US3507245A - Traffic emergency warning device - Google Patents

Description

April 1970 E. w. GRABOW 3,507,245

TRAFFIC EMERGENCY WARNING DEVICE Filed May 6, 1968 17 //v l E/V roe tom/M0 wa/mow United States Patent 3,507,245 TRAFFIC EMERGENCY WARNING DEVICE Edmund W. Grabow, 710 12th Ave., Brookings, S. Dak. 57006 Filed May 6, 1968, Ser. No. 726,844

Int. Cl. B60q US. Cl. 116-28 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A warning device for the purpose of indicating a stalled vehicle upon a highway, the device comprising a vertical panel upon a base, the panel being painted on both sides with a bright fluorescent paint so as to be readily seen by an approaching vehicle particularly at night time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a traflic emergency warning device which can be readily placed upon the roof of a stalled automobile so that the same may be seen from either direction by moving traffic.

Yet another object is to provide a safeway emergency emblem which can be readily placed in a collapsed position within the trunk compartment of an automobile so that it may be immediately available in case of an emergency.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a trafiic emergency warning device which includes a panel supported upon a base, the panel being coated with a fluorescent paint upon each opposite side.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a traific emergency warning device having no moving parts to wear out and which requires no batteries or other mechanism for operation.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a trafiic emergency warning device which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and eflicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on theline 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of an automotive vehicle showing the present invention mounted thereupon.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a traffic emergency warning device according to the present invention wherein there is abase 11 upon which a verticallyupstanding panel 12 is removably supported.

Thebase 11 comprises a longitudinal member provided at each end with a downwardly extendingfoot 13, each foot having amagnet 14 embedded therewithin, the lower end of each magnet extending below thelower surface 15 of each foot. The underside of eachmagnet 14 may be ICC provided with a thin layer of felt 16 so as to prevent the magnet from scratching the finish of an automobile body upon which the device may be placed. Such felt is of relatively thin nature so as to not detract from the magnetic force of the magnet relative to a metal surface upon which the device is supported. Thebase 11 further includes aslot 17 upon itsupper side 18 for the purpose of receiving a corner or aside edge 18 of thepanel 12.

Thepanel 12 comprises a generally flat member having aperipheral edge 20 which is of octagonal configuration as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing. Thus the panel is provided with eight tabs or corners formed, any of which is receivable within theslot 17 of thebase 11. Acircular opening 21 is provided centrally through the panel, and theopposite sides 22 of the panel are coated with a fluorescent paint which will be luminescent particularly when the light of an automobile headlamp shines thereupon.

In operative use, should an automotive vehicle 23- become stalled upon the right of way of a highway 24, the motorist need only to place thedevice 10 upon theroof 25 of the vehicle so that the same may be seen from either direction by the moving trafiic. Thus a suitable warning device is provided so as to protect collision of other vehicles into the stalled automobile.

It is to be understood that the panel may be made either permanently secured to the base or it may be made removable so that the panel and base may be conveniently stored away conveniently with a minimum amount of space in the automobile trunk.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

1. In a trafiic emergency warning device, the combination of an upstanding panel and a base, said base sup porting said panel, means for temporary securement of said base upon an automobile vehicle body, and means by said upstanding panel to be clearly visible within the headlight rays of moving vehicles so to prevent the same from colliding with the vehicle upon which said device is placed, said upstanding panel comprising a flat member of octagonal peripheral configuration, said octagonal panel accordingly being provided with eight corner or tab areas, one of which is used for securement of said panel to said base, the opposite sides of said panel being coated with a fluorescent paint so to produce a luminiscent eifect when shined upon, said base comprising a longitudinal member having a pair of downwardly extending feet, each one of said feet being located near a longitudinal end of said base, each of said feet having a magnet embedded therewithin, the lower end of each said magnets extending below a lower surface of said feet, the underside of each of said magnets being covered by a thin felt of a thickness which is not sufiicient to detract from the magnetic force of said magnets downwardly therethrough, an intermediate portion of said base being upwardly arched along a lower edge thereof so to clear any arcuate portion of an automobile body, said intermediate portion of said base being provided with a vertically extending slot upon an upper side thereof, said slot receiving one of said corners of said panel, said panel being in an upstanding position, and said position being provided with a central opening therethrough for purpose of withstanding a wind and preventing the same being knocked 3 down thereby, said central opening being of a circular 2,887,983 configuration. 2,926,625 References Cited 3,121,416 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,389,428 2,557,399 6/1951 Teeter 248-206 5 3,082,982 3/1963 Moskowitz 248-206 1,078,785 1,256,337 2/ 1918 Lieber 248-473 1,126,516 2,235,283 3/1941 Carver 248-473 2,360,516 10/ 1944 Scbmidling. 2,767,497 10/ 195 6- Munson. 2,869,504 1/1959 Andrews et a1. 116-63 2,875,324 2/ 1959 Camp et a1.

4 5/1959 Budd 116-63 3/ 1960 Mulholland 116-63 2/1964 Gizdich 116-28 4/ 1968' Abrams 116-63 FOREIGN PATENTS 8/ 1967 Great Britain. 7/ 1956 France.

10 LOUIS I. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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