Expandable and contractible warning device

Abstract

To solve the problem that only an arm part cannot be rocked and an alerting function is limited although a body part and the arm part are integrally formed and three-dimensionally formed by supplying air to the inside in a conventional freely expandable and contractible alert device.SOLUTION: A hollow body and arms are integrally formed, and the air is supplied to the body to increase the air pressure in the body and the arms, and the whole body expands to form a three-dimensional shape; when the air supply is stopped, the internal air pressure drops, and the tension state of the arm is released first, and repeated supply and stop of air causes the arms to alternate between the taut, open, and released states, resulting in the arms oscillating.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an attention - attracting device that is installed, for example, at a construction site or an accident site on a road to swing its arm to attract the attention of onlookers such as the driver of a vehicle in motion and prevent the occurrence of further accidents, or is installed for advertising and attracting customers at an event venue, etc. It is characterized by being able to be compactly folded and easily carried.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is an attention - attracting device that can form required traffic control and regulation hand - signal signs to achieve safe traffic control in response to situations such as at a traffic accident site. Specifically, there is a device (see Patent Document 1) in which a human - shaped torso for traffic regulation is made expandable and contractible by injecting and stopping air into a base, and the left or right side of the arm of a human - shaped inflatable body that stands up when inflated can be extended and bent to form required traffic - regulation hand - signal signs.

[0003]

Prior Art Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] (1) The present invention is an expandable and contractible warning device comprising a flexible cylindrical body that can be expanded and contracted by supplying and exhausting gas inside, and an expandable and contractible cylindrical arm that communicates internally with the body and extends in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the body, wherein when gas is supplied to the body, the air pressure inside the body and the arm rises, causing them to expand and become taut, and when the supply of gas is stopped, the internal air pressure drops, and the taut state of the arm is released first.

[0006] In this invention, when gas (e.g., air) is supplied to the torso, the air pressure inside the torso and the arms increases, causing them to stretch and become taut. When the supply of gas is stopped, the internal air pressure decreases, and the tension in the arms is released first. As a result, the tension in the arms is released while the tension in the torso remains, and the arms, now taut, become biased against the taut torso. When gas is supplied again, the arm becomes tense and returns to its original position from its deviated position. Therefore, by repeatedly supplying and stopping the gas to the torso, the arm section will move back and forth between its original position and an offset position relative to the torso.

[0007] (2) The present invention relates to an inflatable and retractable warning device for erecting on the ground, such as on a road, to attract the attention of onlookers, comprising a soft cylindrical body that can be inflated and retracted by supplying and exhausting air inside, and an inflatable and retractable cylindrical arm that communicates internally with the body and extends in a direction intersecting the direction of extension of the body, wherein the body is installed on the ground so that its direction of extension is vertical, when air is supplied to the body the air pressure inside the body increases and consequently extends vertically and becomes taut and fixed, the arm extends from the body in a direction intersecting the vertical direction and becomes taut and fixed in the same way as the body, when the supply of air is stopped the internal air pressure decreases, first the tension of the arm is released and its tip hangs down due to gravity, and when air is supplied again the internal air pressure increases again and the arm is fixed in its original position in a taut state.

[0008] In this invention, when air is supplied to the torso, the air pressure inside the torso increases, causing it to extend vertically and become taut and fixed. The arms, similar to the torso, extend from the torso in a direction intersecting the vertical and become taut and fixed. When the air supply is stopped, the internal air leaks out through minute gaps in the torso and arms, causing the air pressure to decrease. First, the tension in the arms is released, and their tips hang down due to gravity. When air is supplied again, the internal air pressure increases again, and the arms are fixed in their original taut position. As a result, the tension in the arms is released while the tension in the torso remains, and the released arms hang down due to gravity relative to the taut torso. Furthermore, when air is supplied again, the arm becomes tense and returns to its original upward position. Therefore, by repeatedly supplying and stopping air to the torso, the arms move up and down relative to the torso, making it appear as if a person is swinging their arms up and down. Thus, in this invention, there is no need for a separate mechanism to move the arms up and down; the arms can be made to swing up and down by repeatedly supplying and stopping air to the torso.

[0009] (3) In the present invention, it is preferable that the volume of the space inside the torso is greater than the volume of the space inside the arm. If the volume of the space inside the torso is larger than the volume of the space inside the arms, then when approximately the same amount of air escapes from both the torso and arms simultaneously, the amount of air remaining in the arms will be relatively small. Even if the torso still maintains its rigidity, the arms will lose their rigidity and sag due to gravity. Therefore, by repeatedly supplying and stopping air to the torso, the arms can be easily made to swing up and down.

[0010] (4) In the present invention, it is preferable that the volume of the space inside the torso is 10 times or more the volume of the space inside the arm. If the volume of the space inside the torso is 10 times or more than the volume of the space inside the arms, the arms can be moved up and down without significantly changing the shape of the torso.

[0011] (5) In the present invention, it is preferable that the material of the arm portion is softer than the material of the torso portion. If the material of the arms is softer than the material of the torso, even if the overall internal air pressure decreases, the arms will contract first, making them more flexible at the base, and causing them to droop relatively quickly. On the other hand, since the torso is rigid compared to the arms, the upright position is held securely.

[0012] (6) In the present invention, it is preferable that the connection portion between the torso and the arm portion be softer than the other parts. If the connection between the torso and arms is softer than other parts, the arms will easily droop even if the amount of air escaping from inside is relatively small. In other words, the arm swings in a rapid response to the supply and cessation of air, and since a relatively large amount of air remains overall, a robust state is maintained even when the air is released, i.e., when the arm hangs down.

[0013] (7) It is preferable that a fine exhaust port communicating with the outside is formed in the wrist portion. When a fine exhaust port such as a pinhole communicating with the outside is formed in the wrist portion, when the supply of air is stopped, the air quickly escapes from the wrist portion, so that the wrist portion can easily droop.

[0014] (8) It is preferable that an air supply port of an air blower is connected to the body portion, and by starting the air blower, air is supplied to the body portion to increase the internal air pressure, and by stopping the air blower, the air pressure in the body portion is configured to drop. That is, by simply repeating the on and off of the air blower periodically, the wrist portion can be swung, so that other parts are not necessary and it can be manufactured simply and at low cost.

[0015] (9) It is also conceivable that an air supply port of an air blower is connected to the body portion, and by activating the air blower, air is supplied to the body portion to increase the internal air pressure, and by closing the air supply port of the air blower, the air pressure in the body portion is configured to drop. A lid body for opening and closing the air supply port of the air blower is provided, and by opening and closing the lid body, the supply and stop of air can be performed instantaneously, so that the wrist portion can be swung more quickly.

[0016] (10) It is preferable that a weight is detachably attached to the wrist portion. When a weight is attached to the wrist portion, the drooping operation of the wrist portion becomes even faster, and the attention of viewers can be more strongly attracted.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] In the present invention, with a very simple structure and operation of repeating the supply and stop of gas to the body portion, the wrist portion can reciprocate between the original position and the deflected position with respect to the body portion. That is, with a simple and inexpensive device, the arm can be swung with respect to the body portion, and it can arouse the viewer's attention more strongly than a fixed-type device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] It is a front view of the first aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a front view of the second aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a front view of the third aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a front view of the fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a partial cross-sectional view of the second aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a partial cross-sectional view of the third aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a horizontal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] It is a vertical cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a control block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is a control block diagram different from FIG. 9 of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] It is a diagram showing the operation of the arm of the air blower switch of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] It is a diagram showing the operation of the normally closed switch and the arm of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] It is a diagram showing the operation of the normally closed switch and the arm of an embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] This embodiment is a human-shaped warning device used for traffic control and the like, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, in which a head 3 is provided at the upper end of a human-shaped torso 1 installed so as to extend vertically, and arms 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F extend from shoulders 4 in directions intersecting the extending direction of the human-shaped torso 1 (horizontal, diagonally upward, diagonally downward, etc.). Here, the arms are denoted by the symbol 2, with the left arm extending horizontally being 2A (Figure 1), the right arm extending horizontally being 2B (Figures 1 and 2), the left arm extending upwards being 2C (Figure 2), the right arm extending diagonally upwards to the right being 2D (Figure 3), the right arm extending diagonally downwards to the right being 2E (Figure 4), and the left arm extending downwards being 2F (Figures 3 and 4).

[0020] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the basic configuration consists of a base 5 that is portable and can be stably installed at a predetermined weight, an air blower 6 with a predetermined capacity and an LED 7 mounted on it, and a bag-shaped human-shaped torso 1 attached to which air is injected around the outer circumference to inflate it into a life-sized anthropomorphic figure such as a police officer or security guard, allowing it to stand upright.

[0021] The base 5 can be an elliptical or polygonal plate shape of a predetermined weight, but it is basically a circular board with an air intake port 9 of a predetermined diameter opened in a part of the bottom surface and an external air intake port 10 opened on the side, and air is drawn in by an air blower 6 through a predetermined mesh filter and supplied to the humanoid torso 1. Furthermore, a control device 11 for controlling the air blower 6 and LED 7 is mounted on the base 5.

[0022] The air blower 6 is a small one, similar to those used in vacuum cleaners, and blows the humanoid torso 1 5 to 30 meters. 3 Airflow rate per minute, preferably 10-20 m³ 3It is preferable that the power supply be designed to inflate the product to an upright position in a short time, such as 5 to 10 seconds, with an airflow rate of [number] minutes, and that the power cord be connected to a 12V power plug, such as a cigarette lighter socket in a vehicle, to supply power, although a 100V commercial power supply may also be used.

[0023] The humanoid torso 1 is formed by cutting a thin, durable, and flexible sheet, such as a translucent or opaque vinyl sheet or nylon sheet, which is waterproof, slightly breathable, and flexible, into an appropriate shape and sewing it together to form a bag. Its lower circumference is then airtightly attached to the circumference of the base 5, and it is inflated and made to stand upright by supplying air through the air blower 6.

[0024] Furthermore, the shoulder portion 4 shown in Figures 5 and 6 may be made of the same material as the humanoid torso portion 1 and arm portion 2, but it may also be made of an even thinner, more flexible material. If the shoulder portion 4 is soft, the arm portion 2 can be swung even more easily. Furthermore, to maintain its original shape even if some air escapes from the inside, the tips of the torso 1 and arm 2 can be constructed from thicker or harder materials. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, a flashlight 8, which acts as a weight, is detachably attached to the swinging arm sections 2D and 2E. When the flashlight 8 is attached to the arm sections 2D and 2E in this way, it acts as a weight, making the downward movement of arm section 2E faster, and at night, the flashlight 8 can be illuminated to draw the viewer's attention even more effectively. Furthermore, the arm section 2 may be made of a transparent or translucent material, and LEDs connected in a tape-like fashion may be attached inside to cause it to blink. Although not shown in the diagram, each arm 2 has a tiny exhaust port of a few millimeters in diameter made at its tip using a grommet punch. If the air supply is cut off, the air inside the arm 2 can be rapidly expelled, allowing the arm 2 to descend quickly. The internal volume of the humanoid torso is approximately 1.5 m³. 3 The capacity within arm section 2 is approximately 0.1 m³ per arm. 3 However, if the capacity of the torso 1 is greater than the capacity of the arm 2, it can be put into practical use.

[0025] Next, we will explain the block diagrams in Figures 9 and 10. Figure 9 shows an air blower 6 without an opening / closing cover. A switch 13 is connected to the power supply 12, and power is supplied to the air blower 6 from the switch 13 via a timer 14. However, when the air blower 6 is activated and air is supplied to the humanoid torso 1 from the lower end, the humanoid torso 1 first inflates due to the air pressure, and then air is supplied to the arms 2, forming the overall shape of a human body. Subsequently, when the switch 13 is turned on and off at predetermined intervals, for example every 5 seconds, as shown in Figure 11, the air blower 6 supplies air when the switch 13 is on, causing the arm 2 to rise, and when the switch is off, air is discharged and the arm 2 to descend. Therefore, when switch 13 is turned on and off at the timing set by timer 14, arm 2 will move up and down accordingly. Alternatively, two switches may be provided: the first switch may be used to powerfully operate the air blower 6 to inflate the torso, and then the second switch may be used to turn the air blower 6 on and off to oscillate the arm 2. It is also possible to rotate the air blower 6 in the reverse direction to actively exhaust air.

[0026] As shown in Figure 10, an open / close cover (not shown) is attached to the air outlet of the air blower 6, and the open / close cover is opened and closed by a solenoid valve 15. The air blower 6 is constantly driven to continuously supply air, and by turning the solenoid valve 15 on and off, the open / close cover is opened and closed, repeatedly supplying and cutting off air to the humanoid torso 1, causing the arm 2 to swing in the same manner as described above.

[0027] In the operation shown in Figure 12, the solenoid valve 15 is a normally closed valve (normally closed and opens when the power is on). When power is supplied to the normally closed valve, it opens, supplying air to the humanoid torso 1 and causing the arm 2 to rise. When power to the normally closed valve is stopped, it closes, cutting off the supply of air to the humanoid torso 1 and causing the arm 2 to descend.

[0028] In the operation shown in Figure 13, the solenoid valve 15 is a normally open valve (normally open and closed when the power is on). When power is supplied to the normally open valve, the valve closes, cutting off the air supply to the humanoid torso 1 and causing the arm 2 to descend. When power is stopped to the normally open valve, the valve opens, supplying air to the humanoid torso 1 and causing the arm 2 to rise.

[0029] Next, the movement of the arm 2 will be explained with reference to Figures 1 to 4. In Figures 1 and 2, Figure 2 shows the basic configuration, where the left arm 2C extends upward when air is supplied to the humanoid torso 1. As the internal air is expelled, the left arm 2C descends and becomes the left arm 2A, which extends horizontally, resulting in an overall "stop instruction" configuration. Furthermore, in Figures 3 and 4, Figure 3 is the basic form, where, with air supplied to the humanoid torso 1, the right arm 2D extends diagonally upward. As the internal air is expelled, the left arm 2D descends and becomes the left arm 2E, which extends diagonally downward, creating an overall "warning" shape. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1 Humanoid torso, 2 Arms, 3 Head, 4 Shoulders, 5 Base, 6 Air blower, 7 LED, 8 Flashlight, 9 Air intake, 10 Air intake, 11 Control device, 12 Power supply, 13 Switch, 14 Timer, 15 Solenoid valve.

Claims

1. A retractable, human-shaped attention-grabbing device that is erected on the ground, such as on a road, to attract the attention of onlookers, It comprises a flexible, cylindrical head and body that can be expanded and contracted by supplying and exhausting air internally, a cylindrical arm that is expandable and contractible internally to the body and extends in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the body, and has a volume smaller than that of the body, and an air blower that supplies air to the body. The fuselage is placed on the ground with its extension direction being vertical, and air is supplied from the lower part of the fuselage by the air blower, causing the internal air pressure of the fuselage and head to increase, which in turn causes them to extend vertically and become taut and fixed in place. The aforementioned arm portion extends from the torso portion in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, similar to the torso portion, and is fixed in a state of tension. When the air supply from the air blower is stopped, the internal air pressure decreases, first releasing the tension in the arm, causing its tip to droop due to gravity. Before the torso and head begin to droop, air is supplied again, causing the internal air pressure to rise again and fixing the arm in its original taut position. The aforementioned arm portion is a retractable warning device with a fine exhaust port that communicates with the outside.

2. A retractable, human-shaped attention-grabbing device that is erected on the ground, such as on a road, to attract the attention of onlookers, It comprises a flexible, cylindrical head and body that can be expanded and contracted by supplying and exhausting air internally, a cylindrical arm that is expandable and contractible internally to the body and extends in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the body, and has a volume smaller than that of the body, and an air blower that supplies air to the body. The fuselage is placed on the ground with its extension direction being vertical, and air is supplied from the lower part of the fuselage by the air blower, causing the internal air pressure of the fuselage and head to increase, which in turn causes them to extend vertically and become taut and fixed in place. The aforementioned arm portion extends from the torso portion in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, similar to the torso portion, and is fixed in a state of tension. When the air supply from the air blower is stopped, the internal air pressure decreases, first releasing the tension in the arm, causing its tip to droop due to gravity. Before the torso and head begin to droop, air is supplied again, causing the internal air pressure to rise again and fixing the arm in its original taut position. An expandable and contractible warning device with a weight attached to the aforementioned arm.

3. The expandable and contractible warning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the arm portion is swung at regular intervals by periodically turning the power supply of the air blower on and off.

Images