US3791336A — Traffic signaling device for vehicles

Claim 1

Independent Claim 291 words

A distress signaling reflecting warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, said distress signaling reflecting warning device comprising in combination: a bracket having a first end arranged for connection to the upper free exposed edge portion of a partially opened side window of the automobile, said bracket having a second end thereof provided with quick fastening means, a collapsable distress signaling reflecting warning element formed of a plurality of triangularly shaped segments, each having an aperture thereof formed in a given apex and in common registry with each of the other plurality of triangularly shaped segments and including a free edge and a locking edge, pivot means passing through said given apex of said plurality of said triangularly shaped segments, thereby allowing said plurality of triangularly shaped segments to be collapsed upon themselves when said distress signaling reflecting warning device is not in use, a mounting member secured to said pivot means and extending toward the periphery of said collapsable distress signaling reflecting warning element, said mounting member including means to receive said quick fastening means located at said second end of said bracket, and a slot formed in at least one of said plurality of triangularly shaped elements to allow this triangularly shaped element to have said free edge thereof override said locking edge of a last one of said plurality of triangularly shaped elements to facilitate locking together of said collapsable distress signaling reflective warning element to form an open fan-like configuration, whereby said plurality of triangularly shaped segments are openable to form the distress signaling warning device, and which can be collapsed to occupy a small space for storage when not in use.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 291 words

A distress signaling reflecting warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, said distress signaling reflecting warning device comprising in combination: a bracket having a first end arranged for connection to the upper free exposed edge portion of a partially opened side window of the automobile, said bracket having a second end thereof provided with quick fastening means, a collapsable distress signaling reflecting warning element formed of a plurality of triangularly shaped segments, each having an aperture thereof formed in a given apex and in common registry with each of the other plurality of triangularly shaped segments and including a free edge and a locking edge, pivot means passing through said given apex of said plurality of said triangularly shaped segments, thereby allowing said plurality of triangularly shaped segments to be collapsed upon themselves when said distress signaling reflecting warning device is not in use, a mounting member secured to said pivot means and extending toward the periphery of said collapsable distress signaling reflecting warning element, said mounting member including means to receive said quick fastening means located at said second end of said bracket, and a slot formed in at least one of said plurality of triangularly shaped elements to allow this triangularly shaped element to have said free edge thereof override said locking edge of a last one of said plurality of triangularly shaped elements to facilitate locking together of said collapsable distress signaling reflective warning element to form an open fan-like configuration, whereby said plurality of triangularly shaped segments are openable to form the distress signaling warning device, and which can be collapsed to occupy a small space for storage when not in use.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 70 words

In the distress signaling reflecting warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, as set forth in claim 1 wherein, said free edge and said locking edge are diverging outwardly from said given apex at an angle of about 45*, thereby requiring eight such triangularly shaped segments to form the entire distress signaling reflecting warning device.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 85 words

In the distress signaling reflective warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress conditon exists, as set forth in claim 2 wherein, said free edge includes a slot formed therein and said locking edge has a depending struck down portion to engage said slot of an adjacent triangularly shaped segment to limit the arcuate extent of travel of each of the arcuately shaped segments during opening of said plurality of arcuately shaped segments.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 129 words

In the distress signaling reflective warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, as set forth in claim 2 wherein, said free edge includes a first turned over portion bent upon itself in one direction to form a U-shaped elongated section, and said locking edge has a second turned over portion bent upon itself to form a second U-shaped elongated portion in the direction opposite that of said first turned over portion, whereby said first and second turned over portions interlock one with the other of corresponding adjacent plurality of triangularly shaped segments to form arcuate movement limiting means for said plurAlity of triangularly shaped segments during opening of said distress signaling reflective warning device.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 63 words

In the distress signaling reflective warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to the other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, as set forth in claim 2 wherein, said free edges or said locking edges are provided with a longitudinally disposed outwardly directed flange member to facilitate folding of said plurality of triangularly shaped signal segments.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 113 words

In the distress signaling reflective warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, as set forth in claim 5 wherein, said free edges include slots formed therein by striking out U-shaped elongated sections and bending said sections outwardly of the plane of said plurality of triangularly shaped segments, and wherein said locking edges include correspondingly shaped slots struck out in the opposite direction thereof to form locking tabs, said locking tabs meeting with the slots formed in adjacently disposed plurality of arcuately shaped segments to limit the arcuate movement thereof during opening of said distress signaling reflective warning device.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 145 words

In the distress signaling reflective warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, as set forth in claim 1 wherein, said bracket means has said second end thereof provided with a U-shaped slot formed in the endmost portion and a keyhole shaped slot having an enlarged circular portion contiguous with an elongated portion, said elongated portion corresponding to the U-shaped slot in both dimension and longitudinal axis, and wherein said mounting member secured to said pivotal means includes a threaded shank extending therefrom to engage said U-shaped slot and a rivet head member to engage said keyhole shaped opening to allow quick connection and disconnection of said bracket from said mounting member merely by disconnecting said threaded member from said threaded shaft and sliding said bracket relative to said mounting member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 90 words

In the distress signaling reflective warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, as set forth in claim 1 wherein, the effective arcuate length of each of said plurality of arcuately shaped segments is slightly less at the outer periphery thereof than it is near the inner portion to allow the segments to be pulled tightly together to form a shallow conical member to facilitate reflective characteristics of a coating formed on the concave portion thereof.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 65 words

In the distress signaling reflective warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, as set forth in claim 3 wherein, said shallow conical configuration of said plurality of triangularly shaped segments is arranged to provide a diverging concave configuration in the direction which is to be visible to said oncoming traffic.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 72 words

In the distress signaling reflective warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, as set forth in claim 1 wherein, said bracket is formed of a length of flat strip stock, and wherein said first end and said second end are disposed relative to one another at 90* by forming a twist intermediate said first and second ends.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 90 words

In the distress signaling reflective warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, as set forth in claim 10 wherein, said first end is provided with a U-shaped member secured to said bracket to hook over the top free edge of an open window of the automobile and further including a suction cup device disposed therebeneath firmly to engage the glass suRface area of the window to hold the distress signaling reflective warning device in position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 98 words

In the distress signaling reflective warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, as set forth in claim 1 wherein, said plurality of triangularly shaped segments are formed of stamped out sheet metal components and wherein said free edge and said locking edge are formed substantially simultaneously with the stamping of the configuration of said triangularly shaped segments to form oppositely directed bent outwardly portions which interlock one with the other of correspondingly adjacent segments for locking the segments together when circularly fanned out.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 86 words

In the distress signaling reflective warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, as set forth in claim 1 wherein, said plurality of triangularly shaped segments are formed of sheet metal stampings, and wherein said free edge and said locking edge are provided with turned over bent portions in opposite directions so as to facilitate locking one with the other with the correspondingly adjacent ones of said plurality of triangularly shaped segments.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 72 words

In the distress signaling reflective warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that the distress condition exists, as set forth in claim 1 wherein, said plurality of triangularly shaped segments have the radially outwardly formed edge portion thereof arcuately shaped so that said plurality of triangular shaped segments, when joined together, form a circular configuration of said distress signaling reflective warning device.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 85 words

In the distress signaling reflective warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, as set forth in claim 14 wherein, selected ones of said plurality of triangularly shaped segments are provided with reflective elements substantially 120* apart from one another to facilitate visual awareness of said distress signaling reflective warning device during night time conditions when said device is perceived primarily as a result of headlight beam reflections from oncoming traffic.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 101 words

In the distress signaling reflective warning device to be mounted to the exterior of an automobile to indicate to other oncoming traffic that a distress condition exists, as set forth in claim 1 wherein, said plurality of triangularly shaped segments have the free edge thereof, which is radially outwardly of said given apex, formed in an arcuate configuration, thereby providing a circular configuration when fanned open and locked together to form a circular distress signaling device, and wherein said free edge and said locking edge are provided with turned over portions bent upon themselves in opposite directions to facilitate interlocking thereof.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-02-11	1977-08-13	1978-02-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-02-11	1981-08-13	1982-02-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-02-11	1985-08-13	1986-02-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Traffic signaling device for vehicles

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