US2561173A

US2561173A - Emergency highway warning reflector

Info

Publication number: US2561173A
Application number: US91787A
Authority: US
Inventors: Reuben N Bompart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-05-06
Filing date: 1949-05-06
Publication date: 1951-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 1968-07-17

Description

y 1951 R. N. BOMPART EMERGENCY HIGHWAY WARNING REFLECTOR Filed May 6, 1949 Fig.3.

Fig.4.

Reuben 'N. Bomparl Patented July 17, 1951 EMERGENCY HIGHWAY WARNING REFLECTOR Reuben N. Bompart, Helena, Mont.

Application May 6, 1949, Serial No. 91,787

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in highway warning devices and more particularly to a portable reflector to be placed at a desired spot on a highway adjacent a disabled vehicle to warn traflic of the presence of the vehicle or other traffic hazards.

An important object of the invention is to provide a warning device of this character equipped with reflecting means to pick up the lights from the headlights of an approaching vehicle to warn the driver of the existence of a traflic hazard.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable inverted V-shaped highway warning device of this character with reflecting means mounted at each side of the device to warn drivers of vehicles approaching from opposite directions.

A still further object is to provide a highway warning device of this character constructed whereby a plurality of the devices may be positioned in nested arrangement for conveniently handling or storing the same in compact form.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a group of warning devices connected to each other in nested or stacked arrangement;

Figure 2 is a group perspective view of the several warning devices separated for placing on a highway;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on a line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of this invention the numeral 5 designates generally one of the highway warning devices constructed of a sheet of rigid material of a suitable character and bent along a medial line 6 to provide a V-shaped member, The side edges of the \l-shaped member are bent outwardly to form flanges l and which constitute bases at each side of the member to support the same in an inverted position on a highway.

Each outer sloping surface of the sides of the V-shaped member is provided with a sheet of reflecting material 8 of a suitable character held in position by a V-type frame or molding 9 of sponge rubber or other similar material supported on the top edge of the V-shaped member and straddling the sides of the same to hold the sheets of reflecting material in place.

In the use of the invention one or more of the V-shaped warning devices 5 are carried in a motor vehicle, and when the same becomes disabled on a highway the warning devices are placed on the highway adjacent the disabled vehicle to warn approaching vehicles of the danger of the existing traffic hazard. The warning device is supported in an inverted position on the flanges or bases 1 so that one of the reflecting surfaces 8 is exposed to vehicles approaching from either direction and at night time the headlights of an approaching vehicle will be reflected on the reflectors 8 to warn the driver of the existence of the hazard.

Each warning device is formed with an opening [0 in its upper edge or ridge portion to receive a bolt and wing nut H, or other suitable fastener for securing a group of the warning devices in an assembled nested relation one upon the other for handling or storing in a compact form.

A V-shaped cover member 12 constructed of a shape similar to the warning members 5, but without the reflectors 8, is secured in position on top of the group of warning devices to protect the reflectors when stored and not in use.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A traflic warning device comprising an elongated sheet member of inverted V-shape in cross section to provide oppositely sloping sides thereon, longitudinal edge flanges on said member at an angle thereto and lying in a common plane, an elongated open frame of inverted V-shape in cross section fitting over said sides and resting thereon with longitudinal side edges UNITED STATES PATENTS terminating at said flanges, and a reflector sheet Number e Date imposed flatwise against each side of said mem- 1,693,957 Mccrea Jan 15, 1929 her and confined 1n sald frame. 5 1,738,468 Whippy et a1 Dec. 3, 1929 1,850,173 Horni Mar. 22, 1932 REUBEN BOMPART' 2,039,683 De Haas May 5, 1936 REFERENCES CITED 2,329,171 Russ Sept. '7, 1943 The following references are of record in the FOREIGN PATENTS file of this patent: Number Country Date 510,156 Great Britain July 28, 1939