US1238984A - Dirigible lamp for automobiles. - Google Patents

Description

W. H. BRiGHT. DIRIGIBLE LAMP FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, IBIS- Patantedfiept 4, v

E QIEZ@ T g7 inventor I A'ttomeys WILLIAM H. BRIGHT, on snnrocan, VIRGINIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

DTRIGIBLE' LAMP non AUroi/r'oBiLEs.

Patented Sept. ll, 191W.

Application filed ilune 20, I916. Serial N0. 104,733.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \V'mnnrii BRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bedford in the county of Bedford and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Dirigibl'e Lamp for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to' dirigible lamps for automobiles and the like, one of the objects of the invention being to provide a resilient connection between the revoluble lamp bracketsor holders and the connecting rod of the steering mechanism, whereby motion is transmitted from'said' rod to the lamps although such connection will not.in terfere with the steering of the vehicle should the rotation of one or both of the lamps be stopped for any reason.

A further object is to provide an attachment which can be applied readily to automobiles ofthe Ford type Without requiring the services of a skilled mechanic.

A. still further object is to provide an attachment which is cheap to manufacture, is inconspicuous, and which can be easily adjusted so as to maintain the lamps in position to direct the light rays straight forward during the forward movement of the vehicle or toward either side to which the machine is moving; a

i A still further object is to provide an attachment which will not rattle.-

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a Ford automobile and showing the present improvement connected up to one lamp.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the attachment, the adjacent portions of the vehicle being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the complete attachment connected to the stems of the two lamp holders or brackets, a portion of the vehicle being shown by dotted lines.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the arms of the attachment.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference R designates a portion of the radiator of a Ford automobile and extending from each side thereof is a bracket B having a flat intermediate ledge B through which extends the stem S of a lamp carrying yoke Y. The stem has a collar (7 which ordinarily is provided with parallel faces as indicated by full lines in Fig. 3, one of the straight faces of the collar bearing against one side wall of the ledge B so as thus to holdthe stem S against rotation.

The structure constituting the present invention consists of a pair of arms 1 preferably bowed from end to end and each of which has one end portion flattened as at 2 and provided with a central opening 3, and end openings 4: and 5. The ends of a rod 6 are pivotally mounted within the openings i in the two arms, while coiled springs 7 are connected to the openings in the respective arms 1. Each spring is also attached to a finger 8 extending from an eye 9 made by bending a metal strap, the terminal of the strap being clamped to the finger 8 by a bolt 10 as shown particularly in Fig. 2.

The parts above described constitute a complete attachment designed to be placed upon the market as an article to be applied readily to vehicles already in use and which does not require the services of a skilled mechanic in order to place it in proper position. Obviously the attachment can be made and sold at low cost because of the few parts of which it is composed and the simplicity of construction.

When it is desired to apply the attachment to a Ford automobile, the nut usually provided at the lower end of each stem S is removed and the two stems are lifted out of the bracket B. Those faces of the collars C which normally engage the upstanding wall of ledge B are then filed away as indicated at O in Fig 3 so that when the stems S are reinserted into the brackets they will not be held against rotation. After this op eration, nuts 11 are placed on the stems close to the bottom faces of the brackets B, arms 1 are placed on the lower ends of the stems so that said stems will project through the openings 3, and additional nuts 12 are screwed onto the stems so as to clamp the arms 1 tightly in place and hold them against independent rotation relative to the stems S. Thus the front ends of the levers or arms 1 will project forwardly so that the rod 6 connecting them will extend across the front of the radiator R. The rear ends of the arms 1 will project below the radiator and terminate practically in vertical alinement with the rod T which connects the steering knuckles of the automobile. The bolts 10 are removed from the fingers 8 and the eyes 9 are slipped into position on the rod T at points between arms 1. These eyes are adjusted along the rod until both springs 7 are placed under practically the same degree of tension after which the bolt 10 is tightened and will cause the eye to bind securely onto the rod T. As the two springs pull in opposite directions respectively, they constitute efficient power transmitting connections between the arms 1 and the rod T and they also serve as anti-rattlers inasmuch as they will hold all of the joints tight. Obviously when the vehicle wheels are turned to the right, rod T will pull through one of the springs upon one of the arms 1, thus turning both of the lamps to the right and, when the machine is turned to the left the foregoing operation will be reversed. Should the rotation of the stems S be interfered with from any cause, as by the lodging of abranch between thebracket B and the yoke Y or by a stone or other unyielding object becoming wedged adjacent the lamp, the steering of the vehicle would not be interfered with even though the lamps should not turn, this being due to the fact that the springs will yield under such conditions. Consequently accidents which have heretofore resulted from the obstruction of the movement of dirigible lamps coupled positively to the steering gear, are avoided.

While the improvements are particularly designed for use in connection with Ford automobiles, itis to be understood that they can also be used in connection with vehicles of other types in which lamps are mounted in a similar manner. i Q

VVh'at is claimed is The combination with an automobile having lamp supporting brackets extending laterally from points adjacent the sides of the radiator, a stem mounted for rotation in each bracket, lamp engaging means upon each stem, and a steering rod extending under the radiator for connecting the knuckles of the front wheels, of downwardly and rearwardlyextending arms secured to the lower end .of each stem and having forwardly extending portions at their upper ends, a rod connecting said forwardly extending portions, fingers adjustably mounted upon. the rod and arranged under the ra diator, and downwardly converging coiled springs connected to the rear ends of the arms and to the fingers, said-springs being arranged normally in the same vertical plane with the rod.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM BRIGHT.

Witnesses:

IVY E. SIMPsoN, PI-IJLOMENA A. RocKELLI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. i J

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