US2176546A

US2176546A - Signal or direction indicating light

Info

Publication number: US2176546A
Application number: US185629A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robbins Marl Morris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-01-18
Filing date: 1938-01-18
Publication date: 1939-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1956-10-17

Description

Oct. 17, 193 9. 1 M MR ms 2,176,546

SIGNAL OR DIRECTION INDICATING LIGHT Filed Jan. 18, 1938 6 jwue-ntom 3 oli z'na Ghana 1424 Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNlTED STATES ATENT OFFIiZE Claims.

This invention relates to the class of electric signaling and pertains particularly to improvements in. signal casings.

The present invention has for its primary ob- 5 ject to provide an improved signal casing or unit which is adapted for use upon motor vehicles, motor boats, or any other similar structures in connection with which signals must be given in the running of the same, wherein a novel housing construction is made use of for maintaining reflectors and translucent lenses in place in the unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel signal light casing or unit wherein a body wall and supporting bracket arm are constructed in a novel manner by which is accomplished a particularly advantageous means of assembling and holding in place other removable parts of the unit.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a View in elevation of the lamp unit embodying the invention, the same being viewed from the rear.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram for the signal. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale showing a detail of construction.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I generally designates the housing of the light unit embodying the present invention, which housing is illustrated as being of circular design. This housing is formed of metal of suitable weight and width and is shaped, as stated, in the form of a circle or ring having the two parts or halves 2, the free end of each of which terminates in the outwardly directed lip or flange 3. Integral with the body portion I of the split ring there is secured or formed the diametrically extending broad flap bar one end of the bar joining the casing wall directly opposite the division in the casing, as illustrated,

the bar extending across the casing and between I the flanges or lips 3. The portion of the bar 4 lying between the flanges 3 has its upper and lower faces cut away, as indicated at 5, to receive the opposed flanges 3, and the bar adjacent these cut-away portions merges with a supporting arm or standard 6. The end of the arm is joined to a suitable plate I for facilitating the attachment of the signal unit to the side of an automobile or to a suitable support upon the structure to which it is to be attached.

The bar 4 constitutes a division wall between the members 2 of the casing, and it is provided substantially midway of its ends and in its upper and lower faces. with sockets 8 for the reception of electric incandescent lamps 9. The arm 6 is of tubular formation and the bar 4 is also hollow from the end adjoining the arm to the point where the sockets 8 are mounted so that the necessary electric current conducting wires may be runto the sockets from a suitable source of electric potential and a switch control means. The electrical features associated with the lamp unit will. be hereinafter more particularly described.

The. top and bottom surfaces of the partitioning element or bar 4 are provided adjacent the longitudinal edges of the bar with the grooves or channels Ill and confronting these grooves are similar channels I! formed in the curved inner face of the opposed portions 2 of the casing. A similar channel is formed along the longitudinal center of the top and bottom surfaces of the bar 4, as indicated at l2, and the inner faces of the portions 2 are provided with the the similar opposing channels I3.

The numeral Id designates two glass panels or lenses which are preferably red in color, while the numeral l5 designates similar lenses which are of amber color. These lenses are of semicircular formation and the straight edges thereof are adapted to position in the channels H] of the bar 4 while the curved edges engage in the opposing arcuate channels I formed in the inner surface of the casing section 2.

The numeral l6 designates a pair of reflecting plates, each of which is of semi-circular formation like the lenses and has its straight edge positioned in a channel it of the bar while the outer edge positions in the channel l3 of the casing. At the center of each reflecting plate l6 an aperture ll is formed to receive the adjacent incandescent bulb 9 so that each bulb serves to i1- luminate both sides of the reflector l'B.

From-the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that in assembling the light unit em bodying the present invention, the free ends of the annular casing portion are sprung away from the cut-away portion of the bar 4 so that the lenses and the reflecting plates may be slipped into their respective grooves in the faces of the bar 4. By then drawing the flanged ends of the portions 2 together, the curved edges of the lenses and of the reflecting plates will be engaged in their respective channels or grooves II and I3, and securing elements I8 may then be passed thru the flanges 3 into the end of the bar, as illustrated, to secure the lenses and other parts in assembled relation.

It is preferred that the red lenses l4 be at the top of the unit, and that these be employed to signal a proposed left turn of the vehicle upon which the unit is mounted and each of these lenses is therefore provided with an indicating arrow l9 and the legend Left as shown, and the lower amber lenses [5 are provided with oppositely directed arrows 2i] and the legend Right so that when the right turn of the vehicle is to be made, this lower part of the casing will be illuminated.

Fig. 4 illustrates a circuit layout for the light unit, and it is preferred that there be associated with the unit a switch 2! having the right and left contacts 22 and 23 respectively which are so disposed with relation to the switch arm 24 that when a left turn is to be signaled the arm 24 will be shifted to the left and a right shift of the switch arm will therefore illuminate the right turn indicating part of the unit. The numeral 25 designates a suitable source of electric potential which has one side grounded as at 26 for connection with the grounded sides of the two incandescent lamps, as indicated at 21. The other sides of the, lamps are indicated by the

wires

28 and 29 with the right and left hand sides respectively of the switch 2|.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that there has been disclosed herein a signal unit in which a novel method is employed for securing the several elements thereof in assembled relation. This novel method of securing the parts is such that securing elements such as screws or bolts need be used only at one point in the entire structure, and that is at the point on the carrying arm 6 where the latter joins the bar 4 and where the ends of the two sections 2 of the casing are brought together.

I claim:

1. A signal lamp, comprising a substantially flat casing frame having open front and rear sides, said frame comprising an upper and a lower portion and an intermediate bar, said portions of the frame being joined at one end to one end of the bar and detachably coupled at their other ends to the other end of the bar, the bar dividing the frame into upper and lower light chambers, a lens for each side of each chamber, means upon the top and bottom surfaces of said bar and the surfaces of the frame portions opposed thereto for engaging the edges of interposed lenses, illuminating means for each chamber, and means for mounting the frame on a support.

2. A signal lamp, comprising a substantially flat casing frame having open front and rear sides, said frame being divided at one side forming two opposed ends, each of said ends terminating in an out-turned ear, an elongated flat bar fixed at one end to the inner side of the frame opposite said ends and extending across the frame between said ends dividing the frame into upper and lower lighting chambers, the said ends being movable relative to said bar to change the size of the areas between the bar and the adjacent parts of the frame, lenses closing the two sides of the two chambers and each being enaged along its edges and held in place by the opposing surfaces of the adjacent bar and frame, lighting means for each chamber carried by the bar, means securing said ears to the interposed bar whereby the lenses are held in place, and means for attaching the lamp to a support.

3. A signal lamp, comprising a substantially flat casing frame having open front and rear sides, said frame being divided at one side forming two opposed ends, each of said ends terminating in an out-turned ear, an elongated fiat bar fixed at one end to the inner side of the frame opposite said ends and extending across the frame between said ends dividing the frame into upper and lower lighting chambers,tl1e said ends being movable relative to said bar to change the size of the areas between the bar and the adjacent part of the frame, lenses closing the two sides of the two chambers and each being engaged along its edges and held in place by the opposing surfaces of the adjacent bar and frame, lighting means for each chamber carried by the bar, means securing said ears to the interposed bar whereby the lenses are held in place, and

supporting means for the lamp comprising a bracket arm forming an integral continuation of that end of the bar which passes between the ears and having an attaching plate at its free end.

4. A signal lamp, comprising a flat casing frame open upon its two sides, said frame being divided at one point forming two free ends, an ear projecting outwardly from each of said ends, a flat bar formed integrally at one end with the inner side of the frame opposite said division and extending across the frame between said ears dividing the frame into an upper and a lower chamber, the upper and lower halves of the frame being sufliciently resilient to permit substantial movement of said ear carrying ends away from the bar, means for securing the ears to the bar, a channel extending longitudinally of the top and bottom surfaces of the bar adjacent each side edge thereof, a channel extending throughout the length of the inner surface of each half of the frame adjacent each edge and in opposed relation with a channel of the bar, a lens covering each open side of each chamber and engaged along its edge in opposed channels of the bar and frame, illuminating means for each chamber, and a supporting arm for the lamp joined to the casing.

5. A signal lamp, comprising a fiat casing frame open upon its two sides, said frame being divided at one point forming two free ends, an ear pro- J'ecting outwardly from each of said ends, a flat bar formed integrally at one end with the inner side of the frame opposite said division and extending across the frame between said ears dividing the frame into an upper and a lower chamber, the upper and lower halves of the frame being sufficiently resilient to permit substantial movement of said ear carrying ends away from the bar, means for securing the ears to the bar, a channel extending longitudinally of the top and bottom surfaces of the bar adjacent each side edge thereof, a channel extending throughout the length of the inner surface of each half of the frame adjacent each edge and in opposed relation with a channel of the bar, a lens covering each open side of each chamber and engaged along its edge in opposed channels of the bar and frame, a reflector plate in and dividing each chamber on a plane parallel with and midway between the adjacent lenses, the confronting faces of the frame and bar having grooves to receive the edge of the adjacent plate, each plate having a recess adjacent its center, an incandescent electric bulb mounted upon each side of the bar, each bulb being located within the recess of the adjacent plate to illuminate the chamber in which it is enclosed On both sides of the plate, means for conducting electric currentto the bulbs, and a supporting arm for and attached to the lamp.

MARL MORRIS ROBBINS.