Patent ID: 7642906
Filing Date: 2010-01-05
Classification: B60Q

Abstract:
1. A vehicle having a novel operator signaling system comprising: a vehicle body having an enclosed operating compartment including a door with an inner door latch; a rigid base secured to the vehicle body at a point forward of the operating compartment; a elongated staff having a sign secured to one staff end; a spring secured between the base and the staff and configured to bias the staff into an upright position and allow the staff to be moved into a collapsed position; a releaseable lock configured to retain the staff in the collapsed position and allow the staff to move into the upright position when released, the lock released when receiving an electrical signal; a switch connected to the vehicle inner door latch; a circuit connected to the switch and the lock, such that operation of the door latch will operate the switch to direct an electrical signal to the lock and release it; and wherein the staff in the upright position is in the direct line-of-sight of an operator of the vehicle and can be moved into the collapsed position to be retained by the lock only by manual operation.