WO2012089860A1 - Vehicle safety signboard - Google Patents

Abstract

Vehicle safety signboard (1) consisting in an accessory for automobiles that is designed to signal the fact that a vehicle has broken down or has stopped for any other reason on a road, trunk road or motorway, for the purpose of enabling the stationary vehicle to be seen clearly by drivers of other vehicles, said signboard comprising a piece of canvas (2) or similar material, that can be rolled up on itself and is of rectangular shape, on which is marked a perimeter band (3), a triangle (4) and a legend (5) in reflecting materials. The signboard additionally has securing means. Specifically, two or four eyelets (6), two suction cups (7), a magnetized strip (8), a pleat (9), a bar (10), hooks (11), cords (12) with tensioning devices (13) and anchoring devices (14).

Description

 VEHICLE SAFETY PANEL

TECHNICAL OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

 The object of the present invention relates to a new accessory related to road safety designed to be placed in damaged vehicles in a short space of time so that the cars that circulate approaching the damaged one are clearly and sufficiently aware distance from the existence of the stopped vehicle. The accessory, in the form of a banner, is intended to replace or complement the currently valid warning signs that are shown as a red triangle whose usage requirements are included in the following terms by the General Traffic Regulations:

 "The signaling triangles must be placed in the event of an accident or breakdown. Specifically, in the two-way tracks we will have to place a triangle in front of and behind the vehicle, always at a minimum distance of 50 meters, and making sure that they are visible at least 100 meters in advance. If the road is one-way, it will only be necessary to place one of the two devices, on the side where the gear comes from. "

 In these cases, it is understood that the process of locating the triangles for subsequent placement on the road at the distance prescribed by the General Regulations for the Movement of Automobile Vehicles, continues for several minutes that can be vital both for the safety of the persons of the own broken down vehicle as for people and vehicles approaching it. The object of the invention has two important advantages over the aforementioned triangles that are specified in the speed of placement and in the improvement of its visibility

 SECTOR OF THE TECHNIQUE TO WHICH THE INVENTION REFERS

The invention presented affects the Sector of Various Industrial Techniques, chapter of Transportation in relation to motor vehicles in general and their accessories, affecting, from the industrial point of view, the manufacture of automotive accessories related to signaling for road safety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

 Everything that refers to the automotive chapter has numerous antecedents because the evolution of the car is constant as it can be seen by anyone who is minimally interested in this issue. In fact, the car, which was considered a luxury item in the middle of the last century, is now a regular article among the belongings of citizens of any social class, being very normal for a single family to have two or more vehicles. In addition, road transport in light vehicles and heavy-duty trucks has also been greatly enhanced throughout the world due to the difficulties and inertia offered by rail transport.

This rapid increase in the total car fleet, which is being registered in recent years, is generating serious problems from the point of view of road safety.

For all these reasons, automobile technology is developing rapidly both in terms of propulsion and self-control means and in relation to signaling devices that make it easier for vehicles to be "seen" by others.

 It is precisely in this last field where the present invention is framed that it has the purpose of clearly and quickly announcing to the other vehicles the existence of one that is damaged.

 In addition to the aforementioned triangles, today regulatory for all types of vehicles, we can mention another development that has not been accepted or approved. It is a yellow balloon that emerges from the car at the time the driver decides or even automatically if the driver cannot do so as a result of the accident itself.

For the signaling of vehicles parked for prolonged periods, there are other solutions based on cones, fences or similar elements that are not relevant because the invention refers to an immediate signaling that can be carried in any car. This is, as we will see below, a novel invention that has no history and will be an additional facility for signaling vehicles stopped due to breakdown or any other cause.

 Its cost is very low, so once approved by the competent authority, it will be well received by motorists for its advantages of comfort and speed of placement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

 The present invention, as set forth in the introduction, refers to a signposting of vehicles that are stopped on roads, highways or motorways for reasons of breakdown or any other cause.

This is a rectangular canvas banner with the proposal of the inventor that it has total dimensions of the order of 900 mm wide and 1370 mm high, notwithstanding that the competent authority concretizes them at the time with full precision. Within that base rectangle, three main elements are distinguished. The first is a strip that, having about 50 mm wide, frames a rectangle that collects inside the other two elements consisting of another strip in the form of an equilateral triangle of the same width, 50 mm, and about 700 mm side and of a legend, which is located at the top of the banner, composed of the words "FAULTY VEHICLE".

 The stripes are formed by a red reflective tape whose pantone matches the one defined for all traffic signs that carry that color. The legend is written in capital letters about 150 mm high in reflective black color, leaving the word "VEHICLE" on top of the word "FAULTY" being white, also reflective, the general background of the banner.

As a complement to the above, which is the basics in terms of danger signaling, there are means for attaching the banner to the vehicle that are specified in two or four metal eyelets located in the vicinity of the corners, on a flexible tape magnetized located in the upper part of the banner, in two suction cups also located in the upper part and in a fold or hem in the upper part that allows to receive inside a bar with hooks at its ends, there being finally at the bottom one or two ropes with their corresponding tensioners ending in two hooks.

 The assembly is capable of being rolled over itself so that it can be deposited in some easily accessible place of the vehicle occupying the minimum space.

 In view of the foregoing, it is understood that the basic idea of the inventor is to present a signal, of relatively large dimensions, that is visible over a long distance and that can be placed on the vehicle in a minimum time, of course much less than it takes to place the currently regulated triangles.

 The figures included below allow to clearly see the object of the invention and some examples of placement on traditional vehicles.

 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Three schematic figures are included to facilitate the understanding of the invention.

Figure 1

 It represents the security banner with all its details, including a schematic profile view.

The following has been noted:

 1.-Banner

 2. -Base canvas

 3.-Perimeter orange

 4. -Triangle

5. -Legend

 6.-Eyelet

 7.-Suction cup

 8.-Magnetized tape

 9.-Fold

10.-Bar

 11.-Hook

12. -Cordda 13.-Sliding tensioner

 14. -Anchoring

Figure 2

 This is an example of installing the security banner on the back of a truck. In this case, the banner can be held using the suction cups and magnetized tape, or alternatively with ropes.

Figure 3

 Here is another example of installing the security banner on the back of a tourist.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

 Safety banner for vehicles (1) (Figs 1 to 3) which, in a preferred embodiment by the inventor, consists of a car accessory intended to signal its fault status, or stop for other reasons, on roads , highways or motorways in order that the stopped vehicle is clearly seen by the drivers of the rest of the vehicles that circulate and thereby avoid possible dangers, being a banner (1) that is presented on a canvas base (2 ), or similar material, rolling on itself, which has a rectangular shape with orientative dimensions of about 900 mm wide and 1370 mm high, that is, relatively large in order to facilitate its visibility at a distance. On the base of canvas (2) a perimeter strip (3) of about 50 mm in width is distinguished that, framing the banner (1) includes, in its lower part, an equilateral triangle (4) formed by three strips of the same width, 50 mm, than the perimeter strip (3) and at the top, a legend (5) formed by the words "VEHICLE FAULTY" being the first written on the second and having the letters, which are capital letters, an indicative height about 150 mm.

Both the perimeter strip (3) and the triangle (4) are of reflective characteristics of red color defined in its pantone by the one regulated by the General Directorate of Traffic for road signs. As for the letters they are written in reflective black color and the set of legend (5), perimeter strip (3) and triangle (4) is represented on a white background, also reflective. These data being the basic ones regarding the content of the banner (1), there are other accessory elements designed to hold the banner (1) on the corresponding vehicle when the driver considers it necessary.

These are two or four eyelets (6), metallic, located in the corners of the canvas (2), two suction cups (7) located near the top of the canvas (2), a flexible magnetized tape (8), also on the top of the canvas (2) that is topped with a fold or hem (9) sewn as usual.

 These elements can be used as is more convenient in the multiple cases that may arise. Thus, the eyelets (6) are used in combination with ropes (12) of hemp, rubber or any other that are held in place by the doors or windows of the vehicle.

 In other cases it may be sufficient to take advantage of the magnetic effects of the magnetized tape (8) for metal bodies of iron plate, taking into account that this system is not valid for aluminum.

Another possibility is the adhesion of the banner (1) by means of the suction cups (7) that behave very well on the glass or on smooth and clean surfaces.

You can also choose to hang the banner (1) by means of the hooks (11) incorporated on a bar (10) that is inserted through the inside of the fold (9).

In any case, the fastening is completed and secured using the anchors (14) that are attached with ropes (12), equipped with tensioners (13), to the eyelets

(6) of the lower part of the canvas (2) that materializes the banner (1).

 It should be stressed that the idea of the inventor when designing the security banner (1), with the indicated dimensions, is to have a safety accessory in the vehicles that can be seen clearly from a distance and above all that can be placed on the rear of the vehicle very quickly, just a few seconds and in any case in much less time than is required to place the current regulatory triangles.

This advantageous feature of the rapidity of placement is reinforced with another advantage that is no less important, such as comfort. Remember that the banner (1) is roll-up and that it must be placed inside the vehicle in an always accessible place. It is not considered necessary to make the content of this description more extensive so that a person skilled in the art can understand the scope and advantages derived from the invention, as well as develop and implement the object thereof. However, it should be understood that the invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment thereof, whereby it may be susceptible to modifications without affecting or implying any alteration of the basis of said invention. That is to say, the terms in which this preferred description of the invention has been exposed should always be taken in a broad and non-limiting manner.

Claims

 1. - Vehicle security banner (1) consisting of an accessory for the car intended to indicate its fault status, or stop for other reasons, on roads, highways or motorways so that the stopped vehicle is seen with clarity by the drivers of the rest of the vehicles, characterized by materializing on a tarp (2), or similar material, roll-up on itself, of rectangular shape on which a perimeter strip (3), an equilateral triangle (4) is distinguished and a legend (5) having, in addition, two or four eyelets (6), metallic, two suction cups (7), a magnetized tape (8), a fold (9), a bar (10), hooks (11), ropes (12) with tensioners (13) and anchors (14).  2. - Security banner for vehicles, according to claim one, characterized in that the perimeter strip (3) and the triangle (4) are reflective in red, the legend (5) is in capital letters reflecting black and the bottom of the set is white reflective.