Dual Hinged Safety Sign Device with Flexible Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing school bus safety devices, such as stop signal arms, face challenges in enhancing visibility and durability, particularly in withstanding impacts from errant vehicles, and existing solutions like breakaway frames can be costly to repair and may not adequately prevent vehicles from passing stopped buses.
Innovation Solution
A safety sign device with dual hinged signs and a flexible arm that extends and retracts, featuring a spring-based elastic base and LED visual indicators, which enhances visibility and flexibility to impact, and can be retrofitted onto existing stop signal devices, with motors to toggle positions and retention devices to secure the arm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a conventional stop signal arm is used, then the device is simple and cost-effective, but the visibility is insufficient and it cannot adequately prevent vehicles from passing stopped buses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated stop signal device: the housing serves as both structural support and mounting platform, the arm provides both extension and visual indication through reflective surfaces, and the LED array integrates illumination and visibility enhancement. This merging approach improves visibility without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs reflective surfaces on the arm that change apparent color or brightness based on light angle and intensity, enhancing visibility to motorists. The reflective material properties create dynamic visual effects that improve detection distance without requiring additional active illumination components.
2Strength
If a breakaway frame is used to withstand impacts, then the device can protect against vehicle strikes, but the repair costs are high and the device may not adequately prevent passing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates energy-absorbing elements within the housing structure that are pre-positioned to cushion impact forces from errant vehicles. This beforehand cushioning protects critical components like the LED array and circuitry from damage during vehicle strikes, reducing repair costs while maintaining impact resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing incorporates flexible or semi-flexible structural elements that can deform elastically under impact loads, absorbing energy without permanent damage. This flexibility allows the device to withstand vehicle strikes while remaining cost-effective to repair or replace, avoiding the high costs associated with rigid breakaway frame systems.
3Length of moving object
If the stop signal arm extends further into the adjacent lane, then it reduces instances of motorists passing, but it increases the risk of impact from errant vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The arm is constructed with flexible materials or structural design that allows it to bend or deflect upon impact with errant vehicles. This flexibility reduces the harmful effects of collision while maintaining the extended length needed to effectively block passing motorists, resolving the contradiction between extension length and impact risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the arm and housing to convert impact energy from vehicle strikes into beneficial effects: the flexible structure dissipates impact energy through controlled deformation, while the reflective surfaces and LED array continue to provide visual warnings even after minor collisions, turning potential damage into ongoing safety functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The safety sign device improves visibility and durability, reduces damage from impacts, and is cost-effective, making it easier to retrofit and more effective in preventing vehicles from passing stopped buses, while being resistant to damage and easy to maintain.
Implementation Method 1
The first flexible arm may comprise an elastic base coupled between the elongate housing and the first sign. For example, the elastic base may comprise a spring.
Implementation Method 2
the first flexible arm being substantially parallel to the first sign. Helpfully, the flexible arm enhances visibility, and readily flexes to impact from errant vehicles.
Implementation Method 3
The plurality of visual indicators may comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).
Data Source
AI summary
A safety sign device for a vehicle may include a first sign having proximal and distal ends, and a first hinge being coupled to the proximal end of the first sign, the first hinge being coupled to a side of the vehicle. The safety sign device may include a second hinge being coupled to the distal end of the first sign, a second sign having a medial portion coupled to the second hinge, and an arm coupled between the second sign and the side of the vehicle and configured to extend and retract the first and second signs between a retracted position and an extended position. The first and second signs may be transverse to each other in the extended position, and be flat against the side of the vehicle in the retracted position. The safety sign device may include a first flexible arm coupled to the first sign.