US3712263A - Automobile aerial location signal - Google Patents

Abstract

An automobile aerial attached location signal for identifying and locating a particular automobile when parked on large crowded parking lots. The signal device consists of a brightly colored cylinder having an aperture on one side thereof and a slotted clamping jaw which encompasses the automobile aerial and engages in the aperture. A coil spring extends around the cylindrical body and engages in an annular groove therein with its opposite ends secured to the jaw member to clamp the jaw member and the cylindrical body tightly onto the aerial of the automobile. The cylinder may be brightly colored and is of a size such that can be easily seen from a distance. Initials or other identifying indicia may be applied to the cylinder when desired.

Description

ite States tet Faragosa 1 Jan. 23, 1973 1 1 AUTOMOBILE AERIAL LOCATION 3,463,436 8/1969 Foster, Jr. ..248/311 SIGNAL 3,530,607 9/1970 Willis ..40/179 c Primary ExaminerLouis J. Capozi AtrorneyHyman Berman et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT An automobile aerial attached location signal for identifying and locating a particular automobile when parked on large crowded parking lots. The signal device consists of a brightly colored cylinder having an aperture on one side thereof and a slotted clamping jaw which encompasses the automobile aerial and engages in the aperture. A coil spring extends around the cylindrical body and engages in an annular groove therein with its opposite ends secured to the jaw member to clamp the jaw member and the cylindrical body tightly onto the aerial of the automobile. The cylinder may be brightly colored and is of a size such that can be easily seen from a distance. Initials or other identifying indicia may be applied to the cylinder when desired.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures AUTOMOBILE AERIAL LOCATION SIGNAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to a signal adapted to be attached to the aerial of a motor vehicle to assist in locating the motor vehicle under crowded parking conditions.

2. Summary of the Invention The invention includes a brightly colored cylinder which is clamped to an aerial by a clamping jaw secured by a coil spring encompassing the cylinder and engaging in an annular groove therein with the jaw engaging in an aperture in the cylinder.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a location signal for attachment to the antenna of an automobile which is easy to attach and remove and which can be readily seen from great distances.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of an automobile with the antenna and signal shown attached thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral indicates generally a signal device constructed in accordance with the invention.

The signal device 10 includes a cylindrical body 11 having a solid central portion 12 and oppositely disposed hollow end portions l3, 14. A generally rectangular aperture 15 is formed in one side of the cylindrical body 11 and extends into the solid portion 12 thereof.

An annular groove 16 extends completely around the mid portion of the cylindrical body 11 and has its opposite ends terminating at the aperture 15.

A generally rectangular jaw member 17 is slidably mounted in the aperture 15 and has an upright elongate slot 18 formed therein. A generally rectangular plate 19 is secured to the block 17 by fasteners 20 as can be seen in FIG. 3.

A coil spring 21 encircles the body 11 and is engaged in the annular groove 16. The coil spring 21 has a loop 22 on one end engaged in a bore 23 in one end of the plate 19 and a loop 24 on the opposite end engaged in a bore 25 in the opposite end of the plate 19.

In the use and operation of the invention the cylinder 11 is grasped in one hand and the plate 19 is grasped with the fingers of the other hand to pull the jaw block 17 out of the aperture 15 a sufficient distance to permit the signal 10 to be passed downwardly over an antenna rod 26 mounted on a motor vehicle 27. The late 19 is then released and the tension of the spring 1 pulls it back into the aperture 15 with the antenna rod 26 clamped tightly against the side of the cylinder 11. The cylinder 11 is coated with bright colored paint so as to be clearly visible from a distance so that as the person is returning to his vehicle when parked on a large parking lot the identification of his car and its location are readily apparent. On reaching the car the signal 10 is removed from the antenna 26 by pulling outwardly on the plate 19 a sufficient distance to permit the signal 10 to be slid upwardly over the top of the antenna 26.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An identifying and locating signal for attachment I to the radio antenna rod of a motor vehicle comprising a body, an annular groove formed in said body intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof, a generally rectangular aperture opening into one side of said body and intersecting the opposite ends of said annular groove, a jaw block slidably mounted in said aperture and having an elongate antenna rod receiving slot formed therein, and means for resiliently clamping said jaw block in said aperture.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body is cylindrical.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a generally rectangular plate is secured to the outer end of said jaw block and the means resiliently securing said jaw block to said body comprises a coil spring engaged in said annular groove and having its opposite end connected to opposite ends of said plate.

Claims (3)

1. An identifying and locating signal for attachment to the radio antenna rod of a motor vehicle comprising a body, an annular groove formed in said body intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof, a generally rectangular aperture opening into one side of said body and intersecting the opposite ends of said annular groove, a jaw block slidably mounted in said aperture and having an elongate antenna rod receiving slot formed therein, and means for resiliently clamping said jaw block in said aperture.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body is cylindrical.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a generally rectangular plate is secured to the outer end of said jaw block and the means resiliently securing said jaw block to said body comprises a coil spring engaged in said annular groove and having its opposite end connected to opposite ends of said plate.

Images