Flashing caution/stop bus light assembly

• US 5,604,480 A
• Filed: 09/29/1995
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Transpec, Inc. (White Mountains Insurance Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Transpec, Inc. (White Mountains Insurance Group Limited)
• Inventors: Lamparter, Ronald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rushing, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US08/536,705
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 340/433, 340/470, 340/468, 340/479, 362/61, 362/80, 362/83.3
• US Class Current: 362/478
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/547 for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake

Abstract

A bus light system (10) includes a plurality of indicator assemblies (16) located at each upper end corner of a bus (12). Each of the indicator assemblies (16) include first and third sections (24, 28) for indicating a slowing-to-stop condition which include illuminated word messages of CAUTION and STOPPING. Second and fourth sections (26, 34) indicate a stop condition which include illuminated word messages of DO NOT PASS and STOP. The first and third sections alternately flash during the slowing of the bus (12), while the second and fourth sections alternately flash during stopping of the bus (12) for loading and unloading.

Claims

1. A bus light system adapted to be connected to a passenger bus, said system comprising:

a first indicator assembly adapted to be fixedly secured to an upper portion of a passenger bus, said indicator assembly including a lighted display;

said lighted display including first and second light elements for separately illuminating first and second sections of said display in first and second colors;

said first and second sections including first and second word messages indicated thereon and associated with said first and second light elements, respectively;

said first word message indicating a slowing-to-stop condition in said first color and said second word message indicating a stop condition to load and unload passengers in said second color; and

a third light element for illuminating a third section of said display and a third word message, said third light element flashing alternately with either said first light element or said second light element in its associated condition.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and third light elements flash alternately in said slowing-to-stop condition.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said lighted display includes a fourth light element for illuminating a fourth section of said display and a fourth word message, said second and fourth light elements flash alternately in said stop condition.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1 further including a second indicator assembly spaced from said first indicator assembly and adapted to be connected to a passenger bus.

10. A system as set forth in claim 4 further including a switch and controller.

5. A bus light system adapted to be connected to a passenger bus, said system comprising:

a first indicator assembly adapted to be fixedly secured to an upper portion of a passenger bus, said indicator assembly including a lighted display;

said lighted display including at least first and second light elements for separately illuminating first and second sections of said display in first and second colors;

said first and second sections including first and second word messages indicated thereon and associated with said first and second light elements, respectively;

said first word message indicating a slowing-to-stop condition in said first color and said second word message indicating a stop condition to load and unload passengers in said second color;

a third light element for illuminating a third section of said display and a third word message, said first and third light elements adapted to flash alternately in said slowing-to-stop condition;

a fourth light element for illuminating a fourth section of said display and a fourth word message, said second and fourth light elements adapted to flash alternately in said stop condition;

said first message being CAUTION.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second message is STOP.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said third section displays the message STOPPING.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said fourth section displays the message DO NOT PASS.

9. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said second section includes a hexagon shape about the message STOP.

11. A bus light system adapted to be connected to a passenger bus, said system comprising:

a first indicator assembly adapted to be fixedly secured to an upper portion of a passenger bus, said indicator assembly including a lighted display;

said lighted display including at least first and second light elements for separately illuminating first and second sections of said display in first and second colors;

said first and second sections including first and second word messages indicated thereon and associated with said first and second light elements, respectively;

said first word message indicating a slowing-to-stop condition in said first color and said second word message indicating a stop condition to load and unload passengers in said second color;

a third light element for illuminating a third section of said display and a third word message, said first and third light elements adapted to flash alternately in said slowing-to-stop condition;

a fourth light element for illuminating a fourth section of said display and a fourth word message, said second and fourth light elements adapted to flash alternately in said stop condition;

each of said first, second, third and fourth light elements being separate from one another and said sections being separate from each other.

14. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said lighted display includes a single lens for said first, second, third and fourth sections.

15. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said indicator assembly includes a housing cooperating with said lens to provide a cavity for housing each of said light elements in isolation from each other.

16. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said housing and said lens are molded as an integral single unit.

17. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said housing and said lens are separately molded and subsequently secured to one another.

12. A bus light system adapted to be connected to a passenger bus, said system comprising:

a first indicator assembly adapted to be fixedly secured to an upper portion of a passenger bus, said indicator assembly including a lighted display;

said lighted display including at least first and second light elements for separately illuminating first and second sections of said display in first and second colors;

said first and second sections including first and second word messages indicated thereon and associated with said first and second light elements, respectively;

said first word message indicating a slowing-to-stop condition in said first color and said second word message indicating a stop condition to load and unload passengers in said second color;

a third light element for illuminating a third section of said display and a third word message, said first and third light elements adapted to flash alternately in said slowing-to-stop condition;

a fourth light element for illuminating a fourth section of said display and a fourth word message, said second and fourth light elements adapted to flash alternately in said stop condition;

said first and third sections being located vertically spaced from one another on said lighted display.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein second and fourth sections are located horizontally spaced from one another on said lighted display.

18. A bus light assembly comprising:

a molded housing having an exterior face with sides extending therefrom forming a cavity;

at least a portion of said exterior face formed of a translucent material,

said cavity including at least three light elements for individually illuminating at least three separate sections of said exterior face,

said light elements and said exterior face forming an illuminated display separately indicating a first word message in a slowing-to-stop condition of the passenger bus in a first illuminated color; and

a second word message indicating a stop condition to load and unload passengers from the bus in a second illuminated color; and

a third word message that flashes alternately with either the first word message or the second word message in its associated condition.