Mobile Emergency Light Device

Abstract

A mobile emergency light device includes a casing (1), a moving closure cover (2), a translucent lens (3), an electronic circuit board (5) for control, and a combined reflector (4), in which the combined reflector (4) has an inverted bell shape and is open at both ends, in which the electronic circuit board is securely connected to the combined reflector (4), and provided with a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LED), suitably angled towards the combined reflector (4), and in which the casing (1) forms inside this a cylindrical cavity (13), whose interior houses an automatic switch, driven by the base of the casing approaching a ferromagnetic material.

Claims

1. A mobile emergency light device, comprising: a casing; a moving closure cover connected with the casing; a translucent lens connected with the casing; an electronic circuit board in the casing for control of lighting by the mobile emergency light device; and a combined reflector; wherein the combined reflector has an inverted bell shape and is open at both ends; wherein the electronic circuit board is securely connected to the combined reflector, and is provided with a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LED), angled towards said combined reflector; and wherein the casing forms at an inside thereof a cylindrical cavity which houses an automatic switch, driven by a base of the casing approaching a ferromagnetic material.

2. A mobile emergency light device, according to claim 1, wherein the automatic switch includes a plunger which incorporates a first permanent magnet, with a spiral spring which in a natural position presses the plunger against a pushbutton; further comprising a second permanent magnet in a position normally diametrically opposite to the first permanent magnet, and with a same polar orientation, which generates a stable and balanced magnetic field between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet so that deformation of a magnetic field arising by the base of the casing approaching or resting on a surface made of a ferromagnetic material determines attraction of the first permanent magnet to said base, overcoming a resistance of the spiral spring and activating operation of the device; and wherein the pushbutton is permanently connected to the electronic circuit board, and to a power source determined by an electrical battery housed inside the casing, said electrical power source being accessible from the moving closure cover.

3. A mobile emergency light device, according to claim 2, wherein: the moving closure cover is removable, enabling access to an inside of the casing in which the electrical battery is located; an inner side of the cover is provided with a plate made of a ferromagnetic material, placed in accordance with the position of the plunger; said cover is provided with a plurality of bosses associated with different guides made in walls of the casing, by which a position of the moving closure cover is fixed over the casing, and enables a rotation movement limited by an end-of-stroke stop of the guides, so that different positions can be adopted as follows: a fixed and inactive closed position, an activation position in which the plate made of ferromagnetic material is located under the plunger and which determines the attraction of the first permanent magnet, in polar alignment with the second permanent magnet, towards said plate, which thus releases pressure of the spiral spring over the pushbutton activating operation, and a position for removing the cover; and wherein a waterproofing seal is fitted between the casing and the moving closure cover.

4. A mobile emergency light device, according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit board is provided with a telecommunications module, for connection to an external device.

5. A mobile emergency light device, according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes (LED) of the electronic circuit board includes: a first set of LEDs aligned around the combined reflector at an outermost perimeter thereof, so that resulting beams of light are dissipated in all directions, limited by the position of the casing; a second set of LEDs aligned under the combined reflector in a predetermined position in order to reflect the resulting beams of light horizontally to an axis of symmetry of the device according to a predefined calculation of a paraboloid of the combined reflector; and a third set of LEDs, placed inside the bell-shaped combined reflector so that the resulting beams of light are angled towards an uppermost zone of the device.

6. A mobile emergency light device, according to claim 1, wherein the automatic switch is of a reed switch type, securely joined to the electronic circuit board, and located symmetrically between two permanent magnets, permanently fixed in turn to a surface of the casing and arranged in parallel polarity, in which operation is activated by drawing either of the permanent magnets up to a ferromagnetic body.

7. A mobile emergency light device, according to claim 5, wherein the electronic circuit board has at least one electrolytic capacitor associated with a semiconductor element, which determines a change of supply to the first, second and third sets of LEDs from an electrical battery, with one of a single pushbutton and a reed switch, when the device is drawn up several times over a ferromagnetic surface, so that when a time threshold predefined by a capacity of said electrolytic capacitors is exceeded, the device goes back to its original state of rest.

8. A mobile emergency light device, according to claim 5, wherein the second set of LEDs arranged around the combined reflector, emit around three hundred and sixty degrees in a horizontal direction in respect of an axis of symmetry of the device, in an amber colour, and with a triple flash sequence preferably predefined by the following formula: 0.050+0.300+0.050+0.300+0.050+1.200, where 0.050 is an active state “on”, and the rest are inactive “off”.

9. A mobile emergency light device, according to claim 1, wherein the lens is grooved on an inside thereof by radial ribs which facilitate the dispersion of light beams coming from the light-emitting diodes (LED) and from the combined reflector.

10. A mobile emergency light device, according to claim 1, wherein when the moving closure cover is fitted on the casing, this casing leaves an annular zone visible and wherein the moving closure cover has a protuberance on an outside thereof as a visual and tactile guide, which acts in agreement with alignment marks which emerge from a visible ring of the casing, said alignment marks being: a mark indicating a position for removing the cover; a mark indicating a position for manual activation; and a mark indicating a position for manual deactivation.

11. A mobile emergency light device, according to claim 1, wherein the device has two light functions, depending on the form of activation as one of: a directional flashing mode, and an omnidirectional steady light, determined by the action of an inductive activation device.

12. A mobile emergency light device, according to claim 3, wherein the plate made of a ferromagnetic material is disk-shaped.

13. A mobile emergency light device, according to claim 4, wherein the external device is a mobile terminal provided with software.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order to illustrate the following explanation, two sheets of drawings are enclosed with this descriptive report, in which three figures represent the essence of this invention for illustrative purposes, without constituting any limitation, and in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 Shows a schematic cross-section view of the device, where all the elements forming this can be appreciated;

[0034] FIG. 2 Shows an external view in perspective of the device seen in FIG. 1; and

[0035] FIG. 3 Shows a side view in which the different operating positions can be seen.

[0036] The following reference numbers are used in said figures: [0037] 1 Casing [0038] 2 Moving closure cover [0039] 3 Translucent lens [0040] 4 Combined reflector (on the interior and exterior sides) [0041] 5 Electronic control circuit board [0042] 6 First set of LEDs placed around the reflector [0043] 7 Second set of LEDs aligned under the reflector [0044] 8 Third set of LEDs inside the bell shape [0045] 9 Pushbutton [0046] 10 Telecommunications module [0047] 11 Connection terminals [0048] 12 Electrical accumulator (battery) [0049] 13 Cylindrical cavity [0050] 14 Plunger [0051] 15 First permanent magnet [0052] 16 Spiral spring [0053] 17 Second cavity [0054] 18 Second permanent magnet [0055] 19 Bosses [0056] 20 Plate made of ferromagnetic material [0057] 21 Adjusting bosses [0058] 22 Seal [0059] 23 Outer ferromagnetic surface [0060] 24 Electrolytic capacitors [0061] 25 Guides [0062] 26 Reed switch [0063] 27 Protuberance [0064] 28 Mark to show the position for removing the cover [0065] 29 Mark to show the manual ON position [0066] 30 Mark to show the manual OFF position [0067] 31 Radial ribs

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERENTIAL FORMS OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0068] In view of these figures, the mobile emergency light device covered by this invention can be seen to be made up of a set of items including a casing 1, on which a moving closure cover 2 and a translucent lens 3 are fitted; the casing houses the following items in its interior: [0069] a combined reflector element 4; [0070] an electronic circuit board 5, normally securely joined to the combined reflector 4; [0071] a set of electroluminescent photodiodes or LEDs 6, 7 and 8 placed circumferentially on the plate around its axis; the LEDs are placed in predetermined positions and angled towards specific points of the combined reflector element 4, in order to refract the beams of light of the LEDs in specific directions, depending on the form of operation of the device, these LED assemblies being: [0072] a first set of LEDs 6, aligned around the combined reflector 4 at its outermost perimeter in such a way that the resulting light beams are dissipated in all directions, limited by the position of the casing 1; [0073] a second set of LEDs 7, aligned under the combined reflector (4) in a predetermined position in order to reflect the resulting beams of light horizontally to the axis of symmetry of the device according to a predefined calculation of the paraboloid of the combined reflector 4; [0074] and a third set of LEDs 8, placed inside the bell shape of the combined reflector 4 so that the resulting beams of light point towards the uppermost area of the device; [0075] a switch device 9 placed in the electronic circuit board 5, which can be activated mechanically or by means of the effect of a magnetic field; [0076] a telecommunications module 10; [0077] electrical connection terminals 11 appropriate for an electrical battery 12, which is housed inside the casing 1, this battery being able to be rechargeable or disposable (for example one, or a set of, commercially available batteries); [0078] one or more electrolytic capacitors 24.

[0079] The casing 1 forms in its interior a normally cylindrical cavity 13 housing inside this a plunger 14 fitted with a first permanent magnet 15 which is acted on by a spiral spring 16, which pushes and keeps the plunger 14 in a “raised” rest position, that is, separated from the support base, by pressing a pushbutton 9. In one position, normally symmetrical with the cylindrical cavity 13 in respect of the axis of the device, there is a second cavity 17 containing a second permanent magnet 18, so that said permanent magnet adopts a fixed position, normally resting on the bottom of the casing 1. Permanent magnets one 15 and two 18 can both be placed in a position of polar parallelism or not, depending on the operating requirements of the device. The deformation of the magnetic field produced by drawing the base of the casing 1 up to, or resting this on, a surface made of a ferromagnetic material 23 determines the attraction of the first permanent magnet 15 to said base, overcoming the resistance of the spiral spring 16 and activating the operation of the device; the pushbutton 9 is permanently connected to the electronic circuit board 5, and to the electrical battery 12 which is housed inside the casing 1, and accessible by taking off the cover of the moving closure cover 2, which is removable.

[0080] There is a bayonet-type coupling between the casing 1 and the moving closure cover 2. This cover is provided with a plurality of bosses 19 associated with different guides 25 made in the walls of the casing 1, by means of which the position of the moving closure cover 2 over the casing 1 is fixed, and which allows a rotation movement limited by the end-of-stroke stop of the guides 25, which means different positions can be adopted: [0081] a fixed and inactive closure position, [0082] an activation position in which the ferromagnetic material plate 20 is located under the plunger 14 and aligned with this, and which determines the attraction of the first permanent magnet 15, in polar alignment with the second permanent magnet 18, towards said plate 20, which means the pressure of the spiral spring 16 on the pushbutton 9 is released, activating operation, and [0083] a position for removing the cover

[0084] The moving closure cover 2 has a protuberance 27 on the outside as a visual and tactile guide, acting in agreement with respective alignment marks 28, 29 and 30, which emerge from the visible ring of the casing 1, 28 being a mark for removing the cover, 29 a mark which indicates the manual ON position and 30 a mark indicating the manual OFF position.

[0085] The combined reflector element 4 consists of an inverted bell-shaped element open at both ends, where its two exposed sides, external and internal, have an appropriate reflector substrate for reflecting the light hitting this in a predetermined direction given by the prior calculation of the paraboloid of both internal and external sides. This item is permanently and securely fixed to the plate 5 with two or more adjustment bosses 21. On receiving the light beams coming from the LED 8, the internal face determines the directionality of the light towards the uppermost part of the device, and the external side determines the directionality of the light emitted by LEDs 6 and 7 in the pre-calculated directions, so that the combined reflector 4 can determine between at least two and three formats for dispersion or concentration of the incident light, with no need to resort to any further moving items.

[0086] A seal 22 has been designed between the casing 1 and the moving closure cover 2 in order to ensure that the interior of the device is sealed against any external agents such as water, gases, humidity or dust.

[0087] The lens 3 is grooved on the inside by means of radial ribs 31 which facilitate the dispersion of the light beams stemming from the source of light and the combined reflector 4.

[0088] This device works as follows: when the device 1 is manually coupled to a ferromagnetic surface 23 by means of its casing, the first permanent magnet 15, attracted by the ferromagnetic mass, will cause the compression of the spiral spring 16 and the movement of the plunger 14 through the cylindrical cavity 13, releasing the pressure on the pushbutton 9, which will close the circuit, thus powering the electronic circuit board 5 through the current supplied by the electrical battery 12, which will trigger off the line of LED 7. This LED will emit predefined flashes of light against a predetermined arch of the paraboloid on the outside face of the combined reflector 4, concentrating the light on a disk of light three hundred and sixty degrees around the axis of symmetry of the device. At the same time the telecommunications module 10 is activated, allowing its connection to a mobile terminal previously associated by means of a specific software, and transmission of the pre-recorded orders or factors. Likewise, the energy released by the electrical battery 12 will supply a series of electrolytic capacitors 24 located under the electronic circuit board 5, in order to determine the change of lighting status of the device. If the device is lifted and again rested on the ferromagnetic surface 23 in a short interval of time, this will automatically switch off LED 7 and the telecommunications module 10, and switch on the series of LEDs 6 and 8, or only one or the other, with the device going into steady light mode, in white for example, and whose light beams, hitting the outer and inner faces of the combined reflector 4, will determine a uniform light source around the whole device and in all possible directions, only limited in the arch by the position of the casing 1.

[0089] In view of the possible lack of a ferromagnetic surface 23, and as a manual form of activation, it has been designed for the moving closure cover 2 to be able to rotate a certain angle determined by the end-of-stroke stop of the guides 25 in agreement with the bosses 19, in such a way that the plate made of ferromagnetic material 20 set in its interior can be located, at the wish of the device's users, under the position occupied by the plunger 14, and thus make the device operate in the same way as if it were over any ferromagnetic surface 23, without any such surface being necessary. Hence, a rotating movement of the moving closure cover 2 in respect of the casing 1 in more than one cycle is able to make the same changes as the ones mentioned in the previously indicated function, the device in short being able to work both ways, with no need for an external pushbutton device. Operating in this manual mode will be determined by the parallel polar position of permanent magnets one 15 and two 18.

[0090] In another form of embodiment, the device is not fitted with the pushbutton 9, and the plunger 14 and the spiral spring 16 are replaced by a reed switch 26 element placed on the surface of the electronic circuit board 5 and symmetrically angled between permanent magnets one 15 and two 18, whose position is fixed in respect of the casing 1. The mutual polar orientation of said permanent magnets in this embodiment is similarly in parallel, so that a stable single-pole magnetic field is generated around the reed switch 26, which keeps this in the open position. When any ferromagnetic surface 23 comes close to this, said reed switch 26 closes due to the polar reorientation of the magnets in respect of the ferromagnetic surface 23, leading to powering the side of the device, which will act in the same way as described above.

[0091] The device thus has two different light functions, depending on the way this is activated, either directional flashing, or a steady omnidirectional light, determined by the action of the inductive activation device.

[0092] It has finally been designed for the activation of LEDs 7 placed around the combined reflector 4 which emit their beam three hundred and sixty degrees around the axis of symmetry to be done in cycles with a sequences of 0.050+0.300+0.050+0.300+0.050+1.200, (time in seconds) where 0.050 is an active “on” state and the rest inactive “off”. This light emission will preferably be in amber colour.