Patent US4952910A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4952910A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Warning triangle for motor vehicles
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1989-03-02
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Granted: 1990-08-28
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Expires: 2009-03-02
Abstract
Abstract A foldable, warning triangle includes illuminating and audible alerting indicators to warn oncomers of vehicular accidents and other danger conditions. Flashing lights may be powered from self-contained batteries or from an external source such as an automobile battery and the flashing rate may be set by an internal timing circuit or may be derived from the collision-avoidance lamp of an automobile.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunter Straten
- 👤 Klaus-Jurgen Kiefer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:40
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q7/00; E; E01; E01F; E01F13/00; E01F13/02; G; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/20; G09F13/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A warning triangle for motor vehicles having the shape and color corresponding to the "Danger Spot" warning sign wherein the warning triangle is luminous and the lighting is supplied with power by means of a cable that is directly or indirectly connectable with the vehicle battery or by means of a power source incorporated into the warning triangle, said warning triangle comprising: a stand including outwardly folding flat iron struts for supporting the warning triangle; three reflector legs arranged in the form of a triangle; a white background surface located interjacent said three reflector legs; a vertical black bar constructed in the form of a cuboid; means for suspending said vertical black bar by said reflector legs on said white background surface, and lighting means, said lighting means being located in said cuboid to illuminate said warning triangle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A warning triangle for motor vehicles having the shape and color corresponding to the "Danger Spot" warning sign wherein the warning triangle is luminous and the lighting is supplied with power by means of a cable that is directly or indirectly connectable with the vehicle battery or by means of a power source incorporated into the warning triangle, said warning triangle comprising: a stand including outwardly folding flat iron struts for supporting the warning triangle; three reflector legs arranged in the form of a triangle; a white background surface located interjacent said three reflector legs; a vertical black bar constructed in the form of a cuboid; means for suspending said vertical black bar by said reflector legs on said white background surface, and lighting means, said lighting means being located in said cuboid to illuminate said warning triangle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
Warning triangle according to claim 1, characterized in that the cuboid (13) includes a front and rear surface oppositely disposed one another and lateral surfaces, said front surface being opaque and said lateral surface (13b) being translucent to permit light to emerge through said lateral surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
Warning triangle according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for suspending said cuboid (13) include a plurality of flexible cords (17a-17c) each of which have one end attached via eyelet connections on the respective corner points of the reflector legs (11a-11c) and their other respective ends coupled to said cuboid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
Warning triangle according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for suspending said cuboid (13) includes means for securing said cuboid to a plastic sheet fabric (12), said plastic sheet fabric comprising said white (background) surface said plastic being of sufficient strength to support said cuboid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Warning triangle according to claim 2, characterized in that said lighting means (10) comprises a light generator in the form of a glow lamp (20).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
Warning triangle according to claim 5, characterized in that the power source further comprises a battery disposed inside at least one of said reflector leg(s) (11a-11c) and is connectable to said lighting means (19) via an appropriate interconnection cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Warning triangle according to claim 6, characterized in that said reflector legs (11a-11c) are constructed so as to be luminous.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
Warning triangle according to claim 7, further including heating filaments (21a) and characterized in that the light emergence areas of said cuboid (13) and said reflector legs (11a-11c) are, at least in part, provided with said heating filaments (21a).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
Warning triangle according to claim 8, characterized in that the warning triangle (200) is combined with a warning light (22) having a red, blue and/or yellow flashing light, wherein the warning light (22) is rigidly connected to the warning triangle (200) or is insertable onto the latter and is connectable to the power supply of the warning triangle 9200) by means of a connector (25) consisting of a plug (23) and a socket (24).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Warning triangle according to claim 9, characterized in that the light emergence areas of the warning light (22) are provided with heating filaments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
Warning triangle according to claim 10, characterized in that the warning triangle (100; 200) is, within the area of the reflector leg (11a) and the stand (10), provided with a pivotably mounted information or distance-indicating signboard (40).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
Warning triangle according to claim 11, characterized in that the information or distance-indicating signboard (40) is, at least in part, provided with heating filaments.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
Warning triangle according to claim 12, characterized in that the cable (16) or the distance-indicating cord is wound onto a drum (14) secured on or in the warning triangle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
Warning triangle according to claim 13, characterized in that the drum (14) for the cable (16) or the distance-indicating cord is detachably secured on the stand by means of a connector (110) consisting of a plug (111) and a socket (112).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
Warning triangle according to claim 14, characterized in that the cable drum (14) or the distance-indicating cord drum is located in the lower base reflector leg (11a).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
Warning triangle according to claim 15, characterized in that the cable drum (14) or the distance-indicating cord drum disposed within the lower base reflector leg (11a) can be driven by a crank or a drive motor and can be actuated in a manually or automatically controlled manner.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
Warning triangle according to claim 16, characterized in that the white background surface is constructed in the form of a plastic sheet fabric (12) having a cutout for fixedly supporting said cuboid (13).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
Warning triangle according to claim 17, characterized in that the information or distance-indicating signboard (40) is laterally insertable into the warning triangle and is illuminated by means of the power supply of the warning triangle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
Warning triangle according to claim 12, characterized in that the distance between the warning triangle and the vehicle indicated on the distance-indicating signboard (40) and the cause of the emergency stop indicated on the information signboard (40) is manually or automatically changeable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
Warning triangle according to claim 1 characterized in that the warning triangle (200) comprises, a compact, solid body having hollow portions within the area of a reflector leg of the stand and a foghorn/warning hooter (43) disposed behind a sound-emergence aperture (42) in said body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
Warning triangle according to claim 20, characterized in that a second warning hooter/foghorn (143) is mounted fixedly on the warning triangle (200) and is constructed so as to be suspendable from and so as to be connectable to the power supply of the warning triangle (200) by means of a connector (46) consisting of a plug (44) and a socket (45).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
Warning triangle according to claim 21, characterized in that the warning hooter or the foghorn (43; 143) in/on the warning triangle, emits intermittent or continuous warning sounds.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
Warning triangle according to claim 22, characterized in that the warning triangle (200) is carried on wheels (47) or skids (47a) coupled to said stand.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
Warning triangle according to claim 23, characterized in that, in or on the warning triangle (200), or inside the vehicle, an electronic distress call emitter (48)/receiver (49) having a specific range is disposed and, triggered by an emergency button (50) or switch, sets off another optical red warning light located within the area of the warning triangle as well as triggering acoustic waring sounds.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
Warning triangle according to claim 24, characterized in that the legs of the stand (10a-10d) of the warning triangle (100) are constructed so as to be telescopable.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
Warning triangle according to claim 25, characterized in that the legs of the stand (10a-10c) of the warning (200) are provided with light reflecting fittings/glow lamps (51).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
Warning triangle according to claim 26, characterized in that the illuminated warning triangle surface (52) and/or the information or distance-indicating signboard (40) is provided with a windshield wiper.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
Warning triangle according to claim 27, characterized in that, in the warning triangle, or on the warning triangle, a distress signal rocket is disposed which is visible from afar and which can be rendered luminescent.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
Warning triangle according to claim 13, characterized in that the warning triangle is provided with a drive means that can be triggered by a remote control means to wind said cable onto said drum.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-27 | 1994-02-26 | 1994-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-27 | 1998-02-26 | 1998-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-27 | 2002-02-26 | 2002-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |