US2965880A - Time-controlled activated vehicular speed limit signal - Google Patents

Description

l. M. HART Dec. 20, 1960 TIME-CONTROLLED ACTIVATED VEHICULAR SPEED LIMIT SIGNAL Original Filed March 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FLASHING INVENTOR.

IRWIN M. HART ATTORNEY I. M. HART Dec. 20, 1960 TIMECONTROLLED ACTIVATED VEHICULAR SPEED LIMIT SIGNAL Original Filed March 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I 1 I\ mw mm mm pm W v -m w\ 5 m h M T MM H mm \m\. imm mm L 8 mp w mm E T L fi E v on Fwy mm INVENTOR.

IRWIN M. HART BY %ATTORNEY United States Patent F .TllVIE-CONTROLLED ACTIVATED VEHICULAR SPEED LIMIT SIGNAL Irwin M. Hart, 314 Missouri Ave., Lorain, Ohio Original application Mar. 5, 1956, Ser. No. 569,305,

new Patent No. 2,902,672, dated Sept. 1, 1959. Divided and this application Aug. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 836,785

3 Claims. (Cl. 340-81) This invention relates to a novel visible tratfic control signal in which a plurality of alternate flashing light projecting and directing signals are combined with a legendbearing sign. This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 569,305, filed March 5, 1956, now Patent No. 2,902,672.

The signs are of the general class known as automatic activated alternating flasher signals for speed limit or stop sign purposes. For example, activated flasher signals for controlling vehicle speed limits in school zones are particularly important, and obviously urgently needed for the protection of school children, and likewise may be used for other institutions, particularly where the need for speed control or stopping during certain limited periods of time or danger hours is present.

Some motorists who have become aware of the unreasonably low speed indicated by the signal, when not needed, fail to heed the signs and reduce their speed at times of day when extra caution is required.

It follows that the signal constituting the combination of the present invention, which includes a time switch controlling mechanism rendering the sign activated to give the alternating flashing warning signals only for short times covering the danger periods, relieves the unnecessary burden on the motorist, and assures obedience to the sign because it quickly becomes recognized that these signs do not imposed unwarranted restrictions when they are not necessary.

An object of the invention is to utilize a plurality, preferably a pair, of spaced flasher light signals, each having a power and eifectiveness comparable to a trafiic signal and mounted with a sign plate bearing the desired legend indicating the required reduced speed limit. Thus, in addition to the sign plate bearing a legend indicating a school zone and speed limit, I have provided an effective attention-attracting warning signal which is normally inconspicuous but which becomes strikingly visible when actuated during the danger periods.

An advantage of attaining this objective by the combination comprising my present invention is that the sign may be relatively inconspicuous when not in operation.

More specific objects are to so construct such a combination that it may be weather-resistant, easy to service, with parts replaceable on the job or at the signal location, and which may be fully power-actuated.

A still more specific object includes simplicity and cheapness of manufacture, durability, and reliability in use.

While providing for a number of periods, say three each day for a school operation, the time control mechanism may be idle on Saturdays and Sundays. Likewise, my signal unit may obviously be inactive and relatively inconspicuous during vacations and during seasons when not needed.

The time-controlling device of my signal may be so regulated as to permit continuous operation, which may be very advantageous for emergencies, as, for example,

Patented Dec. 20, 1960 temporary installation, for bridge failure, road construction, etc.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred form of my invention, it being understood that modifications may be made corresponding to the teachings hereof.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a preferred embodiment of my invention in which the upper and lower cabinets containing the flasher signals are spaced apart and connected by a tubular support;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the sign plate and flashers shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the form shown in Fig. 1 show ing the rear door walls of each box opened to indicate accessibility of instruments, controls, and connections carried thereby; and

Fig. 4 is a composite diagram of the wiring arrangement showing the lines leading to the operating parts and their companion or corresponding lines leading from them to the feed line.

Describing the structure shown in the drawings, using reference numerals, a rigid signboard or plate of metal or other suitable material 10 may bear the warning sign and informative indicia, such as school zone or speed limit.

In the arrangement indicated, an area above the upper flashing signal is provided for large lettering of the words such as School Zone and Speed Limit, and the area between the two flasher signals may bear large numerals printed on the plate 10. Additional wording may appear below the lower lens. For example, I have shown the words When Flashing.

-The plate It) is provided with separated openings in which are mounted lenses 12 and 13 secured by suitable clamping rings, from which sun shields 16 and 17 may project outwardly. The lenses 12 and 13 are preferably provided with light-directing configurations corresponding to Well-known trafiic signal lenses.

The rigid signboard plate 10 is mounted on a composite rigid structure comprising two vertically spaced apart similar metal box compartments, each preferably having the rear or side wall hinged for access, as for example was provided for in the housing for the light-controlling mechanism as disclosed in my Patent No. 2,679,- 635, granted May 25, 1954.

Behind each lens 12 and 13 is a suitable lamp, which may be of the incandescent lamp-bulb type, indicated at 26 and 27, and each positioned in front of a parabolic reflector 28 and 29. Partitions 30 and 31 may serve to mount these lamps and reflectors, and to divide the cabinet- like box units 32 and 33 into forward and rear compartments. The latter compartments may contain the flasher controlling mechanism and timing mechanism, all of which may be mounted on the rear hinged walls 35 and 36 of the cabinets, as shown in Fig. 3, for convenient accessibility. The hinged walls preferably are fitted with gaskets to render them weather-tight, and, as shown, are provided with latching means such as indicated at 40, each of which may be provided with a lock, if desired.

The two cabinets are rigidly connected together and braced by a tubular member 38 which may be in the nature of a large diameter pipe section which may be threaded to fittings secured to the adjacent surfaces of the cabinets 32 and 33 so that the pipe is parallel to and spaced from the plate 10. Connecting wires from between the clock switch, flasher motor, and other control members may be passed through and be protected by this pipe section. In the preferred, although not critical, embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the cabinets 32 and 33 are substantially cubical. This construction and proportion of the cabinets contributes to the Strength of the rigid unitary assemblage formed by the cabinets, the pipe connecting the two cabinets, and the sign plate 10, the unitary assemblage being mountable upon any suitable post or support.

In Fig. 1 there appears a socket 42 adapted to fit over a post P, serving as the sign support.

In the rear compartment of the upper cabinet or box 32, I may mount a flasher control device, indicated diagrammatically by the rectangle 45, a suitable fuse 46, and a radio interference signal suppressor 48, preventing the arcing energy from interfering with normal reception by adjacent radio and television sets.

In the lower cabinet 33, I prefer to mount the time clock which controls the activation of the flasher signals. This clock is indicated diagrammatically at 50, and is connected, as will presently appear, with the other component parts by a wiring system which may be arranged in any suitable fashion to accomplish the desired purpose.

For example, in most localities, the danger hours for a school zone begin at 8:30 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 3:00 pm, and for the half-hour or more following each of these hours, the signs should be activated so that the flasher signals are illuminated alternately.

An actuating flashing motor or control device is connected to the lights 26 and 27, and these controlling and actuating instruments may be connected by a suitable wiring arrangement constituting a feed from A.C. or DC, as the case may be.

An illustrative wiring arrangement is indicated in the composite diagram of Fig. 4, in which oiiset rectangles 32a and 33a indicate the upper and lower cabinets, respectively. Within the upper cabinet is indicated a block bearing binding post 55 for suitable line connections, only two of which are there indicated as being used by the lines 56 and 57 of a ll-volt A.C. circuit.

From the connections on this member 55, a line 58 is shown as leading first to the fuse here indicated at 68, from which the line is continued at 61 to a terminal of the time clock 50, shown as having a time-controlled switch member 63, which when moved into contact with the connection 64, passes current through suitable controls, not shown, and from which current may pass through the line 70. Line 70 is connected to one of several terminals of a box 76 containing resistance and condensers, and having connections with the flasher motor, here indicated at 78, the contacts of which may alternately connect circuits leading to the lamps 26 and 27. The other terminals of these lamps are connected through wires 83, shown in the right-hand diagram, with a common return line 80 to a terminal of the flasher, and thence, as appears in the left-hand portion of the diagram, with the box 76 and its condensers and connections.

The common return line 80 is also connected, as at 81, with the supply line connections, While another line, as at 82, leads back from the time clock control member 64.

The foregoing is not intended to be a complete description of the wiring, but is sufiiciently illustrative to indicate the connections necessary for the operation, which will now be summarized.

Assuming a permanent connection with a supply line, the time clock 50 has its main switch armature connection in open or idle position throughout the greater part of of each 24 hours, and over holidays and during vacations, as described. During these periods, of course, the sign is relatively inconspicuous. The warning sign indicating a school zone, would of course, be noticed by the alert motorist; however, during the periods of day when, for example, school children are exposed to vehicular traffic, the circuit is closed through the time clock actuating the flasher sign alternately illuminating the upper and lower lamps 26 and 27 under the control of the flasher motor 78.

It is to be understood that the time clock, flasher motor and other equipment are well known devices, and no specific claim is intended to be made herein in respect thereto, apart from the novel combination and arrange ment of my signal apparatus.

What is claimed is:

l. A time-controlled actuatable warning and regulatory speed limit sign comprising a stiff sign plate having traffic guiding indicia on its front surface, said sign plate being provided with spaced openings, a signal lens mounted in each opening, a rigid box having a front wall connected to the rear surface of said sign plate behind each of said openings, said boxes being substantially cubical with said front wall of each box having a hole corresponding to and communicating with the contiguous opening in said sign plate, each of said boxes having a hinged rear wall, a rigid pipe connected between said boxes, said pipe being axially parallel to said sign plate and rearwardly spaced therefrom whereby said pipe, sign plate and boxes form a rigid unitary assemblage adapted to be rested on and secured to the upper end of a rigid support, a light in each box near said hole for illuminating the adjacent lens, an actuating flashing motor and a time clock in circuit relation with said lights for actuating said lights at predetermined intervals, said flashing motor and said time clock being enclosed in separate boxes and being mounted on said hinged rear walls for convenient accessibility when said hinged walls are swung outwardly, and electrical circuit connections between said flashing motor and said time clock passing through said pipe.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 in which said openings in said sign plate are two in number and are vertically'spaced, and in which said pipe is connected to the bottom wall of the upper box and to the upper wall of the lower box, said lower box having a socket mounted on its bottom wall for receiving and suportingly connecting said rigid unitary assemblage on the upper end of a support.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the two boxes is divided into two compartments by a vertical partition positioned behind the light, and a parabolic reflector mounted on the partition in each box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,805,847 Reetz May 19, 1931 2,553,906 Ferguson May 22, 1951 2,679,635 Hart May 25, 1954 2,797,400 Schumacher June 25, 1957 2,850,717 Wiswell Sept. 8, 1958 2,902,672 Hart Sept. 1, 1959

Images