Warning device for vehicles

Claim 2

An inertia-actuated warning signal device for vehicles, comprising, in combination: a. an inertia member; and b. support means arranged on a vehicle for mounting the inertia member for limited reciprocating movement in a path extending along a direction of motion of the vehicle during deceleration and acceleration of the vehicle, and for rotating movement about the path of movement simultaneously with movement along the path of movement, and the inertia member is a longitudinally extending planar member having longitudinally spaced ends, and trunnions extending coaxially in opposite directions from the spaced ends, and the support means includes a pair of spaced, substantially parallel, upstanding panels, each of the panels provided with a longitudinal support slot arranged substantially parallel to each other and extending parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicle, the trunnions being disposed in the slots for sliding movement therein.

Claim 3

A structure as defined in claim 1, further including stop means mounted on the inertia member for limiting rotation of the inertia member.

Claim 4

A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the stop means includes a pair of substantially rectangular plates, each plate having a rounded corner and a pair of diagonally opposed square corners, one of the plates being attached to the planar member at one of the longitudinally spaced ends thereof and the other of the plates attached to the other of the longitudinally spaced ends of the planar member forming the inertia member, the plates being arranged parallel to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the planar member for permitting the square corners to cooperate with a support surface and limit rotation of the inertia member when the trunnions of same are in extreme positions in the slots of the panels, and the rounded corner facilitating rotation of the inertia member as same moves in the slots of the panels.

Claim 5

A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein the planar member is provided with a tab at each of the spaced ends thereof, and each plate of the stop means is provided with a slit arranged for receiving an associated tab and an aperture arranged for receiving an associated one of the trunnions.

Claim 6

A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein the support means further includes a pair of flanges, each of the flanges affixed to a respective one of the plates and arranged perpendicular thereto, the flanges provided with adhering means for securing the plates to a support surface, and wherein said warning means includes a light-reflective material arranged over one planar surface of the planar member forming the inertia member, such surface being arranged for being viewed from behind the vehicle on which the warning device is arranged whenever the inertia member is in a vertical orientation, with letters being cut out of the light-reflective material to form a warning word to the driver of a following vehicle.

Claim 7

An inertia-actuated warning signal device for vehicles, comprising, in combination: a. an inertia member; and b. support means arranged on a vehicle for mounting the inertia member for limited reciprocating movement in a path extending along a direction of motion of the vehicle during deceleration and acceleration of the vehicle, and for rotating movement about the path of movement simultaneously with movement along the path of movement, further including stop means mounted on the inertia member for limiting rotation of the inertia member, and the stop means including a substantially rectangular plate having a rounded corner and a pair of diagonally opposed square corners, the plate being arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the planar member for permitting the square corners to cooperate with a support surface associated with the support means and limiting rotation of the inertia member when same is in the extreme positions of the limited reciprocating movement, and the rounded corner facilitating rotation of the inertia member about the path of movement simultaneously with the limited reciprocating movement along the path.

Claim 8

An inertia-actuated warning signal device for vehicles, comprising, in combination: a. an inertia member; and b. support means arranged on a vehicle for mounting the inertia member for limited reciprocating movement in a path extending along a direction of motion of the vehicle during deceleration and acceleration of the vehicle, and for rotating movement about the path of movement simultaneously with movement along the path of movement, further including stop means mounted on the inertia member for limiting rotation of the inertia member, and the stop means including a substantially rectangular plate having a rounded corner and a pair of diagonally opposed square corners, the plate being arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the planar member for permitting the square corners to cooperate with a support surface associated with the support means and limiting rotation of the inertia member when same is in the extreme positions of the limited reciprocating movement, and the rounded corner facilitating rotation of the inertia member about the path of movement simultaneously with the limited reciprocating movement along the path.

Claim 9

An inertia-actuated warning signal device for vehicles, comprising, in combination: a. an inertia member; and b. support means arranged on a vehicle for mounting the inertia member for limited reciprocating movement in a path extending along a direction of motion of the vehicle during deceleration and acceleration of the vehicle, and for rotating movement about the path of movement simultaneously with movement along the path of movement, further including stop means mounted on the inertia member for limiting rotation of the inertia member, and the support means including adhering means for securing the warning device to a support surface of an associated vehicle, and wherein the inertia member is a planar member and a light-reflective material being provided on a planar surface of the planar member, with letters being cut out of the light-reflective material for forming a warning sign on the inertia member.

Claim 10

An inertia-actuated warning signal device for vehicles, comprising, in combination: a. an inertia member; and b. support means arranged on a vehicle for mounting the inertia member for limited reciprocating movement in a path extending along a direction of motion of the vehicle during deceleration and acceleration of the vehicle, and for rotating movement about the path of movement simultaneously with movement along the path of movement, further including stop means mounted on the inertia member for limiting rotation of the inertia member, and the support means including adhering means for securing the warning device to a support surface of an associated vehicle, and wherein the inertia member is a planar member and a light-reflective material being provided on a planar surface of the planar member, with letters being cut out of the light-reflective material for forming a warning sign on the inertia member.

Claim 11

A structure as defined in claim 7, wherein the stop means includes a substantially rectangular plate having a rounded corner and a pair of diagonally opposed square corners, the plate beig arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the planar member for permitting the square corners to cooperate with a support surface associated with the support means and limiting rotation of the inertia member when same is in the extreme positions of the limited reciprocating movement, and the rounded corner facilitating rotation of the inertia member about the path of movement simultaneously with the limited reciprocating movement along the path.