Stop Sign and Crossing Arm Assemblies for School Buses, Stop Signs for Stop Sign Assemblies, and Attachment System for Connecting Stop Signs to Stop Signs Assemblies

Abstract

A sign assembly comprising includes a reflective panel, first and second sign panels, and a LED strip. The first and second sign panels sandwich the reflective panel. The first and second sign panels form a channel therebetween. The LED strip is positioned within the channel. The first and second sign panels may be identical and/or have letter embossments. The reflective panel may be white with the first and second sign panels being clear PMMA (Polymethyl methacrylate) panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sign assembly comprising:
 a reflective panel;   first and second sign panels sandwiching the reflective panel, the first and second sign panels forming a channel therebetween; and   a LED strip positioned within the channel.   
     
     
         2 . The sign assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first and second sign panels are identical. 
 
     
     
         3 . The sign assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 the reflective panel is white and the first and second sign panels are clear PMMA (Polymethyl methacrylate) panels. 
 
     
     
         4 . The sign assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first and second sign panels have letter embossments. 
 
     
     
         5 . The sign assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 the reflective panel has a channel therein, the channel of the reflective panel being aligned with the channel formed between the first and second sign panels whereby the LED strip positioned within the channel formed between the first and second sign panels is also positioned in the channel of the reflective panel. 
 
     
     
         6 . The sign assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 the reflective panel is white and opaque, the first and second sign panels are optically transparent, and the LED strip emits a red light. 
 
     
     
         7 . The sign assembly of  claim 6  wherein:
 the red light emitted by the LED strip provides a total internal reflection lighting by the LED strip being positioned within the channel formed between the optically transparent first and second panels which sandwich the white and opaque reflective panel. 
 
     
     
         8 . The sign assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first and second sign panels further form a second channel therebetween; and 
 the sign assembly further comprises a second LED strip positioned within the second channel. 
 
     
     
         9 . The sign assembly of  claim 8  wherein:
 the channels are respectively positioned laterally across a top edge of the first and second sign panels and a bottom edge of the first and second sign panels whereby the LED strips positioned within the channels respectively extend laterally across the top edge of the first and second sign panels and the bottom edge of the first and second sign panels. 
 
     
     
         10 . The sign assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first and second sign panels each have an outer surface and an inner surface, the reflective panel being sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the first and second sign panels; 
 the inner surfaces of the first and second sign panels having micro-optics; and 
 the outer surfaces of the first and second sign panels having letter embossments. 
 
     
     
         11 . The sign assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first and second sign panels are sealed together with the reflective panel sandwiched therein whereby the sign assembly is a sealed lighting fixture. 
 
     
     
         12 . An assembly comprising:
 a lighting fixture including a reflective panel, first and second fixture panels, and a LED strip, wherein the reflective panel is white and opaque, the first and second fixture panels are optically transparent, and the LED strip is positioned within a channel formed between the first and second fixture panels;   a sign frame formed by first and second sign component panels; and   wherein the lighting fixture is sandwiched between the first and second sign component panels.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein:
 the sign frame has an octagon perimeter. 
 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein:
 each of the first and second sign component panels of the sign frame have openings thereon; 
 each of the first and second fixture panels of the lighting fixture have embossments thereon; and 
 the embossments of the first and second fixture panels of the lighting fixture extend into the openings of the first and second sign component panels of the sign frame. 
 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein:
 the openings of the first and second sign component panels of the sign frame form the word “STOP” on each of the first and second sign component panels of the sign frame; and 
 the embossments of the first and second fixture panels of the lighting fixture form the word “STOP” on each of the first and second fixture panels of the lighting fixture. 
 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein:
 the LED strip emits a red light. 
 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein:
 the first and second fixture panels are sealed together with the reflective panel sandwiched therein whereby the lighting fixture is a sealed lighting fixture. 
 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein:
 at least one of the first and second sign component panels of the sign frame has a signal lamp thereon. 
 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein:
 the sign frame further includes a mounting bracket mounted to a rotor bracket of an actuator whereby the assembly is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position during actuation of the actuator. 
 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 19  wherein:
 the mounting bracket of the sign frame is mounted to the rotor bracket of the actuator via a one screw attachment.