Foldable triangular caution device
A flexible foldable triangular warning device is provided. The warning device is made from at least one panel and can be moved between a compact or storage position and an expanded position in which the warning device can be made to be free standing. The device can comprise a single panel, in which case, the device includes a base which will enable the panel to be free standing or to be mounted to the window of a vehicle. The device can also comprise two, three, four, or more panels, in which case, the device will set up to form a triangular or rectangular pyramid.
This continuation patent application claims priority to the regular letters patent application having Ser. No. 10/449,681, which was filed on Jun. 2, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis application relates generally to cautionary devices, such as traffic caution signs, and, in particular, to foldable triangular cautionary signs or signal.
Drivers often have to stop by the side of the road, for example, to change a tire. When the driver gets out of the car, he subjects himself to the danger of being hit by passing cars. Typically, a driver will activate his warning lights which causes the back lights to blink on and off to inform other drivers that he has stopped. However, depending on lighting conditions, it is sometimes difficult for other drivers to see the warning lights.
Emergency traffic workers, such as tow-truck drivers, policemen, etc. often have small cones which they can place behind a car to warn on-coming traffic of the need to be careful. However, the use of such devices is not convenient for a typical driver. Additionally, there generally is no place to convenient place to store such cones.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBriefly stated, a collapsible warning device is provided. The warning device is made from at lest one panel, and the panel is made from a web having a channel at the periphery of the web and a flexible wire frame which extends through the web. Because the panel is flexible, the panel is movable between an expanded state, in which the panel lies generally on a single plane, and a stored position. The panel can be made more visible, for example, by provided it with a light emitting device, such as a plurality of LED's, or with a strip of reflective material which extends, for example, about the periphery of the panel. Additionally, the panel can be provided with shapes, such as exclamation points or other shapes. Further, the web of the panel need not fill the entire area defined by the frame. For example, the web can be “+” shaped or “Y” shaped, or be in any other desired shape.
The warning device is can be used simply as the panel, or preferably, can be made to be self standing. In one embodiment, a base is provided which enables the warning device to be self standing. In a first variation, the base comprises a connector and a leg which are pivotally connected together to form a connector-leg assembly. The connector has a groove which is sized and shaped to receive at least a part of a peripheral edge of the panel. Preferably, two connector-leg assemblies are used, and more preferably, the connector-leg assemblies are positioned such that the legs are on opposite sides of the panel.
The legs are pivotal between a first position in which they are adjacent and generally parallel to the plane of the panel and a second position in which they are generally perpendicular to the plane of the panel. Preferably, the legs define a channel which is sized and shaped to at least partially enclose the panel periphery when the legs are in their first position. At least one of the legs can be provided with a hook portion, to enable the base to be mounted to a window, such as the window of a vehicle.
An alternative base comprises a channel member having a first portion which receives at least a part of a bottom edge of the panel and a second portion which receives at least a part of a side edge of the panel. The channel member includes a slit, slot, or other opening to allow the channel member to receive the peripheral edge of the panel. A leg pivotally mounted to the channel member and is movable between a first position in which the leg is generally perpendicular to the plane of the panel and a second position in which the leg is generally parallel to the plane of the panel. Preferably, there are two legs, one leg on either side of the channel. Additionally, the channel member includes a sleeve which receives the leg.
In another variation of the warning device, the warning device includes two or more panels, and the panels themselves form the base to make the warning device self standing or free standing. In one variation, the warning device comprises two panels which are operatively connected together along a top edge thereof and are moveable between a first position in which the panels are substantially parallel to each other and a second position in which the panels are adjacent each other at their top edges and spaced apart from each other at their bottom edges. A strap extends between the bottom edges of the two panels to maintain the panels in the second position. The two panels can include independent frames, in which case, the two separate and independent panels are hingedly connected together by a clip or connector. Alternatively, the two panels can be formed on a common framework, which defines generally a figure eight or has a generally hour glass shape.
The warning device can also be made of three panels, which are pivotally connected together along side edges, such that the three panels define a central panel and two outer panels. The warning device, when set up, will form a triangular pyramid. This warning device can be provided with a fourth panel, such that the triangular pyramid includes a base or bottom panel. Thus, the warning device forms a quadrahedron when in its free-standing position.
The warning device can also comprise four panels which are hingedly connected together to form a square pyramid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 15A-C show the folding of the two-panel warning device of
FIGS. 19A-D are views of the four-panel warning device showing folding of the warning device into a compact position in which it can be easily stored;
FIGS. 20A-C are views of an four-panel warning device which forms a square pyramid in various states of folding;
FIGS. 22A-E show a panel of the warning device with different shaped netting or markings;
Corresponding reference numerals will be used throughout the several figures of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what I presently believe is the best mode of carrying out the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A warning device 10 of the present invention comprises a panel 12 which is preferably generally triangular in shape. The panel 12 has a flexible wire frame 14 and a web 16 which is stretched between the edges of the frame. The web is preferable made from a material which is easily visible. For example, the web can be orange or yellow in color, colors which is often associated with warning signs. Although the web 16 is shown to be a net-like material, it will be appreciated that the web can also be more solid (i.e., the threads of the web can be closer together.) Because the device is foldable, the material from which the web 16 is made is flexible, and hence is preferably a cloth or flexible plastic sheet. A channel 18 is formed at the periphery of the web 16, and the frame 14 passes through this channel. The channel can be formed by folding over the edge of the web material, and then sewing down the folded over edge, or by sewing a separate piece of material onto the edge of the web. The panel 10 includes an elastic band 20, shown to be positioned at one of the corners of the triangle.
The panel 10 is flexible and foldable, and hence, is movable from a folded position as shown in
Preferably, the panel is provided with some mechanism to hold it upright, so that the panel can stand on the roadside next to the car, or be mounted to the car. In one embodiment, a panel base comprises a corner base assemblies 24 which are mounted to the panel to cover the corners of the panel. As seen in
The base assembly 24 is shown in greater detail in
The connector 28 includes a connector base 34 which is shaped complimentarily to the arm sleeve 30. A passage 36 extends axially through the base to be aligned with the leg sleeve passage 32. An elongate head 38 is formed on top of the body, and extends beyond the end of the body. A slot 40 is formed between the connector head 38 and the connector body 36. The head 38 has a front surface that is flush with the front surface of the body, but extends beyond the back surface of the body a distance sufficient, such that the back surface of the head is substantially flush with the back surface of the leg sleeve when the connector is assembled to the leg, as seen in
The connector 28 and leg 26 are joined together by a pin which extends though the holes 36 and 32, respectively of the connector and leg sleeve to form a connector-leg assembly. As seen in
In
A two panel warning device 70 is shown in
A second embodiment of the two-panel waning device is shown in
A three-panel warning device 100 is shown in FIGS. 17A-B. The warning device 100 includes three panels 102a-c each of which is formed similarly to the panel 10. The panels 102a-c are each triangular in shape, and have a base 104 and side edges 106. The three panels are connected together, such that one of the side edges of panel 102a is connected to one of the side edges of panel 102b; and one of the side edges of panel 102c is connected to the opposite side edge of panel 102b. Hence, panel 102b is a central panel and the panels 102a and 102c are side panels. The panels are hingedly joined together using clips 107 which are similar to the clip 74 (
In
In
In FIGS. 22A-C, the panel web does not completely fill the area defined by the frame 14. In
Lastly,
Claims
1. A collapsible warning device comprising:
- at least one panel; said panel comprising a flexible wire frame and a web applied to said frame; said web being applied to said frame by a channel at a periphery of said web and through which said wire frame extends; and
- a base; said base being configured to enable said warning device to be mounted to a window of a vehicle or to be free-standing.
2. The collapsible warning device of claim 1 wherein said base comprises a connector having a groove which is sized and shaped to receive at least a part of a peripheral edge of said panel and a pair of legs pivotally mounted to said connector; said legs being pivotal between a first position in which said legs are adjacent and generally parallel to the plane of said panel and a second position in which said legs are generally perpendicular to the plane of said panel.
3. The collapsible warning device of claim 2 wherein said legs of said pair of legs are positioned on opposite sides of said panel.
4. The collapsible warning device of claim 2 wherein said legs define a channel, said leg channel being sized and shaped to at least partially enclose said panel periphery when said legs are in their first position.
5. The collapsible warning device of claim 1 wherein said base comprises a connector having a channel which is sized and shaped to receive at least a part of a peripheral edge of said panel and at least one leg pivotally mounted to said connector; said leg including a hook sized and adapted to be received on an edge of a vehicle window.
6. The collapsible warning device of claim 1 wherein said base comprises a channel member having a first portion which receives at least a part of a bottom edge of said panel and a second portion which receives at least a part of a side edge of said panel; said base further including a leg pivotally mounted to said channel member to be movable between a first position in which said leg is generally perpendicular to the plane of said panel and a second position in which said leg is generally parallel to the plane of said panel.
7. The collapsible warning device of claim 6 wherein said base includes a sleeve extending along at least a portion of said base first portion; said sleeve receiving said leg.
8. The collapsible warning device of claim 1 wherein warning device comprises two panels; said panels being operatively connected together along a top edge thereof; and being moveable between a first position in which said panels are substantially parallel to each other and a second position in which said panels are adjacent each other at their top edges and spaced apart from each other at their bottom edges; said warning device further comprising a strap extending between the bottom edges of said two panels to maintain said panels in said second position; said base comprising the bottom edges of said panels, said device being free standing when in said second position.
9. The collapsible warning device of claim 8 wherein said panels each comprise their own frame; said warning device including a connector which pivotally connects said panels together.
10. The collapsible warning device of claim 8 wherein said panels are generally triangular; said warning device comprising a single frame which supports both said panels; said frame being generally in the shape of an hour glass.
11. The collapsible warning device of claim 1 wherein said device comprises a central panel and two outer panels; said outer panels being pivotally connected to opposite sides of said central panel; said warning device being moveable between a collapsed position and a position in which said three panels are joined together to form a three sided pyramid.
12. The collapsible warning device of claim 11 and including a fourth panel, said fourth panel being hingedly connected to a bottom edge of one of the other three panels; whereby one of said four panels forms a bottom panel, and the remainder of said panels define side panels; said warning device forming a triangular pyramid with a bottom when in said free standing position.
13. The collapsible warning device of claim 1 wherein said device comprises a four panels; said panels being pivotally connected and being moveable between a collapsed position and a position in which said panels are joined together to form one of a square pyramid.
14. The collapsible warning device of claim 1 wherein said panel includes a light emitting device.
15. The collapsible warning device of claim 14 wherein said light emitting device comprises a plurality of LED's spaced around a periphery of said panel.
16. A collapsible warning device comprising:
- at least one panel; said panel comprising a flexible wire frame and a web applied to said frame; said web being applied to said frame by a channel at a periphery of said web and through which said wire frame extends; and
- a base; said base being configured to enable said warning device to be mounted to a window of a vehicle or to be free-standing; said base comprising a connector having a groove which is sized and shaped to receive at least a part of a peripheral edge of said panel and a pair of legs pivotally mounted to said connector; said legs being pivotal between a first position in which said legs are adjacent and generally parallel to the plane of said panel and a second position in which said legs are generally perpendicular to the plane of said panel.
17. The collapsible warning device of claim 16 wherein said base includes a hook on at least one of said legs, said hook being sized, shaped, and adapted to be received on an edge of a vehicle window.
18. A collapsible warning device comprising:
- at least one panel; said panel comprising a flexible wire frame and a web applied to said frame; said web being applied to said frame by a channel at a periphery of said web and through which said wire frame extends; and
- a base; said base being configured to enable said warning device to be mounted to a window of a vehicle or to be free-standing; said base comprising a channel member having a first portion which receives at least a part of a bottom edge of said panel and a second portion which receives at least a part of a side edge of said panel; said base further including a leg pivotally mounted to said channel member to be movable between a first position in which said leg is generally perpendicular to the plane of said panel and a second position in which said leg is generally parallel to the plane of said panel.
19. The collapsible warning device of claim 18 wherein said base includes a sleeve extending along at least a portion of said base first portion; said sleeve receiving said leg.
20. A collapsible warning device comprising:
- two panels; said panels comprising a flexible wire frame and a web applied to said frame; said web being applied to said frame by a channel at a periphery of said web and through which said wire frame extends; said panels being operatively connected together along a top edge thereof; and being moveable between a first position in which said panels are substantially parallel to each other and a second position in which said panels are adjacent each other at their top edges and spaced apart from each other at their bottom edges; said warning device further comprising a strap extending between the bottom edges of said two panels to maintain said panels in said second position, said device being free standing when in said second position.
21. The collapsible warning device of claim 20 wherein said panels each comprise their own frame; said warning device including a connector which pivotally connects said panels together.
22. The collapsible warning device of claim 20 wherein said warning device comprising a single frame which supports both said panels; said frame being generally in the shape of an hour glass.
23. A collapsible warning device comprising:
- three panels; said panels each comprising a flexible wire frame and a web applied to said frame; said web being applied to said frame by a channel at a periphery of said web and through which said wire frame extends; said panels being operatively connected together along a top edge thereof; said three panels defining a central panel and two outer panels; said outer panels being pivotally connected to opposite sides of said central panel; said warning device being moveable between a collapsed position and a position in which said three panels are joined together to form a three sided pyramid.
24. The collapsible warning device of claim 23 and including a fourth panel, said fourth panel being hingedly connected to a bottom edge of one of the other three panels; whereby one of said four panels forms a bottom panel, and the remainder of said panels define side panels; said warning device forming a triangular pyramid with a bottom when in said free standing position.
25. The collapsible warning device of claim 23 and including a fourth panel; said panels being pivotally connected and being moveable between a collapsed position and a position in which said panels are joined together to form one of a square pyramid.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 1, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 27, 2005
Inventor: Sunny Huang (Claremont, CA)
Application Number: 11/142,609