Patent ID: 7193529
Filing Date: 2007-03-20
Classification: G08G,G09F

Abstract:
1. An emergency signaling system for notifying oncoming vehicles and pedestrians of an inoperative traffic signal, said emergency signaling system comprising: a protective housing having a rigid structure sized and shaped for being securely conjoined to a support structure adjacent to a traffic light, said housing having a plurality of monolithically formed sides defining a cavity therebetween wherein a rear face of said housing is open; a pair of elongated and U-shaped guide rails fastened to said housing and extending vertically away therefrom such that said guide rails become equidistantly spaced from a centrally disposed axis traversing said housing, said guide rails extending substantially parallel to the axis and along an entire longitudinal length of said emergency signaling system; a sign board centrally registered along the axis and including a pair of opposed edge portions equidistantly spaced therefrom, said edge portions being slidably intercalated within said guide rails in such a manner that said sign board is restricted from moving along a longitudinal length of said housing; a shield selectively positional in front of said sign board in such a manner to hide said sign board from oncoming pedestrians and vehicles when the traffic signal is at an operable state, said shield being formed from magnetic material; electromagnetic means for maintaining said shield at a lowered position when an external power supply source is at an active state; means for adapting said shield to a raised position when an external power source is interrupted for a predetermined time interval; and means for automatically lowering said shield to the lowered position after the external power supply source is reactivated from an inactive state.