US2332948A - Safety device for pedestrians - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 26, 1943. E, STUBBE 2,332,948

SAFETY DEVICE FOR PEDESTRIANS Filed July 2, 1942 INVENTOR.

ELSA 5705:; Q .BY

Patented Oct. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,332,948 SAFETY DEVICE on PEDESTRIANS Elsa Stubbe, Cedar-brook, N. J. Application July 2, 1942, Serial N0.4 19,404

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a safety device to be used by pedestrians while walking at night in poorly lighted or unlighted locations. My invention is concerned mainly with avoiding the dangers which face the pedestrian by way of approaching vehicles without proper lights or visibility. Also the hazards of collision among foot travelers in crowded and poorly lighted or unlighted locations are sought to be minimized.

Heretofore attempts have been made to provide a safety device which may be worn by pedestrians at night or be carried by them to give an approaching vehicle with lights a flash or series of flashes from reflector elements for warning purposes. Certain disadvantages are present in the prior art devices with which I am familiar and the broad object of this invention is to create an improved device which will eliminate the disadvantages and will provide additional utility in many ways. i

A more limited object of my invention is to provide a safety device which is extremely simple in construction and is easy to manufacture, relatively cheap, and easy to use because of its simplicity.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which is substantially universal in application insofar as it is adapted to the use of all sizes of persons without tedious adjustments or the necessity of purchasing particular sizes.

Another object of my invention is to provide protection for pedestrians against the hazards of collision with other foot travelers in crowded and poorly lighted or unlighted areas, and at the same time the device will give warning to approaching vehicles with lights of meager candle power or brilliance during periods of blackout.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which may be used in comfort, which may be quickly applied or removed, and which may be conveniently carried or stored when not in use.

Another and more limited object of my invention is the provision of an improved signal button with simplified attaching means, which facilitates assembly and any adjustment which may be needed in extreme cases.

In general, I accomplish the above objects through the use of a necklace type of carrier for the signal devices or buttons and so arrange the buttons that groups of them depend equally upon the breast and back of the pedestrian to give protection from both directions. For purposes of economy, lightness, and many other advantages, I employ a textile tape in place of the usual chain employed in a necklace and attach the signal devices directly to the tape by passing prongs carried by the signal device directly through the tape.

My invention, therefore, comprises an elongated carrier member formed into a suitable closed loop for reception of the head and neck of the wearer, while opposed portions of the loop carry signal devices, which depend substantially equally from the front and rear to provide protection from the directions of greatest hazards Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear hereinafter as the description proceeds, and a better understanding of my invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a View of my device being worn in its customary and approved manner. Figure 2 is a detail View of the signal devices attached to the carrier, and Figure 3 is a detail view showing the arrangement by which the devices are attached to the carrier.

As can be seen from Figure 1, my device comprises a carrier strap 5 arranged into a closed formation to provide a, loop 6 with its opposite ends held closely together to provide V-shaped openings 1 and 8, which are inverted with respect to each other and leave a' relatively large opening substantially equidistant the ends to receive the head and neck of a pedestrian.

Referring now to Figure 2, the strap 5 may be formed of any knitted or woven fabric tape, and after a bend or crease is formed in the strap by doubling the two opposed parts together, the parts are swung in opposite directions in parallel planes to provide the V- shaped openings 7 and 8. While in this position the flexible prongs l0 carried by luminous buttons II and. reflecting buttons l2 are pushed through the double layer of tape and the prongs are bent downwardly as shown clearly in Figure 3 to clamp and hold the fabric material between the prongs and the rear face of the buttons. Preferably a small washer l3 having an elongated slot H receives the ends of the prongs l0 before they are bent outwardly and thus excess separation of prongs near their base is prevented.

In extreme cases where an excessively heavy neck or very slopin shoulders might, be involved, an adjustment of the V-shaped openings 1 and 8 may be made by moving the buttons downwardly and to one side to provide a greater opening in the case of the heavy neck or the upper button may be moved upwardly with the divergent straps brought more closely together in case of sloping shoulders. The adjustment may be efiected quickly and will give maximum comfort and a feeling of security to the wearer in spite of pecularities of physical makeup.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawing it can be seen that as the pedestrian walks along in the dark an approaching vehicle with lights will cause the reflecting buttons I2 to give warning to the driver of the vehicle. Also the luminous buttons II will give warning to approaching pedestrians without lights. In that way collisions and injuries may be avoided.

Due to the lightness, compactness, and flexibility of the device it may be carried in the purse or pocket to be available at all times by one user, or it may be stored in a convenient place for use by any one in a household ,when he is compelled to go out during the night time.

Various changes in details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I wish to avail myself of all modifications coming properly within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A device of the character described comprising an elongated carrier strap arranged in loop formation and providing opposed V-s haped openings, means for maintaining said V-shaped formations, and signal devices carried at the base of each V-shaped formation; said means comprising pronged elements carried by said signal devices and passing through superposed layers of. said: carrier strap.

ELSA STUBBE.

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