US3529287A

US3529287A - Traffic circle amber light

Info

Publication number: US3529287A
Application number: US678639A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert Frank Southerland
Original assignee: Albert Frank Southerland
Current assignee: METTEN JOAN 825 WEST VALLEY COURT SPRINGFIELD MO 65807; SPIDLE AMY 345 BRIARBROOD DRIVE CARL JUNCTION MO 64834
Priority date: 1967-10-27
Filing date: 1967-10-27
Publication date: 1970-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 1987-09-15

Description

Sept 15, 1970 A. F. soUTHl-:RLAND 3,529,287

' TRAFFIC CIRCLE AMBER LICHT Filed OG'C. 27, 1967 INVENTOR. WM5/@7' F 500779594 f4/1/0 United States Patent O 3,529,287 TRAFFIC CIRCLE AMBER LIGHT Albert Frank Southerland, 2096 U.S. 19 S. Lot 345, Clearwater, Fla. 33516 Filed oct. 27, 1967, ser. No. 678,639 Int. Cl. G08g 1/096 U.S. Cl. 340-43 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to traflic si-gnals.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved traflic circle amber light which will visually indicate to a motorist or a pedestrian the amount of time remaining before the green light is switched off to a red light, so that he may determine whether he should `attempt or not attempt to cross the intersection within the time remaining of a green light signal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a trac circle amber light which comprises an individual unit which is readily securable to a conventional traffic signal such as is presently used at intersections of streets and highways.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a traic circle amber light which is readily fitted over the green light signal lens `and which is accordingly operated 'by the -green li ht.

Still another olrjgect of the present invention is to provide a traffic circle amber light which includes a plurality of lamps therewithin which are in sequence turned on, and which when are all turned on, indici-ate the instances of the tratiic light change.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a traiiic circle amber light which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and eilicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the present invention shown in relative position for being mounted upon a trafc sign-al of conventional design;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view thereof shown in mounted position upon a traiiic signal;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2 shown enlarged;

FIG. 4 is an electrical diagram showing the operation of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of one type of lamp to be used within the present invention.

lReferring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a traic circle amber light, according to the present invention, wherein there is a generally circular shaped assembly 11 having a central opening of circular configuration 12.

The assembly 11 comprises a life saver or doughnut congurated housing 13 which will readily snap over a shield 14 of a traic signal 15, as shown in FIG. l of the drawing.

The housing 13 encloses ya circular chamber 16 therewithin, the chamber containing a plurality of lamps 17 all around. The lamps 17 maybe of incandescent or neon type as preferred by the manufacturer. Upon the front side of the housing 13, there Aare a plurality of lenses 18 Patented Sept. 15 1970 lCC through which light rays from the lamps 17 may travel outwardly for being viewed by motorist or pedestrians.

Within the housing 13 each lamp 17 is provided with a timer 19 and a photo-electric cell 20, each of which is connected by means of Iappropriate wiring 21 to an electric source of power 22, that may "be either self-contained or connected to the wiring of the tratiic signal. As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing, the housing 13 is provided with a plurality of openings 23 upon its inner side Wall 24 which may be aligned with Ia plurality of openings 25 upon the shield 14 of the traffic signal so as to permit light rays from the traic signal lamp 26 passing through the traffic signal green lens 27 to enter the chamber lr6/of the housing 13 Where the light rays 2v8 may affect the photoelectric cell 20.

The timer 19 is provided with a manually controlled selector knob 29 which is pre-set so that each lamp v17 is differently timed from the other in sequence.

In operative use, the traffic circle amber light 10 is installed upon the traffic signal green lens shield as shown. The wiring 22 from the unit is connected to an electrical source within the traffic signal. When the green lamp of the traffic signal is turned on, it will send forth light rays 28 which will activ-ate all of the photoelectric cells instantly at the same time. Each of the photoelectric cells will accordingly activate the respective timers. A first of the timers which is adjusted to trip a self-contained switch first will cause the first lamp 17 to be turned on thus indcating to the driver or pedestrian through the lens 18 that a portion of the duration of the green light has elapsed. In sequence, an adjacent lamp then becomes turned on after a lapse of a pre-set Lamount of time. Thus in sequence all the lamps become turned on in spaced apart time until all the lights of the lamp 17 are on, at which time the entire circle of lamps are glowing to cause the entire ring of lenses 18 to glow an ambered colored light to warn the pedestrian or motorist that the time is up for the green light and that the red light of the traii'ic signal is about to be switched on.

Thus there has been provided an improved trafic signal attachment which will permit safety on highways at their intersection.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, such changes may comprise features wherein the complete amber unit would remain in an on position for three or four seconds after the green light is turned out and it may include also various preferred features which will fit within the present constructional design. Likewise the device may be used as a count-down arrangement.

I claim:

1. In a traiiic circle amber light, the combination of an attachment around a green lightl of a traic signal, said attachment being fitted around the green light conventional shield, said attachment providing an amber signal means, said attachment including a plurality of lamps therewithin and a plurality of amber lenses, one of said lenses being for each of said lamps, wherein said attachment comprises a circular configurated housing having a central opening into which said traffic signal green light shield may be fitted, said housing including a central chamber of circular configuration therewithin, said lamps being located within said chamber, means for activating said lamps, wherein each of said lamps is connected to an electrical source of power and a timer in series, said timer being activated by photoelectric cell, wherein said housing is provided on its inner wall with a plurality of openings, each of said openings being in alignment with one of said lamps Within said housing chamber, each of said openings of said inner wall being in alignment with an opening in said shield of said traffic signal, and each of said openings of said attachment in said inner wall being in alignment with one of said photoelectric cells.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said timers is pre-set to operate upon a diiferent time length than the other of said timers whereby said lamps may be turned on in spaced apart sequence until all said lamps are turned on by said traffic signal green light.

3. A trafc signal attachment, removably afxed to a standard trafc signal and adapted to be used in a surrounding relationship to one of the lenses of the standard traffic signal comprising a generally toroidal shaped housing having at least two compartments wherein each compartment has, operatively connected, a lens, a light source, a preset timer, a power source, and a photo responsive switch whereby upon actuation of said switch said light is illuminated for a predetermined period of time.

4. The attachment of claim 3 wherein said toroidal shaped housing is adapted to snap over the shield of a standard trafc signal, and wherein said photo responsive switches are located on the inner wall of said toroidal References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1940 Loungway 34a-43 7/1943 clark 340-43 THOMAS B. HABECKER, Primary Examiner C. M. MARMELSTEIN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 340-74