US2147543A - Antiglare device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 1939. H PARKS 2,147,543

ANTIGLARE DEVI CE x Filed Aug. 17, 1936 Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF1E 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved antiglare device and seeks, among other objects, to provide a device of this character which is more particularly intended for use with automobiles and other vehicles provided with headlights and which will prevent the objectionable glare caused by said headlights.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-glare device which will be effective for insuring uniform diffusion of light beams without glare forwardly of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-glare device which will project light beams in such a manner that they will be con- 5-centrated at desired points in front of and to the sides of the vehicle and will not cause blinding of the driver of an oncoming vehicle or of a pedestrian, so that many accidents, which might be caused by glaring headlights, will be pre- 510 vented.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-glare device which will be easy to install and which will be effective in use over long periods of time without attention.

25 Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-glare device having a reflector cup which is adapted to be mounted on a bracket and which may be adjusted on said bracket for projecting light beams from a headlight bulb to desired points on the reflector employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character employing means for mounting the reflector cup on the bracket in such a manner that accidental shifting of the cup on the bracket, or rattling of the cup and bracket assembly, will be prevented.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide an anti-glare device which will be cheap to manufacture so that it may be put into general use at little cost to motorists.

Other and incidental objects of the invention will render themselves apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved anti-glare device.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view showing the reflector cup of my improved device in position on a headlight bulb and socket assembly, said reflector cup and bulb being shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a front View of my improved antiglare device, partly broken away.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the bracket employed for mounting the reflector cup within the reflector.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the clip employed for adjustably retaining the reflector cup on the. bracket.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 3 indicates a bulb socket which is of conventional design and is adapted to receive the usual headlight bulb 2.

In carrying my invention into effect, I employ a bracket 3 which, as best seen in Figure 4, includes a collar 4 having a set screw 5 extending therethrough. The bracket 3 is provided with an arm ii which is rectangular in cross section and is gradually thickened at 1, near the collar 4, with which it is integrally formed. The arm 6 is gradually curved throughout the major portion of its length and describes a substantially semicircular arc. The bracket is adapted to project through the axis of the collar 4 in spaced relation thereto. As best seen in Figure 1, the bracket 3 is of sufficient length to permit the ready insertion of the bulb 2 into the socket I.

Normally associated with the bracket 3 and the bulb 2 is a substantially hemispherical reflector cup 8 which is adapted to be adjustably connected to the bracket 3 by means of a clip which is indicated in general by the numeral ii and is formed of suitable resilient material such as spring steel. The reflector cup 8 is provided with a mirror-like reflecting surface throughout its inner area and, as will be explained in more detail hereinafter, is adapted to reflect light beams projected downwardly and forwardly by the bulb 2, said cup being positioned to surround the outer and lower portions of the bulb, in spaced relation thereto and being located on the side of the bracket nearest the bulb. The clip 9 includes a body It which is formed with a straight flat center portion H and oppositely projecting obtuse angular end portions l2 which are cut away to define pairs of arms l3 and Hi. The pairs. of arms are each formed by turning back the central portion of the end portions E2 of the body, as shown at If), and It. These portions l5 and iii are rolled rearwardly to permit of ready engagement, either manually or by means of a suitable tool, with the clip. The pairs of arms l3 and I4 are rolled at their corresponding ends to define pairs of hooks ll and I8. As best seen in Figure 1 of the drawing, the reflector cup 8 is firmly held on the bracket 3 by the clip 9, the pairs of arms 13 and M of which straddle the bracket at opposite ends of said clip and engage the pairs of hooks I! and I8 over the rim of the reflector cup 8. It will be understood that the clip 9 effectually but adjustably connects the reflector cup with the bracket 3 in. such a manner that said reflector cup may be shifted on said bracket for projecting light beams emitted from the bulb 2 to a desired point on a reflector to be described hereinafter. It will, of course, be understood that the reflector cup 8 serves only to reflect light beams projecting downwardly and forwardly from the headlight bulb 2.

In order to project the light beams reflected by the reflector cup 8 and directly from the bulb 2, I employ a reflector 20. The reflector 20 is positioned above the bulb 2 and reflector cup 8 and is adapted to be secured to the socket I in any suitable manner, The reflector, as best seen in Figure 1, is substantially hemi-parabolic in cross section and said reflector is formed with a slightly curved wall 2| projecting light beams forwardly and downwardly from the headlight so that said beams will spread effectively in front of the vehicle and illuminate all portions of the roadway. The light beams will be projected far enough ahead of the vehicle so that the driver may see objects at a good distance, yet, at the same time, said beams will not glare and will not blind the driver of an oncoming vehicle. It should be understood that this reflector 20 may be installed in a headlight already manufactured or, if desired, headlights may be manufactured with their reflectors formed in the same manner as that of my reflector 20. The construction of my reflector 20 is such that it will be unnecessary to employ diffusing headlight lenses as now commonly used on motor vehicles for reducing the glare of the headlights.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the reflector cup 8 may be shifted lengthwise of the bracket 3 or may be shifted laterally with respect thereto for controlling the direction of the light beams reflected therefrom. It will, of course, be understood that a certain portion of the beams emitted from the bulb 2 will be projected directly upwardly against the reflector 20, but at no time will said headlight bulb be visible from the front of the vehicle so that glare from said bulb will not be present. In view of my improved construction, objectionable glare in front of a Vehicle will be removed and also the blind spot usually present when two vehicles with glaring headlights approach each other, will not be present when said approaching vehicles are equipped with my device,

When the reflector 20 is installed in a headlight provided with a reflector of conventional design, a flange 22 is formed at the rim of said reflector and said flange is adapted to be clamped between the rim of the lens, or pane, of the headlight and the conventional reflector. The light beams from the bulb which would normally be projected outwardly against the conventional reflector are intercepted by the reflector cup 8 and are projected therefrom upwardly against the reflector 20 for diffusion forwardly of the vehicle in a downward direction.

Attention is further directed to the fact that, if desired, the reflector 20 may be omitted and the reflector cup and bracket assembly employed with a conventional headlight and reflector. In this case, the reflector cup will intercept all downwardly projected light beams from the bulb 2 and thus tend to prevent glare from the headlight with which the reflector cup and assembly is employed. In View of the fact that my reflector is readily adjustable on the bracket 3, any desired adjustment for producing the most eflicient light beams with minimum glare, may be effected. Furthermore, the non-glare feature permits the use of lamps of much greater candle power.

My device is cheap to manufacture and readily adaptable to headlights now in use. It is though that the foregoing description points out the objects and advantages attained through the use of my invention so that further description is believed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In an anti-glare device, a bracket including a collar adapted to surround a socket, said socket being adapted to receive a bulb, said bracket including a longitudinally curved arm, a substantially hemispherical reflector cup adapted to be positioned on the arm between said arm and said bulb, and a clip adjustably connecting the reflector cup with said arm, said clip comprising a resilient body having end portions terminating in spaced arms, said spaced arms being formed with books adapted to straddle said first-mentioned arm and engage over the rim of said reflector cup, said reflector cup and clip being slidable on said firstmentioned arm and said cup being adapted to arrest light beams projected by said bulb and deflect said light beams upwardly for further reflection.

2. An anti-glare device including a bracket having a collar, means connecting the collar with a bulb socket, a bulbcarried in the socket, said bracket having an arm projecting forwardly of said collar and substantially surrounding the end of said bulb in spaced relation thereto, a reflector cup carried by the arm between said arm and said bulb, a clip carried by the arm and having a resilient body, angularly disposed end portions formed on the body and being formed with spaced arms terminating in hooks, said spaced arms straddling said first-mentioned arm and said hooks being adapted to engage the rim of the reflector cup and said cup and clip being slidable on said first-mentioned arm, and a reflector carried by the socket, said reflector being substantially hemi-parabolic in form and being adapted to project beams emitted directly from said bulb and deflected from said reflector cup forwardly and downwardly to prevent glare.

3. An anti-glare device including a bracket having a collar adapted to surround a socket. a. bulb carried in the socket, an arm integral with the bracket, a reflector cup, a clip adjustably connecting the reflector cup with the arm, said clip having a body provided with end portions formed with arms, hooks carried by the arms, said end portions having central portions engageable by a tool, and means rigidly securing the bracket on the socket, said reflector cup and clip being slidable on said first-mentioned arm and said cup being adapted to reflect light beams projected by said bulb.

GEORGE H. PARKS.

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