US1204591A - Signaling device. - Google Patents

Description

L. l. RANDALL.

SIGNALING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JAN-17,1916.

1,204,591. Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

Q s WvMo'a L. I. RHN DELL attozwug ,LEAJJORE I. RANDALL, LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

mmune DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

Application filed January 17, 1916. Serial No. 72,553.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEADORE I. RANDALL,

I a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of'Nebraska, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Signaling Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

- Thisinvention relates to certain improvements in signaling devices and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with vehicles, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character whereby the'driver of the vehicle is enabled to give notice to a vehicle following whenever it is intended to make a turn.

I The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of'my improved signaling device whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now. proceed to describe the same with reference to the accomp'anying drawings, wherein Figure 1 1s a view in elevation of a portion in section and the face plate removed -2, and produced in a vertical end wall and the adjacent portion of the top wall of the housing'is a slot 3 through which extends the signaling arm- 4, normally maintained- 5 in an upright position through the medium of the retractile spring 5 in a. manner to be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

As herein disclosed, the end wall of the housing provided with the slot 3 is provided at opposite sides of the wall and adjacent the lower end thereof the inwardly disposed brackets 6 between which the inner end portion of the arm 4 extends, and is pivotally mounted upon the pintle 7 disposed through said brackets 6 and arm 4. The retractile spring 5 has one extremity anchored to the top wall of the housing, as indicated at 8, while the opposite end portion of the spring is operatively engaged as at 9, with thearm 4 at a point within the housing 1 and at a predetermined distance above the brackets 6.

The upper and lower walls of the housing 1 have secured thereto the upwardly inclined spaced bars 10, intersecting the interior of the housing and inclined in a direction towardthe end wall of the housing provided with the slot 3, and supported by said inclined bars 10 is the electro-magnet 11 disposed on a predetermined downward incline in a direction toward the end of the housing provided with the slot 3. The magnet 11 is provided with the movable core 12 adapted to travel upwardly when the magnet is energized, and the outer or lower end of the core 12 is bifurcated, as at 14, and within the kerf of said bifurcation 1 4 is pivotally mounted the yoke 15 which straddles the arm 4 at a point below or inwardly of the brackets 6 and pivotally engaged therewith as indicated at 16. 'By this arrangement it will be seen that upon energizing the magnet 11, the arm 4 will be caused to assumev substantially a horizontal position so thata vehicle following will readily know that it is the intention to turn in a direction toward which the arm 4 points.

While I am only illustrating a single arm in the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that in practice the same will be duplicated and swinging in opposite direc-' tions, and each of said arms may coact with a single housing or the structure herein described may be duplicated in such a manner as to haveboth of the arms coact with a single housing. This, however, is thought to be aminor detail of my invention and therefore does not require a detailed description or illustration.

The end of the housing opposite to th end provided with the slot 3 is provided with the posts 17 extending within the housing and adapted to be connected with a suitable source of electrical energy, and said posts,

17 are also suitably connected through the medium of the conductors a with the magnet -11 and in practice I interpose within the conductors B leading from the source of electrical energy, a suitable circuit closer suitably plositioned within the vehicle, whereby t e magnet 11 may be energized at the will of the driver.

.In practice I deem it of advantage to affix to the outer end portion of the arm 4 a pennant 18 of suitable design and color, whereby the position of said arm may be the more readily discerned. I also find it of advantage to employ an audible signal operating in unison with the arm 4 so that attention may be directed to the signal afforded by the arm 4. As herein embodied, I secure to the end wall of the housing 1 remote from the arm 4 a conventional type of electric bell in electrical connection with 'the posts-17 through the medium of the conductors c. I have also found it of advantage to employ in connection with my improved device an illuminating signal especially desirable after night-fall, and as herein embodied, said signal comprises a horizontally disposed lamp 19 arranged in close proximity to the face of the housing 1 operatively supported by the cross piece 20 connecting the lower ends of the bars 10, and said lamp 19 is in electrical connection with the posts 17 through the medium of the conductors d. The removable face plates 2 have openings 21 positioned in close proximity to the lamp 19 and covered by the transparent plates 22 of suitable color, preferably red. It is also my intention to position upon the arm 4 adjacent the outer end thereof an'illuminating signal, and as here in embodied, said signal comprises an electric lamp 23 held to the arm 4 through the mediumof the clamp 24, and said lamp 23 is interposed within the conductor 6 through the medium of the flexible conductor 25 of such a length as to permit the requisite rocking movement of the arm 4.

It is to be understood that the housing 1 is'adapted to be secured to the rear portion of a vehiclein any preferred manner, and preferably at a side thereof, so that the arm 4 or more particularly the pennant or'lamp carried thereby, may be readily seen either from the rear or from the front.

From the foregoing description, it is thought tobe obvious that a sgnaling device constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as'limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of-the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice.

I claim:

A signaling device comprising a casing having a slot inits side and top wall thereof, an arm disposed through said slot and pivotally mounted intermediate .its length within the housing, inclined spaced bars interposed between the top and bottom walls of thehousing and disposed on an upward incline toward the slots, an electro-magnet in communication with a suitable source of energy and supported by said bars and disposed on a downward incline in a direction toward the end of the housing provided with the slot, said magnet being substantially entirely positioned above the pivotal mounting of the arm, a movable core meeting.

with the electro-magnet and extending between the inclined bars, a link pivotally engaged with the lower end of the core and the lower end of the arm whereby upward movement -of the core serves to adjust the arm into a horizontal position, and a retractile member interposed between the top wall of the housing and the mat a point above the pivotal 00111 566011 of the am, said spring serving to normally maintain the arm ina vertical petition. In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the present a of two witnesses.

LEADOI E I. RANDALL Witnesses:

C. J. Cmam Hnmzr PO'I'HAB'I

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