US3490409A

US3490409A - Traffic accident marker

Info

Publication number: US3490409A
Application number: US637665A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert L Pomeroy
Original assignee: ROBERT L POMEROY
Current assignee: ROBERT L POMEROY
Priority date: 1967-05-11
Filing date: 1967-05-11
Publication date: 1970-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 1987-01-20
Also published as: GB1218046A

Description

Jam 1970 R, L. POMEROY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT MARKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 11, 1967 IMENTOR F0859? L. PO/WEHO y Jan. 20, 1970 R. POMEROY 3,490,409

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT MARKER Filed May 11, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 FGE/MEz S United States Patent O i 3,490,409 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT MARKER Robert L. Pomeroy, La Possessione Morlupo di Roma, Italy Filed May 11, 1967, Ser. No. 637,665 Int. Cl. B60q 1/26; B60r 27/00 U.S. Cl. 11632 29 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A traffic accident marker for use with a vehicle having a device for ejecting a fluid and/or marker tag which is operably connected to a sensing device for determining when a collision or sideswipe has occurred, the ejecting device being operated by a trigger device including a cocking mechanism which only moves into an operating position when the vehicle has gained a minimum speed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a relatively simple device which can be inexpensively installed on any type of car, truck or bus. Should the vehicle collide or sideswipe another object while traveling at more than a minimum speed, the applicants device would eject a small quantity of fluid, such as paint, downwardly on the surface of the road to mark the vehicles exact position at the point of impact, and simultaneously it would eject markers or tags having the vehicles license number recorded thereon. The applicants device incorporates a lighting system, which could include internal and/or external lights, and indicates to the driver and/or to an outside observer that the car has been in a collision.

Broadly, therefore, the invention can be summarized as comprising cartridge means having at least one bore extending therethrough, the bore having a frangible seal at least across its lower end and adapted to receive a marker means, such as a fluid and/or identification tags; casing means adapted to be operatively secured to an automobile and having the cartridge means mounted therein, the bot tom of the cartridge means having at least an opening ex tending therethrough aligned with the bore of the cartridge means and corresponding in area and configuration at least to that of the bore; ejective means positioned at least partially above the cartridge means and at least par tially in alignment with the cartridge bore, the ejective means adapted to break the frangible seal and eject a marker means; trigger means operatively mounted on the casing means for operating the ejective means, a movable portion of the trigger means adapted to be in a non-operative position while the vehicle is at rest; cocking means connected to the movable portion of the trigger means for moving this portion into an operative position in response to movement of the vehicle; and sensing means adapted to be secured to the exterior of the vehicle for sensing a concussion with another object, the sensing means being operatively connected to the trigger means whereby upon 3,490,409 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 i ICC impact with another object it will unseat the trigger means which will in turn operate the ejective means to discharge the marker means.

The invention also includes a cocking means whlch could comprise a wind-vane operating to pull the movable portion of the trigger means into operative position when the wind-vane is struck with sufficient wind velocity to cause it to rotate about an off-centered horizontal axis passing through the plane of the wind-vane.

In this invention the ejective means and trigger means are connected to a sensing means located, for instance, on the front bumper and side fenders. The sensing means is illustrated as comprising a concussion pad filled with hydraulic fluid or a concussion pad covering a pressure switch, which senses both direct collisions and sideswipes. Collision of an object with the concussion pad will operate the trigger means and ejective means to discharge the marker charge.

The principles and scope applicable of the present invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein the illustrative embodiments are shown and to the following description.

BRIEF DISCLOSURE OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of the marker device with the concussion pads and visual indicators shown schematically and with a portion of the wind-vane mechanism removed to disclose details which would ordinarily be hidden.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 with the plunger and lever removed to simplify details.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the casing with a modified version of the plunger.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a modification of the marker device.

FIGURE 5 shows the marker device of FIGURE 4 mounted behind a license plate.

DESCRIPTION THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG-

URES

1 and 2 an accident marker device 10 comprising a casing means which could assume a variety of configurations. As illustrated, the casing means comprises a rectangular box or casing 12 which could be open on one or more sides. A cartridge 14 of preferably clear plastic is supported within the casing. The cartridge has a bore 16 extending vertically therethrough with a frangible sealing means 18 extending across the lower end of the bore so that the bore can receive and hold a fluid and/or marker tags. The bottom of the casing has an opening 20 in alignment with the bore 16 which has an area and configuration at least corresponding to that of the bore so that when the frangible sealing means 18 is broken and the fluid and/or markers are ejected they will be ejected towards the ground preferably without interference.

It will be appreciated that the casing and cartridge could take many different configurations within the scope of the invention. Thus, there could be an opening in one side' of the casing through which the cartridge might be ejected after its own charge had been ejected to mark and identify a particular collision and colliding vehicle. Upon ejection'of the first cartridge, a second cartridge could be pushed into operative position. The cartridge could in fact have a plurality of circumferentially arranged bores so that the next charge could be rotated into position. Practically, the device will be maintained as simple as possible, and it is unlikely that a plurality of charges would be needed because the device would be reset before there probably is any chance of the same sort of accident reoccurring.

' The top of the bore could likewise be closed by a frangible seal, although the preferable arrangement is to close the bore by an ejective means 22, which sits at the top of the bore in its rest position. The ejective means could comprise any type of device which would e ect the charge, whether comprising alluid and/or marker tags, from the cartridge bore 16 onto the surface of the road in response to actuation by some trigger means 24. By way of example, two types of ejective means are shown in FIGURES 1 and 4. In both instances, the top wall of the casing means has an opening 26 therethrough to allow communication between the bore and ejective means or trigger means, although it will be apreciated that there could be many structural variations of this feature. For instance, the ejective means or trigger could operate through the side of the casing.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the ejective means 22 comprises a plunger rod 28 having a plunger head 30 on the lower end thereof and an enlarged handle means 32 on the upper end thereof. The plunger head has a crosssectional configuration and area substantially corresponding to that of the bore 16 so that it can be received within the bore and move axially thereof. The plunger head can be held at its rest position adjacent to or continguous with the bore or it can actually be inserted within the bore above the marker charge. At any rate, it is aligned with the bore so it can eject the charge therein. The handle means adds desirable weight to the plunger, prevents the plunger dropping too far since it engages the top of the casing, and enables the plunger to be easily reset. A compression spring 34 is preferably positioned around the plunger rod 28 between the top of the casing and the plunger head 30 to aid in the downward movement of the plunger or ejective means when the device is actuated.

Inorder to provide a visual indication that a collision has occurred and that the device has been actuated, a

ing surface 68 of the latch member so that it can move arcuately in only one direction away from its operative position, namely, counter-clockwise in this embodiment. In its rest or non-operative position, shown in dotted lines at 70 in FIGURE 2, the extension member is out of alignment with the latch member. The extension member falls naturally to its rest position due to the use of a counterweight 72 which makes the extension member rotate counterclockwise. It will also be appreciated that the same result could be accomplished by moving the axis 66, on which the extension member 64 is mounted, cit-center, i.e., positioning the axis elf-center in the direction of arcuate movement of the extension switch 36 can be mounted on the casing means in alignment with the enlarged handle so that depression of the handle to the top of the casing will actuate the switch and turn .on the visual indicator 38 through a circuit means indicated schematically at 40.

The bore could hold a fluid marker and tags or discs together or could be compartmentalized to hold these devices separately within the same bore. Moreover, a pair of bores could be provided as shown in FIGURE 3, which shows a modification of the plunger or ejective means 22. In this embodiment the cartridge has two bores 42, one of which is adapted to be filled with marker fluid and the other of which is adapted to be filled with marker tags. In order to actuate these dual charges simultaneosly the plunger 44 is bifurcated or forked with a plunger head on the free end of each of the two branches 46. The plunger and cartridge operate in the same manner as that described above.

As illustrated in FIGURES I and 2, a fulcrum 48 is mounted on the casing with a lever 50 pivotally connected thereto intermediate the two ends of the lever. One end 52 of the lever extends into the path of the handle 32 of the plunger. As illustrated, this end 52 engages the handle and holds the handle and plunger in a raised position. The other end 54 of the lever 50 is engaged under a protrusion 56 of a latch member 58. The latch itself is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis 60 in a support means 62 carried on the casing 12. An extension member 64 is pivotally supported to one end of the latch 58. The latch member 58 and the extension member 64 are referred to as the latch means in the claims. The extension member is mounted about a horizontal axis 66 substantially perpendicular to the axis 60 about which the latch member 58 is mounted.

As shown in full lines in FIGURES 2, the extension member 64 has an operative position which, in this embodiment, is in alignment with the latch member. The extension member is pivotally mounted on it rolled bearmember away from its operative position. The purpose of the pivotal movement of the extension member will become apparent as the other elements of this device are described.

It is readily apparent that a force radially disposed from the pivotal axis of the latch and applied against the extension member 64 will move the latch 58 out of engagement with the end 54 of the lever thereby allowing the other end 52 to pivot downwardly and drop the plunger. To apply this force against the extension member and operatively against the latch there is provided a cylinder 74 with a hydraulic piston head 76 and rod 78 mounted therein. The piston rod 78 extends through the end wall of the cylinder and is in alignment with and adjacent to the extension member 64 when it is in its operative position. The piston head 76 is received within its cylinder and contains hydraulic fluid in one end of the cylinder. Concussion pads, illustrated schematically at 80 are mounted on the tenders 82 and front bumper 84 of a vehicle (portions of which are only shown schematically). The concussion pads are connected by conduit means 86 to the cylinder. The concussion pads, conduit means, and cylinder are filled with a hydraulic fluid so that pressure applied against the concussion pad will force the piston rod to move outwardly and into engagement with the extension member thereby rotating the same clockwise to release the lever. It will be appreciated that various other means could be used to actuate the latch. Thus, the concussion pads could contain a pressure switch electrically connected to an electromagnet which, when operated, would attract the latch and move it out of engagement with the lever. By the same principle, a solenoid could be used to knock the latch out of engagement with the lever.

It will be appreciated that the device could easily be operated by pranksters or the like. Furthermore, minor depressions of the concussion pads, such as might occur when getting out of a parking space, would operate the device if the extension member was in its operative position. In order to insure that the extension member is only in its operative position when the car has attained some minimum speed, a cocking means 88 is provided. As illustrated the cocking means 88' comprises a wind-vane 90 mounted in the support member 62 for rotation about an oft-centered axis 92 passing through the plane of the wind-vane. A connecting means 94, including a string 96, is mounted on the wind-vane for rotation therewith and connected to the free end 98 of the extension member. The connecting means 94 is arranged and constructed to exert a pull when rotated with the wind-vane, which will move the extension member into its operative position. When the wind-vane is mounted above the extension memher, the connecting means will include a rod 100 depending from the wind-vane so as to obtain suflicient arcuate pull on the extension member through the string to move the extension member into its operative position. Of course, if the wind-vane itself were mounted in front or in back of the extension member rather than above it, the string could directly connect the extension member to the wind-vane.

The force of the wind will be substantially dependent upon the speed of the vehicle, although the velocity of the wind, if in a direction toward the wind-vane, will have some effect upon the rotation of the wind-vane. The rotation of the wind-vane could be controlled, for instance, by a counterweight opposing rotation. Only mechanical cocking devices have been illustrated herein. Nevertheless, it should be appreciated that the device could be electrically connected, or even by mechanical means, to the speedometer or to the wheel rim for moving the extension member into its operative position upon the vehicle attaining a certain minimum speed. It will also be seen that the pivotal connection of the extension member is arranged and constructed so that if the brakes of the vehicle are applied, inertia will keep the extension member in its operative position.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG- URE 4. In this embodiment, the ejective means 22 comprises a small explosive charge means 102 positioned in alignment with the bore 16 of the cartridge 14 and in alignment with the trigger means 24. The trigger means comprises a first support member 104 mounted on the casing 12. A firing means 106 is pivotally connected to this support member 104 and one end thereof 108, comprising a firing pin, is biased upwardly in a raised position by a small spring 110. The other end 112 of the firing means extends over the end of the casing 12 and retains the cartridge 14 Within the casing. It will be seen that depression of the firing pin detonates the explosive charge which ejects the marker means. The other end 112 of the firing means will be raised by the pivotal movement of the firing means. This will enable the old cartridge to be removed.

The firing pin 108 is depressed by means of a strike member 114 mounted on a torque spring member 116. The torque spring could comprise a simple flat leaf spring or, as illustrated, a cylinder 118 having a pair of torque springs 120 wound oppositely around the cylinder towards each other. The springs 120 would therefore be of opposite twist and both would unwind toward the firing pin 108. Oppositely disposed ends 122 of the springs engage the casing and adjacent end portions 124 of the spring extend forwardly against the torque of rotation. The adjacent end portions 124 are joined together and have the strike means 114 secured to the free end thereof. The strike means is adapted to rotate into engagement with the firing pin to operate the same and detonate the explosive charge. The entire arrangement of the torqued cylinder is similar to the spring arrangement in a simple mouse trap. The cylinder is mounted by rotatable bearing members 126 seated in bearing seats 128 mounted on top of the casing. One of the rotatable bearing members is rotatably keyed to the cylinder, as at 130, and has a key slot 132 therein so that a key, not shown, can be inserted within the bearing member to rotate the bearing member and the cylinder until the torqued springs 120 are cocked and in a postion to be engaged by a latch member 142. In addition, one of the rotatable bearing members 126 includes a ratchet 136 secured thereto which cooperates with a pawl 138 mounted on the casing to hold the torqued springs and cylinder during loading.

Another support means 140 is mounted on the casing adjacent the free end of the torqued springs. A latch means comprising a latch member 142 and an extension member 144 is pivotally mounted in the support means with a portion thereof adapted to engage the free end I I of the spring by a supplemental spring means 148. The electromagnet 146 operates against this spring means. The electromagnet is connected to a pressure switch 150 mounted in a concussion pad 152 by means of a circuit means 154 having a power source 156 enclosed therein.

An indicator light could be interposed in the circuit means 154 to indicate to the driver that a collision or sideswipe had taken place, but the light would turn off as soon as the pressure was removed from the concussion pad. Moreover, a circuit means 158 is illustrated in FIG- URE 4 which includes the torqued spring, strike means, and firing means, and which has a light bulb 160 and power source 162 interposed within the circuit. Of course, the torqued spring or strike means or both are insulated from the casing'lso as to prevent the light circuit from being closed at all times. Thus, when the torqued spring is released and the strike means engages the firing means, the circuit will be closed and the bulb will light until the torqued spring is reset.

As illustrated in the fragmentary view in FIGURE 5, the marker device 10 is adapted to be mounted preferably behind a license plate 164 or at some other accessible place with the wind-vane extending above the license plate. Concussion pads are mounted on the bumper and on the fenders above the wheels, not shown in this figure.

In operation, both modifications of the device respond to pressure being exerted against a concussion pad or sensing means. This indication of collision is transmitted through a trigger means to the ejective means which preferably discharges a fluid and identification tags, illustrated in FIGURE 2 at 166 and 168, respectively, so as to pinpoint the location of the vehicle at the time of collision and to identify the vehicle. Interposed in the trigger system is a cocking means which prevents discharge of the various types of markers on account of minor collisions.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been illustrated in the drawings and discussed above, it should be adequately clear that considerable modifications may be made thereto without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A traffic accident marker comprising:

cartridge means having at least one bore extending therethrough, said bore having at least a frangible seal across its lower end, said bore adapted to receive a marker means;

casing means adapted to be operatively secured to a vehicle and having said cartridge means mounted therein, the bottom of said casing ineans having at least an opening extending therethrou'gh aligned with said bore of said cartridge means and corresponding in area and configuration to at least that of said bore; ejective means positioned at least partially above said cartridge means and at least partially in alignment with said bore, said ejective means adapted to eject a marker means, breaking said seal; trigger means operatively mounted 0n said casing means for operating said ejective means, said trlgger means comprising a fulcrum means mounted on said casing means, a lever pivotally connected to said fulcrum intermediate the two ends of said lever, one end of said lever extending into the path of said ejective means and adapted to engage said e ective means, support means mounted in said casing means approximately adjacent the other end of said lever, latch means pivotally carried by said support means and adapted to engage said other end of said lever, and operating means operatively carried by said casing means and operatively aligned with said latch means, said operating means adapted to pivot said latch means out of engagement with said lever upon actuation, said operating means being operatively connected to and actuated by said sensing means;

an extension member interposed between said latch means and said operating means and movable between an operative position and an inoperative position, said extension member being movable into an operative position for operative engagement by said operating means in response to movement of the vehicle;

cocking means connected to said extension member for moving said extension member into its operative position; and

sensing means adapted to be secured to exterior of the vehicle for sensing a concussion with another object, said sensing means being operatively connected to said trigger means whereby upon impact with another object said sensing means will activate said trigger means which will in turn operate said ejective means to eiect a marker means.

2. The traffic accident marker defined in claim 1 additionally comprising a light-means adapted to be attached to the vehicle and operatively connected to said ejective means whereby operation of said ejective means will actuate said light means.

3. The traffic accident marker defined in claim 2 additionally comprising switch means mounted on said casing means in alignment with and below said ejective means and electrically connected to said light means whereby actuation of said ejective means will result in the actuation of said switch means through engagement thereof by said ejective means.

4. The traffic accident marker defined in claim 1 additionally comprising a light means attached to the vehicle and operatively connected to said trigger means whereby actuation of said trigger means will actuate said light means.

5. The traflic accident marker defined in claim 1 wherein the ejective means comprises a plunger shaft having at one end a plunger head of approximately the same configuration and cross-sectional area as that of said bore of said cartridge means so that said plunger head can enter and move axially of said bore, said plunger shaft having at the other end an enlarged plunger handle means, said shaft extending into said casing means and said enlarged head being positioned within said casing means and in alignment with said bore.

6. The trafiic accident marker defined in claim 5 additionally comprising a compression spring positioned around said plunger shaft with one end of said spring abutting said casing means and the other end of said spring abutting said plunger head.

7. The tratfic accident marker defined in claim 5 wherein said cartridge has two bores, one adapted to be filled with a marker fluid and the other adapted to be filled with marker tabs and wherein said plunger shaft is bifurcated with a plunger head on the free ends of the two branches' 8. The traflic accident marker defined in claim 1 wherein said operating means comprises an electromagnet electrically connected to said sensing. means, and wherein a portion of said latch means is adapted to engage saidlever and wherein one end of said latch means is operatively aligned with said electromagnet, said one end adapted to be attracted by said electromagnet and to pivot said engaging portion out of engagement with said lever so as to release said lever.

9. The trafiic accident marker defined in claim 8 wherein said sensing means comprises a pressure switch adapted to be mounted on the exterior of a vehicle, a power source, and circuit means connecting said switch means, power source and electromagnet.

10. The trafiic accident marker defined in claim 1 wherein said operating means comprises a'cylinder and piston means, said piston means comprising a piston head mounted within said cylinder and a piston rod connected to said head and extending through one end wall of said cylinder, and wherein one portion of said latch means is adapted to engage said lever and another portion of said latch means is operatively aligned with said piston rod, said other portion being adapted to be engaged and pivoted by said piston rod whereby said first portion of said latch means will be pivoted out of engagement with said lever, and wherein said sensing means comprises at least one concussion pad adapted to be filled with a fluid, and said operating means further comprises conduit means extending from said concussion pad to said cylinder, said conduit means and said cylinder adapted to be filled with said fluid so as to be responsive to pressure changes in said concussion pad whereby said piston head and rod will be actuated to engage and pivot said latch means.

11. The trafiic accident marker defined in claim 1 wherein said latch means comprises a latch member having a protrusion engaging said lever and being pivotally supported in said support means, said extension member being pivotally mounted to one end of said latch member for arcuate movement in only one direction away from an operative position, said extension member in its operative position being aligned for engagement by said operating means, and said extension member, when moved out of its operative position, being out of alignment with said operating means.

12. The traffic accident marker defined in claim 11 additionally comprising means associated with said extension member for moving said extension member out of its operative position.

13. The traffic accident marker defined in claim 12 wherein said means comprises a weight extending from said extension member on the side opposite to the direction of movement of said extension member away from its operative position.

14. The traffic accident marker defined in claim 11 wherein said extension member is pivotally mounted offcenter to said one of said latch member, said off-center pivot being disposed from the center in the same direction as the movement of said extension member away from its operative position.

15. The trafiic accident marker defined in claim 1 wherein said cocking means comprises a wind-vane opera tively mounted on said casing for rotation about an offcentered axis passing through the plane of said wind-vane, connecting means extending between one edge of said wind-vane, radially disposed from said ofi-centered axis, and said extension member, said one edge of said windvane adapted to rotate about said elf-centered axis in a direction away from said extension member and toward said operative position of said extension member so as to pull said extension member into its operative position.

16. The traflic accident marker defined in claim 1 where in said ejective means comprises a small explosive charge means positioned in alignment with said bore of said cartridge and in alignment with said trigger means.

17. The trafic accident marker defined in claim .16 wherein said trigger means comprises a first support member mounted on said casing, a firing pin pivotally connected to said first support member, means associated with said firing pin to bias said firing pin in a raised position above said explosive charge, and firing means operatively connected to said sensing means for moving said firing pin into abutting relationship with said explosive charge means whereby said firing pin initiates detonation of said explosive charge means.

18. The trafiic accident marker defined in claim 17 wherein said firing means comprises a torqued spring means having a strike means mounted on the free end thereof, said spring means being torqued so as to unwind toward said firing pin and rotate said strike means into engagement with said firing pin to operate the same and detonate said explosive charge means, second support means adjacent said tree end of said torqued spring means,

latch means pivotally mounted in said second support means having a first portion thereof adapted to be secured over said spring means to retain the said spring means, an electromagnet mounted on said casing opposite a second portion of said latch means for attracting said latch means and moving said first portion out of engagement with said free end of said spring means, and electric circuit means connecting said sensing means to said electromagnet.

19. The traflic accident marker defined in claim 18 wherein said sensing means comprises a pressure switch.

20. The trafiic accident marker defined in claim 19 whderein said pressure switch is covered by a concussion pa 21. The traffic accident marker defined in claim 18 wherein said torqued spring means comprises a cylinder rotatably mounted on said casing means and having a pair of torqued springs wound oppositely around said cylinder and towards each other so as to unwind towards said firing pin, oppositely disposed ends of said springs engaging said casing and adjacent portions of said springs extended forwardly from said cylinder against the torque of rotation, said adjacent end portions being joined together and having a strike means secured adjacent the free end thereof.

22. The trafiic accident marker defined in claim 21 additionally comprising oppositely disposed bearing seats mounted on top of said casing axially of said cylinder, a pair of bearing members, one mounted in each of said bearing seats and rotatably supporting said cylinder, one of said bearing members being rotatably keyed to said cylinder, said keyed bearing member having a key slot in the outer end thereof adapted to receive a key for rotating said keyed bearing and said cylinder until said springs are in a position to be engaged by said latch.

23. The trafiic accident marker defined in claim 22 additionally comprising a ratchet secured to said keyed bearing member, and a pawl mounted on said casing, said ratchet and pawl cooperating to hold said torqued springs during loading.

24. The traffic accident marker defined in claim 1 additionally comprising a marker means received within said bore means.

25. The trafiic accident marker defined in claim 24 wherein said marker means comprises a fluid and identification tags.

26. A traffic accident marker comprising:

casing means adapted to be operatively secured to a vehicle and having said cartridge means mounted therein, the bottom of said casing means having at least an opening extending therethrough aligned with said bore of said cartridge means and corresponding in area and configuration to at least that of said bore;

ejective means positioned at least partially above said cartridge means and at least partially in alignment with said bore, said ejective means adapted to eject a marker means, breaking said seal; trigger means operatively mounted on sard casing means for operating said ejective means, said trigger means comprising a pivotal latch member, said latch member being operatively connected to said ejector means, and an extension member having one end pivotally connected to one end of said latch member, said pivotal connection being arranged and constructed so that said extension member pivots from an operative position to an inoperative position in only one direction, said extension member in its operative position being in alignment for operative connection with said sensing means and said extension member, when moved out of its operative position, being out of alignment for connection with said sensing means; I

sensing means adapted to be secured to exterior of the vehicle for sensing a concussion with another object, said sensing means being operatively connected to said trigger means whereby upon impact with another object said sensing means will activate said trigger means which will in turn operate said ejective means to eject a marker means.

27. The traflic accident marker defined in claim 26 wherein said cocking means comprises a wind-vane mounted for rotation about an off-center axis passing through the plane of said wind-vane, and means connecting said wind-vane to said extension member, said connecting means mounted on said wind-vane for rotation therewith and said connecting means being arranged and constructed to pull said extension member into its operative position.

28. The traffic accident marker defined in claim 26 additionally comprising means associated with said extension member for moving said extension member out of its operative position.

29. The trafiic accident marker defined in claim 28 wherein said means comprises a weight extending from said extension member on the side opposite to the direction of movement of said extension member away from its operative position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,594,298 7/1926 Pless 11632 1,648,784 11/1927 Roth et a1 11632 1,819,155 8/1931 Fales 73186 X 2,153,896 4/1939 Mohar 340-61 2,161,327 6/1939 Wendel 116-32 2,364,751 12/1944 Place 340-263 2,473,050 6/1949 Camp 340-61 X 3,098,538 7/1963 Quang-Hsi-Hu.

3,287,968 11/1966 Kenyon 73186 LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner DANIEL M. YASICH, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.