WHEEL MOUNTED SAFETY LIGHT

Abstract: A safety warning light is adapted to be mounted on the valve stem (80) of a tyre (86) or clip (72) to the clothing of the wearer. The apparatus includes a two-part housing and utilises a light source (28), such as, a light emitting diode (28), powered by a battery (38) that is connected to the light source (28) using a switch actuated by rotating the top part of the housing with respect to the bottom part of the housing.

Description: This invention relates to safety warning lights and in particular to warning lights for mounting on a wheel of a vehicle or on the person. The light according to the first part of claim 1 is known from US-A-2.518.437, which will be discussed later. Other warning lights of the prior art that were mounted on the wheel of a vehicle, usually a bicycle, were generally attached to the spokes of the wheel, commonly by means of threaded screws and nuts. When using such means, the lights were difficult to remove should the cyclist wish to attach the warning light to his clothing. Because of the centrifugal forces, vibration and jostling when attached to the wheel of a vehicle, the switches and incandescent light sources for such prior art devices were generally unreliable. In addition, most of the warning lights of the prior art projected a beam of light either perpendicular to the plane of the wheel or radially parallel to the plane of the wheel thus narrowing the viewing angle from which the warning light can be seen. US-A-2 518 437 discloses a light in accordance with the prior art Portion of claim 1. This prior light is a flashlight for use in the hand and is entirely too large and clumsy with an unsuitable construction for use as a warning light to be mounted to a bicycle wheel. The present invention, as defined in claim 1, provides a safety warning light which is so-constructed as to enable it to have a disc-like construction which is particularly adapted for securement to the thread on a bicycle tyre valve. This provides for the very ready securement of the warning light to a bicycle, with the means for switching the light comprising recesses in one housing part into which tabs are lockingly retained by a resilient action so as positively to prevent movement of the tab between a switched on and a switched off position under the conditions of vibration and centrifugal force which can operate on the apparatus when secured to a bicycle wheel in the particularly simple claimed construction where the apparatus embodies a threaded bore adapted to engage the thread of a tyre valve. While DE-A-2 818 973 shows a warning light provided with an LED, this is in conjunction with a relatively bulky construction, similar in shape to a conventional flashlight and unsuited for mounting on a bicycle wheel. It has no suggestion of the flat disc-like warning light specifically for use on a valve of a bicycle tyre having specific means for retaining the light in its switched on or switched off condition, despite the shock and movement to which it will be exposed on a vehicle wheel. Preferably, means are provided on said bottom housing for attaching the device to a person's clothing. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a warning safety light for mounting on a vehicle. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety warning light which can easily be installed and removed from the vehicle or the person wearing the device. It is another object of the present invention to provide a safety warning light having a wide field of view when mounted on the wheel of a vehicle or the person. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a safety warning light for mounting on wheels that do not incorporate spokes. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wheel mounted warning light having a more reliable and durable light source. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety warning light incorporating a switch that will remain in a fixed position when subjected to centrifugal, vibrational and other forces. These and other objects of the present invention will be manifest upon study of the following description when taken together with the drawings. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional, elevational view of the safety warning light device of the present invention taken at lines 1-1 of Figure 2. Figure 2 is a top partially cut-away view of the safety warning light of the present invention. Figure 3 is a partial sectional, elevational view of the safety warning light of Figure 2 taken at lines 3-3. Figure 4 is a top, partial cut-away view of the bottom housing of the safety warning light of the present invention. Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional, elevational view of the bottom housing of the present invention illustrating the clip device used for attaching the safety light of the present invention to the clothing of a person using a device. Figure 6 is a bottom view of the bottom housing showing the clip device illustrated in Figure 5 and the means for attaching the safety warning light to the tire valve stem. Figure 7 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating the manner in which the light source of the safety warning device of the present invention is energized. Figure 8 is an elevational view of the safety warning light of the present invention mounted on the valve stem of a tire independent of the manner in which the rim of the wheel is connected to wheel hub. Description of the Preferred Embodiment With reference to Figure 1, there is illustrated a cross-sectional, elevation view of safety warning light 10 of the present invention comprising a generally circular top housing 12 enclosed and coaxially aligned within a generally circular bottom housing 14. Generally circular top housing 12 comprises, basically, a base support member 20 having first tab 22 projecting radially outward from the peripheral edge 24 of top housing 12 with a second tab 26 projecting radially from the peripheral edge 24 of top housing 12 approximately 180 degrees from said first tab 22. Top housing 12 further comprises a light emitting diode 28 located proximate the top of housing 12 and having one side electrically connected to one end of top electrical conductor 30 contained within top base support 20. The other end of top electrical conductor 30 extends to first tab 22 and is adapted to be attached to, and exposed along, the top side of tab 22 to define top electrical contact 32. The other side of light emitting diode 28 is electrically connected to battery contact electrode 34 through conductor 36. Contact electrode 34 is adapted to be placed in electrical contact with one side of battery 38. Bottom housing 14 comprises, basically, a bottom base support 40 having a generally cylindrical rim 42 adapted to enclose and slide about outer peripheral edge 24 of top housing 12 in the manner of a bearing. Cylindrical rim 42 further comprises an inwardly projecting lip 44 proximate the top of rim 42 defining a recess 46 adapted to receive and engage first and second tabs 22 and 26, respectively, of top housing 12. A bottom electrical conductor 48 is disposed along the inner surface of bottom housing 40 having one end extending up through rim 42 to terminate along the underside of top lip 44 where it defines second electrical contact 50 adapted to make electrical contact with top electrical contact 32. With reference to Figure 2 there is illustrated a top partial cut-away view of safety warning light 10 of the present invention. With reference to Figure 3, there is illustrated a partial sectional, elevational view of safety warning light 10 of the present invention taken at lines 3-3 of Figure 3. Referring to Figure 3, bottom housing 14 further comprises two pair of detents 60, 62 and along the underside of lip 44. Each pair of detents comprises two detents spaced 180 degrees apart. Figure 3 illustrates a set of detents along one side of lip 44. When top housing 12 is rotated to the "ON" position, detent 60 is adapted to receive the end of bottom conductor 48 defining electrical contact 50 and also receive tab 22 to make contact with electrical contact 32. When top housing 22 is rotated to the "OFF" position, detent 62 is adapted to receive tab 22. Referring again to Figures 2 and 3, a pair of oppositely disposed slots 66 and 68 are located in lip 44 which are adapted to permit top housing 12 to be removed from bottom housing 14 when top housing 12 is rotated so that tabs 22 and 26 coincide with slots 66 and 68, respectively. With reference to Figure 4, there is illustrated a top, partial cut-away view of bottom housing 14 with top housing 12 removed. Bottom conductor 48 is shown disposed along the inside surface of bottom housing 14 with battery 38 resting proximate the center of bottom conductor 48 and making electrical contact therewith. It will be noted in Figures 1 and 4 that the central portion of bottom conductor 48 is raised or offset from the inside surface of bottom housing 14. Bottom conductor 48 is preferably fabricated from a resilient, electrically conductive material to allow axial movement to top housing 12 when rotating top housing 12 between detents 60 and 66 and slot 66. With reference to Figure 5, there is illustrated a partial cross-sectional, elevational view of bottom housing 14 wherein bottom housing 14 further comprises a threaded hole 70 adapted to receive the threaded valve stem of a bicycle or other vehicle tire. In addition, bottom housing 14 further comprises a resilient clip 72 adapted to connect to a belt of other piece of wearing apparel. With reference to Figure 6, there is illustrated a bottom view of bottom housing 14 further illustrating the shape of clip 72 and its relationship to threaded hole 70. With reference to Figure 7, there is illustrated a schematic circuit diagram of the manner in which light source 28 is energized by battery 48. In particular, one side (-) of battery 38 is connected to the appropriate side of light emitting diode 28 through battery contact plate 34 and conductor 36. The other side (+) of battery 38 is electrical connected to bottom conductor 48 leading to bottom electrical contact 50. When top housing 12 is rotated to allow top electrical contact 32 to make contact with bottom contact 50, the electrical circuit is them completed through top conductor 30 to the other side of light emitting diode 28. With reference to Figure 8, the safety warning light 10 of the present invention is connected to valve stem 80 of tire 86 which is mounted on rim 82 of wheel 88. Spokes 84 connect rim 82 to the wheel hub (not shown) common in the art. Spokes 84 could be enlarged to define a single circular plate for connecting rim 82 to the wheel hub. The single circular plate would then have an opening for access to the tire valve on which would repose safety warning light 10. From this position, it is apparent that light source 28 would be viewable in a 360 degree horizontal plane about the wheel as the it rotates. To operate safety warning light 10 of the present invention, battery 38 is first placed on top of bottom electrical conductor 48 with the correct polarity in electrical contact therewith. Top housing 12 is them place on top of bottom housing 14 with tabs 22 and 26 aligned, respectively, with slots 66 and 68 in lip 44 of bottom housing 14. Top housing 12 is them pushed axially downwards, depressing the raised portion of bottom conductor 48, and rotated until tab 22 is aligned with detent 62, i.e., the "ON" position, and then released. To turn light emitting diode on, top housing 12 is again pushed axially downward and rotated until tab 22 is aligned with detent 60, i.e., the "OFF" position, and then released. To turn light emitting diode off, the process is reversed. Although the safety warning light 10 of the present invention has been described in detail, this specification is not intended to limit the scope of the invention except as described in the claims.

Claims: A light comprising a generally circular section bottom housing (40) having a bottom electrical conductor (48) disposed along the inner surface thereof, a generally circular top housing (20) having a top electrical conductor (30) extending from proximate the centre thereof to proximate the outer edge thereof, said generally circular top housing (20) being disposed with its centre coaxial with the centre of said bottom housing (40), a light source (28) carried by said top housing and electrically connected at one side thereof to said top electrical conductor (30), means electrically connecting one side of a power source (50) to said bottom electrical conductor, the other side (36) of said light source (28) being electrically connected to the other side (34) of said power source (50), switch means comprising a bottom electrical contact (50) electrically connected to said bottom electrical conductor (48) and a top electrical contact (32) electrically connected to said top electrical conductor (30), said top electrical contact (32) being adapted to be electrically connected to said bottom electrical contact (50) when said top housing (20) is rotated to a particular position relative to said bottom housing (40), said top housing further comprising a first tab (22) projecting radially from the peripheral edge of said top housing, and attached to said top electrical contact (32), a second tab (26) projecting radially from the peripheral edge of said top housing approximately 180° from said first tab, and said bottom housing (40) further comprising a rim (42) integral therewith projecting upwardly about the periphery of the bottom housing (40) and adapted to receive the top housing (20), each tab (22,26) being received in a slot (46) extending in said rim (42) about the periphery of the bottom housing (40), and means (48) for biasing the top housing upwardly from said bottom housing to cause the tabs (22,26) frictionally to engage the top inner surface of said slot (46), characterised in that said light is a safety warning light adapted to be secured to a bicycle wheel (88), the top and bottom housings (20,40) together form a flat disc-like construction, the upper surface of said slot (46) is defined by a lip (44) integral with said rim (42) and extending radially inwardly from the periphery thereof, a plurality of detent recesses (60,62) are provided in said upper surface of the slot adapted to receive a tab (22) in different rotational positions of the top housing relative to the bottom housing, the top electrical contact (32) being provided on the upper surface of one of said tabs, the tabs being integral with the top housing, one end of the bottom conductor (48) being attached to one (60) of said recesses in the underside of said lip (44) to define the bottom electrical contact (50) adapted to be engaged by said top electrical contact (32) when the tab (22) carrying the top contact (32) is received in said recess (62) provided with said bottom electrical contact (50), and means (70) proximate the bottom of said bottom housing (40) for connecting the housing to a bicycle tyre valve stem. A light according to claim 1, wherein two slots (66,68) are provided through said lip (44) providing communication from said slot (46) to the outer surface of said lip (44), said slots (66,68) being adapted for the passage of the tabs (22,26) therethrough, whereby the top housing (20) is removable from the bottom housing (40) when the tabs (22,26) are aligned with said slots (66,68). A light according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a clip (72) is provided on the exterior of said bottom housing (40) for securement of the light to a person's clothing.

Inventors: LEON, THOMAS BENJAMIN
Applicants: LEON, THOMAS BENJAMIN
Application year: 1988
Main classification: F21L11
IPC codes: B60Q1, F21L4, B62J6, F21V23