AU427258B2 - Traffic warning-light equipment for road transport vehicles - Google Patents

Description

This invention reljates to traffic warning- light eupetfrroad 'transport vehicles, particularly heavy road transports such as semi-trailers, which require to have adequate traffic warning-lights for use at night in properly warning oncoming traffic of the presence of the transport on the roadway, especially with respect to the width of the roadway occupied by the transport.

In the specification of my expired Australian Patent N~o. 155,944 there is described equipment of the kind generally indicated above, said specification noting that a particular difficulty with heavy road transports moving on roadways at night, lies in providing side -lights by which-. the overall width of the vehicle and its load is intended to be indicated, and that the side lights may become damaged by inadvertent contact with tree branches or other overhead obstructions without the vehicle driver's knowiledge.

The said specification of my expired patent describes side lights for road vehicles, particularly heavy. motor transports of the trailer type, which will not be so liable to break-age by obstructing tree branches which over- hang roadways and wihich will not be unduly influenced by the condition of the road surface so as to be detrimental to the warning-lighting effect of-the side lights. The side lights described in the said specification are also indicated to be conveniently installed-without undue expense on the vehicle, cabin and will operate so as not to require attention-by the vehicle driver and thus avoid being the cause of anxiety to the vehicle driver. I.

427258

3 9 28concerned 2/72 with The present invention is

Lmprovements in traffic warning-light equipment of the kind

generally indicated above and provides traffic warning-light

quipment for road transport vehicles comprising means

idapted to be fixed to the top of the vehicle cabin for

3uporting a bearing member at or near each side of the

vehicle cabin, a traffic warning-light carrying arm mounted for lateral rotary movement on each said bearing member so

that each traffic warning-light carrying arm can be located

in an inward position above the vehicle cabin or in an out-

ward position sidewards of the vehicle cabin, spring-loading neans operatively connected to locate each traffic warning-

Light carrying arm in said inward position or said outward

position but allow limited rotary movement of each traffic

warning-light carrying arm either forwardly or rearwardly

of a normal position of rest when in said outward position

and return each traffic warning-light carrying arm to the

normal position of rest after said limited forward or rear-

ward rotary movement, and detent means operatively engaged

to retain each traffic warning-light carry arm in the selected

inward or outward position but capable of disengagement by

manual pressure to permit lateral rotary movement of each

traffic warning-light carrying arm from either the inward

position to the outward position or the outward position to

the inward position and then to retain each traffic warning-

light carrying arm in the furtheiselected position by re-

engagement of said deternt means upon release of said manual

pressure.

427258

In 39,28 2/72 accordance with a practical embodiment of the invention, each said bearing member is a substantially vertically-disposed tubular member and said means adapted to be fixed to the top of the vehicle cabin for supporting the vertically-disposed tubular bearing members comprises a laterally-disposed bar adapted to be fixed to the top of the vehicle cabin by a pair of brackets, said vertically-disposed tubular bearing members being located at or near the ends of the laterally-disposed bar. Each traffic warning-light carrying arm can be mounted at or near each end of said laterally-disposed bar for lateral rotary movement, preferably by means of a depending leg on each traffic warning-light carrying arm extending- into each vertically-disposed tubular bearing member. The spring-loading means and the detent means can be operatively connected with each said depending leg of the traffic warning-light carrying arms and mounted on the tubular bearing means and the laterally-disposed bar. Said detent means may comprise co-acting plate members embodying a detent member which is urged into detent engagement by primary spring-loading means to retain each traffic warning-light carrying arm in the outward or inward position in conjunction with secondary spring-loading means, said secondary spring-loading means being the spring- loading means allowed limited rotary movement of each traffic warning-light carrying arm in the outward position either forwardly or rearwardly of the normal position of rest when in-said-outward-position-and returning each traffic warning- light carrying arm to the normal position of rest after said limited forward or rearward rotary movement, said co-acting plate members bein g capable of disengagement by manual

r 427 258

39,282/72 pressure applied to counter the primary spring-loading means

and permit disengagement of the detent member for lateral

rotary movement of each traffic warning-light carrying arm

to the inward or outward position and then retain each traffic

warning-light carrying arm in the selected position by re-

engagement of the detent member upon release of said manual

pressure.

In order however that the invention may be

more fully described and illustrated, reference is made to

the accompanying drawings, which form part of this

specification and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective elevational view illustrating

traffic warning-light equipment for road

transport vehicles in accordance with the

practical embodiment of the invention as

indicated and showing the traffic warning-

light carrying arms in the outward position

sidewards of the vehicle cabin and in the

normal position of rest;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the equipment illustrated

in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken

at lines 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view equivalent to Fig. 2 but

showing the traffic warning-light carrying

arms in the inward position above the

vehicle cabin.

3 9,28 2/72 Referring to the drawings, the laterally- disposed bar 1, which conveniently is tube-form, has a pair of brackets 2 fixed thereto at suitably spaced distances from the end of the laterally-disposed bar 1 for attachment to the vehicle cabin roof (not shown) in mounting the equipment of the invention on the vehicle cabin as indicated. Each end portion of the laterally-disposed bar 1 is slightly flattened and has a substantially vertically-disposed tubular bearing member 3 extending therethrough, the lower end of each said vertically-disposed tubular bearing member 3. terminating in an annular inverted cup member 4.

Each traffic warning-light carrying arm 5 has an outwardly-located warning-light fitting 6 at the outer portion of said arm and an inwardly-located warning-light fitting 7 at the inner portion of said arm, each said warning- light fitting having a red reflector at the rear and an amber reflector at the front. The inner portion of each said traffic warning-light carrying arm 5 terminates in a depending leg 8 which fits into and extends through the vertically-disposed tubular bearing member 3 so as to be mounted therein for lateral rotary movement. Preferably each traffic warning- light carrying arm 5 is tubular.

The detent means consists of a first co-acting plate member 9 in the form of an annular domed plate fixed to the upper portion'of the depending leg 8 of each said traffic warning-light carrying arm 5; a second co-acting plate member in the form of a complementary domed plate for rotary sliding engagement with the domed first co-acting plate member 9 and loo.sely mounted on the depending leg 8 of said

427 258

39,282/72 traffic warning-light carrying arm 5 and having an elongated extension 11 connected by tension spring means 12 to an upstanding plate 13 near the mid-portion of the laterally- disposed bar 1; and a locating detent member 14 on said

elongated extension 11 for removable insertion in a selected

aperture 15 in said first co-acting plate member 9. Aperture

is one of several such apertures corresponding to the

inward or outward position in which a user desires the traffic warning-light carrying arm 5 to be located, said

domed first co-acting plate member 9 having an aperture

corresponding to the inward position of the traffic warning-

light carrying arm 5 and at least one oppositely disposed

aperture corresponding to the outward position of the traffic

warning-light carrying arm

The spring-loading means consists of said

tension spring means 12 and compression spring means 16 and

17. The tension spring means 12 reacts to retain the traffic

warning-light carrying arm 5 in the outward or inward position

in conjunction with the detent means and allow limited rotary

movement of the traffic warning-light carrying arm 5 in the

outward position either forwardly or rearwardly of the normal

position of rest when in said outward position and returning

the traffic warning-light carrying arm 5 to the normal

position of rest after said limited forward or rearward

rotary movement. The compression spring means 16 reacts

against the tubular bearing means 3 and the depending leg 8

which is thereby forced downwards, whilst the compression

spring means 17 reacts against the laterally-disposed bar 1

and the second co-acting plate member 10 which is thereby

427258

V

3 9,28 2/72 forced upwards. The effect of this is that the locating detent member 14 is held in the appropriate aperture 15 in said first co-acting plate member 9 until manual pressure

is exerted to counter compression spring means 16 and 17

for removal of the locating detent member 14 from the

aperture 15 and allow adjustment of the position of the

traffic warning-light carrying arm 5 as described.

In assembling each traffic warning-light carrying arm 5 for mounting on said vertically-disposed

tubular bearing member 3, the second co-acting plate member is fitted over and extended up the depending leg 8 of

the traffic warning-light carrying arm 5-by passing the end

of said depending leg 8 through a central opening 18 in the domed portion of said second co-acting plate member 10. A first annular grease cup/compression spring bearing member

19 having a central opening is then fitted over and extended up the depending leg 8 of the traffic warning-light carrying arm 5 to contact the under face of said domed portion of the

second co-acting plate member 10, followed by said compression spring 17. Each such assembly is then fitted to each said vertically-disposed tubular bearing member 3 by passing the

depending leg 8 of each traffic warning-light carrying arm donawardly through each said vertically-disposed tubular

bearing member 3 whereby said compression spring 17 is

located between and contacts the top face of the flattened

portion of the laterally-disposed bar 1 and the under face

of said-first-grease cup/compression spring bearing member 19.

427258

39, 28 2/72 The length of the depending leg 8 of each

raffle warning-light carrying arm 5 is such as to protrude

substantial distance below the lower end of each vertically-

isposed tubular bearing member 3. The compression spring 16

s then fitted over and extended up the protruding end of

aid depending leg 8 of each traffic warning-light carrying

rm 5 so as to be disposed between annular cup members

nd 21 each of which has a central opening, the cup member

0 contacting said annular inverted cup member 4 at the lower

ad of each vertically-disposed tubular bearing member 3. The

3sembly of compression spring 16 and annular cup members

id 21 is held in engagement against annular cup member 4

litably by a circlip 22 near the end of the depending leg 8

C each traffic warning-light carrying arm 5. Contacting of

minular cup member 20 against annular cup member 4 provides

i annular grease cup for the vertically-disposed tubular

3aring member 3.

Electric energy for operating the warning

.ghts on each traffic warning-light carrying armn 5 can be

ipplied via electrical leads 23 from the vehicle electric

ttery to the outer and inner warning-light light fittings

and 7, through a switch in the vehicle cabin, said leads

:tending through the roof of the vehicle cabin and thence

)wardly within and along each tubular depending leg 8 and

thin and along said arm 5 to said light fittings. The pair

'-warning lights 6-and 7 on each said arm 5 are sufficiently

olated from each other as not to appear as one .light when

en from considerable distances by oncoming drivers. Both

the outer warning lights 6 are set back more from the

S427 25 8

39,282/72 leading edge of each side arm 5 than said inner warning

lights 7, whilst the inner warning lights 7 are mounted

considerably higher than said outer warning lights 6, these adjustments making the warning lights 6 and 7 extremely

conspicuous, particularly where there are various road

surfaces which angle into each other.

In use, with the traffic warning-light equipment of the invention mounted on the.roof of a vehicle cabin and the electrical leads connected to the vehicle electric battery and the electrical power switched on to energize the warning lights, each traffic warning-light carrying arm 5 can be moved laterally from the inward position above the vehicle cabin to the outward position sidewards of the vehicle so as to be in the normal rest position, by the user grasping said traffic warning-light carrying arm 5 near the depending leg 8 and pushing upwardly against s,aid arm.

Related-to the traffic warning-light carrying arm 5 on the driver side of the vehicle cabin, the changing

of position of arm 5 can conveniently be effected by the user

grasping said arm 5 near the depending leg 8 with the right

hand and pushing the arm upwards until it can go no further, then use the left hand by placing the thumb under the

laterally-disposed bar 1 and against the vertically-disposed

tubular bearing 3, the first and second fingers being placed on the co-acting plate member 10 close to the locating detent

member 14. By snapping the thumb and first two fingers together quickly, the locating detent member 14 will disengage

from the apertur-3 15, the operation being extremely simple

10 427258

39, 282/72 Lnd Dositive. 1,9hen changing the position of arm 5 on the )assenger side of the vehicle the user pushes -the arm ipwards tiith the left baind and disenaes the locating

letent member 14 from the aperture 15 vith -the rigt hand

ising the thumb and first and second fingers.

I~n changing the position of eadIh traffic lfarping..

_ight arm 5 from the invard position to the outward position or: rice versa, the locating detent zienber 14 rides around the .owiei face of the co-acting plate 9 In the Course of said Lateral rotary movement of said am until the appropriate Iperture 15 -in said co-acting plate 9 Is reacbed, Mheretipon ?e-engagement of said locating detent vember 14 with said Ipropriate aperture 15 takes place fby the spring-loading, Ln consequence of release of the pressure exerted by the uspxZ Ln coun~tering said spring-loading pressure for the purpose.

'Jhen each traffic varning-light carrying ann

Ls in said outer position, the tension spring 12 connecting the co-acting plate 10 to the lateraly-dispose&- bar 1 allova Limited rotary movement of each said traffic watrning-light ,arrying arm 5. either fortiardly or rearvardly of said noml:. iosition of'rest, in the event that said aims 5 should

Lnadvertently make contact with tree brpanqhes or other over- lead obstructions. Said tension spring 12 alo operates to

ceturn said arms 5 to the norrial popttion of rest after an~y forward or rearward movement of said :azus.5 takes place.

Claims (4)

t 39282/72 The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. Traffic warning-light equipment for road transport vehicles comprising means adapted to be fixed to

the top of the vehicle cabin for supporting a bearing member

at or near each side of the vehicle cabin, a traffic warning- light carrying arm mounted for lateral rotary movement on

each said bearing member so that each traffic warning-light

carrying arm can be located in an inward position above the vehicle cabin or in an outward position sidewards of the

vehicle cabin, spring-loading means operatively connected

to locate each traffic warning-light carrying arm in said

inward position or said outward position but allow limited

rotary movement of each traffic warning-light carrying arm

either forwardly or rearwardly of a normal position of rest

when in said outward position and return each traffic warning-

light carrying arm to the normal position of rest after said

limited forward or realward rotary movement, and detent

means operatively engaged to retain each traffic warning-

light carry arm in the selected inward or outward position

but capable of disengagement by manual pressure to permit

lateral rotary movement of each traffic warning-light

carrying arm from either the inward position to the outward

position or the outward position to the inward position

and then to retain each traffic warning-light carrying arm

in the further selected position by re-engagement of said

detent means upon release of said manual pressure.

2. Traffic warning-light equipment as claimed in

claim I wherein each said bearing member is a substantially

3 9,282/72 rertically-disposed tubular member and said means adapted to

)e fixed to the top of the vehicle cabin for supporting the

rertically-disposed tubular bearing members comprises a

Laterally-disposed bar adapted to be fixed to the top of the

Fehicle cabin by a pair of brackets, said vertically-disposed

ubular bearing members being located at or near the ends of

the laterally-disposed bar, each traffic warning-light carry-

Lng arm being mounted at or near each end of said laterally

lisposed bar for lateral rotary movement by means of a depend-

Lng leg on each traffic warning-light carrying arm extending

Lnto each vertically-disposed tubular bearing member, the

letent means and spring-loading means operatively associated

therewith being connected with each said depending leg of the

traffic warning-light carrying arms and mounted on the tubular

searing means and the laterally-disposed bar.

3. Traffic warning-light equipment as claimed in

.laim 1 or 2 wherein said detent means comprises co-acting

plate members embodying a detent member which is urged into

letent engagement by- primary spring-loading means to retain

ach traffic warning-light carrying arm in the outward or

nward position in conjunction with secondary spring-loading

neans, said secondary spring-loading means being the spring-

Loading means allowing limited rotary movement of each

traffic warning-light carrying arm in the outward position

either forwardly or rearwardly of the normal position of

rest when in said outward position and returning each

traffic warning-light carrying arm to the normal position of

rest after said limited forward or rearward rotary movement,

39,282 /72 said co-acting plate members being capable of disengagement by manual pressure applied to counter the primary spring- loading means and permit disengagement of the detent member for lateral rotary movement of each traffic warning-light carrying arm to the inward or outward position and then retain each traffic warning-light carrying arm in the selected position by re-engagement of the detent member upon release of said manual pressure.

4. Traffic warning-light equipment as claimed in claim 3 wherein the detent means consists of a first co-acting plate member in the form of an annular domed plate fixed to an upper portion of the depending leg of each said traffic warning-light carrying arm; a second co-acting plate member in the form of a complementary domed plate for rotary sliding engagement with the domed first co-acting plate member and loosely mounted on the depending leg of said traffic warning- light carrying arm and having an elongated extension connected by tension spring means to an upstanding plate near the mid- portion of the laterally-disposed bar; and a locating detent member on said elongated extension for removable insertion in a selected aperture of several such apertures in said first co-acting plate member corresponding to the inward or outward position in which the traffic warning-light carrying arm is to be located, said domed first co-acting plate member having an aperture corresponding to the inward position of the traffic warning-light carrying arm and at least one oppositely disposed aperture corresponding to the outward position of the traffic warning-light carrying arm.

427258

3 9,282 /72 Traffic w'-rning-light equipment as claimed in

claim 3 or 4 wherein the spring-loading means consists of

said tension spring means and compression spring means, the

tension spring means reacting to retain the traffic warning-

light carrying arm in the outward or inward position in

conjunction with the detent means and allow limited rotary

movement of the traffic warning-light carrying arm in the

outward position either forwardly or rearwardly of the normal

position of rest when in said outward position and returning

the traffic warning-light carrying arm to the normal position

of rest after said limited forward or rearward rotary movement,

a first compression spring member reacting against the vertically-disposed tubular bearing member and the depending

leg which is thereby forced downwards, a second compression

spring member reacting against the laterally-disposed bar

and the second co-acting plate member which is thereby forced

upwards, whereby the locating detent memiber is held in the

appropriate aperture in said first co-acting plate member

until manual pressure is exerted to counter said compression

spring members for removal of the locating detent member from

the aperture and allow adjustment of the position of the

traffic warning-light carrying arm as defined.

6. Traffic warning-light equipment as claimed in

claim 4 or 5 wherein each traffic warning-light carrying

arm is so mounted on each vertically-disposed tubullar bearing

member that the loosely fitting second co-acting plate member

is in lateral rotary engagement with the first co-acting

plate member fixed to the depending leg, with an ainular

grease cup member fitting around the upper end of the

39 282/72 vertically-disposed tubular bering member loosely and

engaging with the second co-acting plate member, said second compression spring member fitting around the vertically-

disposed tubular bearing member and engaging with said annular

grease cup member and the outer end portion of the laterally-

disposed bar, the lower end of the vertically-disposed tubular bearing member terminating in a fixed annular inverted cup

member' and forming another grease cup member, said first compression spring member fitting around the lower end portion

of the depending leg and located between a pair of annular cup

members fitting loosely around said lower end of the depending

leg, the upper cup nember of said pair of loose annular cup

members engaging with said fixed annular inverted cup member,

and retaining means located beneath the lower cup member of

said pair of loose annular cup members for holding the assembly

in operative engagement.

7. Traffic warning-light equipment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein each traffic warning-light

carrying arm has an outwardly-located warning-light fitting

at the outer portion of said arm and an inwardly-located

warning-light fitting at the inner portion of said arm, both of the outer warninE-light fittings being set back more from

the leading edge of the traffic warning-light carrying arms

when in the outward position and -both of the inner warning-.

light fittings being mounted higher than said outer warning-

light fittings.

8. Traffic warning-light equipment as claimed in claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference

3 9,282 /72 to the illusttations of the accompanying drawings.

22nd day of February, 1972 DATED this

FRAN4K GABdJBL SINGLETON, By his Patent Attorneys, GEURGE A. u'REN CO., By:

ED-vWIN F. W-ELLINGTON

of the Institute of Patent Fellow

of Australia, (Inc.) Attorneys

39,282/72

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3 9.2 8212

39,282/72