Positional responsive traffic sign and system

Abstract

A hand-held illumination means having a slit therein for forcibly receiving a sign or similar member for illumination wherein the hand-held illumination means includes an internal positionally responsive switching means connected to a remote power supply to cause the illumination means to be energized when the hand-held device is in a predetermined position and de-energized when the hand-held device is in another predetermined position and may also contain there within further switching means for causing a transmitter to signal a remote receiver for thus controlling a further illumination device for ultimate use in traffic control, school crossings and other motorist or pedestrian directional needs.

1 . A hand-held device adapted for connection to a remote power supply for receiving a sign thereinto for illuminating the sign when the hand-held device is in a predetermined position, wherein said hand-held device comprises: 
 a. a handle having a longitudinal axis;    b. an illumination means comprising at least one lighting means;    c. a slit in alignment with said longitudinal axis of said hand-held device, said slit having a first side and a second side juxtaposed, a longitudinal axis, a width between said first side and said second side, a length along said longitudinal axis of said slit in alignment with said longitudinal axis of said hand-held device and a depth perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said hand-held device of such dimensions as to forcibly receive thereinto a sign; and    d. positionally sensitive switching means for selectively connecting a power supply means to said illumination means,    wherein said lighting means is energized when said hand-held device is in a predetermined position:    
   
   
       2 . A hand-held device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said first side and said second side of said slit have textured surfaces for removably securing a sign thereinto.  
   
   
       3 . A hand-held device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said positionally sensitive switching means for selectively connecting a power supply means to said illumination means comprises a switch which is closed when the said longitudinal axis of said hand-held device is in a vertical position.  
   
   
       4 . A hand-held device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said illumination means comprising at least one lighting means comprises an array of light emitting diodes, said array comprising a control means for selectively determining the flashing sequence of said light emitting diode  
   
   
       5 . A hand-held device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said illumination means comprising at least one lighting means is is positioned for directing light onto a surface of a sign inserted thereinto and for directing light away from the surface of a sign inserted thereinto.  
   
   
       6 . A hand-held device as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said at least one lighting means for directing light onto a surface of a sign inserted thereinto comprises an aperture positioned on the periphery of said lighting means whereby light is directed onto a surface of said sign.  
   
   
       7 . A hand-held device as set forth in  claim 1  in combination with a remote illumination device, said remote illumination device comprising: 
 1. an illumination means;    2. a receiver; and    3. a power supply, and    wherein said hand-held device further comprises:    a. a transmitter and    b. a second positionally responsive switching means;    whereby said transmitter is caused to emit a first signal when said second positionally responsive switch of said hand-held device is in a first predetermined position, said first signal being received by said receiver to cause said illumination means of said remote illumination device to be energized, and whereby said transmitter is caused to emit a second signal when said second positionally switch of said hand-held device is in a second predetermined position, said second signal being received by said receiver to cause said illumination means of said remote illumination device to be de-energized when said hand-held device is in a second predetermined position.    
   
   
       8 . A hand-held device adapted for connection to a remote power supply for receiving a sign thereinto, wherein said hand-held device comprises: 
 a. a handle having a longitudinal axis,    b. an illumination means comprising at least one lighting means;    a slit in alignment with said longitudinal axis of said hand-held device, said slit having a first side and a second side juxtaposed, a longitudinal axis, a width between said first side and said second side, a length along said longitudinal axis of said slit in alignment with said longitudinal axis of said hand-held device and a depth perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said hand-held device of such dimensions as to forcibly receive thereinto a sign; and    d. a first positionally sensitive switching means for selectively connecting a power supply means to said illumination means,    whereby said lighting means is energized when said hand-held device is in a predetermined position.    
   
   
       9 . A hand-held device as set forth in  claim 8  to further comprise a controller electrically connected between said power supply and said lighting means wherein said controller causes said lighting means to be activated as selectively determined by said controller.  
   
   
       10 . A hand-held device as set forth in  claim 8  to further comprise: 
 1. a second positionally sensitive switching means and    2. a transmitter,    said second positionally sensitive switching means comprising:    a first position being electrically connected between said power supply and said transmitter whereby said transmitter is caused to transmit a first signal when said second positionally sensitive switching means is in a first predetermined position,    in combination with a remote illumination device, said remote illumination device comprising:    a. a receiver having a switching means,    b. a power supply and    c. illumination means    wherein said receiver receives said signal transmitted by said transmitter of said hand-held device to cause said switching means of said receiver to cause said power supply of said remote illumination device to be electrically connected to said illumination means of said remote illumination device to cause said remote illumination means to be illuminated.    
   
   
       11 . A hand-held device as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said second positionally sensitive switching means comprises a second position being electrically connected between said power supply and said transmitter when said hand-held device is in a second predetermined position whereby said transmitter is caused to transmit a second signal when said second positionally sensitive switching means is in a second predetermined position, said second signal being received by said receiver to cause said switching means of said receiver to disconnect said power supply of said remote illumination device from said illumination means of said remote illumination device whereby said remote illumination device is extinguished  
   
   
       12 . A hand-held device in combination with a remote illumination device as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said remote illumination device further comprises a controller for selectively causing said illumination means of said remote illumination device to be energized in a selected sequence.  
   
   
       13 . A hand-held device as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said illumination means of said remote illumination device are light emitting diodes.  
   
   
       14 . A hand-held device as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said illumination means of said remote illumination device are light emitting diodes.  
   
   
       15 . A hand-held device as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said remote illumination device further comprises a traffic cone having a top and a bottom and wherein said remote illumination device is mounted on the top of said traffic cone.  
   
   
       16 . A hand-held device as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said lighting means comprises an array of light emitting diodes and a controller whereby said light emitting diodes are energized in a desired configuration as determined by said controller.