INTRODUCTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to road safety. Prior Art Discussion

At present, a significant number of road accidents are caused by vehicles driving onto minor roads where there is poor visibility at the entrance for the driver of the vehicle and poor visibility of the vehicle by traffic on the road. In an attempt to improve safety it is known to mount a mirror on the road side opposite the entrance so that the driver of the vehicle accessing the road has visibility of traffic on the road. This is of some benefit, however, it is not practical to mount mirrors at all such locations and even where one is in place it is not effective in wet or foggy weather conditions. Also, it is of little assistance to drivers on the road. In practice, drivers of vehicles driving onto a minor road have often reverted to employing a person standing on the road to check for oncoming traffic.

The invention is directed towards achieving improved road safety for vehicles in such situations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, there is provided a safety device for a vehicle, the device comprising a rod,

a warning sign supported on the rod, and

support means for mounting the rod on a vehicle,

a controller with a user actuator,

wherein the rod is retractable, and

wherein the device comprises a drive to move the rod under user control between a retracted position and an extended forward position.

In one embodiment, the rod is telescopic. I -

Preferably, the rod has a weakness to break or yield if it comes in the path of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the actuator is adapted to be mounted in a vehicle driver compartment. In one embodiment, the drive comprises a motor adapted to extend and retract the rod.

In one embodiment, the motor drives a cable by rotation of a wheel around which the cable is wound. In an alternative embodiment, the motor drives a pinion which drives a rack.

In one embodiment, the sign includes a device for improved visibility of a driver of a vehicle incorporating the safety device. The device may for example include a mirror mounted on the warning sign.

In a further embodiment, the device includes a camera linked with a display in a driver compartment.

In one embodiment, the rod supports a plurality of cameras, one having a lateral right side field of view and the other having a lateral left side field of view. In another embodiment, the camera is mounted beneath a cover portion of a head at the outer end of the rod. In one embodiment, said cover has a high-visibility marking on an outer surface. In one embodiment, the cover includes a front plate portion and an upper cover position over the cameras.

In one embodiment, the camera is mounted within a socket of a block of material in the head.

In one embodiment, the rod extends through a device housing wall and a sleeve bearing. Preferably, the device includes limit switches to detect forward and retracted extremities of movement of the rod, and the controller is adapted to cut power from the drive wherein the rod is at forward extremity.

Preferably, the device comprises a flexible conduit for cable to the camera, the conduit folding within the housing when the rod is retracted. In one embodiment, there are separate drive and support rods.

In one embodiment, the controller operates a solenoid in response to operation of the user actuator. In one embodiment, the actuator is a switch with a normally open state, continued use depression of the switch causing activation of the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -

Fig. 1 is a side view of a vehicle incorporating a safety device of the invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the safety device in more detail;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative vehicle safety device of the invention; Fig. 5 shows the device when the rod is extended;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view from the other side with the housing removed,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view from the same side as Figs. 4 and 5, showing the head when extended;

Fig. 8 is an underneath perspective view showing a head when extended;

Fig. 9(a) is a plan view of the device, and Fig. 9(b) is a cross-sectional view of the device in the direction of the arrows A-A of Fig. 9(a); and

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram for the device. Description of the Embodiments

Referring to the drawings a tractor T is equipped with a safety device 1 of the invention. The device 1 comprises a telescopic rod 2 mounted to extend forwardly from the tractor in the direction of travel. At its extremity the rod 2 supports a warning sign 3 having a printed warning 10, "CAUTION", and LED flashing lights 11.

The rod 2 is of hollow aluminium construction and so will break easily in the unlikely event of impact even by a bicycle or motorcycle. It extends from a motor 4 which is powered from a quick release 12V socket 5. The latter is in turn wired to the 12V battery B of the tractor T.

The device 1 is activated by a two-way activation switch 15 in the tractor cab.

Referring to Fig. 3 particularly, the motor 4 drives a cable 16 with ridges which engage notches on a wheel 17 which is rotated by the motor. The motor rotates in the clockwise direction to extend the cable, and the leading end of the telescopic rod 2. It retracts the rod by rotation in the anti-clockwise direction.

In operation, the safety device is unobtrusive, as the motor 4 is mounted to the side and the rod 2 is retracted. As the tractor T approaches an entrance from a farmyard or a field onto a minor road the driver uses the switch 15 to activate the device 1. The motor 4 rotates to extend the telescopic rod 2. The warning sign 3 then protrudes over the side of the road, and hence any oncoming traffic can see that the tractor is ready to drive onto the road. Of course, the normal safety precautions are taken by all drivers.

It will be appreciated that use of the device 1 would considerably improve road safety if it were incorporated into vehicles such as tractors, lorries and other industrial or agricultural plant. It could also be incorporated into passenger vehicles with appropriate modification, such as to mount the device so that it is hidden when not activated It may for example be mounted under the bonnet or bumper.

The warning sign can take any appropriate form, and the mechanism may be hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically operated. The rod is preferably of an easily breakable form, but not - 3 - necessarily. Also, there may be a mirror and/or camera mounted on the sign - providing the driver with a mirror view or video display of traffic on the road on a display in the cab.

Referring to Figs. 4 to 10 in an alternative embodiment a safety device 30 has a housing 31 with a flat base and a curved surround wall, and end walls 33 and 34. An electrical connector 38 provides a link to the wiring of a vehicle. A pair of thumbscrews 39 provide mechanical connection to a vehicle, at a bracket B.

A device head 40 is arranged to extend and retract. It has screws 41 and 42 for on-axis connection to supporting bars, as described in more detail below. The head 40 supports two cameras 43 and 44, shown most clearly in Fig. 8. The cameras 43 and 44 are mounted within a block 45 which is connected to the bars by the screws 41 and 42, and which carries a high- visibility strip 46. The cameras 43 and 44 are of the "bullet" type, having a cylindrical shape and lens extending out at one end. Because they are mounted within the block 45 they are particularly securely supported in a robust arrangement. Also, with this arrangement they have excellent fields of view to both sides.

Within the housing 31 the device 30 comprises a chain 55 which acts as a conduit for electrical wires to the head 40. It extends and folds up with movement of the head 40. A support bar 56 slides through a sleeve 57 on the end wall 34, and at its inner end it contacts a limit switch 58. There is also a limit switch, not shown, within the sleeve 57. The bar 56 provides excellent support for the head 40 when it is at its outer position extending from the housing 31 , and helps to achieve a smooth sliding movement. Movement of the head 40 to the outer position is caused by activation of a motor 60 the output of which drives a drive bar 61 with rack teeth 62 in a rack-and-pinion motion.

An enclosure 50 in the housing 31 houses a solenoid for switching power to the motor 60 and to the cameras 43 and 44. As shown in Fig. 10 in a circuit 70 the solenoid operates two switches 71 and 72 controlling power to the motor 60 and to the cameras 43 and 44.The connector 38 is linked with a connector 80 in the cab. The latter is linked with a monitor 81 and a user actuator button 82. The monitor 81 has dual windows and the use actuator button 82 is permanently mounted in an operator-friendly position. - O -

In use, the housing 31 is mounted in a quick-release manner onto a vehicle permanently mounted support arm B, and the electrical connections are made to complete the circuit 70. During normal running of the tractor, the device 30 is dormant:

- there is power to the monitor, although the screen will be dark,

- there is no power to the cameras 43 and 44, and

- the motor does not have power, due to a rear limit switch 85.

When at a blind corner, the operator presses and holds the actuator button 82. While this button is pressed, the relay mounted inside the housing 31 switches so that power is provided to the motor 60, driving the head 40 out. This button also triggers the monitor 81 to activate, displaying the views from the two cameras 43 and 44, providing a view to the left and right of the vehicle from a forward position. The power to the cameras 43 and 44 is provided from the monitor 81 while the button 82 is pressed. When the bar 56 reaches the forward limit switch, it power is cut from the motor 60. As long as the operator holds the button 82, the head 40 will remain extended, and the monitor 81 will continue to display the two views. When the button 82 is released, the relay will switch to providing power to the motor 60 in the opposite direction, so that the head 40 will retract. It will retract automatically until the rear limit switch 58 is made, which again cuts power to the motor 60. The device 30 is then ready for the next use. It will be appreciated that the safety device 30 provides in a very convenient manner excellent safety because of (a) making the vehicle visible because of extension of the head 40 and visibility of the strip 46, and (b) providing full video images of both sides of the road to the driver. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described but may be varied in construction and detail.