Emergency Or Temporary Reflectors (i.e., Portable Self Standing) Patents (Class 359/553)
  • Patent number: 10615507
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing marker that absorbs incoming radar signals emitted by a UAV and/or disperses reflected radar signals. The absorption and/or dispersion of the radar signals creates a reduced radar return in comparison to the environment about the landing marker. The UAV can detect the area of reduced radar return and determine that it is a landing marker. Additionally, the UAV can determine a position of the landing marker relative to the UAV, based on the reduced radar return, to effect delivery of an item by the UAV. The landing marker can include materials, structures and/or features to absorb and/or disperse radar signals to cause the reduced radar return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Michael Wilcox, Joshua John Watson, Scott Raymond Harris
  • Patent number: 9062422
    Abstract: A retaining device is described. The retaining device has a retaining barrier, wherein the retaining barrier has a support frame including at least three arms. The support frame is adapted to assume a non-operating closed configuration and an operating radial configuration. In the operating radial configuration, each arm is oriented along a respective radial direction; in the non-operating closed configuration, at least a first arm is oriented along the same radial direction of the operating radial configuration and the remaining second arms are oriented along a direction substantially parallel to said radial direction of said at least one first arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: BETONFORM S.R.L.
    Inventor: Enea Canepari
  • Patent number: 9057164
    Abstract: An area delineating device is disclosed for creating a temporary border or barrier between two or more points. The delineating device has a base, a hollow vertical member, and an exit opening in the vertical member. A series of flaps, preferably rubber, are located on the bottom of the base and facilitate access to the base cavity in which is housed a reel of disposable partitioning material, such as caution tape or police tape. The disposable partitioning material threads up from the base cavity, through the base channel and into the vertical cavity. The disposable partition material then exits the vertical cavity via the exit opening at the top of the delineating device. A series of lineal windows can be present in the vertical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Inventor: Chad Kunkel
  • Publication number: 20140118828
    Abstract: A safety cone is configured to reflect light in any orientation. The safety cone has a base attached to an upper portion. The base further comprises a base top side and a base bottom side. Reflective material attached in a plurality of locations on the base top side and the base bottom side. The reflective material is configured to reflect the light in any orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventor: Nick Matthew Mattia
  • Publication number: 20130286482
    Abstract: A temporary, moveable marker for directing emergency aircraft to a landing zone employs a set of four panels which are foldable into a compact configuration. These panels are deployed in a substantially rectangular configuration to provide markings for an emergency landing zone and are attached by three hinges. This creates two panels with hinges on the two interior sides of the respective rectangles and two panels, each with one hinge on one interior side. All panels have aligning apertures so that the panels can be collapsed on top of each other to form one rectangle with an aperture through which a screw can be placed and affixed with a wing-nut on the other end, thus keeping the four panels attached. The collapsed set of four panels lie flat with at least one handle on an exterior side to allow for easy storage and transportation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Douglas Andre Racicot, Glen Edgar Johnson
  • Patent number: 7547104
    Abstract: A reflector system for to allow a reflector to be positioned adjacent an edge of road while reducing the chance of being struck by a vehicle includes a spike being drivable into and extending upwardly from a support surface. The spike includes a tapered end for facilitating driving of the spike into the support surface. The spike has a slot therein extending through a pair of sides of the spike and positioned adjacent a top end of the spike. A reflector is couplable to the spike. The reflector is positioned in the slot of the spike when the reflector is coupled to the spike. The reflector reflects light from the headlights of the vehicle to alert a driver to an edge of a road adjacent the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Inventor: Leonard W. Nadonley
  • Publication number: 20080297900
    Abstract: Reflective accessories for increasing the visibility of persons engaged in night-time (or other low-light) activities. Reflective accessories include a mechanism configured for attachment of the accessory to an object associated with the person engaging in a low-light activity by looping the accessory around at least a portion of the object and twisting the mechanism about itself to thereby secure the accessory to the object, and a flexible body supported by the mechanism and having an outer surface with a portion configured to reflect light to a degree that the portion is generally more visible than the object to which the accessory is attached when a light source is directed at the accessory and the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Vikki Rennick
  • Publication number: 20030112514
    Abstract: The Signal Device for Positioning a Vehicle, according to the present invention relates to utilizing the peripheral vision of a driver of a vehicle in assessing the proper position of a vehicle relative to a confined parking space. The device is comprised of at least two surfaces, the first obscuring the second until the vehicle has attained the desired position within the parking space. Upon attaining this position, the second surface will come within the operator's field of vision thus notifying the operator to stop the vehicle. Alternately, the operator will stop the vehicle when the second surface obscures the first surface. Additionally, this invention includes a method for parking a vehicle in a confined parking space. Finally, this invention describes a method of distributing advertising and/or solicitation through mass mailing techniques, such advertising accompanying the signal device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: Shane F. D'Onofrio
  • Publication number: 20030112513
    Abstract: An optical reflector, in particular for construction or geodetic surveying, has a reflective body (1) and a receptacle housing (3) for holding the reflective body (1). The reflective body (1) comprising transparent material has a transmission surface (5) and at least one unmetallized reflection surface (2). The receptacle housing (3) and the reflective body (1) held therein form a cavity. This is sealed water-tight from the environment of the reflector, for protecting the reflection surface (2). A means for exchanging gas (4) is provided in the receptacle housing (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Klaus Burkhardt, Ralf Nehrlich, Daniel Graf, Michael Sergl
  • Patent number: 6558011
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reflective marker such as is used to delineate the location of a road, driveway or parking area. A reflective marker according to the invention includes a support post and a head fastened to the support post. The head includes a top portion and a bottom portion that are spanned by a generally cylindrical shell portion, which is preferably multi-faceted. Means are disposed on the shell portion for reflecting incident light directed thereat over a 360° range. Preferably, the reflective means comprises reflective tape having a width of from about 1.5 to about 3.5 inches. In the presently most preferred embodiment of the invention, the head is constructed of a polymeric material, and the support post is constructed of fiberglass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: The Technology House, LTD
    Inventor: Raymond J. Fritz
  • Patent number: 6361174
    Abstract: A highway traffic warning reflector comprises a conventional collapsible shopping bag having highly reflective outer surfaces and support means for maintaining the bag upright when opened and placed with its bottom on the ground adjacent a roadway. The support means includes a rigid rod and weight formed with an opening to receive one end of the rod, and a loop formed adjacent a corner of the bag near its upper open end. To set up the reflector, the bag is opened from its collapsed state, the weight placed in a corner at the bottom of the bag and the rod inserted through the loop and into the opening in the weight. In lieu of a separate rod, stiffening means may be incorporated in the bag structure. One or more support means may be used to maintain the reflective bag upright adjacent a roadway in fall view of oncoming vehicles against wind and turbulence caused by passing vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Inventor: Leon Perlsweig
  • Publication number: 20010040732
    Abstract: A highway traffic warning reflector comprises a conventional collapsible shopping bag having highly reflective outer surfaces and support means for maintaining the bag upright when opened and placed with its bottom on the ground adjacent a roadway. The support means includes a rigid rod and weight formed with an opening to receive one end of the rod, and a loop formed adjacent a corner of the bag near its upper open end. To set up the reflector, the bag is opened from its collapsed state, the weight placed in a corner at the bottom of the bag and the rod inserted through the loop and into the opening in the weight. In lieu of a separate rod, stiffening means may be incorporated in the bag structure. One or more support means may be used to maintain the reflective bag upright adjacent a roadway in full view of oncoming vehicles against wind and turbulence caused by passing vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventor: LEON PERLSWEIG
  • Patent number: 5551370
    Abstract: A warning triangle assembly including an isometric triangle having an isometric recess at a central portion, the isometric recess being symmetrical to the isometric triangle, the isometric triangle being composed of three angular portions each having a large V-shaped side, a small V-shaped side, a first end side and a second end side, the first end side being provided with a protrusion, the second end side of one of the angular portions being formed with a recess adapted to receive the protrusion of the first end side of another one of the angular portions, the large V-shaped side being provided with a male fastener at one end and a female fastener at another end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Inventor: Wen-Chin Hwang
  • Patent number: 5335111
    Abstract: An improved hollow retroreflector assembly with a hard mount assembly is provided, comprising a hollow retroreflector assembly adhered onto a mounting member. The hollow retroreflector has three plates having optically flat reflective surfaces disposed at right angles to each other and non-reflective surfaces opposite to the reflective surfaces of the plates. Each of the plates has first and second sides disposed at right angles to each other, the first side of each plate abutting and being adhered to the reflective surface of the plate adjacent to it. The mounting member has first and second receiving surfaces disposed at right angles to each other. The first receiving surface has adhered to it a portion of the first side of one of the plates, and the second receiving surface has adhered thereto a portion of the second side of the same plate. The mounting member also has a base member having a threaded bore extending therein for receipt of a correspondingly threaded member extending from a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: PLX Inc.
    Inventor: Zvi Bleier
  • Patent number: 5223977
    Abstract: The marker has a pair of upwardly converging reflectant planar panels facing approximately in opposite directions. In its correct attitude on a support surface the panels slope at 2.degree.-6.degree. to the vertical if the marker is intended for assisting the landing of fixed wing aircraft and at 8.degree.-10.degree. to the vertical if the marker is intended for assisting the landing of helicopters. The reflectant panels are preferably retroreflectant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Inventor: Reginald S. Bennett