Abstract:
Microprocessor-controlled light emitting diode (LED) arrays are built into an extruded tubular lens within a mast that is connected to a base assembly. A means of mounting, which may be an adjustable clamp, permits the base assembly to be connected to a seat post or other mounting point on a bicycle or other vehicle. The tubular lens allows for substantial dispersion of light, and various light patterns produced by the arrays may be selected and those patterns alternated automatically to achieve greater visibility of the vehicle to surrounding motorists. A handle within the base assembly allows a rider to lower the mast from its vertical operating position easily and pivotally up to 90 degrees parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame to facilitate mounting and dismounting the vehicle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the field of illuminated vehicle safety lights supported by a vehicle structure, such as a bicycle seat post. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Bicycling is both a popular form of transportation as well as a ubiquitous sporting and recreational activity. In the absence of designated off-road bike paths, bicyclists must share the public roads and highways with motor vehicles of all types. Due to their relatively small size in relation to cars, SUVs, vans, trucks, and similar motor vehicles, bicycles are often difficult to see, especially at night, resulting in needless collisions between motor vehicles and bicycles and consequent injury or even loss of life. 
     Motorcycles, mopeds, scooters, ATVs, and similar vehicles, too, have become popular forms of transportation, sport, and recreation. Like bicycles, their relative size often makes them difficult to spot both in daylight hours, at dawn and dusk, and at night. Also like bicycles, a rider typically mounts them by hiking a leg over the rear frame of the vehicle behind the seat. 
     These vehicles employ various illuminated safety devices to increase their visibility to surrounding motorists. Such devices are superior to retro-reflector-based products because they virtually always make the presence of the vehicle identifiable from a greater distance, producing uniform light intensity without regard to illumination from a headlight or other source and without regard to the angle of incidence from that source. 
     Among the most effective of these devices are those which employ vertically disposed lights, mounted to upright poles or masts, which extend above the head of a bicyclist, motorcyclist, or other vehicle rider. Such an arrangement maximizes the visibility of the rider to surrounding motorists. 
     Existing devices of this nature, however, are typically affixed to the frame of the vehicle immediately behind the seat or adjacent to the seat, if not affixed to the seat itself, in a permanently upright position. As riders of bicycles, motorcycles, and similar vehicles ordinarily mount the vehicle by hiking one leg over the rear frame of the vehicle, these fixtures make getting on or off bicycles, motorcycles, or similar vehicles difficult. They provide no ready means of lowering and raising the pole or mast so that the rider may easily mount and dismount the vehicle in the conventional manner. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises microprocessor-controlled light emitting diode (LED) arrays built into an extruded tubular lens within a mast that is mounted to a base assembly. An adjustable clamp permits the base assembly to be connected to a seat post or other mounting point on a bicycle or other vehicle. The tubular lens allows for substantial dispersion of light and therefore greater visibility of the vehicle to surrounding motorists, and various light patterns produced by the arrays may be selected. A handle within the base assembly allows a rider to lower the mast from its vertical operational disposition easily and pivotally up to 90 degrees parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame to facilitate mounting and dismounting the vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a right side view of a bicycle to which one embodiment of the present invention is attached. 
         FIG. 2  is a right side view of said embodiment of the invention, attached to the seat post of a bicycle, in which a handle has been used to lower the mast approximately 90 degrees from an upright to a substantially horizontal position along the axis of the bicycle frame. 
         FIG. 3  is a close-up bottom front perspective view of the seat clamp member of the base assembly. 
         FIG. 4 . is a close-up bottom rear perspective view of the handle member of the base assembly. 
         FIG. 5  reflects the relative positions of five arrays and ten LEDs within the lens in said embodiment of the invention and describes three of the many possible patterns for the display of the lights in each array. 
         FIG. 6  is a close up elevated right rear perspective view of the features of the base assembly of said embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a close up right front underside perspective view of the features of the base assembly of said embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a rear end view of said embodiment of the invention, facing the detent joint. 
         FIG. 9  is a front end view of said embodiment of the invention, facing the seat post clamp. 
         FIG. 10  is a right side view of said embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a left side view of said embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the base assembly and the mast in said embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
     
         
           05  Mast 
           10  Extruded tubular lens 
           15  Handle member 
           20  Mast connector 
           25  Mast extension tube 
           30  Base assembly 
           35  Mast cap 
           40  Reflective graphics 
           45  Seat post 
           50  Seat clamp assembly 
           55  Seat clamp 
           60  Clamp cap 
           65  Detent joint 
           70  Array of paired light emitting diodes (LEDs) 
           75  Nine-volt battery 
           80  Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 
           85  Cable connector 
           90  Position handle 
           95  Mast mount 
           100  Notched wheel 
           105  Spring plunger 
           110  Wear plate 
           115  Main truss 
           120  Secondary truss 
           125  Hi-Low Thread Forming Screw 
           130  Hex bolt 
           135  Flat washer 
           140  Jaw nut 
           145  Head Sock Cap Screws (HSCS) 
           150  Reflective overlays 
           155  Control box 
           160  Upper segment 
           165  Lower segment 
           170  PWA 
           175  Battery compartment wall 
           180  Battery cover 
           185  Removable screw 
           190  Cable 
           200  Switch 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a mast, with an integrated illuminable extruded tubular lens, connected to a base assembly. The base assembly may, in turn, be connected by various mounting means to a mounting point on a vehicle. By means of a handle, the mast may be lowered pivotally to allow the vehicle rider to mount and dismount the vehicle readily and easily. 
     One possible embodiment of the instant invention, for use with a bicycle, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 1  displays a bicycle with an adjustable seat post  45 . The seat post  45  serves as a mounting point for the base assembly  30 , which attaches to the seat post  45  by means of its integrated seat clamp assembly  50  (a close-up view of which is provided in  FIG. 3 ). In the normal operating position, the mast  05  is vertically disposed as illustrated, maximizing visibility of the bicycle as the tubular lens  10  is elevated to its maximum height in relation to the bicycle. When used on other vehicles, such as, without limitation, motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters, all terrain vehicles (ATVs), snowmobiles, or tractors, a mounting member other than a seat post may be employed as the point of connection between the base assembly and the vehicle. Connection means other than a clamp may be employed to attach the base assembly to a given mounting member of a vehicle. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the illustrated embodiment comprises a handle member  15  (a closeup view of which is provided in  FIG. 4 ), including a position handle  90  and mast mount  95 , incorporated into the base assembly  30 , which the bicycle rider may use to pivot the mast  05  to a 45-degree angle and thence to a 90-degree angle. This innovation allows a rider to move the mast  05  to a horizontal position, parallel to the frame of the bicycle, to facilitate mounting and dismounting the bicycle, while maintaining the mast  05  securely in a vertical operating position while riding. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates how different light patterns, calculated to promote and enhance visibility, are achieved in this embodiment of the present invention through the use of a programmable microprocessor embedded in a printed wiring assembly (PWA) within a control box. The patterns may be programmably reconfigured to optimize the visibility of the vehicle to which the apparatus is attached as field data are collected. Programming the microprocessor to alternate automatically among various patterns while the apparatus is powered on further enhances visibility of the vehicle. 
     Within the tubular lens  10 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , are positioned five arrays, lettered A through E, of surface mounted technology (SMT) light-emitting diodes (LED) in pairs, designated i and ii (the pair for A), iii and iv (the pair for B), v and vi (the pair for C), vii and viii (the pair for D) and ix and x (the pair for E). The color of the lights used in each array can be varied, and the arrays are spaced apart to enhance visibility at a distance. By way of example, but not limitation, levels A, C, and E could have LEDs in the amber to yellow range, while B and D could have LEDs in the green range, with each array being spaced between one to twelve inches from every immediately adjacent array (i.e., A from B, B from A and C, C from B and D, etc.). Three possible representative patterns are set forth at the top of  FIG. 5 . 
     The illustrated embodiment could be programmed to alternate automatically between the first such pattern, the second such pattern, and the third such pattern in any given order or time interval desired while the apparatus is powered on. Typically, the programming of given patterns and alternating sequences or combinations of patterns will be accomplished by a manufacturer, although a switch, knob, or other suitable selection means could be incorporated into the apparatus to allow a vehicle user to choose between various patterns or sequences and combinations of patterns, the range of which patterns, sequences, or combinations could be preselected by a manufacturer for their efficacy in achieving safety and overall visibility. 
       FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  present different close-up perspective views of the base assembly  30  without the mast connected. In  FIG. 6  is presented a close-up right rear elevated perspective view of the base assembly  30 . A control box  155  is situated between the seat clamp assembly  50  and the handle member  15  of the base assembly  30 , within a main truss  115  and a secondary truss  120  that together join to form the base assembly  30  and contribute to form the control box  155 . A close-up front underside perspective view of the base assembly  30  appears in  FIG. 7 . A button or switch  200  to activate the LEDs in the tubular lens of the mast can be positioned underneath the control box, as illustrated here, or in any other suitable location. 
     The end of the base assembly  30  into which the handle member  15  is integrated reflects the location of a detent joint  65  that enables the pivoting of the mast. At the opposite end of the base assembly  30  is located the seat clamp assembly  50 .  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  present end views of this embodiment of the invention, while  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  reflect side views of said embodiment and provide further detail for the location of its various elements in relation to one another. 
       FIG. 12  presents an exploded view of the illustrated embodiment of the invention. The mast  05  is comprised of a mast cap  35 , tubular lens  10 , mast connector  20 , and mast extension tube  25 . All these parts may be constructed of polycarbonate or other suitable materials. Optical clear Lexan® SLX polycarbonate, glass, or similar transparent or translucent material may be used for the tubular lens  10 . A printed circuit board (PCB)  80  having five arrays of paired LEDs  70  positioned on either side of the board along its length, and a cable connector  85  attached to its lower end, is inserted into the tubular lens  10 . The mast cap  35  is attached to one end of the tubular lens  10 . The other end of the tubular lens  10  is attached to one end of the mast connector  20 . The other end of the mast connector  20  is attached to one end of a mast extension tube  25 . The other end of the mast extension tube  25  is then inserted into a mast mount  95  in the handle member  15 , adjacent to a position handle  90 . Epoxy or some other adhesive may be used to bond these connections securely. 
     The detent joint  65  located within the base assembly  30  may be a common spring-actuated lever and notched wheel design. The position handle  90  is mounted on a pivot point and in proximity to a notched wheel  100  located within the handle member  15 . This allows the handle member  15  to rotate pivotally in 45-degree increments to a maximum angle of 90 degrees, as the position handle  90  is lifted or pushed out and over the top of each notch in the notched wheel  100 . Spring plungers  105  are used to control incrementally the movement of the handle member  15 . Wear plates  110  are positioned on either side of the notched wheel  100 . The handle member  15 , including its position handle  90 , mast mount  95 , and notched wheel  100 , may be constructed of polycarbonate, metal, metal alloy, or other suitable materials. 
     The base assembly  30  may be formed by the mating of a main truss  115  and a secondary truss  120  about the handle member  15  at one end of the base assembly  30  and at the other end of the base assembly  30  about the seat clamp assembly  50 , comprised of a seat clamp  55  and clamp cap  60 . The trusses  115 ,  120  and the seat clamp assembly  50  may be made of polycarbonate, metal, metal alloy, or other suitable materials. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, hi-low thread-forming screws  125  are used to join securely the main truss  115  to the secondary truss  120 , and to secure the handle member  15 , but other suitable fastening means may be employed. The seat clamp  55  may be joined to the base assembly  30  by means of a hex bolt  130 , flat washer  135 , and jaw nut  140  or other fastening means that allow the seat clamp assembly  50  to pivot adjustably in relation to the base assembly  30 . Fastening means—in the illustrated embodiment, head socket cap screws (HSCS)  145 —are employed to secure the clamp cap  60  to the seat clamp  55 . Reflective overlays  150  bearing reflective graphics  40  may be applied to the outside surface of each truss  115 ,  120  to enhance visibility of the base assembly  30  from either side of the bicycle. 
     As in this embodiment, a control box  155  may be located between the main truss  115  and the secondary truss  120  and between the seat clamp assembly  50  and the handle member  15  of the base assembly  30 , and secured to the trusses  115 ,  120  via hi-low thread-forming screws  125  or other fastening means. In the illustrated embodiment, the control box  155  is formed, in part, by the joining of an upper segment  160  and lower segment  165  about a printed wiring assembly (PWA)  170  into which is integrated a microprocessor (not shown) and walls  175  for creating a battery compartment for a 9-volt battery  75  as a power source for the apparatus (although other means of powering the apparatus, including other types and numbers of batteries and configurations thereof, ranging from a total of 6 to 14 volts for direct current, may be employed). 
     The PWA  170  may have reverse polarity protection and brown-out protection. A battery cover  180 , which may be fixed to the control box  155  with one or more removable screws  185  or other removable fastening means, ensures the battery  75  remains in place and allows access to change the battery  75 . A cable  190 , which may be a 16 con 28AWG 7-strand or similar cable, connects the battery  75  or other power source and the PWA  170  within the control box  155  to the cable connector  85  on the mast PCB  80 , which enables each array of paired LEDs  70  located on the PCB  80  within the tubular lens  10  to be powered and controlled. A switch  200  may be located on the bottom of the control box  155 , or in any other suitable location, turns the power to the device on or off.