Patent Application
20080189998
The present invention relates, in general, to truck drivers hauling hazardous materials and, more particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus to be installed in the cab of a truck to remind the driver of the type of load being carried and the loads travel restrictions.
Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, as is generally well known in the prior art, when certain materials are being transported a sign is carried on the outside of the truck to alert people of the dangers associated with the load being carried. However, the driver of the truck may forget the type of hazardous materials he is presently carrying because they carry so many different materials during the course of a week.
At the present time applicant is not aware of any device which can be positioned in the cab to remind them of the type of hazardous material they may be carrying and the restrictions on travel that is associated with such material. Such travel restrictions may be imposed in metropolitan areas or in tunnels over a highway, for example. These restrictions may also include certain times when such material can be transported.
The present invention provides an apparatus for at least one of alerting and reminding a driver of a tractor trailer of a particular type of material being transported. This is of extreme importance if such material is a hazardous material. The apparatus comprises a base member having each of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape. There is, also, a first plurality of a first portion of a warning sign disposed on such base member. Each of the first plurality of such first portion of the warning sign likewise having each of a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape. There is printed material disposed on both sides of all but one side of one of such first plurality of such first portion of the warning sign. Additionally, there is a second plurality of a second portion of such warning sign disposed on such base member. Each of the second plurality of such second portion of the warning sign having each of such second predetermined size and such second predetermined shape. A predetermined edge of such first plurality of such first portion of the warning sign is aligned with a predetermined edge of such second plurality of a second portion of the warning sign. Likewise, printed material is disposed on both sides of all but one side of one of the second plurality of such second portion of the warning sign. A means is engageable with each of the base member, the first plurality of such first portion of the warning sign adjacent such predetermined edge thereof and the second plurality of such second portion of the warning sign adjacent the predetermined edge for enabling flipping each of such first and second portions of respective ones of such first and second plurality of warning signs to thereby display the printed material disposed thereon to indicate such type of material being transported.
It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a hazard sign for use in the cab of a truck which will remind driver of the cargo being carried therein.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hazard sign for use in the cab of a truck which is easy to change.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hazard sign for use in the cab of a truck which is relatively light weight.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hazard sign for use in the cab of a truck which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a hazard sign for use in the cab of a truck which is portable.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a hazard sign for use in the cab of a truck which is easily attached to the inside of such cab.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.
Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
Reference is now made, more particularly, to
The apparatus 10 includes a base member 12 having each of a predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. Such first predetermined shape of such base member 12 is generally rectangular in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention.
There is a first plurality of a first portion 14 of a warning sign, generally designated 20, disposed on such base member 12. Each of the first plurality of such first portion 14 of the warning sign 20 includes each of a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape. Printed material is disposed on both sides of all but one side of one of such first plurality of the first portion 14 of such warning sign 20.
A second plurality of a second portion 16 of such warning sign 20 is disposed on such base member 12. Each of the second plurality of such second portion 16 of the warning sign 20 having each of such second predetermined size and such second predetermined shape as such first plurality of such first portion 14 of the warning sign 20. There is a predetermined edge 18 of the first plurality of such first portion 14 of the warning sign 20 aligned with a predetermined edge 22 of such second plurality of a second portion 16 of the warning sign 20. Printed material is also disposed on both sides of all but one side of one of such second plurality of the second portion 16 of warning sign 20.
There is a means, generally designated 50, engageable with each of such base member 12, the first plurality of such first portion 14 of the warning sign 10 adjacent such predetermined edge 18 thereof and the second plurality of second portions 16 of such warning sign 10 adjacent the predetermined edge 22 for enabling flipping each of such first and second portions 14 and 16 of respective ones of the first and said second plurality of such warning sign 10 to thereby display such printed material disposed thereon to indicate such type of material being transported. Such means 50 is preferably a loop 36.
Reference is now made to
Reference is now made to
According to the present invention, the second predetermined shape of such first plurality of first portions 14 of such warning sign 10 and such third predetermined shape of the second plurality of second portions 16 of warning sign 10 are substantially identical.
In the broad sense such second predetermined shape of such first plurality of first portions 14 of warning sign 10 and the third predetermined shape of such second plurality of second portions 16 of the warning sign 10 are one of generally rectangular and generally triangular. Preferably. they generally rectangular.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
