US2163380A - Automobile reflector - Google Patents

Description

June 20, 1939- F. MALAGUTI AUTGMOBILE REFLECTOR Original Filed Aug. 27,- 1937 l?? vein/202 fr@ mfg Patented June 20, 1939 ATOMOBILE REFLEcTon FredfMalaguti'," Plymouth, Mass.

Application August 2v, 1937, serial No. 161,199

. Renewed January 6, 1939 `3 Claims. (C1. sii-81) My present invention relates to reflectors, andi` more particularly to reflectors for vuse on automobile bumpers, mudguards and the like :either front or rear lfor the purpose of Warning approaching vehicles of the presence ofV the vehicle. This is particularly of value when an automobile has been parked and the lights have failed to stay lighted in the absence of the owner or driver, also when the automobile is operating Without one light without the knowledge of the operator.

The principal object of my invention is therefore an improved reflector for automobiles;

Another object is an improved means of constructing an automobile reflector which provides simple dust and moisture proof reector surfaces, and

Other objects and novel features comprising the construction and operation of my device will appear as the description of the same progresses.

Referring to the drawing illustrating thepreferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the reflector;.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is front elevation of the reflector plate;

Fig. 4 is a greatly exaggerated fragmentary cross-section of one of the reector surfaces indicated at 4-4 in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a detail of the clamping bolt.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, I Il indicates the front and side casing in which are positioned a plurality of openings II. Directly under the front side of casing I I have placed a flat sheet I2 of colored glass or Celluloid. The drawing indicates red, but any color may be used as the occasion requires. Back of the colored glass I2 I have placed a reflector plate I3 about the surface of which are positioned a plurality of depressed reflector surfaces III. These reflector surfaces are highly polished nickel plated metal. Silvered surfaces may be used if desired but in my device polished nickel serves the same purpose and Will maintainits brilliancy over long periods of time due to the fact that these surfaces and depressed areas in the plate I3 are tightly sealed from dust, moisture and air currents. 'Ihe plate I3 is formed in a die and it will be noted that around the rim of each reector surface I have provided a knife-like projection I which fits against the colored glass or Celluloid tightly, and Where Celluloid, Which I prefer, is used, this knife-like edge presses into the Celluloid surface making a very tight seal. To obtain this tight seal, I have provided a back plate I6 Which engages inside the side edges of the casing I0. When the apparatus is assembled the back plate I6 is firmly pressed in place compressing the back of the depressed reflector units tightly against the Celluloid I2 after which the telescoped edges of the back plate I6 and casing I0 are secured by solder or Welding. In the center of the back plate I6 I have provided a depressed area in which I have placed a nut II for the purpose of clamping the various parts 10 being provided in the Celluloid plate I2 and back 15 plate I6. The nut I1 is screwed down tight against the shoulder of the bolt I8 and due to the fact that the sidesof the back plate ls are secured in the sides of the casing Ill additional pressure is brought to bear on the lback of the curved reflector members I4 thereby compressing them more firmly against the` Celluloid plate I2. This pressure is resilient to a certain degree due to the fact that the depressed portion at the center of the back plate I6 is not bottomed against the reflector plate I3. In this construction the knife-like edges I5 are maintained in a spring compressed relation with the Celluloid or glass member I2. The reflector is mounted on the bumper or other part of the automobile by means of the bolt and wing-nut I8 in the manner shown in Fig. 2, 20 indicating a bumper in cross-section.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. A reflector for automobiles and the like comprising in combination, a casing having a front Wall and side Walls, a plurality of circular openings in said front Wall, a soft, colored transparent plate located against the back surface of said front Wall and covering said openings in said Wall, a second plate located adjacent the back surface of said transparent plate, a plurality of cup-shaped depressions formed in said second plate and located in register with the openings in said front Wall, said cup-shaped depressions being provided with reflector surfaces on the sides thereof adjacent said transparent plate, annular projections having sharp edges formed around the rims of the said cup-shaped depressions, said annular projections being engaged in the adjacent surface of said Soft transparent plate, a back plate having side flanges adapted to engage inside said side Walls, a depression formed in the central portion `of said back plate,

a bolt hole located in the central portion of said depression in said back plate, bolt openings located through said front wall, transparent plate, and second plate and in alignment with the opening in said back plate depression, a bolt located through said bolt hole and bolt openings, a nut located on said bolt in said back plate depression, said nut being adapted to engage against the back surface of said back plate depression and engage the inner surface of said back plate tightlyagainst the back surfaces of the cup-shaped depressions of said second plate, means for attaching said reflector to the bumper of an automobile.

2. A reflector for automobiles and the like comprising in combination, a casing having a front wall and side walls, a plurality of circular openings in said front wall, a soft, colored transparent plate located back of said front wall and covering said openings, av reflector plate located back of said transparent plate, the reiiector area of said reilector plate .comprising a plurality of depressions aligned with said circular openings the concaved surfaces of which comprise relocated around the peripheries of said depressions, a back plate engaging against the convexed sides of said depressions, means for clamping said front wall and back plate rmly together for the purpose of engaging said annular rims against the soft transparent plate.

3. A reflector for automobiles and the like comprising in combination, a casing having a front wall and side Walls, a plurality of circular openings in said front Wall, a, back casing having side'flanges engaging within said side walls, a reector plate provided With a plurality of depressed cups in. alignment with said circular openings, the concaved sides of said cups comprising reector surfaces, the convexed sides of said cups engaging against the inner side of said back casing, a soft, transparent plate located between said reflector plate and said front wall, annular rims having sharp edges located around said' reflector cups adjacent said transparent plate, annular recesses located in the side of said transparent plate adjacent said annular rims, means passing through said front wall, transparent plate, reflector plate and back casing adapted'to tightly engage said annular rims in said annular recesses.

FRED MALAGUTI.

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