US2887930A - Emergency warning signal marker - Google Patents

Description

May 26, 1959 P. ZOFFMANN EMERGENCY WARNING SIGNAL MARKER Filed July 6, 1956 INVENTOR. PAUL ZOFFMANN ATTORNEY 's U ed tes. Pa

marker which is adapted for protection by disabled trucks, carsand the like and as a warning marker for a temporary hazard.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multisided warning marker which is readily transportableand may be placed in upright relation on any side thereof to provide a warning from any angle surrounding the upwardly extending sides.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a warning marker which is economical, can be rolled or tumbled into position on any side and which is instantly available for use at all times and in all weather conditions without periodic maintenance.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a warning marker consisting of a multi-sided transparent container having intersecting hollow portions terminating in spaced relation to the faces thereof and with the walls of the hollow portion coated with a light reflecting coating or layer to thereby provide a visual warning area of similar formation in each face of the container.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a warning marker con structed in accordance with the invention and having a cruciform warning area in each face thereof.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is a View in elevation of a warning marker illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of another form of marker constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

The invention may consist of a warning marker of any number of sides or faces which provide a reflective warning area of similar formation in each face. The warning marker may be of any polygonal or spheroidal formation and is formed with intersecting hollow portions, the walls of which are coated with a luminous or light reflecting material whereby the visual warning area in each face of the marker is of similar formation.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the marker is of cubical formation having similar faces. The marker is transparent and in order to provide warning areas in each of the faces thereof, the marker is formed with a plurality of intersecting hollow portions which terminate in spaced relation from the faces. As illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the

2 marker 10 is formed withthree intersecting hollow poitions 11, 12 and 13, the hollow portion 11 terminating in spaced relation from the opposite side faces 14 and 15,while the hollow portion 12 terminates in spaced relation. from the. opposite side faces 16 and 17 and the hollow portion 13 terminates in spaced relation from the top and bottom side faces 18 and 19. The hollow spaces are produced by drilling circular openings *through the faces 14, 16 and 19 with the bottom of the holes terminating as illustrated in spaced relation to the opposite faces respectively and fitting plugs 20, 21 and 22 to close the outer end of the holes. The inner walls defining the hollow portions 11, 12 and '1-3 are coated with a luminous or light reflecting layer which is sealed within the marker and is visible both during the daytime and H nighttime. The hollow portions 11, 12 and 13 intersecting at the center of the cube 10 will form a cruciform visual warning area at each face thereof. The marker may be-disposedin any face uppermost and may be rolled or tumbled into position and the same is preferably' of a size and takes the place of the usual burning flare ius edas a warning for trucks, cars and the like and for temporary hazards such as excavations.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and of the drawings, the marker is in the form of a pyramid in which the four faces thereof are of the same area. The marker is transparent throughout and is formed with intersecting hollow portions 25, 26, 27 and 28 which are of any desired formation in cross-section and intersect centrally of the pyramid with the hollow portions terminating in spaced relation from the faces 29, 30, 31 and 32 respectively. As illustrated, the hollow portions are of triangular shaped formation in cross-section and the same may be produced in any desired manner such as by hollowing the pyramid inwardly from the several faces thereof and plugging up the outer portions of the openings by transparent sheet material flush with the faces of the pyramid. The inner walls defining the hollow portions 25 to 28 inclusive are coated with a luminous or light reflecting material which produces a visual Waming area in each of the faces in the form of a cross. The marker may be set on any of its faces so as to constitute a warning marker when viewed from any angle surrounding the same.

The marker may also be of spheroidal formation as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings in which the marker is of circular formation in plan and of elliptical formation in side view and in any vertical cross-sectional configuration. As in the other forms of the invention, the marker is transparent and is formed with intersecting hollow portions 33, 34 and 35 which terminate in spaced relation from the outer face of the marker. The hollow portions may be produced in any desired manner such as by hollowing the same inwardly into adjacent relation with the opposite sides of the hollow portions respectively and then plugging upthe outer portions of the openings by transparent sheet material. The hollow portions 33, 34 and 35 intersect centrally of the marker and the inner walls defining the same are coated with a luminous or light reflecting material which produces a visual area in the top and bottom circular faces and in the arcuate side faces of cross formation which are visible in any location surrounding the marker irrespective of the manner in which the marker is disposed on a supporting structure. The luminous or light reflecting material may be colored as desired so as to provide a visual colored area in the faces of the warning marker shown in the several forms illustrated in the drawmgs.

While the preferred forms of the invention are shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the same is not so limited but shall cover and include any and all Patented'May 26,- 1953 v O modifications thereof which fall within the purview of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In,,aportable warning marker,- a portable, trans.- parenthody having a plurality of outer side faces for supporting the marker: with any one of said. side faces disposedon a, supporting surface and with the remain ing side faces visible when approaching the same, said body being adapted to be disposed in position-by rolling the, same, onto a supporting surface to loosely support.

the-body in position thereon, said body being of hollow formation having a plurality of peripheral inner faces providing, hollow arms emanating from a hollow central portion. and extending. centrally toward said outer side faces respectively, said peripheral inner faces beingspaced from said outer side faces by side, wall portions closing the outer ends of said hollow arms respectively, and said.

approaching the same, said body being adapted to be disposed in position by rolling the same onto a supporting surface to loosely support the body in position thereon, said body being of hollow formation having a plurality of peripheral inner faces providing hollow arms emanating from a hollow central portion and extending centrally toward said outer side faces respectively, said peripheral inner faces being spaced from said outer side faces by side wall portions closing the outer ends of said hollow arms respectively, said hollow arms being of the same cross-sectional configuration throughout, and a light reflecting coating on said peripheral inner faces and on the inenr faces of said side wall portions whereby a central warning area of cruciform-formation is visible by reflected light from each of said outer side faces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Italy Dec. 17, 1935

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