SELF-CONTAINED ILLUMINATED BUS SIGNAL

• US 20070209260A1
• Filed: 02/19/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aaron Tucker, Khadijah Nashid-Tucker
• Original Assignee: Aaron Tucker, Khadijah Nashid-Tucker
• Inventors: Nashid-Tucker, Khadijah, Tucker, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 8,458,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/612
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0037 supported by a post
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/007 Displays with power supply provided by solar cells or photocells
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure

Abstract

A bus stop sign and notification device is powered by an electric circuit that includes a solar panel and battery mounted in a battery box on a bus shelter or vertical support pole. The vertical support secures first and second signs and first and second illuminators for information dissemination and visual attraction. Long lasting light-emitting diodes in various colors are mounted on an adjustable or swivel hood that is used to aim the lights. The lights can include a flashing strobe light for attracting the attention of a bus driver at a distance. A reflector shield on the pole can protect wires and reflect different color light when the sign is illuminated and attract attention to the sign at night. The illuminators are activated by a button switch by bus passengers for reading the signs and notifying a driver to stop for passengers.

Claims

1. A bus stop sign and signal device comprising:

a vertical support;

a first sign on said vertical support;

a battery housing on said vertical support for housing a battery;

a battery in said battery housing;

a solar panel for converting light into electricity for charging said battery;

a first illumination means supported by said vertical support above said first sign;

said first illumination means having a first light for illuminating said first sign and a second light for notifying an approaching bus driver to stop at the bus stop;

a switch for activating said first illumination means.

2. A bus stop sign and signal device as in claim 1 including:

a second sign on said vertical support;

a second illumination means supported on said vertical support;

said second illumination means having a first light positioned to illuminate said second sign;

said switch for activating said first illumination means also activates said second illumination means.

3. A bus stop sign and signal device as in claim 1 wherein:

said vertical support is a post;

said first illuminating means is positioned at an upper end of said post and is housed in a hood;

said hood is adjustable to aline the direction said first illumination means is pointed in.

4. A bus stop sign and signal device as in claim 3 wherein:

said post is in a “

u”

shape;

said “

u”

shape post interior is enclosed by a reflecting panel that extends along a portion of the open side of said “

u”

shape post.

5. A bus stop sign and signal device as in claim 2 wherein:

said vertical support is a post;

said post is in a “

u”

shape;

said “

u”

shape post interior is enclosed by a reflecting panel that extends along a portion of the open side of said “

u”

shape post;

wiring extends from said battery to said second illumination means;

said wiring extends through said “

u”

shape post interior between said “

u”

shape post and said reflecting panel where said wires are protected.

6. A bus stop sign and signal device as in claim 2 including:

an electric circuit for said first illumination means and for said second illumination means;

said electric circuit limits activation of said first illumination means and said second illumination means to a time certain to conserve electricity.

7. A bus stop sign and signal device as in claim 1 wherein:

said battery housing has an inner side attached to said vertical support and an outer side;

said solar panel is attached to said battery outer side so as to pivot in a vertical plane and rotate in a horizontal plane for alinement of said solar panel with the sun.

8. A bus stop sign and signal device as in claim 3 wherein:

said hood is elevated above said vertical support on a pipe that is vertically adjustable in said vertical support and is rotatable in said vertical support for adjusting the direction light coming from said first illumination means is pointed in;

said pipe includes a universal joint for independent adjustment.

9. A bus stop sign and signal device as in claim 1 including:

a reflective tape on said first sign for attracting attention to said first sign at night and during inclement weather.

10. A bus stop sign and signal device comprising:

an elongated vertical support;

a first sign having bus schedule and other information on said elongated vertical support;

a second sign having instructions for bus passengers on said elongated vertical support;

a first illumination means and a second illumination means on said elongated vertical support for said first and second signs;

a hood supported by said elongated vertical support;

said first illumination means including a first light

said first illumination means first light in said hood being an L.E.D. light for notifying a bus driver to stop at said bus stop;

said second illumination means including a first “

white”

light in a shield for illuminating said second sign;

a manually operated switch for activating said first illumination means first light and said second illumination means first light.

11. A bus stop sign and signal device as in claim 10 wherein:

said first illumination means has a second light that is a “

white “

light and a third light that is a colored light other than “

white” and

said first L.E.D. light is a flashing strobe light.

12. A bus stop sign and signal device as in claim 10 including:

an electric circuit for said first illumination means and for said second illumination means;

said circuit limits activation of said electric first illumination means and said second illumination means to a time certain to conserve electricity.

13. A bus stop sign and signal device as in claim 10 wherein:

said hood is elevated above said elongated vertical support on a pipe that is vertically adjustable in said vertical support and is rotatable in said vertical support for adjusting the direction light coming from said first illumination means is pointed in;

said pipe includes a universal joint for independent adjustment.

14. A bus stop sign and signal device as in claim 10 including:

a battery housing on said elongated vertical support for a battery;

a battery in said battery housing;

a solar panel for converting light into electricity for charging said battery;

said battery housing has an inner side and an outer side;

said battery housing inner side is attached to said vertical support;

said solar panel is attached to said battery outer side so as pivot in a vertical plane and rotate in a horizontal plane for alining said solar panel with the sun.

15. A bus stop sign and signal device as in claim 10 wherein:

said vertical support is a post;

said post is in a “

u”

shape;

said “

u”

shape post interior is enclosed by a reflecting panel that extends along a portion of said the open side of said “

u”

shape post.

16. A bus stop sign and signal device as in claim 15 wherein:

said vertical support is a post;

said post is in a “

u”

shape;

said “

u”

shape post interior is enclosed by a reflecting panel that extends along a portion of the open side of said “

u”

shape post;

wiring extends from said battery to said second illumination means;

said wiring extends through said “

u”

shape post interior between said “

u”

shape post and said reflecting panel where said wires are protected.

17. A method of providing bus stop information to passengers and bus drivers comprising the steps of:

providing a first sign with bus information;

providing a solar panel and battery as an electric power source;

providing a first illumination means for viewing said first sign and for alerting said bus driver that a passenger is waiting at the stop;

activating said illumination means by having a passenger manually press on a button switch for simultaneously illuminating said first sign and alerting said bus driver to stop at said bus stop.

18. The method of providing bus stop information to passengers and bus drivers as in claim 17 including:

providing a second sign with passenger information for operating said first illumination means.

19. The method of providing bus stop information to passengers and bus drivers as in claim 18 including:

providing a second illumination means for viewing said second sign;

providing an electric circuit that operates both said first illumination means and said second illumination means;

activating said first illumination means and said second illumination means by pressing on said button switch;

20. The method of providing bus stop information to passengers and bus drivers as in claim 19 including:

activating said first illumination means and said second illumination means simultaneously by a single press on said button switch;

limiting the time said first illumination means and said second illumination means are activated to a time certain to conserve energy.