Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02234629 1998-04-09
LUMINOUS PANEL CONNECTED TO TRAFEIC LIGHTS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to luminous panels which are connected to traffic
lights to convey advertising or road safety information to motorists and pedestrians.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many types of luminous panels on the market which are used for
commercial advertising purposes. The effectiveness of such panels is due to manyfactors, such as their coloring and the way they are ill~ r1 which in some cases is
static and in others rol~to,~/. However, it cannot be denied that perhaps the most
important factor is their location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventor has developed a luminous panel which is preferably installed next
to a traffic light in a street or road and is conn~octecl either to the electrical system of the
traff1c light or to a sepa,~le electrical system.
The luminous panel of the present invention preferably switches on and off its
lights in an ~lt~rn~te f~chion, parallel to and simlllt~n~ous with the ch~ of lights in
the traffic light system which, for example, may preferably co,~ ise three lights of
dirr~,.el,l colours. The lu~inuus panel may preferably be ill~ d in time with all
three lights of the traffic light system or, for example, only with one of the lights, such
as the red traff1c light.
The luminous panel of the present invention may be of any s_ape but preferably
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has a rectangular, circular or rhomboidal form.
The luminous panel of the invention, which is named "Telemaforo"~, does not
distract the attention of drivers and pedestrians. The panel preferably serves as a means
of commercial advertising, while at the same time supporting and reinforcing theobjective of traffic lights, i.e. road safety, which is increasingly im~o~ t as traffic
volumes increase due to the large number of vehicles in most cities. To accomplish this
object, the panel of the invention may preferably contain legends relative to road
education and safety. For example, during a red light the following message may be
displayed: "Stop - Respect this signal!". The luminous panel may also display other
road information such as the names and directions of streets, etc.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a luminous panel
proximate to a street traffic light, said panel operating ~imlllt~n~ously and in time with
shifts in the lights, and serving as a means of commercial advertising as well as to
display messages relating to road education and safety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become appale,
from the following description, taken together with the accul~lp~,yillg drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a pl~fcll~d luminous panel accor~ g to
the present invention;
Figure 2 is a partially cut away rear elevation view of the ll....i,-.)..~ panel shown
in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the luminous panel shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 illustrates the ~ U~ panel of Figure 1 co.~ le~l to a traffic light in
accol lance with a ~r~feLlc,d aspect of the invention;
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Figure S illustrates a luminous panel conn~ctecl to a traffic light in accordance
with another ~lcfellcd aspect of the invention; and
Figure 6 illustrates a luminous panel installed on top of and next to a traffic light
according to yet other prefcllcd aspects of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figures 1 to 3 show a plcfell~,d luminous panel 10 according to the present
invention. Panel 10 prefeMbly has a closed back 12 which covers and protects theelectrical m~hqnicm 13 of the panel. Back panel 12 is preferably removable to allow
access to the electrical m~c~ qnieme 13. Panel 10 also has an open front 14 colll~lising
a tranel~lcent, rectangular surface 16 made of a refractive or tlansp~cll~ material, surface
16 preferably being ehi~ el1 from ext~rnql light by a top visor 18 and side visors 20.
Figure 4 illustrates the plcre.lcd luminous panel of Figures 1 to 3 mounted
a~ljacent to two traffic lights 22, each colllpli:iing three traffic signals 24 (for example a
red light), 25 (for example a yellow or amber light), and 26 (for example a green light).
Traffic light 22 is supported atop a vertical pole 28, and panel 10 is conn~cte~ to pole
28 by a mounting bMcket 30.
As shown in Figure 4, the location and size of panel 10 is preferably such that
it does not hl~.r~;lc with the visibility of the ~ull~ ling~, mqintqin.e a balance with the
form and ~ eiQns of eX ~ g traffic light 22, and enables the inclusion of legible text
and the name of a collllllc..;ial firm supporting traffic lights' function.
Figure 5 illustrates an qlt~rnqte ~lef~ d embodiment of the invention in which
a traffic light 32 COlll~liSillg three traffic signals 34, 36 and 38 is mollnte~l on a
diagonally ~x ~ pole 40, preferably ext~n~ling over a roadway (not shown).
Diagonal pole 40 is ~u~ol~d by vertical pole 42 to which a second traffic light 44
CA 02234629 1998-04-09
co~ isillg signals 46, 48 and 50 is ~tt~h~d. As shown in Figure 5, a luminous panel
52 having an open front 54 with a horizontally elongate rectangular luminous surface 56
is mounted on diagonal pole 40 adjacent to traffic light 32. As with luminous panel 10
shown in Figures 1 to 4, panel 52 has a top visor 58 and side visors 60.
Figure 6 illustrates two additional prefelled luminous panels of the invention in
conju~lion with two traffic lights 22 mounted atop a vertical pole 28, as in Figure 4.
Firstly, Figure 6 illustrates a circular luminous panel 62 having an open front 64 and a
circular luminous surface 66, panel 62 being mounted atop vertical pole 28 directly above
traffic lights 22. Panel 62 has a continuous visor 68 e~ten-ling over its top and down its
sides.
Also shown in Figure 6 is luminous panel 70, similar in appearance to panel 10
shown in Figures 1 to 4. Panel 70 has an open front with a le.,~ll~ular luminous surface
74 shielded by top shield 76 and side shields 78. As shown in Figure 6, panel 70 is
mounted on a separate vertical pole 80 located adjacent to vertical pole 28 ~u~polling
traffic lights 22, such that panel 70 is located ~ljacçnt to traffic lights 22.
Although the invention has been described in connection with certain plcr~r~d
embodiments, it is not int~ntled to be limited thereto. Rather, it is int.on~led that the
invention cover all alternate embo~;"~ as may be within the scope of the following
claims. The invention also inrlll~ç~ all embo-limPnt~ which are functional or m.o-~h~nir~l
equivalents of the specific embo~im~nt~ and fealul~,s which have been described and
illustrated herein.
It will be further understood that, ~lth~l~h various f~,~lures of the invention have
been described with respect to one or another of the embo~ of the invention, the
various fedlulcs and embo~ of the invention may be combined or used in
conju~ ion with other Çedlul~,s and embo-lim~nt~ of the invention as described herein.
