(12) United States Patent
`Berardi
`
`US006499410B1
`(16) Patent N6.=
`US 6,499,410 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Dec. 31, 2002
`
`(54) CROSSOVER/PROTECTOR WITH WARNING
`LIGHT
`
`(75) Inventor: Philip N_ Berardi, Westlake Village,
`CAGE)
`
`(73) Assignee: Industry Advanced Techn0l0gies,
`Thousand Oaks> CA (Us)
`
`*
`
`_
`
`(
`
`) Notlcel
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`_
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`_
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`_
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`_
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`sublectto any d1sc1a1mer> the term of thls
`patent is @Xtended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 57 days.
`
`3/1939 Taylor
`2,150,591 A
`2,166,516 A * 7/1939 Bainbridge ............... ..104/275
`2,299,356 A * 10/1942 Strohm etal.
`104/275
`3,118,017 A * 1/1964 Wimbish .................. .. 104/275
`3,357,370 A 12/1967 Walkey
`3,888,186 A * 6/1975 JentZsch etal. .......... .. 104/275
`2 *
`ilentéch et a1‘ """"" " 104/275
`7
`,
`aleri
`4,693,184 A * 9/1987 Peterman .................. .. 104/295
`
`5,095,822 A * 3/1992 Martin . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 104/275
`
`5,724,909 A * 3/1998 Pitman etal. ......... .. 362/559
`5,777,266 A * 7/1998 Herman et al. ..
`104/275
`5,785,404 A * 7/1998 Wiese ............... .. 362/555
`6,231,206 B1 * 5/2001 Hervey etal.
`362/559
`6,270,236 B1 * 8/2001 Brussog .................... .. 362/249
`
`(21) Appl NO . 09/721 791
`
`.
`
`..
`
`,
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Nov. 22, 2000
`
`* Cited by examiner
`
`Related US. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/213,951, ?led on Jun. 21,
`2000-
`(51) Int. c1.7 ................................................ .. E01B 7/28
`(52) US. Cl. ..................................................... .. 104/275
`(58) Field of Search ............................... .. 104/275, 277,
`104/279, 295; 174/97; 116/200, 202; 362/555,
`559, 31, 249
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1,838,746 A 12/1931 Day
`
`Primary Examiner—S. Joseph Morano
`Assistant Examiner—Lars A. Olson
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—ToWnsend and Townsend
`and Crew LLP
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A cable crossover/protector that comprises illumination as
`an integral part of its structure to Warn of its presence. The
`crossover/protector may include an element to sense When
`current is being carried by the cables it is protecting to
`activate the illumination.
`
`28 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`Page 1 of 8
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`ELASCO EX. 1005
`Elasco v. Checkers
`U.S. Patent No. 7,943,851
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 31, 2002
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`Sheet 1 0f 4
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`US 6,499,410 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 31, 2002
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`US 6,499,410 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 31, 2002
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 31, 2002
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`US 6,499,410 B1
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`1
`CROSSOVER/PROTECTOR WITH WARNING
`LIGHT
`
`This application claims bene?t of Provisional application
`No. 60/213,951 ?led Jun. 21, 2000.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention is related generally to a protective
`crossover unit to protect cables and the like that may need
`to be placed across foot and vehicular traf?c, and more
`particularly to a protective crossover having integral illumi
`nation.
`Often, at construction sites, movie ?lm-making locations,
`sporting events, factories and other such venues, there is a
`need to eXtend electrical poWer, air and/or Water lines across
`WalkWays, roads, paths, and other avenues of travel. This
`need poses a haZard to both those Who may need to cross
`over such lines and to the lines themselves. This need is Well
`knoWn in the prior art, and there are a number of solutions,
`such as that apparatus taught by US. Pat. No. 5,095,822.
`One problem With many of the prior art crossovers is the
`lack of Warning other than the physical presence of the unit
`itself. Some prior art devices do suggest adding ?ags to the
`ends of their units (see e.g., US. Pat. Nos. 3,888,186, and
`2,166,516) in order to provide an indication of the Width and
`location of the unit, but this does nothing When ambient light
`is loW or non-existent. One of the documents (US. Pat. No.
`2,166,516) suggests replacing the ?ags With some form of
`illumination, but this Works only if the illumination is
`available and there is poWer for it.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention is a protective crossover unit for
`electrical cables, air lines, and other utility lines With illu
`mination integral thereWith that may lay on or across a
`traveled surface such as a WalkWay, a road, a ?oor (indoor
`or outdoor), a stage (also indoor or outdoor) or the like. The
`invention provides ef?cient and effective protection for the
`article over Which it forms a bridge-like structure, as Well as
`providing notice of the presence of Whatever the crossover
`unit overlies.
`Broadly, one embodiment of the invention comprises
`crossover unit construction having a mat-like structure With
`ramps formed on opposing side edges. The crossover unit
`includes u-shaped channels formed to receive the cables and
`utility lines it Will protect. A cover is generally hinged to the
`unit at one of the group of channels that lifts to eXpose the
`channels, and closes to cover the electrical and/or utility
`lines placed in the channels.
`The crossover unit includes illumination as a part of its
`construction. Preferably, the illumination is a number of
`light emitting diodes (LEDs) operated by an electronic
`circuit that is poWered by a source of AC or DC poWer. In
`an alternate embodiment of the invention an electromagnetic
`pickup is used to provide a signal indicative of Whether or
`not the cables laid in the channels are carrying poWer. The
`signal is used to turn on the illumination carried by the
`crossover unit and to possibly provide a source of poWer for
`the illumination.
`Other aspects and advantages of the invention Will
`become apparent to those skilled in this art upon a reading
`of the folloWing description of the speci?c embodiments of
`the invention, Which should be taken in conjunction With the
`accompanying draWings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a perspective vieW of the protective crossover
`unit of the present invention;
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`45
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`60
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`2
`FIG. 2 is a perspective partially exploded vieW of the
`protective crossover unit of FIG. 1 With the top cover
`removed to shoW the U-shaped channels that Will receive the
`cables and shoWing the encapsulated LEDs and the recesses
`formed to receive them;
`FIG. 3 is another perspective vieW of the protective
`crossover unit of FIG. 1, shoWing the recesses formed in the
`underside thereof; and
`FIG. 4 is a vieW of the crossover unit of the present
`invention, partly in phantom, illustrating certain of the
`electrical aspects of the invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC
`EMBODIMENTS
`Turning noW to the ?gures, and for the moment FIG. 1,
`there is illustrated, generally identi?ed With the reference
`numeral 10, a protective crossover unit constructed accord
`ing to the teachings of the present invention. As FIG. 1
`shoWs, the crossover unit 10 includes a body member 14 and
`a cover 16 that is preferably hingedly attached at its long
`side 18 to be lifted from its position shoWn in FIG. 1 to
`eXpose U-shaped channels 19 for receiving electrical, utility
`cables, gas lines, and the like.
`The sides of the crossover unit 10 are con?gured to form
`ramps 21 in Which are inlaid a number of illumination
`devices 22. Preferably, the illumination devices 22 are LEDs
`encapsulated in a resin or similar material, and shaped to be
`?ush With the surface of the ramps 21. As Will be seen,
`circuitry Within the body member 14 operates to control the
`illumination of the LEDs.
`The crossover unit 10 is constructed to form a section of
`a larger unit by joining them linearly together. For this
`purpose there is formed to eXtend from one end of the base
`member 14 a pair of attachment elements 26 con?gured to
`mateably engage and be held by similarly con?gured attach
`ment slots 28 of another similarly formed crossover unit 10.
`Using the attachment elements 26 of one crossover unit 10
`one can attach several units together to form a longer
`crossover system for runs of cables, utility lines, and the
`like.
`Turning noW to FIG. 2, the crossover unit 10 is shoWn
`With the cover 16 removed to shoW the U-shaped channels
`19 used to receive and contain the cables and lines to be
`protected. FIG. 2 also shoWs the encapsulated LEDs used
`and the illumination devices 22 and the recesses 23 formed
`in the ramp portions 21 of the body member 14. (Not shoWn
`to keep from unduly complicating the Figure, is the Wiring
`used to connect the LEDs to a source of electrical poWer.)
`FIG. 3 shoWs the underside of the body member 14,
`shoWing recesses 30 formed therein. The recesses may be
`used to house circuitry, poWer conversion apparatus,
`batteries, and other elements as may be needed to operate
`and/or control the illumination devices 22.
`FIG. 4 is a vieW of the crossover unit 10 in partial
`phantom to illustrate the electrical circuitry and other appa
`ratus housed in the body member 14 and used for operation
`of the illumination devices 22. ShoWn is the electrical Wiring
`32 used to connect the illumination devices 22 and the
`electronic control circuitry 34. Associated With the control
`circuitry 34 is a battery 36 Which could be the sole source of
`poWer for the illumination devices. PoWer to the illumina
`tion devices may be sWitched by a rocker sWitch 40 situated
`in one of the channels 19. Alternatively, a plunger sWitch
`may be placed on the body member 14 to close When the
`cover 16 (FIG. 1) is closed over the channels 19 and the
`cables it may contain, to thereby close or complete an
`
`Page 6 of 8
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`US 6,499,410 B1
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`3
`electrical circuit that applies power to the illumination
`devices 22. Another alternative could be to use a Hall effect
`sWitch, a Reed sWitch, or other type sensing device that
`Would sense closure of the cover 16 to sWitch poWer to the
`illumination devices 22. Yet another alternative is a photo
`diode that Would be placed to sense the darkening of the day
`to sWitch poWer to the illumination devices When the ambi
`ent light drops to some predetermined level.
`FIG. 4 also shoWs an electromagnetic strip 38 (or other
`current sensing device) placed to underlie or otherWise be in
`close proximity With any electrical cables held Within the
`channels 19. The electromagnetic strip 38 then operates to
`sense When electrical current is being carried by the elec
`trical cables in the channels 19 for activating the illumina
`tion devices 22. Circuitry in the control circuity 34 Would
`receive a presence-of-current indication provided by the
`electromagnetic strip 38, and respond thereto to apply poWer
`to the illumination devices 22. The electromagnetic strip
`may also be constructed to draW electrical poWer from the
`electrical cables by induction, as described more fully
`beloW.
`Also shoWn in FIG. 4 are female and male connector parts
`44, 46, respectively, for AC poWer connections. Preferably,
`the connectors are conventional U-ground plugs (male and
`female). In use, the crossover units 10 Would be connected
`together as described above, using as many individual ones
`of the units interconnected as needed. When so connected,
`an end one of the units Would connect to an extension poWer
`cord (not shoWn) via its male connector 44 With the female
`end of the poWer cord, in turn, connecting to an AC or DC
`source. The female connector 46 Would connect to a male
`connector 44 of an adjoining unit 10 thereby supplying AC
`poWer to it. The remaining units Would be similarly con
`nected so that all are supplied With the AC or DC poWer.
`As indicated above, the illumination devices 22 are pref
`erably encapsulated LEDs for the reason that LEDs avail
`able today provide ef?cient lighting With little poWer con
`sumption. When encapsulated, they are durable and virtually
`indestructible. HoWever, it Will be evident to those skilled in
`this art that other types of illumination devices may be used,
`such as halogen, incandescent, ?ber optics, or illumination
`devices that use ballast adapters, converters or other poWer
`conversion apparatus such as neon lighting devices, elec
`troluminescent lighting or ?uorescent lighting.
`In an alternate embodiment of the invention, tWo or more
`LEDs are included in each encapsulation of the illumination
`devices 22. The LEDs Would be of different colors, and
`separately activatable so that one or another of the LEDs
`Would light. Further, the LEDs may be activated by a sWitch
`located on the crossover unit 10, or by remote control, using
`a hand held transmitter of one type or another. For eXample,
`an amber and a red colored LED may be included in the
`encapsulation of each of the illumination devices 22. The
`amber LED Would be activated to bring attention to the
`crossover unit 10, indicating that caution should be used in
`the vicinity. Then, to signal a different condition of one sort
`or another, the amber colored LED of the illumination
`devices 22 Would have poWer sWitched from them to the
`associated red colored LED. Of course, control over Which
`colored LED is selected to be poWered is made by the
`control circuit 34 in response to either a manual sWitch
`selection or, as indicated, a remote signal.
`An alternative to using the tWo separate LEDs, one amber,
`one red, is to use conventional bi-colored red and amber
`LEDs or any other color combination that may suit the
`situation. Also, the LEDs can be located to spell a Word (e. g.,
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`“caution”); an array of LEDs may be used With appropriate
`electronics to selectively activate predetermined ones of the
`LEDs to spell one or another of a number of Words.
`Preferably, the body member 14 is made of a hard rubber
`material, While the cover 16 is a hard plastic or similar
`material, although either could be made of any material
`suf?ciently sturdy for the intended use. Also, the illumina
`tion devices could be controlled or otherWise manipulated to
`?ash or chase in various in sequences to draW attention to the
`presence of protective crossover unit 10—particularly in loW
`light situations.
`Although a full and complete disclosure of the invention
`has been made, it Will be evident to those skilled in this art
`that various modi?cations and alterations are possible. For
`eXample, the cover 16 need not necessarily be hingedly
`attached to the base member 14. Rather, it could be con?g
`ured to be set in place or to be slid into place, using
`appropriately con?gured grooves formed in the base mem
`ber 14. Further, the battery 36 could be used as a battery
`backup With supplied AC or DC poWer in the event the AC
`or DC is lost or not available. An on-board battery charger
`may be incorporated to charge the battery from the available
`AC or DC poWer. Also, solar poWer can be used to poWer the
`LEDs of the illumination devices 22 and to charge the
`battery 36.
`In addition, electroluminescent panels may be used in
`place of the LEDs. The panels Would be placed so as to be
`?ush in the ramp portions 21, and the ramp portions could
`be con?gured to receive overlays that Would be backlit by
`the electroluminescent panels. The overlays could carry
`Warnings, such as “caution,” either in negative or positive
`letters. Further, the cover 16 may be constructed to carry
`LEDs or an electroluminescent panel in addition to, or
`instead of, those carried by the ramp portions 21. The cover
`16 may also be formed to contain the operating electronics
`(e.g., the electromagnetic 38 or other sensing device etc.).
`Finally, the body member 14 is shoWn With upWard opening
`U-shaped channels 19. The channels could be doWnWard
`facing so that the body member merely need be placed over
`cables lying on a ground surface, in effect, forming a
`protective bridge that both protects and serves notice of the
`presence of What is bridged by the invention.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A protective crossover unit for a utility line laying on
`a traveled surface, comprising
`a body member having a pair of opposed ramp portions
`constructed to form a protective bridge for the utility
`line, each of the ramp portions having inclined sur
`faces; and
`an electrically poWered illumination element formed in
`the body member operating to indicate presence of the
`crossover unit When illuminated.
`2. The crossover unit of claim 1, Wherein the utility line
`is a poWer line, the crossover unit including a sense element
`situated to sense the presence of electrical current in the
`poWer line to activate the illumination element.
`3. The crossover unit of claim 1, the body member having
`a channel formed therein betWeen the ramp portions to
`receive the utility line, and a cover con?gured to overlie the
`channel.
`4. The crossover unit of claim 1, Wherein the cover is
`hingedly connected to the body member.
`5. The crossover unit of claim 1, Wherein the illumination
`element includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).
`6. The crossover unit of claim 5, Wherein at least a ?rst
`number of the plurality of light emitting diodes are situated
`in the ramp portions.
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`Page 7 of 8
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`US 6,499,410 B1
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`5
`7. The crossover unit of claim 1, wherein the illumination
`element is a plurality of LED pairs, each of the LED pairs
`displaying a color different from that of the other of the LED
`pairs When activated.
`8. The crossover unit of claim 1, Wherein the illumination
`element is a plurality of bi-colored LEDs.
`9. The crossover unit of claim 2, Wherein the sense
`element is an Electro-magnetic sensor.
`10. The crossover unit of claim 1, Wherein the body
`member has opposing end portions formed and con?gured to
`engage end portions of other crossover units for an end-to
`end formation of crossover units.
`11. The crossover unit of claim 3, including a sWitch
`having a ?rst sWitch position for applying electrical poWer
`to the crossover unit and a second sWitch position for
`Withholding electrical poWer from the crossover unit.
`12. The crossover unit of claim 11, Wherein the sWitch is
`located to detect presence of the cover overlying the chan
`nel.
`13. The crossover unit of claim 12, Wherein the sWitch is
`a rocker sWitch.
`14. The crossover unit of claim 3, including a sWitch in
`the form of a Hall effect device to sense presence of the
`cover in its overlying position to apply electrical poWer to
`the illumination element.
`15. A crossover unit for overlaying at least portions of
`utility lines, including electrical lines, Water lines, and gas
`lines, comprising
`a body member having at least one channel formed to
`receive a utility line, the body member having a pair of
`opposed ramp portions adjacent the channel, each of
`the ramp porions having inclined surfaces;
`a cover element adapted to overlay the channel;
`an electrical illumination element formed in the body
`member operating to indicate presence of the cable
`protector When illuminated.
`16. The crossover unit of claim 15, including a sWitch
`element for activating the illumination element.
`17. The crossover unit of claim 16, Wherein the sWitch
`element is a rocker sWitch.
`18. The crossover unit of claim 16, Wherein the sWitch
`element includes an electro-magnetic sensing element to
`sense electrical current in the cable received by the channel.
`19. The crossover unit of claim 15, Wherein the body
`member includes opposing ends shaped and con?gured to
`engaging matching ends of another cable protector to join
`them together.
`20. The cable protector of claim 15, Wherein the illumi
`nation element is a plurality of light-emitting diodes.
`21. The cable protector of claim 15, Wherein the illumi
`nation element includes a plurality of light-emitting diode
`pairs, each of the diode pairs displaying a color different
`from that of the other pair When illuminated.
`22. The cable protector of claim 21, Wherein the each of
`the light-emitting diode pairs is capable of alternately dis
`playing a red color or an amber color When activated.
`
`1O
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`15
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`23. A protective crossover unit for a utility line laying on
`a traveled surface, comprising
`a body member having a pair of opposed ramp portions
`constructed to form a protective bridge for the utility
`line, each of the ramp portions having inclined sur
`faces;
`an illumination element formed in the body member
`operating to indicate presence of the crossover unit
`When illuminated; and
`a sWitch having a ?rst sWitch position for applying
`electrical poWer to the illumination element and a
`second sWitch position for Withholding electrical poWer
`from the crossover unit.
`24. Aprotective crossover unit for a poWer line laying on
`a traveled surface, comprising
`a body member having a pair of opposed ramp portions
`constructed to form a protective bridge for the utility
`line, each of the ramp portions having inclined sur
`faces;
`an illumination element formed in the body member
`operating to indicate presence of the crossover unit
`When illuminated; and
`a sense element situated to sense the presence of electrical
`current in the poWer line to activate the illumination
`element.
`25. Aprotective crossover unit for a poWer line laying on
`a traveled surface, comprising
`a body member having a pair of opposed ramp portions
`constructed to form a protective bridge for the utility
`line, each of the ramp portions having inclined sur
`faces;
`a plurality of bi-colored LEDs mounted in the body
`member and operating to indicate presence of the
`crossover unit When illuminated.
`26. A protective crossover unit for a utility line laying on
`a traveled surface, comprising
`a body member having a pair of opposed ramp portions
`constructed to form a protective bridge for the utility
`line, each of the ramp portions having inclined sur
`faces;
`an illumination element mounted in the body member
`operating to indicate presence of the crossover unit
`When illuminated; and
`an electronic circuit contained in the body member for
`selectively communicating electrical poWer to the illu
`mination element for producing illumination there
`from.
`27. The crossover unit of claim 26, Wherein the electronic
`circuit includes a source of the electrical poWer.
`28. The crossover unit of claim 27, Wherein the source is
`a battery.
`
`Page 8 of 8