AUDIBLE WARNING SYSTEM FOR SCHOOL BUSES

• US 3,838,392 A
• Filed: 07/05/1973
• Issued: 09/24/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herbert S. Spair, John E. Lockwood, Richard A. Sr. Spair
• Original Assignee: Herbert S. Spair, John E. Lockwood, Richard A. Sr. Spair
• Inventors: Lockwood, John E., Spair, Herbert S., Spair, Richard A. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/376,698
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 340/75,52R 315/77
• US Class Current: 340/433
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies

Abstract

Combined with an already known electrical circuit used in school buses to activate flashing yellow and red lights, the present invention provides an audible warning to children who have alighted from the bus. The audible warning system is automatically activated in response to closing of the door of the bus preparatory to movement of the bus away from the stop, sounding a clearly audible warning, preferably at the front and rear of the bus, for a time period sufficient to warn the children away from the bus until it is safely on its way, and has put enough distance between the bus and the children to prevent their injury. The system employs a transistorized circuit in which power supplied to a buzzer or other audible alarm device is controlled by one or more transistors, in association with a capacitor. As the school bus nears a bus stop, the operator activates a yellow warning light system, which changes automatically to a red light warning system while the bus is stopped. Upon opening of the school bus door, the capacitor is short-circuited and discharged, in a circuit configuration that withholds current from the audible alarm device. On closing of the door, the capacitor prevents the transistor from conducting during the time required to charge the capacitor, and in this predetermined time period the buzzer or other alarm device is caused to operate in response to rendering the transistor non-conductive while the capacitor is again being charged.

Claims

1. The conbination, with circuitry for energizing a warning light system when a vehicle is being brought to a stop and while it is stopped, of an audible alarm system designed for operation when the vehicle is in its initial movement away from said stop, said circuitry incorporating switch means responding to opening and closing of the door to control the energizing of said lights, said system including a capacitor;

electrical current flow control means in circuit with the capacitor;

an alarm device; and

a source of electrical power, said switch means being effective when the door is opened to discharge the capacitor, and being effective when the door is closed to recharge the capacitor to a predetermined value over A given time period, the capacitor being operative, while being recharged to said value, to temporarily change the electrical condition of the current flow control means, said current flow control means in turn being effective, while in its changed condition, to permit the flow of power from said source to the alarm device.

2. A warning system as in claim 1, wherein the current flow control means is a transistor normally conductive at all times except when the capacitor is being recharged, the capacitor being connected to the transistor and being effective to render the transistor non-conductive while the capacitor is being recharged, said transistor permitting the flow of power to the alarm device only in the non-conductive condition of the transistor.

3. An audible, electrical warning system as in claim 1, further including an auxiliary circuit connected in said system and including a manual switch operative to deactivate the capacitor and said current flow control means, said auxiliary system providing a connection directly from the source of electrical power to said alarm device and including a normally open switch adapted for manual operation by the vehicle operator.

4. An audible, electrical warning system as in claim 1, further including a manually operable switch connected in said system for actuation by the vehicle operator between a passive position in which it permits the flow of power from the power source to the alarm device responsive to opening and closing of the door, and an active position in which, with the door closed, it assumes the functions normally discharged by said switch means in response to opening and closing of the door.