Warning and vehicle marking lamp in stick shape with illumination on both sides
A robust, weatherproof boundary lamp with bilateral LED illumination and a flashing function addresses the limitations of mechanical flags by providing clear visibility and increased safety for vehicles with outstanding parts in adverse conditions.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE202024002057
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-30
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-13
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-10-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing mechanical flags and marking elements used to indicate outstanding vehicle parts, such as snow plows and heavy transports, are ineffective in poor visibility conditions and prone to mechanical damage.
A robust, weatherproof, and easily assembled boundary lamp with bilateral LED illumination and a flashing function, designed to be mounted on vehicles with stainless steel components for durability and visibility.
The lamp provides clear, glare-free illumination on both sides, enhancing visibility in adverse weather conditions and increasing safety by drawing attention to the vehicle's dimensions, even in dark or confusing situations.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical area:
[0001] The present invention relates to a warning and vehicle marker lamp intended for marking protruding vehicle attachments. The lamp is rod-shaped and is particularly suitable for use on vehicles with large overhangs, such as snow plows, heavy-duty haulage vehicles, trailers, load carriers, and other special vehicles. With such vehicles, it is particularly important to make the vehicle contours clearly visible in the dark, in poor weather conditions, and in confusing traffic situations. The lamp according to the invention improves visibility and thus increases road safety. Of particular note is its application in snow plows, where the blades projecting far forward must be clearly visible, as well as in heavy-duty haulage vehicles, where protruding loads and vehicle parts must be marked to avoid accidents.The lamp is designed to create a clear visual boundary around the vehicle and prevent potential collisions or misunderstandings in traffic. Particular emphasis is placed on robust construction and weather resistance to withstand harsh operating conditions. State of the art:
[0002] The current state of the art primarily uses mechanical flags or similar marking elements to mark protruding vehicle parts, such as those found on snowplows, heavy-duty vehicles, and other vehicles with overhangs. These flags are typically rigidly or flexibly mounted and are intended to indicate the outermost points of the vehicle. However, these solutions have significant weaknesses, particularly in poor visibility or at night, as they lack an active luminous effect. This means they are often overlooked and can lead to accidents or collisions. Furthermore, mechanical flags or similar markings are often susceptible to mechanical damage, particularly on snowplows and heavy-duty vehicles, where the vehicles are exposed to severe vibrations, impacts, and weather conditions. Object of the invention:
[0003] The present invention aims to create a robust, weatherproof, and easily mountable warning and clearance lamp, particularly suitable for use on snow plows, heavy-duty vehicles, and other vehicles with protruding parts. The lamp should provide a glare-free, double-sided illumination effect that is clearly visible even in the dark, snow, rain, or other adverse weather conditions. Furthermore, the lamp or parts thereof should be able to flash to further increase the attention of other road users and draw attention to particularly critical situations. Description of the drawings:
[0004] The attached drawings are described below for better understanding: • Fig. 1) Complete lamp with plastic tube, stainless steel cap, stainless steel sleeve, escape element and light modules in the upper part of the tube • Fig. 2) Detail A of the lower stainless steel cap with stainless steel sleeve and fastening elements • Fig. 3) Detail B of the upper stainless steel cap with two-sided light modules • Fig. 4) Cross section of the lighting modules with plastic tube, diffusers, LED modules and aluminum profile Solution:
[0005] The invention solves the problem by means of a rod-shaped marker lamp which has the following features: 1. Impact-resistant, transparent plastic tube (1): The lamp consists of a rod-shaped tube made of impact-resistant, transparent plastic that protects the LED light module (3) while ensuring high light transmission. This makes the lamp particularly robust against mechanical influences such as shocks, vibrations, or weather influences. 2. Stainless steel caps (5, 6) with O-ring seals (7): Stainless steel caps are located at both ends of the tube, sealed watertight by at least two O-ring seals (7). The lower stainless steel cap (6) is fitted with a watertight cable gland (8) through which the connecting cable (12) is routed and exits the sleeve (2) via a cable gland (11). This protects the lamp from moisture penetration and ensures longevity even in adverse weather conditions. 3. Use of stainless steel: The waterproof fluorescent tube with the stainless steel caps (5, 6) is housed in a stainless steel sleeve (2). In particular, all screws (9, 10, 13, 14) are made of stainless steel. This has the advantage of reducing corrosion in harsh environmental conditions, especially when using road salt. 4. Front and rear illumination: The lamp uses LED modules to create a two-sided illumination effect that radiates both forward and backward. The LED modules (15, 16) are mounted on a continuous aluminum profile (17) in the upper section. Light is distributed by suitable diffusers (18, 19), which minimize glare, improve visibility from all sides, and ensure even illumination. 5. Flashing function: In addition to the continuous light function, the lamp or part of the lamp can be used with a flashing function. The flashing function increases the attention of other road users, especially in critical or confusing situations, such as when marking heavy goods vehicles or when snowplows are in operation. 6. Shock and vibration-resistant mounting: The plastic tube (1) is secured in a stainless steel sleeve (2) by means of a stainless steel cap (6) buffered with O-rings (7) and secured with a grub screw (9). The stainless steel cap (6) is secured with grub screws (10) that engage in a groove in the lower stainless steel cap (6), thus holding the tube shock and vibration-resistant. This sleeve (2) is mounted on the deflection element (4) using screws (14). A through-hole screw (13) ensures that the deflection element cannot be inserted too deeply into the sleeve, which could damage the cable. 7. Mounting on side members: The lamp is attached to the vehicle overhang using flexible side members. This mounting method protects the lamp from mechanical damage in the event of a collision or impact while providing a secure, stable attachment during normal driving. Advantages of the invention:
[0006] The invention offers the following advantages: • Visibility in the dark and bad weather: Thanks to the double-sided lighting effect and the optional flashing function, the vehicle boundary can be reliably perceived even in adverse weather conditions or poor visibility. • Glare-free illumination: The use of diffusers ensures that the light is distributed glare-free and does not disturb oncoming traffic. • Robustness and durability: The impact-resistant construction and the watertight seal with O-rings and the use of stainless steel ensure a long service life, even under extreme conditions. • Easy installation and replaceability: The flexible attachment to alternative elements enables easy installation on different vehicle types and quick replacement of the lamp in the event of damage. • Increased road safety: Especially for heavy goods vehicles and snow plows, the flashing or illuminated markings significantly increase road safety by alerting other road users to the unusual dimensions of the vehicle at an early stage. List of reference symbols: 1 transparent plastic tube 2 stainless steel sleeves 3 LED lighting modules 4 Avoidance element 5 Stainless steel cap on top 6 stainless steel cap below 7 O-rings 8 cable gland 9 grub screw M3 10 grub screws M4 11 Cable entry 12 connection cables 13 Long threaded screw M5 14 threaded screw short M5 15 LED module rear 16 LED modules at the front 17 aluminum profile 18 Rear diffuser 19 Front diffuser
Claims
[1] Warning and vehicle marker lamp, consisting of a rod-shaped tube (1) made of impact-resistant, transparent plastic, which can be attached to vehicles or vehicle attachments and has a forward and rearward-directed lighting effect by means of LEDs. [2] Lamp according to claim 1, wherein the tube is closed at both ends by stainless steel caps (5, 6) which are sealed watertight by means of O-rings (7). [3] Lamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the luminous effect is supported by diffusers (18, 19) which ensure a glare-free distribution of the light. [4] Lamp according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the tube (1) is inserted into a stainless steel sleeve (2) in a shock- and vibration-proof manner by means of one of the stainless steel caps (5, 6). [5] Lamp according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lamp or parts of the lamp can be operated in a flashing manner. [6] Lamp according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lamp with the stainless steel sleeve (2) is mounted on a flexible escape element (4).