Traffic control system and kit
First Claim
1. An emergency vehicle traffic control system having a front side and comprising:
- a) a vertically disposed pole having a lower and upper end, the lower end perpendicularly mounted to a ground surface proximal to a vehicular roadway;
b) a horizontally disposed pole mounted to the vertically disposed pole upper end at a right angle, the horizontally disposed pole extending out over the vehicular roadway;
c) at least one traffic signal assembly, each including a backboard having three openings formed therethrough, three light housings positioned within the three backboard openings, three light receptacles located at generally middle portions within the three light housings and three light bulbs electrically coupled to the three light receptacles, each traffic signal assembly mounted to the horizontally disposed pole;
d) a battery for supplying electrical power to the emergency vehicle traffic control system;
e) a solar panel for gathering solar energy and energizing the battery;
f) at least one traffic sign assembly positioned on the front side of the emergency vehicle traffic control system;
g) a programmable central control panel for initiating a light bulb illumination sequence in response to a wireless signal transmitted from a remote location, the programmable central control panel electrically coupled to the battery and the traffic signal assembly; and
h) at least one verification light positioned upon the emergency vehicle traffic control system providing a visual indication to an emergency vehicle operator emerging from the remote location that the traffic signal assembly is operating properly, the verification light electrically coupled to the battery.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A traffic control system includes a vertically and horizontally disposed pole. The vertically disposed pole has a lower end mounted to a ground surface while an upper end mounts the horizontally disposed pole at a right angle. The horizontally disposed pole extends out over a vehicular roadway and, at least a pair of signal assemblies are mounted to the horizontally disposed pole for controlling vehicular traffic which may pass by an emergency vehicle rescue station. The signal assemblies illuminate a light bulb signal sequence upon activation by a programmable central control panel and instruct vehicular traffic to stop. A receive and antenna receive a wireless signal sent from a remote location within the rescue station. A pair of verification lights mount on the traffic control system and directed towards the rescue station provide a means for indicating to emergency vehicle operators that the illumination sequence is operating properly and that all light bulbs in the signal assembly are illuminating.
63 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An emergency vehicle traffic control system having a front side and comprising:
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a) a vertically disposed pole having a lower and upper end, the lower end perpendicularly mounted to a ground surface proximal to a vehicular roadway;
b) a horizontally disposed pole mounted to the vertically disposed pole upper end at a right angle, the horizontally disposed pole extending out over the vehicular roadway;
c) at least one traffic signal assembly, each including a backboard having three openings formed therethrough, three light housings positioned within the three backboard openings, three light receptacles located at generally middle portions within the three light housings and three light bulbs electrically coupled to the three light receptacles, each traffic signal assembly mounted to the horizontally disposed pole;
d) a battery for supplying electrical power to the emergency vehicle traffic control system;
e) a solar panel for gathering solar energy and energizing the battery;
f) at least one traffic sign assembly positioned on the front side of the emergency vehicle traffic control system;
g) a programmable central control panel for initiating a light bulb illumination sequence in response to a wireless signal transmitted from a remote location, the programmable central control panel electrically coupled to the battery and the traffic signal assembly; and
h) at least one verification light positioned upon the emergency vehicle traffic control system providing a visual indication to an emergency vehicle operator emerging from the remote location that the traffic signal assembly is operating properly, the verification light electrically coupled to the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
a) the at least one traffic sign assembly having vehicular and pedestrian warning information affixed on a front side thereof, and b) at least one sign light mounted proximal to each at least one traffic sign assembly for illuminating the warning information in low and no light environments, each sign light electrically coupled to the programmable central control panel and the battery.
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4. The emergency vehicle traffic control system of claim 3, wherein a first and second traffic sign assembly are employed, the first assembly mounted along the horizontally disposed pole and the second assembly mounted along the vertically disposed pole.
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5. The emergency vehicle traffic control system of claim 3, further comprising a photocell electrically coupled to the programmable central control panel and the at least one sign light, the photocell continuously measuring light conditions around the emergency vehicle traffic control system and permitting the at least one sign light to be illuminated when a minimum light level threshold has been exceeded.
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6. The emergency vehicle traffic control system of claim 1, further comprising an audible alarm operatively associated with the programmable central control panel for producing an audible signal in conjunction with the light bulb illumination sequence.
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7. The emergency vehicle traffic control system of claim 1, further comprising:
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a) an RF antenna mounted proximally and electrically coupled to the programmable central control panel;
b) an RF receiver mounted proximally and electrically coupled to the programmable central control panel; and
c) an RF transmitter positioned in a remote location for sending an RF signal to the programmable central control panel, the RF transmitter including a three position toggle switch having a first center-off position, a second lights-only position and a third lights and bells position.
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8. The emergency vehicle traffic control system of claim 1, further comprising:
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a) three colored lenses, one each positioned in each of the three light housings covering each light bulb positioned therewithin, and b) three lens hoods, one each attached to a front side of each of the three light housings for concentrating the light emanating therefrom.
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9. The emergency vehicle traffic control system of claim 8, further comprising:
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a) the three light housings horizontally disposed providing a center light housing and pair of outer light housings;
b) a yellow colored lens employed within the center light housing; and
c) a red colored lens employed in each of the pair of outer light housings.
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10. The emergency vehicle traffic control system of claim 9, wherein the light bulb illumination sequence comprises three successive phases including a first phase wherein the center housing light bulb flashes for a pre-determined time period while the pair of outer housing light bulbs fail to illuminate, followed by a second phase wherein the center housing light bulb illuminates for a pre-determined time period followed by a pre-determined time period of no illumination while the pair of outer housing light bulbs fail to illuminate, followed by a third and final phase wherein the center housing light bulb fails to illuminate while the pair of outer housing light bulbs alternatively flash for a pre-determined time period.
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11. The emergency vehicle traffic control system of claim 8, further comprising:
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a) the three light housings horizontally disposed providing a center light housing and pair of outer light housings; and
b) a yellow colored lens employed in each of the three light housings.
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12. The emergency vehicle traffic control system of claim 11, wherein the light bulb illumination sequence comprises three successive phases including a first phase wherein the center housing light bulb flashes for a pre-determined time period while the pair of outer housing light bulbs fail to illuminate, followed by a second phase wherein all three light bulbs fail to illuminate for a pre-determined time period, followed by a third and final phase wherein the center housing light bulb fails to illuminate while the pair of outer housing light bulbs alternatively flash for a pre-determined time period.
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13. The emergency vehicle traffic control system of claim 1, further comprising a control box for enclosing the programmable central control panel, the programmable central control panel including a plurality of toggle switches and a first and second meter, the plurality of toggle switches for setting predetermined time periods associated with the light bulb illumination sequence, the first meter providing a visual indication of a solar charge associated with the solar panel and the second meter providing a voltage level associated with the battery.
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14. The emergency vehicle traffic control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one verification light comprises a first and second verification light, each mounted along the vertically disposed pole.
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15. The emergency vehicle traffic control system of claim 14, wherein the first and second verification lights operate a verification sequence wherein the first verification light notifies the emergency vehicle operator whether the emergency traffic control system has received a signal and is operating properly and whether any of the light bulbs have failed to illuminate and the second verification light notifies the emergency vehicle operator that the light bulb illumination sequence has reached a point within the sequence which commands vehicular traffic that it must come to a complete stop.
Specification