U.S. patent number 3,810,091 [Application Number 05/252,358] was granted by the patent office on 1974-05-07 for warning sign.
Invention is credited to William W. Hoover.
United States Patent |
3,810,091 |
Hoover |
May 7, 1974 |
WARNING SIGN
Abstract
A portable warning sign including a sign panel, a lens at one
edge of the panel, and a battery casing handle extending outwardly
of lens portion and supporting batteries and light bulb operable
within the lens.
Inventors: |
Hoover; William W. (Chenoa,
IL) |
Family
ID: |
22955690 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/252,358 |
Filed: |
May 11, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/546; 340/321;
40/555; 340/908 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B
5/36 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G08B
5/36 (20060101); G08B 5/22 (20060101); G08b
005/00 (); G09f 013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;40/129R,129A,13R,13K,125N ;116/63P ;340/84,107,321 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Caldwell; John W.
Assistant Examiner: Leimer; Kenneth N.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Coffee and Sweeney
Claims
1. A portable warning sign, comprising:
a sheet-like sign panel member having opposed faces, a peripheral
edge and an opening along one portion of the peripheral edge;
lens means overlying said opening in the sign panel member and
having a lightbulb therein for illuminating the lens means and the
opposed panel faces, said lens means being rounded and extending
beyond the plane of the panel faces, the lens means being generally
translucent and including a transparent light transmitting
peripheral band;
handle means connected to the panel member adjacent to said lens
means, said handle means having means for supporting a source of
power for said lightbulb; and
switch means associated with said handle means for selectively
energizing
2. The warning sign of claim 1 wherein the lens means extends
outwardly from both faces of the sign panel members and wherein a
tubular handle capable of receiving dry cell batteries and
supporting a light bulb is
3. The warning sign of claim 2 wherein the lens means includes a
peripheral flange which is secured to the sign panel member about
the opening therein.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of this invention to meet the need and desire in
the art for an improved hand held lighted warning sign which is
simple in construction, economical to manufacture and sell, light
in weight for ease of use, and reliable in operation.
The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention
includes the provision of a single thickness sign panel having a
lens along one portion of an edge of the panel. The lens terminates
in an opening of a size and shape to receive a handle in the form
of a hand flashlight battery casing and light bulb. The flashlight
casing houses dry cell batteries for operating the bulb and also
serves as a handle or supporting standard for the sign panel.
In a modified form of the invention, a six volt dry cell battery
housing may be formed as part of a handle support.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the warning sign of this
invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the warning sign of this
invention; and
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged section view of a portion of the
warning sign of this invention, taken generally along the line 3--3
of FIG. 2, with portions broken away for clarity of
illustration.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different
forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described
in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding
that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The warning sign 10 of this invention includes a sign panel,
generally designated 12, here shown in an octagonal shape, which is
conventional for indicating "Stop." Preferably, the sign panel 12
is a relatively thin, sheet-like panel of plastic, metal or the
like, having opposed faces 12a and 12b, either one of which, or
both, may bear an appropriate written message 14, which may be
provided thereon in luminous material to facilitate viewing thereof
at night. The sign panel has a peripheral edge 15 defining the
octagonal shape and a circular aperture 16 is formed at one portion
of the sign panel adjacent the peripheral edge 15. Aperture 16
includes a reduced opening 16a, which extends through the edge 15.
A pair of lens members 18 are provided on the opposite faces 12a
and 12b of the sign panel overlying the apertures 16.
Each lens member preferably is made of a molded plastic material
and has a peripheral flange portion 20 through which fasteners 22
may extend, as well as extending through the panel 12, to secure
the lens members 18 and the sign panel 12 together as a unit. Each
lens member has a slightly bulbous and generally segmental
paraboloid body 24. This body may be divided into a thin peripheral
clear lens portion 24a and a larger, colored lens (such as red)
portion 24b. Each lens member 18 terminates in a semi-circular neck
portion 26 having an arcuate channel 26a therein. The two lens
members 18 with the semi-circular neck portions together provide a
generally circular cylindrical opening having a circular recess or
channel therein for receiving the rounded flange 32 of one end of
the handle portion 34.
Handle portion 34 is generally a hollow cylindrical structure of
suitably rigid material such as metal, plastic or the like and
generally has the configuration of a conventional hand held
flashlight body. Handle 34 includes a rear screw cap 36 with an
inwardly facing spring 38 connected therewith. The hollow interior
of the handle 34 is intended to receive and support dry cell
batteries 40 of the conventional "C" or "D" size. An on/off switch
42 is provided for selectively energizing or activating the
batteries 40 to thereby activate the bulb 44 supported by the
handle 34 and therefore illuminate the elns 24 which will cast
light across the exterior of the opposite faces 12a and 12b of the
panel 12. Preferably, bulb 44 would be of the well known "intensity
type."
Thus, it can be seen that the warning sign of this invention
possesses unique structure affording resultant advantages in the
manufacture and use thereof. Basically, the warning sign of this
invention utilizes at least one face of a sheet-like sign panel and
a small lens on a portion of the sign panel face when the bulb
within the lens is activated. As a result, the structure possesses
very few parts, is easily assembled, and the face of the sign panel
is more adequately lighted than with a light bulb located in an
interior of a chamber defined by two sign panels. Furthermore, the
structure is light in weight so as to be easily hald and is
believed to be more reliable in operation. The simplicity of
structure permits it to be manufactured and sold less expensively
than warning signs shown in the prior art.
The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of
understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be
understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those
skilled in the art.
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