Abstract: Reinforcing bar cage connectors and methods of constructing reinforcing bar cages are provided. A reinforcing bar cage includes a reinforcing bar guide, a reinforcing bar rod, and a reinforcing bar cage connector. The reinforcing bar cage connector includes a first clamp portion facing a first direction and configured to receive one of the reinforcing bar guide or the reinforcing bar rod in a first opening. The reinforcing bar cage connector includes a second clamp portion facing a second direction, opposite the first direction, and configured to receive an other one of the reinforcing bar guide or the reinforcing bar rod in a second opening. The first opening is perpendicular to the second opening. The reinforcing bar cage connector includes a metal tie wire is operable to be twisted to compress the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a crossing bar system. The crossing bar system may include a rotatable drive shaft, a motor, a triangular crossing bar tube, and a vehicle body bar restraint. The motor is coupleable to an end of a vehicle and is operable to rotate the rotatable drive shaft. The triangular crossing bar tube is coupled to and extends substantially horizontally from the rotatable drive shaft. The triangular crossing bar tube may include lighting. The vehicle body bar restraint is coupleable to the end of the vehicle. The triangular crossing bar tube is deployable between a retracted position where the triangular crossing bar tube is substantially parallel to the end of the vehicle and may be received within the restraint, and a deployed position where the triangular crossing bar tube is substantially perpendicular to the end of the vehicle.

Abstract: A stop-arm with camera system for a vehicle is provided. The stop-arm with camera system may include a shield, a stop-arm, and a camera assembly. The stop-arm includes a first side and a second side. The stop-arm may be deployable between a first position where the first side of the stop-arm is disposed at least partially inside the shield, and a second position where the stop-arm is substantially perpendicular to the shield. The camera assembly is coupled to the first side of the stop-arm. The stop-arm with camera system may be mounted on a rear passenger side of the vehicle, which may be a bus. The camera assembly may provide a view including an area that is under the vehicle and between a rear wheel of the vehicle and a front wheel of the vehicle when the stop-arm is in the second position.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a roof hatch system that includes a hatch housing, a hatch, a hatch latch, a hatch opening mechanism, and an interior hatch bar. The hatch is pivotably coupled to the hatch housing by at least one hinge. The hatch latch is operable to detachably secure the hatch to the hatch housing. The hatch opening mechanism is operable to release the hatch latch. The interior hatch bar is coupled to the hatch opening mechanism and is operable to activate the hatch opening mechanism in response to a received force toward the hatch to pivot the hatch from a closed position to an open position. In various embodiments, the interior hatch bar is illuminated. In certain embodiments, the roof hatch system includes a collapsible ladder system integrated with and/or coupled to the hatch housing. In a representative embodiment, the roof hatch system includes an escape assist handle system.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a crossing bar system. The crossing bar system may include a rotatable drive shaft, a motor, a triangular crossing bar tube, and a vehicle body bar restraint. The motor is coupleable to an end of a vehicle and is operable to rotate the rotatable drive shaft. The triangular crossing bar tube is coupled to and extends substantially horizontally from the rotatable drive shaft. The triangular crossing bar tube may include lighting. The vehicle body bar restraint is coupleable to the end of the vehicle. The triangular crossing bar tube is deployable between a retracted position where the triangular crossing bar tube is substantially parallel to the end of the vehicle and may be received within the restraint, and a deployed position where the triangular crossing bar tube is substantially perpendicular to the end of the vehicle.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a stop-arm with camera system for a vehicle. The stop-arm with camera system includes a shield, a stop-arm, and a camera assembly. The stop-arm includes a first side and a second side. The stop-arm is deployable between a first position where the first side of the stop-arm is disposed at least partially inside the shield, and a second position where the stop-arm is substantially perpendicular to the shield. The camera assembly is coupled to the first side of the stop-arm. In various embodiments, the stop-arm with camera system is mounted on a rear passenger side of the vehicle, which may be a bus. In certain embodiments, the camera assembly provides a view including an area that is under the vehicle and between a rear wheel of the vehicle and a front wheel of the vehicle when the stop-arm is in the second position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mirror and mirror system which can be used in connection with large vehicles, such as school buses, to provide the driver of such vehicles with the ability to view the entire side of the vehicle. While such vehicles currently include side view mirrors attached to the front of the vehicle, these mirrors contain blind spots, such as the area immediately in front of the rear wheel of the vehicle. The current invention overcomes such blind spots by attaching a second mirror to the rear portion of the vehicle that provides a forward view from the rear of the vehicle, including a view of such blind spots. Such front and rear mirrors may be aligned so that the view of the rear mirror is portrayed within the view of the front mirror. As such, the present invention provides the driver with a complete view of the passenger side of the vehicle.