SCHOOL BUS CHILD SAFETY SYSTEM, COMPONENTS, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING SAME

• US 20200130569A1
• Filed: 07/09/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Safety Net Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Universal Safety Net Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Lindsey, Shelley R., Lindsey, Stephen, Xavier, Maximillian
• Granted Patent: US 10,933,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2615 mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2657 mounted on a shaft, e.g. telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2692 retractable lights retractable headlights B60Q1/05
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/608 for guiding, warning or controlling traffic, e.g. delineator posts or milestones
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/31 Optical layout thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules

Abstract

Disclosed herein is school bus safety device comprising a rigid arm configured to move outwardly from a school bus in order to block vehicular traffic, and to be stored along the side, rear, front, bottom or top of the school bus when not in use, and a recording device mounted proximate or on the arm and being configured to record a position and/or movement of a nearby vehicle. A school bus including the device, and corresponding methods, also are disclosed.

Claims

1. A school bus safety device comprising:

a rigid arm configured to move outwardly from a school bus in order to block vehicular traffic, and to be stored on the school bus when not in use, and

a recording device mounted on the arm and being configured to record at least one of a position and a movement of a nearby vehicle.

2. The school bus safety device of claim 1, further comprising lights disposed along at least a portion of the length of the arm.

3. The school bus safety device of claim 1, wherein the arm is configured to be mounted to a school bus with a mounting device.

4. The school bus safety device of claim 3, wherein the mounting device provides for pivotal movement of the arm between an operating position and a storage position.

5. The school bus safety device of claim 3, wherein the arm is retractable.

6. The school bus safety device of claim 3, wherein the arm is pivotable.

7. The school bus safety device of claim 6, wherein the arm is both pivotable and retractable.

8. The school bus safety system of claim 1, wherein the recording device provides a real-time video feed to a remote computer.

9. The school bus safety device of claim 1, wherein the recording device is a hard-wired camera.

10. The school bus safety device of claim 1, wherein the recording device is a wireless camera.

11. The school bus safety device of claim 1, further including at least one sensor formed on the arm and being configured to sense at least one of a position and a speed of a nearby vehicle.

12. The school bus safety device of claim 11, wherein the sensor is a speed detector.

13. The school bus safety device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker configured to emit a warning sound.

14. The school bus safety device of claim 11, further including a transmitting device configured to transmit data from at least one of the recording device and the sensor to a remote computer.

15. The school bus safety device of claim 14, further comprising a controller configured to permit the driver to operate the school bus safety device.

16. A school bus having the safety system of claim 1 mounted thereon.

17. A method of increasing school bus safety comprising employing the safety device of claim 1 on a school bus.

18. A method of increasing school bus safety comprising employing a safety device on a school bus, the safety device comprising a rigid arm configured to move outwardly from a school bus in order to block vehicular traffic, and to be stored on the exterior of school bus when not in use, and a recording device mounted on the arm and being configured to record a position and/or movement of a nearby vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the recording device comprises a camera.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the camera comprises a video camera.