Bicycle light reflector

A bicycle light reflector which mounts on the rear axle of a bicycle and includes an upwardly extending flexible mast supporting a disc reflector at its upper end for oscillatory movement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
present invention relates generally to light reflectors for use on bicycles 
for purposes and specifically to a light reflector mounted on a elevated 
support over the rear wheel of the bicycle. 
With the increasing numbers of bicycles being used on the roads which are 
intended primarily for automobile traffic, the risks of accidents 
involving automobiles and bicycles have increased considerably. There are 
many reasons for these types of accidents but one of the primary reasons 
is that the driver of the automobile often does not see the biker until it 
is too late to avoid the accident. The biker is normally crouched over 
with his trunk almost horizontal thus presenting a low profile which is 
not able to be seen over other automobiles. In many instances, a passing 
automobile will not have a chance to see the biker until he is almost upon 
him and it is too late to take action to avoid a collision. 
Another somewhat related cause, of such accidents is the lack of adequate 
light systems on bicycles. In contrast to automobiles, most bicycles are 
sold with no lighting equipment included. While the after-market provides 
many types of battery or generator powered lights for bicycles, most 
bicycle owners fail to install such lighting equipment or fail to maintain 
it in proper operating condition. The batteries tend to fail and not be 
replaced and the generator systems are difficult to maintain in operation 
since they rely on the generator being driven by the tire of the bicycle. 
In recognition of the absence or shortcomings of bicycle lighting systems, 
most bicycles are provided with light reflectors that are mounted on 
various places around the wheels and frame of the bicycle. These 
reflectors, particularly when mounted on the wheels are very effective 
indicating the present of a bicycle to a driver when he is approaching the 
bicycle from the side and there is no obstruction to prevent the driver 
seeing the reflector as it whirls around as the wheels turn. 
However, the most significant problem occurs at night when the bicycle is 
approached from the rear. Because of the significant difference in speed 
between the bicycle and the automobile, this encounter from the rear 
occurs very suddenly. Although the disc type of light reflector is 
efficient, the reflection of the automobile headlights that the driver 
sees is from a relatively small spot which is located close to the road. 
Because of the low height of the rearward facing light reflector and the 
fact that it has no apparent motion to someone approaching from the rear, 
it tends to be ineffective in warning the driver of the presence of the 
bicycle. 
In order to overcome the problem of the low profile of the bicycle and 
rider, it has been known in the past to provide flag kits to enable the 
mounting of a flag and pole on a bicycle. Typically the flag would be a 
bright orange flag which would be easy for a driver to see, and it would 
be mounted on the top of a pole sufficiently long so that the flag could 
be seen over automobiles-which might be near or Surround the biker. While 
such flags are effective in making the driver aware early of the presence 
of the bicycle during the daylight hours, they are not very effective 
during hours of darkness. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a light reflector for a bicycle which is 
easily visible to an automobile driver approaching the bicycle from the 
rear because of the positioning of the reflector and the oscillatory 
movement produced by its mounting. The reflector is a flat disc type of 
light reflector which is mounted at the uppermost end of a flexible, 
whip-like mast. The lower end of the mast is supported in a passageway 
formed in a stamped bracket secured to the rear axle of the bicycle. The 
engagement between the mast and the bracket is such that the mast may be 
rotated by overcoming the friction fit between the mast and portion of the 
bracket forming the passageway. This rotational adjustment permits the 
position of the reflector to be adjusted to obtain the optimun reflection 
of the light from the headlights back into the eyes of the driver. The 
flexible nature of the mast and the mass of the disc type reflector 
produces an oscillation of the disc reflector making it more visible to 
the approaching driver than it would be if it were fixedly mounted on the 
bicycle frame or fender. The reflector disc is formed with a red 
reflective lens to be directed rearwardly and a white or clear reflective 
lens to be directed forwardly so that an approaching automobile driver may 
determine which direction the bicycle is heading. 
The mounting bracket for the support mast is a stamped steel plate which is 
formed with a passageway to detachably support the mast. Means formed in 
the passageway engage the mast to provide some restriction to rotational 
and axial movement of the mast with respect to the bracket. This 
restriction may be overcome by manually twisting or pushing the mast 
axially using the reflector disc secured to the other end of the mast. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
improved bicycle light reflector which has improved visibility by virtue 
of its location and manner of mounting. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved 
bicycle light reflector including a disc type reflector mounted at the top 
of a whip like mast to provide an oscillatory movement of the reflector 
when the bicycle is in motion. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved 
bicycle light reflector which includes a disc type; reflector mounted on 
the top of a flexible mast which is supported at its lower end by a 
stamped bracket which provides for adjustable positioning and removal of 
the reflector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a bicycle 11 which 
is shown somewhat schematically and which is equipped with a bicycle light 
reflector 13 embodying the present invention. While the light reflector 13 
is suitable for use on any type of bicycle, the bicycle 11 illustrated in 
FIG. 1 is termed a racing type and the light reflector 13 is adapted to be 
mounted on a threaded end of a rear axle 15 which may be found on almost 
every bicycle. 
The bicycle reflector 13 comprises three basic parts, a mounting bracket 
17, a support mast 19 and a reflector disc 21. The parts are designed and 
assembled together in such a way as to provide safety light reflector for 
a bicycle which is very effective in warning an automobile driver of the 
presence of the bicycle. This effectiveness is enhanced by the location of 
the reflector disc and the mounting which causes it to oscillate so that 
it becomes much more noticeable than a fixed reflector. 
The support mast or post 19 is made of a fiberglass material and is of a 
length and diameter to provide a flexible and whip like character. In the 
preferred embodiment of the invention, the mast was 36 inches in length 
and 1/4 inch in diameter which provided the desired flexure 
characteristics and positioned the reflector disc 21 at the desired height 
as will be explained in greater detail below. When the mast is subjected 
to a lateral load at one end it flexes about 1/2 inch for each ounce of 
load. Under the normal conditions of use on a bicycle over normal terrain, 
the mast 21 flexes or oscillates through a 6 to 8 inch arc at the upper 
end. Although the 1/4 inch diameter mast has sufficient resilience to bend 
or deflect laterally a considerable distance and not be permanently 
deformed, it is desirable that the mast 21 not deflect substantially 
during normal use or it would be a hazard to passing pedestrians or 
vehicles or other bikers. By selecting a diameter and length which limits 
the deflection in normal use to 6 to 8 inches, the chances of injury to 
persons or property by the bicycle reflector is virtually eliminated. 
To understand the construction and design of the mounting bracket 17, 
reference should be made to FIGS. 2 to 5 of the drawings. The mounting 
bracket 17 is a one piece stamped metal part having a central plate 
portion 23 extending between lengthwise extending turned up edges 25 which 
together form an elongated channel shaped member which is adapted to be 
secured at its lower end to the axle 15 of the bicycle 11, the axle 15 
extending through an opening 27 formed in the central plate portion 23. 
The upper portion of the mounting bracket 17 which is remote from the 
mounting opening 27 is formed to provide a passageway 29 to receive and 
mount the mast 19. The passageway is formed by an upper channel 31, a 
middle channel 33 and a lower channel 35, the channels being separated by 
pierced slots 37 and 39 which allow the channels to be formed in opposite 
directions with respect to the central portion 23 from which the channels 
are formed. As is best shown in FIG. 2, the upper channel 31 and the lower 
channel 35 are formed inwardly in to the space between the edges 25. The 
middle channel 33 is formed outwardly as is evident from FIG. 4 so that 
the three channels form the passageway 29 with the channels engaging 
opposite halves of the lower end of the mast 19. A third slot 41 is formed 
in the central plate portion 23 immediately below the lower channel 35. 
The lower edge of the slot 41 serves as a stop to engage the lower end of 
the mast 19 and defines the end of the passageway 29. 
To provide a readily controlled frictional engagement between the mounting 
bracket 17 and the mast 19, the lower channel 35 is formed with an 
inwardly directed dimple which engages and interferes with the mast 19. 
Since it is almost impossible to control the tolerances of the channels 
31, 33 and 35 closely enough to obtain the frictional engagement to allow 
limited movement of the mast 19 while still gripping it tightly, the use 
of the dimple provides a more easily controlled frictional restraint 
between the mounting bracket 17 and the mast 19. For reasons to be 
discussed below, it is important that the mast 19 be tightly gripped by 
the bracket 17 but also that it be possible to manually rotate mast 19 to 
adjustably position the reflector disc 21 and to manually detach the mast 
19 from the mounting bracket 17. 
Secured permanently to the upper end of the mast 19 is the disc type 
reflector or reflector disc 21 which is a commercially available three 
inch diameter light reflector manufactured to Department of Transportation 
standards for such safety light reflectors. The disc reflector 21 includes 
a front lens 45 and a rear lens 47 which are supported in a back to back 
relationship by a plastic frame 49. The frame encircles the lenses which 
are sealed together around their peripheries to prevent moisture from 
entering the space between the two lenses. The lenses are somewhat dish 
shaped with flat outer faces and molded inner surfaces providing many 
angled light reflecting surfaces as is well known in the art. The forward 
facing lens 45 is white or clear plastic, while the rearwardly facing lens 
47 is red in color. The frame 49 is circular except for a base portion 51 
which receives the upper end of the mast 19 and an apertured tab extension 
53 which serves to hang the light reflector on a merchandising display 
stand. 
To best understand the improved visibility provided by the bicycle light 
reflector of the present invention, it is necessary to review the manner 
in which it functions under normal conditions of use. The light reflectors 
are most effective if the line of sight is normal to the plane of the 
reflector lens. The overall length of the mast, bracket and disc reflector 
in the preferred embodiment is about 42 inches. This height above the 
ground places the disc reflector 21 within the normal line of sight of a 
driver, it being acknowledged that there are physical differences in the 
drivers and their automobiles that make height of a driver's eyes above 
the road vary considerably. However, with the center of the disc reflector 
21 being disposed about 41 inches above the bicycle axle, the white 
reflector side 45 is easily seen above the back of the biker when viewed 
from the front and the red reflector 47 is easily visible from the rear. 
With the reflectors located substantially level with eyes of the driver, 
the reflectors produce the maximum light to the driver. 
The oscillatory movement of the disc reflector is a result of the 
flexibility of the mast 19, the weight and momentum of the disc reflector 
21 and the characteristics of the moving bicycle. There is some swaying 
and side-to-side movement of the bicycle as the pedals are operated and 
the balance maintained by the operator. In addition, the discontinuities 
in the road or bike path cause further vertical and lateral movement of 
the bicycle. The light reflector 21 has a mass of about 1 and 1/2 ounces 
which is mounted at the top end of the flexible mast 19. Tests on the 
described embodiment of the invention revealed that the movement of the 
bicycle in use and the flexibility of the mast would result in a 6 to 8 
inch oscillation or side-to side movement of the disc reflector. While it 
is contemplated that the flexibility of the mast may be modified within 
the purview of the invention, the mast should be stiff enough to prevent 
the normal oscillation from exceeding 12 inches. Oscillation beyond 12 
inches would present risks to persons and property adjacent to the biker's 
path and would serve little purpose. This 6 to 8 inches of oscillatory of 
movement in the disc reflector causes the reflection of the headlights of 
an automobile to produce very dramatic and distinctive display of 
reflected light. This display is enhanced to some degree by the fact that 
the angular disposition of the face of the lens changes slightly as the 
disc reflector 21 oscillates. 
The need for the adjustable and detachable connection between the mast 19 
and the mounting bracket 17 relates to the marketing as well as the use of 
the device. For shipping and merchandise display purposes the bicycle 
light reflector 13 must preferably have the disc reflector 21 and the 
central plate portion 23 of the mounting bracket disposed in a coplanar 
relationship. However, when the mounting bracket 17 is secured to the axle 
15 by a nut 55 which threads onto the axle end and against the central 
portion 23 of the bracket 17, the disc reflector must be rotated 90 
degrees so that the face of the lens 47 faces rearwardly. Thus, in 
mounting the light reflector 13, the mounting bracket 17 is fitted to the 
axle extension with the extension extending through the opening 27 with 
the edges 25 extending away from the bicycle. After the nut 55 is 
tightened against the central plate portion 23 of the mounting bracket 17, 
the disc reflector 21 may be rotated by turning the mast 19 by overcoming 
the frictional forces created by the engagement with the dimple 43. In 
addition, if it is necessary to readjust the reflecting angle of the disc 
reflector 21, this adjustment may be readily made by manually rotating the 
mast 19. 
There may be many occasions in which it may be desirable to detach the mast 
19 from the bicycle 11. It would be difficult to store the bicycle or 
carry it on a automobile bicycle carrier with the mast assembled to the 
bicycle. Further, there may be instances when the bicycle is being stored 
outside in a bike rack when it would be preferable to detach the mast to 
avoid its being stolen. In any of these instances, the mast 19 may be 
readily removed from the mounting bracket 17 by simply manually 
withdrawing the mast 19 axially overcoming the frictional forces produced 
by the dimple 43. 
The use of the large diameter reflector lenses is an important aspect of 
the effectiveness of the device. Typical light reflectors used on bicycles 
are small, on the order of 1 and 1/2 inches in diameter, whereas a three 
inch diameter disc reflector is used in the preferred embodiment of the 
invention. This larger size creates a more visibly striking effect with 
the large reflector oscillating back and forth. 
The bicycle of the present invention provides a significant improvement in 
the visibility of light reflective safety warning devices for use at night 
on bicycles. The design and construction with the flexible mast provides 
an attention drawing display of reflected light as the disc reflector 
oscillates laterally well above the top of the bicycle. The simple 
mounting bracket allows for rotational adjustment of the mast as well as 
easy attachment and detachment of the mast.