Taxi cab emergency signal

• US 5,754,098 A
• Filed: 03/17/1997
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel Holban
• Original Assignee: Daniel Holban
• Inventors: Holban, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US08/818,441
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 340/434, 340/472, 340/468, 340/471, 340/473
• US Class Current: 340/434
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• 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 1/52 for indicating emergencies

Abstract

A taxi cab emergency signal including an emergency light situated on a roof of a taxi cab. The emergency light adapted to create a visual signal upon the receipt of power. Further included is an emergency switch discretely situated within the taxi cab adjacent a driver thereof and electrically connected between a power source and the emergency light for allowing the supply of power thereto upon the actuation thereof.

Claims

1. A new and improved taxi cab emergency signal comprising, in combination:

a mounting platform including a horizontally oriented rectangular plate with a top face and a bottom face, the bottom face coupled to a roof of a taxi cab via a plurality of mounting screws;

a translucent exterior housing constructed from tinted plastic having a generally rectangular configuration with a front face, a rear face, and a periphery formed therebetween defining an interior space and an bottom opening, the exterior housing having non-emergency opaque indicia comprising the word "TAXI" formed on the front face and rear face thereof, whereby the bottom opening of the exterior housing is coupled to the top face of the plate of the mounting platform wherein a periphery of the bottom opening is positioned coincidentally with a periphery of the plate of the mounting platform;

an opaque interior housing having a rectangular configuration with a front face, a rear face, and a periphery formed therebetween defining an interior space, the interior housing coupled to the top face of the plate of the mounting platform within the exterior housing, the interior housing further having a translucent window formed in the front face and rear face thereof, the translucent window being formed of an emergency indicia comprising the word "HELP";

a first non-emergency fluorescent light adapted to emit normal white light upon the receipt of power, the first light situated exteriorly on a top face of the interior housing and further within the exterior housing for emitting the white light through the exterior housing, the first non-emergency light fixed to the interior housing via a pair of stanchions which extend upwardly to maintain a position of the first non-emergency light midway between a top of the exterior housing and a top of the interior housing;

a second emergency light adapted to intermittently emit red light upon the receipt of power, the second light positioned within the interior housing for emitting the red light through the window of the interior housing and further through the exterior housing;

a first non-emergency push button switch situated on a dash of the taxi cab and electrically connected between a power source and the first non-emergency light for allowing the supply of power thereto upon the actuation thereof, the first non-emergency push button switch fitted on a plate with a plurality of apertures for mounting purposes, whereby the first non-emergency push button switch is adapted to be maintained in an actuated orientation upon the depression thereof and further deactivated upon a second depression thereof;

a second emergency push button switch situated on a floorboard of the taxi cab adjacent a driver thereof and electrically connected between a power source and the second emergency light for allowing the supply of power thereto upon the actuation thereof, the second emergency push button switch fitted on a plate with a plurality of apertures for mounting purposes, whereby the second emergency push button switch is adapted to be maintained in an actuated orientation upon the depression thereof and further deactivated upon a second depression thereof; and

control circuitry electrically connected between the non-emergency switch, the non-emergency light, and the emergency switch, the control circuitry precluding power from being supplied to the non-emergency light upon the actuation of the emergency switch to ensure that the non-emergency light does not interfere with the emergency light.