Directional highway buoy

Abstract

An improved highway barricade light, with increased visibility and operational life span that can be installed on a common traffic channelizer, without preventing the stacking of the channelizer. A base with hand-hold features is attached to the top of a traffic channelizer. The base holds a rechargeable power supply, control circuitry, switch, solar cell and a photoresistor. A reflector ring attaches to the base and holds an array of light emitting diodes (LED) circumferentially around the device. The LED's can be controlled to create a variety of flashing patterns to direct motorists, including, but not limited to, constant burn, flashing, clockwise, counter-clockwise, upward, downward and random. A transparent or translucent cover attaches to the base to protect the components, and may be flat, conical or dome shaped.

1 . A directional highway buoy for providing motorists warning indications and information while approaching and driving through construction zones, comprising: 
 means for positioning and mounting the device to the top of a common traffic channelizer and provide hand-holds for lifting the traffic channelizer;    means for retaining the device to a common traffic channelizer;    means for accepting power from a solar cell, battery and photoresistor, controlling the recharging of a battery and the operational cycle, flash rate and sequence of a plurality of light emitting diodes, rigidly secured to said means for positioning and mounting the device to the top of a common traffic channelizer and provide hand-holds for lifting the traffic channelizer;    means for the detection of darkness, functionally connected to said means for accepting power from a solar cell, battery and photoresistor, controlling the recharging of a battery and the operational cycle, flash rate and sequence of a plurality of light emitting diodes;    means for selecting the operational mode for the device, functionally connected to said means for accepting power from a solar cell, battery and photoresistor, controlling the recharging of a battery and the operational cycle, flash rate and sequence of a plurality of light emitting diodes;    means for providing power to light emitting diodes, functionally connected to said means for accepting power from a solar cell, battery and photoresistor, controlling the recharging of a battery and the operational cycle, flash rate and sequence of a plurality of light emitting diodes, and generally supported to said means for positioning and mounting the device to the top of a common traffic channelizer and provide hand-holds for lifting the traffic channelizer;    means for retaining and arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes around the device in a radial arrangement while providing a means to reflect and focus light in an outward direction, coaxially fitted to said means for positioning and mounting the device to the top of a common traffic channelizer and provide hand-holds for lifting the traffic channelizer;    means for retaining and arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes in a vertical pattern, circumferentially retained to said means for retaining and arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes around the device in a radial arrangement while providing a means to reflect and focus light in an outward direction;    means for producing visible light, securely mounted to said means for retaining and arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes in a vertical pattern, and functionally connected to said means for accepting power from a solar cell, battery and photoresistor, controlling the recharging of a battery and the operational cycle, flash rate and sequence of a plurality of light emitting diodes;    means for producing electricity to power light emitting diodes and recharging a battery, functionally connected to said means for accepting power from a solar cell, battery and photoresistor, controlling the recharging of a battery and the operational cycle, flash rate and sequence of a plurality of light emitting diodes, and generally supported to said means for positioning and mounting the device to the top of a common traffic channelizer and provide hand-holds for lifting the traffic channelizer;    means for protecting internal components from the environment or vandalizim, firmly fastened to said means for positioning and mounting the device to the top of a common traffic channelizer and provide hand-holds for lifting the traffic channelizer; and    means for retaining a cover to a base.    
   
   
       2 . The directional highway buoy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for positioning and mounting the device to the top of a common traffic channelizer and provide hand-holds for lifting the traffic channelizer comprises a circular base.  
   
   
       3 . The directional highway buoy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for retaining the device to a common traffic channelizer comprises a substantially long, threaded fastener.  
   
   
       4 . The directional highway buoy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for accepting power from a solar cell, battery and photoresistor, controlling the recharging of a battery and the operational cycle, flash rate and sequence of a plurality of light emitting diodes comprises a printed circuit board controller.  
   
   
       5 . The directional highway buoy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for the detection of darkness comprises a photoresistor.  
   
   
       6 . The directional highway buoy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for selecting the operational mode for the device comprises a multi-position selector switch.  
   
   
       7 . The directional highway buoy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for providing power to light emitting diodes comprises a rechargable battery.  
   
   
       8 . The directional highway buoy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for retaining and arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes around the device in a radial arrangement while providing a means to reflect and focus light in an outward direction comprises a circular reflector ring.  
   
   
       9 . The directional highway buoy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for retaining and arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes in a vertical pattern comprises an LED retainer.  
   
   
       10 . The directional highway buoy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for producing visible light comprises a light emitting diode.  
   
   
       11 . The directional highway buoy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for producing electricity to power light emitting diodes and recharging a battery comprises a solar cell.  
   
   
       12 . The directional highway buoy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for protecting internal components from the environment or vandalizim comprises a translucent or transparent cover.  
   
   
       13 . The directional highway buoy in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said means for retaining a cover to a base comprises a screw.  
   
   
       14 . A directional highway buoy for providing motorists warning indications and information while approaching and driving through construction zones, comprising: 
 a circular base, for positioning and mounting the device to the top of a common traffic channelizer and provide hand-holds for lifting the traffic channelizer;    a substantially long, threaded fastener, for retaining the device to a common traffic channelizer;    a printed circuit board controller, for accepting power from a solar cell, battery and photoresistor, controlling the recharging of a battery and the operational cycle, flash rate and sequence of a plurality of light emitting diodes, rigidly secured to said base;    a photoresistor, for the detection of darkness, functionally connected to said controller;    a multi-position selector switch, for selecting the operational mode for the device, functionally connected to said controller;    a rechargable battery, for providing power to light emitting diodes, functionally connected to said controller, and generally supported to said base;    a circular reflector ring, for retaining and arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes around the device in a radial arrangement while providing a means to reflect and focus light in an outward direction, coaxially fitted to said base;    an LED retainer, for retaining and arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes in a vertical pattern, circumferentially retained to said reflector ring;    a light emitting diode, for producing visible light, securely mounted to said LED retainer, and functionally connected to said controller;    a solar cell, for producing electricity to power light emitting diodes and recharging a battery, functionally connected to said controller, and generally supported to said base;    a translucent or transparent cover, for protecting internal components from the environment or vandalizim, firmly fastened to said base; and    a screw, for retaining a cover to a base.    
   
   
       15 . The directional highway buoy as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said reflector ring has characteristics selected from the following group: contains a plurality of dish or conical surfaces, and mirrored and/or reflectorized surface finish.  
   
   
       16 . The directional highway buoy as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said LED retainer is printed circuit board.  
   
   
       17 . The directional highway buoy as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said cover is flat, domed or conical.  
   
   
       18 . The directional highway buoy as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said screw is tamper-resistant.  
   
   
       19 . A directional highway buoy for providing motorists warning indications and information while approaching and driving through construction zones, comprising: 
 a circular base, for positioning and mounting the device to the top of a common traffic channelizer and provide hand-holds for lifting the traffic channelizer;    a substantially long, threaded fastener, for retaining the device to a common traffic channelizer;    a printed circuit board controller, for accepting power from a solar cell, battery and photoresistor, controlling the recharging of a battery and the operational cycle, flash rate and sequence of a plurality of light emitting diodes, rigidly secured to said base;    a photoresistor, for the detection of darkness, functionally connected to said controller;    a multi-position selector switch, for selecting the operational mode for the device, functionally connected to said controller;    a rechargable battery, for providing power to light emitting diodes, functionally connected to said controller, and generally supported to said base;    a circular, contains a plurality of dish or conical surfaces, mirrored and/or reflectorized surface finish reflector ring, for retaining and arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes around the device in a radial arrangement while providing a means to reflect and focus light in an outward direction, coaxially fitted to said base;    a printed circuit board LED retainer, for retaining and arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes in a vertical pattern, circumferentially retained to said reflector ring;    a light emitting diode, for producing visible light, securely mounted to said LED retainer, and functionally connected to said controller;    a solar cell, for producing electricity to power light emitting diodes and recharging a battery, functionally connected to said controller, and generally supported to said base;    a translucent or transparent, flat, domed or conical cover, for protecting internal components from the environment or vandalizim, firmly fastened to said base; and    a tamper-resistant screw, for retaining a cover to a base.