US1383312A - Automobile-signal - Google Patents

Description

c. ,H. LANDIS.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.- APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30. 1919- RENEWED MAR. 10,1921.

1,383,312,, 7 m mmy 5,1921...

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- C.v H. LANDIS.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL. I -APPLICATION HLED ocT. 30,1919. RENEWED MAR. 10.1'921.

1,883,312; l t dl lyilw'l.

mkom m 9 AUTOMOBILE'SIGNAL.

1,383,312., Specification of Application filed October 30, 1919, Serial No. 334,441. Renewed March 10,1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARK H. LANDIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bowling Green, in the county of Wood and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Signals; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automobile signals.

@ne object of the invention is to provide an improved signal in which a plurality of lighted compartments combine to produce conventional representations of arrows and combinations of parts of arrows by the use of lights and appropriate light regulating means.

A'further object is to provide a device of this character in which the signs are relatively large and distinct, consistent with the relative smallness and compactness of the device which comprises the signs.

A further object is to provide an improved deviceof this character which is exceedingly convenient, practical, durable and efficient, and can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

Other objects and advantages may become apparentto the persons who read the following details of descriptitn in connection with the accompanying drawings in which igure 1 is a perspective View illustrating the complete device ready for attachment to an automobile and to a source of electro-motive force.

Fig. 2is a partition member and lampsupport "detached or removed from the box or casing.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view, the section being taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 4.

i .Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View, the section being 4-,4 of Figs. 3 and 10.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relation of the lamps to the angular partitions, and alsoshowing the lamp-circuits in connection with the main circuit and switch-board.

' Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive are dia 'rammatic views'illustrating the effect of t e lighted and nondighted lamps in producing oppotaken along the lines Lett rs P en Patented July 5, 1921.

Serial No. 51,331.

sitely pointing arrows, portions of arrows and combination of arrows.

Fig. 10 is a fragmental, detail view illustrating one end of the box with its cover removed and one of the lamps on the main partition within the box.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which similar reference characters correspond with similar several. views,

The device comprises a box 1 having a bottom 2 which is removably secured by means of U-shaped guides 3, the latter being preferably formed integrally with the front and rear sides 4, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4. The front and rear sides of the box 1 include transparent sign-figures or sign-surfaces. Although these sign-figures may be otherwise provided, they are provided, according to the present disclosure, by fitting panes of glass 5 in the front and rear walls 4 and painting or otherwise depositing on portions of the glass an opaque material indicated at 6 in Fig. 3. The sign-surface or sign-figure is represented by the clear portions of the panes 5, and each of these signfigures represents two conventional arrows each of which has its head included in the feather-end of the other. The front ends of the arrow-heads are outlined and defined by means of angular partitions 7, the points of the arrows terminating in the angles 8 of the partitions 7 The main partition 9 extends from end to end of the box or casing 1 and divides the, latter into front and rear signsections, and this main partition supports the. angular partitions 7, being preferably integral therewith. Byreferring to Figs. 2 and 4, it will be seen that the angular partitions are each slotted vertically to receive the main partition, the latter extending up into and terminating at the upper ends of the slots, as indicated at 10. In other words, the partitions 7 straddle the main, partition and are united therewith on o posite sides by any appropriate means. h foreover the main partition has lamp brackets or supportingsleeves 11 secured thereto by rivets or other appropriate means, and the lamps 12, which are supported thereby, shine into the front and rear partitions alike so that their rays pass out through the front and rear sign-figures.

The amps 12 may be connected in parallel, as indicated in Fig. 5, and in this figure a section of the main circuit is indicated at 13 parts throughout the middle and left-hand lamps are lighted while and may receive its current from any appropriate source (not shown). 'A switchboard 14 is connected with the lamp circuits and may be supported at any appropriate and convenient portion of an automobile on which this device is installed. As shown in Fig. 5, the switches 15 are open so that the lamps are not lighted. Referring, however, to Fig. .6 it will. be seen that the the right-hand lamp is dark, and therefore, since the right-hand partition does not permit light to enter the right-hand compartment from the middle and left-hand comleftward as indicated-in Fig.' 7. When all three compartments are lighted as indicated in Fig. 8, each of the entire sign-surfaces or sign-figures is displayed in the form of two arrows having their stems and heads interlappedupon or merging with one another.

- On the other hand, if only the middle lamp is lighted, the. double-headed arrow indicated in Fig. 9 is displayed. It is wellknown that anarrow displayed on an automobileand pointing rightward indicates that the automobile is about to turn toward its right, and that if the arrow is pointing leftward, the automobile is about to turn to its left. In using this device, these facts of public knowledge are .made use of as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7, and in addition, the sign shown in Fig. 8 can be displayed to indicatethat the machine is going to stop and the sign illustrated in Fig. 9 can be displayed as a tail lightor signal for indicating that the machine is standing.

Any appropriate wiring connections or circuits may be employed as indicated at 16 and these circuits may extend through the apertures 17 in the partitions 7.

A window 18 is provided in the bottom 2 eeasia so that the light may shine upon the num- I ber plate.

The casing 1, bottom 2 and partition member 9 are preferably formed of sheet metal with the exception of the non-metallic members previously mentioned. v

Although I have described this embodiment of my invention specifically, it is not intended to'limit this invention to these exact details of construction and arrangement, but changes may be made within the scope of the inventive ideas as implied and claimed.

What I claim is that my invention is:

l. A signal of the character described, comprising a housing having its forward and rear walls provided with openings, a

sign carrying plate covering each opening and marked to provide a longitudinally extending indicator having a head at each'end, transversely extending partitions positioned vertically in the housing and dividing the same into a central compartment and end compartments and at points intermediate their height off-set to intersect the heads of the indicators upon the cover plates, a partition carried by the transverse partitions and extending longitudinally of the housing in the upper portion thereof, and means for.

connecting lighting elements with the lower edge portion of the longitudinally extending partition for selectively li hting the central and end compartments of the houslng.

2. A signal of the character described, comprising a housing having transparent plates in its forward and rear walls marked to provide indicating emblems, each having heads at its ends, artitions extending transversely through t e housing to divide the same into separate compartments and intersecting the heads of the indicating emblems the partitions having slits. leading from their upper ends, a longitudinally extending partition positioned in the housing and extending through the slits and supported by the transversely extending partitions, and means carried by the lower edge portion of the longitudinally extending partition for supporting illuminating elements beneaththe longitudinally extending partition to light the forward and rear portions of the housing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. l

CLARK H. LANDIS. I

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