Lens with facets for projecting light along different axes

Claim 2

In a signal device for projecting a signal light in a direction along a roadway approaching the signal device, the roadway being traversed by motor vehicles which position the operators thereof at different distances above the roadway; an improved lens for the signal device which comprises: a lighttransmitting material having an inner face and an outer face; said inner face being formed of a plurality of facet means, at least a first plurality of said facet means for projecting light beyond said outer face of said lens along a first projection axis, and at least a second plurality of facet means for projecting light beyond said outer face of said lens along a second projection axis; said facet means each being 0.5-inch square and being formed on said inner face of said lens in a plurality of aligned hOrizontal and vertical rows with alternate ones of said facet means in each of said horizontal and vertical rows being said first facet means; said projection axes of said first and second facet means being aligned on a vertical axis although being vertically spaced on that axis; each of said facet means having a surface defined by a portion of a cylinder having a radius of curvature of 1.6 inches taken about a selected axis, said selected axis for said second facet means being inclined at an angle of 22* with respect to said selected axis for the radius of curvature of said first facet means, whereby the operator of a vehicle who is positioned approximately a first distance above the roadway is warned of the signal by light projected along said first axis and whereby the operator of a vehicle who is positioned approximately a second distance above the roadway is warned of the signal by light projected along said second axis.

Claim 3

In a signal device for projecting a signal light in a direction along a roadway approaching the signal device, the roadway being traversed by motor vehicles which position the operators thereof at different distances above the roadway; an improved lens for the signal device which comprises: a light-transmitting material having an inner face and an outer face; said inner face being formed by a plurality of facet means, at least a first plurality of said facet means for projecting said light beyond said outer face of said lens along a first projection axis directed down the roadway in the direction of an approaching vehicle, at least a second plurality of said facet means for projecting said light beyond said outer face of said lens along a second projection axis directed down the roadway in the direction of an approaching vehicle, and at least a third plurality of said facet means for projecting light beyond the outer face of said lens along a third projection axis directed down the roadway in the direction of an approaching vehicle; said first, second and third projection axes being vertically separated from one another by an angle substantially less than 90* of arc; wherein said axes of projection of said first, second and third facet means are aligned on a vertical axis although being vertically spaced on that axis; wherein said facet means are formed on said inner face of said lens in a plurality of aligned horizontal and vertical rows with said first facet means making up substantially 40 percent of said facet means, with said third facet means making up substantially 40 percent of said facet means and with said third facet means making up the balance of said means; each of said facet means being 0.5-inch square and having a surface defined by a portion of a cylinder having a radius of curvature taken about a selected axis, said selected axis for said second facet means being inclined at an angle of 11* with respect to said selected axis of said first facet means, and said selected axis for said third facet means being inclined at an angle of 22* with respect to said selected axis of said first facet means, whereby the operator of a vehicle who is positioned approximately a first distance above the roadway is warned of the signal by light projected along said first axis, whereby the operator of a vehicle who is positioned approximately a second distance above the roadway is warned of the signal by light projected along said second axis, and whereby the operator of a vehicle who is positioned approximately a third distance above the roadway is warned of the signal by light projected along said third axis.

Claim 4

In a signal device for projecting a signal light in a direction along a roadway approaching the signal device, the roadway being traversed by motor vehicles which position the operators thereof at different distances above the roadway; an improved lens for the signal device which comprises: a light-transmitting material having an inner face and an outer face; said inner face being formed by a plurality of facet means, at least a first plurality of said facet means for projecting said light beyond said outer face of said lens along a first projection axis directed down the roadway in the direction of an approaching vehicle, at least a second plurality of said facet means for projecting said light beyond said outer face of said lens along a second projection axis directed down the roadway in the direction of an approaching vehicle, and at least a third plurality of said facet means for projecting light beyond the outer face of said lens along a third projection axis directed down the roadway in the direction of an approaching vehicle; said first, second and third projection axes being vertically separated from one another by an angle substantially less than 90* of arc; wherein said axes of projection of said first, second and third facet means are aligned on a vertical axis although being vertically spaced on that axis; wherein said facet means are formed on said inner face of said lens in a plurality of aligned horizontal and vertical rows with said first facet means making up substantially 40 percent of said facet means, with said third facet means making up substantially 40 percent of said facet means and with said third facet means making up the balance of said means; each of said facet means being 0.5-inch square and having a surface defined by a portion of a cylinder having a radius of curvature taken about a selected axis, said selected axis for said second facet means being inclined at an angle of 11* with respect to said selected axis of said first facet means, and said selected axis for said third facet means being inclined at an angle of 22* with respect to said selected axis of said first facet means, whereby the operator of a vehicle who is positioned approximately a first distance above the roadway is warned of the signal by light projected along said first axis, whereby the operator of a vehicle who is positioned approximately a second distance above the roadway is warned of the signal by light projected along said second axis, and whereby the operator of a vehicle who is positioned approximately a third distance above the roadway is warned of the signal by light projected along said third axis.