Illuminated Warning Triangle with Hinged Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Incendiary road flares pose safety risks, have limited burn times, and are difficult to extinguish, leading to environmental issues, while existing safety measures fail to provide adequate visibility and road safety without these drawbacks.
Innovation Solution
An illuminated warning triangle with a triangular prism design, featuring a hinged outer housing, internal reflective lens, and power via a cigarette lighter plug or internal battery, providing three operating configurations and water-resistant features, which can be easily stored and deployed to enhance visibility without the hazards of flares.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If road flares are used to provide warning visibility, then visibility is improved, but safety risks increase due to incendiary nature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical/combustion system of road flares with an electrical illumination system. The device uses a light source (such as an LED or bulb) powered by a battery to generate visible light, eliminating the need for incendiary materials while achieving the same warning visibility function. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining illumination intensity without the associated safety risks of fire hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters from chemical combustion to electrical illumination. By transitioning from a chemical energy source (flare fuel) to an electrical energy source (battery-powered light), the device maintains high visibility while eliminating the harmful thermal and combustion effects that create safety risks.
2Illumination intensity
If road flares are used to provide warning visibility, then visibility is improved, but burn time is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the duration of action by changing from a chemical combustion process with fixed burn time to an electrical system with rechargeable or replaceable power sources. The battery-powered illumination can operate for extended periods, and the device includes features like a telescoping power cord for vehicle charging, thereby resolving the limitation of short burn time while maintaining visibility.
3Illumination intensity
If road flares are used to provide warning visibility, then visibility is improved, but extinguishment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the combustion-based flare system with an electrical illumination system. The light source can be instantly turned off by switching off the electrical power, eliminating the difficulty of extinguishing burning flares. This substitution resolves the contradiction by providing easy control over the illumination while maintaining visibility functionality.
4Ease of repair
If road flares are discarded on the side of the road, then they are disposed of, but environmental problems arise such as grass fires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces incendiary flares with a non-combustible electrical illumination device. The device contains no burning materials that could cause environmental hazards, and its battery-powered operation eliminates the risk of discarded units causing grass fires or other environmental damage. This substitution resolves the contradiction by enabling easy disposal without generating harmful environmental effects.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The illuminated warning triangle effectively increases visibility for up to a mile, is safe to use in all weather, and can be stored without ignition risks, offering a reliable and safe alternative for signaling disabled vehicles without the limitations of traditional flares.
Implementation Method 1
an inner reflective lens which is incorporated into the outer triangle housing
Implementation Method 2
an inner reflective lens which is incorporated into the outer triangle housing
Implementation Method 3
a center reflector residing within the common aligned triangular center cut-out of back plane and outer triangle housing
Data Source
AI summary
A traffic emergency signaling device is fashioned as a triangular overall structure having a plurality of lights disposed upon a back plane and covered with a protective outer housing hingedly attached to the back plane. A handle is provided at the top to aid in carrying the device and to secure the outer housing to the back plane. A pair of swivel stands are secured beneath the bottom of the device. A power supply is integral with the device.