At a glance
| Patent number | CN114937407B (application CN202210662553) |
| Type | China invention patent (发明专利) - protects product shape, structure and method |
| Original title | Suspension type distribution equipment safety warning device (一种悬挂式配电设备安全警示装置) |
| Patent owner | Handan Power Supply Co of State Grid Hebei Electric Power Co Ltd, State Grid Corp of China |
| Inventors | Yao Jinjian, Chen Xiaoliang, Kang Wenqiang, Zheng Yi, Cui Chenglong, Feng Jiaze, Liu Pengfei, Liu Jieyan |
| Filing date | 2022-06-13 |
| Grant date | 2024-03-26 |
| Status (China) | In force in China until at most 2042-06-13 (if annual fees are paid) |
| Patent family | Chinese filings only - no US, European, Japanese, PCT or other filings listed |
| Cited by | 0 later documents |
| Source | Google Patents (search for CN114937407B) |
What the claims cover, in plain language
Claim 1 defines the core device: a slat assembly forming a triangle from a first plate, second plate, and third plate connected by rotating shafts. A bolt fixes the first and third plates together. A suspension piece at the top has a dumbbell-shaped chute in its center holding a positioning rod that screws into the first plate, plus side hangers. A flexible LED board made of segments linked by shafts mounts on the back via movable bars. Inside the first plate’s groove, at least two rotating slats pivot on shafts, each carrying a different welded symbol at its bottom. The slats have an electroplated magnetic layer to hold them inside the groove.
Claim 2 specifies the dumbbell-shaped chute as a bar groove with slotted holes at both ends for inserting the positioning rod or hanging items. Claim 3 details the side hangers, which rotate and flip into preset grooves on the suspension piece. Claim 4 describes a recess at the bottom center of the third plate with a threaded hole for the positioning rod, matching the suspension piece’s width.
This is a simplified reading for orientation only. The legal scope is defined by the exact claim wording in the official Chinese document.
What this means for US production
This patent was filed only in China and is currently in force in China until at most 2042-06-13 (if annual fees are paid). It has no US or other foreign counterpart. However, making or selling this exact device in China needs the owner’s permission while the patent remains in force.
Two points to settle early:
- Other patents may exist. Electrical safety signage and lockout/tagout devices are covered by various US and international standards and patents. While no foreign patents cite this specific Chinese document, a freedom-to-operate (FTO) review is recommended before manufacturing to ensure the combination of a flexible LED board and mechanical rotating slats does not overlap with existing US utility or design patents in the electrical safety field.
- LED electrical ratings. The flexible LED board operates near power distribution equipment. The voltage, current, and insulation specifications for the LED segments and wiring must be defined early to meet industrial safety requirements.
Customization and manufacturing
What can be customized
| Area | Options |
|---|---|
| Plate dimensions | Length and width of the three plates to scale the triangle size |
| Materials | Aluminum, stainless steel, or engineering plastics for the plates and slats |
| Symbols | Custom prompt symbols welded or fastened to the bottom of the rotating slats |
| LED specifications | Color, brightness, and segment count of the flexible LED board |
| Magnetic strength | Thickness and grade of the electroplated magnetic layer on the slats |
| Finish | Powder coating, anodizing, or reflective tape application for outdoor visibility |
| Chute profile | Dimensions of the dumbbell-shaped chute to fit specific positioning rods |
Things to plan for (US market)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.145 - specifications for accident prevention signs and tags used around electrical equipment in general industry.
- ANSI Z535 - the American standard series for safety signs, colors, and symbols, which dictates the format of the prompt symbols on the rotating slats.
- NFPA 70E - standard for electrical safety in the workplace, governing how warning devices are deployed during maintenance.
- Power source and outdoor rating - the patent does not say how the flexible LED board is powered; if a lithium battery pack is used, UN 38.3 and UL 2054 apply, and the ingress protection (IP) rating for outdoor substations is confirmed on prototypes.
How a project runs
- Inquiry - target dimensions, material preferences, LED requirements, and order volume.
- Design - engineering the plate profiles, shaft tolerances, chute geometry, and magnetic layer thickness.
- Prototype - machining sample plates, assembling the triangle, testing the slat rotation, magnetic retention, and LED flexibility.
- Pilot run - producing a small batch for field trials, verifying ANSI Z535 symbol legibility and OSHA compliance.
- Production - stamping or extruding plates, electroplating slats, assembling LED segments, and final packaging.
Quantities & timeline
Manufacturing requires stamping dies or extrusion molds for the metal plates, precision tooling for the rotating shafts and dumbbell chutes, and custom jigs for welding the symbols to the slats. The flexible LED board needs specific assembly processes for linking the segments with shafts. Certification testing against ANSI Z535 and OSHA standards takes additional time once prototypes are finalized. Send us your size requirements, material choices, symbol designs, LED specifications, quantity and target price and we will reply with options.
Patent drawings
Drawings reproduced from the public patent document for reference.
