US1838789A - Direction indicator - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 1931. ISCHEPPERLE 1,838,789

DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed April '24, 1950 Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES P EN or mcs GOTTLOB SOHEPPERLE, F TonoN'ro, 'on'rnmo, criminal DIRECTION mn-Ion'roa' Application filed April 24,

The invention relates to improvements in direction indicators as described in the present specification and shown in the accompanying drawings which form part of the same. I

The invention has for its object the provision of a compact indicator for signalling a right or left hand turn contemplated by the driver of an automobile.

According to this invention a lamp casing is divided into three separate compartments each providedwith its own source of illumination controlled by a switch, Two of the compartments are constructed to display signals in the form of arrow heads, while the intermediate compartment displays a shaft of the arrow. By this arrangement the shaft forms an arrow with either of the arrow heads so that by illuminating the shaft and the right hand arrow head a turn in that direction is indicated, and contrariwise through illumination of the left-hand arrow head. The shaft compartment may be continuously lit or otherwise.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa'lamp constructed accord. ing to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a face view thereof outlining the compartments.

Figure 3 is a similar view depicting the ar row signal produced by the left-hand and the intermediate compartments.

Figure 4:IS also a similar view but depicts the arrow signal produced by the right hand and the intermediate compartments.

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1. V

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating the elements that form the compartments and the glass faces. In this view these parts are shown detached in order to display them to better advantage.

Figure 8 is a section similar to Figure 6, but shows a slightly modified form of the invention. v

. Figure 9 is a face view of the modification showing how the glass is blocked out.

Like'numerals of reference indicate corre- 1930. Serial "No. 446,377.

sponding partsin each of the figures through out the drawings.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally denotes the lamp which is prefer ably provided with a front glass 11 and a rear. 55 glass 12in order to displaythe signals to traflicboth in front and at the rear of the'mo tor vehicle towhich it is attached. The glass faces maybe mountedrin the casing 13 by retaining ringsl t as customary. It is desirable cc to employ a translucent colouredglass, such as red, for displaying the signals.- 1

Each glass has a portion of its surface rendered opaque, such as by painting on .its'sides, in order to define a square-shaped translucent c5 areai15 which is disposed with its corners intersecting'horizontal. and vertical lines,,see Figure 7. The adjacent sides '16, 16 constitute a part of the righthand arrow head,

whilethe supplemental sides 17, 17 .'consti- 7Q tutea part of the left hand arrowhead.

18- is an element fordividing the interior. of-the casing into: three compartments 19, 20, and 21. This elem'entis made-of sheetmetal and vertically disposed within the casing. 75. The intermediatecompartment 20 COIlSlStSzOf a horizontal 'oblongdivision illuminated by an electric light 22. The compartments 19. and21 are illuminated byelectric lights 23 and 24 respectively. Each light has a sep- 80 arate circuit controlled by a switch disposed onthe-steering wheel'ofthe vehicle or otherwi'se conveniently located. 1 "Theelement 18 has its side portions 25, 25

and 26,26 inclining inwardly from the ends 8 v of the oblong 20 on an angle of 451 to vettical top and bottom portions 27 and 28. The inclined portions extend parallel with the sides 16 and 16and 17 7 1.7 of the translucent area 150i the glasses 11 and I2; and being of lesser dimensions thus defined therewith two arrow heads 29, 29 on said translucent square 15 of each glass. It is to be understood of course that the element 18 extends from the inner surface of one glass to the ,5; surface of the other glass, as seen in Figure 5. The element may be held in place by its disposition between two semi-circular retainers 30 having end flanges 31.

In practice, the'inte'rmediate compartment 99 20 may be continuously lit, or it could be utilized as a stop signal in addition to cooperating with the other compartments to signal contemplated turning movements.

It will be apparent that when this intermediate compartment is illuminated simultaneously with the compartment 19 the one will supplement the other to display an arrow, thus indicating a right hand turn as shown in Figure 4. Likewise, when the compartment 21 is simultaneously illuminated in conjunction with the intermediate compartment 20 a left hand turn will be indicated.

In the modification shown in Figures 8 and 9, the only difference here is that the element 18 dispenses with the two horizontal divisions that compose the oblong compartment 20. This provides a much larger intermediate compartment, as at 32; In this instance it is necessary to block out the glasses so as to define the two arrow heads 33, 34 joined by a shaft 35see Figure 9. It will be manifest that other slight structural changes may be made in the design of the compartments without affecting the invention: For instance, the two compartments 19 and 21 could be shaped in the form of arrow heads and a plain translucent glass used. Moreover, if so desired, the casing could be made square or diamond shaped with a view to conforming generally to the outline of both arrow heads; this, however, does not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is The combination in a direction indicator of the class described, of a casing open at its front and rear, translucent members closing the front and rear thereof, a hollow element vertically and loosely fitted within the casing between said translucent members, the interior of said hollow element constituting a signal compartment complementary to either of the compartments that are formed on each side thereof, the top and bottom portions of said hollow element being reduced in width and having abutting contact with said casing, and retainers loosely disposed within said casing one upon each side of the hollow element, said retainers contacting with the casing and having their ends abutting the top and bottom portions of the hollow element to laterally restrain the same.

Signed at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the 14th day of April, 1930.

GOTTLOB SCHEPPERLE.

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