .he tube 12.

The vent 22 is formed by a section of b wall which has been pushed out at a shallow angle to form a louvre vent. The vent 22 is provided offset from Fhe axis of rotation of the reflecting member 16, in th direction of the tube end wall 24. The vent 22 faces in the opposite direction to the direceion tnat the adjacent vane of the reflecting member 16 is angled, i.e. towards the tube end wal'.

In use then, the wind will travel through the tube 12 and the reflecting member 16 will be caused to rotate.

This rotation will cause someone behind the bicycle on which the device is mounted to see intermittent reflected flashes from the reflecting member 16. As the vanes of the reflecting member 16 are angled, each part of the member 16 may reflect at different angles.

The reflecting device is very easily seen as a result.

It will be appreciated that other profiles of reflecting member will rotate under the same circumstances. As an additional feature, the interior surface of the tube 1 may be reflective and may be, for example, aluminium plated. Whilst specific reference has been made to a reflecting member mounted for rotation about an axis transverse to the ai=. O the tube, the member could, for example, comprise a fan-like member which rotates co-axially within the tube. In another embodiment, the tube 7 could be open at both ends and a second louvre vent could be provided in the opposlte wall of the tube 12.

Figs. 4 to 8 show the second embodiment which is a road cone reflecting device. The body of the cone 112 is connected to a substantially square plinth 114 about the lower edge of the cone 113. The plinth 11 is hollow, and may be filled with a dense material such as sand to act as ballast.

An upper section 120 of the cone 112 proximate to the apex 118 of the cone has four apertures 122 spaced regularly around the apex 118. These apertures 122 are in the shape of truncated isosceles triangles with their base 123 towards the plinth 114. The base sides 123 of the apertures 122 are co-planar and the plane thus defined is perpendicular to the axis of the cone 112. Extending parallel to this plane is a bearing member 125. Journal led in the bearing member 125 and in the interior of the apex 118 of the cone is a reflecting member 130. The reflecting member 130 is visible through the apertures 122. The bearing member 125 includes a drainage port (not shown). The reflecting member 130 is mounted to rotate relative to the cone 112 and co-axially with it. The reflecting member 130 has four vanes 132 extending radially from the axis of rotation and spaced regularly around the axis. The radial extent of each vane 132 is just smaller than the interior of the housing 112. Each vane 132 is curved smoothly anti-clockwise about the axis of rotation to assist rotation by the wind. The surface of each vane comprises re=1ectitze material in two different colours to provide alternate stripes.

The cone 112 is open at the base and a cavity 117 is defined within the cone beneath the bearing member 125. An annular stop member 135 is provided extending from the inner wall of the cavity 117 parallel to the bearing member 125 and defining a circular gap. Four equi-spaced upstanding ribs 137 are provided on the stop member 135 and are connected to the inner wall of the cavity 117.

In use, the road cone will be placed on a road and the wind will blow through the apertures 122 to rotate the reflecting member 130 by pressure on the vanes 122.

As the vanes 132 rotate reflected light will appear to flicker and, as the vanes 1z2 are curved, the point on the vane 132 reflecting the light will move from the axis of rotation outwardly over a vane 132 as it rotates and the part of he vane 132 which is perpendicular to the line of sight changes.

Road cones are often stacked for storage and transport. When the cone 112 is stacked on another similar cone, the lower cone will engage the stop member 135 which will prevent the apex of the lower cone from contacting the bearing member 125 and possibly damaging the rotation system.

Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment similar to th just described. The same reference numerals will We used for equivalent features and only the differences from the previous embodiment will be described.

The apertures in the road cone 116 are cored by transparent sheets 140 and the reflecting member 130 is arranged to be rotated by an electric motor 142 through a shaft 143. The electric motor 142 is mounted on a shelf 144 which is mounted on lugs 146 on the inner wall of the cone 116 so that the shelf 144 lies underneath and parallel to the bearing member 125. The road cone 116 includes solar panels 148 on its outer surface which provide power for the motor 142, either directly or by storing energy generated during the day in a battery of the motor 142 for use at night.

While the refecting member 116 has been shown entirely within the housing defined by the upper Ff of the cone 116, it may extend at least partially outside the general conical envelope of the cone in other embodiments. However it is preferred that the reflecting member should be provided entirely within the housing envelope to reduce the chano- of damage and, in the case of the road cone, to permit stacking in the normal way.

While the reflecting member 116 has been shown mounted within a traffic cone, it should be understood that the reflecting member 116 may be adapted to be mounted on or in other traffic control apparatus.

Claims

1. A reflecting device comprising a reflecting member and a housing for said reflecting member1 the reflecting member being movable within the housing.

2. The device of claim 1, arranged to be used on a vehicle or on or next to a road.

3. The device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the reflecting member is shaped and arranged so that an air flow incident on its surface will cause it to move.

4. The device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the reflecting member is arranged to be moved by a source of electrical power.

5. The device of claim 4, including means to supply the electrical power from solar or other energy sources.

6. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the reflecting member is rotatable relative to the housing.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said reflecting member comprises one or more vanes emanating from the axis of rotation of said reflecting member.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said reflecting member comprises two oppositely disposed vanes.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said reflecting member comprises four vanes.

10. The device of any of claims 4 to 9, wherein the or each vane is curved in cross-section transverse to the axis of rotation of the reflecting member.

11. The device of any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the or each vane has a radial depth relative to the axis of rotation which increases along the axis of rotation.

12. The device of any of claims 7 to 11, wherein the or each vane of the reflector member is decorated in reflective material.

13. The device of any of claims 6 to 12, wherein the housing defines an envelope and the maximum extent of the reflecting member is the same shape as the shape of the smallest cross-section of the envelope through the axis of rotation.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the maximum extent of the reflecting member is just smaller than the smallest cross-section of the envelope through the axis of rotation.

15. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the housing is substantially conical in shape.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the housing has apertures for air circulation therein.

17. The device of claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the reflecting member has an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of the housing.

18. The device of any of claims 15 to 17 comprising a bearing member housed at least partially inside the housing.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said bearing member locates on protrusions on the interior of the housing.

20. The device of claim ,8 or claim 19, wherein said bearing member includes in its upper face engaging means for engaging with complementary engaging means in the centre of the base of the reflecting member.

21. The device of any of claims 15 to 20, wherein the reflecting member includes engaging means at the apex of said reflecting member, and may engage with complementary engaging means in the centre of the underside of an apex portion of the housing.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said engaging means and complementary engaging means engage whereby the reflecting member is able to rotate against an acceptable minimum resistive torque.

23. The device of any of claims 15 to 22, wherein drainage means is provided in the housing to allow water and detritus to drain away.

24. The device of any of claims 15 to 23 comprising a road cone comprising the conical housing.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the cone includes at least one inwards projection such that on stacking one cone on another lower cone, the or each projection engages the lower cone such that the apex of the lower cone is spaced from the reflecting member.

26. A device substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings.

26. The device of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the housing comprises an elongate tube.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the elongate tube has inlet and outlet means for the flow of air.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the tube has at least one of its inlet and outlet means at an end of the tube.

29. The device of claim 27 or claim 28, wherein the tube has at least one of its inlet and outlet means in a side wall, at a position so as to guide the flow of air in the correct direction to cause movement of the reflecting member.

30. The device of any of claims 26 to 29, wherein said reflecting member is formed from sheet material.

31. The device of any of claims 26 to 30, wherein the reflecting member is substantially Sshaped in cross-section transverse to its axis of rotation.

32. The device of any of claims 26 to 31, when appendant to claim 6, wherein the axis of rotation of the reflecting member is transverse to the axis of the tube.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the elongate tube is circular in cross-section and the reflecting member sweeps a spherical volume.

34. The device of any of claims 26 to 34, wherein the reflecting member is circular.

35. The device of any of claims 26 to 34, wherein the reflecting member has opposite side surfaces one of which comprises a reflective surface.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein each side surface is reflective and the side surfaces are of different colours or combinations of colours.

37. The device of any of claims 26 to 36, wherein the housing includes fastening means to enable it to be secured to a bicycle or other object.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the fastening means is arranged on a stalk provided on the housing.

39. A device substantially as described herein with reference to igs. 1 to 3 of the drawings.

40. A device substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 4 to 8 of the drawings.

41. A device substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 9 of the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A reflecting road-traffic warning device comprising a reflecting member and a housing for said reflecting member, the reflecting member being movable within the housing, the device being arranged to be used on or next to a road.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the reflecting member is shaped and arranged so that an air flow incident on its surface will cause it to move.

The device of claim 1, wherein the reflecting member is arranged to be moved by a source of electrical power.

4. The device of claim 3, including means zc supply the electrical power from a solar energy source.

5. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the reflecting member is rotatable relative to the housing.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said reflecting member comprises one or more vanes emanating from the axis of rotation of said reflecting member.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said reflecting member comprises two oppositely disposed vanes.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said reflecting member comprises four vanes.

9. The device of claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the or each vane is curved in cross-section transverse to the axis of rotation of the reflecting member.

10. The device of any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the or each vane has a radial depth relative to the axis of rotation which increases along the axis of rotation.

11. The device of any of claims 6 to 10, wherein the or each vane of the reflector member is decorated in reflective material.

12. The device of any of claims 5 to 1, wherein the housing defines an envelope and the maximum extent of the reflecting member is the same shape as the shape of the smallest cross-section of the envelope through the axis of rotation.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the maximum extent of the reflecting member is just smaller than the smallest cross-section of the envelope through the axis of rotation.

14. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the housing is substantially conical in shape.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the housing has apertures for air circulation therein.

16. The device of claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the reflecting member has an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of the housing.

17. The device of any of claims 14, 15 or 16 comprising a bearing member housed at least partially inside the housing.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said bearing member locates on protrusions on the interior of the housing.

19. The device of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein said bearing member includes in its upper face engaging means for engaging with complementary engaging means in the centre of the base of the reflecting member.

20. The device of any of claims 14 to 19, wherein the reflecting member includes engaging means at the apex of said reflecting member, and may engage with complementary engaging means in the centre of the underside of an apex portion of the housing.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said engaging means and complementary engaging means engage whereby the reflecting member is able to rotate against an acceptable minimum resistive torque.

22. The device of any of claims 14 to 21, wherein drainage means is provided in the housing to ailow water and detritus to drain away.

23. The device of any of claims 14 to 22 comprising a road cone comprising the conical housing.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the cone includes at least one inwards projection such that on stacking one cone on another lower cone, the or each projection engages the lower cone such that the apex of the lower cone is spaced from the reflecting member.

25. A device substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings.