US3080553A - Combined flashlight and signal light device - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1963 G. E. RAYNOR COMBINED FLASHLIGf-IT AND SIGNAL LIGHT DEVICE Filed May 31, 1961 I8 37 29 25 29 F5 25 2s INVEN TOR GILBERT E. RAYNOR iinite btates 3,080,553 CGMBINED FLASHLIGHT AND SEGNAL LEGHT DEVICE Gilbert E. Raynor, 19309 Parlrwood Drive, Kensington, Md. Filed May 31, 1961, Ser. No. 113,767 4 Claims. (Cl. 349-366) The present invention relates to a flashlight device which is particularly suitable for use in directing automobile traffic with a plurality of different colored signal lights.

An object of the invention is to provide a combined flashlight and signal light device by means of which a plurality of concentrated beams of light, each of a distinctive color, are projected in a predetermined direction so that only light rays of one color are visible.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved flashlight device having a signaling head of light conducting transparent material formed with multi-colored light projecting elements for transmitting lightv of selected colors when the device is arranged in a plurality of predetermined positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved flashlight device having a signaling head of light conducting transparent material formed with a plurality of superposed light projecting sections arranged alternately with dilerent colored light reflecting surfaces.

In the accompanying drawing: v

FIG. 1 is a side elevation partly in vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line 1-1 of FIG. 2, of a flashlight device constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3 to 6 inclusive illustrate schematically the man ner in which light rays are transmitted when theflashlight device is arranged in different positions.

Referring to the drawing, the improved flashlight device may comprise a tubular barrel 11, constituting a handle adapted to be closed at one end by means of a detachable cap 12, having screw threaded connection with said barrel in well known manner.

The end of the barrel 11 opposite to the end having the cap 12 is formed with screw threads 13 for the threaded neck portion 14 of a signal head 15.

The signal head 15 comprises a body of suitable light conducting transparent material, said body having sides 16, a front 17, a top 18, a bottom 19, and a rear in the form of a vertical section 20 arranged substantially parallel to the front 17 and an inclined section 21 which extends from the section 20* upwardly to the top 18. The construction and arrangement of the parts of the head is such that the neck portion 14 extends downwardly a suitable distance from the bottom 19.

Each side 16 of the signal head 15 is provided with a lens 22 which is mounted in a suitable recess 23 formed in the body of the head in the manner indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 2. Preferably each lens 22 should be of a red color to provide a bulls-eye at each side of the head 15 arranged to project a light beam of a red color for signaling purposes.

The front 17 of the signal head 15 is formed with a plurality of elongated slots or recesses 2-5 which extend horizontally across the front, the ends of said recesses being closed in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The recesses 25' are vertically spaced apart substantially at uniform distances to provide a plurality of webs or louvers 2e on the front 17, said louvers being arranged from the top 18 to the bottom 19.

The slots or recesses 25 are formed a suitable depth in the body of the head 15 so as to provide a series of cavities, each of which has end walls 28, a top Wall 29, a bottom wall 30, and an inner or rear wall formed of a pair of sections arranged at an obtuse angle with respect to each other to provide inclined diffuser surfaces 31.

Mounted within the threaded end portion 13 of the barrel 11, is a light bulb 33 having its lower end in electrical contact with an end of a dry cell flashlight battery 34. It will be understood that any number of cells 34 may be contained within the barrel 11.

The light bulb 33 is mounted in the socket of a plate 35 which has a rim 36 arranged to be clamped between the upper end of the barrel 11 and the head 15, so that the light bulb 33 will be disposed within a recess 38 formed in the lower portion of the body of the head 15. In this way the light bulb will be disposed substantially centrally within the head 15, to effect an even distribution of light toward the louvers 26.

Mounted on the barrel 11 is a switch 40 of the usual construction for flashlights to control illumination of the light bulb 33 with electric current supplied by the battery cell 34.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention the top wall 29 of each recess or cavity 25 is colored, as indicated by layer 37, to transmit green light rays, and the bottom wall 30 of each recess or cavity 25 is colored, as indicated by layer 39, to transmit red light rays, the dilfu-ser surfaces 31 being clear to transmit clear light rays. Also, as an alternative, if so desired, when the surfaces of the walls 29 and the surfaces of the bottom Walls 30 of the recesses 25 are arranged to be illuminated by internally conducted light, these said surfaces may be provided with colored plastic material, and the diffuser surfaces 31 may be colored a third color, such as yellow for the purpose of producing the usual well known amber caution light rays, thereby enabling three different colors of light rays to be discharged from the device.

When the surfaces 29 and 30 are colored with reflective fluorescent paint or tape, said surfaces will be illuminated by light directed toward them from the uncolored diifuser surfaces 31. This construction permits the signal light to be used also as a flashlight, utilizing the uncolored light rays from the diffuser surfaces 31, without affecting the use as a signal device.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the construc tion and arrangement of the parts is such as to make it possibie for a light beam of only one color to be visible when the device is tilted to a predetermined position toward the viewer, and a light beam of another color to be visible when the device is tilted to a predetermined position away from the viewer. As an alternative, a light beam of a third color, such as amber, will be made visible when the front face of the signal head 15 is arranged perpendicularly to the viewers line of vision when the diffuser surfaces 31 are colored yellow in the manner heretofore described.

FIGS. 3 to 6 inclusive illustrate the use of a pair of the devices by a person, such as a police ofiicer directing traffic, with the device of FIGS, 3 and 5 held by his right hand, and the device of FIGS. 4 and 6 held by his left hand. The light beam indicated by the group of arrows 41 in each view of the drawing may be of a red color emanating from the surface 3% and the light beam indicated by the group of arrows 42 may be of a green color emanating from the surfaces 29 of the signal head 15.

To signal trafiic to stop, the police oficer points the signal head 15 toward the traffic in the tilted manner shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which position of the de vices it will be noted that the red light beams 41 emanating from said signal heads are arranged to project light rays in a substantially horizontal direction. With the devices. in such tilted positions, the green light beams 42 will be pointed in a downward direction out of the vision of the viewers of the red signal light rays. To signal traffic to proceed, the police officer moves the devices from the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, to the positions shown respectively in FIGS. and 6, wherein the light beams 41 project the red light rays in an upward or vertical direction, and the green li ht rays of the beams 2 will be directed in a substantially horizontal path toward the line of vision of the trafiic heretofore signalled to stop by the red light rays,

Selective control of individual automobiles can be effected by pointing one signal light toward those to be stopped with the device in the position shown in FIGS. 3-and 4, and beckoning with another device in the position to display a green light to those cleared to proceed.

Due to the manner in which the red lenses 22 are arranged on the signal head 15, these elements constantly display red signal lights for the purpose of providing a safety warning of the police officers presence, and also for the purpose of facilitating the control of cross trafiic at intersections. When traffic proceeds in one direction, the; cross traffic is kept stopped by signals from the red light lenses 22. To then change the flow of trafiic, the police ofiicer arranges the devices in the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 to present red signal lights to stop. The police ofiicer then shifts his position about an angle of approximately ninety degrees, thereby presenting, the red light lenses 22 to the traffic just stopped, and arranges the. signal heads in the tilted position to present green light rays of the beam 42 toward the traffic now cleared to proceed, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The signal heads 15 are maintained in such tilted positions until it is desired to change the flow of trafiic by rearranging the relative positions of the signal heads 15 in they manner previously described.

It will be understood that in order to enhance the distribution of light rays emanating from the signal head 15, the exposed edges of the louvers 26 may be opaque. Another important featureis the alternate color arrangement of the reflecting surfaces of the louvers 26, by which the upper surfaces of the louvers have one color and the lower surfaces of the louvers have another color. Thus, the louvers are constructed on the front of the signal head 15 so that the light rays emanating from the upper surfaces of the louvers are concentrated in a single beam of one color, while the light rays emanating from the lower surfaces of the louvers are concentrated in a single beam of another color. In this manner a plurality of concentrated beams of light, each of a distinctive color, will be projected in predetermined directions so that only light rays of one color are visible to a viewer positioned in front of the light in the manner heretofore described.

While the invention has been described in detail and shown with respect to the accompanying drawing, it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Hence, it is desired to cover any and all forms andmodifications of the invention which may come within the language and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A signal light device comprising a tubular handle, a dry cell battery mounted within said handle, a signal head of light conducting material, means for mounting said signal head on one end of said handle, a light bulb within said signal head, means connecting said light bulb with said dry cell battery for illuminating said signal head, a series of cavities formed in said signal head, said cavities being separated by webs on the front of said signal head to provide light reflecting surfaces at the top and at the bottom within said cavities for transmitting light rays from the front of said signal head, means on the top surfaces of said. webs for transmitting reflected light rays of one color, means on the bottom surfaces of said webs for transmitting reflected light rays of a contrasting color to the color of the light rays transmitted by said top sur-- faces, said cavities extending into the body of the signal head a predetermined distance from the front thereof, and a wall at the inner end of said cavities inclined with respect to the front of said signal head to provide light diffuser surfaces for directing light conducted from the light bulb with said signal head onto the colored surfaces of said webs.

2. A traffic signal light device comprising a tubular handle having an upper screw threaded portion, a dry cell battery mounted within said handle, a signal head of light conducting transparent material, said signal head having sides, a front, a top, a rear, a bottom having a screw threaded neck for threaded engagement with the upper screw threaded portion of said handle, a light bulb within said signal head, means connecting said light bulb with said dry cell battery for illuminating said signal head, a series of elongated cavities formed horizontally in the front of said signal head, said cavities being closed at. the inner ends thereof and being separated by louvers vertically spaced apart substantially at uniform distances on the front of said signal head to provide light reflecting surfaces at the top and at the bottom within said cavities for transmitting light rays from the front of said signal head, color meanson the top surfaces of said louvers for transmittingrefiected light rays of one color, color means on the bottom surfaces of said louvers for transmitting reflected light. rays of a contrasting color to the color of the lightv rays transmitted by said top surfaces, light diffuser surfaces at the inner ends. of said cavities for directing light conducted from the light bulb within said signal head onto the colored surfaces of said louvers, and a colored lens mounted on each side of said signal head rearwardly with respect to said. cavities for distributing light from said signal head in a direction substantially at right angles with respect to the light emanating from the front of said. signal head.

3'. A signal light device comprising a tubular handle having an upper screw threaded portion, a dry cell battery mounted with said handle, a signal head of light conducting material, said signal head having a body formed of sides, a front, and a bottom having a screw threaded neck for threaded engagement with the upper screw threaded portion of said handle, a recess formed in the bottom of, the body of said signal head, a light bulb mounted within said signal head recess, means connecting said light bulb with said dry cellbattery for illuminating said signal head, a series of cavities formed horizontally in the front of said signal head, said cavities being separated by louvers vertically spaced apart to provide light reflecting surfaces at the top and at the bottom within said cavities for transmitting light rays from the front of said signal head, color means on the top surfaces of said louvers for transmitting reflected light rays of one color, color means on the bottom surfaces of said louvers for transmitting light rays of a color contrasting to the color of the light rays transmitted by said top surfaces, light diffuser surfaces formed at the inner ends of said cavities for directing light conducted from said light bulb within said signal head onto the colored surfaces of said louvers, and a colored lens mounted on each side of said signal head for distributing light from said signal head in a. direction substantially at right angles with respect to the light emanating from the front of said signal head.

4. A signal device combined with a flashlight, comprising a tubular handle having a screw threaded end, a dry cell battery mounted within said handle, a signal head of light conducting transparent material, said signal head having a front, and, a bottom having screw threaded engagement with the screw threaded end of said handle, a recess formed in the bottom of the signal head, a single light bulb mounted within said signal head recess, means connecting said light bulb with said dry cell battery for illuminating said signal head, a series of elongated cavities formed horizontally in the front of said signal head, webs on the front of said signal head separating said cavities to provide light reflecting surfaces at the top and at the bottom with said cavities for transmitting light rays from the front of said signal head, means on the top surfaces of said webs for transmitting reflected light rays of one color, means on the bottom surfaces of said webs for transmitting reflected light rays of a second color, light diffuser surfaces formed within said signal head at the inner ends of said cavities for directing light conducted from the light bulb within said signal head onto the top and bottom surfaces of said webs, and means on the light diffuser surfaces at the inner ends of said cavities for transmitting light rays of a 5 third color from said single light bulb.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Thomas Nov. 18, 1931 2,567,046 Anderson Sept. 4, 1951

Claims (1)

1. A SIGNAL LIGHT DEVICE COMPRISING A TUBULAR HANDLE, A DRY CELL BATTERY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HANDLE, A SIGNAL HEAD OF LIGHT CONDUCTING MATERIAL, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID SIGNAL HEAD ON ONE END OF SAID HANDLE, A LIGHT BULB WITHIN SAID SIGNAL HEAD, MEANS CONNECTING SAID LIGHT BULB WITH SAID DRY CELL BATTERY FOR ILLUMINATING SAID SIGNAL HEAD, A SERIES OF CAVITIES FORMED IN SAID SIGNAL HEAD, SAID CAVITIES BEING SEPARATED BY WEBS ON THE FRONT OF SAID SIGNAL HEAD TO PROVIDE LIGHT REFLECTING SURFACES AT THE TOP AND AT THE BOTTOM WITHIN SAID CAVITIES FOR TRANSMITTING LIGHT RAYS FROM THE FRONT OF SAID SIGNAL HEAD, MEANS ON THE TOP SURFACES OF SAID WEBS FOR TRANSMITTING REFLECTED LIGHT RAYS OF ONE COLOR, MEANS ON THE BOTTOM SURFACES OF SAID WEBS FOR TRANSMITTING REFLECTED LIGHT RAYS OF A CONTRASTING COLOR TO THE COLOR OF THE LIGHT RAYS TRANSMITTED BY SAID TOP SURFACES, SAID CAVITIES EXTENDING INTO THE BODY OF THE SIGNAL HEAD A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM THE FRONT THEREOF, AND A WALL AT THE INNER END OF SAID CAVITIES INCLINED WITH RESPECT TO THE FRONT OF SAID SIGNAL HEAD TO PROVIDE LIGHT DIFFUSER SURFACES FOR DIRECTING LIGHT CONDUCTED FROM THE LIGHT BULB WITH SAID SIGNAL HEAD ONTO THE COLORED SURFACES OF SAID WEBS.

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