Public transportation signaling device

• US 20020145540A1
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carmanah Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stellar Technologies, LLC (DBSI Investments LP)
• Inventors: Westcott, Sean G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,621,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

A bus driver signaling device wherein a user is able to push a button to activate a light source signal at a bus stop. Pushing the button creates a light signal able to be viewed by the bus driver, thereby signaling the bus driver that a passenger is awaiting the bus driver at the bus stop.

Claims

1. A public transportation driver signaling device comprising:

a tubular post member;

a signal light subassembly located within said post adjacent its upper end, the signal light of said subassembly communicating with the exterior of said post through an opening therein;

a power source;

a switch subassembly; and

wiring electrically connecting said signal light, said power source, and said switch subassembly in a manner adapted to allow said signal light to be turned on upon activation of said switch.

2. The signaling device of claim 1 in which said power source is self contained.

3. The signaling device of claim 1, wherein said signal light flashes when said signal light is electrically connected to said power source by activation of said switch.

4. The signaling device of claim 1, wherein said signal light subassembly is a light emitting diode.

5. The signaling device of claim 1, wherein said power source is a battery pack located within said tubular post member.

6. The signaling device of claim 1, wherein said power source is a solar energy collector.

7. The signaling device of claim 1, wherein activation of said switch activates an intermittent pulsing lighting cycle in which said signal light is alternately activated and deactivated for a selected period of time.

8. The signaling device of claim 7 which further includes a time period selector, by which a user may determine said selected period of time for which said signal light is alternately activated and deactivated.

9. The signaling device of claim 7 which includes a sleep mode, which causes said signal light to draw power only when emitting light, and to not draw power when not emitting light.

10. A signaling device for signaling the presence of a passenger at a pickup location to a public transportation driver, said signaling device comprising:

a housing for housing said device, said housing mounted at said location;

a signal unit attached to said housing, said signal unit for displaying a signal to said driver when said device is activated;

a self-contained power source attached to said housing, said power source supplying power to said device; and

an activation unit for allowing a user to activate said signaling device thereby causing the display of said signal by said signal unit for a predetermined period of time.

11. The signaling device of claim 10, wherein said signal unit is a light-emitting diode.

12. The signaling device of claim 11, wherein said light-emitting diode is configured to flash on and off when activated.

13. The signaling device of claim 10, wherein said self-contained power source is a battery pack.

14. The signaling device of claim 10, wherein said activation unit is an activation button.

15. The signaling device of claim 10 which further a Braille plate adjacent said activation unit for use by Braille readers.

17. The signaling device of claim 16, wherein said housing is a tubular signpost attached to a ground surface at said location.

18. The signaling device of claim 17 which further includes a tubular sign post cap in which said signal light is mounted for displaying said signal which is visible to said driver.

19. The signaling device of claim 17 in which said componets are modular in design, to facilitate the implementation of future as yet undetermined, components that may fit into said tubular member

16. A signaling device for signaling the presence of a passenger at a pickup location to a public transportation driver, said signaling device comprising:

a housing for containing said signaling device, said housing able to be attached to said location;

a battery pack for powering said signaling device, said battery pack located within said housing;

an activation unit for allowing a passenger to activate said signaling device, said activation unit attached to said housing;

a signal unit for displaying a signal light to said driver, indicating the presence of a passenger at a pickup location to said driver, said signal unit configured to display said signal light upon activation of said activation unit by said passenger, said signal unit attaching to said housing; and

a control unit for controlling the operation of said signaling device, said control unit located within said housing, said control unit containing a timer, wherein said control unit deactivates said signal unit after a selected interval of time, said control unit causing said signal light to flash on and off for said selected interval of time after said signal unit is actuated.