# US 9,437,109 B1 · Emergency safety marker system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,437,109 B1 - Document ID: US9437109B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/481,598 - Filed: 2014-09-09 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-24 - Applicants: Joseph V. Stafford; Jan C. Lahtonen; Bruce S. Allen - Inventors: Joseph V. Stafford; Jan C. Lahtonen; Bruce S. Allen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437109B1 ## CPC - F21V 21/06: Bases for movable standing lamps; Fixing standards to the bases (F21V21/08 takes precedence) - B60Q 7/00: Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles - E01F 9/615: illuminated - E01F 9/654: in the form of three-dimensional [3D] bodies, e.g. cones; capable of assuming 3D form, e.g. by inflation or erection to form a geometric body - F21L 4/02: characterised by the provision of two or more light sources - F21V 23/0492: {the sensor detecting a change in orientation, a movement or an acceleration of the lighting device, e.g. a tilt switch} - B60Q 1/2657: {mounted on a shaft, e.g. telescopic} - B60Q 1/2696: {Mounting of devices using LEDs} - F21W 2111/02: for roads, paths or the like - F21Y 2107/30: on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - E01F: ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE - F21L: LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract An electronic lighted safety marker system used by emergency responders to warn motorists of the presence of an accident scene ahead on or beside the roadway is provided by the invention. Such safety marker can be deployed individually or in groups by the emergency responder along the perimeter of the accident scene and ideally ahead of it along the roadway to provide adequate warning to approaching motorists to avoid the accident scene. The safety marker contains a power source, a light panel, a protective shield for the light panel, and electronic circuitry for controlling the operation of the lights in a predetermined frequency or pattern, and may be automatically actuated and self-righting when it is dropped onto the ground or other hard surface. The safety marker can also contain an incursion warning system against incoming vehicles, an early warning radar transponder for sending a warning message to such incoming vehicles, a GPS location detector and transmitter for providing the location of the safety marker and its associated accident scene to a central dispatcher, and a gunshot sensor for detecting the occurrence of gunfire around the accident scene and its location to provide that information to the central dispatcher. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic safety marker deployed by an emergency responder on or along a roadway for providing a warning to oncoming vehicles approaching an accident scene having a boundary defined by the positioned safety marker, the safety marker comprising: (a) a source of electrical current; (b) electrical circuitry connected to the source of electrical current; (c) a self-righting base comprising a housing defining an interior chamber and attachment means along its top surface; (d) a light wand attached at its bottom end to the attachment means in the base, the light wand comprising a plurality of lights connected to the electrical circuit; (e) impact-actuated deployment means interposed in the electrical circuit, and positioned inside the chamber in the base; (f) a sensor switch positioned inside the light wand or base of the safety marker and connected to the electrical circuit and an emergency warning emission mechanism; (g) wherein when the safety marker is released from above ground level by the emergency responder and hits the ground or other hard surface, the impact-actuated deployment means is actuated upon impact to deliver electrical current to the plurality of lights to turn them on to a lighted state to provide warning of the accident scene to the oncoming vehicles, and the safety marker automatically orient[s] itself to an upright, vertical position; and (i) wherein when the safety marker is struck by an incoming vehicle, the sensor switch positioned inside the light wand or base of the safety marker delivers current to the emergency warning emission mechanism to produce an audible warming alert to the emergency responder of the incoming vehicle approaching the accident scene. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The safety marker of claim 1, wherein the impact-actuated deployment means comprises a low-impact sensor switch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The safety marker of claim 1, wherein the impact-actuated deployment means comprises a first contact plate and a second contact plate positioned in substantially parallel alignment inside the chamber in the base, wherein the impact upon the base by the ground or other hard surface against the dropped safety marker deflects the first contact plate against the second contact plate to complete an electrical circuit to deliver electrical current to the plurality of lights to turn them on to a lighted state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The safety marker of claim 1 further comprising a stanchion tube telescoping means attached at its bottom end to the attachment means in the base with the light wand slidably contained inside the stanchion tube between a retracted, standby position and an extended, actuated position, wherein when the safety marker is released from above ground level by the emergency responder with the light wand in its retracted, standby position, and the safety marker hits the ground or other hard surface, the deployment means is actuated upon impact to cause the light wand to move to its extended, actuated position, and to its deliver electrical current to the plurality of lights to turn them on to an elevated lighted state to provide warning of the accident scene to the oncoming vehicles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The safety marker of claim 1, wherein the housing of the base comprises an impact-resistant, elastomeric material to enhance the actuation of the impact-actuated deployment mechanism upon impact by the ground or other hard surface against the dropped safety marker. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The safety marker of claim 1 further comprising a solar panel positioned along the safety marker for gathering photovoltaic energy to produce supplemental electrical current. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The safety marker of claim 1 further comprising a delay circuitry incorporated into the impact-actuated deployment mechanism for producing a delay period after the impact-actuated deployment mechanism is actuated by impact by the ground or other hard surface against the dropped safety marker before the lights in the light wand are turned on. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The safety marker of claim 4 further comprising a delay circuitry incorporated into the impact-actuated deployment mechanism for producing a delay period after the impact-actuated deployment mechanism is actuated by impact by the ground or other hard surface against the dropped safety marker before the light wand is moved from its retracted, standby position to its extended, actuated position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The safety marker of claim 1 further comprising a location detector and transmitter that uses GPS triangulation to determine the location of the safety marker, and automatically transmits the GPS coordinates to a central dispatcher or other party associated with the emergency responder to communicate the location of the accident scene. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The safety marker of claim 9 further comprising a gunshot sensor that detects the presence of a gun-shot within the proximity of the safety marker, and automatically transmits the occurrence of the gun-shot along with the GPS coordinates for the accident scene to a central dispatcher or other party associated with the emergency responder. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The safety device of claim 1 further comprising an early warning radar transponder for transmitting a warning message to an oncoming vehicle of the presence of an accident scene up ahead along the roadway. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The safety marker of claim 4, wherein the impact-actuated deployment mechanism comprises a gear and grid strip assembly for moving the light wand to its extended, actuated position in response to the actuation of the impact-actuated deployment mechanism upon impact by the ground or other hard surface against the dropped safety marker. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The safety marker of claim 4, wherein the impact-actuated deployment mechanism comprises a gas propulsion assembly for moving the light wand to its extended, actuated position in response to the actuation of the impact-actuated deployment mechanism upon impact by the ground or other hard surface against the dropped safety marker. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The safety marker of claim 4, wherein the impact-actuated deployment mechanism comprises a compression spring assembly for moving the light wand to its extended, actuated position in response to the actuation of the impact-actuated deployment mechanism upon impact by the ground or other hard surface against the dropped safety marker. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The safety marker of claim 4, wherein the impact-actuated deployment mechanism comprises a jack screw assembly for moving the light wand to its extended, actuated position in response to the actuation of the impact-actuated deployment mechanism upon impact by the ground or other hard surface against the dropped safety marker. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The safety marker of claim 1, wherein the safety marker is manually deployed by the emergency responder at the accident scene from the emergency responder's vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The safety marker of claim 1, wherein the safety marker is remotely deployed by the emergency responder at the accident scene by a deployment mechanism associated with the emergency responder's vehicle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The safety marker of claim 17, wherein the remote deployment mechanism comprises a rotated carriage means for dropping the safety marker from a horizontal storage orientation onto the ground or other hard surface for deployment. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The safety marker of claim 17, wherein the remote deployment mechanism comprises a piston-actuated means for pushing the safety marker through a break-through housing wall so that the safety marker can drop from a vertical storage orientation onto the ground or other hard surface for deployment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The safety marker of claim 17, wherein the remote deployment mechanism comprises an electrically actuated latch or cable-actuated latch for pulling a pin that secured the safety marker inside a vertical storage housing to allow the safety marker to drop onto the ground or other hard surface for deployment. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) An electronic safety marker system comprising one or more safety markers of claim 1 deployed by an emergency responder on or around an emergency location. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The electronic safety marker system of claim 21, wherein the emergency location comprises an accident scene on or along a roadway to warn oncoming vehicles of the presence of the accident scene. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The electronic safety marker system of claim 21, wherein the emergency location comprises a landslide, disabled bridge, or other safety hazard to provide the location to a central dispatcher or other party associated with an emergency responder for follow-up assistance by additional emergency responders. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The electronic safety marker system of claim 21, wherein the emergency location comprises a field in which a helicopter needs to land to provide enhanced visibility to the pilot of the location of the landing field. ### Claim 25 An electronic safety marker deployed by an emergency responder on or along a roadway for providing a warming to oncoming vehicles approaching an accident scene having a boundary defined by the positioned safety marker, the safety marker comprising: (a) a source of electrical current; (b) electrical circuitry connected to the source of electrical current; (c) a base comprising a housing defining an interior chamber and attachment means along its top surface; (d) a light wand attached at its bottom end to the attachment means in the base, the light wand comprising a plurality of lights connected to the electrical circuit; (e) impact-actuated deployment means interposed in the electrical circuit, and positioned inside the chamber in the base; (f) a sensor switch positioned inside the light wand or base of the safety marker and connected to the electrical circuit and an emergency warning emission mechanism; (g) wherein when the safety marker is released from above ground level by the emergency responder and hits the ground or other hard surface, the impact-actuated deployment means is actuated upon impact to deliver electrical current to the plurality of lights to turn them on to a lighted state to provide warning of the accident scene to the oncoming vehicles; and (i) wherein when the safety marker is struck by an incoming vehicle, the sensor switch positioned inside the light wand or base of the safety marker delivers current to the emergency warning emission mechanism to produce an audible warming alert to the emergency responder of the incoming vehicle approaching the accident scene.