US3883846A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Advance warning traffic direction control system for use at selected roadway sites
Assignee: F AND B ELECTRONICS
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Filing: 1972-07-13
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1992-07-13
Abstract
Abstract A traffic direction control system for signalling and controlling high speed traffic. A portable sign panel containing a suitable arrow configuration of signal lights is mounted on a trailer for selective movement between a horizontal and vertical position. The sign panel is mounted on a support means adapted for pivotal movement between said horizontal and vertical positions. Means are provided for raising the sign support means to any position intermediate of said horizontal and vertical positions to thereby selectively adjust the height of said sign panel. The sign panel is also pivotally mounted on said support means and means are provided for locking the sign panel in preselected angular positions with respect to the horizontal plane of the trailer on which it is mounted.
Inventors
- 👤 William L Bruner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:46
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/09; G08G1/095; G08G1/0955; B; B62; B62D; B62D63/00; B62D63/06; B62D63/062; B62D63/064; E; E01; E01F; E01F9/00; E01F9/60; E01F9/623; E01F9/65; E01F9/658; E01F9/662; E01F9/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
An apparatus for supporting a sign panel of signal lights comprising a base; cradle means extending vertically from said base; lift frame means pivotally mounted in said cradle means for movement of one end thereof to selected heights; and a sign panel of signal lights pivotally mounted on said one end of said lift frame means for movement to selected angular positions with respect to said lift frame.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
An apparatus for supporting a sign panel of signal lights comprising a base; cradle means extending vertically from said base; lift frame means pivotally mounted in said cradle means for movement of one end thereof to selected heights; and a sign panel of signal lights pivotally mounted on said one end of said lift frame means for movement to selected angular positions with respect to said lift frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said base comprises a trailer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherEin means are provided for locking said lift frame at said selected heights and means are further provided for locking said sign panel at said selected angular positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A traffic direction control system according to claim 1 wherein hydraulic lift means are provided for moving said one end of said lift frame means to said selected heights.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A traffic direction control system according to claim 1 wherein hydraulic power means are provided for pivoting said sign panel about said one end of said lift frame means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
241 words
A signal light system for directing high speed traffic comprising: a. a sign panel having an array of signal lamps thereon disposed within a substantially rectangular area; b. said rectangular area having top, bottom, left and right sides; c. a first group of signal lamps forming a top left hand corner of said rectangle; d. a second group of signal lamps forming a top right hand corner of said rectangle; e. said first and second groups of signal lamps defining first and second arrowheads; f. a third group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from the midpoint of the bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said first arrowhead, said third group of signal lamps defining a shank for said first arrowhead; g. a fourth group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from said midpoint of said bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said second arrowhead; said fourth group of signal lamps defining a shank for said second arrowhead; h. said third and fourth groups of signal lamps extending beyond said midpoint along a portion of the bottom side of said rectangle in opposite directions to thereby define intersecting tail portions of said respective shanks; and i. means for selectively and continuously energizing said first or second arrowheads while the shank of the selected arrowhead is cyclically and sequentially energized from the tail portion of the selected shank toward the arrowhead thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
241 words
A signal light system for directing high speed traffic comprising: a. a sign panel having an array of signal lamps thereon disposed within a substantially rectangular area; b. said rectangular area having top, bottom, left and right sides; c. a first group of signal lamps forming a top left hand corner of said rectangle; d. a second group of signal lamps forming a top right hand corner of said rectangle; e. said first and second groups of signal lamps defining first and second arrowheads; f. a third group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from the midpoint of the bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said first arrowhead, said third group of signal lamps defining a shank for said first arrowhead; g. a fourth group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from said midpoint of said bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said second arrowhead; said fourth group of signal lamps defining a shank for said second arrowhead; h. said third and fourth groups of signal lamps extending beyond said midpoint along a portion of the bottom side of said rectangle in opposite directions to thereby define intersecting tail portions of said respective shanks; and i. means for selectively and continuously energizing said first or second arrowheads while the shank of the selected arrowhead is cyclically and sequentially energized from the tail portion of the selected shank toward the arrowhead thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
233 words
A signal light system for directing high speed traffic comprising: a. a sign panel having an array of signal lamps thereon disposed within a substantially rectangular area; b. said rectangular area having top, bottom left and right sides; c. a first group of signal lamps forming a top left hand corner of said rectangle; d. a second group of signal lamps forming a top right hand corner of said rectangle; e. said first and second groups of signal lamps defining first and second arrowheads; f. a third group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from the midpoint of the bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said first arrowhead, said third group of signal lamps defining a shank for said first arrowhead; g. a fourth group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from said midpoint of said bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said second arrowhead; said fourth group of signal lamps defining a shank for said second arrowhead; h. said third and fourth groups of signal lamps extending beyond said midpoint along a portion of the bottom side of said rectangle in opposite directions to thereby define intersecting tail portions of said respective shanks; and i. means for selectively energizing said first or second arrowheads and the respective shanks thereof and for flashing the selected arrowhead and shank thereof on and off simultaneously.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
233 words
A signal light system for directing high speed traffic comprising: a. a sign panel having an array of signal lamps thereon disposed within a substantially rectangular area; b. said rectangular area having top, bottom left and right sides; c. a first group of signal lamps forming a top left hand corner of said rectangle; d. a second group of signal lamps forming a top right hand corner of said rectangle; e. said first and second groups of signal lamps defining first and second arrowheads; f. a third group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from the midpoint of the bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said first arrowhead, said third group of signal lamps defining a shank for said first arrowhead; g. a fourth group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from said midpoint of said bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said second arrowhead; said fourth group of signal lamps defining a shank for said second arrowhead; h. said third and fourth groups of signal lamps extending beyond said midpoint along a portion of the bottom side of said rectangle in opposite directions to thereby define intersecting tail portions of said respective shanks; and i. means for selectively energizing said first or second arrowheads and the respective shanks thereof and for flashing the selected arrowhead and shank thereof on and off simultaneously.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
318 words
A traffic direction control system for use at selected roadway sites comprising: a support means; a sign panel pivotally mounted about an axis on one end of said support means; means for pivotally moving said one end of said support means to a plurality of selected heights within a predetermined range with respect to the surface of said roadway; means for pivoting said sign panel about said axis to selected positions within a predetermined range to thereby adjust the angular position of said sign panel with respect to the plane of the surface of said roadway; Said sign panel including an array of signal lamps thereon disposed within a substantially rectangular area; said rectangular area having top, bottom, left and right sides; a first group of signal lamps forming a top left hand corner of said rectangle; a second group of signal lamps forming a top right hand corner of said rectangle; said first and second groups of signal lamps defining first and second arrowhead; a third group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from the midpoint of the bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said first arrowhead, said third group of signal lamps defining a shank for said first arrowhead; a fourth group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from said midpoint of said bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said second arrowhead; said fourth group of signal lamps defining a shank for said second arrowhead; said third and fourth groups of signal lamps extending beyond said midpoint along a portion of the bottom side of said rectangle in opposite directions to thereby define intersecting tail portions of said respective shanks; and means for selectively and continuously energizing said first or second arrowheads while the shank of the selected arrowhead is cyclically and sequentially energized from the tail portion of the selected shank toward the arrowhead thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
318 words
A traffic direction control system for use at selected roadway sites comprising: a support means; a sign panel pivotally mounted about an axis on one end of said support means; means for pivotally moving said one end of said support means to a plurality of selected heights within a predetermined range with respect to the surface of said roadway; means for pivoting said sign panel about said axis to selected positions within a predetermined range to thereby adjust the angular position of said sign panel with respect to the plane of the surface of said roadway; Said sign panel including an array of signal lamps thereon disposed within a substantially rectangular area; said rectangular area having top, bottom, left and right sides; a first group of signal lamps forming a top left hand corner of said rectangle; a second group of signal lamps forming a top right hand corner of said rectangle; said first and second groups of signal lamps defining first and second arrowhead; a third group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from the midpoint of the bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said first arrowhead, said third group of signal lamps defining a shank for said first arrowhead; a fourth group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from said midpoint of said bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said second arrowhead; said fourth group of signal lamps defining a shank for said second arrowhead; said third and fourth groups of signal lamps extending beyond said midpoint along a portion of the bottom side of said rectangle in opposite directions to thereby define intersecting tail portions of said respective shanks; and means for selectively and continuously energizing said first or second arrowheads while the shank of the selected arrowhead is cyclically and sequentially energized from the tail portion of the selected shank toward the arrowhead thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
311 words
A traffic direction control system for use at selected roadway sites comprising: a support means; a sign panel pivotally mounted about an axis on one end of said support means; means for pivotally moving said one end of said support means to a plurality of selected heights within a predetermined range with respect to the surface of said roadway; and means for pivoting said sign panel about said axis to selected positions within a predetermined range to thereby adjust the angular position of said sign panel with respect to the plane of the surface of said roadway; said sign panel including an array of signal lamps thereon disposed within a substantially rectangular area; said rectangular area having top, bottom, left and right sides; a first group of signal lamps forming a top left hand corner of said rectangle; a second group of signal lamps forming a top right hand corner of said rectangle; said first and second groups of signal lamps defining first and second arrowheads; a third group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from the midpoint of the bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said first arrowhead, said third group of signal lamps defining a shank for said first arrowhead; a fourth group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from said midpoint of said bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said secnd arrowhead; said fourth group of signal lamps defining a shank for said second arrowhead; said third and fourth groups of signal lamps extending beyond said midpoint along a portion of the bottom side of said rectangle in opposite directions to thereby define intersecting tail portions of said respective shanks; and means for selectively energizing said first or second arrowheads and the respective shanks thereof and for flashing the selected arrowhead and shank thereof on and off simultaneously.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
311 words
A traffic direction control system for use at selected roadway sites comprising: a support means; a sign panel pivotally mounted about an axis on one end of said support means; means for pivotally moving said one end of said support means to a plurality of selected heights within a predetermined range with respect to the surface of said roadway; and means for pivoting said sign panel about said axis to selected positions within a predetermined range to thereby adjust the angular position of said sign panel with respect to the plane of the surface of said roadway; said sign panel including an array of signal lamps thereon disposed within a substantially rectangular area; said rectangular area having top, bottom, left and right sides; a first group of signal lamps forming a top left hand corner of said rectangle; a second group of signal lamps forming a top right hand corner of said rectangle; said first and second groups of signal lamps defining first and second arrowheads; a third group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from the midpoint of the bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said first arrowhead, said third group of signal lamps defining a shank for said first arrowhead; a fourth group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from said midpoint of said bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said secnd arrowhead; said fourth group of signal lamps defining a shank for said second arrowhead; said third and fourth groups of signal lamps extending beyond said midpoint along a portion of the bottom side of said rectangle in opposite directions to thereby define intersecting tail portions of said respective shanks; and means for selectively energizing said first or second arrowheads and the respective shanks thereof and for flashing the selected arrowhead and shank thereof on and off simultaneously.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
289 words
A method of directing traffic from a distance to instruct a motorist to make a gradual change in lanes comprising the steps of: a. arranging an array of signal lamps on a sign panel within a substantially rectangular area, said rectangular area having top, bottom, left and right sides, a first group of signal lamps forming a top left hand corner of said rectangle, a second group of signal lamps forming a top right hand corner of said rectangle, said first and second groups of signal lamps defining first and second arrowheads, a third group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from the midpoint of the bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said first arrowhead, said thiRd group of signal lamps defining a shank for said first arrowhead, a fourth group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from said midpoint of said bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said second arrowhead, said fourth group of signal lamps defining a shank for said second arrowhead, said third and fourth groups of signal lamps extending beyond said midpoint along a portion of the bottom side of said rectangle in opposite directions to thereby define intersecting tail portions of said respetive shanks; b. selectively and continually energizing the signal lamps of said first or second arrowheads to indicate the desired direction in which a change of lanes is desired; c. sequentially energizing the signal lamps of the shank of said selected arrowhead from the tail portion toward said arrowhead; d. deenergizing all of the signal lamps of the shank of the selected arrowhead; and e. repeating the cycle of energizing and deenergizing the signals lamps of the shank of the selected arrowhead.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
289 words
A method of directing traffic from a distance to instruct a motorist to make a gradual change in lanes comprising the steps of: a. arranging an array of signal lamps on a sign panel within a substantially rectangular area, said rectangular area having top, bottom, left and right sides, a first group of signal lamps forming a top left hand corner of said rectangle, a second group of signal lamps forming a top right hand corner of said rectangle, said first and second groups of signal lamps defining first and second arrowheads, a third group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from the midpoint of the bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said first arrowhead, said thiRd group of signal lamps defining a shank for said first arrowhead, a fourth group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from said midpoint of said bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said second arrowhead, said fourth group of signal lamps defining a shank for said second arrowhead, said third and fourth groups of signal lamps extending beyond said midpoint along a portion of the bottom side of said rectangle in opposite directions to thereby define intersecting tail portions of said respetive shanks; b. selectively and continually energizing the signal lamps of said first or second arrowheads to indicate the desired direction in which a change of lanes is desired; c. sequentially energizing the signal lamps of the shank of said selected arrowhead from the tail portion toward said arrowhead; d. deenergizing all of the signal lamps of the shank of the selected arrowhead; and e. repeating the cycle of energizing and deenergizing the signals lamps of the shank of the selected arrowhead.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
258 words
A method of directing traffic from a distance to instruct a motorist to make a gradual change in lanes comprising the steps of: a. arranging an array of signal lamps on a sign panel within a substantially rectangular area, said rectangular area having top, bottom, left and right sides, a first group signal lamps forming a top left hand corner of said rectangle, a second group of signal lamps forming a top right hand corner of said rectangle, said first and second groups of signal lamps defining first and second arrowheads, a third group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from the midpoint of the bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said first arrowhead, said third group of signal lamps defining a shank for said first arrowhead, a fourth group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from said midpoint of said bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said second arrowhead, said fourth group of signal lamps defining a shank for said second arrowhead, said third and fourth groups of signal lamps extending beyond said midpoint along a portion of the bottom side of said rectangle in opposite directions to thereby define intersecting tail portions of said respective shanks; b. selectively energizing the signal lamps of said first or second arrowheads and the signal lamps of the respective shanks thereof to indicate the desired direction in which a change of lanes is desired; and c. flashing the signal lamps of the selected shank and arrowhead on and off simultaneously.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
258 words
A method of directing traffic from a distance to instruct a motorist to make a gradual change in lanes comprising the steps of: a. arranging an array of signal lamps on a sign panel within a substantially rectangular area, said rectangular area having top, bottom, left and right sides, a first group signal lamps forming a top left hand corner of said rectangle, a second group of signal lamps forming a top right hand corner of said rectangle, said first and second groups of signal lamps defining first and second arrowheads, a third group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from the midpoint of the bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said first arrowhead, said third group of signal lamps defining a shank for said first arrowhead, a fourth group of signal lamps extending along a linear path from said midpoint of said bottom side of said rectangle to the apex of said second arrowhead, said fourth group of signal lamps defining a shank for said second arrowhead, said third and fourth groups of signal lamps extending beyond said midpoint along a portion of the bottom side of said rectangle in opposite directions to thereby define intersecting tail portions of said respective shanks; b. selectively energizing the signal lamps of said first or second arrowheads and the signal lamps of the respective shanks thereof to indicate the desired direction in which a change of lanes is desired; and c. flashing the signal lamps of the selected shank and arrowhead on and off simultaneously.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |