CA1189494A - Emergency warning device - Google Patents
Emergency warning deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1189494A CA1189494A CA000396968A CA396968A CA1189494A CA 1189494 A CA1189494 A CA 1189494A CA 000396968 A CA000396968 A CA 000396968A CA 396968 A CA396968 A CA 396968A CA 1189494 A CA1189494 A CA 1189494A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- base
- arms extending
- warning device
- triangle
- emergency warning
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
Abstract
EMERGENCY WARNING DEVICE
Abstract of the Disclosure An emergency warning device comprising a base, three arms extending upwardly from the base to define an equilateral triangle, one of said arms extending horizontally on the base and said other two arms extending upwardly. Each arm has reflective and fluorescent portions on opposed surfaces thereof. Slots extend through at least one arm of said equi-lateral triangle and are shaped such that air flow against a face of the triangle produces a downward force tending to pre-vent movement of the device relative to a road surface.
i.
Abstract of the Disclosure An emergency warning device comprising a base, three arms extending upwardly from the base to define an equilateral triangle, one of said arms extending horizontally on the base and said other two arms extending upwardly. Each arm has reflective and fluorescent portions on opposed surfaces thereof. Slots extend through at least one arm of said equi-lateral triangle and are shaped such that air flow against a face of the triangle produces a downward force tending to pre-vent movement of the device relative to a road surface.
i.
Description
~9~
This invention relates to emergency warning devices or flares.
Background of the Invention In recent times, emergency warning devices or flares have been designed to be carried in motor vehicles and used on the roadway to warn approaching traffic of the presence of a stopped vehicle. Such devices are intended to reduce deaths and injuries due to rear end collisions between moving traffic and disabled vehicles. Governmental regulations have been es-tablished to standardize the requirements for such devices interms of size, configuration, color, reflectivity, luminance, stability and durability. Typical standards are the Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 125 in the United States and Canadian Standards Association standard D171 in Canada.
These standards provide that the emergency warning device be triangular in shape and have red reflective material and orange fluorescent material on the opposed faces of the tri-angle~ The standards further call for the warning device as having stability such that when the warning device is erected on a horizontal brush concrete surface, both with and against the brush marks, and subjected to a horizontal wind of 40 m.p.h. in any direction for three minutes, (a) no part of it shall slide more than three inches from its initial position, (b) its triangular portion shall not tilt to a position that is more than ten degrees from the vertical;
and (c) its triangular position shall not turn through a 9~
horizontàl angle of more than ten degrees in either direction from the initial positionO
It has been shown in studies made by the present inventors and confixmed by The National Aeronautical Estab-lishment, Ottawa, Canada, that the present standards onstability are inadequate to withstand the normal winds or the effect of a passing vehicle on the warning devices.
Accordingly The National Aeronautical Establishment has recently recommended that the weight of the device thus be substantially increased.
The problem with such a solution is that it would require an increase in the weight of present emergency road warning flares to about 250% or more of the present weight.
Such a requirement would thus irlcrease the weight ~hat must be carried by the vehicle since each vehicle is presently required to carry three warning devices making it difficult and awkward to handle them, to attach them to the vehicle for storage and increasing fuel consumption of the vehicle.
The present invention is to provide an improved emergency warning device which does not materially increase the weight to be carried by the vehicle; which effectively will withstand crosswinds and winds due to passing vehicles substantially above the present standards;~and which prefer-ably can be folded and stored in a volumetxic area as emer-gency warning devices presently are stored.
9~99~
In accordance with the invention, portions of thearms of the emergency warning device of the equilateral kind or ~e are prcvided wi~ slots that extend through at least one arm and are constructed and arranged so that the air passing through the slots will not only dissipate some of the energy of the a.ir against the emergency warning device but, in ad-dition, will produce a downward :Eorce tending to prevent movement of the emergency warning device along the road sur-face.
Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an emergency warning device embodying the invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on an - enlarged scale taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.
9~
Description Referring to FIG. 1, the emerge~cy warning device is of the generally well known type comprising a base 10 having foldable legs 11 with ground engaging elastomeric pads llaO The base 10 supports three arms 12, 13 and 14 that are pivoted to one another and ~oldable to define an equilateral triangleO Arm 12 is mounted on the base 10 and arms 13, 14 are pivoted to the ends of the axm 12 by rivets 15, 16 so that they can be extended from a folded condition to an unfolded condition as shown in FIGo 1 wherein the upper ends of the arms are connected to one another by a disconnectable connector 17~
Conventionally, arms 12, 13 and 14 include passive - signal means in the form of reflective portions 18, 19, 20 formed hy retroreflective elements such as cube corner re-flectors and fluorescent portions 21, 22, 23 that are formed by fluorescent materialO The retroreflective and fluorescent portions are required by regulations that have been established for such emergency warning devices.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the fluorescent portions 21, 22, 23 is formed with horizontal slots 24 extend-ing through the portions 21, 22, 23 and having a configuration such that the air passage causes a downward force on the arms.
Specifically, the horizontal slots 24 extend at an angle, that is~ they are inclined upwardly and rearwardly with respect to the direction of the air and produce a down-ward force. The slots are of uniform cross section and in~
clude straight upper and lower surfaces 25, 26, respectively.
This invention relates to emergency warning devices or flares.
Background of the Invention In recent times, emergency warning devices or flares have been designed to be carried in motor vehicles and used on the roadway to warn approaching traffic of the presence of a stopped vehicle. Such devices are intended to reduce deaths and injuries due to rear end collisions between moving traffic and disabled vehicles. Governmental regulations have been es-tablished to standardize the requirements for such devices interms of size, configuration, color, reflectivity, luminance, stability and durability. Typical standards are the Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 125 in the United States and Canadian Standards Association standard D171 in Canada.
These standards provide that the emergency warning device be triangular in shape and have red reflective material and orange fluorescent material on the opposed faces of the tri-angle~ The standards further call for the warning device as having stability such that when the warning device is erected on a horizontal brush concrete surface, both with and against the brush marks, and subjected to a horizontal wind of 40 m.p.h. in any direction for three minutes, (a) no part of it shall slide more than three inches from its initial position, (b) its triangular portion shall not tilt to a position that is more than ten degrees from the vertical;
and (c) its triangular position shall not turn through a 9~
horizontàl angle of more than ten degrees in either direction from the initial positionO
It has been shown in studies made by the present inventors and confixmed by The National Aeronautical Estab-lishment, Ottawa, Canada, that the present standards onstability are inadequate to withstand the normal winds or the effect of a passing vehicle on the warning devices.
Accordingly The National Aeronautical Establishment has recently recommended that the weight of the device thus be substantially increased.
The problem with such a solution is that it would require an increase in the weight of present emergency road warning flares to about 250% or more of the present weight.
Such a requirement would thus irlcrease the weight ~hat must be carried by the vehicle since each vehicle is presently required to carry three warning devices making it difficult and awkward to handle them, to attach them to the vehicle for storage and increasing fuel consumption of the vehicle.
The present invention is to provide an improved emergency warning device which does not materially increase the weight to be carried by the vehicle; which effectively will withstand crosswinds and winds due to passing vehicles substantially above the present standards;~and which prefer-ably can be folded and stored in a volumetxic area as emer-gency warning devices presently are stored.
9~99~
In accordance with the invention, portions of thearms of the emergency warning device of the equilateral kind or ~e are prcvided wi~ slots that extend through at least one arm and are constructed and arranged so that the air passing through the slots will not only dissipate some of the energy of the a.ir against the emergency warning device but, in ad-dition, will produce a downward :Eorce tending to prevent movement of the emergency warning device along the road sur-face.
Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an emergency warning device embodying the invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on an - enlarged scale taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.
9~
Description Referring to FIG. 1, the emerge~cy warning device is of the generally well known type comprising a base 10 having foldable legs 11 with ground engaging elastomeric pads llaO The base 10 supports three arms 12, 13 and 14 that are pivoted to one another and ~oldable to define an equilateral triangleO Arm 12 is mounted on the base 10 and arms 13, 14 are pivoted to the ends of the axm 12 by rivets 15, 16 so that they can be extended from a folded condition to an unfolded condition as shown in FIGo 1 wherein the upper ends of the arms are connected to one another by a disconnectable connector 17~
Conventionally, arms 12, 13 and 14 include passive - signal means in the form of reflective portions 18, 19, 20 formed hy retroreflective elements such as cube corner re-flectors and fluorescent portions 21, 22, 23 that are formed by fluorescent materialO The retroreflective and fluorescent portions are required by regulations that have been established for such emergency warning devices.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the fluorescent portions 21, 22, 23 is formed with horizontal slots 24 extend-ing through the portions 21, 22, 23 and having a configuration such that the air passage causes a downward force on the arms.
Specifically, the horizontal slots 24 extend at an angle, that is~ they are inclined upwardly and rearwardly with respect to the direction of the air and produce a down-ward force. The slots are of uniform cross section and in~
clude straight upper and lower surfaces 25, 26, respectively.
Claims (8)
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED
AS FOLLOWS:
1.
An emergency warning device comprising a base, three arms extending upwardly from the base to define a triangle, one of said arms extending horizontally on said base and said other two arms extending upwardly, each arm having passive signal means on at least one surface thereof, and a plurality of slots through at least one arm of said equilateral triangle and shaped such that air flow against a face of said triangle produces a downward force tending to prevent movement of the device relative to a road surface.
2.
The emergency warning device set forth in claim
An emergency warning device comprising a base, three arms extending upwardly from the base to define a triangle, one of said arms extending horizontally on said base and said other two arms extending upwardly, each arm having passive signal means on at least one surface thereof, and a plurality of slots through at least one arm of said equilateral triangle and shaped such that air flow against a face of said triangle produces a downward force tending to prevent movement of the device relative to a road surface.
2.
The emergency warning device set forth in claim
2 wherein said upper and lower surfaces of said slots extend horizontally.
3.
An emergency warning device comprising a base, three arms extending upwardly from the base to define a triangle, one of said arms extending horizontally on said base and said other two arms extending upwardly, each arm having passive signal means on at least one surface thereof, and a plurality of slots through each of said arms of said equilateral triangle and shaped such that air flow against a face of said triangle produces a downward force tending to prevent movement of the device relative to a road surface.
An emergency warning device comprising a base, three arms extending upwardly from the base to define a triangle, one of said arms extending horizontally on said base and said other two arms extending upwardly, each arm having passive signal means on at least one surface thereof, and a plurality of slots through each of said arms of said equilateral triangle and shaped such that air flow against a face of said triangle produces a downward force tending to prevent movement of the device relative to a road surface.
4.
The emergency warning device set forth in claim 3 wherein each said slot comprises straight parallel upper and lower surfaces inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the face against which the air flows.
The emergency warning device set forth in claim 3 wherein each said slot comprises straight parallel upper and lower surfaces inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the face against which the air flows.
5.
The emergency warning device set forth in claim 3 wherein said arms include fluorescent portions, said slots being formed in said fluorescent portions.
The emergency warning device set forth in claim 3 wherein said arms include fluorescent portions, said slots being formed in said fluorescent portions.
6.
An emergency warning device comprising a base, three arms extending upwardly from the base to define a triangle, one of said arms extending horizontally on said base and said other two arms extending upwardly, each arm having passive signal means on at least one surface thereof, and a plurality of slots through said upwardly extending arms of said equilateral triangle and shaped such that air flow against a face of said triangle produces a downward force tending to prevent movement of the device relative to a road surface.
An emergency warning device comprising a base, three arms extending upwardly from the base to define a triangle, one of said arms extending horizontally on said base and said other two arms extending upwardly, each arm having passive signal means on at least one surface thereof, and a plurality of slots through said upwardly extending arms of said equilateral triangle and shaped such that air flow against a face of said triangle produces a downward force tending to prevent movement of the device relative to a road surface.
7.
The emergency warning device set forth in claim 6 wherein each said slot comprises straight parallel upper and lower surfaces inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the face against which the air flows.
8.
An emergency warning device comprising a base, three arms extending upwardly from the base to define a triangle, one of said arms extending horizontally on said base and said other two arms extending upwardly, each arm having passive signal means on at least one surface thereof, and a plurality of slots through said horizontally extending arm of said equilateral triangle and shaped such that air flow against a face of said triangle produces a downward force tending to prevent movement of the device relative to a road surface.
9.
The emergency warning device set forth in claim
The emergency warning device set forth in claim 6 wherein each said slot comprises straight parallel upper and lower surfaces inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the face against which the air flows.
8.
An emergency warning device comprising a base, three arms extending upwardly from the base to define a triangle, one of said arms extending horizontally on said base and said other two arms extending upwardly, each arm having passive signal means on at least one surface thereof, and a plurality of slots through said horizontally extending arm of said equilateral triangle and shaped such that air flow against a face of said triangle produces a downward force tending to prevent movement of the device relative to a road surface.
9.
The emergency warning device set forth in claim
8 wherein each said slot comprises straight parallel upper and lower surfaces inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the face against which the air flows.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US24262881A | 1981-03-11 | 1981-03-11 | |
| US242,628 | 1981-03-11 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1189494A true CA1189494A (en) | 1985-06-25 |
Family
ID=22915563
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000396968A Expired CA1189494A (en) | 1981-03-11 | 1982-02-24 | Emergency warning device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1189494A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5860386A (en) * | 1997-03-07 | 1999-01-19 | Service Signing, Inc. | Portable sign or barricade |
-
1982
- 1982-02-24 CA CA000396968A patent/CA1189494A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5860386A (en) * | 1997-03-07 | 1999-01-19 | Service Signing, Inc. | Portable sign or barricade |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |