US2684046A - Traffic control signaling device - Google Patents

Traffic control signaling device Download PDF

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US2684046A
US2684046A US253418A US25341851A US2684046A US 2684046 A US2684046 A US 2684046A US 253418 A US253418 A US 253418A US 25341851 A US25341851 A US 25341851A US 2684046 A US2684046 A US 2684046A
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housing
vehicle
traffic control
flag
signalling device
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US253418A
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David O Dunn
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/50—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
    • B60Q1/503—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/50—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
    • B60Q1/545—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking for indicating other traffic conditions, e.g. fog, heavy traffic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/50—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
    • B60Q1/547—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a traffic control signalling device for attachment to a vehicle.
  • An object of this invention is to provide a traffic control signalling device which is particularly adapted to warn the following vehicle to return to his own trafiic lane and simultaneously informs the oncoming vehicle of the impending danger.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a traffic control signalling device which can be readily manipulated by the driver of an intermediate vehicle to effectively signal a following vehicle as well as an oncoming vehicle.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a traffic control signalling device for attachment to a vehicle which simulates the conventional intersection movable traffic signal and thereby creates the same psychological effect on the driver of a vehicle which is about to pull out and pass the vehicle carrying the signalling device as the driver experiences when approaching an intersection having the conventional traffic signal.
  • a still further object of this invention is to provide a traffic control signalling device which is relatively simple in structure and cheap to manufacture.
  • Figure l is a side elevational view of the trafiic control signalling device shown attached to the left rear of a vehicle;
  • FIG. 1 is an elevational view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1 showing the traffic control signalling device of the present invention
  • FIG 3 is an elevational view of the traffic control signalling device with parts broken away and shown in section, taken from the left of Figure 2;
  • Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line it of Figure 2;
  • Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2;
  • Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the structure for actuating the trafiic control signalling device from the drivers seat of the vehicle.
  • the traiiic control signalling device of the present invention generally designated by the reference numeral it which is secured contiguous to the left rear wheel of a vehicle l2 including a steering wheel shaft E3.
  • the traffic control signalling device comprises an upstanding hollow housing 15 having one side it provided with a longitudinally extending slot ll.
  • a sup porting arm l8 Fixedly secured to the housing !5 is a sup porting arm l8 which is securable to the adjacent portions of the vehicle body by means of the nut and bolt assembly it.
  • the housing 15 is secured in a vertically disposed position visible to the following vehicle traveling in the same direction.
  • a signal flag 20 Disposed in a retracted position within the upstanding housing IE is a signal flag 20 which. is mounted on the housing it for movement through the open side thereof to an extended position.
  • the signal fiag 26 is mounted on the housing It by means of a supporting sleeve 25 which is secured to the flag 2i] and rotatably supported on the bolt or axle 22 which is secured to the housing l5 transversely thereof contiguous to and spaced from the lower end of the housing. Accordingly the signal flag 2t can be moved from the retracted vertically extending position within the housing! 5 to an extended horizontal position exteriorly of the housing and projecting from the adjacent side of the vehicle.
  • the signal flag 20 in the extended position has one face 23 visible to the following vehicle and provided with control indicia and has the other face 24 visible to an oncoming vehicle traveling in the opposite direction and provided with warning indicia. It has been found desirable that the control indicia be in the form of bold face letters Slow Down, for informing the following vehicle which is about to pass to return to his own traffic lane. It has been further found desirable to use warning indicia spelling the words Drive Carefully to inform the oncoming vehicle of the impending danger.
  • the lower end of the signal flag 20 projects exteriorly of the housing l5 which is suitably slotted in the lower end thereof and on the side 26 to permit the desired movement of the signal flag.
  • a Weight 21 which normally biases the signal flag into the retracted position Within the housing [5.
  • Suitable means actuable contiguous to the drivers seat of the vehicle are operatively connected to the signalling fiag 20 for periodically moving the latter to the extended position in accordance with trafiic conditions.
  • the steering shaft l3 supports a pulley 30 over which is trained one end of a flexible actuating cable 3!, the cable having the other end thereof connected to the lower end of the signal flag as illustrated in Figure 2.
  • the control cable M is provided with a turn buckle 32 for efifectively varying the over-all length of the cable.
  • Supported on the steering shaft i3 is a keeper 34 which selectively receives and engages a ratcheted latch piece 35 which is secured to the end of the control cable 3
  • intermediate its ends is extended beneath the floor boards of the vehicle between suitable guide pulleys 36.
  • a pulley support 3? which carries guide pulleys 38, 39 disposed at right angles with respect to each other.
  • the guide pulley 38 is mounted for rotary movement about a horizontal axis in a vertical plane while the guide pulley 39 is mounted for rotary movement about a vertical axis in a horizontal plane, the pulleys 38, 39 cooperating with the guide pulleys 36 for drivingly connecting the control cable 3! between the manually actuable latch piece 35 and the signal flag 20.
  • the latch piece 35 is provided with a finger grip tit and accordingly upon the application of an upwardly directed force to the latch piece 35 by the driver the signalling flag can be moved to the extended position illustrated in phantom in Figure 2.
  • the face 42 of the upstanding housing i visible to the driver of the following car is provided with an arrow 43 on a contrasting background 44 which efiectively calls the attention of the driver of the following vehicle to the traffie control signalling device to. Since the driver of the following vehicle is made aware of the signalling device by the arrow 43, the driver will be alerted and will be able to almost instantaneously react to the Slow Down warning when the signal flag is moved to the extended position.
  • a traffic control signalling device for attachment to a vehicle comprising an upstanding hollow housing having its lower end open adapted to be secured to the rear of said vehicle a position visible to a following vehicle traveling in the same direction, there being a longitudinally extending slot in one side of said housing, the other side of said housing being open adjacent the lower end thereof, a vertically disposed signal flag positioned within said housing and pivotally connected adjacent its lower end to said housing for movement from the vertical position through said slot to a horizontal position exteriorly of said housing, the lower end of said flag extending through and beyond the lower open of said housing when said flag is in its vertical position and movable through and out of the opening in the other side of said housing when the flag is moved to the horizontal position, a weight secured to the lower end of said and hand-actuable means operatively connected to the lower end of said flag for effecting the pivotal movement of said fiag.
  • a traffic control signalling device for attachment to a vehicle comprising an uz tanding hollow housing having its lower end open, horizontally disposed supporting arm having one end embracingly secured to said housing adjacent the lower end thereof and having the other end adapted to be secured to said vehicle, there being a longitudinally extending slot in one side of said housing, the other s de of housing being open adjacent the lower end thereof, a vertically disposed signal flag positioned within said housing and pivotally connected adj; ent its lower end to said housing for movement from the vertical position through said slot to a horizontal position exteriorly of said housing, the lower end of said flag extending through and beyond the lower open end of said housing when said flag is in its vertical position and movable through and out of the opening in the other side of said housing when the flag is moved to the horizontal position, a weight secured to the lower end of said flag, and hand-actuable means operatively connected to the lower end of said flag for eiiecting the pivotal movement of said flag.

Description

July 20, 1954 DUNN 2,684,046
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Oct. 26, 1951 FIG. .1.
INVENTOR. DAV/D O. DUNN,
flmm flan/law ATTORNEYS.
Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALING DEVICE David 0. Dunn, Lake Charles, La.
Application October 26, 1951, Serial No. 253,418
(Cl. l1652) 2 Claims. 1
This invention relates to a traffic control signalling device for attachment to a vehicle.
While on the highway, a driver often can see an approaching vehicle which cannot be seen by the driver of a following vehicle that is about to pull out to pass. In the event that the following vehicle pulls out to pass, the driver of the intermediate vehicle is completely helpless to effectively signal the driver of the following vehicle to return to his own traffic lane to avoid the inevitable headon collision.
An object of this invention is to provide a traffic control signalling device which is particularly adapted to warn the following vehicle to return to his own trafiic lane and simultaneously informs the oncoming vehicle of the impending danger.
Another object of this invention is to provide a traffic control signalling device which can be readily manipulated by the driver of an intermediate vehicle to effectively signal a following vehicle as well as an oncoming vehicle.
A further object of this invention is to provide a traffic control signalling device for attachment to a vehicle which simulates the conventional intersection movable traffic signal and thereby creates the same psychological effect on the driver of a vehicle which is about to pull out and pass the vehicle carrying the signalling device as the driver experiences when approaching an intersection having the conventional traffic signal.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a traffic control signalling device which is relatively simple in structure and cheap to manufacture.
The above and still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detail description of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure l is a side elevational view of the trafiic control signalling device shown attached to the left rear of a vehicle;
Figure 2 is an elevational view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1 showing the traffic control signalling device of the present invention;
Figure 3 is an elevational view of the traffic control signalling device with parts broken away and shown in section, taken from the left of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line it of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2; and
Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the structure for actuating the trafiic control signalling device from the drivers seat of the vehicle.
Referring now with particularity to the drau ings, wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, there is shown the traiiic control signalling device of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral it which is secured contiguous to the left rear wheel of a vehicle l2 including a steering wheel shaft E3.
The traffic control signalling device comprises an upstanding hollow housing 15 having one side it provided with a longitudinally extending slot ll. Fixedly secured to the housing !5 is a sup porting arm l8 which is securable to the adjacent portions of the vehicle body by means of the nut and bolt assembly it. The housing 15 is secured in a vertically disposed position visible to the following vehicle traveling in the same direction.
Disposed in a retracted position within the upstanding housing IE is a signal flag 20 which. is mounted on the housing it for movement through the open side thereof to an extended position. The signal fiag 26 is mounted on the housing It by means of a supporting sleeve 25 which is secured to the flag 2i] and rotatably supported on the bolt or axle 22 which is secured to the housing l5 transversely thereof contiguous to and spaced from the lower end of the housing. Accordingly the signal flag 2t can be moved from the retracted vertically extending position within the housing! 5 to an extended horizontal position exteriorly of the housing and projecting from the adjacent side of the vehicle.
The signal flag 20 in the extended position has one face 23 visible to the following vehicle and provided with control indicia and has the other face 24 visible to an oncoming vehicle traveling in the opposite direction and provided with warning indicia. It has been found desirable that the control indicia be in the form of bold face letters Slow Down, for informing the following vehicle which is about to pass to return to his own traffic lane. It has been further found desirable to use warning indicia spelling the words Drive Carefully to inform the oncoming vehicle of the impending danger.
As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 the lower end of the signal flag 20 projects exteriorly of the housing l5 which is suitably slotted in the lower end thereof and on the side 26 to permit the desired movement of the signal flag. Formed integrally with or fixedly secured to the projecting end of the signal flag 20 is a Weight 21 which normally biases the signal flag into the retracted position Within the housing [5.
Suitable means actuable contiguous to the drivers seat of the vehicle are operatively connected to the signalling fiag 20 for periodically moving the latter to the extended position in accordance with trafiic conditions. As clearly shown in Figure 6 the steering shaft l3 supports a pulley 30 over which is trained one end of a flexible actuating cable 3!, the cable having the other end thereof connected to the lower end of the signal flag as illustrated in Figure 2. Intermediate the ends thereof the control cable M is provided with a turn buckle 32 for efifectively varying the over-all length of the cable. Supported on the steering shaft i3 is a keeper 34 which selectively receives and engages a ratcheted latch piece 35 which is secured to the end of the control cable 3| trained over the pulley 30. As clearly shown in Figure 1, the control cable 3| intermediate its ends is extended beneath the floor boards of the vehicle between suitable guide pulleys 36.
Secured to or formed integrally with the sup porting arm I8 is a pulley support 3? which carries guide pulleys 38, 39 disposed at right angles with respect to each other. As clearly shown in Figure 2 the guide pulley 38 is mounted for rotary movement about a horizontal axis in a vertical plane while the guide pulley 39 is mounted for rotary movement about a vertical axis in a horizontal plane, the pulleys 38, 39 cooperating with the guide pulleys 36 for drivingly connecting the control cable 3! between the manually actuable latch piece 35 and the signal flag 20. As clearly shown in Figure 6 the latch piece 35 is provided with a finger grip tit and accordingly upon the application of an upwardly directed force to the latch piece 35 by the driver the signalling flag can be moved to the extended position illustrated in phantom in Figure 2.
The face 42 of the upstanding housing i visible to the driver of the following car is provided with an arrow 43 on a contrasting background 44 which efiectively calls the attention of the driver of the following vehicle to the traffie control signalling device to. Since the driver of the following vehicle is made aware of the signalling device by the arrow 43, the driver will be alerted and will be able to almost instantaneously react to the Slow Down warning when the signal flag is moved to the extended position.
Although only one embodiment of the traffic control signalling device of the present invention has been described, it is readily apparent that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
l. A traffic control signalling device for attachment to a vehicle comprising an upstanding hollow housing having its lower end open adapted to be secured to the rear of said vehicle a position visible to a following vehicle traveling in the same direction, there being a longitudinally extending slot in one side of said housing, the other side of said housing being open adjacent the lower end thereof, a vertically disposed signal flag positioned within said housing and pivotally connected adjacent its lower end to said housing for movement from the vertical position through said slot to a horizontal position exteriorly of said housing, the lower end of said flag extending through and beyond the lower open of said housing when said flag is in its vertical position and movable through and out of the opening in the other side of said housing when the flag is moved to the horizontal position, a weight secured to the lower end of said and hand-actuable means operatively connected to the lower end of said flag for effecting the pivotal movement of said fiag.
2. A traffic control signalling device for attachment to a vehicle comprising an uz tanding hollow housing having its lower end open, horizontally disposed supporting arm having one end embracingly secured to said housing adjacent the lower end thereof and having the other end adapted to be secured to said vehicle, there being a longitudinally extending slot in one side of said housing, the other s de of housing being open adjacent the lower end thereof, a vertically disposed signal flag positioned within said housing and pivotally connected adj; ent its lower end to said housing for movement from the vertical position through said slot to a horizontal position exteriorly of said housing, the lower end of said flag extending through and beyond the lower open end of said housing when said flag is in its vertical position and movable through and out of the opening in the other side of said housing when the flag is moved to the horizontal position, a weight secured to the lower end of said flag, and hand-actuable means operatively connected to the lower end of said flag for eiiecting the pivotal movement of said flag.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,155,934 Klemp Oct. 5, 1915 1,337,991 Archer Apr, 2'7, 1920 1,397,801 Drotar Nov. 22, 1921 1,545,271 Nolan July '7, 1925 1,732,334 Hughes Oct. 22, 1929
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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1155934A (en) * 1915-10-05 Theodore Klemp Automobile-signal.
US1337991A (en) * 1919-06-09 1920-04-27 Archer Ebenezer Guest Direction-indicator for road-vehicles
US1397801A (en) * 1921-07-18 1921-11-22 Drotar John Direction-indicator for automobiles
US1545271A (en) * 1923-10-25 1925-07-07 Nolan Thomas Semaphore signal for automobiles
US1732334A (en) * 1929-10-22 Automobilj signal

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1155934A (en) * 1915-10-05 Theodore Klemp Automobile-signal.
US1732334A (en) * 1929-10-22 Automobilj signal
US1337991A (en) * 1919-06-09 1920-04-27 Archer Ebenezer Guest Direction-indicator for road-vehicles
US1397801A (en) * 1921-07-18 1921-11-22 Drotar John Direction-indicator for automobiles
US1545271A (en) * 1923-10-25 1925-07-07 Nolan Thomas Semaphore signal for automobiles

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