Emergency signaling device

Abstract

An emergency signaling device comprises a flexible substrate stowed in the trunk of a vehicle for extending from a folded position to an extended position, for conveying a message to motorists approaching the vehicle. The emergency signaling device may extend from the trunk of the vehicle upon activation of a remote trunk release when a hazard flasher system is on, or the like. The emergency signaling device may be removed from the vehicle for use as an emergency signaling device.

1 . An emergency signaling device for an automobile having a trunk including a trunk opening and a trunk lid hinged to move between a closed position for enclosing the trunk opening and an opened position for providing access to the trunk via the trunk opening, comprising: 
 a substrate, disposed in the trunk of the automobile, the substrate for folding between a folded position when the trunk lid is in the closed position and an extended position when the trunk lid is in the opened position; and    indicia disposed on the substrate for conveying a message when the substrate is unfolded to the extended position,    wherein, when the substrate is in the extended position, the indicia disposed on the substrate are positioned so as to be generally visible to motorists approaching the automobile.    
   
   
       2 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the indicia comprise at least one light disposed on the substrate.  
   
   
       3 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one light comprises a light emitting diode.  
   
   
       4 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a power supply for providing electrical power to the light emitting diode.  
   
   
       5 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the power supply comprises a battery coupled to the substrate.  
   
   
       6 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the automobile includes an electrical system, and wherein the battery is charged from the electrical system.  
   
   
       7 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the automobile comprises an electrical system and the power supply receives power from the electrical system.  
   
   
       8 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the indicia comprise reflective material disposed on the substrate.  
   
   
       9 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is flexible.  
   
   
       10 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is removable from the trunk of the automobile for use at a location remote from the automobile.  
   
   
       11 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the automobile further comprises a hazard flasher system for flashing lights disposed on the automobile when the hazard flasher system is turned on and a remote trunk release for causing the trunk lid to move to the opened position, and wherein the substrate is unfolded to the extended position when the remote trunk release causes the trunk lid to move to the opened position while the hazard flasher system is on.  
   
   
       12 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the substrate remains folded in the folded position when the remote trunk release causes the trunk lid to move to the opened position while the hazard flasher system is off.  
   
   
       13 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the substrate further comprises fasteners for fastening the substrate to the trunk lid and within the trunk for unfolding the substrate to the extended position when the trunk lid is in the opened position.  
   
   
       14 . An emergency signaling device, comprising: 
 a flexible substrate foldable between at least a folded position and an unfolded position; and    a plurality of lights disposed on the flexible substrate forming indicia for displaying a message;    wherein the flexible substrate is folded to the folded state for storage and unfolded to the unfolded state for display of the message.    
   
   
       15 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of lights comprise light emitting diodes.  
   
   
       16 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a power supply for providing electrical power to the light emitting diodes.  
   
   
       17 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the power supply comprises a battery coupled to the substrate.  
   
   
       18 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the battery is charged from an automobile electrical system.  
   
   
       19 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the indicia further comprise reflective material disposed on the substrate.  
   
   
       20 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the flexible substrate is storable in a trunk of an automobile and is removable from the trunk of the automobile for use at a location remote from the automobile.  
   
   
       21 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the trunk comprises a trunk lid, and wherein the flexible substrate further comprises fasteners for fastening the substrate to the trunk lid and within the trunk for unfolding the substrate to the extended position when the trunk lid is in an opened position.  
   
   
       22 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising a power supply for powering the plurality of lights, wherein the automobile comprises an electrical system, the power supply receiving electrical power from the electrical system.  
   
   
       23 . An emergency signaling device for a vehicle, comprising: 
 a substrate for being disposed in the vehicle, the substrate folding between a folded position and an extended position; and    indicia disposed on the substrate for conveying a message when the substrate is unfolded to the extended position,    wherein, when the substrate is in the extended position, the indicia disposed on the substrate are positioned so as to be visible to motorists generally approaching the vehicle.    
   
   
       24 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the indicia comprise at least one light disposed on the substrate.  
   
   
       25 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the at least one light comprises a light emitting diode.  
   
   
       26 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 24 , further comprising a power supply for providing electrical power to the light.  
   
   
       27 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the power supply comprises a battery coupled to the substrate.  
   
   
       28 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the vehicle includes an electrical system, and wherein the battery is charged from the electrical system.  
   
   
       29 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the vehicle comprises an electrical system and the power supply receives power from the electrical system.  
   
   
       30 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the indicia comprise reflective material disposed on the substrate.  
   
   
       31 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the substrate is flexible.  
   
   
       32 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the substrate is removable from the vehicle for use at a location remote from the automobile.  
   
   
       33 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the automobile further comprises a hazard flasher system for flashing lights disposed on the automobile when the hazard flasher system is turned on and a remote trunk release for causing the trunk lid to move to the opened position, and wherein the substrate is unfolded to the extended position when the remote trunk release causes the trunk lid to move to the opened position while the hazard flasher system is on.  
   
   
       34 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the substrate remains folded in the folded position when the remote trunk release causes the trunk lid to move to the opened position while the hazard flasher system is off.  
   
   
       35 . The emergency signaling device as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the substrate further comprises fasteners for fastening the substrate to the trunk lid and within the trunk for unfolding the substrate to the extended position when the trunk lid is in the opened position.  
   
   
       36 . An emergency signaling device for an automobile having a trunk including a trunk opening and a trunk lid hinged to move between a closed position for enclosing the trunk opening and an opened position for providing access to the trunk via the trunk opening, comprising: 
 means, disposed in the trunk of the automobile, for folding between a folded position when the trunk lid is in the closed position and an extended position when the trunk lid is in the opened position; and    means, disposed on the folding means, for conveying a message when the folding means is in the extended position,    wherein, when the folding means is in the extended position, the message conveying means disposed on the folding means is positioned so as to be generally viewable from behind the automobile.