US971560A - Signal-flag holder. - Google Patents

Description

E. S. REAGAN. SIGNAL FLAG HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED PBBA, 1909.

Patented 0ct.4,1910.

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EDWARD S. REAGAN, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA, AS SIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HARRY T. BURKETT, OF BLUEKNOB, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNAL-FLAG HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 4, 1909.

Patented Get. at, 1910.

Serial No. 476.017.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. REAGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Flag Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved signal-flag holder specially designed as a protective holder for the signal flags with which locomotives are usually equipped for signaling purposes.

Ordinarily, a locomotive is generally equipped with two signal flags used in different classes of service and which are now kept in the locomotive cab or tender bulkhead. These flags are frequently misplaced, lost or torn. with the result of causing annoyance and inconvenience, and it is the purpose of the present invention to provide a flag holding device mounted in a suitable position upon the locomotive, and providing -1neans for completely housing a plurality of signal flags when not in use, and also for holding such flags in operative signaling position simply tl'irough the adjustment of the holding device.

lVith these and many other objects in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

Vhile the essential features are susceptible to structural modification, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a top plan view of a signalflag holder embodying the present invention, and showing one of the flag carriers swung out to a signaling position for the flag, and also showing, in dotted lines, the other flag carrier in its housed position within the housing-case. Fig. 2 is a side view of the flag holder. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating one of the flag carriers locked in its uncovered or signaling position. Fig. 4; is a projected end view of the holder with the parts thereof in the positions shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The present invention contemplates constructing the signal flag holder so as to provide for housing and supporting the pair of signal flags with which a locomotive is usually equipped, and to secure that result, the holder embodies in its general construction what may be properly termed, a housing-case designated in its entirety by the numeral 1. This housing-case is in the form of a sheet metal box preferably of rectangular form and provided with an open top portion designed to be covered and uncovered by a hinged lid 2. The said lid 2 is hinged at one edge to one side of the case by means of a plurality of suitable hinges 3 and the free edge thereof is designed to engage with the beveled and shouldered catch end 4 of a spring locking latch consisting of a leaf spring member secured fast at one end as at 6 to the side of the box body opposite the side to which the lid is hinged.

In order to provide for housing a pair or plu ality of signal flags, the box body constituting the case 1 is provided with a central longitudinal partition 7 dividing the interior of such body into the separate flag housing or holding compartments 8 each of which is adapted to house and receive a separate flag. The box body is entirely closed at one end and at the opposite end, each compartment thereof is open to admit of the movement of the flag and the flag supporting means into and out of said compartment.

The flag supporting means arranged at the open end of each compartment, essen tially consists of a shiftable or swinging flag carrier 9 and a flag staff socket 10 mounted on and rigid with the carrier 9. The said carrier 9 preferably consists of an angle plate hinged at one edge as at 11 to the under side of the box body, and in addition to the socket 1O thereon, the said carrier or carrier plate 9 has mounted thereon an angle plate 12 having the separate right angularly disposed members 13 and 14. The member 13 is interposed between the base of the socket 10 and the body of the carrier plate 9 and is rigidly fastened to the latter through the medium of the same rivets 15 which hold the socket in place. The said other member 14 of the plate 12 constitutes a holding arm for the flag carrier 9, and when the latter is thrown out as shown in Fig. 3, the then upper edge of the arm 14 is adapted to be engaged bya bifurcated catch lug l6 fitted to or carried by the under side of the lid 2 thus providing an effective and secure lock for the flag carrier When supporting the flag in its signaling position. To lower the flag and house the same for protective purposes, it is simply necessary to first raise the lid and then swing the carrier with the flag through the open end of the compartment therefor, and into the latter, and upon the reclosing of the lid, the open end of the compartment Will be eilectively closed by the supporting base member 13 which also acts as an end closure for the case or box.

The equipment for each compartment is the same.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, use and advantages of the herein described flag holder, Will be apparent Without further description.

I claim 1. A flag-holder comprising a housing case, a flag carrier hinged to one end of the case, a flag-staff socket supported on the said carrier, and a combined supporting base and end closure also mounted on the carrier.

2. A flag holder comprising a housingcase having a lid provided With a catch, fastening means for the lid, a flag carrier hinged to the case, a flag staff socket supported on said carrier and movable into and out of the case, a combined supporting base and end closure also mounted on the carrier, and a holding arm also fitted to the carrier and engaged by the catch on the lid.

In testimony whereof I hereunto with; my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

EDXVARD S. REAGAN.

Vitnesses N. E. GEE, H. Ti BURKETT.

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