Folding school bus stopping arm

• US 5,281,948 A
• Filed: 04/24/1992
• Issued: 01/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Luis C. Estrada
• Original Assignee: Luis C. Estrada
• Inventors: Estrada, Luis C.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US07/874,125
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 296/1.1, 293/9, 293/117, 116/28 R, 116/63 R, 340/433, 340/480, 340/488
• US Class Current: 340/433
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text

Abstract

A housing contains a gate or arm to extend to the driver'"'"'s side of a school bus to stop vehicular traffic at the back of the bus. The housing and the arm are located at the back of the bus by attaching it to the rear bumper of existing bus. For new buses, the housing can be built into the body of the bus on the driver'"'"'s side near the rear. A stop sign, at eye level, is also extended from the driver'"'"'s side of the bus. In a preferred embodiment, the sign is extended responsive to the opening of the passenger door on the school bus. As soon as the sign begins its outward movement, flashing lights are activated, a sound alarm is activated. After a short delay, the gate in the form of an arm is extended from the housing. To retrieve the arm and sign, the arm is brought in first and as soon as the arm is retracted it activates a limit switch which begins the sign retraction and when the sign is retracted a limit switch will deactivate the flashing lights and audible device.

Claims

1. The method of activating warning devices on a bus comprising the steps of:

a. activating a warning signal from a driver'"'"'s position of the bus,

b. immediately beginning extending a stop sign from the side of the bus responsive to said warning signal activation,

c. closing a sign switch responsive to said sign extension movement,

d. sounding an alarm responsive to said sign switch closure,

e. lighting stop lamps responsive to said sign switch closure, and

f. responsive to said warning signal activation, after a time delay and after the alarm has been activated, beginning extending a gate from the side of the bus.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 further deactivating the warning devices by the steps of:

g. de-activating the warning signal from the drivers position,

h. retracting the gate responsive to said warning signal de-activating until the gate is in a retracted position,

j. retracting the stop sign responsive the gate reaching a retracted position,

k. continuing retracting the stop sign until the stop sign is in a retracted position,

l. silencing the alarm responsive to the stop sign reaching the retracted position, and

m. extinguishing the stop lamps responsive to the stop sign reaching the retracted position.

3. On a school bus having

i. a driver side,

ii. a passenger door opposite the drivers side,

iii. a movable stop sign on the drivers side, and

iv. a movable gate at the rear of the bus on the drivers side,

an electrical circuit for controlling the extending and retracting of the sign and the gate laterally from the side of the school bus, said circuit comprising in combination with the above:

a. a door switch mounted upon the passenger door of said school bus,

b. a timing device connected to said door switch,

c. said timer having a set of delay contacts which have a delayed response,

d. a delay relay attached to said set of delay contacts, and

e. a gate electric motor for extending the gate electrically connected to said delay relay,

f. instantaneous contacts on said timing device, said instantaneous contact actuating

g. an instantaneous relay,

h. a sign electric motor to give a visual signal by extending said sign, said sign electric motor electrically connected to contacts of said instantaneous relay,

j. a sign switch activated by movement of the sign,

k. an audible signal device electrically connected to said sign switch,

l. the timing device and delay relay forming a portion of means for delaying the extension of the gate until after the sign switch is activated, so that an audible signal is given and a visual signal is given that the gate is being extended laterally from the side of the bus.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3, further comprising:

m. a lamp electrically connected to said sign switch,

n. a blinker mechanism electrically connected to said sign switch,

o. at least two sets of lamps attached to said blinker mechanism,

p. said blinker device alternately lighting one or the other of said sets of lamps and said lamp lighting when said sign switch is activated.