US2323978A

US2323978A - Black-out shield for head lamps

Info

Publication number: US2323978A
Application number: US450445A
Authority: US
Inventors: Burton J Davis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-07-10
Filing date: 1942-07-10
Publication date: 1943-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 1960-07-13

Description

y 1943- B. J. DAVIS 2,323,978

BLACKOUT SHIELD FOR HEADLAMPS Filed July 10, 1942 I /0 INVENTOR v flu/Pra/v J 04:45

BY W ATTORNEY v Patented July 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to headlamps of motor vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to an attachment readily coupled with a headlamp and forming thereon a blackout shield which el minates all glare and renders the headlights substantially invisible at a point above the center of the lamp, while at the same time projecting sufficient light onto the roadway to enable the vehicle to travel at a moderate rate of speed in safety. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which one embodiment of the invention is disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a blackout shield made according to my invention diagrammatically illustrating its attachment to a vehicle headlight, and;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the shield as shown in Fig. l with part of the construction broken away and in section.

In the operation of vehicles during blackouts, and particularly such vehicles as are permitted to travel through streets and over roadways, it has been recommended that such vehicles travel at low rates of speed using dim parking lights. Operating vehicles under these conditions is extremely dangerous and has caused many accidents and furthermore, even these dim lights are readily detectable at points above the center of the headlights by reason of the reflector surfaces of the lamps.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide an attachment to headlamps of motor vehicles in the form of a shield, which eliminates all glare of headlights above the center line of the lamp and yet projects beyond the front of the vehicle a subdued, soft, non-glaring light for fifty feet or more to enable a vehicle to travel with safety over a street or roadway at a moderate rate of speed. It is also desirable to provide a shield, inner surfaces of which are blackened or darkened to materially minimize reflecting characteristics thereof. Further, it i preferred that the outer surface of the enlarged portion of the shield have an outer surface at the lower portion thereof relatively dark in color and preferably of a dark green or dark blue color value or a combination thereof to aid in softening the light and also to prevent a reflected glare emanating from this surface. Other outer surfaces of the blackout shield are also preferably darkened.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown one adaptation of the invention which comprises a relatively large cylindrical body to, one end ll of which is open and the other end closed by an end wall or plate l2. The cylinder I0 is made of a thin wall body having sufficient rigidity to maintain the contour thereof and the opened end portion of thi cylinder is adapted to be forced between the casing l3 of a headlamp and the inner reflector shell 14 diagrammatically represented in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

It is quite customary in standard lamps of this type and kind to employ rubber rings between the casing 13 and the reflector i4 and the cylinder of the blackout shield fits between these rings sufficiently snug to retain the shield against accidental displacement from the lamp.

When the shield is attached to the lamp, the lens l5 of the lamp will actually be arranged within the chamber iii of the cylindrical portion I0 of the shield.

The wall or plate I2 has a crescent-shaped opening I! therein, the curved boundary wall $8 of which is eccentric with respect to the curvature of the cylinder 10; whereas the lower straight edge I9 of the opening I! is arranged slightly below the center of the cylinder ill.

Extending from the cylindrical portion IS on the wall l2 thereof is a semi-cylindrical portion or hood 2D, the curved wall of which conforms with the curved wall [8 of the aperture H, as clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing, excepting that the wall of the hood 2! extends beyond the limits of the opening l'i, the side wall portions 2! of which are arranged below the lower straight wall [9 of the aperture IT.

The hood 2!] includes at its outer end a closure or end wall 22, the lower edge 23 of which is in alinement with the lower edge of the extensions 2| so as to provide between the walls l2 and 22 overlapped sections, as clearly indicated at 24 in Fig. 2 of the drawing. These overlapped sections prevent direct transmission of light through the shield as will be apparent.

While it is possible to construct the complete blackout shield from a unitary body of metal, plastic or other materials, in the construction shown a simple adaptation of the invention is illustrated primarily in eliminating expensive die costs. For example, the cylinder i0 is made with an outwardly projecting flange 25, around which is crimped a hook flange 26 on the plate l2. The hood 20 has at its inner end an arch-shaped flange 2' seating 0n the inner surface of the wall l2 bordering the curved portion 18 of the aperture I! and is welded or otherwise secured to the wall 2. The outer end of the hood 20 has an outwardly extending flange 28 similar to the flange engaged by a hook flange 29 on the end wall 22.

The inner surfaces of the cylinder l0, wall I2, hood 20 and end wall 22 are all preferably blackened or darkened as diagrammatically illustrated at 30 in Fig. l of the drawing and, in fact, all outer surfaces of the blackout shield may be correspondingly darkened excepting that it is preferred that the outer surface of the wall 12 below the edge l9 and below the lower ends of the extensions 2| be coated as indicated by stippling 3|, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, in a relatively dark color preferably green although blue or a combination of blue and green can be employed. The coloring of this surface prevents any appreciable reflection of light and has a tendency to soften the light which is reflected through the shield.

From actual tests of blackout shields of the type and kind on pleasure vehicles, it has been found that, by arranging one shield upon each headlamp, sufficient light will be projected to feet or more in front of the vehicle extending well to the sides of the vehicle to insure safe operation of the vehicle at a relatively slow speed, say from 10 to 20 miles per hour. One vehicle equipped with these blackout or dimout shields will readily detect the approach of the other vehicle but without experiencing any glare whatever and the marginal outline of the vehicle will be clearly noted for safe passing of the vehicle, providing both headlights, at the time, are in operation.

While the invention has been specifically described for use on headlights or lamps of motor vehicles, it will be understood that the shields are applicable to any type and kind of light and on any type and kind of vehicle. I

In view of the fact that headlights of motor vehicles have been standardized in recent years, a blackout shield of one size and dimension will be applicable to substantially all of the more recent vehicles. Other special sizes can also be made, however, to suit modified forms of lamp constructions.

It will be apparent that my improved shield comprises two housing portions, one, the larger portion, substantially conforming to the greater diameter of the lamp and the other materially less in size and representing a semi-circular portion disposed eccentrically with respect to the first portion, with a restricted light discharge opening in the first portion materially above the center thereof; the first portion and the second portion collectively forming a complete shield for the upper portion of the lamp.

It will also be apparent that by reason of the fact that no screws, clamping devices or the like are used in mounting the shields in position, these shields may be quickly attached and detached thus dispensing with the necessity of using the shields except in emergency blackout periods.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Fhe combination with a headlamp of the character described including the usual outer lens, of a shield readily detachable with said lamp, said shield comprising a cylindrical portion enveloping the light reflecting area of the lamp lens and projecting straight beyond the lens of the lamp, the cylindrical portion having an end wall spaced with respect to the lamp lens, said end wall having a substantially half moon discharge opening slightly above the center thereof, a semi-circular hood projecting from said wall and conforming to the contour of part of the opening in said wall, said hood in combination with said end wall collectivel shieldin direct rays of light emanating from said lamp through said opening, said hood having an opaque end wall spaced with respect to the end wall of said cylindrical portion, and said end walls having overlapping portions.

2. The combination with a headlamp of the character described including the usual outer lens, of a shield readily detachable with aid lamp, said shield comprising a cylindrical portion enveloping the light reflecting area of the lamp lens and projecting straight beyond the lens of the lamp, the cylindrical portion having an end wall spaced with respect to the lamp lens, said end wall havin a substantially half moon discharge opening slightly above the center thereof, a semi-circular hood projecting from said wall and conforming to the contour of part of the opening in said wall, said hood in combination with said end wall collectively shielding direct rays of light emanating from said lamp through said opening, said hood having an opaque end wall spaced with respect to the end wall of said cylindrical portion, said end walls having overlapping portions, and inner surfaces of the cylindrical portion, hood and end walls being darkened.

3. The combination with a headlamp of the character described including the usual outer lens, of a shield readily detachable with said lamp, said shield comprising a cylindrical portion enveloping the light reflecting area of the lamp lens and projecting straight beyond the lens of the lamp, the cylindrical portion having an end wall spaced wth respect to the lamp lens, said end wall having a substantially half moon discharge opening slightly above the center thereof, a semi-circular hood projecting from said'wall and conforming to the contour of part of the opening in said wall, said hood in combination with said end wall collectively shielding direct rays of light emanating from said lamp through said opening, said hood having an opaque end wall spaced with respect to the end wall of said cylindrical portion, said end walls having overlapping portions, inner surfaces of the cylindrical portion, hood and end walls being darkened, and the outer surface of the first named end wall below said hood having a dark greenish color.

4. The combination with a lamp projecting a beam of light from the lamp lens, of a shield attachment detachable with respect to the lamp and projecting from the lamp in the direction of the beam of light emanating therefrom, said attachment comprising a large housing portion of a diameter greater. than the lens and completely enveloping the beam of light emanating from the lamp lens, the outer end of the housing having an end wall provided with a light discharge opening in alignment with the upper central portion only of the beam, said end wall being opaque, a reduced hood projecting outwardly from said end wall of the housing portion and bordering the upper and side portions of said opening to envelop the upper part of the light beam projected through the opening of said housing, and said hood having an opaque end wall overlapping the opaque end wall of the housing bordering the lower portion of said discharge opening for completely shielding the beam from direct transmission of light.

5. A blackout shield for lights of the character described, comprisng a large cylindrical body open at one end and having a closed wall at the other end, said wall having at and above the central portion thereof a substantially crescent shaped light discharging opening, a semi-circular hood projecting from said wall and bordering the upper and side portions of said opening to envelop the upper portion of said opening, the curvature of said hood being eccentric with respect to the curvature of said housing, and said hood having an outer opaque end wall spaced from the first named end wall and of greater depth than the depth of the opening in said first named end wall.

6. A blackout shield for lights of the character described, comprising a large cylindrical body open at one end and having a closed wall at the other end, said wall having at and above the central portion thereof a substantially crescent shaped light discharging opening, a semi-circular hood projecting from said wall and bordering the upper and side portions of said opening to envelop the upper portion of said opening, the curvature of said hood being eccentric with respect to the curvature of said housing, said hood having an outer opaque end wall spaced from the first named end wall and of greater depth than the depth of the opening in said first named end wall to provide overlapped portions on said end walls, and the hood including side projections of a depth equal to the depth of the end wall of said hood.

BURTON J. DAVIS.