GB2149180A

GB2149180A - Indicator for motor car

Info

Publication number: GB2149180A
Application number: GB08424963A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Robert Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-10-12
Filing date: 1984-10-03
Publication date: 1985-06-05
Also published as: GB8424963D0; GB8327213D0

Abstract

A base layer 10 has an adhesive layer 28 on one side by which the indicator can be secured to a motor car body. The other side of the base layer has two parallel protruding lugs 16 each having a central edge portion 18 parallel to the base layer and inclined outer edge portions 20, 22. A similarly shaped transparent reflector 30 is positioned between the lugs and is a snap fit at its ends 36 beneath undercut edges 26. The inner surfaces of the reflector are formed with reflecting facets 44. The base has a pointed arrow end 24 which points directly downwardly to the jacking point to give an indication by touch in darkness. The reflector 30 gives a reflected indication from a torch or street-light assisting location of the jacking point. The reflector can alternatively be circular. Alternatively, the indicator may be provided with a flange (52) Fig. 5 (not shown) to frictionally grip the car body (56). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Indicator for motor car The invention relates to indicators for motor cars.

Motor cars have jacking points which com- monly are difficult to locate, particularly at night.

It is an object of the invention to provide an indicator by which a jacking point is more readily locatable.

An indicator, according to the invention comprises a base layer which has, at or adjacent a first major face, fixing means enabling it to be attached to a motor car body and which has, at or adjacent the opposite major face, at least one of two characteristics namely, shape and reflective capability.

Preferably, the fixing means is either an adhesive layer over said first major face or a flange joined to one margin of that face.

A preferred shape is an arrow.

Preferably, reflective capability is provided by a reflector or by colour.

Indicators will now be described by way of example to illustrate the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, a plan of one form of indicator and an end elevation seen in the direction of the arrow 'A' in Fig.

1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the indicator shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the reflector separated from the base layer for clarity; and Figures 4 and 5 are, respectively, a plan and side elevation of another form of indicator.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the indicator comprises a base layer 10 of synthetic plastics material having a first major face 12 and a second major face 14. The base 10 has two similar integral lugs 16 protruding from the second major face 14. Each lug has a profiled edge presenting a central plain surface 18 parallel with the face 12 and outer oppositely inclined plain surfaces 20, 22.

One end portion of the base layer 10 is bluntly tapered to form an indicative arrow 24.

The second major face 14 is recessed slightly in relation to the end portions of the base layer 10 situated beyond the ends of the lugs 16. The inner edges of those end portions are undercut at 26.

The base layer 10 has an adhesive layer 28 extending over and adhering to the first major face 12 except for the arrow 24. The major free face of the adhesive layer 28 is adhesive and is covered by a peelable protective paper (not shown) until the indicator is to be affixed in position on a surface of a motor car body.

The adhesive layer 28 is preferably a proprietary double-sided adhesive layer available for industrial use.

The base layer 10 carries a reflector 30 of transparent plastics material over the second major face 14. The reflector 30 has a central rectangular planar portion 32 parallel to, and spaced from, the second major face 14 and has two outer planar rectangular inclined portions 34. Each portion 34 extends from the central portion 32 towards the base layer 10 and has a terminal edge margin 36. The reflector 30 is assembled with the base layer 10 by inserting one edge margin 36 beneath one undercut edge 26 of one end portion of the base layer 10 and then snapping the opposite edge margin 36 into position beneath the opposite undercut edge 26.

The profiles of the edges 18, 20, 22 of the lugs 16 conform to the outer profiles of the reflector 30.

The arrow 24 points in a direction parallel to the base layer and transverse to the intersections 40, 42 between the plane of the outer surface of the central portion 32 and the outer surfaces of the outer portions 34.

The inner surfaces of the central and outer portions of the reflector 30 are formed with facets 44 effective to reflect and refract light.

The indicator is affixed to a side surface of a motor car body to indicate the position of the jacking point at that side. For example, the indicator is affixed to a sill beneath a door or is affixed to the curved body surface extending beneath the sill or door and receding towards the underside of the car body.

The indicator is positioned with its major faces 12, 14 vertical or inclined so that the reflector 30 faces slightly downwardly. The arrow 24 points downwardly in line with the jacking point. Light from a street lamp, match or torch is reflected from the reflector so that the jacking point is readily locatable in darkness and poor visibility. The arrow provides an indication, by touch, of the location of the jacking point.

The base layer is typically 25 millimetres in overall length, 17 mm wide and 3 mm thick at its end portions. The thickness at the second major face 14 is 2 mm. The central portion 32 is 7 mm wide.

In a modification, not shown, the lugs are omitted and the reflector is round instead of rectangular as seen in plan. The second major face is then also circular and has an undercut edge extending all round it to trap the edge margin of the reflector. It may then have a transverse sectional shape the same as that shown in Fig. 3 or may have an arcuate transverse sectional shape. The reflector may be of coloured material e.g. amber or red material.

The indicator shown in Figs. 4 and 5 consists of a base layer 50 which is moulded integrally with a flange 52. The indicator is composed of white plastics material having some resilience. The flange 52 is joined to the base layer 50 by an integral web 54 extending from one margin of the flange 52 to the adjacent margin of the layer 50. As moulded, the flange 52 is inclined towards the base layer 50 and the free edge of the flange may touch the base layer.

The indicator is attached to a car body by being pushed onto a seam 56 of the body.

The seam 56 enters between the flange 52 and the base layer 50 and the resilience of the web 54 ensures that the seam 56 is frictionally gripped between the first major face 58 of the base layer 50 and the opposed face of the flange 52.

The indicator has an arrow 60 integral with the base layer. The arrow 60 points downwardly in alignment with the jacking point of the car body when the indicator is positioned.

The arrow 60 typically protrudes some 7 millimetres away from the second major face 62 of the base layer 50, which typically is 3 mm thick and 30 mm along each margin. The flange 52 and the web 54 are typically 3 mm thick and the flange is typically 20 mm long and 30 mm wide.

The protuberance formed by the arrow 60 which protrudes from the base layer 50 affords a shape characteristic additional to the arrow shape enabling the jacking point to be located by touch. The white colour gives good reflective capability.

In a modification (not shown) of the indicator shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the arrow 60 is omitted. The base layer carries a reflector attached to the base layer by a double-sided adhesive layer. In other modifications (not shown) to provide a reflective characteristic the base layer is made of material having a high surface finish e.g. plastics material available under the Trade Mark ''Nylon''; or has a coating or metallised or other treatment giving a mirror surface, or fluorescent effect; or the base layer carries a member having such finish, coating or treatment.

In another modification (not shown), the indicator shown in Figs. 1 to 3 has a flange similar to the flange 52 as fixing means instead of an adhesive layer.

Claims

1. An indicator comprising a base layer which has, at or adjacent a first major face, fixing means enabling the indicator to be attached to a motor car body and which has, at or adjacent the opposite major face, at least one of two indicating characteristics namely shape and reflective capability.

2. An indicator according to Claim 1, in which the fixing means is an adhesive layer adhering at one face to said first major face and presenting an adhesive opposite face intended to adhere to the car body.

3. An indicator according to Claim 1, in which the fixing means is a flange joined at one margin to one margin of the base layer by a resilient web so that a protruding seam of the car body can be gripped between the flange and the base layer.

4. An indicator according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which an indicating shape characteristic is provided by an arrow which is formed integrally on the base layer and which points towards the jacking point when the indicator is attached to the car body.

5. An indicator according to any preceding claim, in which reflective capability is provided by a transparent reflector which is positioned over said first major face and which has reflective facets.

6. An indicator according to any claim of Claims 1 to 4, in which reflective capability is provided by one of the following namely, surface finish, colour, a mirror surface or fluorescent effect of the base layer or of a coating or member upon the base layer.

7. An indicator substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

8. An indicator substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A motor car having at least one jacking point and having an indicator according to any preceding claim attached to the side body of the car by said fixing means so that as viewed from the side of the car the indicator is above and aligned with the jacking point.

10. A motor car according to Claim 9, in which the indicator is as claimed in Claim 4 or in any claim dependent on Claim 4, and in which said arrow points downwardly.