# US 7,404,372 B2 · Emergency signaling device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,404,372 B2 - Document ID: US7404372B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/261,934 - Filed: 2005-10-28 - Published: 2006-07-27 - Granted: 2008-07-29 - Earliest claimed: 2002-11-20 - Assignees: Abeo, LLC - Inventors: A. L. Pepper Aasgaard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7404372B2 ## CPC - B60Q 7/00: Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles - B60Q 1/52: for indicating emergencies - B60Q 2900/40: Several lamps activated in sequence, e.g. sweep effect, progressive activation - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract An emergency signaling device comprises a flexible substrate stowed in the trunk of a vehicle for extending from a folded position to an extended position, for conveying a message to motorists approaching the vehicle. The emergency signaling device may extend from the trunk of the vehicle upon activation of a remote trunk release when a hazard flasher system is on, or the like. The emergency signaling device may be removed from the vehicle for use as an emergency signaling device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An emergency signaling device adapted to deploy from a trunk of a vehicle having a pre-existing trunk release and hazard light activation switch to alert oncoming traffic, the emergency signaling device comprising: a flexible substrate foldable between at least a folded position and an unfolded position wherein the flexible substrate is stowed in the folded position and biased toward the unfolded position, the flexible substrate has a back surface and a front surface of non-reflective material having a reflective material layer coupled thereto in a pattern; a plurality of fasteners in the flexible substrate for facilitating attachment of the emergency signaling device to the trunk so that the front surface faces rearward so as to be visible to oncoming traffic; a plurality of lights disposed within the reflective material layer, the plurality of lights illuminated to form indicia for displaying a message, the reflective material layer to collect and reflect light from approaching traffic and the plurality of lights to alert approaching traffic of the vehicle, and the plurality of lights being light emitting diodes; the flexible substrate stowed in the trunk of the vehicle in the folded position and deployed from the trunk to the unfolded position to display the message to alert approaching traffic and direct traffic away from the vehicle; and the flexible substrate is automatically and simultaneously released from the folded to the unfolded position upon sequenced activation of the vehicle's hazard light activation switch and trunk release. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The emergency signaling device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a power supply for providing electrical power to the light emitting diode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The emergency signaling device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the power supply comprises: a. a battery coupled to the substrate; or b. a plug-in outlet associated with a household electrical circuit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The emergency signaling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the battery is charged: a. by the vehicle's battery when the flexible substrate is in the trunk; or b. by the plug-in outlet when used at locations remote from the vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The emergency signaling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners comprise magnetic fasteners adapted to secure the flexible substrate to the trunk in the folded and unfolded position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The emergency signaling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is attached in the trunk of the vehicle and is removable from the trunk for use at a location remote from the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The emergency signaling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trunk comprises a trunk lid, and wherein the flexible substrate is fastened within the trunk to the trunk lid by the plurality of fasteners and adapted to simultaneously and automatically deploy from the folded to the unfolded position when the vehicle's hazard light activation switch is on and the trunk release comprising a remote trunk release associated with the vehicle is activated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The emergency signaling device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a power supply for powering the plurality of lights, wherein the power supply is charged from a battery of the vehicle when the flexible substrate is in the folded position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The portable emergency signaling device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a light emitting diode controller, wherein the plurality of lights are arranged in the form of at least one arrow animated by the light emitting diode controller for displaying an animated warning for directing an oncoming automobile away from the vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The emergency signaling device of claim 8 wherein the flexible substrate upon deployment automatically self-attaches to the trunk to alert approaching traffic and support the trunk lid in an open position. ### Claim 11 An emergency signaling device adapted to deploy from a trunk lid of a trunk of a vehicle and to operate in concert with a hazard flashing system and a trunk release of the vehicle, the emergency signaling device comprising: a flexible substrate electrically connected to the vehicle and attached within the trunk to the trunk lid; the flexible substrate automatically and simultaneously upon activation of the hazard flashing system and the trunk release within the vehicle self-deploys from a folded position to an unfolded position; a plurality of fasteners disposed in the flexible substrate to attach the emergency signaling device to the trunk lid; a plurality of lights disposed within a reflective material layer coupled to the flexible substrate to form a pattern; and the plurality of lights illuminated by actuation of the hazard flashing system to form indicia to display a message to warn approaching traffic. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The emergency signaling device of claim 11 wherein the flexible substrate automatically and simultaneously upon activation of the hazard flashing system and a remote trunk release self-deploys from the folded position to the unfolded position and the plurality of lights illuminate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The emergency signaling device of claim 12 wherein the plurality of lights are adapted to shutoff upon deactivation of the hazard flashing system of the vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The emergency signaling device of claim 13 wherein the flexible substrate upon deployment automatically self-attaches to the trunk to be visually ascertainable by approaching traffic and support the trunk lid in an open position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The emergency signaling device of claim 11 wherein a battery for powering the plurality of lights is chargeable by: a. a battery of the vehicle; or b. a plug-in outlet associated with a household electrical circuit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The emergency signaling device of claim 15 wherein the flexible substrate is adapted to detach from the trunk lid for use as a portable device and charging in the plug-in outlet. ### Claim 17 An emergency signaling device adapted to deploy from a trunk lid of a trunk of a vehicle when open and to operate in concert with a hazard flashing system of the vehicle, the emergency signaling device comprising: a flexible substrate electrically connected to the vehicle and attached within the trunk to the trunk lid in a stowed position; a plurality of lights disposed within a reflective material layer coupled to the flexible substrate to form a pattern; and the plurality of lights illuminated to form indicia to display a message and the flexible substrate automatically and simultaneously upon activation of the hazard flashing system within the vehicle self-deploys from the stowed position to an unfolded position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The emergency signaling device of claim 17 wherein the reflective material layer is illuminated by light from a lamp on the trunk lid directed toward the flexible substrate when the trunk lid is open. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The emergency signaling device of claim 17 wherein operation of turn signal controls in the vehicle illuminate left and right arrows displayed on the flexible substrate to direct oncoming traffic left or right away from the vehicle.