Title: Triangular light assembly with flashing and non-flashing lights
Abstract: A light assembly includes a generally triangular shaped housing having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface. The light assembly further includes at least a first light emitting device disposed in the housing configured to emit a non-flashing light from the front surface of the housing. Finally, the light assembly includes at least a second light emitting device disposed in the housing configured to emit a flashing light from the back surface of the housing.
Patent Number: 6,939,021 Issued on 09/06/2005 to Leslie, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Leslie; Stuart (Larchmont, NY);
Zeder; Roland (New York, NY)
|
| Assignee:
|
Honeywell International Inc. (Morristown, NJ)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
858713 |
| Filed:
|
June 2, 2004 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
362/109; 362/252; 362/399; 362/542; 362/545; 340/471; 340/473; 340/815.45; 40/442; 40/443; 40/550 |
| Intern'l Class: |
F21V 033/00 |
| Field of Search: |
362/23,540,542,109,157,184,190,197,199,208,227,235,236,237,240,362,368,800,812,28,459,543-546,249,252,370,371,382,399
40/204,205,124.02,550,581,584,610,612,442,443,427,541-544
116/28.R,48,49,54,200,202
340/425.5,463,464,468,469,471,473,815.45,815.4,368,369
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
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| 4613847 | Sep., 1986 | Scolari et al.
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| 4734832 | Mar., 1988 | Moriano et al.
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| 4875028 | Oct., 1989 | Chou.
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| 4952910 | Aug., 1990 | Straten et al.
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| 5019951 | May., 1991 | Osterhout et al.
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| 5122939 | Jun., 1992 | Kazdan et al.
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| 5349346 | Sep., 1994 | Wu.
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| 5419065 | May., 1995 | Lin.
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| 5512876 | Apr., 1996 | Brusca.
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| 5558427 | Sep., 1996 | Yang.
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| 5559681 | Sep., 1996 | Duarte.
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| 5606309 | Feb., 1997 | Smith.
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| 5627513 | May., 1997 | Weed et al.
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| 5651636 | Jul., 1997 | Yeh.
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| 5775253 | Jul., 1998 | Quan et al.
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| 5831522 | Nov., 1998 | Weed et al.
| |
| 5970639 | Oct., 1999 | Hui.
| |
| 6092318 | Jul., 2000 | Arie et al.
| |
| 6275149 | Aug., 2001 | Tung.
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| 6389720 | May., 2002 | Hsieh.
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| 6419377 | Jul., 2002 | Yuen.
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| 6535117 | Mar., 2003 | Haerer.
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| 6543165 | Apr., 2003 | Youseph et al.
| |
Primary Examiner: Ward; John Anthony
Assistant Examiner: Negron; Ismael
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser.
No. 60/530,578, filed Dec. 18, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference thereto.
Claims
1. A light assembly, comprising:
a generally triangular shaped housing having a front surface and a back surface
opposite the front surface;
at least a first light emitting device disposed in the housing configured to
emit a non-flashing light from the front surface of the housing;
at least a second light emitting device disposed in the housing configured to
emit a flashing light from the back surface of the housing; and
a handle extending from the back surface of the housing.
2. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein first and second light emitting devices
are light emitting diodes.
3. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein said handle is configured to pivot about
a pivot point.
4. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing is constructed from a plastic material.
5. The light assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of second light
emitting devices disposed in the housing configured to emit flashing light from
the back surface of the housing, the plurality of second light emitting devices
disposed around a perimeter of the housing defined by the back surface.
6. The light assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of first light
emitting devices disposed in the housing configured to emit non-flashing lights
from the front surface of the housing.
7. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of first light emitting
devices disposed in the housing are disposed proximate one another.
8. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein the non-flashing light is a substantially
white light.
9. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein a portion of the back surface proximate
the second light emitting device is constructed from a substantially transparent
red plastic and the light emitted from the housing comprises a substantially red light.
10. The light assembly of claim 1 further comprising an electrical circuit having
a first switch controlling current flow to the first light emitting device and
the second light emitting device, the first light emitting device emitting the
non-flashing light when the first switch is in a closed operational position and
the second light emitting device emitting a flashing light when the first switch
is in a closed operational position.
11. The light assembly of claim 1 further comprising a low battery detection
circuit for detecting when a voltage produced by one or more batteries in said
assembly is less than a desired operational voltage.
12. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein said triangular shaped housing comprises
an eyelet portion to allow said light assembly to be hung above ground level.
13. The light assembly of claim 1 wherein a portion of the front surface proximate
the first light emitting device is substantially transparent.
14. The light assembly of claim 13 wherein a portion of the back surface proximate
the second light emitting device is substantially transparent.
15. The light assembly of claim 1 further comprising a rotatable base connected
to the housing for allowing the housing to rotate about the base.
16. The light assembly of claim 15 wherein the first light emitting device is
disposed at an end of the housing opposite the rotatable base.
17. The light assembly of claim 1 further comprising an electrical circuit having
a first switch operatively coupled to the first light emitting device, the first
light emitting device emitting the non-flashing light when the first switch is
in a closed operational position.
18. The light assembly of claim 17 wherein the electrical circuit further comprises
a second switch operatively coupled to the second light emitting device, the second
light emitting device emitting the flashing light when the second switch is in
a closed operational position.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a light assembly, and in particular to a light
assembly that includes both flashing warning lights and non-flashing lights for
viewing objects.
BACKGROUND
Disabled vehicles on highways, local and/or inner city streets may cause
traffic jams, as well as blocking a shoulder or a portion of the roadway depending
upon the location of the disabled vehicle. In order to provide an indication to
other motorists who may be traveling towards the disabled vehicle, it is desirable
to provide some sort of indication means that would effectively notify the oncoming
motorists that the vehicle is disabled. This is particularly important in nighttime
or other operating conditions when visibility is limited.
One typical means for notifying oncoming motorists that a vehicle is disabled
is the use of flares. In addition, when a vehicle is disabled and depending upon
the time of day and/or weather conditions, the operator may desire a flashlight
for use during repair to the vehicle. For example, an operator changing a tire
at nighttime will require the use of flashlight.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a portable device for use in
the vehicle which provides the dual functions of a light source as well as a signaling
device for other motorists, highway patrolmen, truck drivers and tow truck drivers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Disclosed herein is a light assembly that includes a generally triangular
shaped housing having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface.
The light assembly further includes at least a first light-emitting device disposed
in the housing configured to emit a non-flashing light from the front surface of
the housing. Finally, the light assembly includes at least a second light-emitting
device disposed in the housing configured to emit a flashing light from the back
surface of the housing.
It should be noted that triangular shaped objects generally denote a warning
to
vehicular motorists. Thus, the generally triangular shaped light assembly should
be readily recognized as a warning light to vehicular motorists.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a light assembly.
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the light assembly.
FIG. 3 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the light assembly.
FIG. 4 is a schematic of an electrical circuit utilized in an exemplary embodiment
of the light assembly.
FIG. 5 is a rear view of another exemplary embodiment of a light assembly.
FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the
light assembly.
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a rotatable base utilized in another exemplary embodiment
of the light assembly.
FIG. 8 is a front view of another exemplary embodiment of the light assembly,
excluding the rotatable base.
FIG. 9 is a schematic of an electrical circuit utilized in an exemplary embodiment
of the light assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a light assembly
10 having both the
functionality of a warning light and a flashlight in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment is illustrated. Light assembly
10 includes a housing
12,
a rotatable base
14, and an electrical circuit
16.
Referring to FIG. 3, housing
12 includes a front housing portion
60, a rear housing portion
62, and a transparent lens
64.
Housing portions
60,
62 are preferably coupled together with screws
(not shown). Further, housing portions
60,
62 define an interior
space configured to hold therein the electrical circuit
16 which includes
a plurality of light emitting diodes. Front housing portion
60 is preferably
constructed from an opaque plastic. Rear housing portion
62 is preferably
constructed from a substantially transparent plastic having a substantially red
color. As shown, rear housing portion
62 includes an outer surface
70
from which light is emitted. The housing portion
62 further includes a handle
66 to allow a user of light assembly
10 to move assembly
10
easily. Thus, handle
66 allows a user to easily direct the light source
of light-emitting diodes
18-
28 towards an area requiring illumination.
Handle
66 is split at dashed line
71 and can rotate about a pivot
point or hinge
69 toward surface
70 for ease of storage of light
assembly
10. Further, handle
66 can be rotated about pivot point
69 to the position shown in FIG. 1 to allow a user to easily hold light
assembly
10 in their hand. Transparent lens
64 includes an outer
surface
65 from which light is emitted. Lens
64 is preferably constructed
from a transparent clear plastic.
Rotatable base
14 is provided to allow housing
12 to be rotated
relative to base
14 to a desired position. Rotatable base
14 is preferably
constructed from plastic and is rotatably coupled to housing
12 utilizing
a screw (not shown). The rotatable base
14 can be rotatably positioned under
housing
12 for flat storage of the light assembly
10. The rotatable
base
14 also supports the housing
12 in an upright position when
the base is disposed on an irregular or non-flat surface.
Referring to FIG. 4, electrical circuit
16 includes a voltage source
90, first and second switches
92,
94, a timer circuit
96,
and light emitting diodes (LEDS)
18,
20,
22,
24,
26,
28,
30,
32,
34,
36,
38,
40,
42,
44,
46,
48,
50,
52,
54,
56,
58.
Voltage source
90 may comprise a conventional battery. Switches
92,
94 may comprise conventional normally-open contact switches. As shown, switch
92 is connected in series between voltage source
90 and LEDs
18-
28.
When switch
92 is moved to a closed operational position, LEDs
18-
28
emit light that propagates through transparent lens
64.
Switch
94 is connected in series with a timer circuit
96. Circuit
96 is a conventional timer circuit which periodically energizes LEDs
30-
58
so that LEDs
30-
58 flash at periodic intervals. Circuit
96
comprises the timer circuit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,513, entitled "Portable
Visual Emergency Signal Device" filed on Apr. 25, 1995, which is incorporated herein
in its entirety. However, it should be noted that a plurality of other configurations
of timer circuit
96 could be utilized in light assembly
10. As shown,
LEDs
30-
58 are connected in series between timer circuit
96
and a ground
97.
Referring to FIG. 2, LEDs
18-
28 are disposed within transparent
lens
64 and emit substantially white light from surface
65 of lens
64. LEDs
18-
28 may be mounted on one or more PCB boards (not
shown). When a user of light assembly
10 actuates switch
92, LEDs
18-
28 may emit light that can be used for viewing objects at night.
It should be noted that in an alternate embodiment one more of LEDs
18-
28
could be replaced with halogen bulbs or other equivalent light emitting sources.
Referring to FIG. 1, LEDs
30-
58 are disposed within housing
12 proximate rear housing portion
62. In particular, LEDs
30-
58
may be mounted on one or more PCB boards (not shown) disposed within housing
12.
As discussed above, rear housing portion
62 is constructed from a substantially
transparent red plastic. Thus, the emitted light through a surface
70 of
rear housing portion
62 has a substantially red color. Further, LEDs
30-
58
may be periodically flashed by timer circuit
96. Thus, a user of light assembly
10 can move switch
94 to a closed operational position to obtain
a flashing warning light that can be used at night to warn other people that a
person or a vehicle is proximate the light assembly
10. It should be noted
that in an alternate embodiment of assembly
10, one more of LEDs
30-
58
could be replaced with halogen bulbs or any other type of electrically or chemically
activated light emitting device.
Referring to FIGS. 5-9, a light assembly
108 having both the functionality
of a warning light and a flashlight in accordance with another exemplary embodiment
is illustrated. Light assembly
108 includes a housing
109, a transparent
lens
114, a rotatable base
116, and an electrical circuit
118.
Referring to FIG. 6, housing
109 includes a front housing portion
110 and a rear housing portion
112. Housing portions
110,
112 are preferably coupled together with screws and may have an O-ring gasket
(not shown) disposed therebetween. Further, housing portions
110,
112
define an interior space configured to hold therein electrical circuit
118
which may includes a plurality of PCB boards, light emitting diodes, and batteries
described below. Front housing portion
110 is preferably constructed from
an opaque plastic. Rear housing portion
112 is preferably constructed from
a substantially transparent plastic having a substantially red color. As shown,
rear housing portion
112 includes an outer surface
113 from which
light is emitted. Housing portion
112 further includes a handle
120
to allow a user of light assembly
108 to move assembly
108 easily.
Housing portion
112 further includes an eyelet
115 coupled to an
upper portion of rear housing portion
112 to allow light assembly
108
to be hung above the ground.
Referring to FIGS. 5-8, transparent lens
114 includes an outer surface
122 from which light is emitted. Lens
114 is preferably constructed
from a transparent clear plastic and may be coupled to housing portion
110
using screws or may be configured to snap into housing portion
110.
Rotatable base
116 is provided to allow housing
109 to be
rotated relative to base
116. Base
116 is preferably constructed
from plastic and may be rotatably coupled to housing
109 utilizing a screw
117. In an alternate embodiment, screw
117 could be replaced with
a dowel pin that would also allow base
116 to rotate relative to housing
109. The base
116 can be rotated from a stored position to a deployed
position by rotating base
116 so that two ends of base
116 are disposed
outwardly from the remainder of the housing
109 for providing multiple surface
areas for supporting the light assembly
108. The additional surfaces will
provide a more stable support of the light assembly
108 on non-flat surfaces
or when vehicles driving past the light assembly
108 induce wind gusts against
the assembly.
Referring to FIGS. 5,
8 and
9, electrical circuit
118
includes batteries
150,
152,
155, and
156, a switch
mechanism
148, a timer circuit
96, LEDS
130,
132,
134,
136,
138,
140,
142,
144,
146,
160,
162,
164,
166, a low battery detection circuit
172,
and a speaker
174. As shown, switch
148 is connected in series between
batteries
150,
152,
155,
156 and LEDs
160-
166.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 8, LEDs
160-
166 may be electrically
connected in series and disposed on a PCB board
159 that is fixedly mounted
within housing portion
110. LEDs
160-
166 may be mounted at
a 10 degree angle with respect to a vertical axis extending through assembly
108.
When a member (not shown) of switch mechanism
148 is depressed once, LEDs
160-
166 are configured to transmit substantially white light through
lens
114.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 9, LEDs
130-
146 may be electrically
connected in series between timer circuit
96 and ground
147. Further,
LEDs
130-
146 are mounted on one or more PCB boards. LEDs
130,
132,
134 are mounted on a PCB board
124 which is fixedly attached
within an interior of housing
109. LEDs
136,
138,
140
are mounted on a PCB board
126 which is fixedly attached within an interior
of housing
109. Further, LEDs
142,
144,
146 are mounted
on a PCB board
128 which is fixedly attached within an interior of housing
109. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, LEDs
130-
146 are disposed
within housing
109 proximate rear housing portion
112. As discussed
above, rear housing portion
112 is constructed from a substantially transparent
red plastic. Thus, the emitted light through a surface
113 of rear housing
portion
112 has a substantially red color.
As discussed above, circuit
96 is a conventional timer circuit and may
comprise the timer circuit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,513, entitled "Portable
Visual Emergency Signal Device" filed on Apr. 25, 1995, which is incorporated herein
in its entirety. Timer circuit
96 is electrically connected in series with
LEDs
130-
146 to periodically energize LEDS
130-
146
to emit a flashing light. In an alternate embodiment of circuit
118, circuit
96 could be removed so that LEDS
130-
146 would be directly
coupled in series with switch mechanism
148 so that LEDs
130-
146
would emit a non-flashing light when LEDs
130-
146 are energized.
Switch mechanism
148 is further connected in series between batteries
150,
152,
155,
156 and timer circuit
96. When
a member (not shown) of switch mechanism
148 is depressed a first time,
LEDs
160-
166 are energized and emit light through transparent lens
114. When the member of switch mechanism
148 is depressed a second
time, timer circuit
96 is energized. Thereafter, circuit
96 induces
LEDs
130-
146 to emit a blinking red light at periodic intervals through
rear housing portion
112. When the member of switch mechanism
148
is depressed a third time, all of the LEDs of circuit
118 are turned off.
LEDs
130-
146 and
160-
166 provide a relatively high
intensity light with a relatively low power consumption. It should be noted that
in an alternate embodiment of light assembly
108, one or more of LEDs
160-
166
and LEDs
130-
146 could be replaced with halogen bulbs or any other
type of electrically or chemically activated light emitting device.
Low battery detection circuit
172 is provided to determine when an operational
voltage produced by batteries
156,
155,
152, and
150
is less than a desired operational voltage. Circuit
172 can be implemented
using conventional circuit components such as solid state comparator circuits for
example. Circuit
172 is electrically coupled to a node
170 between
battery
155 and switch mechanism
148. When circuit
172 detects
an operational voltage at node
170 less than the desired operational voltage,
circuit
172 generates a signal that induces speaker
174 to generate
an audible beeping sound. The beeping sound will indicate to a user that the batteries
156,
155,
152,
150 need to be replaced.
The embodiments of the inventive light assembly provide substantial advantages
over known light assemblies. In particular, the inventive light assemblies provide
a dual function of a light source as well as a signaling device for other motorists,
highway patrolmen, truck drivers and tow truck drivers. Further, the inventive
light assemblies are portable and storable within a vehicle.
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments,
it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made
and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from
the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt
a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing
from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention
not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed for carrying out this invention,
but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of
the appended claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not
denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used
to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an,
etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of
at least one of the referenced item.
*
