US1489270A - Signal device for roadways - Google Patents

Description

Patented Apr. 8, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK w. Mo n nHAUER AND WILLIAM P. MOLDENHAUER, or oooivonowoo,

wIscoNsnv.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR RQADWAYS.

Application filed October 13, 1923. Serial No. 668,355.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK W. MOLDEN'HAUEE and WILLIAM P. MoLDEN- HAUER, both citizens of the United States,

and residents of Oconomowoc, in the county of VVaukeshaand State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Devices for Roadways; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof; I I

This invention relates to signal devices for roadways.

In driving automobiles at night, consider- T able difficulty has been encountered due to the blinding effect of an approaching vehicles headlights. This effect is so pronounced that it is difficult for one driver in passing another to keep on the roadway, or if he keeps upon the roadway, to be sure that he is not crossing the center line of such roadway. As is well known, highways are usually provided with a painted line down their center so as to aid drivers in keeping upon their half of the road.

However, at night it is practically impossible to see this line when other vehicles are approaching, and also this difliculty is enhanced by rain as a reflecting sheet is formed over the roadway and the glare from the approaching headlight is even more intense.

It is to overcome these difficulties in night of the central or side line of the roadway.

In other words, this device is so constructed that it'utilizes the light of an approaching automobile to warn another automobile from the opposite direction and utilizes some of the li ht which otherwise would be blinding in its efi'ect upon an approaching driver.

Further objects are to provide a signal device for roadways which does not require auxiliary means to light it up, which is of simple and substantial construction, which is relatively small and does not needlessly obstruct the roadway, and which may be cheaply formed and quickly installed.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front View of the device.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-8 of Figure 2 showing the device as it appears when secured in position.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the operation of the device.

The device comprises an upstanding portion 1 which has a rounded upper surface and rounded side edges. It is generally in the shape of a wedge, as shown in Figure 3, and gradually widens as the base is approached. It merges into a base 2 which may be substantially circular, as illustrated. in the drawings, although, obviously, the wedge shape of the upstanding member 1 might even more gradually merge into the base than shown in the drawings.

This base is secured in any suitable manner as by means of screws 3 to anchor portions 41 secured in the concrete or other road bed 5. These anchor portions may be separated if desired, or may be integrally formed, as shown in Figure 3. The upstanding portion 1 is provided with two inwardly slanting conical recesses 6- which are separated by means of a transparent partition 7. This partition is preferably slipped into a slot opening through the top of the vertical member 1 and after being positioned the upper end of the slot is preferably closed by a suitable form of cement 8.

The Partition 7 is preferably colored and, as stated, is transparent, for instance, a red or a green glass member, celluloid or other suitable transparent member could be readily employed.

The functioning of the device is as follows: As diagrammatically shown in Figure 4 two approaching automobiles throw divergent cones of light rays, as indicated at 9 and 10, respectively, which pass through the transparent colored portion 7 of-the device and thus project colored beams of light from the device. It is obvious, therefore, that instead of the approaching vehicles headlights merely blinding a driver they illuminate the colored transparent member and thus apprise the driver of the correct center line or side line of the roadway, as the case may be.

As shown in Figure 4, the device is so arranged a to indicate the center line of.

and is not intended to show the exact spacing of the device. For instance in actual practice it is contemplated setting the devices a hundred or more feet apart, although at a considerable distance very much in excess of one hundred feet these devices are effective.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the invention may be variously enibodied and is, therefore, to be limited only as claimed.

We claim:

1. A signal. device adapted to be positioned upon a roadway comprising a body portion projecting upwardly from such roadway and having an opening there through adapted to permit light from an approaching automobile to pass through such opening, and a colored transverse member positioned across such opening.

2. A signal device for a roadway comprising a bod 1 portion having an upstanding horizonta ly apertured portion and a supporting base, means for anchoring said base in the roadbed, said upstanding portion having a slot therein transversely of said aperture, a colored transparent member located within said slot, and means for retaining said member in position.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands at Oconoinowoc, in the county of Waukesha and State of Wisconsin.

FREDERICK W. MOLDENI-IAUEE. WILLIAM F. MOLDENHAUER.

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