Protective enclosure for a bus driver

• US 4,227,735 A
• Filed: 01/18/1979
• Issued: 10/14/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joy-Can Safety Products Limited
• Original Assignee: Joy-Can Safety Products Limited
• Inventors: Joyner, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Robert R.
• Application Number:
  US06/004,455
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24 R, 296/178, 296/190, 109/9, 109/49.5, 52/238
• US Class Current: 296/24.46
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/12 which protect the occupants against personal attack from the inside or the outside of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/06 Drivers' cabs overhead guards, e.g. against loads falling down B60R21/11; roll-over protection B60R21/13
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 47/02 for large numbers of passengers, e.g. omnibus

Abstract

A protective enclosure for a bus driver includes a back wall fabricated from steel and secured to the inner walls of a bus by means of suitable angle irons or braces. A main support column is secured to the back wall at the other end. The back wall has a central area fabricated from a relatively impenetrable transparent material. A side section extends at right angles to the back wall and includes a door for gaining access to the enclosure. The door can be operated by means of a push bar located on the inside of the enclosure to enable a driver to exit the enclosure. The door also contains relatively large glass areas to provide an unobstructed view both to the driver and the passengers. Other features which include two-way communications and emergency devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A protective enclosure apparatus for a bus driver area, said enclosure mounted in a bus vehicle to surround a driver when operating said vehicle, comprising:

(a) a vertical support extending from the floor to the ceiling of said bus,

(b) a back panel coupled at one side to the side of said bus and coupled to said vertical support at said other side, said back panel extending from the floor to the ceiling of said bus, and having a relatively central area fabricated from a strong transparent material to allow visual access,

(c) a side panel transverse to said back panel and coupled to said vertical support at one end and the front area of said bus at the other end, said side panel extending from the floor to the ceiling of said bus and including a door, said door having a large area fabricated from a strong transparent material to allow visual access, with said back and side panels forming an enclosure about said driver area, with access to said area afforded by said door,

(d) locking means coupled to said door to permit access to said enclosure in a first mode when a driver enters said enclosure and an actuator coupled to said locking means to actuate the same from within said enclosure by exerting a unidirectional force to allow exit from said enclosure.

2. The enclosure apparatus according to claim 1 further including:

(a) a fare box apparatus coupled to said side wall, with a coin depositing slot located on the outer wall of said side wall to allow a passenger to deposit a fare, and coin receiving means associated with said fare box located on the inside of said enclosure to allow said driver to receive said fare.

3. The enclosure apparatus according to claim 1 further including:

(a) a slot located in said door and communicating between the interior of said enclosure and the exterior to permit a passenger to exchange thin paper sheets with said driver.

4. The enclosure apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said strong transparent material comprises a bullet resistance glass.

5. The enclosure according to claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a two-way communication means coupled to said back wall of said enclosure to allow a person within said enclosure to communicate to persons outside said enclosure.

6. The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a relatively long horizontal bar coupled to said locking means and operative to actuate the same by an upward motion, said bar pivotally mounted on said door on the inside thereof, whereby a driver can exit said enclosure by exerting an upward force on said bar, and to employ said bar as an arm rest when operating said vehicle.

7. The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein said relatively central area of said back panel comprises two windows slideably mounted on said back panel and means coupled to said windows for locking the same from the interior of said enclosure.

8. The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein said areas of said back panel and said side panel adjacent said transparent areas is fabricated from a diamond plate steel.

9. The enclosure according to claim 1 further including emergency stopping means located on the exterior of said back panel and adapted when energized by a person outside said enclosure, to stop said vehicle.

10. The enclosure according to claim 1 further including at least one passenger support bar located on the exterior of said back or side wall and adapted to furnish a support for a passenger.