Vehicle flare assembly and launcher

A flare assembly including a flare mounted in a base and a plurality of wire legs pivotably connected to the base has its legs folded and the entire assembly inserted in a cup-shaped pusher element in a launch tube mounted beneath a vehicle. A spring under compression, when released by a trigger mechanism actuated from the vehicle dash, will force the pusher element through the tube to catapult the flare assembly into a roadway. The flare has a flint wheel in frictional engagement with the interior of the launch tube so when the flare assembly is launched, the wheel will ignite the flare. The flare will catapult from the vehicle and land on the legs which open to support the flare in an upright position, to warn oncoming vehicles of the distressed vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a distress signal device, and more particularly, 
a flare assembly which can be launched from the interior of a disabled 
vehicle without the operator leaving the vehicle. 
Most highway safety experts urge that the drivers of all vehicles keep a 
supply of safety flares in their vehicles so that in the event of a 
stalled vehicle or other emergency, one or more flares may be ignited and 
placed on the roadway to give warning to oncoming motorists. Heretofore, 
it has been the customary practice for the driver to stop his vehicle, 
take a flare from the trunk or other part of the vehicle where the flare 
is stored, strike the flare igniter, and then place the ignited flare in 
the appropriate position on the road. This type of procedure is not only 
time consuming, but normally requires the person placing the flare to 
leave his vehicle and expose himself to the danger of being struck by some 
moving vehicle. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention, a device is provided which can be 
operated by the driver of a vehicle to discharge a signaling flare from 
the rear of the vehicle so that the flare will come to rest at some 
distance at the rear of the vehicle. Simultaneously with the discharge of 
the flare its ignition is effected, the vehicle operator having nothing to 
do but close an actuating circuit. The ignited flare is catapulted from a 
launch tube provided beneath the vehicle and lands in an upright position 
on legs pivotably provided on the flare assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like 
elements throughout the several views, a launch tube 10 is mounted beneath 
the rear of the chassis of a motor vehicle 12 at a convenient location by 
means of a U-shaped mounting bracket 14 receiving fasteners 16 through 
opposed flanges 18 on bracket 14. The bracket 14 mounts launch tube 10 at 
an angle to the horizontal road surface. 
A flare assembly 20 is housed within launch tube 10 and includes a tubular 
base 22 receiving a flare 24. Pivotably connected to base 22 by hinges 23 
are a plurality of spring wire legs 26. Legs 26 are normally pivoted to a 
closed position, as shown in full lines in FIGS. 2 and 3, and held in 
closed position relative to flare 24 by a rubber band 28 disposed 
thereabout, adjacent the ends of the legs. The flare assembly 20, in 
folded condition, is inserted horizontally in launch tube 10, as shown in 
FIG. 2. 
When inserted in launch tube 10, base 22 is received in abutment with a 
cup-shaped pusher element 30 slidable for a limited distance within tube 
10 until it abuts an annular shoulder 31 under the urging of a compressed 
coil spring 32 between the pusher element 30 and a closed end 34 of launch 
tube 10. A release trigger 36, pivotably mounted on a support 38 fixed to 
the exterior of launch tube 10 is held by a coil spring 40, under tension, 
in an arcuate slot 42 extending through tube 10 in contact with the 
annular top edge 44 of pusher-element 30. A cable 46 connects trigger 36 
to a pull lever 48 on the dash of vehicle 12. 
Upon pulling lever 48 and cable 46, trigger 36 is pivoted out of slot 42, 
allowing coil spring 32 to expand to thrust pusher element 30 forwardly to 
catapult flare assembly 20 from launch tube 10, as shown by the arrows in 
FIG. 1. A flint wheel 50 is mounted by a ring 52 on the top of flare 24 in 
frictional engagement with the interior surface of launch tube 10. 
Accordingly, when flare assembly 20 is launched, flint wheel 50 will 
frictionally generate sparks to ignite flare 24 so when launched, it will 
be ignited. The lit flare 24 will burn through rubber band 28, releasing 
legs 26, so that after launch and ignition of flare 24 the flare 24 will 
land in an upright position on legs 26 as shown by the phantom lines in 
FIG. 3, as a warning to oncoming motorists. 
To reload a new flare assembly 20 in launch tube 10, the flare assembly 20 
is provided with a new flare 24 in base 22 and the legs 26 folded and held 
together by a rubber band 28 and inserted in tube 10. The assembly 20 can 
be pushed against the bias of coil spring 34 until pusher element 30 is 
locked in place by trigger 36 or a slidable push rod 54 (shown in phantom 
lines in FIG. 2) may be inserted through a slot in the exterior wall of 
tube 10 for frictional contact with base 22 to aid in sliding base 22 and 
flare assembly 20 into tube 10. A complete refill flare assembly 20 
including legs, flare, etc., may be pre-packaged for insertion into the 
launch tube. 
While a specific embodiment of a vehicle flare assembly and launcher has 
been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that 
various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to 
those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be 
placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended 
claims.