School bus safety lighting system

• US 8,669,853 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen M. Gardner
• Original Assignee: Stephen M. Gardner
• Inventors: Gardner, Stephen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US13/328,178
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/433, 340/460, 340/692, 340/468, 340471-473, 340/475, 340/332, 340/815.45, 362/227, 362/327, 362/360, 362/481, 362/478, 362/479, 362/506
• US Class Current: 340/433
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/24 for lighting other areas than only the way ahead

Abstract

A light affixed to the front of a school bus directs a beam of light across a road to enhance a safe crossing of the road by children boarding the bus. At least two red warning lights are mounted upon a front surface of the bus. A controller is operatively connected to the crossing light and warning lights.

Claims

1. A school bus safety lighting system comprising:

a crossing light mounted directly upon a front bumper on the driver'"'"'s side of a school bus, the crossing light being adapted to provide a beam of light projecting outwardly from the driver'"'"'s side and completely across the road upon which the bus is positioned to illuminate the path of passengers crossing the road to board or exit the bus;

at least two red warning lights mounted upon a front surface of the bus adjacent to and above the front bumper, each of the warning lights being adapted to flash on and off to alert motorists about the presence of the bus and the passengers; and

a controller operatively connected to the crossing light and each of the warning lights to selectively illuminate the crossing light and each of the warning lights.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the bus includes at least one access door and further wherein each of the warning lights is activated when the at least one access door is opened.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein each of the warning lights is connected to a flasher circuit that is operative to cause each of the warning lights to alternately flash on and off when illuminated.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein the bus has a plurality of red warning lights mounted thereon that are connected to the flasher circuit and are operable to alternately flash on and off when the at least one access door is opened.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the crossing light is manually illuminated upon closure of a manual switch.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the crossing light is mounted upon an end of the bumper.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the crossing light is adapted to have sufficient lumens to fully illuminate the path of the passengers crossing the road.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein the lumens of the cross light is in the range of from about 500 lumens to about 1400 lumens.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the crossing light is an LED light.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the lumens of the crossing light is in the range of from about 500 lumens to about 1400 lumens.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein each of the warning lights is an LED light.