Abstract: A crossing arm assembly that includes either one or two hollow, tapered fishing rod bodies cantilevered at their butt ends to a beam-mounting portion of a combined pivot/bracket. A crosspiece connects the tips of the rods. The combined pivot/bracket pivotally attaches to a support at the front end of a bus to block pedestrian traffic from crossing immediately in front of the bus when the bus is stopped. The rods are tapered in mass and cross-sectional area from their butt ends to their tips. The taper concentrates rod mass closer to the support to reduce the tendency of cantilevered rods to sag under their own weight and/or to swing forward as the bus decelerates. The taper also increases rod flexibility to prevent plastic rod deformation and to reduce loads on the support when external forces are applied to the rods. A flap is pivotally attached to one of the rods to increase beam visibility without adding significant wind resistance.

Abstract: A motorized vent and escape hatch assembly has a mounting ring fastened to a vehicle roof around a hatch hole, and a hatch cover that is attached to the mounting ring by a first over center hinge linkage mechanism pivotally connecting one side of the hatch cover to the mounting ring and a second over center mechanism pivotally connecting an opposite side of the hatch cover to the mounting ring. Each over center hinge linkage mechanism has first and second lever members pivotally connected to the mounting ring at one end, first and second plungers that are connected to the respective first and second plungers at the opposite end and that extend into opposite ends of a tube that is connected to the hatch cover. A compression spring in the tube biases the first and second plungers away from each other.

Abstract: A fluid actuator attaches a hinged safety device to a vehicle and pivots the hinged safety device between retracted and extended positions. The housing of the actuator has a base and a removable cover. A sub-assembly is attached to the base. The subassembly includes a generally planar base member with integral right cylinder, lever arm pivot support and stop posts. A piston slides in the right cylinder and forms a fluid chamber between the piston and a closed end of the right cylinder that is fed through a passage through the closed end of the cylinder. A lever arm is pivotally attached to the lever arm pivot support at one end for pivotal movement between retracted and extended positions, the lever arm extending over the cylinder and having a lip at an opposite end that is spaced from the right cylinder. A pivot arm engages the top of the piston at one end and the lever arm at an opposite end to transfer motion from the piston to the lever arm.

Abstract: A fluid actuator attaches a hinged safety device to a vehicle and pivots the hinged safety device between retracted and extended positions. The housing of the actuator has a base and a removable cover. A sub-assembly is attached to the base. The subassembly includes a generally planar base member with integral right cylinder, lever arm pivot support and stop posts. A piston slides in the right cylinder and forms a fluid chamber between the piston and a closed end of the right cylinder that is fed through a passage through the closed end of the cylinder. A lever arm is pivotally attached to the lever arm pivot support at one end for pivotal movement between retracted and extended positions, the lever arm extending over the cylinder and having a lip at an opposite end that is spaced from the right cylinder. A pivot arm engages the top of the piston at one end and the lever arm at an opposite end to transfer motion from the piston to the lever arm.

Abstract: A crossing arm assembly that pivotally attaches to a bumper at the front end of a vehicle such as a bus to block pedestrian traffic from crossing immediately in front of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped. The assembly includes a mounting bracket configured to fixedly mount to the front bumper of a vehicle, the front bumper having a front surface having a profile common to the bumpers of other vehicles of the same make and model. The assembly also includes an elongated beam having an inner end pivotally supported on the mounting bracket. The bracket includes a back surface having a non-planar profile contoured to complement the profile of the front surface of the bumper. The assembly is made by providing a mounting bracket having a back surface profile contoured to complement the non-planar front surface profile of the bumper of the make and model of vehicle the assembly is to be mounted to.

Abstract: A crossing arm assembly that includes either one or two hollow, tapered fishing rod bodies cantilevered at their butt ends to a beam-mounting portion of a combined pivot/bracket. A crosspiece connects the tips of the rods. The combined pivot/bracket pivotally attaches to a support at the front end of a bus to block pedestrian traffic from crossing immediately in front of the bus when the bus is stopped. The rods are tapered in mass and cross-sectional area from their butt ends to their tips. The taper concentrates rod mass closer to the support to reduce the tendency of cantilevered rods to sag under their own weight and/or to swing forward as the bus decelerates. The taper also increases rod flexibility to prevent plastic rod deformation and to reduce loads on the support when external forces are applied to the rods. A flap is pivotally attached to one of the rods to increase beam visibility without adding significant wind resistance.

Abstract: A crossing arm assembly that includes either one or two hollow, tapered fishing rod bodies cantilevered at their butt ends to a beam-mounting portion of a combined pivot/bracket. A crosspiece connects the tips of the rods. The combined pivot/bracket pivotally attaches to a support at the front end of a bus to block pedestrian traffic from crossing immediately in front of the bus when the bus is stopped. The rods are tapered in mass and cross-sectional area from their butt ends to their tips. The taper concentrates rod mass closer to the support to reduce the tendency of cantilevered rods to sag under their own weight and/or to swing forward as the bus decelerates. The taper also increases rod flexibility to prevent plastic rod deformation and to reduce loads on the support when external forces are applied to the rods. A flap is pivotally attached to one of the rods to increase beam visibility without adding significant wind resistance.

Abstract: A school bus is equipped with a stop sign mechanism that includes a sealed electrical actuator assembly and bezel that are mounted on the street side of the school bus and an illuminated sign assembly having integral arms that are hinged on the actuator assembly for pivotal movement. Illuminated sign assemblies of two general types are disclosed. In one, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are disposed in hollow letter shaped embossments of a translucent lens to illuminate the word stop. In the other lamp assemblies are disposed above and below the word stop.

Abstract: A school bus is equipped with a stop sign mechanism that includes a sealed electrical actuator assembly and bezel that are mounted on the street side of the school bus and an illuminated sign assembly having integral arms that are hinged on the actuator assembly for pivotal movement. Illuminated sign assemblies of two general types are disclosed. In one, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are disposed in hollow letter shaped embossments of a translucent lens to illuminate the word stop. In the other lamp assemblies are disposed above and below the word stop.

Abstract: A school bus is equipped with a crossing arm mechanism that is mounted on the front bumper at the passenger side. The mechanism includes a crossing arm assembly that is pivoted between a retracted (stored) position adjacent the front bumper and an extended (operative) position where the crossing arm assembly extends outwardly of the bus bumper in a perpendicular fashion to control pedestrian traffic. The crossing arm assembly includes a plastic bracket that is pivotally attached to an actuating mechanism and a cantilever beam that is attached to the bracket at one end. The bracket has two vertically spaced pivot arms and a beam mounting portion that supports the cantilever beam. The cantilever beam is a plastic extrusion that comprises upper and lower tubular sections that are interconnected by a web portion. The extrusion is modified at one end for attachment to the bracket.

Abstract: A sign (10) includes a sign housing (16) having a pair of extension arms (102) extending therefrom for mounting purposes. The sign housing (16) includes light elements (28) to illuminate at least a portion of the sign (10). The sign housing (16) and extension arms (102) include channels therethrough to allow power conductors (52) to extend from the light element internal the sign housing (16) through the extension arms (102) to power source. The extension arm also receives and supports a hollow, L-shaped bushing (112) through which the power conductors extend. The bushings (112) are received in a mounting housing (122) which in turn secured to a support structure, such as a bus (12). The mounting housing (112) includes an actuator connected to the bushing (112) to pivot the sign (10).

Abstract: A school bus has a stop sign hinged on a sealed electrical actuator assembly that is attached to the side of the bus. The actuator assembly includes the electrical and mechanical components including an electric motor that pivot the hinged stop sign from a stored position adjacent the bus to an operative position extending outwardly of the bus in perpendicular fashion and back to the stored position. These components and wiring harnesses are protected in an outer sealed housing that has a removable cover to facilitate installation and repair. Installation and repair is further enhanced by a removable inner housing sub-assembly that carries a motor control circuit for the electric motor and provides additional protection for the electric motor. The school bus also has a crossing arm hinged on an identical sealed electrical actuator assembly, that is attached to the front bumper of the bus near the passenger door.

Abstract: A sign (10') includes a sign housing (16') defining an internal cavity (32'). The sign housing (16') includes front and rear faces (18', 20') having indicia or an instruction thereon, and includes flashing lights (58) above and below the indicia. A recessed flange (86) defines an opening in the faces (18, 20), and a lens (87) is secured over the opening and to the flange (86) so that it is flush or planar with the faces (18', 20'). Light elements (28') are positioned within the sign housing (16') behind the lens (87). The sign housing (16') is sealed to protect the light element (28').

Abstract: A sign (10) includes a sign housing (16) defining an internal cavity (32). The sign housing (16) includes front and rear faces (18, 20) having indicia or an instruction thereon and slotted apertures (22) defining the indicia. A lens housing (60) is secured within the cavity (32) and includes raised surface portions (26) which protrude through the slotted apertures (22). Light emitting diodes (28) are positioned within the lens 15 housing (60) to illuminate the indicia. The sign housing (16) and lens housing (60) are sealed to protect the LEDs (28).

Abstract: A bus light system (10) includes a plurality of indicator assemblies (16) located at each upper end corner of a bus (12). Each of the indicator assemblies (16) include first and third sections (24, 28) for indicating a slowing-to-stop condition which include illuminated word messages of CAUTION and STOPPING. Second and fourth sections (26, 34) indicate a stop condition which include illuminated word messages of DO NOT PASS and STOP. The first and third sections alternately flash during the slowing of the bus (12), while the second and fourth sections alternately flash during stopping of the bus (12) for loading and unloading.

Abstract: An actuating device (10) for operating a safety unit (12) mounts on a vehicle (14) and moves between a retracted position adjacent the vehicle and an extended position extending outwardly from the vehicle. A housing (16) is fixedly mounted on the vehicle and a bracket (18) is pivotably mounted on the housing for movement about a predetermined pivot axis between the retracted and the extended positions. The actuating device (10) also includes a drive mechanism (20) for pivoting the bracket (18) about the pivot axis between the retracted position and the extended position. A torsional spring (22) is mounted about the pivot axis and torsionally interconnects the bracket (18) and the drive mechanism (20) for allowing relative movement therebetween when a predetermined force is applied to the bracket.

Abstract: A combined vent and escape hatch assembly for a vehicle roof of the type wherein the hatch is supported upon a pair of over-center hinge linkage devices one of which may be disconnected enabling the hatch to be fully opened for emergency exit purposes and wherein the other hinge device is protected against damage through the flexure of various hatch supporting components.

Abstract: A combined static and powered vent device for a vehicle such as a bus wherein the interior of the vehicle is continuously vented to the atmosphere in such a way that the forward movement of the bus causes an eductive drawing of the air from the vehicle interior and which also includes a powered fan device for venting the vehicle interior when static or eductive venting is inadequate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle safety device wherein the device is pivotally mounted along the lower edge of the vehicle body such that the device may be stored beneath the body when the vehicle is moving and lowered through a pivoting action to block the space between the vehicle body and the ground and in being lowered tends to engage and sweep any object in its path from beneath the vehicle and outwardly of the vehicle wheels.

Abstract: The bumper system of the present invention includes a beam member adapted to span the front of a vehicle, a bracket for mounting the beam to the vehicle, and a pair of energy absorbing members supported upon the beam on the side thereof opposite from the bracket, the improvement in which system comprises the beam having a generally C-shaped cross section which includes a vertical wall portion, a pair of horizontal leg portions which project forwardly from the upper and lower edges of the vertical wall portion and each leg portion respectively terminating in an inwardly extending lip whereby said leg and lip portions respectively coact with the vertical wall to define upper and lower inwardly opening channels; each energy absorbing member comprising a hollow, rigidified and deflectable structural element which is supported upon the beam such that the major portion of the structural element projects forwardly of the beam, the structural element including: a first portion disposed forwardly of the beam; a second