US2991699A - Emergency reflective road marker - Google Patents

Description

Juiy 11, 1961 MURRAY, 5R 2,991,699

EMERGENCY REFLECTIVE ROAD MARKER Filed March 5, 1959 INVENTOR. Hugh A. Murray Sr.

ATTORNEYS United States Ptent 2,991,699 EMERGENCY REFLECTIVE ROAD MARKER Hugh A. Murray, Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to I.D.L.

Incorporated, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 797,528 1 Claim. (01. 88-79) This invention pertains generally to traffic warning signals and more specifically to an emergency warning signal which may be conveniently carried in a motor vehicle in a flat folded condition and readily erected and displayed as an emergency signal which is visible by day or night.

A frequent cause of traffic accidents upon crowded highways is the emergency stopping of a vehicle upon or at the side of a highway by reason of mechanical or tire failures or for other reasons, and an oncoming car crashing into the stopped vehicle before the driver of the moving car is cognizant of the fact that the other vehicle is, in fact, motionless.

Highway traflic warning signals have been used by road maintenance crews and contractors during highway building and repairs but nothing is now known to exist as a portable signal which may be conveniently stored in a motor vehicle for use during emergency stopping or repairs of the vehicle at the side of the roadway.

One object of the invention is to provide an emergency traflic warning signal which is compact, light in weight, of low cost and high visibility by day or by night.

Another object of the invention is to provide an emergency tratfic warning signal which may be readily mounted on the roadway or at the side thereof in the vicinity of a parked passenger car or truck or which may be mounted within the vehicle so as to be readily visible to oncoming traflic.

Another object of the invention is to provide an emergency traffic warning signal of the type described which may be readily adapted for wearing upon the person of the user when engaged in emergency direction of traflic or while working on a vehicle which may be parked at the side of a highway during an emergency.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an emergency traflic warning signal of the character described which is light reflective so as to possess high visibility during the daylight hours and highly reflective of light from car headlights at night.

These and other objects of the invention will be made apparent from the following description and the drawings forming a part thereof wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an elongated rectangular cardboard blank suitably formed to provide the warning signals of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of one form of signal when folded for erection in the vicinity of a vehicle to warn oncoming traflic;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of another form of the warning signal when folded for use upon the person or within the body of a vehicle; and,

FIG. 4 shows another form of the signal folded for storing within the vehicle or for use as a mailing piece for ready distribution.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, reference character 1 indicates generally a rectangular cardboard blank for forming the emergency warning signal. Inwardly from each end of the blank and extending transversely thereof are scored fold lines 2 and 3 defining portions 4 and 5 providing the base of the signal when mounted upon or adjacent a highway. Portion 4 is provided with slits 6 disposed transversely of the blank and extending inwardly from opposite side margins thereof. Portion 5 has slits 7 extending longitudinally of the blank 1 and disposed inwardly from side opposite margins thereof to receive the 8, it provides side walls 8a and 8b of the signal. Adjacent the outer end of the side wall 8b are slits 7a in longitudinal alignment with the slits 7 and inwardly spaced relation thereto for reception of the tongues 6a when the signal is folded for other uses, such as upon the person or display within the vehicle.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the emergency signal is shown folded into generally triangular shape for mounting at the side of the highway in the vicinity of thev parked vehicle where it may be weighted down by a stone or other suitable means placed upon the portions 4 and 5 forming the base of the signal. As shown in FIG. 2, the tongue portions 6a of the portion 4 are inserted through the slits 7 of the portion 5 to retain the signal in assembled relation. The signal, so assembled, may also be displayed through the car rear window.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, wherein the signal is folded so as to be worn as an arm band by the user, the portion 5 of the strip is turned inwardly and the portion 4 is lapped over the face 8b of the signal with the tongues 6a inserted in the slots 7a of the signal face 8b. This forms a generally elliptical band which can be readily slipped over the arm of the wearer so that the stripes thereon may be readily visible to oncoming traflic While the wearer is working at the side of the parked vehicle, or otherwise engaged on the highway. If the vehicle is to be parked and unattended, the signal in the form shown in FIG. 3 can be readily slipped over the interior sun visor flap so that when the flap is lowered the signal will be visible through the windshield facing oncoming traffic. Where two such signals are within the vehicle the second signal can be folded as in FIG. 2 and exposed through the rear window of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the blank 1 may be folded about the fold line 8 with the stripe printed faces disposed inwardly and the signal secured together by inserting the tongue 6a in the slits 7a as in FIG. 4. The exposed plain sides of the signal may be used for addressing purposes for transmittal of the signal through the mail, as a mailing piece. Also the signal may be so folded, as in FIG. 4, for storage within the vehicle so as to retain the printed faces against soil which may inhibit their light reflective properties.

The cardboard blank 1, as shown in FIG. 1, from which the signal is formed may be made of any suitable material and preferably both faces of blank 1 are calendered or otherwise treated so as to be temporarily moisture resistant. Light reflecting or fluorescent inks or paints forming the stripes 9 and 10 are Well known, commercially available, materials and no further identification of such materials is deemed necessary for the purposes of this invention. The preferred coloring of the stripes is a silver color between red colored stripes as both are visible under natural and artificial lighting. The color red is also a universal danger signal. Obviously, other colors may be used to form the stripes or even a single solid color may be used. A signal of the type described may be completely manufactured in large quantities for mere pennies, so that even one emergency use will justify the cost thereof. 'Such a signal, unless abused, may be re-used a number of times and in any of its forms.

I claim:

A warning signal selectively foldable into a triangular or elliptical shape comprising a rectangular unitary body member of semi-rigid foldable material having two rectangular intermediate sections of substantially the same size and two smaller rectangular end sections, said sections being defined by three para llel spaced fold lines impressed into the material and extending transversely thereof, one said smaller rectangular end section of the unitary body member being provided with two slits disposed in adjacent parallel spaced relation with the adjacent transverse marginal edge of the said unitary body member, one of said slits extending inwardly from each adjacent longitudinal edge of the said unitary body member, each of said slits having their inner ends terminating short of the longitudinal center line through said rectangular unitary body member and providing transversely disposed deflectable corner tongue members defined between the slits and adjacent transverse edge of the said unitary body member, the other of said smaller rectangular end sections being provided with two transversely spaced longitudinally extending slits disposed between and parallel with the opposite longitudinal edges of the said unitary body member, said latter slits terminating short of the adjacent fold line and the adjacent outer transverse edge of the rectangular unitary body member, the adjacent end portion of the adjacent intermediate section of the said unitary body member being provided with two spaced longitudinally extending slits of substantially the same length as and longitudinally aligned with the slits of the adjacent body end section, said slits in the said intermediate section being spaced from the adjacent fold line between the intermediate and slitted end section to receive the tongues of the opposite end section after all body member sections are folded about their respective fold lines with the tongued end section overlapping the folded intermediate sections and the folded slitted end section is disposed between the overlapped folded intermediate sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Andrews Jan. 20, 1959 Harris Apr. 14, 1959

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