US2774323A

US2774323A - Audio road signal

Info

Publication number: US2774323A
Application number: US509139A
Authority: US
Inventors: Everett S Kirk
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-05-18
Filing date: 1955-05-18
Publication date: 1956-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1973-12-18

Description

Dec. 18, 1956 E. s. KIRK 2,774,323

AUDIO ROAD SIGNAL FiledMay 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 q f1 I /5 /4? 11 Fig l INVENTOR.

Dec. 18, 1956 E. s. KIRK 2,774,323

AUDIO ROAD SIGNAL Filed May 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIII'IIIIIIIII WJW IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent AUDIO ROAD SIGNAL Everett S. Kirk, Lima, Ohio Application May 18, 1955, Serial No. 509,139

6 Claims. (Cl. 116-63) Thisinvention relates to signals. 7

An object of this invention is to provide a device for imparting an audio warning signal to the occupant of a vehicle moving along a highway.

Another object of this invention is to provide an installationalong the approach to a dangerous or hazardous location which will automatically impart a warning signal to the occupant of a vehicle moving along the approach.

Another object of this invention is to provide a convincing audio signal to occupants of vehicles approaching hazardous locations.

And another object of this invention is to provide an audio signal of the type described wherein the active elements may readily be replaced.

Other objects and advantages of this invention relating to the arrangement, operation and functions of'the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction, to combination of parts and to economies of manufacture, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification whereinilike reference characters designate corresponding puts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a highway section incorporating an installation of a signal device of the type herein disclosed;

Fig. 2 is a view on the line II-II, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the finger or striker elements of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a fragmentary section of the base plate;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a modified manner of assembly for the parts;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of a finger or striker element;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a section of a signal device incorporating strikers of the type shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view on the line VIIIVIII, Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the method of mounting one of the strikers on to the base plate.

It is a wellknown fact that signal lights placed adjacent the approach of a hazardous condition on the highway are not always eit'ective, due to inattention, weather, or even drowsiness of a vehicle operator. It is also an accepted fact that drivers of vehicles, when approaching intersections, repair sections or other hazardous locations, must be warned in ample time to collect their wits for a safe conduit through the hazardous areas. This is not only for the protection of the driver, and possibly other occupants of his vehicle, but for the safety of other vehicles which might be simultaneously operating within the same area. To this end there is herein described a device which is placed in the normal path of a vehicle approaching a hazardous location, and which will be "ice 2 struck by the vehicle in its approach thereto, which device in turn will impart a distinctive and convincing racket or noise within the vehicle as a warning to the operator. The device is so designed as to operate on all vehicles asno attachment to the vehicle is needed.

A typical installation is herein shown (Fig. 1), where in a channel member 10 is provided with opposing flanges 12 and connecting web 14, and has the flanges 12 embedded in a highway 16 so that the web 14 is disposed longitudinally along the normal path of a vehicle 18 traveling such highway.

The web 14 is provided with a series of spaced seats 20 therealong. In each seat 20 there is disposed a striker element having a base portion 22, from which an integral finger 24 extends upwardly therefrom. The base 22 is dimensioned to snugly fit within a seat 20 and may be locked therein as by having tongue 26 fixed to the channel 10 extending into a seat 28 formed in the base 22 of the striker element. The fingers or striker portion 24 are of a length to extend upwardly from the highway 16 to a height sufficiently to be struck by the vehicle 18 passing thereover. Such striker element may engage the bumper 30 or any other portion of the vehicle. The striker elements 24, being placed in a spaced series along the path of the vehicle travel, and being successively struck by the vehicle, will cause a distinct and convincing racket or noise within the car body. This sound is of such a startling intensity that the operator of the vehicle will be alerted to the fact that he is approaching a hazardous location.

The

striker elements

22, 24 may be constructed in a manner similar to the carcass of a vehicle tire, including a highly vulcanized rubber body impregnated with a fabric reinforcement or other materials. This durable construction will withstand continuous collisions, and should have a long life, even on the more busy thoroughfares.

However, it may be necessary from time to time to replace the striker elements in the base 10, and to this end detents 32 may be formed in the web 14 of the channel 10, adjacent the seats 20, so that a suitable toolmay be used to pry the worn striker element from its seat. In some instances it may be desirable to provide additional locking means for the striker elements, and to this end the base portions 22 thereof may be seated in the highway 16 with the upper face of the base portions 22 flush with the under side of the web 14, and a separate locking plate 34 pressed into the seat 20 (Fig. 5).

The striker elements may assume various forms and various methods of assembly used to seat them in the base plate 10. To this end a modified striker is herein shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, and a method of assembly of this form with the base plate is illustrated in Fig. 9. In this modified construction the web 14 of the base channel is provided with a series of spaced circular seats 40. The striker elements are molded to provide a bulbous body 42 having a circumferential groove 44 thereabout dividing the body 42 into an upper zone portion 46 and a lower zone portion 48. The striker finger 50 extends upwardly from the upper zone portions 46 and is integral therewith. This finger 5t likewise has an extent suiticiently to be engaged by some part of a vehicle passing thereover. 7'

In order to facilitate the mounting of this latter form of striker element on to the base plate, the finger 50 is of tubular form having an axial passageway 52 extending longitudinally therethrough and continuing through the upper zone portion 46 of the body 42 and partially through the lower zone portion 48. This construction permits the insertion of a rod 54 as part of a mounting tool 56. The rod 54 extending in the passageway 52 may 48 asthis lower zone portion is positioned adjacent one of the circular seats 40. The tool 56 is pressed thereagainst and the lower zone portion'48 will be distorted and forced through the seat 40, and having passed through the seat 40 the pressure on the tool 56 is released and the lower zone portion 48 will assume its normal shape and thereby lock this latter described striker element to the base plate in a grommet-like'fashion. t ,7

' These striker elements may be molded from rubber or other-like material which is sufficiently strong to Withstand the continuous striking action from vehicles passing thereover, and yet be flexible enough so that the vehicles will not be marred or otherwise damaged. The number of striker elementsemployed inone signal may vary to meet predetermined requirements for intensity of the signal to be imparted to the vehicle. This intensity may also be regulated as by rotating the striker elements relatively to their mounting 'so that rectangular cross-sectional str'iker shapes may receive the vehicle contact facewise or edge-wise.

be pressed against the'interior of the lower zone Portion 2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said body comprises a bulbular section having a circumferential groove thereabout and a tubular extension therefrom 3. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said body comprises a bulbular section having a circumferential groove thereabout dividing said body. into an upper zone zone, said extension having its axial clearway continuing and a lower zone, and a tubular extension from said upper through the upper zone and partially through the lower zone. t

4. in a device for imparting an audio signalito the occupant of a vehicle moving along a highway, a'channelmember provided with flanges and a connecting iweb, said channel havingits'flanges embedded longitudinally in said highway, a series of spaced seats along said web,

flexible elements embodying base portions in said seats, 1

I said base portions having fingers upwardly extending It is to be understood that the above description of t the present invention is intended to disclose an embodi ment thereof to those skilled in the art, but thatthe invention is not to be construed as limited in its application to, the details of construction and arrangement of parts.

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. The language used in-the specification relating to the operation and function of the elements of the invention is employed for purposes of description and not element longitudinally extending along and aflixed to the highway, saidbase element provided with a series of seats therealong, a compressible body interlocked in' each seat and an integral flexible finger upwardly extending from said body. 1

therefrom to a height suflicienttto be struck by the vehicle portions in said seats. I t

5. In 'a device for imparting an audio signal to the passing thereover, and'means for snap locking's'aid base occupant'ofa vehicle moving along'a highway, achannel memberprovided withvfianges and a connecting wc b, saidchannel having its flanges embedded longitudinally in said highway, a series'of s'pacedseats along said web,

flexible,elements'embodying base portions to be inserted into said seats, said base portionsthaving fingers upwardly extending therefrom, thebase portions and fingers em-' bodyin'g a rubber-like body, the flexible elements include ing a base portion to register with said web seats, and withsaid fingersextending therefrom to a height sufiicientto be struck by a vehicle passing thereover, and means for locking said base portions in said seats. i

6, The'structure set forth in'claim 5 wherein the rub- V her-like body isj reinforced with fabric.

References lited in the file of this-patent V UNITED STATES'PATENTS 1,518, 16 Varnell Dec. 9, 1924' 1,833,124 Rand Nov. 24, 1931 Gill June 28,1938