Audiovisual safety warning kit

• US 5,467,071 A
• Filed: 12/15/1993
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerald J. Churchill
• Original Assignee: Gerald J. Churchill
• Inventors: Koenig, Don M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/166,837
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 340/433, 340/460, 340/474, 340/459, 340/457, 340/468, 340/472, 340/432, 340/692, 381/51, 381/86, 381/123, 362/249, 362/80, 362/227, 362/216
• US Class Current: 340/433
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants

Abstract

An audiovisual safety warning kit for use with a vehicle includes lighting for mounting to the vehicle to produce a visual safety warning and to illuminate the ground adjacent to the vehicle. The kit further includes a device which stores audio safety prompting messages and an associated audio speaker which emits the messages to vehicle passengers. The storage device relays safety messages to the speaker in response to receiving an electrical signal provided by an activating device or by a vehicle driver. The activating device is mounted adjacent to steps of the vehicle such that it is activated by persons boarding or exiting the vehicle. The driver can select a stored audio message, or can create a supplemental audio message which is directly emitted by the speaker system.

Claims

1. A kit for producing an audiovisual safety warning for use in combination with a vehicle including a body having sidewalls and a rearwall, wheels, an exterior channel disposed above the wheels and having a length so as extend substantially along the sidewalls and rearwall, steps for boarding and exiting the vehicle, and an electrical wiring system, the kit comprising:

lighting means for producing a visual safety warning and for illuminating a surface adjacent to the vehicle, said lighting means being adapted to be mounted within the exterior channel and to extend substantially along the length thereof so as to be visible to individuals in close proximity to the vehicle, the lighting means including a constant burn light circuit;

means for electrically connecting said lighting means to the electrical wiring system of the vehicle; and

message means for producing verbal audio safety prompting messages audible to individuals inside of the vehicle, said message means being adapted to be mounted to the interior of the vehicle and electrically connected to the electrical wiring system, said message means including;

means for storing said verbal audio safety prompting messages;

means for a driver of the vehicle to create supplemental verbal audio safety prompting messages;

an audio speaker for emitting the stored verbal audio safety prompting messages and said supplemental verbal audio safety prompting messages;

first activation means adapted to be manually triggered by a driver of the vehicle to cause one of said supplemental verbal audio safety prompting messages to be transmitted to and emitted by said audio speaker; and

second activation means adapted to be triggered by individuals boarding or exiting on the steps of the vehicle to activate the storing means to cause one of said stored verbal audio safety prompting messages to be transmitted to and emitted by said audio speaker.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein said lighting means is composed of a solid polymeric substance.

3. The kit of claim 1, wherein said lighting means comprises a flashing light circuit which is activated when the vehicle is stopped.

4. The kit of claim 1, wherein the storing means comprises a circuit board having an integrated circuit for storing said verbal audio safety prompting messages.

5. The kit of claim 4, wherein the storing means is programmable.

6. The kit of claim 1, wherein said second activation means comprises a pressure sensitive device adapted to be placed on one of the steps of the vehicle.

7. The kit of claim 1, wherein said second activation means includes a motion detecting device adapted to be mounted adjacent to, and at a height above, one of the steps of the vehicle.

8. In combination:

a bus including a body having sidewalls and a rearwall, wheels, steps for individuals to board and exit the bus, and an electrical system;

lighting means for producing a visual safety warning and for illuminating a surface adjacent to the bus, said lighting means being mounted above said wheels and extending substantially continuously along the sidewalls and the rear wall of the bus so as to be visible to individuals in close proximity to the bus, said lighting means comprising a constant burn light circuit and being electrically connected to the electrical system of the bus;

message means for producing verbal audio safety prompting messages audible to individuals inside Of the bus, said message means being adapted to be mounted to the bus and electrically connected to the electrical wiring system, said message means including;

means for storing said verbal audio safety prompting messages;

means for a driver of the bus to create supplemental audio safety prompting messages;

an audio speaker for emitting the stored audio safety prompting messages and said supplemental verbal audio safety prompting messages;

first activation means adapted to be triggered by a driver of the bus to cause one of said supplemental verbal audio safety prompting messages to be transmitted to and emitted by said audio speaker; and

second activation means adapted to be manually triggered by motion of an individual boarding or exiting the bus to activate the storing means to cause one of said stored verbal audio safety prompting message to be transmitted to and emitted by said audio speaker.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said lighting means is composed of a solid polymeric substance.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein said bus comprises a channel extending substantially continuously along said sidewalls and said rearwall, and said lighting means is mounted within said channel.

11. The combination of claim 8, wherein the storing means comprises a circuit board having an integrated circuit for storing said verbal audio safety prompting messages, and the storing means is programmable.

12. The combination of claim 8, wherein the storing means comprises means for selecting one of said verbal audio safety prompting messages.

13. The combination of claim 8, wherein the second activation means comprises a pressure sensitive device disposed on one of said steps of the bus.

14. The combination of claim 8, wherein the second activation means comprises a motion detecting device mounted adjacent to one of said steps of the bus.

15. A kit for producing an audiovisual safety warning for use in combination with a vehicle including a body, wheels and an electrical wiring system, the kit comprising:

a mounting track adapted to be mounted to the vehicle above the wheels;

lighting means for producing a visual safety warning and for illuminating a surface adjacent to the vehicle, said lighting means being adapted to be mounted within said mounting track and to extend substantially continuously along the body of the vehicle at a height so as to be visible to individuals in close proximity to the vehicle, said lighting means being adapted to be electrically connected to the electrical wiring system and including a constant burn light circuit; and

message means for producing verbal audio safety prompting messages audible to persons inside of the vehicle, said message means being adapted to be mounted to the vehicle and electrically connected to the electrical wiring system, said message means including;

means for storing said verbal audio safety prompting messages;

means for a driver of the vehicle to produce supplemental verbal audio safety prompting messages;

an audio speaker for emitting the stored verbal audio safety prompting messages and said supplemental verbal audio safety prompting messages;

first activation means adapted to be manually triggered by a driver of the vehicle to cause one of said supplemental verbal audio safety prompting messages to be transmitted to and emitted by said audio speaker; and

second activation means adapted to be triggered by motion of an individual boarding or exiting the vehicle to activate the storing means to cause one of said stored verbal audio safety prompting messages to be transmitted to and emitted by said audio speaker.