Portable light beacon

Claim 2

A portable light beacon comprising: a portable battery power source in a water proof container; light means connected by an electrical path to said battery power source, a fluid sensing switch located in said electrical path between the light means and the power source said fluid sensing switch including a fluid absorbent medium positioned between a pair of terminals which are in said electrical path; and an electronic circuitry in said electrical path, constituting means for sensing a relatively weak electrical current between said terminals occurring when electro-conductive fluid has been absorbed by said medium, and for activating said light means in response to said current.

Claim 3

A portable light beacon, as defined in claim 1, wherein said light means is a flashing light means.

Claim 4

The portable light beacon according to claim 2 wherein the circuitry for the fluid sensing switch comprises a transistor and resistance.

Claim 5

The portable light beacon according to claim 2 wherein the fluid sensing switch is contained in a container housing the portable battery source and has at least one port for admitting fluid.

Claim 6

The portable light beacon according to claim 2 including a light sensing switch means to prevent activation of the flashing light means when ambient light is above a preset level.

Claim 7

The portable light beacon according to claim 2 wherein the fluid absorbing medium in the sensing switch is material selected from the group consisting of cotton batt, wool batt, and non-woven synthetic fibre batt.

Claim 8

The portable light beacon according to claim 2 including a testing system comprising a reed switch activated by a separate magnet, the reed switch activating the flashing light means.

Claim 9

The portable light beacon according to claim 2 including a radio beacon incorporated therein activated by the fluid sensing switch when the flashing light means is activated.

Claim 10

The portable light beacon according to claim 2 wherein the flashing light means is a strobe light.

Claim 11

The portable light beacon according to claim 2 wherein the flashing light means is an incandescent light.

Claim 12

The portable light beacon according to claim 2 wherein the flashing light means is an LED.

Claim 13

The portable light beacon according to claim 11 wherein the LED emits energy in the infrared range.

Claim 14

The portable light beacon according to claim 2 wherein the power source and flashing light means are incorporated within one container, and the fluid sensing switch is a separate unit with a flexible connector therebetween.

Claim 15

The portable light beacon according to claim 13 including a ring switch about the periphery of the container, the ring switch being rotatable in either direction for 360° and having a plurality of positive switch positions.

Claim 16

The portable light beacon according to claim 2 wherein the portable battery power source is a lithium cell battery.

Claim 17

The portable light beacon according to claim 15 wherein the lithium cell battery is a lithium thionyl chloride battery.

Claim 18

The portable light beacon according to claim 2 wherein the power source and fluid sensing switch are incorporated in one unit and the flashing light means is incorporated in another unit with a flexible connector therebetween.

Claim 19

The portable light beacon according to claim 17 wherein a waterproof quick connect coupling means is provided to join the flexible connector to the unit containing the power source and fluid sensing switch.

Claim 20

The portable light beacon according to claim 17 wherein the units are formed of fluoropolymer materials.

Claim 21

The portable light beacon according to claim 17 wherein the units are formed of polysulphone materials.

Claim 22

The portable light beacon according to claim 17 wherein the flashing light means comprises a plurality of electroluminescent light strips.

Claim 23

The portable light beacon according to claim 21 wherein the electroluminescent light strips are arranged around a canopy doorway of a life raft.

Claim 24

The portable light beacon according to claim 21 wherein the electroluminescent light strips have at least one conducting surface forming an electrode made of material selected from the group consisting of electrically conductive silicone, fluorosilicone, and fluorocarbon elastomeric compounds.

Claim 25

The portable light beacon according to claim 21 wherein the electroluminescent light strips are flexible.

Claim 26

The portable light beacon according to claim 21 wherein the electroluminescent light strips are contained within a translucent protective covering.

Claim 27

The portable light beacon according to claim 25 wherein the translucent protective covering is made of material selected from the group consisting of silicone, fluorosilicone and fluorocarbon elastomeric compounds.

Claim 28

The portable light beacon according to claim 17 wherein the unit containing the power source and fluid sensing switch is cylindrical and has a rotatable ring switch thereon rotatable in either direction through 360°, the switch having positions for (1) automatic operation when the fluid sensing switch activates the flashing light means (2), test position for operating flashing light means (3), inspection position for continuous light, and (4) off position.

Claim 29

The portable light beacon according to claim 27 wherein the rotatable ring switch includes a rotatable ring with a permanent magnet therein to activate at least one reed switch at a switch position.

Claim 30

The portable light beacon according to claim 27 including a ball and spring in a cylindrical cavity, the ball engaging in a detent at each switch position.

Claim 31

The portable light beacon according to claim 27 including a luminous strip on the rotatable ring switch to indicate the switch position.

Claim 32

The portable light beacon according to claim 27 including a locking means to lock the rotatable ring switch in at least one switch position.

Claim 33

A portable light beacon, comprising: a battery in a water proof container; light means; electrical connection means between said light means and said battery, said electrical connection means, battery and light means forming an electrical circuit; a fluid sensing switch in said electrical circuit, said fluid sensing switch including: a) a pair of terminals coupled to said electrical connection means; and b) a fluid retaining medium between said terminals, said fluid sensing switch constituting means for: i) establishing an electrical path between said terminals when said fluid sensing switch is immersed in an electro-conductive fluid, thereby allowing a relatively weak electrical current to flow between the terminals; ii) maintaining the flow of electrical current between said terminals when said fluid sensing switch is removed from the electro-conductive fluid, by retaining between said terminals a quantity of electro-conductive fluid to maintain said electrical path; and an electronic circuit means in said electrical circuit, for activating said light means in response to said electrical current.

Claim 34

A portable light beacon, comprising: a battery in a water proof container; light means; electrical connection means between said light means and said battery, said electrical connection means, battery and light means forming an electrical circuit; a fluid sensing switch in said electrical circuit, said fluid sensing switch including: a) a pair of terminals coupled to said electrical connection means; and b) a fluid retaining medium between said terminals, said fluid sensing switch constituting means for: i) establishing an electrical path between said terminals when said fluid sensing switch is immersed in an electro-conductive fluid, thereby allowing a relatively weak electrical current to flow between the terminals; ii) maintaining the flow of electrical current between said terminals when said fluid sensing switch is removed from the electro-conductive fluid, by retaining between said terminals a quantity of electro-conductive fluid to maintain said electrical path; and an electronic circuit means in said electrical circuit, for activating said light means in response to said electrical current.