US1461114A - Signal for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

L. H. FEKEBERG SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed April 17 1922 Patented July 10, 1923.

UNITED. STATES 1,461,114? PATENT OFFIQE.

LABS H. EKEBERG, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

. i sreNnrLron VEHICLES.

Application ad April 17, 1922. Serial No. 552,770.

ToaZZ whom it may concern." I I vBe it known that'I, Lens H. EKEBERG, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State-of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals for Yehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to signaldevices especially adapted for use on motorvehicles to indicate stop, turn, etc, and the primary bject is to provide an improved signal of this character. I 1

Another object is toprovide a signal constructed in such simple andnovel manner that it may be economically produced at a low cost and will be adapted for convenient application to different makes of motor vehicles at any-of various positions at which the signal may be efiectively displayed.

More particularly, I have aimed to provide-a device of the character described embodyingv asimple and novel signal element consisting of a plurality of fingers adapted to gravitate from a collapsed,concealed position to a display position simulating an open hand, said fingersbeing movable to and from said signal position at the will of the operator.

I have also-aimed to embody one or more signal elements of this character in a supporting frame of tubular form, at the ends of which are carried electric bulbs, and to provide an electric circuit and operating means whereby the signal element may be projected from either end of the tubular supporting member and lighted when the signal is displayed.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated by those familiar with this art as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front view of a motor vehicle showing the application thereto of a signal device embodying my invention;

*ig. 2 is a view looking at the rear of the device, detached, and showing the means for operating the signal;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View through the signal device in its position shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

tor on the tubular Fig. 5 is a top view of an electric connecsupporting member;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5; and

Flgs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views illustrating the electric circuit which will be explained hereinafter.

My improved signal device may as mentioned above, be applied in any suitable manner and at any location on a motor vehicle for effectively displaying the signal. In the preferred embodiment a signal may be displayed at either side of the vehicle as a warning to those following that the driver intends to turn to the side indicated, or to stop. In the present case, the device is apexample in the positionshown in Fig. 1, in

which said member reaches from side to side of the vehicle. Within said member, there is axially slidable, a rod designated generally by 12, in each end of which is carried a signal element or device consisting of a plurality of fingers 13 pivotally mounted at 14 on the rod. The rod 12 is substantially of the same length as its supporting member 11 and may be moved axially in either direction to project either end beyond said member. For this purpose, any suitable or preferred means may be employed, such for example as a manually operable knob 15 attached to the rod 12 by means passing through a slot 16 in the member 11. Other means may be employed for reciproeating the rod 12, as for example, a cable 17 run through guides 18 arranged as shown in Fig. 2 and connected to the knob 15. This cable is crossed as shown and equipped on its lower horizontal reach 19 with a knob 21 adapted to be moved to the left and right by hand for correspondingly shifting the rod 12. When thi rod is shifted to sufficiently project either end from the holder 11, the fingers 13 which are normally disposed within the rod 12 and rest on the bottom interior wall of the holder, will drop to the display position shown at the left hand end of Figs. 2 and 3. The fingers are limited in their pivotal movement by abutment of their inner ends 22 against the overhead surface on the rod, the inner ends 22 of the fingers being so shaped that they will be limited to positions in separated relation so as to similate an open hand. The face of each finger is painted to produce black and white sections with the black sections of each finger in staggered relation with those of the next adjoining finger. The result is a very effective signal display as plainly shown in the drawing. It will be manifest that thefingers will be moved to a collapsed position within the rod 12 by movement of the rod to its inner position, it being noted that the undersideof the rod beneath the fingers is open to allow free passage of the fingers from oneposition to another.

In each end of the rod I have provided an electric light socket for a light bulb 28 which is directed toward its adjacehtsignal element for illuminating the same. The light bulbs are grounded on the metallic end portions of the rod 12, which in turn are grounded through the holder 11 on the car frame, and each bulb is connected by a "wire 24: to a contact plate 25 fixed to the top oil. the rod, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

It will be observed that the rod 12 is of sectional construction, consisting of a center section 26, which may be of any non-conducting material, such as wood or fibre, and metallic end sections27 telescoping and fixed to the center section. It is to this center "secion that the contact plates 25 are attached and thus insulated from the end sections of the rod. Either light circuit is adapted to be closed by a contact ma kerj28 connected to the source of current. This contact make-ris at present in the form of a spring element carried onthe holder 11 by means of an insulation plate 29 held in" position by the tabs 31 as shown plainly in Figs. 5 and 6. It will be manifest that when the rod is moved to either signal position, one of the plates 25 will be brought into contact with the terminal or contact maker 28, thereby closing the light circuit and illuminating the signal being displayed.

It i believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding ofthe ObNCtS' preraced above, and while I have illustrated but a single working "embodimentit should be understood that considerable change might be made in details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in-the appended claim.

I claim:

A signal for vehicles comprising a tubular holder adapted to be attached to a vehicle reaching froin'side to side thereof, 'awsi'gnal carrying rod slidable in said holder-and having a center section and end sections and being of approximately the same length as said holder, each end section being tubular and open on its underside, a signal wile-vice disposed in the open portion of each end "sec- *tion comprising a plurality of fingers pivoted at their inner ends to the outer end of the center section and having inner ends of differe'nt lengths serving as stops for limiting the signal position of the respective fingers, and means "for moving said rod lengthwise in the holder to project either end therefrom, the fingers of each "signal device being normally confined within and resting on the bottom of the holder and adapted when projected to drop at their outer-ends Ltothe signal position through the "open underside of the projected rod section.

- LARS- E'KEBERG.

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