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US-12623622-B2 - Driver protection system and methods of operating the same

US12623622B2US 12623622 B2US12623622 B2US 12623622B2US-12623622-B2

Abstract

A driver protection system installed on a public transit unit including a glass portion, a base portion connected to the glass portion, a hinge portion connected to the glass portion and base portion where the glass portion and base portion are made from bulletproof materials.

Inventors

  • Edward Martin Dougherty, III

Assignees

  • Edward Martin Dougherty, III

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20250430

Claims (8)

  1. 1 . A driver protection system installed on a public transit unit, the driver protection system comprising: a glass portion; a base portion connected to the glass portion; and a hinge portion connected to the glass portion and the base portion, wherein: the glass portion and the base portion are made from bulletproof materials, the glass portion and the base portion are configured to form a sealed area around a driver, a front section of the glass portion includes a curve in a lower side thereof, wherein the curve is configured to accommodate a currency collection unit, and a stopping block on the currency collection unit is configured to engage the lower side of the glass portion.
  2. 2 . The driver protection system of claim 1 , wherein the public transit unit is a bus.
  3. 3 . The driver protection system of claim 1 , wherein the glass portion extends above a driver positioned in a driver seat in the public transit unit.
  4. 4 . The driver protection system of claim 1 , further comprising a piston unit; wherein the piston unit has a first end connected to the base portion and has a second end connected to a portion of the public transit unit.
  5. 5 . The driver protection system of claim 1 , wherein: the glass portion is curved to accommodate a driver in a driver seat, and the driver is located on one side of the glass portion within the sealed area separate from a remainder of the public transit unit.
  6. 6 . The driver protection system of claim 1 , wherein the stopping block comprises a first ledge and a second ledge.
  7. 7 . The driver protection system of claim 6 , wherein the stopping block comprises a third ledge.
  8. 8 . The driver protection system of claim 1 , wherein the base portion is formed of steel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/670,251 file Jul. 12, 2024, entitled “DRIVER PROTECTION SYSTEM AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The number of violent and potentially violent encounters on vehicles has increased. These encounters may lead to the driver of a vehicle being injured or killed. Due to the enclosed nature of transit vehicles such as trucks and buses, providing a means for a driver to defend themselves from an attack is not practical. Further, any protective device must allow the driver to operate the bus or truck while in the protected environment. A need exists for a system that can protect drivers of buses and trucks from attacks without preventing the driver from operating the bus or truck SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the disclosure, a driver protection system installed on a public transit unit includes a glass portion; a base portion connected to the glass portion; and a hinge portion connected to the glass portion and base portion, wherein the glass portion and the base portion are made from bulletproof materials. In some examples, the public transit unit is a bus. In some examples, the glass portion extends above a driver positioned in a seat in the public transit unit. In some examples, the driver protection system further includes a piston unit connected to the base portion on a first end and a portion of the transit unit on a second end. In some examples, the glass portion is curved to accommodate a driver in a seat behind the glass portion. In some examples, a front section of the glass portion includes a curve in a lower side of the glass portion that accommodates a payment box. In some examples, the driver protection system further includes a stopping block on the payment box that engages a lower portion of the glass portion. In some examples, the stopping block includes a first ledge and a second ledge. In some examples, the stopping block includes a third ledge. In some examples, the base portion is made of steel. In another aspect, any one or more aspects or features described herein may be combined with any one or more other aspects or features for additional advantage. Other aspects and embodiments will be apparent from the detailed description and accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the present disclosure and realize additional aspects thereof after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in association with the accompanying drawing figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a driver protection system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the driver protection system of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the cab of a truck or bus including the driver protection system of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the driver protection system of FIG. 1 in an opened position. FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the pneumatic opening unit of the driver protection system of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the driver protection system of FIG. 1 in an opened position. FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a portion of the door protection system of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of a driver protection system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a pneumatic opening unit of the driver protection system of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a door securing unit of the driver protection system of FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and illustrate the best mode of practicing the embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims. It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing fr