US1741087A - Reflecting device - Google Patents

Description

v Dec. 24; 1929. ZEAHNDER 1,741,087

REFLECTING DEVICE Filed May 5, 192

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Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics LOUIS RAYMOND ZEHNDER, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE LAS- SIGNMENTS, 'I'O LOUISVILLE FROG, SWITCH KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF LOUISVILLE,

REFLECTIN G DEVICE Application filed May 5, 1928. Serial No. 275,534.

This invention relates to a lens cap, holder or carrier for use in connection with reflector devices of that type whereby incidental light is reflected so as to illuminate advertising signs, signals and the like, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a lens cap, holder or carrier forming one of the elements of and arranged relative to the other elements of a reflecting device for securing the elements of the latter together to provide a unit, and further with the cap, holder or carr er serving as a means for securing the unit to the object in which it is to be placed, that 15 the base of a sign or signal.

A further object of the invention ls to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a

lens cap, holder or carrier for a reflecting device in a manner whereby a reflector and a large part of the lens, forming elements of the reflector device are enclosed by the cap to provide a unit.

A further object of the invention 1s toprovide, in a manneras hereinafter set forth, a lens cap, holder 'or carrier forming one of the elements of and arranged relatively to the other elements of a reflecting device for securing'the elements of the latter together to provide a unit and further wherebythe cap, holder or carrier has inherent portions therof providing means for anchoring it in the base of a sign or signal whereby the unit is secured in position.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in amanner as hereinafter set forth, a lens cap, holder or .carrier for a reflecting device with spaced inherent means for air choring it in the base of a sign or signal.

Further objects of the invention are to provide in amanner as hereinafter set forth, a lens cap, holder or carrier for a reflecting device which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly eificient in its use, conveniently united with a lens to enclose a large part thereof, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto a pended.

In the drawings whe ein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure l is an elevation of a reflecting device having as an element thereof a lens cap, holder or carrier in accordance with this invention and furtherillustrating a fragmentary portion of a base in section having the reflecting device anchored therein and projected therefrom.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with the lens cap, holder or carrier shown in vertical section and further illustrating the reflector on the inner face of the inner end or bottom of the lens cap, holder or carrier.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the reflecting device anchored within a base.

F i2gure 4 is a section online 44 Fig ure The lens cap, holder or carrier will be hereinafter termed a holder and the latter is of less length than the lens which is mounted therein. The lens as illustrated is of the bi-convex type and comprises a cylindrical body portion 5 of the desired length and an outer convex end 6 and an inner convex end 7. The lens is generally indicated at 8. The lens is of a length to have the body portion thereof extend a substantial distance from the outer face of the base 9 when the reflecting device is anchored to the latter. The base 9 is formed with a socket 10 for the reception of the reflecting device and the The body portion '12 of the holder 11 extends from the inner end 7 of the lens 8 to a point in proximity to the outer end 6 of lens 8. The holder 11 is formed with a closed inner end 13 of convex curvature and which has a reflecting medium 14 positioned throughout the inner face thereof, and said medium can be provided by silvering the inner face of .Jthe' inner end 14 or said medium can be set up in any manner desired. The inner end 7 of the lens 8 seats throughout against the re- 15 each consisting of an outer wall 16, and

p a pair of side wa 17, 18 thereby providing theinner face of the body portion 12 with a series of spaced grooves 19. The walls 16 incline outwardly from their'inner to their outer ends and each wall 16 is knurled, serrated orotherwise formed in a manner to grip the wall of the socket 10. As illustrated I Each wall 16 is formed with a series of teeth Each of the extensions 15 extends substantially from the transverse median of the body 12 to the outer edge thereof.

T e grooves 19 in connection with the body portion 5 of the lens 8 form aseries of pockets for the reception of a combined sealing and securing me ium 21, which acts .in a manner to secure the holder 11'to the lens 8 and also which will prevent moisture and foreign matters from getting in contact with the reflector and destroying its reflecting qualities.

Thelens employed may be of'plano-convex, bi-convex or convex-concave contour.

That part of. the body portion 12 of the holder 11, other than the extensions 15, snugly engages the body portion5 of the lens 8.

The teeth 20 provide the extensions 15 with what may be termed barbed means which holds the .unit in place after it has been driven intothe board or metal holder.- When using metal however, the socket will have to be nearl as large as the extreme largest diameter 0 the unit for the reception of the latter, or otherwise when forcing the unit in position the sealing material between the lens and the cap will be crushed. The barbed means engage wlth the wall of the socket 10 for the "purpose of anchoring the unit in position.

The reflecting unit is commonly used in the construction of road indicators and other signs which at night are illuminated or rendered visible by the reflection of light coming from the lamps of motor vehicles or some other extraneous source. The unit can be arran ed in any manner desired. Although t eunit is designed primarily for road indicators and other signs, yet it is to be understood that it can be employed for formmg symbols, letters, figures and also in connection with buoys or for any other purposes for which it is found applicable.

It is thought the many advantages of a reflecting device or unit in accordance with this invention, more particularly the lensholder forming an element thereof, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

vIVhat I claim is:

1. In a reflecting device,-a lens holder comprising a lens-receiving hollow body closed at its inner end and open at its outer end, and said body having spaced, laterallydisposed, lengthwise extendingperipheral offset portions of less lengththan the body and providing the latter with spaced grooves on the inner face thereof, said oflset portions being toothed' 2. In a reflecting device, a lens holder comprising a lens receiving hollow body portion closed at its inner end and open at its outer end, said body portion having spaced, laterally extending, lengthwise disposed, peripheral oifset portions extending from the outer end of the body and terminating at a point removed from the inner end thereof, said offset portions providing the inner face of the body with grooves, and said ofl'set 'portions being toothed.

3. In a reflecting device, a lens holder comprising a lens receiving hollow body closed at its inner end and. open at its outer end, said body having spaced, "la terally disposed, lengthwise extending peripheral ofi'set portions of less length than, the body and providing the latter with spaced grooves on the inner face thereof, said ofi'set portions being toothed, and the said closed inner end of said body being of convex curvature.

. 4. In areflecting device, a lens holder comprising a lens receiving hollow body portion closed at its inner end and open at its outer end, said body port-ion having spaced, laterally extending, lengthwise disposed peripheral ofi'set port-ions extending from the outer end'of' thebody and terminating at apoint removed from the inner end thereof, said offset portions providing the inner face of the body with grooves, and said ofl'set portions being toothed, and the said closed inner end of said body being of convex curvaturej I 5. In a reflecting device a lens holder comprising a lens receiving hollow body closed at' its'inner end and open at its outer end, said body formed with spaced, laterally disposed, lengthwise extending peripheral ofl'set portions gradually increasing in width from the inner to the outer end thereof, said ofi'set p0 tions providing said body with spaced grooves on the inner face thereof.

6. In a reflecting device a lens holder com- V prising a hollow body closed at and open at its outer end, said body formed with spaced, laterally disposed, lengthwise its inner end extending oflset portions gradually increasing in width from, the inner to the outer end thereof, said offset portions providing said' body with spaced grooves on the inner face thereof, and said ofi'set portions being toothed on 'the outer peripheries thereof.

7. In a reflecting device a lens holder comprisnga hollow-body closed at its inner end and open at its outer end, said body formed with spaced, laterally disposed, lengthwise extending offset port-ions gradually increas ing in width from the inner-to-the outer end thereof, said offset portions providing said body with spaced grooves on the inner face thereof, and the closed inner end of said body being of convex curvature.

8. In a reflecting device a lens holder comprising a hollow body closed at its inner end and open at its outer elid, said body formed with spaced, laterally disposed, lengthwise extendingoffsetportions gradually increasing in width from the innerto the outer end thereof, said ofl'set portions providing said body with spaced grooves on the inner face thereof, said'oifset portions being toothed on the outerperipheries thereof, and the closed inner end ofsaidbody being of convex curvature. k

9. In a reflecting device a lens holder com- I prising a hollowbodyjclosed at its inner end and open at its outer end, said body formed with spaced, laterally disposed, lengthwise extending ofi'set portions gradually increasing in width from the inner to the outer end thereof, said offset portions providing said body with spaced grooves on the inner face thereof, said offset portions terminating at the outer edge of said body. 7

10. In a reflecting device a lens holder comprising a hollow body closed at its inner end and open at its outer end, said body formed with spaced, laterally disposed, lengthwise extending offset portions gradually increasing in width from the inner to the outer end thereof, said ofl'set portions providing said body with spaced grooves on the inner face thereof, said oflset portions being toothed'on the outer peripheries thereof, and said offset 14, In a reflecting device a lens holder comprising a lens receiving hollow body portion closed at its inner end. and open at its outer end, said body portion having its inner face formed with spaced grooves for the reception of means to secure the lens with the holder, that part of the inner face of said body portion other than said grooves being of a diameter to provide for the body portion to snugly fit the lens.

15. In a reflecting device a lens holder comprising a lens receiving hollow body portion closed at its inner end and open at its outer end, said body portion having its inner face formed with spaced grooves for the reception of means to secure the lens with the holder, that part of the inner face of said body portion other than said grooves being of a diameter to provide for the body portion to snugly-fit the-lens, said body portion hav.- ing its outer periphery toothed at spaced points.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

LOUIS RAYMOND ZEHNDER.

portions terminating at the outer edge of said body.

11. In a reflecting device a lens holder comprising a lens receiving hollow body portion closed at its inner end and open at its outer end, said body portion provided with inherent, spaced, laterally projecting oppositely disposed means to provide for the anchoring of the holder in position.

12. In a reflector device a lens holder comprising a lens receiving hollow body portion closed at its inner end and open at its outer end, and said body portion having the outer part thereof provided with lengthwise ex-

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