Patent ID: 7059690
Filing Date: 2006-06-13
Classification: B60Q,B60T

Abstract:
1. A notification device mountable to an existing vehicle air brake system for notifying a forklift operator whether the system is active or inactive, said device comprising: a housing sized and shaped for providing visual notification to a forklift operator loading and unloading cargo into a vehicle, a chamber for selectively receiving air under first and second pressure levels for being adapted between active and inactive modes respectively, said housing being disposed within a rear portion of the vehicle so that a forklift operator loading and unloading cargo into the vehicle can readily identify whether the vehicle air brake system is active or inactive; and means for adapting said housing between the active and inactive modes, wherein said means for adapting comprises said chamber including an actuating shaft having opposed end portions extending rearwardly therefrom, said chamber causing said actuating shaft to extend and retract along a rectilinear path during the active and inactive modes respectively, a pivot arm including first and second portions each having a slot formed therein, said first pivot arm portion being directly connected to one of said actuating shaft end portions, a guide member disposed adjacent a rear portion of the vehicle and subjacent said housing, an elongated support rod having opposed end portions directly connected to said second pivot arm portion and said housing, respectively wherein said elongated support rod axially passes through said guide member, said pivot arm cooperating with said actuating shaft for adapting said support rod between raised and lowered positions during said active and inactive modes respectively wherein said housing is caused to pivot along a selected arcuate path during said active mode, and a flexible conduit having opposed end portions connected to said chamber and to a pneumatically controlled valve of the vehicle air brake system, said conduit being formed from rigid material and traveling downwardly and forwardly of the vehicle and for accommodating repeated fluctuations between the first and second pressure levels during operating conditions, wherein said housing is shaped like a flag pivotal along one end portion thereof along a selected arcuate path wherein said active and inactive modes are defined along adjacent quadrants.