US2422403A - Signal flare - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1947. A. GEARON E AL 2,422,403

S IGNAL FLARE Filed Dec. 14, 1944 252 z/ezzfoaflsx 2542453672072 222/ iZ/w 2/ Z 5% W Patented June 17, 1947 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE SIGNAL FLARE John A. Gearon and Edward Gearon, Chicago, 111.

Application December 14, 1944, Serial No. 568,152

(01. 1o2 s7.s)

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to a flare adapted to be rolled or folded into a compact, sealed, fireproof package which can be unrolled and ignited and placed in use in many different positions to act as a visible signal in many different industries where such signals are used to indicate danger or to convey other information by means of whit or colored lights.

Among the objects of our invention is to provide a signal flare having an adhesive coating applied to a portion of its outer surface, and used to attach it to an object on which it is pressed and thereby hold it in a serviceable position while burning.

Another important feature of this flare is to provide a flare that can be cast or pressed onto a railway rail or onto a public highway from transportation vehicles, such as railway cars or locomotives or motor engines, or from automobiles, buses or trucks, while such vehicles are moving at any rate of speed.

Another object of our invention is to create a signal flare having a reflective coating containing fluorescent or luminescent material placed on parts of its inner surface and utilized toreflect the light made by the flare when it is burning, thereby increasing the volume of light created by the flare and improving its efficiency as a visible signal.

In our signal flare, the flare load is placed in a fire proof body in such, a position that when the flare is ignited the flame is deflected on a fireproof surface for safety, and is not thrown directly off the flare body.

Our signal flare is flexible, easy to fold, pack, carry and use. Its handle permits proper holding or accurate casting.

Another valuable feature of this improved flare is provided by its being constructed so that when it is ignited and thrown onto a railway right-ofway or public road or highway, it will come to rest on either one of its surfaces and the burning of the combustible material will throw a desired amount of light on either side.

Our invention also contemplates such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by our invention.

While we have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred form of our invention, yet we wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of our flare in unfolded position; Fig. 2 is an edge View showing the flare load attached to the flar body; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of our flare once folded, and handle formed; .Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional ,view of our flar completely folded; Fig. 6 isa rear elevational view of the flare. as shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of our flare, ready for use; and Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed sectional view on line 8+8 ofjFig. l.

Referring to the mbodiment selected to illustrate our invention, it comprises a body member Ill having a sheet of heavy flexible paper or oth'er suitable material I l to the inner surface of which is applied a coating of fireproof material l2 which also has reflective properties. To the outer surface of sheet II is applied an adhesive coating i3 of material also resistant to fire.

A flare load I4 is attached to the fireproof coating l2. The flare load is of suitable ignitable and combustible material adapted when ignited to throw off desired light or'sparkling effects. The flare load It is spread on coating I2 in a tortuous path as clearly shown in Fig. 1,- beginning adjacent one end of coating l2 and twisting back and forth across until the opposite end is substantially reached. This provides a long burning track. To provide proper combustion, air holes l5 extending through body member l0 are spaced throughout the path of fire load M.

The opposite outer edges iii of body member it are scalloped as shown in Fig. 1. These scalloped edges are spaced from the path of the fire load l4.

Formed integral with body member In is handle ll having curved slits I8, leading from opposite edges at its inner end to spaced holes 19. Spaced horizontally extending scores 20 extend from holes I9 to th outer end of the handle. Extending beyond the outer end of handle I! are spaced tabs 2|.

Extending through body member Ill are four spaced staple openings 22. Also extending through body member I0 are a pair of spaced ignition holes 23.

My body member i0 is folded inwardly on line 2 3, as shown in Figs. 3 and l. It is then folded inwardly again on lines 25 to assume the completely folded position as shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

The handle I! is bent inwardly on scores 20 and tabs 2! are tucked into lock the handle in the formed position shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and '7.

In folded position staple openings 22 are in register and the curved lip 26 of the handle I! fits over the top pin opening 22. A staple 21 is then r 3 pushed through lip 26 and into registered openings 22 to hold the flare in folded position.

In folded position ignition holes 23 are in register at the front of the flare and present a half circle for the reception of means to ignite the flare.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A signal flare comprising a body member having a flare portion with an inner surface and an outer surface, a coating of fireproof and refleeting materialattached to said inner surface, a coating of fireproof and adhesive material attached to said outer surface, a flare load attached to said inner surface and extending thereacross in a tortuous path throughout substantially the length of the flare portion, said flare portion, having a plurality of air holes spaced along ,the path of the flare load, said flare'portion being folded inwardly on itself with the flare load on the inside and the adhesive coating on the outside for contact with any object to which it is applied for holding the signal flare in desired position and means for holding the flare portion in folded position, said body member having an integral handle portionatrone end beyond the flare portion,

said handle portion being folded inwardly on itself, atright angles to said flare portion to form a handle.

2. A signal flare comp'risinga body" member having a fireproof flare portion with inner and 4 outer surfaces, a flare load attached to said inner surface and extending thereacross in a tortuous path throughout substantially the length of the flare portion, said flare portion having a plurality of air holes spaced along the path of the flare load, said flare portion being folded inwardly on itself with the flare load on the inside, and means for holding the flare load in folded position, said flare portion having ignition holes in the front to receive ignition means to ignite the flare load,

said body member having an integral handle portion at one end beyond the flare portion, said handle portion being folded inwardly on itself, at

right angles to said flare portion to form a handle.

JOHN A. GEARON. EDWARD GEARON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name I Date 794,824 Wagner July 18, 1905 843,125 Wagner Feb. 5, 1907 1,818,478 Hitt Aug. 11, 1931 506,548 Rockwell Oct. 10, 1893 1,530,692 Paulus Mar. 24, 1925 1,503,740 Adler Aug. 5, 1924

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