# US 12,600,294 B2 · Tanker truck with rear lighting assembly and method of operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,600,294 B2 - Document ID: US12600294B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/333,665 - Filed: 2023-06-13 - Published: 2024-12-19 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2023-06-13 - Assignees: Mac LTT, Inc. - Applicants: Mac LTT, Inc. - Inventors: James A. Maiorana; Anthony Scott Miller; Ryan Joseph Troyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12600294B2 ## CPC - B60Q 1/34: for indicating change of drive direction (B60Q1/22 takes precedence) - B60P 3/2205: {Constructional features} - B60Q 1/44: for indicating braking action {or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal} - B60Q 1/46: for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights {or hazard lights} - B60Q 1/543: {for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle (indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045)} - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) ## Abstract A method of signaling a plurality of driving states of a tank vehicle when in travel. The method includes steps of sending a travel response to a rear lighting assembly of the tank vehicle, emitting a set of indicating lights, by a signaling device of the rear lighting assembly, through a false bulkhead of the tank vehicle, and signaling the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle when in travel. The method may further include that the step of emitting the set of indicating lights through the false bulkhead further includes that the set of indicating lights is transmitted through the false bulkhead free from obstructing a view of the signaling device or that the set of indicating lights is diffused through the false bulkhead to obstruct a view of the signaling device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of signaling a plurality of driving states of a tank vehicle when in travel, comprising: sending a travel response to a rear lighting assembly of the tank vehicle; emitting a set of indicating lights, by a signaling device of the rear lighting assembly, through a false bulkhead of the tank vehicle; and signaling the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle when in travel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of emitting the set of indicating lights through the false bulkhead further includes that the set of indicating lights is transmitted through the false bulkhead free from obstructing a view of the signaling device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of emitting the set of indicating lights through the false bulkhead further includes that the set of indicating lights is diffused through the false bulkhead to obstruct a view of the signaling device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: reflecting at least one indicating light of the set of indicating lights, by a rear bulkhead of the tank vehicle, towards the false bulkhead. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: emitting a series of first turn indicating lights of the set of indicating lights, by the signaling device, through the false bulkhead; and signaling a first turning state of the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising; emitting a series of second turn indicating lights of the set of indicating lights, by the signaling device, through the false bulkhead; and signaling a second turning state of the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle; wherein the second turning state is opposite to the first turning state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: emitting a braking indicating light of the set of indicating lights, by the signaling device, through the false bulkhead of the tank vehicle; and signaling a braking state of the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle when in travel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: emitting a reversing indicating light of the set of indicating lights, by the signaling device, through the false bulkhead of the tank vehicle; and signaling a reversing state of the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle when in travel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: emitting a series of first turn indicating lights of the set of indicating lights, by the signaling device, through the false bulkhead; emitting a series of second turn indicating lights of the set of indicating lights, by the signaling device, through the false bulkhead; and signaling a hazard state of the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle when in travel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: emitting a running indicating light of the set of indicating lights, by the signaling device, through the false bulkhead of the tank vehicle; and signaling a running state of the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle when in travel. ### Claim 11 A method of signaling a plurality of driving states of a tank vehicle when in travel, comprising: sending a travel response to a rear lighting assembly of the tank vehicle; emitting a set of indicating lights, by a pair of signaling devices of the rear lighting assembly, inside a first compartment of the tank vehicle or a second compartment; emitting the set of indicating lights, by the pair of signaling device of the rear lighting assembly, through a false bulkhead of the tank vehicle; and signaling the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle when in travel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: emitting a series of first turn indicating lights of the set of indicating lights, by a first signaling device of the pair of signaling devices, inside of the first compartment and through a first portion of the false bulkhead; and signaling a first turning state of the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising; emitting a series of second turn indicating lights of the set of indicating lights, by a second signaling device of the pair of signaling devices, inside of the second compartment and through a second portion of the false bulkhead; and signaling a second turning state of the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle; wherein the second turning state is opposite to the first turning state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: emitting the series of first turn indicating lights of the set of indicating lights, by a set of first auxiliary signaling devices of the rear lighting assembly, inside of the first compartment and through the first portion of the false bulkhead; and signaling the first turning state of the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle; wherein the series of first turn indicating lights is emitted simultaneously by the first signaling device and the set of first auxiliary signaling lights. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: emitting the series of second turn indicating lights of the set of indicating lights, by a set of second auxiliary signaling devices of the rear lighting assembly, inside of the second compartment and through the second portion of the false bulkhead; and signaling the second turning state of the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle; wherein the series of second turn indicating lights is emitted simultaneously by the second signaling device and the set of second auxiliary signaling lights. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: emitting a first braking indicating light of the set of indicating lights, by a first signaling device of the pair of signaling devices, inside of the first compartment and through the false bulkhead of the tank vehicle; emitting a second braking indicating light of the set of indicating lights, by a second signaling device of the pair of signaling devices, inside of the second compartment and through the false bulkhead of the tank vehicle; and signaling a braking state of the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle when in travel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: emitting the first braking indicating light of the set of indicating lights, by a set of first auxiliary signaling devices of the rear lighting assembly, inside of the first compartment and through the false bulkhead of the tank vehicle; emitting the second braking indicating light of the set of indicating lights, by a set of second peripheral signaling devices of the rear lighting assembly, inside of the second compartment and through the false bulkhead of the tank vehicle; and signaling the braking state of the plurality of driving states of the tank vehicle when in travel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the step of emitting the set of indicating lights through the false bulkhead further includes that the set of indicating lights is transmitted through the false bulkhead free from obstructing a view of the pair of signaling devices. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the step of emitting the set of indicating lights through the false bulkhead further includes that the set of indicating lights is diffused through the false bulkhead to obstruct a view of the pair of signaling devices. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: reflecting at least one indicating light of the set of indicating lights, by a rear bulkhead of the tank vehicle, towards the false bulkhead; and reflecting the at least one indicating light of the set of indicating lights, by a divider of the tank vehicle, towards the false bulkhead.