US2502535A - Arm reflector for pedestrian protection - Google Patents

Description

pr 4, 1950 E. L. RICHARDS ARM REFLEOTOR FOR REDESTRIAN PROTECTION Filed Oct. s, 194e Patented Apr. 4, 1950 ARM REFLECTOR FOR PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION Eugene L. Richards, Stepney Depot, Conn.

Application October 3, 1946, Serial No. 700,995

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a reflector which is to be worn on the arm of a pedestrian or cyclist as a warning to motorists after dark, and has for an object to provide a light weight, small, convenient arm band which may be worn on the arm of persons when walking on or near the highway at night and has light reiiecting means which may be readily seen at a considerable distance, so that the driver of an approaching automobile will be warned of their presence.

It has for its further object to provide a device of the type mentioned above which is strong and durable, and which a pedestrian or cyclist will find convenient to carry and thus feel freer to use it than he would a more bulky or less convenient device.

It has for its further object to provide an arm band of a type heretofore described which is provided With an efficient light reflecting means so that despite its small size the device will afford maximum protection.

With the foregoing and other objects in view I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specic details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the device showing the device in the open position for use;

Fig. 2 is a side view showing the device in the closed position for convenient carrying;

Fig. 3 is a view looking from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view looking from the bottom of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the device showing the means for securing the two gripping arms together;

Fig. 6 is a partial section through the pivoting means of one of the arms;

Fig. 7 is a partial section through the pivoting means showing the other arm;

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on line 8 8 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 9 is a partial section through the pivoting means showing a detail of the pivoting means.

The device comprises a exible spring clamping band comprising two curved flexible strips or arms I0 and I I composed of spring steel, or plastic, or other suitable material. The strips I0 and I I are pivoted together by a rivet I2 so that they may be folded for carrying purposes as shown in Fig. 2, the strips I0 and I I being somewhat rounded or curved in cross section, as shown in Fig. 8, so that they will nest together when in the position shown in Fig. 2, as heretofore described. A series of nibs or elevations I3, preferably four in number, is provided on the arm I I, in positions equally spaced around the pivot hole I4 and equidistant from the pivot I2. The nibs I3 lit into similarly spaced recesses or depressions I5 in the other arm I I), thus providing a means for holding the arms I@ and I I in the open position, as shown in Fig. l, or in closed position or folded together, as shown in Fig. 2. The spring or resiliency of the arms or side members retain the nibs or elevations i3 in the recesses I5 and thus retain these side members either in the open or closed positions, but yield sulciently to permit the side members to be relatively turned about the pivot between the open and closed positions. The arms or side members Il! and I I are substantially semicircular in shape, the ends opposite the pivot I2 being turned outwardly, as at I6, so that the strips or arms iii and II may be readily slipped around the arm of the wearer. A portion of each of the arms I0 and II is provided with turned-up edges or ribs, as at I'I, to form a recess or depression in which the reflecting means is secured. These raised edges or ribs provide raised or outwardly extending protective walls surrounding the recesses or depressions to protect the edges of the light reflecting material mounted in the recesses, as will presently be described.

The reflecting means i8 comprises a strip composed of paper or other similar flexible backing material on which is cemented a surface layer of very small glass beads I'Si held sby cellulose or similar waterproof cement. This is cemented to the outer surfaces of members I0 and i I by suitable cement. The beads cover the entire reiiecting surfaces, although they are shown on only a portion of them in the drawing to simplify it. Also the thickness of the various elements are greatly exaggerated on the drawings over what they would be in actual construction. This refleeting material is in common use on highway posts and other similar locations. A very satisfactory material is that known as Scotchlite, and may be purchased on the market under this name. The reflecting material may be provided in various arrangements of colors, an example of which, shown in Fig. 3, would lbe a green strip I8a with a white background. Through the use of various colors and designs arrangements, it is possible to standardize the type of reflector which would be worn by pedestrians or cyclists and the like, thereby enabling the driver of an automobile to identify the wearer as such. The portions ia and 20a are sectioned to indicate the color green, but of course could be any color desired. It is clear that since the reflecting surface is placed around the curved strips or arms l and ll that the reecting material I8 would reect light coming from the front, back or side. It is also clear that as the reecting material seats in a recess, as heretofore described, it is protected by the rib or flangeso that the edges of the material are protected from being frayed or broken by rubbing against other objects.

An additional, reflecting piece 20 isV placed in the form of a bulls-eye over the rivet l2'- and is secured in place by being cemented to a washer 2| composed of paper or other similar material, the washer 2l in turn being cemented to the arm l! around the rivet opening. Thus when the arms are turned around the pivot between the open and closed positions, relative turning of the rivet l will not damage the reflector, since the reflector 20 is not in contact with 'the rivet. The head 12a of the rivet is preferably countersunl and flat. They reflecting bulls-eye 2i! may also be in different'colors or designs to enable identification of the wearerl A suggested form, shown in Fig. 4, comprises half the bullseye 20a being green, for example, andthe other half being white. This member 20 is also prefer'- ably mounted in a depression or surrounded by a raisedl rib or flange 2'2 to protect the edges of the reflecting material 2U.

It is clear with this device being small and compact, the-wearer may conveniently carry the device in the pocket or pocket-book, or it may be conveniently carried in the glove compartment of a car, and because of this convenience it is more apt to be worn than would a more bulky device. However, in spite of its small size, the maximum of protection is afforded through the use of an efcient reecting means, as it may be easily seen at a considerable distance, giving ample'warning to the driver of the car. It may even be readily seen through fog. The transverse curvature of the members and the reflecting means, as indicated in Fig. 8, increases the angles at which the reflected light may be seen.

Having" thus set forth thenature of myinvention, I claim:

1. An arm reflector of the character described comprising two longitudinally curved flexible resilient band members overlapped at one end and with a` rivet pivoting said endstogether to permit the members to swing relative to each other in vsubstantially the planes of the bands between ak closed position closely nested one on the other in substantially parallel relation and an open position in alignmentr to embrace the arm of the wearer, the outer head of the rivet being flat and in substantially the plane of the outer surface of the member, said surface being formed with a depression surrounded by raised protective walls, a washer secured in the depres sion over the rivet head, a bright light reflecting material over the Washer Within said walls, and a covering of bright light reflecting material on the outer surfaces of said members extending for a substantial portion of the length of each member, and said reflecting material being :dexible so that it can bend with the bands without breaking.

2. An arm reector of the character described comprising two longitudinally curved flexible resilient band members overlapped and pivoted together, :at one end to swing relative to each other in. substantially the planes of the bands between a closed position closely nested one on the other in substantially parallel relation and an open position in alignment to embrace the arm of the wearer, cooperating means on the overlapped portions to yieldingly lock the members in either position, the outer surfaces of said members being formed with depressions extending for a substantial portion of the length of each member and surrounded by raised protective walls, the outer overlapped end being provided -with a depression around the pivot surrounded by raised'protective walls, and alight reflecting covering means cemented in and covering substantially the whole surface of each depression comprising a flexible backing capable of flexing with the band without breaking and with its outer surface covered with reflecting beads and arranged with its edges within the raised walls to be protected thereby.

EUGENE L. RICHARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofA record in the file of this patent:`

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Namev Date 836,087 Callahan Nov. 20, 1905 2,078,103 Simmons Api. 20, 1937 2,123,478 Smith July 12, 1938 2,317,227 Sherwood Apr. 20, 1943 2,330,843 Rodli et al. Oct. 5, 1943 2,351,087 VVelsliV June 1.3i, 1944 2,383,884 Palmquist` Aug. 28, 1945 2,413,748 Cofn Jan. 7, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 26,123 Great Britain of 19:13y 264,328l Great Britain Jan. 20, 1927 188,868 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1937v

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