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US 5,664,874 AGranted

Barricade warning light

OwnerAllen G. Wintererinventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

In a barricade warning light, a first casing formed from two (2) mated halves provides a detachable enclosure, inaccessible (except by a special key) before detachment of a second casing holding batteries replaceable with the casings detached. A mounting rod assembly extends from the first casing for attachment to a barricade. An electronic module holds a photocell, an LED and circuitry energizing the LED when the photocell detects darkness. The first casing has a (a) first opening for coupling the key to a switch controlling the warning light operation, (b) second opening for key insertion to couple (decouple) the first casing to (from) the mounting rod assembly and (c) third opening for key insertion to couple (decouple) the casings. With the casings decoupled, (a) the electronic module may be assembled (disassembled) to (from) the first casing and (b) a base plate is attachable (separable) to (from) the bottom of the first casing. When energized, each LED directs light to the center optical area of a conically shaped lens. One surface of each lens defines a lens system including a Fresnel lens for producing a cone of light with a short axis and the other surface defines pillow lenses for converting such light to a slightly divergent pattern. Each lens has retroreflective material at its peripheries and its corners for reflecting light as from automobile headlights. The warning light may consist of a single unidirectional lens unit or a bi-directional unit formed from a pair of LED's and a pair of back-to-back conically shaped lenses.

Claims46

Dependent claims

Claim 1In combination in a barricade warning light · 388 wordsNo dependents Claim 2In combination in a barricade warning light · 204 words5 dependent Claim 8In combination in a barricade warning light · 174 words6 dependent Claim 15In combination in a barricade warning light · 133 words5 dependent Claim 21In combination in a barricade warning light · 138 words4 dependent Claim 26In combination in a barricade warning light · 157 words6 dependent Claim 33In combination in a barricade warning light · 140 words4 dependent Claim 38In combination in a barricade warning light · 242 words4 dependent Claim 43In combination in a barricade warning light · 221 words3 dependent

In combination in a barricade warning light,

first means defining a casing,
lens means disposed in the casing for transmitting light from the casing in a particular direction,
means disposed in the casing for directing light to the lens means for the transmission of light by the lens means from the casing in the particular direction,
a switch disposed in the casing and operative to control the transmission of light by the light-transmitting means to the lens means,
there being an opening in the casing for the passage of a key through the opening from a position external to the casing to operate the switch,
the lens means including a pair of lenses,
each of the lenses having a substantially conical shape and disposed in an abutting back-to-back relationship with the other one of the lenses and the light-directing means being disposed between the lenses for the direction of light to a central position on each of the lenses,
the opening in the casing constituting a first opening,
an electronic module disposed in the casing for holding the light-directing means,
coupling means disposed relative to the electronic module and the casing for holding the electronic module in the casing in a fixed relationship with the casing in a first operative relationship and for releasing the electronic module from the casing in a second operative relationship different from the first operative relationship,
switch means supported by the electronic module, the switch means having first and second operative relationships and operative in the first relationship to provide for a continuous illumination of the light-directing means and operative in the second relationship to provide for a periodic illumination of the light-directing means, and
means operatively coupled to the light-directing means for obtaining an operation of the light-directing means by the switch means in an individual one of the first and second operative relationships only during the occurrence of darkness in each 24-hour period,
the lens means including a pair of lenses,
each of the lenses in the pair defining a Fresnel lens on one surface to produce conical rays and defining a plurality of pillow lenses on the other surface to to produce rays divergent at a particular angle, and
light-reflective material disposed on the casing in the areas surrounding the lenses to reflect the light from headlights of approaching vehicles.

12 more elements

In combination in a barricade warning light,

first casing,
lens means disposed in the casing for transmitting light from the first casing in a particular direction,
means disposed in the first casing for directing light to the lens means for the transmission of the light from the first casing in the particular direction,
a second casing,
the second casing being operatively coupled to the first casing in a first relationship and being disposed for uncoupling from the first casing in a second relationship different from the first relationship, and
coupling means disposed in the first casing and having first and second operative relationships and operative in the first relationship to provide a locking of the second casing to the first casing and operative in the second relationship to provide an unlocking of the second casing from the first casing,
there being an opening in the first casing for providing a controlled operation of the coupling means in the first relationship at first particular times from a position external to the first casing and for providing a controlled operation of the coupling means, from the position external to the first casing, in the second relationship at second particular times different from the first particular times.

4 more elements

In combination in a barricade warning light,

a casing,
an electronic module disposed in the casing,
a support rod assembly,
coupling means having first and second operative relationships and operatively coupled to the support rod assembly and the casing in the first relationship for fixedly positioning the support rod assembly within the casing and operative in the second relationship to uncouple the support rod assembly from the casing,
means disposed within the casing for supporting the electronic module within the casing,
lens means disposed within the casing for transmitting light from the casing, and
means disposed within the casing for directing light to the lens means for the transmission of light from the casing,
there being an opening in the casing to provide for an operation of the coupling means in the casing in the first relationship at first particular times from a position external to the casing and for an operation of the coupling means in the second relationship from the external position at second particular times different from the first particular times.

5 more elements

In combination in a barricade warning light,

a casing,
a support rod disposed in the casing,
coupling means having first and second operative relationships and operatively coupled to the support rod and the casing in the first relationship for fixedly positioning the support rod within the casing and operative in the second relationship to uncouple the support rod from the casing,
lens means disposed within the casing for transmitting light from the casing,
there being an opening in the casing to provide for an operation of the coupling means in the casing in the first relationship at first particular times from a position external to the casing and for an operation of the coupling means in the second relationship from the external position at second particular times different from the first particular times.

2 more elements

In combination in a barricade warning light,

a first casing,
a second casing removably coupled to the first casing and defining an inaccessible enclosure with the first casing when the second casing is coupled to the first casing,
there being an opening in the first casing for providing in a first relationship, from a position external to the first casing, for a coupling of the second casing to the first casing and for providing, in a second relationship different from the first relationship, from the external position for the decoupling of the second casing from the coupled relationship with the first casing, and
an electronic module disposed within the first casing for removal from the first casing when the first casing becomes decoupled form the second casing, the electronic module being constructed to produce a light when energized.

1 more element

In combination in a barricade warning light,

a first casing,
a second casing defining an enclosure with the first casing,
means disposed in the first casing for providing a light illumination and a transmission of the light illumination from the casing,
means disposed in the second casing for providing energy for energizing the light illumination means, and
coupling means disposed in the first casing and having first and second operative relationships and operatively coupled to the first and second casings in the first relationship to retain the casings in a fixed relationship to each other and for decoupling the first and second casings in the second relationship,
the coupling means being constructed to be moved between the first and second relationships,
there being an opening in the first casing for the insertion of a key into the opening to move the coupling means from a position external to the first casing between the first and second relationships.

4 more elements

In combination in a barricade warning light,

a casing,
a support rod assembly disposed at one end in the casing and extending from the casing at a second end opposite the first end,
coupling means disposed in the casing and having first and second operative relationships and operative in the first relationship to retain the support rod assembly in a fixed relationship in the casing and operative in the second relationship to provide for an uncoupling of the support rod assembly from the casing,
there being an opening in the casing for the insertion of a key into the opening from a position external to the first casing to move the coupling means between the first and second relationships, and
means disposed in the casing for providing a light illumination and a transmission of the light illumination from the casing.

2 more elements

In combination in a barricade warning light,

a first casing,
a pair of lenses disposed in the casing in a back-to-back relationship for transmitting light from the first casing in a particular direction,
means disposed in the first casing for directing light to the lenses for the transmission of the light by the lenses from the first casing in the particular direction,
a second casing,
the second casing being operatively coupled to the first casing in a first relationship and being disposed for uncoupling from the first casing in a second relationship different from the first relationship,
at least one battery supported by the second casing between the lenses in the first relationship of the first casing and the second casing,
coupling means disposed in the first relationship and having first and second operative relationships and operative in the first relationship to provide a locking of the second casing to the first casing and operative in the second relationship to provide an unlocking of the second casing from the first casing,
there being an opening in the first casing for providing a controlled operation of the coupling means in the first relationship at first particular times from a position external to the first casing through the opening and for providing a controlled operation of the coupling means through the opening, from the position external to the first casing, in the second relationship at second particular times different from the first particular times.

5 more elements

In combination in a barricade warning light,

a first casing,
a lens disposed in the casing for transmitting light from the first casing in a particular direction,
means disposed in the first casing for directing light to the lens for the transmission of the light by the lens from the first casing in the particular direction,
a second casing,
the second casing being operatively coupled to the first casing in a first relationship and being disposed for uncoupling from the first casing in a second relationship different from the first relationship,
at least one battery supported by the second casing,
coupling means disposed in the first relationship and having first and second operative relationships and operative in the first relationship to provide a locking of the second casing to the first casing and operative in the second relationship to provide an unlocking of the second casing from the first casing,
there being an opening in the first casing for providing a controlled operation of the coupling means in the first relationship at first particular times from a position external to the first casing through the opening and for providing a controlled operation of the coupling means, from the position external to the first casing through the opening, in the second relationship at second particular times different from the first particular times.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/581,180Filed 29 Dec 1995
Granted: 9 Sep 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

F21V 23/04
Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices: the elements being switches
F21S 9/02
Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply: the power supply being a battery…
F21S 9/032
Rechargeable by exposure to light: the solar unit being separate from the lighting unit
F21W 2111/02
Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00: for…

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