# US 2014/0152454 A1 · Portable long-distance s.o.s. signaling device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152454 A1 - Document ID: US20140152454A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/236,781 - Filed: 2012-08-16 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-17 - Inventors: Lawrence E. Rabin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152454A1 ## CPC - G08B 5/002: {Distress signalling devices, e.g. rescue balloons (vehicle optical signalling for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52)} - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract A portable distress light signal device generates a visual S.O.S. distress signal indication visible from a significant distance away. Indicia including the letters “SOS” are disposed on either side of the device. A first set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are disposed on both sides of the unit, each positioned within the interior of the region defined by each letter of the “SOS” indicia. A second set of LEDs, preferably of substantial power and luminosity, is likewise disposed on both sides of the unit, within the interior of the “O” portion of the “SOS” indicia. A power cord and power plug couples the unit to a source of electrical power, such as the cigarette lighter socket or 12-Volt accessory socket of an automobile or other vehicle. Powerful permanent magnets are preferably disposed about at least the bottom and right side edges of the housing, permitting the driver of an automobile to rapidly secure the unit to a ferromagnetic surface of the vehicle, such as the driver-side door or roof, in both cases with the SOS indicia oriented in horizontal orientation for easy recognition by passersby. Hazard warning stripes are disposed about the front and back sides of the housing for further enhanced visibility. Upon the application of power to the unit, an internal microcontroller repeatedly switches power to both the first and second sets of LEDs on and off causing them to pulse in a repeated sequence that corresponds to the S.O.S. signal in international Morse code. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An emergency signaling device, comprising: a housing having an interior and an exterior; indicia, visible from the exterior of the housing, and comprising at least one instance of the letters S, O and S; at least one light source, visible from the exterior of the housing; and a controller coupled to the at least one light source and causing the at least one light source to pulse in a manner corresponding to a visual indication of the letters S, O, and S in international Morse code. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The invention according to claim 1, wherein the indicia comprises two instances of the letters S, O, and S, each instance being visible from an opposing side of the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The invention according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of light sources simultaneously pulsed by the controller in a manner corresponding to a visual indication of the letters S, O, and S in international Morse code, and wherein each of the letters S, O, and S includes at least one of the simultaneously pulsed light sources disposed within an outline of the respective letter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The invention according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises a high intensity light emitting diode, pulsed by the controller in a manner corresponding to a visual indication of the letters S, O, and S in international Morse code. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The invention according to claim 4, wherein the at least one light source comprises two high intensity light emitting diodes, each disposed within an interior region of the letter O indicia and pulsed by the controller in a manner corresponding to a visual indication of the letters S, O, and S in international Morse code. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The invention according to claim 1, further comprising at least one magnet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The invention according to claim 6, wherein the at least one magnet comprises at least one magnet disposed proximate a bottom surface of the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The invention according to claim 6, wherein the at least one magnet comprises at least one magnet disposed proximate a side of the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The invention according to claim 6, wherein the at least one magnets comprises at least one magnet disposed proximate a bottom surface of the housing and at least one magnet disposed proximate a side surface of the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The invention according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a power plug receptacle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The invention according to claim 10, wherein the power plug receptacle functions as a handle aperture when a power plug is removed from the power plug receptacle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The invention according to claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a cord reel region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The invention according to claim 1, wherein the emergency signaling device is powered by an external power supply. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The invention according to claim 1, wherein the emergency signaling device is powered by an internal power supply. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The invention according to claim 1, further comprising a GPS receiver. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The invention according to claim 1, further comprising a radio transmitter broadcasting a current position of the emergency signaling device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The invention according to claim 1, further comprising a remote control receiver receiving control commands from a wireless remote control unit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The invention according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the housing comprises a substantially transparent material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The invention according to claim 1, further comprising an anti-glare filter attachable to at least a portion of the housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The invention according to claim 1, further comprising hazard warning stripes visible from the exterior of the housing.