US-12624507-B2 - School bus safety devices and systems

US12624507B2US 12624507 B2US12624507 B2US 12624507B2US-12624507-B2

Abstract

In one instance, a safety device is mounted to an exterior side of a school bus. The safety device includes a mounting bracket configured for coupling to a mounting motor, with the mounting bracket being moveable between a undeployed position and an deployed position by the mounting motor. An arm portion is coupled to the mounting bracket. The arm portion has a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end being coupled to the mounting bracket.

Inventors

Daniel F. Thompson

Assignees

Bus Gates Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240511

Claims (20)

1 . A safety device for attachment to a school bus having a mounting motor for moving a stop sign between an undeployed and deployed position, the safety device comprising: an integral formed member having an arm portion, an angled transition portion, and a mounting bracket; wherein the safety device has a distal end and a proximal end; wherein the mounting bracket is formed on the distal end; wherein the mounting bracket is formed with a plurality of apertures for coupling to the mounting motor; wherein the mounting bracket is vertical; wherein the arm portion is substantially perpendicular to the mounting bracket; and wherein the safety device is sized and configured so that when in an installed position, the mounting bracket corresponds to a first side of the stop sign, the angled transition portion corresponds to a second side of the stop sign, and a portion of the arm portion corresponds to a third side of the stop sign.
2 . The safety device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of tabs formed on the arm portion for coupling to the stop sign.
3 . The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the arm portion has one or more weight reduction cutouts within the interior area of the arm portion.
4 . The safety device of claim 2 , wherein the one or more weight reduction cutouts are triangular in shape.
5 . The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the arm portion is formed of aluminum.
6 . The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the arm portion has a longitudinal length greater than two feet.
7 . The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the arm portion includes a plurality of tabs that overlap the stop sign portion along at least one side of the stop sign portion.
8 . A safety device for a school bus, the safety device comprising: a stop sign portion sized and configured to couple to a motor-driven pivotable mount attached to the school bus on a side; an arm portion, wherein the arm portion is joined to the stop sign portion; a mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket is joined to the stop sign portion; wherein the stop sign portion, the arm portion, and the mounting bracket are formed from one piece of material; and wherein the arm portion has a primary vertical portion in an installed positioned and is formed with a lip on a lower edge that extends perpendicular to the primary vertical portion.
9 . The safety device of claim 8 , wherein the arm portion is formed of aluminum.
10 . The safety device of claim 8 , wherein the arm portion has one or more weight reduction cutouts within an interior area of the arm portion.
11 . The safety device of claim 8 , wherein the lip extends outward 0.25 inch.
12 . The safety device of claim 8 , further comprising: wherein the arm portion has a distal end and a proximal end; a stopper tab extending from a portion of the distal end and extending orthogonal to the arm portion; and an adjustable stopper bracket coupled to the stopper tab.
13 . The safety device of claim 12 , wherein the adjustable stopper bracket comprises at least one magnet for holding the arm portion against the exterior side of the school bus when in a undeployed position, and wherein the adjustable stopper bracket is adjustable to facilitate contact between the at least one magnet and the school bus.
14 . A safety device for a school bus coupled to an exterior side of the school bus, the safety device comprising: a mounting bracket configured for coupling to the school bus; a stop sign portion coupled to the mounting bracket; an arm portion coupled to the mounting bracket, the arm portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the arm portion further comprising a stopper tab extending from a portion of the distal end; and an adjustable stopper bracket coupled to the stopper tab, the adjustable stopper bracket having a magnet for holding the arm portion against the exterior side of the school bus when in a undeployed position, wherein the adjustable stopper bracket is adjustable to facilitate contact between the magnet and the school bus.
15 . The safety device of claim 14 , further comprising a mounting motor for rotating the safety device from a undeployed position and an deployed position.
16 . The safety device of claim 14 , wherein the adjustable stopper bracket comprises a first arm and a second arm, the second arm extending perpendicular to the first arm, wherein the magnet is positioned on the second arm.
17 . The safety device of claim 14 , wherein the adjustable stopper bracket comprises a plurality of channels configured for sliding the adjustable stopper bracket relative to the stopper tab.
18 . The safety device of claim 14 , wherein the arm portion is formed of aluminum.
19 . The safety device of claim 14 , wherein the arm portion has one or more weight reduction cutouts within an interior area of the arm portion.
20 . The safety device of claim 14 , wherein a first plurality of fasteners connect the arm portion to the mounting bracket and a second plurality of fasteners connect the stop sign portion to the mounting bracket.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/203,019, filed by Daniel F. Thompson, on May 29, 2023, entitled “School Bus Safety Devices and Systems,” which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/349,083, filed by Daniel F. Thompson, on Jun. 4, 2022, entitled “School Bus Safety Devices and Systems,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. TECHNICAL FIELD This application is directed, in general, to safety, and more specifically, to school bus safety devices and systems. BACKGROUND There are thousands and thousands of school buses in the world used to transport children of varying ages to school. At times, a child entering or exiting a school bus will go around the front of the bus and across traffic without sufficient care to look carefully before crossing. Moreover, at times, cars behind a school bus impatiently accelerate to pass the school bus that is loading or off-loading children. This can present dangerous situations for children, and it is desirable to do everything possible to keep children safe. Improvements in safety devices for buses are desired. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a bus having a safety device mounted to a pivotable STOP sign; FIG. 2 is an illustrative embodiment for mounting to a STOP sign having a bracket and an arm; FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a pivotable STOP sign to which a safety device has been coupled; FIG. 4 is an illustrative embodiment of a safety device for coupling to a pivotable STOP sign and having a second STOP sign on a distal end; FIG. 5 is schematic elevation view of a portion of an illustrative embodiment of an arm for use as an aspect of a safety device; FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a safety device showing an illustrative arm in a bracket according to an illustrative embodiment; FIG. 7 is a schematic end-view of an illustrative arm shown in an illustrative bracket; FIG. 8 is a schematic elevation view of an illustrative embodiment of a bracket; FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the arm shown if FIG. 7; FIG. 10 is a detail of the cross-section of FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a detail end view of a bottom portion of an arm within a bracket according to an illustrative embodiment; FIG. 12 is a schematic end-view of another illustrative embodiment of an arm; FIG. 13 is a schematic detail of a portion of the arm of FIG. 12; FIG. 14 is another schematic detail of a portion of the arm of FIG. 12; FIG. 15 is a schematic end-view of a top portion of an arm within a bracket according to an illustrative embodiment; FIG. 16 is a schematic illustrative embodiment of a safety device for mounting to a bus, which has a pivotable STOP sign, and includes an arm extending to a second STOP sign; FIG. 17 is a detail of a portion of the safety device of FIG. 16; FIG. 18 is an illustrative embodiment of a one-piece safety device with a pivotable STOP sign and arm; FIG. 19 is an illustrative embodiment of a multiple-piece safety device with a pivotable STOP sign and arm; FIG. 20 is an illustrative embodiment of a one-piece safety device with a pivotable STOP sign, an arm, and a second STOP sign; FIG. 21 is an illustrative embodiment of an arm of a safety device having a hinged section; FIG. 22 is an illustrative embodiment of a clear or translucent backlit safety device; FIG. 23 is an illustrative embodiment of an arm of a safety device having a tab; FIG. 24 is an illustrative embodiment of a safety device having slotted bracket for receiving an arm; FIG. 25 is a is a schematic end-view of the bracket of FIG. 24; FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of a bus having a safety device mounted thereon in an deployed position; FIG. 27 is an illustrative embodiment of a safety device having an arm portion and a stop sign portion; FIG. 28 is a schematic, top-view diagram of a bus having a safety device mounted thereon in a undeployed position with an adjustable, magnetic stopper positioned adjacent to a side of the bus; and FIG. 29 is a detailed view of an illustrative embodiment of an adjustable, magnetic stopper attached to an arm portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without d