GB2036140A - Road hazard warning device - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable hazard warning device comprises a rubber or other mat (1) which may be laid upon a carriageway the mat (1) having a crenellated upper surface (2) such that the mat (1) generates an easily perceived vibratory response in a vehicle passing thereover. The mat incorporates air cavities actuating whistles 7. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to road transport The present invention relates to road transport and in particular relates to hazard warning systems.

Drivers often fail to react to conventional hazard warning signs prior to road works because their visual perception has become unresponsive to the required pictorial inputs.

This situation often arises when drivers are tired and jaded after having driven long distances, or when drivers are overloaded with alternative visual stimuli.

Efforts have been made to alert drivers' attention to hazard warning signs by the intro duction of flashing lights. However such lights suffer from the disadvantages that they are distracting in themselves, and non-discriminat ing in that that may well distract drivers for whom their use is not intended.

The present invention provides a hazard warning system which utilises a drivers' less overloaded senses and which is discriminating with respect to the road user.

According to the present invention a hazard warning system comprises a portable linked structure laid upon a carriageway, the linked structure having a relieved upper surface such that the structure generates an easily per ceived vibratory response in a vehicle passing thereover.

According to the present invention the linked structure comprises a mat having a crenellated upper surface. Advantageously the mat will be of plastics material and the crenel lations will be equi-spaced with skid free sur face.

According to a preferred feature of the present invention the linked structure may be fixable to the road surface. This may be achieved by providing an adherent lower sur face.

According to a further preferred feature of the present invention the vertical surfaces of the crenellations may be light reflective. Additionally the horizontal surfaces of the crenellations may be alternately coloured.

According to an aspect of the present invention a linked structure of plastics material may include cavities therein which are associated with pneumatic sound generating means, such that when a vehicle passes over the linked structure the cavities therein are com pressed and thereby expelling air through the sound generating means to produce an audi ble warning.

The invention is particularly suitable for use on country roads, where due to hedges or fences conventional hazard signs cannot be placed; since in themselves they would project and therefore create extra road hazards.

It is not intended that the invention should -replace conventional road hazard signs, indeed in many situations the invention can be used to best advantage by acting as a precursor to those signs. In such a mode of operation the sudden vibrational response will serve to increase a drivers' alertness in respect of forthcoming hazard signs displaying particular information.

When used as a precursor, as suggested above, the invention will be applicable to standard road signs to alert drivers' attention prior to 'Z' bends or level crossings etc. It should be mentioned, particularly with respect to the latter, that the invention has an added advantage in that the vibratory response induces in the driver of a vehicle a natural tendency to decelerate.

In the road hazard situation it may be desirable to emplace a linked structure after the hazard to indicate to a driver that the road is clear.

A hazard warning system in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows a linked structure, Figure 2 shows hazard warning systems in use at a road junction, and Figure 3 shows hazard warning systems in use on a 'Z' bend.

Referring to Fig. 1 the linked structure comprises a hard wearing rubber mat 1 having crenellations 2 on the upper surface thereof and ramped shoulders 3 at either side of the crenellations 2. The rubber mat 1 has an adherent base 4.

The vertical surfaces of the crenellations 2 have light reflective portions 5 thereon and the crenellations have horizontal upper surfaces which are alternately coloured red and white. Further, a cavity tube 6 exists within each projecting crenellation, the ends of each cavity tube 6 terminated by a pneumatic whistle 7.

In operation the base 4 of the rubber mat 1 is adhered to a road surface. A vibratory response is induced in a vehicle passing over the mat 1 as a result of the crenallations 2.

Further, the weight of the vehicle will compress the cavity tubes 6 to expel air through the pneumatic whistles 7 to produce an audible signal. The reflective portion 5 and the alternate colouring of the crenellations 2 serve to indicate the presence of the mat 1 on the road surface.

Figs. 2 and 3 show the use of the mats 1 in particular situations and are self explanatory.

It will be appreciated that the invention can be realised in the form of a chain structure, or a framework of rails; in fact any linked structure which will give rise to vibrational response in a vehicle passing thereover. Further the linked structure may be made temporary, semi-permanent or permanent upon a road surface.

Additional fixing if required would be by hardened steel pins or adhesives.

Claims (16)

1. A hazard warning system comprising a portable linked structure laid upon a carriageway, the linked structure having a relieved upper surface such that the structure generates an easily perceived vibratory response in a vehicle passing thereover.

2. A hazard warning system as claimed in claim 1 and in which the linked structure has a crenellated upper surface.

3. A hazard warning system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 and in which the upper surface of the linked structure is a skid free surface.

4. A hazard warning system as claimed in any of the preceding claims and in which the linked structure is foldable.

5. A hazard warning system as claimed in any of the preceding claims and in which the linked structure includes securing means so that it is fixable to the carriageway.

6. A hazard warning system as claimed in claim 5 in which the securing means is an adherent lower surface forming part of the linked structure.

7. A hazard warning system as claimed in claim 6 in which the adherent lower surface is formed by an array of spikes.

8. A hazard warning system as claimed in claim 5 is which the securing means is provided by a suction skirt on the linked structure.

9. A hazard warning system as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the upper surface of the linked structure is light reflective.

1 0. A hazard warning system as claimed in any of the claims 2 to 9 in which vertical surfaces of the crenellations are light reflective.

11. A hazard warning system as claimed in claims 2 to 10 in which the horizontal surfaces of the crenellations are alternately coloured.

1 2. A hazard warning system as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the linked structure includes cavities therein which are associated with sound generating means such that when a vehicle passes thereover the cavities therein are compressed thereby expelling air through the sound generating means to produce an audible warning.

1 3. A hazard warning system as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the linked structure has a ramped end.

1 4. A linked structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A hazard warning system substantially as described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A hazard warning system substantially described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.