US1791334A - Automobile signal - Google Patents

Description

Fab. 3, 1931. E; z. WMNWRIGHT, JR 1,791,334

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Filed May 28; 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ENVENTOR Feb. 3, 1931. E. z. WAINWRIGH'II', JR 1,791,334

' AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Filed May 2a, 1929 2 Sheets-$heet 2 FIE. SZ

INVENTOR Edweg ZWa/nwnght, Ir :0 40% A?- WW his aHIOrneg.

' Patented Feb. '3, 1931.

TENT,

EDWEY Z. WAINWRIGHT, JR., 033 PITTSBURGH, IPENNSYLVANIA no'ronoertn sienna Application filed ma be, less. Serial no. scares.

This invention relates to animprovement in illuminated signals, and particularly those for use on an automobile to indicate when and in which direction the vehicle is to be turned.

Various signal devices have been employed in the past, some of which have included the combination of a tail-light, a stop-light and directional indices. Tn devices of this kind,

to however, it is desirable that warning indication be given before a directional index is displayed. That is to say. it is desirable to ivenotice several hundredfeet before turnin and it a directional index is displayed this far awayfrom the turning point, it loses its significance, or is disregarded and forgotten by the following drivers. Therefore, an auxiliary warning is desirable prior to the final indication.

The object of the present invention is to provide a directional signal device for auto- "mobiles, which has aux1liary warning lights arranged to be displayed prior to the operation of the directional signal.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a directional signal device having an auxiliary warning light arranged to be displayed prior to the operation of the dire:- tional signal, and to provide means whereby to the auxiliary warning light may function as a tail light.

ln the accompanying drawings Fig.1 is a view in front elevation of the signal device of 'the'present invention; Fig. llll is a view in 3 front elevation of the bed member of the device showing the front p ate and the lass members-removed from in front or the 'ight bulbs; Fig. HT is a bottom view of the device, to larger scale, and partially in elevaiio tion and partially in section; and Fig. TV is a diagrammatic view indicating the elec trical wiring scheme. Figs. V and Vllare views corresponding to Figs. T and llll re; spectively showing the tail-light to larger scale and with slightly diherent dimensional proportions; the light bulbs. however, are not shown in their sockets in Fl. VT.

Referring to the drawing, te numeral 1 desist/es the'bodv member oi the device which is preferably termed integrally o scribed.

aluminum. Inset from the front surface 3 of the member are a plurality of reflector chambers in which the light bulbs 2 are operatively mounted. Chambers l and 5 and their included light bulbs serve to illuminate respectively the lens of the stoplight 6 and tail-light 7. Similarly, the chambers 8 and 9 may in conjunction with their light bulbs illuminate the auxiliary warning lens 10 and 11, and the lights in chambers 12 and 13 may enlighten the arrow indices 14 and 15.

As may be seen in Fig. TH, a front cover 7 plate 16 serves in conjunction with a backing plate 17 to retain the lens or glass members in appropriate position before the several light chambers. Ubviously these plate members are suitably stenciled for this purpose. The

lower or underwall 30 of the member 1 is discontinued along theedges 31, and grooves bulb in the downwardly open chamber 5 to illuminate the license plate. (not shown) which is normally afiixed to the flange 34: of cover 33.. Tt shouldbe noted that the chembers 8 and 9 of the warning lights 10 and ll are also formed to open downwardly, and the importance of this will presently be de nects the negative terminal at the bulb behind The elebtrical connections act mereea the arrow 14 to the contact 43, and the wire wardly to afford illumination of a license 49 similarly connects the bulb behind arrow 15 to the contact 46.

device is attached wishes to make a left turn, he moves the electrically conductive switchhandle 50 into contact with point 44:. {This should be done when the car is several hundred feet away from the point of turning.)

An electrical circuit will obvious be closed through the bulbs of the two warning lights 10 and 11, and these li hts will glow to attract the attention of the rivers of the following cars. As the car nears the turning point, the handle 50 is swung into contact with the Y J point 43, and the directional index 14 will be displayed, unmistakably indicating at the proper moment that a left turn is about to be made. In making a right turn the operation of the, handle will be to the right in a man- ;ner similarto that described in making a left ,thrn.

. It is well known that many accidents are caused at night due to the fact that drivers proceed without tail-lights showing on their cars, Often the tail-light fails on the road, andthere areno facilities available for its immediate repair. To prevent the danger arising from such a contingency, the present invention lends itself. As mentioned above,

' .the chambers 8 and 9 of the warning iights iii) wil open downwardly, and should for any cause the normal tail-light 7 fail, the switch handle may be positioned in contact with either of the points 44 or 45. The two light bulbs 1 within the chambers 8 and 9 may then remairglowing (or one of them in case the other thereof has failed) to illuminate the licenst plate, andser've generally instead of the cen traltail-light 7.

I claim" as my invention:

1." An automobile signal device comprising an integral body member, said body membe'r being formed with a plurality of light reflecting chambers, an electric bulb in each of said chambers, two oppositely pointing directional indices arranged one in front of each of two of said chambers, a tail-light located medially of said indices and arranged in front of another of said chambers, an auxiliary tail light associated-with each directional index and each of such auxiliary lights being arranged severally in front of two other of said chambers, and means for efiecting the illumination of the bulbs in the chambers to the rear of each of said auxiliary tail lights which. means are adapted to cause the illumination of one or the other of said indices only after the illumination of its associated auxiliary tail light.

2. The \structure of the next preceding claim, in which each chamber to the rear of the aum'liary tail li h r to the rear of 5:,

ts as well as the chame tail light ope'downthe pliite, substantially as described.

n When the driver of the car to which my 'hand.

witness whereof, I hereunto set my EDWEY Z. WAINWRIGH'l, JR.

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