US2033024A - Highway signal - Google Patents

Description

- March 3, 1936. J. H. BURDEN HIGHWAY SIGNAL Filed April 23, 1935 JQPPEMIZflWdGIL Patented Mar. 3, 1936 p v 2,033,024

UNITED. STATES PTENT HIGHWAY SIGNAL Jarrett Hiram Burden, Mount vernon, llll., as-

signor of one-half to Claude C. Hall, Mount Vernon, Ill.

Application April 23, 1935, Serial No. 17,871

4 Claims. (01.40-125) This invention relates to a signal device for be otherwise shaped to facilitate erection of the use on highways to indicate to approaching trafllc signal device at the point of use. The stem 6 is that an obstruction, such as a parked car, men so shaped that when in one extreme position it at work, etc. is located a short distance ahead. will rest within the sleeve 2 and aline with the Many accidents have been caused by the enpintle l and when in its other extreme position it forced parking of vehicles on highways, particuwill be folded so as to extend along the pintle as larly at night and it is designed to provide a signal shown by dottedlines in Figure 1. especially useful to motorists who desire to warn Sleeve 2, which is joined to the pintle, can be approaching tramc that a car is parked ahead. made integral with one edge portion of a wing 9- 10 A further object is to provide a signal device formed preferably of asuitably shaped metal plate 10 which can befolded compactly and thus easily and this wing can be provided with additional transported in a vehicle, it being possible to quickshorter sleeves Ill spaced apart and also joined to 1y unfold the device and set it up for use. the pintle l. Another wing I I preferably of the A still further object is to provide the signal same shape and material as the wing it isprodevice with indicating characters such as letters vided with sleeves l2 rotatably mounted on the or the like formed preferably of reflectors so that p ntle 5 between t e Sleeves 0 and 2 50 t at the they will be clearly legible when illuminated by two wings are thus hingedly connected and can the headlights of an approaching vehicle. fold one upon the other. A spring i3 is prefer- A still further object is to provide a signal deably coiled about a portion of the pintle and has vice one surface of which can be utilized for holdits terminals 4 xt nd d n pp sit d rect ons 20 ing advertising matter so that the complete deand bearing agains the re pe iv win s o as to vice, which can be inexpensively manufactured hold them normally sprea apart and ncan thus be distributed either free, or at a, very tiallyin alinement, their relative movement under low cost, because ofits advertising value. the a ti n f th p g being t p d yth With the foregoing and other objects in view in s comi to et er at t ose edges from which 25 which will appear as the description proceeds, the Sleeves a ext dedthe invention consists of certain novel details of When the Wings are folded together the Sp n construction and combinations of parts hereinw e P d under increased tension d ey after more fully described and pointed out in the be held folded by means of a pivoted p l5 39 claims, it being understood that changes may be conne e to One Of the Plates and adapted to be made in the construction and arrangement of swung into position so as straddle both p ates parts without departing from the spirit of the inw n brought together folded s n Figures 2 vention as claimed. and 3.

In th accompanying drawing t preferred Arranged on those faces of the wings or plates form of the invention has been shown 9 and l l which are adapted to be folded together, 35

In said drawing is any suitable arrangement of characters which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the signal device can be in the form of s, fi es orsymbols. opened for use. In the drawing there have been shown letters Figure 2 is an elevation showing the same colcomprising the Words p d nd these 40 lapsed or folded for convenient storage. ette s a e formed f buttons containing 40 Figure. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3 a, flectors and of any suitable color so that when the Figure 2. headlight of an approaching vehicle is directed Figure 4 is an enlarged section on line H, -against the open signal device the letters formed Figure 1. by the buttons will become illuminated and can be Referring to the figures by characters of refer readily deciphered by the approaching motorist. 45 ence, I designates a pintle in the form of a rod For the purpose of lightening the device slots one end of which is formed with a sleeve-like ex- I! can be formed in the wings and these slots tension 2 having a longitudinal slot 3 from the are also advantageous because they permit light sides of which extend ears 4. Supported in this rays to pass in either direction through the signal slotted portion of the sleeve with one end pivotally device to serve as a warning. v 50 connected to the ears as indicated at 5, is astem Normally the signal device is folded as shown 6 having an intermediate ofiset portion 1 proin Figures 2 and 3. Thus itcan be conveniently viding a step or foot piece while the free end of carried in a vehicle because of the small space this stem is preferably pointed as shown at 8 alwhich it will occupy.

though it is to he understood that said end can Should a situation develop wherein it becomes 55 desirable to set up the signal device to warn of approaching danger, it merely becomes necessary to shift the clip l5 so as to release the plates or wings and permit them to swing open under the action of spring I3. ,Stem 6 is then swung retained in extended position. After the parts have thus been adjusted the stem is forced into the surface of theroad or into any suitable supporting member resting thereon. To facilitate the erection of the signal the offset portion I has been provided so that a foot of the user can be employed for exerting downward pressure upon the stem.

After the signal device has served its purpose and its use is no longer necessary it can be quickly collapsed or folded as heretofore explained and stored. for future use.

.As has already been stated those surfaces of the wings opposite the ones on which the buttons l6 are displayed can be made fiat so that suitable display matter for advertising purposes can be applied thereto. v

The slots [1 not only have the advantage heretofore stated but also reduce wind resistance so that the danger of the signal being blown down is reduced greatly.

What is claimed is: 1. 'A signal device of the class described including hlngedly connected wings foldable one upon the other, an indicator carried by the wings, a spring placed under tension by the folding of the wings, a ground engaging supportingstem joined thereto and foldable into position therebetween, means for detachably holding the wings in folded position, said spring constituting means for automatically moving the wings apart when relieved from the restraining action ofthe holding means and means for stopping the relative movement of the wings when brought into alinement;

2. A signal device of the class described including hlngedly connected wings, a stem hingedly connected thereto and foldable therebetween,

means for holding the stem against accidental displacement when inextreme unfolded position, means for holding the wings folded together, means for automatically moving the wings apart when released from the restraining action of said holding means, and a reflecting indicator carried by the wings and adapted to be exposed by the unfolding of the wings.

3. A signal device including hingedlyconnected wings, a'n indicating means thereon adapted to be exposed when the wings'ar'e unfolded, means for holding the wings folded together, means for automatically unfolding the wings to expose the indicating means when the wings are released from the restraining action of the holding means, a supporting stem hingedly connected to the wings and foldable therebetween to one extreme position and movable therefrom to its other extreme or wing supporting position, and a clip gripping means for holding the stem in the last named position against accidental displacement.

4. A signal device including hingedly connected wings, an indicating means thereon adapted, to

be exposed when the wings are unfolded, meansfor holding the wings folded together, means for automatically unfolding the wings to expose the indicating means when the wings are released from the restraining action of the holding means,

a supporting stem hingedly connected to the wings and foldable therebetween to one extreme position and movable therefrom to its other extreme or wing supporting position, a clip gripping means.

for holding the stem-in the last named position against accidental displacement and'a step upon the" stem. i I

. JARBE'I'I HIRAM; BURDEN.

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