Reflector for spokewise wheels

This invention provides a reflector adapted to be mounted on the spokes of a spokewise bicycle wheel or the like, such reflector including a plate-like reflector body having reflective surfaces each provided with reflective zones capable of reflecting incident light in generally parallel relation thereto. This reflector further comprises a through hole relative to said reflective surfaces, a nut portion which is coaxially movable in the through hole, a hook member, a bolt portion affixed to said nut portion, a fixing means and a rotation-restraining means. The hook member is integrally formed with one end face of said nut portion and extends therefrom in the axial direction. The bolt portion is provided for firmly pressing a spoke against the inside face of said hook member. The fixing means is provided for retaining the bolt portion on its opposite side through the through hole in a state where the spoke is firmly pressed against the inside face of the hook member and the spoke is in abutting engagement with the reflector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In general, a plate-like reflector is mounted on the body of a bicycle, 
motor cycle or like vehicle for assuring safe cycling. This is because the 
presence of a vehicle provided with such a plate-like reflector can easily 
be ascertained by another vehicle through the reflection of its own light. 
In particular, mounting of such a reflector is greatly effective in 
assuring safe cycling at night. 
Incidentally, it is possible to mount the plate-like reflector on the 
respective parts of a vehicle in such a manner that rotational movement is 
provided to the reflected light. This ensures that the reflected light is 
well ascertained. Accordingly, in most cases the plate-like reflector is 
mounted on a wheel. In case of a spokewise wheel, the plate-like reflector 
is mounted on spokes. In order to mount the reflector on the spokes, 
several methods have been known in the art. 
According to one method, a plastic or metallic plate is screwed to the 
plate-like reflector through some spokes. However, the force for fixing 
the spokes in position is entirely applied to the plate-like reflector. 
When the plate-like reflector is formed from plastics, its mechanical 
strength structurally suffers a reduction and the force for fixing the 
spokes in position is limited. In addition, each spoke is very thin and 
has a small pressure-receiving area, and continuous vibrating load is 
exerted thereon for long periods of time. This caused that the fixation 
was apt to get loose, resulting in scattering of the reflected light and 
accurate ascertainment of a vehicle being rendered difficult. Furthermore, 
there was a fear that if the plate-like reflector per se was dislodged, 
thus causing traffic accidents etc. 
According to another method, the plate-like reflector is provided on its 
surface with a projecting tapped hole, and the tapped hole is provided at 
its extremity with a groove. A bolt is fitted into the tapped hole such 
that the spoke is in pressure engagement with the groove. Like the first 
method, this method also causes the entire force for fixing the spoke in 
position to be applied to the plate-like reflector. 
According to a further method, a resilient locking portion is integrally 
formed with the plate-like reflector which, in turn, is fitted to the 
spoke by locking the spoke to the resilient locking portion in resilient 
fashion. This method has the same disadvantage as the foregoing methods. 
In addition, it was found that the plate-like reflector loosens largely on 
the spoke due to vibrations since the former is resiliently locked to the 
latter. Taking the deterioration of plastics (the change with time) into 
consideration, this method is not preferred. 
According to a still further method, use is made of a cap nut having a 
divided groove. This cap nut has a groove divided (two-divided) from the 
opening side of a tapped hole. The width of the divided groove is such 
that the spoke is insertable therein, and the depth thereof reaches the 
bottom of the tapped hole. The spoke is inserted into this divided groove, 
and is subsequently inserted into one end of a through hole in the 
plate-like reflector from the opening side of the tapped hole. A bolt 
corresponding to the tapped hole in the cap nut is fitted into the other 
end of the through hole to keep the cap nut in tensioned condition, 
whereby the plate-like reflector is fixed to the spoke. Thus, since the 
fixing force of the spoke is directly applied to the plate-like reflector, 
this method is disadvantageous in that the fixing force is limited as in 
the foregoing methods. In addition, it is required to separately arrange 
the three parts, i.e., the plate-like reflector, the cap nut and the bolt 
until they are mounted on the spoke and their mounting operations are also 
troublesome. 
As a consequence of extensive investigations carried out with a view to 
eliminating the aforesaid problems, the present inventor has found a novel 
means for indirectly fixing a plate-like reflector to spokes without the 
need of directly fixing the former to the latter. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a means for 
permitting firm clamping and securing of a spoke by virtue of a spoke 
clamping member formed of tough material. Another object of the present 
invention is to provide a means for fixing the spoke clamping the 
plate-like reflector and the spoke clamping member to the plate-like 
reflector in abutting relation thereto with a somewhat less force (a force 
that the plate-like reflector can withstand). 
A main constructional feature of the reflector for spokewise wheels 
according to the present invention resides in the provision of a nut 
portion, a hook member formed integrally with one end face of said nut 
portion and extending therefrom in the axial direction and a bolt portion 
bonded to said nut portion and designed to firmly press the spoke against 
the inside face of a hooking portion of the hook member by means of the 
extremity of a screw axis. Another feature of the present invention 
resides in the provision of a fixing means for retaining said bolt portion 
on its opposite side through a through hole in the plate-like reflector in 
a state where the spoke is firmly pressed against the inside face of the 
hooking portion of the hook member and is in abutting engagement with the 
reflector and a means for restraining rotation of the reflector. 
By taking advantage of these features, the present invention renders it 
possible to securely mount the plate-like reflector on the spokes without 
applying a force of larger magnitude thereto, thus preventing the 
reflector from loosening on the spoke and suffering damage even when it is 
subjected to continuous vibrating and impact loads for long periods of 
time. Furthermore, the present invention facilitates mounting of the 
reflector on the spokes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a reflector for a spokewise wheel 
including a plate-like reflector body having reflective surfaces each 
provided with reflective zones capable of reflecting incident light in 
generally parallel relation thereto, characterized by comprising a through 
hole relative to said reflective surfaces, a nut portion which is 
coaxially movable in the through hole, a hook member formed integrally 
with one end face of said not portion and extending therefrom in the axial 
direction, a bolt portion bonded to said nut portion and adapted to firmly 
press a spoke against the inside face of said hook member by virtue of the 
extremity of a screw axis, a fixng means for retaining the bolt portion on 
its opposite side through said through hole in a state where the spoke is 
firmly pressed against the inside face of said hook member and the spoke 
is in abutting engagement with the reflector, and a rotation-restraining 
means for preventing rotation of said plate-like reflector body within the 
reflective surfaces. 
In this specification, the term "a hook member" is used to indicate a means 
formed integrally with one end face of the nut portion and extending 
therefrom in the axial direction, the inside face of which can be in 
engagement with a spoke. It will be understood that the extremity of the 
hooking portion of the hook member must have a space sufficient to permit 
passage of a spoke between the reflective surfaces provided on the 
plate-like reflector during the mounting operation of the reflector. 
In this specification, the term "a fixing means" is used to indicate a 
means for retaining the bolt portion on its opposite side through the 
plate-like reflector, said bolt portion being firmly pressed against the 
inside face of the hooking portion of the hook member. According to its 
concrete example, a head is provided to the bolt portion, and a resilient 
washer, preferably a spring washer is inserted in between the peripheral 
edge of the through hole in the plate-like reflector and the head of the 
bolt portion. It will be understood that the fixing means can be 
constructed from only the head of the bolt portion with the elastic forces 
of the spoke and reflector etc. under satisfactory dimension controls. 
Furthermore, if a headless bolt is employed as the bolt portion, its nut 
or the nut and washer can act as the fixing means. 
In this specification, the term "a rotation-restraining means" is used to 
indicate a means for preventing rotation of the plate-like reflector 
relative to the spoke within the reflective surfaces. This means is 
achieved by the non-rotative engagement of the plate-like reflector to the 
spoke or the nut portion, hook member or bolt portion in strongly bonded 
relation to the spoke. This engagement may, of course, be either direct or 
indirect. As the concrete rotation-restraining means, there can be 
mentioned a groove provided in the reflective surface of the plate-like 
reflector, into which the spoke is to be inserted. Alternatively, the 
cross section perpendicular to the axis arranged such that the nut portion 
and hook member are non-rotative with respect to the through hole in the 
plate-like reflector may be formed into a non-rotative shape. The former 
method involving the provision of a groove is disadvantageous in that such 
a groove causes a drop of the mechanical strength of the entire plate-like 
reflector. However, although it is difficult to increase the thickness of 
the reflector since a drop in reflectivity is brought about, this defect 
in connection with strength can sufficiently be obviated since the lateral 
size of this reflector is of greater magnitude in comparison with the 
vertical size and the reflectivity is not adversely affected. 
The plate-like reflector used in the present invention may be optionally 
selected from those used in spokewise wheels. A preferred plate-like 
reflector is provided with reflective surfaces each having at least three 
reflective zones. Two reflective zones each are provided with reflector 
elements with their optical axis being symmetrical with one another and 
being inclined with respect to their surfaces thereby to render wide angle 
reflection possible, and the remaining one reflective zone is provided 
with reflector elements with their optical axes being disposed 
perpendicularly to their surfaces thereby to render standard reflection 
possible. 
The present invention will now be illustrated in detail with reference to 
embodiments shown in the drawing; however, the instant invention is not 
limited thereto. 
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, numeral 1 denotes a reflector mounted on a 
spokewise wheel 2, which is mainly constructed from a plate-like reflector 
body 3, a hook member 4 for hooking a spoke, a nut portion 5 formed 
integrally with said member and a bolt portion 6 therefore. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the plate-like reflector body 3 comprises a front 
reflector member 7 and a rear reflector member 8 which are sealed together 
as by ultrasonic welding. The front reflector member 7 is a plate-like 
member having the substantially same height and with a relatively large 
curvature corresponding to the wheel 2, and is formed of acrylic resin by 
injection molding. This front reflector member 7 is provided in its 
reflective surface 9 with four reflective zones 10, 11, 12 and 13. The 
reflective zones 10 and 11 on both ends are horizontally symmetrical with 
each front surface being generally flat and each back surface having a 
number of reflector elements 14, 15--in a regular triangular pyramid form 
with their optical axis being normal to their surfaces. Consequently, the 
respective reflecting zones 10 and 11 each have the ability to reflect 
incident light in generally parallel relation thereto, i.e., render the 
so-called standard reflection possible. On the other hand, the reflective 
zones 12 and 13 are vertically symmetrical with each front surface being 
generally flat but inclined by an angle .alpha.=about.+-.10.degree. with 
respect to the front surface of each reflective zone 12 or 13. Each 
reflective zone 12 or 13 is provided on its back surface with a number of 
reflector elements in a regular triangular pyramid form with their optical 
axis being inclined by about 20.degree. with respect to their front 
surfaces. Consequently, the respective reflective zones 12 and 13 each 
have the ability to reflect incident light in generally parallel relation 
thereto, i.e., render the so-called wide angle reflection possible. 
Furthermore, this front reflector member is provided in its central 
portion with a through hole 16. This through hole is hereinafter referred 
to as the reduced diameter portion in connection with a through hole 17 in 
the rear reflector member 8 to be described later. This reduced diameter 
portion 16 has a front opening portion projecting from the surface of the 
reflector body. The end face of this opening 18 is inclined such that, 
when the plate-like reflector body 3 is mounted on the spoke S, the front 
surfaces of the reflective zones 10 and 11 are held perpendicularly. It 
will be understood that this angle of inclination is determined in 
connection with the inclination of the spoke S. 
A detailed explanation on the rear reflector member 8 is omitted since it 
has the generally same reflective zones as the aforesaid reflector member 
7. The through hole 17 in the central portion which is designed to be 
larger in diameter and to be formed coaxially in connection with the 
aforesaid reduced diameter portion 16, is hereinafter referred to as the 
enlarged diameter portion. A front opening portion 26 of this enlarged 
diameter portion projects from the surface of the reflector body and is 
provided with recessed grooves 19 and 19' acting as the 
rotation-restraining means, which grooves can be in engagement with the 
spoke S. It will be understood that the bottom of these grooves are 
inclined such that, when the reflector body 3 is mounted on the spoke S, 
the surface of the reflective zones 10 and 11 are held perpendicularly. 
With reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, the aforesaid hook member 4 is integrally 
formed with one end face of the nut portion 5 and extends therefrom the 
axial direction (O.fwdarw.O'). This member is provided on its inside face 
with a groove 22 into which the spoke S is to be inserted. Numeral 27 
denotes the extremity of the hooking portion. 
The aforesaid bolt portion 6 is fitted into the nut portion 5. The bolt 
portion 6 comprises a bolt head 24, a screw portion 23 and an extremity 
28. A spring washer 25 is disposed between bolt head 24 and the adjacent 
surface of the reflector body. 
Incidentally, the nut portion 5 and the hook member 4 are coaxially movable 
within the enlarged diameter portion 17 of the through hole in the 
aforesaid plate-like reflector body 3, and the bolt portion 6 has its 
screw portion 23 designed to be insertable into the reduced diameter 
portion 16. 
One method for mounting the thus constructed reflector 1 on the spoke S of 
the wheel 2 of a bicycle will now be explained. 
First, the nut portion 5 and the hook member 4 which are integrally formed 
with each other are coaxially inserted into the enlarged diameter portion 
of the through hole in the plate-like reflector body 3 in that order, and 
a partial extremity of the screw portion 23 is screwed from the reduced 
diameter portion 16 through the bolt portion 6 to the nut portion 5. At 
this tentative coupling state, the extremity 27 of the hook member 4 is 
caused to project outwardly from the surface of the enlarged diameter 
portion side of the plate-like reflector body 3, i.e., the surface of the 
front opening portion 20, so that the spoke S can easily be inserted into 
the space thus defined. 
After the spoke S is inserted into the groove 22 in the inside surface 21 
of the hook member through the aforesaid space, the bolt portion 6 is 
threaded therein to firmly press the spoke S against the groove 22 by 
means of the extremity 28 of the screw portion 23. In this case, it will 
be understood that the spoke S is in engagement with the recessed grooves 
19 and 19' in the front opening of the enlarged diameter portion. On the 
other hand, the bolt head 24 is pressed against the plate-like reflector 
body 3 through the spring washer 25. That is to say, the plate-like 
reflector body 3 is resiliently clamped by the spoke S and the spring 
washer 25. 
As above mentioned, the nut portion 5, hook member 4 and bolt portion 6 is 
strongly coupled to the spoke S. Furthermore, in this state the nut 
portion 5, hook member 4 and bolt portion 6 are resiliently coupled to the 
spoke S such that the plate-like reflector body 3 is clamped therebetween. 
Hence, the main fixing force for securing the plate-like reflector body to 
the spoke S in tensioned fashion is attained by the clamping forces 
exerted by the hook member 4 and the extremity of the bolt 6. Furthermore, 
since the auxiliary fixing force produced by the aforesaid resilient 
coupling action is attained in addition to the main fixing force, the 
reflector 1 can firmly be mounted on the spoke S in such a manner that the 
former does not loosen on the latter. In addition, the force which is 
directly applied to the reflector 1 is only the auxiliary fixing force 
produced by the resilient coupling action. This ensures that so severe 
force is exerted on the reflector, resulting in prevention of changes in 
the physical properties of the reflector as well as deterioration and 
failure thereof for long periods of time. Also, it is unlikely that the 
reflector 1 loosens on the spoke S due to its rotation. Furthermore, since 
the through hole is provided with the reduced diameter portion 16, the nut 
portion 5, hook member 4 and bolt portion 6 can tentatively be coupled in 
advance to the plate-like reflector body 3. This ensures that it is easy 
to keep the required components in given preparatory conditions, and that 
it is easy to mount the reflector on the spoke S. 
Since the spoke is generally 1.8 to 4.0 mm in diameter, it is preferred 
that the cross section of each recessed groove 19 or 19' formed in the 
rear reflector member 8 of the plate-like reflector body 3 is determined 
corresponding to the larger value. This is because the groove can be 
adapted in common to all spokes. It will be understood that the length of 
the screw portion 23 of the bolt portion may virtually be determined 
regardless of the diameter of the spoke since the nut portion 5 and hook 
member 4 permit the enlarged diameter portion to be movable in the axial 
direction. Thus, the reflector according to the present invention can be 
mounted on the spokes of a bicycle, motor cycle or like vehicle; hence, 
the reflector can find its use in a wider range of fields, thus bringing 
economical benefits to the public. While there have been described 
preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be obvious that 
other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is, 
therefore, intended that the invention be limited only within the scope of 
the appended claims.