JP2003242565A - Signal display apparatus and method for supporting the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent damages of a road surface, for example, due to use of the signal display apparatus such as a smoke candle. <P>SOLUTION: When a main part member including a signal display means for providing display of a signal which is visible under predetermined conditions; and a support member which has at least a first portion and a second portion are included, wherein when the signal display means is at least in a state of offering the display of the visible signal, the first portion is substantially combined with the main part member, and the second portion separates from the main part member substantially. For example, when this invention is applied to the smoke candle, if it is lit and laid on a road, the second portion of the support member which separates from the main part member is brought into contact with the road surface, the flame is not in direct contact with the road. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a signal display device, and more particularly to a signal display device for providing a visible signal display by combustion and a method of supporting the signal display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In many cases, automobiles are equipped with a protective flame tube for automobiles in case of an emergency such as an accident. A general automobile safety flame cylinder has a cylindrical main body having a diameter of about 2 cm and a length of about 15 cm filled with explosive, and is used by igniting explosive. The combustion of explosives, if normal, lasts for about 5 minutes, during which, for example, red flames and smoke are emitted, and it is possible to inform a distant driver or the like of the presence of an obstacle.

Aside from that, there is a flaming cylinder for road work which is used for calling attention during road work, but except for a special one, it is basically similar to the safety flame cylinder for automobiles.

[0004]

The flaming cylinder is sometimes used by holding it in the hand as in the case of a railroad crossing accident or the like, but in many cases, it is put on the road and used. In that case, it is possible to stand with the side emitting the flame up, but as mentioned above, a general flaming tube has a bottom diameter of about 2 cm.
However, such work is not easy, especially when the normal mind is lost in the event of an accident. In many cases, the ignited flaming cylinder has a shape in which the length direction and the road surface are substantially parallel,
In other words, it is placed horizontally and the flame comes into direct contact with the road surface.
On the other hand, the heat resistance of the asphalt mixture used for many paved roads is not so high, and the flame may damage the road surface. There is a flaming cylinder for road work which has a skirt for standing to prevent it, but it is not often used because the time for its installation consumes the flaming time.

It is an object of the present invention to facilitate the support of a signal display device such as an automobile safety flame cylinder or a road work flame cylinder, and solve the conventional drawbacks.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A signal display device of the present invention includes a body member including signal display means for providing a visible signal display under predetermined conditions; and at least one of:
A support member having a first portion and a second portion is included, wherein the first portion is substantially in contact with the body member when at least the signal indicating means is in a condition providing a visible signal indication. And the second portion is substantially separated from the body member. For example, if the present invention is applied to a flaming cylinder, even if the flaming cylinder is ignited and placed laterally on the road, the second portion of the support member that is separated from the main body member contacts the road surface, and the flame does not directly hit the road. .

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a flaming cylinder 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The flaming cylinder 100 mainly includes a cylindrical main body 110 and a flammable powder loaded in the main body 110. In an unused state, a cap (not shown) coated with pickpocket is a head (on the side of the igniter 112; hereinafter the same as “head” and “up”, and vice versa). ) Is used, and a cover (not shown) that covers the entire surface from above is attached. At the time of use, the cover and the cap are removed, and the pickpocket of the cap and the ignition portion 112 are rubbed together to ignite. When using it in your hand, connect the removed cover to the bottom to make a handle. Regarding the flaming cylinder 100 itself,
Since the structure and operation are well known in the art, the details are omitted. In the flaming cylinder 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a support assembly 120 is mounted around a main body 110.

The support assembly 120 in this case comprises a fixed ring portion 122 and six support leg portions 124, as shown in FIG. Although the fixing ring portion 122 and the support leg portion 124 may be separately formed and joined together, or may be completely integrally formed, here, the fixing ring portion 12 is formed.
After a comb-shaped member obtained by cutting 2 is integrally molded, the back portion of the comb is joined in a ring shape to form a fixed ring portion 122. The support leg portion 124 is formed so that the tip (on the side opposite to the fixed ring portion 122) spreads,
When mounted on the main body 110, the tip is pressed by the cap.

When the cap is removed, the tips of the support leg portions 124 spread radially in a direction away from the main body 110. At that time, unless the tip of the support leg portion 124 is located below the center of gravity of the flaming tube 100, it is preferable that the opening angle is large. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the flaming tube 100 having the support leg portions 124 whose ends are open is placed horizontally on the road. As shown therein, the flaming barrel 100 includes the tip of the support leg portion 124 and the body 11.
The whole is supported by the bottom part of 0, and the ignition part 112 faces upwards. Therefore, when ignited, the flame of the flaming tube 100 does not directly hit the road surface. Since the tips of the support leg portions 124 are opened radially and the tips are located above the center of gravity of the flaming tube 100, the posture shown in the figure is always obtained unless the road surface is extremely uneven. The only exception is when you stand upright with the bottom down, which is the preferred position. In this way, even if the ignited flaming cylinder 100 is randomly placed on the road, the flame faces upward, so that the road surface can be protected.

The above is the embodiment which briefly shows the basic principle of the present invention, but various modifications can be considered. These deformations are large and can be divided into the method of restraining the tip of the support leg portion 124 and the characteristics of the support leg portion 124.

In the first embodiment described above, the body 1
Support leg portion 12 by a cap to be mounted on the head of
The tip of 4 is constrained, but without it the main effect of the first embodiment is not affected. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, attach the cap with the tip spread,
Then, it is conceivable to attach a cover that covers the whole by suppressing the spread of the tip. On the other hand, the support leg portion 12 is intentionally
Restraining the tip of 4 facilitates handling when not in use and simplifies the manufacturing process. For example, the support leg portion 124 is formed in a shape in which the tip is bent over the edge of the upper end of the main body 110 toward the axial center. That is, the tip of the support leg portion 124 is formed into a hook shape, and the hook portion is molded so as to be hooked on the edge of the upper end of the main body 110. When the state where the hook portion is hooked on the edge of the upper end of the main body 110 is viewed from directly above, the hook portion is radially arranged around the ignition portion 112. In that state, the hook portion is fixed by using a fusible or combustible material such as wax. Since the tip is restrained in the unused state, the support leg portion 124 does not spread even if the cover or the cap is removed, which is convenient when inspecting or confirming the main body. Since a fusible or flammable material such as wax is used for restraining the tip, the tip is released by heat or combustion when the flaming cylinder 100 is used, and the support leg portion 124 can spread radially as described above.

FIG. 4 shows the support assembly 120 with the tips of the support legs 124 secured to a restraining ring 126. A fusible or flammable material or a material that is easily broken is used to fix the restraint ring 126 and the tips of the support leg portions 124. For example, if metal is used for at least the tips of the support leg portions 124, the restraining ring 12
6 may be made into metal and fixed with solder. Since the solder has a low melting point, it is melted by the heat when the flaming cylinder 100 is used, and the tips of the support leg portions 124 are released. Further, if the material is fixed using a material such as glass paint that is easily broken, the tip of the supporting leg portion 124 can be easily released by hitting the head of the flaming tube 100 against the road or the like. Further, if a combustible material such as paper is used to fix the restraint ring 126 itself or the tips of the restraint ring 126 and the support leg portion 124, the tip of the support leg portion 124 is released by burning due to the flame when the flaming cylinder 100 is used. To be done. When it is possible to use it properly depending on the situation such as a flaming cylinder for road work, a supporting assembly 120 as shown in FIG. 4 can be prepared separately from the flaming cylinder 100. In that case, if the support leg portion 124 is set in an outwardly opened posture in advance, the assembly becomes a drum shape (for example, the shape of FIG. 4), and the portion bent inward presses the main body 110, so that the attachment is performed. The posture when hit is also stable. Although the restraint ring 126 in the shape of a sliced cylinder is used in FIG. 4, if it is a perforated disc from which the ignition part 112 can project, it can also function as a stopper during mounting.

The main purpose of restraining the tips of the supporting leg portions 124 is to prevent unintended expansion of the supporting leg portions 124. The cause of unintended expansion of the support leg portion 124 is not limited to, but is not limited to.
In addition, it is possible to use a curved leaf spring, for example, in which a posture to spread outward is given beforehand. However, this in itself is not an essential requirement. For example, a material that is easily deformable may be used and spread by the user during use. When a high frequency of use is expected, such as a flaming cylinder for road work, prepare a board with a hole through which the head of the main body 110 passes, and grasp the central part of the main body 110 to insert the main body into the hole. When the head of 110 is passed, the supporting leg portion 124 is spread by the wall surface of the board, so that the work can be streamlined.

When the support leg portion 124 is manually unfolded, as described above, it is necessary to take care so that the tip of the support leg portion 124 is not below the center of gravity of the flaming tube 100. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the spread of the support leg portion 124 is made into two stages to prevent it. Figure 5
Shows a schematic example. Support leg portions 124 that make up the support assembly 120 of this second embodiment.
Is fixed to the main body 110 using a fusible or combustible material at a point A slightly above the center of gravity of the flaming tube 100. The portion 124a of the support leg portion 124 above the point A can be manually spread out, but since the portion corresponding to the point A is fixed, as shown by I as a whole, Normally, the tips of the support leg portions 124 are not below the center of gravity of the flaming tube 100. When the combustion of the flaming cylinder 100 progresses and reaches near the point A, the constraint at the point A can be released by combustion or melting. The posture of the portion 124b of the support leg portion 124 below the point A is set so as to spread in advance, and when the constraint at the point A is released, the entire portion I
The support leg portion 124 is further widened, as shown as I. It is also possible to subdivide the stage of the spreading of the support leg portion 124, and, of course, this kind of stage setting also includes the support leg portion 124, including the portion 124a.
It is also effective when the posture to open outward is given in advance to the whole of, that is, when they spread without requiring manual work.

Further, embodiments are contemplated where the support leg portions 124 use a material that deforms when heated. Bimetals, shape memory alloys, and the like are used as this type of material, and if they are set so as to spread outward when heated, the flaming cylinder 100
When used, the same effect as described above is obtained.

Although the embodiment described so far has substantially a plurality of support leg portions 124, FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which it is substantially one. In this, the support assembly 130 has the retaining ring portion 13
2 and spiral portion 134. In the unused state, the spiral portion 134 is wound around the main body 110, and the tip of the spiral portion 134 is wound by the main body 1 by any of the methods described above.
It is fixed at 10. When the restraint is released, it spreads in a conical shape with the tip as the base as shown in FIG. 6, and when the flaming tube 100 is placed on the road, the ignition part 112 faces upward. Here, it is possible to make the overall shape more conical by increasing the width of the spiral portion 134 or making the pitch finer. That is, it is possible to receive the burnt residue of the flaming cylinder 100 inside the cone. In that case, it may be preferable to attach a detent or a stabilizer below the main body 110. Reference numeral 140 in FIG. 6 is a wire attached for the purpose of stopping rotation, and it is designed to project laterally when the cover is removed.

[0017]

In general, the flare cylinder is used in an emergency, and attention is not paid to how to place the flare cylinder. However, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the flare cylinder is ignited, and it is set on the road. Even if it is thrown upward, the second portion of the support member comes into contact with the road surface so that the flare tube faces upward. In other words, the flame or the part that is most heated during use is separated from the road, so that the road surface is not damaged. It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention once the teachings of the invention have been provided, in which various combinations of the disclosed embodiments are Of course, the deformation in which the support member and the main body member are separated and combined at the time of use, the deformation in which the number of the support leg portions is increased or decreased, the connection method between the main body member and the first portion and their positions, material variations, shape variations, etc. Is also included. Therefore, the drawings as well as the description of the embodiments should not be considered as limiting the invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a perspective view showing the support assembly of FIG. 1 in an extracted manner. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the flaming cylinder shown in FIG. 1 is placed on a road.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a modification of the support assembly of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 2, 2002 (2002.5.2)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Brief description of the drawing

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a perspective view showing the support assembly of FIG. 1 in an extracted manner. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the flaming cylinder shown in FIG. 1 is placed on a road.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a modification of the support assembly of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A body member including signal indicating means for providing a visible indication of a signal under predetermined conditions; and a support member having at least one first portion and a second portion, Wherein the first portion is substantially coupled to the body member and the second portion is the body, at least when the signal indicating means is in a state providing the visible indication of the signal. A signal display device, wherein the signal display device is located substantially apart from the member. 2. The signal indicating means is a combustible material and the predetermined condition is combustion of the combustible material, wherein the combustible material provides a visible indication of the signal upon combustion. The signal display device according to claim 1. 3. The support member is made of a material that deforms when heated, and at least when deformed, causes the second portion to deform such that the second portion is located substantially away from the body member. Item 2. The signal display device according to item 2. 4. The support member according to claim 1, wherein the support member is an elastic member having a shape predetermined so that the second portion is located at a position substantially distant from the main body member. Signal display device. 5. The signal display device according to claim 4, further comprising restraint means for restraining the second portion in the vicinity of the main body member. 6. The signal display device according to claim 5, wherein the restraint means is detachable from the main body member, and when detached, the restraint of the second portion is released. 7. The restraint means is made of a breakable material,
6. The signal display device according to claim 5, wherein the signal display device is broken upon receiving an impact to release the constraint of the second portion. 8. The signal indicating means is a combustible material, the predetermined condition is combustion of the combustible material, the combustible material providing a visible indication of the signal upon combustion, wherein the restraining means is 6. The signal display device according to claim 5, wherein the signal display device is made of a fusible or flammable material, and the constraint of the second portion is released as a result of heating or burning. 9. The signal of claim 1, wherein the support member is made of a deformable material and is easily deformable to locate the second portion substantially distant from the body member. Display device. 10. A method of supporting a signal indicating device that provides a visible signal indication upon combustion, the portion substantially coupling with the signal indicating device at least during combustion and the signal indicating device. A member having a portion that is remote from the signal display device, and the signal display device is supported by the end opposite to the end where combustion of the signal display device starts and the substantially remote portion. 11. When the substantially distant portion is vertically projected onto a straight line connecting the center of gravity of the signal display device and the end portion where the combustion starts, at least before the combustion of the signal display device. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the projected point is included between the center of gravity and the end where the combustion is initiated.