In article >, Bill Funk wrote:
> On Tue, 05 Sep 2006 07:04:55 -0700, Scott en Aztlán wrote:
> >Mark Mellin said in ca.driving:
> >>
> >> Recently, I've noticed that many of the yellow highway cautionary
> >> signs in mountain areas suggesting that truckers reduce the use of
> >> their noisy "Jake" brake in populated areas have been modified to read
> >> "Engine" brake instead. In most cases, the word "Jake" has simply been
> >> pasted over the existing sign with a yellow and black overlay reading
> >> "Engine."
> >>
> >> Any thoughts on Caltrans motivation?
> >
> >Complaints by the company that makes the Jake Brake(tm). I heard they
> >were upset that their engine braking system was being singled out.
>
> I think it's more of a trademark protection action.
> Jacobs doesn't want to lose the protection by not protecting it.

Thanks for the replies, indeed, I had no idea Jake Brake was
brand specific. It looks like both trademark protection and
noise regulations in general are issues for the manufacturer:

<http://www.jakebrake.com/support/faqs.php#FAQ8>

- Mark

--
Mark Mellin ULmar 9 - 5470
Mailstop 408-85 Menlo Park, CA 94025-3493 USA