US1681298A - Reflector - Google Patents

Description

A. LOBERG REFLECTOR A Filed Feb. 5, 1926 M INVENTOR.

fi/VDFEW 1 05576 MMMTIORNEY.

Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE,

nnrmcr'on Application filed February 5, 1926. Serial m. 86,284.

The present invention relates to improvements in light projecting apparatus and has particular reference to a reflector for vehicle headlights and spotlights.

An important object of the invention is to provide a reflector designed to project the light rays forwardly in the usual manner, and also project a comparatively small beam of light forwardly and downwardly at an angle so as to illuminate the right hand side of the roadway.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of a reflector which can be very readily mounted in association with a head lightensing and designed to enable the operator to ascertain his position on the roadway at all. times.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a reflector so constructed that rays will be directed to the side of the roadway even though the headlight be dimmed while passing a vehicle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a reflector of the above character which will be simple and durable of construction and which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description progresses. In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a reflector constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the same,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 generally designates a reflector of the type commonly employed in the headlights of vehicles, these reflectors generally being of parabolic form. The centerof the reflector 10 is provided with an opening 11 to permit the insertion of a suitable light bulb. As will be well understood by those familiar with this art, the light bulb is positioned at the focal point, or at a predetermined position relative thereto so as to project the light rays forwardly to illuminate the roadway in front of the vehicle. Vhen a vehicle equipped with ordinary reflectors is travelling along a right hand curve, the headlight rays will be projected toward the left hand side of the road, so that the operator cannot definitely determine his position relative to the right hand side of the road. WVit-h this in mind, my invention contemplates theprovision of a re flector designed to reflect a portion of the lightray laterally and downwardly onto the road at the side thereof.

As illustrated in the several figures of the drawings, the majorarea of the reflecting surface of the reflector is of paraboliccom tour and inthis respect the reflector of the present invention does not differ from the ordinary parabolic reflector, such a reflector, as is well known, acting to direct the light rays in a forwarddirection onto the road surface, where the reflector is employed in a head light as in the instance of the reflector of the present invention. The reflector of the present invention, however, differs from the ordinary parabolic'reflector in that the shell of the reflector is pressed or otherwise formed, in the process of manufacture, to provide an inwardly protruding portion 12 which has a reflecting face 13 of parabolic curvature, the said face being gradually decreased in width in the direction of its outer end. The said inwardly protruding portion 12 includes, in ad dition to the portion which provides the reflecting surface 13, side portions which are indicated by the numeral 14 and these side portions are, as shown in the drawings, of maximum transverse dimensions at their line of juncture with each other which line, indicated by the numeral 15, is diagonal, being inclined upwardly at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the axis of the reflector shell 10 and in the direction of the periphery of the shell, the side portions 1 1 being of gradually decreasing transverse dimensions from the line of juncture 15 to the base of the re flecting surface 13 where their inner and outer edges merge with the surface of the shell 10 as does also the inner end of the reflecting surface 13. In practice, the protruding portion 12 will be so formed that the rehand head light casing of an automobile, the

reflecting surface 13 will reflect a portion of the light rays laterally downwardly onto the road surface at the right hand side thereof, whereas the major portion of the light rays are reflected from the major portion of the area of the reflecting surface of the shell 10, in a forward direction. Therefore the reflector of the present invention is one having the major portion of the area of its reflecting surface of a contour to elieetreflection of the major portion of the light rays in a forward direction, as usual, and another portion of its area of a contour to ell'ect reflection of the remainder of the light rays in a lateral and downward direction.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and that various changes as to the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spiritof the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A reflector comprising a shell having the major portion ofthe area of its reflecting surface of uniform parabolic content, the said shell having a portion protruding inwardly with respect to said surface and extending generally in a radial direction at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the vertical plane of the axis of the reflector as a whole and having side faces and a reflectin; face of a contour similar to that of the reflecl iug face of the shell, the side faces of said protruding portion forming juncture with each othe' at the outer end of said protruding portion, said side faces converging in the direction of their line of juncture on curred lines and being of gradually decreasing transverse dimensions from their line of juncture to their inner ends, whereby the reflecting face of the said protruding portion is of gradually decreasing width from its side which is next adjacent the axis of the reflector shell to its op posite side.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANDREW LOBERG.

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