US1676273A - Signal device - Google Patents

Description

E. A. MILLER ET AL SIGNAL DEVICE July 10, 1928.

Filed Jan. 4, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H differ-17am V July 10, 1928.

E. A. MILLER ET AL S IGNAL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 4, 1924 [72 0672 $0715 Edgar/1. Mi/ler d fi/evelawoA. James.

d gfforney.

Patented July 10,1928.

UNITED STATES PAT OFFICE.

EDGAR A. MILLER AND CLEVELAND JAMES, OF PHILADELPI-IIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

Application filed January 4, 1924. Serial No. 684,311.

ons or other vehicles to prevent collisions from fast moving vehicles in the rear. In all cases, the device depends for its illumination upon extraneous light and, inpractical use, from the head lights of the approaching vehicle which is to be warned of coming danger.

By the employment of a danger or cautionary signal of this character, no attention or. care is required to maintain it in operative condition and hence it is not only inexpensive to maintain in use, but it is thoroughly reliable in operation.

In some forms'of signal apparatus of this general character, the reflected lightis faint andv insuflicient for reliance on darkand foggy nights, and especially where the luminosity of the headlights of the approaching vehicle is of a low candle power; and in other cases, the reflected light beam is so deflected away from the approaching vehicle or dispersed to such extent as to render it inadequate to meet the requirements as to. efliciency. v 1

By the employment of our improved construction of signal device, the above defects are overcome and the light beam is reflected directly back with full intensity upon the approaching vehicle and. brilliant in red or other color significant of the danger or necessit for caution.

ith the above andother objects in view,

the nature of which willbe more fully under- 1 stood) from the description hereinafter, the invention consists in the novel construction of signal devices, as hereinafter more fully described and defined in the c aims.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the course of light rays striking mirrors placed at an angle of more than ninety degrees with one another; Fig. 2 is a similar diagram with the mirrors arranged at an angle of ninety degrees with one another; Fig. 3 is a diagram in plan of a series of concentric mirrors having their adjacent reflecting surfacs arranged at angles of ninety degrees with one another and with circular transparent ribs interposed between the mirrors of each pairand embodying the broader principles of our invention; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional diagram through the same; Fig. 5 is a front view ofa danger signal embodying the features of construction of Figs. 3 and 4 showing the zone of illumination by the use of colored transparent ribs; Fig. 6 is 'a similar view to Fig. 5 but with the use of colored translucent ribs whereby an increased area of illuminationv is secured; Fig. 7 is a front or face view of a danger signal device constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig.- 8 is a transverse section of the same taken on line 88 of Fig.7; and Fig. 9 shows amodification of the invention.

Rays of light 4, 4, striking a pair of mirrors l, 1, placed at an angle greater than ninety degrees with one another, as shown in Fig. 1, will not be reflected in'lines parallel with their path of incidence and hence will be dispersed; but rays of light 4, '4, striking a pair of mirrors 2, 2, placed at an angle of ninety degrees, as shown in Fig. 2 will be reflected back in parallel lines. Rays from any source within the planes of the mirrors 2, 2, and in a plane at right angles to the line of intersection of the planes of the mirrors,

2, 2, will be reflected back to their source; so that a pair of such mirrors whose planes. of reflection are placed vertically one above the other will have a wide horizontal range of reflection, and a pair of such mirrors whose planes of reflection are placed horizontally side by side will have a wide vertical range of reflection. Placed either way, the range of such a pair of mirrors in the direction of or parallel with the intersection of the planes of the mirrors, is limited to the length of the mirrors. A series of concentric mirrors 3, 3, (Figs. 3 and 4), placed at angles of ninety degrees with one another will be not only a combination of horizontally and vertically ,pl'aced mirrors, but of mirrors placed at all angles between the horizontal and the vertical, so that a series of concentric mirrors so constructed will reflect back to its source light from any source within the reflecting planes of the mirrors.

The portion of such a combination of concentric mirrors that would reflect light back to any source when not directlyin front of it is that area of the mirrors lying along a line of intersection, such as 7 ofthe plane A rib. 6 (Figs. 3 and 4) of colored transparent material placed between the mirrorsof each pair will color'the-refiected light, so that the 'area 8 will appear colored from a position adjacent to the source of the light. But this area 8 is, as before state compafativelysmall, and a combination of the concentric mirrors with colored transparent ribsis, therefore, only of use in providing for both vertical and transverse capacities for reflection.

It willcnow be understood thatwhen the rib 6 is of highly transparent material oflering no serious resistance to passage of the light rays and the plane of the face of the signal device is exactly at right angles to the source of light so that every portion of the mirrors operate to fully reflect the light, the device as a whole wouldbe quite efficient; but this is only an ideal condition, as the signal device is fixed and the automobile providing the source of light is approaching at almost any angle and under those actual conditions, the eflicient operation is not possible. This objection would be SlDlllJIlOIB apparent in cases where the signal evice was movable as when constituting-a tail light or signal of another vehicle and especially when not traveling on a narrow roadway.

If,'however, We substitute for the colored transparent rib, a rib of colored translucent material, such. as colored celluloid having some degree of light obstruction, then the luminous or light reflected area will be very greatly increased, as-graphically shown at 8 in Fig. 6. In fact, the entire reflecting area of the device will be colored. This result is achieved for the reason that, while with a :transparent rib 6 only the rays striking along the plane of intersection 7 are reflected back to their source, witha translucent rib 10, (Figs 8), it, itself, is highly illuminated by the light reflected upon it-from the mirrors, and the reflection of said highly illuminated rib appears over the entire area of the mirrors and is reflected back as, a circular area or ball of brightly colored light, thus operating as a highly eflicient danger signal.

To achieve this desired result, it is not necessary to place the mirrors at exact right angles, but the angles may be much smaller, if so desired,without seriously affecting the operative efliciency.

When the circular coloredrib 10 is translucent, not only is the transmitted light pass- .ing through it reflected back to the source,

as in Fig. 5, but the highly illuminated sur- 05 faces of this translucent rib reflects back source.

that the entire signal device reflects, back I a brilliant colored light for its whole area instead of a relatively small area, irrespective of the position of the approaching light Because the device has this possibility of reflection of color fromthe illuminated translucent rib instead of using the rib only as a colored transparent element, the conical reflectors are given capacities which otherwise they would not have, that is to have capacity to reflect the colored light for the greater-"part or all of their circumferential area. While we have referred to the function of a single circular colored rib and its associated circular reflectors having inclined reflecting surfaces, it will be mani fest that the advantages will be enhanced many fold by increasing the number of'concentric reflectors and ribs; and in commercial practice, a plurality of ribs and" reflectors are employed, the latter being preferably twice as many as the former. 1

e will now refer more specifically to a commercial form of our improved signal device, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The front 1 surface of the glass is thrown outward to the sides rather than in a line at right angles to the plane of the reflector, whereby the white'light does not interfere with the colored reflection of the translucent ribs comprised of the parts 10 and 14. The angle between the annular mirrors of a pair may vary' from sixty to ninety degrees; The glass front has a backing 12 of wood, cement, plaster of P- 's, vulcanite fiber, or other composition, or other suitable material poured or molded, and if the latter, affixed by adhesive means, as at 11. The whole is enclosed in a sheet metal case 13, as shown,

leaving only the reflecting area exposed.

While the device, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, may be directly arranged in position and exposedwhen used, nevertheless, if desired, it may be protected and kept clean by being placed within a'shelte'r with a glass window, or such a window (not shown) may be provided-ori the device itself.

The signal device, as a whole, may be secured, where needed, in fixed position in a suitable'location at the side of the roadway, as by being attached to a post; and in case of use upon the rear of a vehicle, it may be provided with any suit-able attaching means, but such means are not material to our in- ,vention and hence have not been illustrated.

-While we prefer that the angle, between the reflecting surfaces constituting a pair,

shall be ninety degrees, it will be' readily un derstood that this is because, when directly approaching the signal device in a line at right angles to the plane of its concentric reflectors, a maximum efliciency will be secured; but because the reflecting surfaces and ribs are annular and the light rays from the sourcewill, in mostinstances, vary from such ideal alinement, the angle made between the reflecting surfaces may be less than ninety degrees, and especially so in view of the fact that the light reflections from mirrors to colored rib and rib to mirror may involve different courses of travel before being projected back to the'source. For this reason, we do not restrict ourselves as to angles less than nlnety degrees, though no angle materially cgl'reater than ninety degrees may be employe F In the particular illustrated example of our device, we have shown the employment of two annular colored translucent ribs, but as before stated, a greater number of ribs and reflectors may be employed; and similarly, it will be understood that one pair of annular inclined reflecting surfaces and one colored rib structure yvill suifice 'for the broader example of our invention. In cases where more than one such set is employed and preferably when three or more sets are employed, we-may change the color of the outermnst rib by employing a green translucent band 10, with the result that by so doing, the brilliancy of the enclosed red reflections will be enhanced and more clearly defined. Of course, the particular colors employed is not a material factor, though we prefer to use red as the dominant color,

as lt lS appropriate to danger and is far more brilliant to the sight than green and hence more readily perceived by an occupant of a fast moving automobile.

It is further to be understood that while the annular reflectors and ribs are best made as circular, we do not restrict ourselves in this respect,.because these parts may be more orless polygonal, since a circle is only a polygonal with an indefinite number of sides and it is manifest that our improvements may be efficiently adapted to a polygonal form, for example, of eight or more sides as found suitable.

Furthermore, while it is desirable that the colored annular rib material 10 be arranged to exactly divide the angle between to the source that it shall pass freely through.

the rib to the other mirror of the pair, as wouldbe the case were the rib wholly trans parent. While we have referred to the use of celluloid as suitable for -the annular colored ribs, other materials may be employed, such as prepared paper, tracing cloth, vellum, sheet gelatine, etc., when colored, by way of examples.

It will now be apparent that we have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and while we have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that we do not restrict ourselves to the details, as the same are susceptible of modi-' fication in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope pf the invention.

'we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A signal device which is illuminated 'by light from another anddista'nt source and reflects said light back to the source in modified condition, consisting of a reflector composed of a plurality of concentric refleeting surfaces arranged in pairs respec-- tively inclined at an angle to each other to form an annular V shaped reflecting groove, and an annular rib extending outwardly from the bottom of each of the V reflector grooves to substantially divide, said grooves into two annular reflecting parts and said annular ribs being of colored translucent material adapted to receive and permit the passage of part of the reflected light from each Having now described our invention, what of the reflecting surfaces immediately disposed on opposite sides of the annular ribs.

2. 'A' signal device which is illuminated by light from another and distant source and reflects said light back to the source in modified condition, consisting of a reflector composed of two concentric reflecting surfaces inclined'at an angle to each other to form'an annular V shaped reflecting groove, .1

made ofglass coated to formniirrors and.

having between them a transparentannular different color from those of the remaining hollow glass rib in which is arranged the annular colored translucent ribL.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, the annular colored rib is arranged within and so as .to substantially bisect the V shaped reflector'groove throughout its circular form? 4. *A signal device which is illuminated5 'clined in opposite directions to provide a by light from another and distant source and reflects said light back to the source in modified condition, consisting of a reflector comprisedof a plurality of concentric annular reflecting surfaces all fully exposed from the front, the adjacent surfaces inclined in opposite directions to provide a plurality of pairs of concentric refleeting surfaces forming a plurality of annular V shaped reflecting grooves, respectively of increasing diameter, and a cir-.

cular rib extending outwardly from the bottom of each of the V reflector grooves to substantially divide said grooves into annular inclined reflecting parts, said ,ribs being of colored translucent material and each adapted to receive the light from their respective pairs of reflecting surfaces. 1,

5. A signal device which is illuminated by lightcfrom another and distant source and reflects said light back to the source in modified condition, consisting of a re flector comprised of a plurality of concentric annular reflecting surfaces all fully ex posed from the front, the adjacent surfaces inclined in opposite directions to provide a plurality of pairs of concentric reflecting surfaces forminga plurality of annular V shaped-reflecting grooves respectively of increased diameter, and anannular rib extending outwardly from the. bottom ofeach of the V reflector grooves to substantially divide said grooves into annular-inclined reflecting parts, said ribs being of colored translucent materialand each adapted to receive the light from their respective pairs of reflecting surfaces, and wherein further,

7 the-outermost annular colored rib is of a annular colored ribs.

'6. A signal device which is illuminated by light from another and distant source and reflects said light back to the source in modified condition, consisting of a reflector comprised of a plurality of concentric annular reflecting surfaces all fully exposed from the front,- the adjacent surfaces inplurality of pairs of concentric reflecting surfaces forming a plurality'of annularV shaped-reflecting groowes respectively of increasing diameter,and a circularrib extendthe V reflector grooves to substantially divide said grooves into annular inclined re- -flecting parts,- said ribs being of colored translucent, material and each adapted to 'ing outwardly from the bottom of each of receive the light from their respective pairs of reflecting surfaces, and wherein further,

all of the plurality of reflecting surfaces are formed of mirrored glass in an "integral structure and said glass str ctur provided with means for holding the several colored annular ribs in position.

7. A signal device which is illuminated by light from another andfdistant source and reflects said light back to the source e in modified condition, consisting of a plurality of reflecting surfaces set at an angle'to each other, said reflecting surfaces arranged about a central ,point in a circle so that the relative angles between the reflecting sur-' I faces at difierenb places about the center assures diflerent angles-with reference to us'e, and colored translucent means arranged 111 the spaces between the reflecting sura horizontal plane when the device is in faces through, which the reflected light is EDGAR A; MILLER.

CLEVELAND A. as

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