US2180093A - Reflecting device - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 14, 1939. I Q PERSONS 12,180,093

REFLECT ING DEVICE Filed March 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I j INVENTORY minimalism I" *FTQIZ BY 4 AT-rxk Nov; 14, 1939. A. PERSONS 2 .l80,093

REFLECTING DEVI CE Filed March 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Nov. 14, 1939 REFIECTBVG DEVICE Charles A. Persons, Worcester, Mass., 'assignor to Persons-Majestic Manufacturing Company,

Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 2 Claims.

This invention relates to reflectors and refleeting signals of the general type used on motor vehicles, bicycles, in route signs, highway signals, and for various other purposes.

The increased speed at which highway traflic is moving today makes it important to increase the range, and consequently, thebrilliancy of reflectors of the general type above indicated when they are used in any traflicrelationship. Furthermore, such increase in range must be accomplished without a sacrifice in lateral angularity of the reflectors. In other words, the distance at which such signals can be seen with such brilliancy as to command the attention of the driver, should be increased while still aflording ample lateral angularity. These requirements are necessary in order to give the driver of a motor vehicle sufficient time to see the signal and heed it, notwithstanding the high rate oi speed at which he may be travelling.

Reflecting signals of this general type are designed to receive rays of light and reflect them back in the general direction from which they came. The most common condition is that in which the rays from the headlights of a motor vehicle strike the signal and reflect it backinto the eyes of the driver of that vehicle. All of these signals, as heretofore made, are designed to be used in vertical positions where they will reflect horizontal rays in a generally horizontal direction. Laws are now in effect in many States making the use of such reflectors on motor vehicles compulsory. But the changes in motor vehicle designs, particularly those due to streamlining, have resulted in eliminating most of the vertical surfaces and replacing them with surfaces inclined in a fore and aft direction. Such changes have made it diflicult to use these prior types of reflectors satisfactorily. These reflecting devices cannot be mounted on the sloping surfaces of mud guards and other parts at the rear of a motor vehicle without losing the greater part of their reflecting power. If they are placed on special brackets the reflectors'are very likely to become broken, and they detract from the appearance of the car. Also, when it is attempted to use these reflectors mounted vertically on a steep grade, the rays of light being parallel to the grade, are reflected in only a narrow field, so limited as to be almost useless.

The present invention deals especially with these problems, and it aims to devise a thoroughly practical solution for them. Stated more specifically, it aims to provide a reflector construction which can be used on the inclined sur-- 10, 1936, Serial No. 68,048

faces at the back of a motor vehicle, or any other support, or can be set into the sloping surface of 'a mud guard or similar surface, and which will be highly eillcient in reflecting the approximately horizontal rays of approaching headlights. Such a construction is equally useful in many other situations where essentially the same optical problems are involved.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a front elevation of a reflecto embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one of the units of the reflector shown in Fig. 1:

Fig. 3 is a side view of the unit shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom edgeview 01' said unit;

' Fig. 5 is a vertical, sectional view through a portion of the reflector shown in Fig. 1 and illustrates two of the units shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal, sectional view on the line 6-6, Fig. 5;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are views similar to Figs. 2, 3

and 4, respectively, illustrating another form of Fig. 11 is a front elevation of a reflector suitable for use on the back of a motor vehicle, and embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 12 is a bottom edge view of the device shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view approximately on the line i 3-4 3, Fig. 11, and illustrating the angle with reference to a horizontal plane atv which this particular reflector normally is used";

Figs. 14 and 15 are views corresponding to Figs. 11 and 13, respectively, showing a reflector made up of units of the' type illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9;

Fig. 16 is a front elevation of another embodiment-of the invention;

Fig: 17 is a sectional view on Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17 showing another form of reflector unit which may be used inplace of that'illustrated in the latter figure;

Fig. 19 is a front elevation of another reflector in which a inetal face plate is used;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view on the line 20 20,

the line n n,

Fig. 19, showing the device with a separate reflector spaced away from the lens; and

Figs. 21 and 22 are front and sectional views. respectively, of still another form which the invention may take.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the reflector there illustrated comprises a glass body consisting of a plate-like web or body member 2 provided on one side thereof with a series of convex lenses 3 and on its opposite side with a corresponding series of convex elements it which are silvered so that they perform the functions of concave reflectors or mirrors In order to avoid confusion in terminology, these elements l will be referred to as mirrors. It will be clear from an inspection of Figs. 1, 5 and 6 that the mirrors are located in reflecting relationship to the respective lenses 3; that each mirror is individual to a single lens, and that the mirrors are offset with reference to the axes of the respective lenses. As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the offset relationship is such that parallel rays of light incident upon the lower half of any lens 3 will be brought substantially to a focus at the surface of the concave mirror 6 for that particular lens, and such rays will be reflected back in approximately the direction from which they came, some small degree of dispersion of these rays being produced. Parallel rays incident upon the greater part of the upper half of the lens, however, will not be reflected by the mirror 4. Naturally the proportions of the lens 3 and mirror 4 which cooperate with each other in this manner can be varied within reasonable limits, and so long as such variations do not defeat other objects of the invention.

The .foregoing relationship refers more particularly to those considerations aflecting vertical angularity of the reflector. As to lateral or horizontal angularity, the relationship of the units 3 and 4 to each other should be such that at least a 90 angularity is obtained. As shown in 5 Fig. 6, it is possible to produce a somewhat greater degree of spread in the construction shown.

Connecting the lower edge of the mirror t with the main plate or web 2, is a surface 5 which may be either curved or flat. It is usually silvered but performs no important reflecting function but it does afford an important manufacturing advantage. It joins the web at a point closely adjacent to the upper edge of the mirror l next below it. The relationship of all of the parts above described to each other in a single unit will readily be understood from an inspection of Figs. 2, 3 and 4. l I

Assuming the reflector 2 to be mounted at approximately a 45 angle on the back of a ,motor vehicle, or on any other convenient support, as shown in Fig.- 5, it will reflect back to approximately the source horizontal rays striking the lenses 3. It also accommodates a reasonable variation from a horizontal plane and it gives .a horizontal angularity as wide as necessary.

, Thus a reflector composed of a series of these reflector units can be mounted on the sloping surface of a bicycle or automobile mud guard, or in a vertical position on a steep grade,v and in all of these locations it will reflect back to the driver of a car rays issuing from his headlight with such brilliancy as to warn him of the presence of the signal.

In this construction a considerable portion of the-upper half of the lens 3is not utilized, and

th vertical angularity of full reflection of the reflector will be somewhat increased if the tops of these lenses are cut off, as shown at 6 in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. In other respects the unit illustrated in these figures is essentially like that shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. It will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 5 that if the top of the lower lens 3 there shown is cut away, rays from a lower angle will be permitted to strike the bottom of the upper lens 3.

As above stated, it is preferable to so proportion the radii and spacing of the lens 3 and mirror 4 that the lens will focus parallel rays substantially at the surface of the mirror. This may conveniently be accomplished with a concentric relationship of the surfaces of the parts a and 4. However, this is not absolutely essential, and these two units may have independent centers, if desired, as shown in Fig. 10. In all of these constructions the center line or axis a-a, Fig. 3, of the concave mirror 6 forms the axis of the mean incident beam which the mirror is designed to receive and makes an oblique angle with the axis b-b of the convex lens 3. It also passes through thecenter of curvature of said lens. The construction above described is useful not only for the reasons stated, but also in producing added brilliancy and range in a reflector of sizes suitable for use on the back of a motor vehicle or a bicycle. This is due to the fact that the units can be grouped more closely than in prior constructions, while still preserving the other essential relationships of angularity, and the like. Referring again to Figs. 1, 5 and 6, it will be seen that-each mirror 6 extends beyond the upper edge .and laterally beyond the side edges of its respective lens 3, but that it does not extend below said lens. Consequently while the reflector is subject to essentially the same lateral spacing limitations as prior constructions, it permits a much closer vertical spacing of units of a given size. The sizes of the units that can be used efiectively'in reflectors of this general type are limited, and consequently, the brilliancy and range of a reflector of given dimensions is determined by the number of these units that can be grouped in a given space, other conditions being equal. An important advantage of this invention, therefore, is that it affords the increased range, brilliancy and efficiency above referred to.

Fig. 11 illustrates a typical reflector of dimensions suitable for use on the back of a motor vehicle or bicycle, while Figs. 14 and 15 show essentially the same construction in which the units illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are employed. In connection with the latter figures it may be pointed out that the cutting off of the tops of the lenses may be used, if desired, to effect a still closer grouping of the units vertically than is possible in the arrangement shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, while still affording the same degree of vertical angularity, or the same spacing of the units may be maintained, and the greater vertical angularity afforded thereby may thus be utilized.

Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate a construction similar to that shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, but in which the web or plate-like body of the device is made in the form of a section of a cylinder. The entire glass body is mounted in a metal holder i0 provided with perforated ears I2--l2 at its upper and lower ends suitable for attachment to the mud guard of a motor vehicle or a bicycle. Also, the device may include a metal face plate i3 provided with apertures through which the lenses 3 can project. Such a mounting for the glass body is useful in affording some protection I against breakage .3 of the type shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are used is illustrated in Fig. 18. These constructions in which thereflector is mounted in a metal holder or shell are of advantage in securing the device conveniently to any suitable support. In this connection it may be pointed out that where these reflectors are mounted in a vertical position on a grade, the installation can readily be made such that the reflectors will receive lights from the head lamps coming up the grade and will reflect them downward substantially to their source. The same devices, turned upside down, can be used on a down grade where they will perform the same functions that they do on the up grade.

Usually the most economical arrangement is to cast or mold the units in a single body. How- ,ever, such units as those shown in either Figs.

2, 3 and 4, or Figs. '1, 8 and 9, can be made independently and assembled in any suitable holder which will maintain them in the desired relationship to each other.

, Also, the mirrors 4 need not necessarily be molded integral with the glass body, but these units may be replaced by a separate reflector or mirror made of metal, or any other suitable material. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 20 where the metal mirror is provided with concave reflecting surfaces 4', located in essentially the same relationship to the lenses 3' as' are the mirrors 4 in the constructions above described. The arrangement showndn Fig. 20 is the functional equivalent of those illustrated in other flgures. The latter are often preferred because of considerations of economy in manufacture, especially in certain sizes, but these considerations and special conditions make it desirable to use the separate reflector in other cases.

This construction also lends itself readily-to the manufacture of letters, words, and the like, as shown for example in Figs. 21 and 22. Here the lenses 3 and mirrors 4 are arranged suitably to form the letter S, the entire structure being molded or cast as a unitary plate, but any other letter, figure, word, or the like, may be made in the same manner, or in sections of suitable dimensions. It will be observed that in the foregoing description, the term plate" has not been used in its strict sense, but rather as indicating the general form of the deviceor of the web which connects the units and, in fact,- forms parts of them, and it may or may not have flat surfaces. It will also be understood that transparent plastic compositions now available commerclally can be used instead of glass since they are the equivalent for glass-in most locations.

A most important feature of this invention is its application to bicycles. Formerly, to get the full benefit of a reflector on' a bicycle it was common practice to attach it near the rear end of the mud guard in order that it would be at an approximate right angle to lights approaching from the rear. In this low position it was soon covered with splash and dirt from the wheel and so rendered uselas. With my improved reflector, its location high on the mud guard, frame or other support, is feasible, and in such a position it will return full reflection to, and in the general direction of, the source of light even though its face is approximately removed from the vertical.

While I have herein shown and described typical embodiments of my invention, it will be evident that the details of construction necessarily will be modified somewhat in accordance with the requirements of individual situations, and that the invention maybe embodied in a great variety of forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

l. A reflector comprising. a glass plate designed to be used in an inclined position and providedwith a plurality of units, each unit comprising a convex lens on one side of said plate and a convex projection, coated to perform the functions of a mirror, on the opposite side of the plate, said mirror beinglocated in reflecting relationship to the lens and offset upwardly with referencefto the lens, the mirror of each unit extending above its respective lens and laterally beyond it at opposite sides thereof for substantial distances, but thelens extending below the lower edge of the mirror, the lower edge of each mirror being connected to the plate by a surface 7 extending from said edge and meeting the plate on a line closely adjacent the upper edge of the mirror of the unit next below and above the lower portion of its related lens, said lens and mirror being arranged substantially in autocollimating relation on an axis at an acute angle to the plate. 1

2. A reflector comprising a glass plate designed to be used in an inclined position and provided with a plurality of nnits, each unit comprising a convex lens on one side of said plate and a convex projection, tions of a concave mirror, on the opposite side of the plate, said mirror being located in reflecting relationship to said lens and offset upwardly with reference to the lens, the mirror of each unit extending above its respective lens andlaterally beyond it at opposite sides thereof for sub,- stantial distances, but the lens extending below the lower edge of the mirror, said projection having an approximately flat lower surface extending from the lower edge of said mirror and meeting the plate on a line closely adjacent the upperedge of the mirror of the unit next below, and above the lower portion of its related lens, said lens and mirror being arranged substantially in autocollimating relationon an axis at an acute angle to the plate.

\ CHARLEBAPERBONS.

coated to perform the func--

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