Foldable triangular caution device

Abstract

A flexible foldable triangular warning device is provided. The warning device is made from at least one panel and can be moved between a compact or storage position and an expanded position in which the warning device can be made to be free standing. The device can comprise a single panel, in which case, the device includes a base which will enable the panel to be free standing or to be mounted to the window of a vehicle. The device can also comprise two, three, four, or more panels, in which case, the device will set up to form a triangular or rectangular pyramid.

1 . A collapsible warning device comprising: 
 at least one panel; said panel comprising a flexible wire frame and a web applied to said frame; said web being applied to said frame by a channel at a periphery of said web and through which said wire frame extends; and    a base; said base being configured to enable said warning device to be mounted to a window of a vehicle or to be free-standing.    
   
   
       2 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 1  wherein said base comprises a connector having a groove which is sized and shaped to receive at least a part of a peripheral edge of said panel and a pair of legs pivotally mounted to said connector; said legs being pivotal between a first position in which said legs are adjacent and generally parallel to the plane of said panel and a second position in which said legs are generally perpendicular to the plane of said panel.  
   
   
       3 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 2  wherein said legs of said pair of legs are positioned on opposite sides of said panel.  
   
   
       4 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 2  wherein said legs define a channel, said leg channel being sized and shaped to at least partially enclose said panel periphery when said legs are in their first position.  
   
   
       5 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 1  wherein said base comprises a connector having a channel which is sized and shaped to receive at least a part of a peripheral edge of said panel and at least one leg pivotally mounted to said connector; said leg including a hook sized and adapted to be received on an edge of a vehicle window.  
   
   
       6 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 1  wherein said base comprises a channel member having a first portion which receives at least a part of a bottom edge of said panel and a second portion which receives at least a part of a side edge of said panel; said base further including a leg pivotally mounted to said channel member to be movable between a first position in which said leg is generally perpendicular to the plane of said panel and a second position in which said leg is generally parallel to the plane of said panel.  
   
   
       7 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 6  wherein said base includes a sleeve extending along at least a portion of said base first portion; said sleeve receiving said leg.  
   
   
       8 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 1  wherein warning device comprises two panels; said panels being operatively connected together along a top edge thereof; and being moveable between a first position in which said panels are substantially parallel to each other and a second position in which said panels are adjacent each other at their top edges and spaced apart from each other at their bottom edges; said warning device further comprising a strap extending between the bottom edges of said two panels to maintain said panels in said second position; said base comprising the bottom edges of said panels, said device being free standing when in said second position.  
   
   
       9 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 8  wherein said panels each comprise their own frame; said warning device including a connector which pivotally connects said panels together.  
   
   
       10 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 8  wherein said panels are generally triangular; said warning device comprising a single frame which supports both said panels; said frame being generally in the shape of an hour glass.  
   
   
       11 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 1  wherein said device comprises a central panel and two outer panels; said outer panels being pivotally connected to opposite sides of said central panel; said warning device being moveable between a collapsed position and a position in which said three panels are joined together to form a three sided pyramid.  
   
   
       12 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 11  and including a fourth panel, said fourth panel being hingedly connected to a bottom edge of one of the other three panels; whereby one of said four panels forms a bottom panel, and the remainder of said panels define side panels; said warning device forming a triangular pyramid with a bottom when in said free standing position.  
   
   
       13 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 1  wherein said device comprises a four panels; said panels being pivotally connected and being moveable between a collapsed position and a position in which said panels are joined together to form one of a square pyramid.  
   
   
       14 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 1  wherein said panel includes a light emitting device.  
   
   
       15 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 14  wherein said light emitting device comprises a plurality of LED's spaced around a periphery of said panel.  
   
   
       16 . A collapsible warning device comprising: 
 at least one panel; said panel comprising a flexible wire frame and a web applied to said frame; said web being applied to said frame by a channel at a periphery of said web and through which said wire frame extends; and    a base; said base being configured to enable said warning device to be mounted to a window of a vehicle or to be free-standing; said base comprising a connector having a groove which is sized and shaped to receive at least a part of a peripheral edge of said panel and a pair of legs pivotally mounted to said connector; said legs being pivotal between a first position in which said legs are adjacent and generally parallel to the plane of said panel and a second position in which said legs are generally perpendicular to the plane of said panel.    
   
   
       17 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 16  wherein said base includes a hook on at least one of said legs, said hook being sized, shaped, and adapted to be received on an edge of a vehicle window.  
   
   
       18 . A collapsible warning device comprising: 
 at least one panel; said panel comprising a flexible wire frame and a web applied to said frame; said web being applied to said frame by a channel at a periphery of said web and through which said wire frame extends; and    a base; said base being configured to enable said warning device to be mounted to a window of a vehicle or to be free-standing; said base comprising a channel member having a first portion which receives at least a part of a bottom edge of said panel and a second portion which receives at least a part of a side edge of said panel; said base further including a leg pivotally mounted to said channel member to be movable between a first position in which said leg is generally perpendicular to the plane of said panel and a second position in which said leg is generally parallel to the plane of said panel.    
   
   
       19 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 18  wherein said base includes a sleeve extending along at least a portion of said base first portion; said sleeve receiving said leg.  
   
   
       20 . A collapsible warning device comprising: 
 two panels; said panels comprising a flexible wire frame and a web applied to said frame; said web being applied to said frame by a channel at a periphery of said web and through which said wire frame extends; said panels being operatively connected together along a top edge thereof; and being moveable between a first position in which said panels are substantially parallel to each other and a second position in which said panels are adjacent each other at their top edges and spaced apart from each other at their bottom edges; said warning device further comprising a strap extending between the bottom edges of said two panels to maintain said panels in said second position, said device being free standing when in said second position.    
   
   
       21 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 20  wherein said panels each comprise their own frame; said warning device including a connector which pivotally connects said panels together.  
   
   
       22 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 20  wherein said warning device comprising a single frame which supports both said panels; said frame being generally in the shape of an hour glass.  
   
   
       23 . A collapsible warning device comprising: 
 three panels; said panels each comprising a flexible wire frame and a web applied to said frame; said web being applied to said frame by a channel at a periphery of said web and through which said wire frame extends; said panels being operatively connected together along a top edge thereof; said three panels defining a central panel and two outer panels; said outer panels being pivotally connected to opposite sides of said central panel; said warning device being moveable between a collapsed position and a position in which said three panels are joined together to form a three sided pyramid.    
   
   
       24 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 23  and including a fourth panel, said fourth panel being hingedly connected to a bottom edge of one of the other three panels; whereby one of said four panels forms a bottom panel, and the remainder of said panels define side panels; said warning device forming a triangular pyramid with a bottom when in said free standing position.  
   
   
       25 . The collapsible warning device of  claim 23  and including a fourth panel; said panels being pivotally connected and being moveable between a collapsed position and a position in which said panels are joined together to form one of a square pyramid.