CA1162739A - Warning sign for motor vehicle - Google Patents
Warning sign for motor vehicleInfo
- Publication number
- CA1162739A CA1162739A CA000410422A CA410422A CA1162739A CA 1162739 A CA1162739 A CA 1162739A CA 000410422 A CA000410422 A CA 000410422A CA 410422 A CA410422 A CA 410422A CA 1162739 A CA1162739 A CA 1162739A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sign
- lid
- bar
- vehicle
- edge
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 244000186140 Asperula odorata Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000008526 Galium odoratum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000004308 accommodation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000019988 mead Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002985 plastic film Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F21/00—Mobile visual advertising
- G09F21/04—Mobile visual advertising by land vehicles
Landscapes
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
- Marketing (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Superstructure Of Vehicle (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The warning sign is composed of a sheet of rigid material which is pivotally attached to the inside wall of the lid of the rear trunk of the vehicle. When this lid is open the sign can be swung to a generally vertical position where it can be seen by motorists who are approaching the rear of the vehicle. The sign when not in use, is swung to a position adjacent to the inside wall of the lid and is secured in that position by means of a latch. The lid can be closed without hindrance from the sign when the sign is in the latter position.
The warning sign is composed of a sheet of rigid material which is pivotally attached to the inside wall of the lid of the rear trunk of the vehicle. When this lid is open the sign can be swung to a generally vertical position where it can be seen by motorists who are approaching the rear of the vehicle. The sign when not in use, is swung to a position adjacent to the inside wall of the lid and is secured in that position by means of a latch. The lid can be closed without hindrance from the sign when the sign is in the latter position.
Description
BACKGROUND.OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to safety devices for use with motor vehicles and more particularly to a warning sign intended for use by motorists whose vehicles are stopped on the shoulder of a highway. The sign when in use displays a message to oncoming motorists and when not in use is stored in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.
A motor vehicle which is stopped adjacent to a high-way constitutes a serious hazard to the safety of its passengers as well as to approaching motorists since the disabled vehicle may not be seen in time or the danger may not be properly assessed by approaching motorists. A number of warning devices have been devised whose purpose is to increase the visability of the stopped vehicle and to communicate some message to motorists in approaching vehicles.
Known warning signs take various forms. One such sign is in the form of a coloured plastic sheet which is stored on a roller when not in use. In use the sign is unrolled and attached to the open lid of the trunk of the vehicle. An example of such a warning sign is illustrated in U.S. patent 3,949,503 to Waress.
Another known warning sign is in the form of a flat sheet which is stored adjacent to the underside of the lid of the trunk when not in use and is moveable to a generally vertical position for use when the lid is open. The latter warning sign is described in U.S. patent 3,430,374 to Woodward. Other examples of similar warning signs are described in U.S. patents 2,671,423 to Mead, 4,192,090 to Seth, 3,594,938 to Mosch and 3,590,506 to Jeski.
The warning signs described in the foregoing patents have a number of shortcomings. Signs made of plastic or other material which is brittle in cold weather cannot be unrolled or unfolded from the position of stowage in winter without the risk 273~
of tearing or breaking them. Other known warning signs are relatively complicated of manufacture and assembly and tend to jam in use. Moreover~ such signs are relatively expensive.
SU~ARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a warning sign for a motor vehicle which is reliable in operation in both good and bad weather.
Another object of this invention is to provide a warning sign which is connected to a motor vehicle by means of hardware which is of standard construction and is readily available at modest cost.
These and other objects are accomplished by a warning sign for use in combination with a motor vehicle having a lid for a rear trunk. The lid has a forward edge which is pivotally mounted to the vehicle and a rear edge which is spaced apart from the vehicle when the rear trunk is open. The sign is disposed within the rear trunk and has a rear edge which is pivotally mounted adjacent to the rear edge of the lid, and a forward edge which is selectively moveable from a position of stowage adjacent to the lid to a position of display at which the forward edge is disposed adjacent to a rear edge of the vehicle. The emergency sign includes a bar which extends out-wardly from the forward edge of the sign; and a latch fastened to the lid adjacent to the forward edge of the sign when it is in a position of stowage. The latch has a catch for retaining the bar at the positon of stowage; the catch being selectively moveable for releasing the bar from the bar-retaining member to permit movement of the sign to the position of display.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
The invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of the warning sign of the invention in combination with the rear portion of a motor vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
.. ..
The warning sign of the invention indicated generally by the numeral 10 is shown in combination with a motor vehicle generally 12 having a lid 14 for a rear trunk 16. The lid has a forward edge 14a which is pivotally mounted to the mo-tor vehicle and a rear edge 14b which is spaced apart from the vehicle when the rear trunk is open.
The warning sign is disposed within the rear trunk and has a rear edge 10a which is pivotally mounted to a pair of spaced brackets 18 disposed adjacent to the rear edge 14b of the - lid. The brackets are disposed at opposite side edges of the sign, one being visible and the other hidden by the downwardly extending lip of the lid.
The forward edge 10b of the sign is selectively moveable from a position of stowage adjacent to the lid to a position of display at which the forward edge of the sign is disposed adjacent to a rear edge 20 of the motor vehicle. The sign is illustrated in a positon of stowage in solid lines in the drawing and is illustrated partially in broken lines in a position of display.
An L-shaped bar 22 is fastened to the forward edge 10b of the sign approximately midway of its side edges. The bar co-operates with two latches, one indicated 24 which is fastened to the inside wall of the lid and the other marked 26 which is fastened to the floor of the trunk adjacent to the rear 20 of ~ ~ 6~3~
, the vehicle.
The forward latch 24 is composed of a base 28 which is attached to the inside wall of the lid. A generally U-shaped member 30 extends generally at right angles from the base and is bifurcated at its upper end. A catch 32 is pivotally disposed to the upper end.
When the sign is in the position of stowage, the L-shaped bar 22 is disposed within the limks of the U-shaped member and is held therein by the catch. The catch is con-100 nected by means of a cord 36 to a ring 38 which is disposed at the downwardly extending lip of the lid. When the ring is pulled outwardly of the lip, the catch is caused to rotate sufficiently to permit the L-shaped bar to be removed from the latch. To facilitate removal, the bar is caused by resilient means such as a spring (not illustrated) to rotate or to move outwardly of the latch in the direction of arrow 40 toward the rear of the motor vehicle.
The rear latch 26 consists simply of an upstanding U-shaped member having a pair of limbs 42 between which is a 110 space for accommodation of bar 22. In order to fasten the sign to the rear latch, the sign is rotated downwardly until the bar is disposed above the latch. The bar is then inserted between the two limbs of the latch by rotation of the bar against the bias of the spring and at the same time the sign is forced downward to cause the bar to enter the space between the two limbs 42. Once in the space the sign will remain firmly in position until lt is lifted upward.
The outside face 44 of the sign may be imprinted with any appropriate words. The words, for example may be the 120 following:
7 ~3 ~
ASSIST. NEEDED
MEDICAL EMERG.
AUTO TROUBLE
If the sign is imprinted with more than one message, such as a sign imprinted with the words noted above, the sign must have provision for indicating which message applies. The sign may, for example, be provided with an electric light beside each separate message. Those lights may be activated by the battery of the motor vehicle and a switch may be provided for 130 selectively turning each light on and off. Alternatively, the warning sign may be provided with a plurality of electric lights connected to a console which permits selection of different pre-selected lights to spell out different messages.
It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in the preferred embodiment described herein with-out departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
This invention relates to safety devices for use with motor vehicles and more particularly to a warning sign intended for use by motorists whose vehicles are stopped on the shoulder of a highway. The sign when in use displays a message to oncoming motorists and when not in use is stored in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.
A motor vehicle which is stopped adjacent to a high-way constitutes a serious hazard to the safety of its passengers as well as to approaching motorists since the disabled vehicle may not be seen in time or the danger may not be properly assessed by approaching motorists. A number of warning devices have been devised whose purpose is to increase the visability of the stopped vehicle and to communicate some message to motorists in approaching vehicles.
Known warning signs take various forms. One such sign is in the form of a coloured plastic sheet which is stored on a roller when not in use. In use the sign is unrolled and attached to the open lid of the trunk of the vehicle. An example of such a warning sign is illustrated in U.S. patent 3,949,503 to Waress.
Another known warning sign is in the form of a flat sheet which is stored adjacent to the underside of the lid of the trunk when not in use and is moveable to a generally vertical position for use when the lid is open. The latter warning sign is described in U.S. patent 3,430,374 to Woodward. Other examples of similar warning signs are described in U.S. patents 2,671,423 to Mead, 4,192,090 to Seth, 3,594,938 to Mosch and 3,590,506 to Jeski.
The warning signs described in the foregoing patents have a number of shortcomings. Signs made of plastic or other material which is brittle in cold weather cannot be unrolled or unfolded from the position of stowage in winter without the risk 273~
of tearing or breaking them. Other known warning signs are relatively complicated of manufacture and assembly and tend to jam in use. Moreover~ such signs are relatively expensive.
SU~ARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a warning sign for a motor vehicle which is reliable in operation in both good and bad weather.
Another object of this invention is to provide a warning sign which is connected to a motor vehicle by means of hardware which is of standard construction and is readily available at modest cost.
These and other objects are accomplished by a warning sign for use in combination with a motor vehicle having a lid for a rear trunk. The lid has a forward edge which is pivotally mounted to the vehicle and a rear edge which is spaced apart from the vehicle when the rear trunk is open. The sign is disposed within the rear trunk and has a rear edge which is pivotally mounted adjacent to the rear edge of the lid, and a forward edge which is selectively moveable from a position of stowage adjacent to the lid to a position of display at which the forward edge is disposed adjacent to a rear edge of the vehicle. The emergency sign includes a bar which extends out-wardly from the forward edge of the sign; and a latch fastened to the lid adjacent to the forward edge of the sign when it is in a position of stowage. The latch has a catch for retaining the bar at the positon of stowage; the catch being selectively moveable for releasing the bar from the bar-retaining member to permit movement of the sign to the position of display.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
The invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of the warning sign of the invention in combination with the rear portion of a motor vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
.. ..
The warning sign of the invention indicated generally by the numeral 10 is shown in combination with a motor vehicle generally 12 having a lid 14 for a rear trunk 16. The lid has a forward edge 14a which is pivotally mounted to the mo-tor vehicle and a rear edge 14b which is spaced apart from the vehicle when the rear trunk is open.
The warning sign is disposed within the rear trunk and has a rear edge 10a which is pivotally mounted to a pair of spaced brackets 18 disposed adjacent to the rear edge 14b of the - lid. The brackets are disposed at opposite side edges of the sign, one being visible and the other hidden by the downwardly extending lip of the lid.
The forward edge 10b of the sign is selectively moveable from a position of stowage adjacent to the lid to a position of display at which the forward edge of the sign is disposed adjacent to a rear edge 20 of the motor vehicle. The sign is illustrated in a positon of stowage in solid lines in the drawing and is illustrated partially in broken lines in a position of display.
An L-shaped bar 22 is fastened to the forward edge 10b of the sign approximately midway of its side edges. The bar co-operates with two latches, one indicated 24 which is fastened to the inside wall of the lid and the other marked 26 which is fastened to the floor of the trunk adjacent to the rear 20 of ~ ~ 6~3~
, the vehicle.
The forward latch 24 is composed of a base 28 which is attached to the inside wall of the lid. A generally U-shaped member 30 extends generally at right angles from the base and is bifurcated at its upper end. A catch 32 is pivotally disposed to the upper end.
When the sign is in the position of stowage, the L-shaped bar 22 is disposed within the limks of the U-shaped member and is held therein by the catch. The catch is con-100 nected by means of a cord 36 to a ring 38 which is disposed at the downwardly extending lip of the lid. When the ring is pulled outwardly of the lip, the catch is caused to rotate sufficiently to permit the L-shaped bar to be removed from the latch. To facilitate removal, the bar is caused by resilient means such as a spring (not illustrated) to rotate or to move outwardly of the latch in the direction of arrow 40 toward the rear of the motor vehicle.
The rear latch 26 consists simply of an upstanding U-shaped member having a pair of limbs 42 between which is a 110 space for accommodation of bar 22. In order to fasten the sign to the rear latch, the sign is rotated downwardly until the bar is disposed above the latch. The bar is then inserted between the two limbs of the latch by rotation of the bar against the bias of the spring and at the same time the sign is forced downward to cause the bar to enter the space between the two limbs 42. Once in the space the sign will remain firmly in position until lt is lifted upward.
The outside face 44 of the sign may be imprinted with any appropriate words. The words, for example may be the 120 following:
7 ~3 ~
ASSIST. NEEDED
MEDICAL EMERG.
AUTO TROUBLE
If the sign is imprinted with more than one message, such as a sign imprinted with the words noted above, the sign must have provision for indicating which message applies. The sign may, for example, be provided with an electric light beside each separate message. Those lights may be activated by the battery of the motor vehicle and a switch may be provided for 130 selectively turning each light on and off. Alternatively, the warning sign may be provided with a plurality of electric lights connected to a console which permits selection of different pre-selected lights to spell out different messages.
It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in the preferred embodiment described herein with-out departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (3)
1. In combination with a motor vehicle having a lid for a rear trunk which lid has a forward edge which is pivotally mounted to said vehicle and a rear edge which is spaced apart from said vehicle when said rear trunk is open; a warning sign disposed within said rear trunk and having a rear edge which is pivotally mounted adjacent to the rear edge of the trunk, said sign has a forward edge which is selectively moveable from a position of stowage adjacent to said lid to a position of dis-play at which said forward edge is disposed adjacent to a rear edge of said vehicle; a bar extending outwardly from the forward edge of said sign; and a latch fastened to said lid adjacent to the forward edge of said sign in the positon of stowage, said latch having a catch for retaining said bar at the position of stowage, said catch being selectively moveable for releasing said bar from said bar-retaining member to permit movement of said sign to the position of display.
2. The combination as claimed in Claim 1 further including a handle disposed adjacent to the rear edge of said lid and interconnected with said catch such that said bar-retaining member can be caused to release said bar by manipulation of the handle.
3. The combination as claimed in Claim 1 further including a second bar-retaining member disposed adjacent to the rear edge of said vehicle and arranged and constructed to removably retain said bar and thereby to maintain the sign in the position of display.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000410422A CA1162739A (en) | 1982-08-30 | 1982-08-30 | Warning sign for motor vehicle |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000410422A CA1162739A (en) | 1982-08-30 | 1982-08-30 | Warning sign for motor vehicle |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1162739A true CA1162739A (en) | 1984-02-28 |
Family
ID=4123502
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000410422A Expired CA1162739A (en) | 1982-08-30 | 1982-08-30 | Warning sign for motor vehicle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1162739A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN111688575A (en) * | 2020-06-02 | 2020-09-22 | 上海海洋大学 | Motor-driven device for placing automobile emergency reflective warning board |
-
1982
- 1982-08-30 CA CA000410422A patent/CA1162739A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN111688575A (en) * | 2020-06-02 | 2020-09-22 | 上海海洋大学 | Motor-driven device for placing automobile emergency reflective warning board |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |