Abstract:
Various phosphorescence charging systems are provided for charging a phosphorescent wheel. The wheel is attached to the frame of a vehicle with nighttime or low light operation capability. The phosphorescence charging system directs electromagnetic radiation, such as ultraviolet light, onto phosphorescent portions of the wheel so as to cause subsequent phosphorescent emission therefrom.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/812,372, filed 29 Mar. 2004, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/459,395, filed on 1 Apr. 2003, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety; this application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/719,021, filed 21 Sep. 2005, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to wheeled vehicle safety during nighttime or low-lighting conditions, and in particular to an ultraviolet light emitting structure for exciting a phosphorescent component of a wheel structure in order for the wheel to emit visible light.  
         [0003]     Wheeled vehicles are often under-equipped with side lighting structures. Side lighting can be very important to the safety of vehicle operators at nighttime, particularly in the case of bicycles, bicycle trailers, mopeds, motorcycles, scooters, jogging strollers, baby strollers, wheelchairs, and other vehicles which typically do not offer the powerful lighting systems available to automobiles.  
         [0004]     Various fixed point lighting systems are available to address this problem, but with a series of drawbacks. Many systems offer a very small light producing area that is anywhere from several millimeters to only a couple of inches in area, and are therefore simply inadequate in drawing the attention of motorists. In the case of safety structures mounted onto a rotating wheel, such as tireflys and reflectors, an optical illusion called “cycloid movement” is created by the motion of the product as it turns, and the vehicle may appear to have a velocity and course that is deceptive with respect to its actual movement. As such, there remains a need for alternative safety lighting approaches, advantageously alternative approaches that optionally address one or more of the drawbacks of the prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The invention provides an artificial source of phosphorescence charging in place of the sunlight usually required to make a phosphorescent wheel glow. The artificial source is located proximate the phosphorescent surface(s) of the wheel, and directs its electromagnetic radiation onto the phosphorescent surface(s) so as to charge surface(s) for subsequent phosphorescent glow.  
         [0006]     In one embodiment, a wheeled vehicle comprises: a frame; at least one rotatable wheel mounted to the frame; the wheel having first and second phosphorescent sides; and a phosphorescence charging system coupled to the frame and adapted to charge the first and second phosphorescent sides by radiating the phosphorescent sides with electromagnetic radiation. The phosphorescence charging system may comprise first and second emitters adapted to charge the first and second phosphorescent sides, respectively, by emitting electromagnetic radiation that is directed to be incident on the phosphorescent sides; and means to power the phosphorescence charging system. The phosphorescence charging system may further comprise a switch disposed electrically between the means to power and the emitters. The wheel may comprise a tire, a rim, and a hub, advantageously with phosphorescent material molded in the tire. The emitters may be light emitting diodes, or may be fluorescent tubes, or may take other forms. The power for the emitters may come from any known power source, such as a battery and/or a dynamo. The wheeled vehicle may, in some embodiments, be a bicycle, a stroller, or a motorcycle. The vehicle may further include a plurality of exterior light emitting structures directed away from the wheel, which may optionally be powered by a common power source with the phosphorescence charging system. In this embodiment, the phosphorescence charging system charges both sides (left, right) of a single phosphorescent wheel. The phosphorescence charging system may also charge the rolling surface of the wheel, if desired.  
         [0007]     In another embodiment, a wheeled vehicle comprises: a frame; first and second rotatable wheels mounted to the frame; the wheels having at least one phosphorescent side each facing in the same general direction; a phosphorescence charging system coupled to the frame and comprising first and second emitters; wherein the first emitter is disposed so as to charge the phosphorescent side of the first wheel by radiating the phosphorescent side of the first wheel with electromagnetic radiation; and wherein the second emitter is disposed so as to charge the phosphorescent side of the second wheel by radiating the phosphorescent side of the second wheel with electromagnetic radiation. The phosphorescence charging system may further comprise means to power the phosphorescence charging system and a switch disposed electrically between the means to power and the emitters. The first and second emitters may take the form of light emitting diodes, advantageously light emitting diodes with a peak wavelength within the range of 100-410 nanometers. The phosphorescent sides of the first and second wheels form a visual loop when the wheels are rotated and the phosphorescent sides are charged by the phosphorescence charging system.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment, a wheeled vehicle comprises: a frame; at least one rotatable wheel mounted to the frame; the wheel having at least a first phosphorescent side; a brake assembly operatively coupled to the frame and comprising: at least one brake pad moveable relative to wheel and operative to engage the wheel to retard rotation thereof; an emitter disposed to direct electromagnetic radiation emitted therefrom at the first phosphorescent side of the wheel so as to charge the first phosphorescent side for subsequent phosphorescence; and means to power the emitter. The brake assembly may further comprise a brake booster element, with the emitter disposed in the brake booster element. Alternatively, the brake assembly may further comprise a brake pad post disposed outboard of the brake pad relative to the wheel, with the emitter supported by the brake pad post. The emitter may move with the brake pad, such as being disposed in the brake pad.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment, a wheeled vehicle comprises: a frame; at least one rotatable wheel mounted to the frame; the wheel having at least a first phosphorescent side; a fender assembly coupled to the frame proximate the wheel, the fender comprising an emitter disposed to direct electromagnetic radiation emitted thereby to be incident on the first phosphorescent side of the wheel so as to charge the first phosphorescent side for subsequent phosphorescence; and means to power the emitter. The emitter may comprise a light emitting diode, advantageously with a peak wavelength within the range of 100-410 nanometers. The means to power the emitter, such as one or more batteries, may be supported by the fender assembly A photosensor may be included and operative to control a connection between the emitter and the means to power the emitter. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a frontal view of a bicycle fork comprising an ultraviolet light emitting structure.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a frontal view of a bicycle fork comprising an ultraviolet light emitting structure comprising a strap.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a bicycle fender comprising an ultraviolet light emitting structure.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a frontal view of a bicycle brake caliper comprising an ultraviolet light emitting structure.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a frontal view of a bicycle brake booster comprising an ultraviolet light emitting structure.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a frontal view of a bicycle brake pad housing comprising an ultraviolet light emitting structure.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a frontal view of a bicycle brake post comprising an ultraviolet light emitting structure comprising a brake post housing port.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of a bicycle comprising an ultraviolet light emitting structure on both front and rear wheels using external wiring.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a bicycle comprising an ultraviolet light emitting structure comprising a wireless activation switch on both front and rear wheels.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a bicycle comprising an ultraviolet light emitting structure on both front and rear wheels with internal wiring.  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a bicycle fork comprising an ultraviolet wave emitting structure comprising a dynamo generator.  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a stroller comprising an ultraviolet wave emitting structure.  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  is a side view of a stroller comprising an ultraviolet wave emitting structure comprising a dynamo type generator.  
         [0023]      FIG. 14  is a side view of a motorcycle comprising an ultraviolet wave emitting structure.  
         [0024]      FIG. 15  is a side view of a motorcycle comprising fenders comprising an ultraviolet wave emitting structure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     One solution that overcomes the twin drawbacks of inadequately sized lighting and cycloid movement in side lighting is the use of wheels that produce their own light. Wheels with this ability would have large enough light-producing area to more effectively draw attention over larger distances, as well as in situations involving a higher level of potential road distractions, such as busy areas saturated with many sources of light.  
         [0026]     One approach to creating light producing wheels is that of phosphorescent (glow in the dark) wheels, particularly tires. Such tires may contain, or be coated with, an amount of phosphorescent pigment on the outer surface. Typically, the pigment that causes these tires to glow needs exposure to ultraviolet rays in order to charge before becoming active and producing light. At the same time, these pigments do not hold a strong charge for more than several seconds to a few minutes from the time of charging exposure. Thus, if sunlight is used as the charging source, the energy stored within the phosphorescent pigment will be mostly discharged by the time it becomes adequately dark outside and the product is in an environment where it is most needed. The resulting safety lighting effect is therefore greatly diminished. As such, the present invention contemplates using an artificial phosphorescence charging source, such as an ultraviolet light emitting diode (LED), that directs its emitted electromagnetic energy (e.g., ultraviolet, and near-ultraviolet light) onto phosphorescent wheel(s) to charge them for subsequent phosphorescent discharge. For simplicity, the following description is generally in the context of a bicycle; however, various embodiments may also be used on other non-automotive wheeled vehicles, such as jogging strollers, baby strollers, wheelchairs, scooters, mopeds, motorcycles, bicycle trailers, and the like.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 1 , a bicycle  10  is equipped with an phosphorescence charging system  50  that selectively shines ultraviolet light onto both sides  20   a , 20   b  of phosphorescent wheel  20 . In general, the bicycle  10  includes a frame that includes a main frame  11 , forks  12 , and a head tube  13 , handlebars  14 , optionally one or more fenders  16 , and optional braking assemblies  30 . The main frame  11  typically takes the form of joined tubular members, and typically provides a location for rotatably mounting the rear wheel  20 . The forks  12  are rotatably mounted to the main frame  11  via the head tube  13 , and the handlebars  14  are affixed to the top of the fork structure. The front wheel  20  is rotatably mounted to the forks  12 . The fenders  30  are disposed above the wheels  20 , and are mounted to the main frame  11  or forks  12  via suitable mounting bosses  17  or other means known in the art. The braking assemblies  30  typically include calipers  32  that move laterally inward and away from the wheels  20 . The calipers  32  may be of a center-pull type or a side-pull type, as is desired. Brake pads  36  are mounted on the calipers  32  so as to move therewith, typically via suitable mounting posts  38 .  
         [0028]     The phosphorescence charging system  50  of  FIG. 1  includes a power source  60 , a control unit  52 , ultraviolet emitters  70 , and associated interconnecting wires  53 . The power source  60  takes the form of a battery pack  62  which is housed in the control unit  52 . The control unit  52  also includes a switch  54  that controls the on/off state of the ultraviolet emitters  70  and, in this embodiment, is attached to handlebars  14 . The ultraviolet emitters  70 , in this embodiment, take the form of a plurality of ultraviolet LEDs  72 . The LEDs  72  are disposed on the inner surface of the forks  12  so that the LEDs  72  on the left side project their emitted light onto the left side  20   a  of wheel  20 , and the LEDs  72  on the right side project their emitted light onto the right side  20   b  of wheel  20 . Advantageously, the LEDs  72  are mounted internal to the forks  12 , but protrude slightly outwardly therefrom. The LEDs  72  are supplied electrical power via wire  56 , which is shown in  FIG. 1  as running from the inner structure of the forks  12 , up through the cycle frame&#39;s head tube  13 , through the handlebar stem  15 , through a suitable grommeted wire port, to control unit  52 . The various wires  56 , control unit  52 , and the like may be mounted or otherwise secured using suitable straps  59 , such as cable ties, screw-adjustable straps, adhesive and/or synthetic straps, rubber bands, and the like.  
         [0029]     Activating switch  54  causes electric current to travel from battery pack  62  to LEDs  72  through wire  56 . The LEDS  72  then emit ultraviolet light directed onto the respective side surfaces  20   a , 20   b  of wheel  20 , thereby exciting phosphorescent surfaces  20   a , 20   b  on wheel  20 . Thus, in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the phosphorescence charging system  50  directs ultraviolet light at both sides  20   a , 20   b  of phosphorescent wheel  20 . The excited areas on the wheel  20  in turn emit visible light, which advantageously forms visual circles as the wheel  20  rotates, with one of the visual circles being visible from each side of the bicycle  10 .  
         [0030]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the phosphorescence charging system  50  is integrated into two distinct housings  66 , with each housing have an ultraviolet emitter  70  (such as LED  72 ), power source (such as battery  62 ), and a control  52  (such as switch  54 ). The housing  66  advantageously takes the form of a plastic or synthetic component housing attached to forks  12  with an adjustable strap  59 . There is at least one ultraviolet emitter  79  for each side surface  20   a , 20   b  of phosphorescent wheel  20  that directs its emitted ultraviolet light onto that side surface of wheel  20 . Thus, as can be seen in  FIG. 2 , one component housing  66  is disposed on each fork  12 , so that ultraviolet light may be directed at both sides  20   a , 20   b  of phosphorescent wheel  20  in order to produce the phosphorescent glow visible from both sides of the bicycle  10 .  
         [0031]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the ultraviolet emitter  70  takes the form of a fluorescent tube  74 , rather than an LED  72 . In this embodiment, the fluorescent tubes  74  are used to generate the required phosphorescence charge energy, advantageously with at least one fluorescent tube  74  disposed on each side  20   a , 20   b  of wheel  20 . For the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the fluorescent tubes  74  are mounted on the underside of front fender  16 . In addition, the control unit  52  portion of the phosphorescence charging system  50  of  FIG. 3  includes a motion/photo sensor  55  attached to fender  16 . This motion/photo sensor  55  conceptually acts as a switch to control the on/off state of the fluorescent tubes  74 . Moving the bicycle  10 , and thus fender  16 , while in darkness or low light causes sensor  55  to activate and complete the power circuit to fluorescent tubes  74 . By using motion/photo sensor  55  as opposed to a traditional manual switch, the fluorescent tubes  74  may be limited to activating only at night or in other low light conditions.  
         [0032]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the emitter portion  70  of the phosphorescence charging system  50  are mounted on a portion of the brake assembly  30 . In  FIG. 4 , a plurality of ultraviolet LEDs  72  are mounted within a set of brake calipers  32  and disposed so as to direct the ultraviolet light emitted thereby on the side surfaces  20   a , 20   b  of phosphorescent wheel  20 . Therefore, the LEDs  72  move toward and away from the wheel  20  as the calipers  32  move. The requisite power wires  56  may be routed partially internal to the calipers  32 , or external thereto, as is desired. As above, switch  54  selectively connects LEDs  72  to their power source  60 , which in this embodiment takes the form of battery pack  62 .  
         [0033]     In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 5 , LEDs  72  are mounted to another portion of braking assembly  30 ; in this embodiment, the so-called brake booster  34 . The brake booster  34  is a generally U-shaped component that helps stabilize the location of the pivot points for calipers  32 . Typically the brake booster  34  overlaps and connects to brake calipers  32  through a group of mounting ports. Power is supplied and controlled as described above.  
         [0034]     In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 6 , LEDs  72  are mounted to another portion of braking assembly  30 ; in this embodiment, the brake pad housings  35 . The brake pad housings  35  mount to respective brake calipers  32  through brake pad mounting posts  38 , as is conventional. Power may be supplied to LEDs  72  from corresponding batteries  62  which are mounted in brake pad housings  35 , and controlled by respective switches  54  located on the ends of brake pad mounting posts  38 .  
         [0035]     In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 7 , LEDs  72  are mounted to another portion of braking assembly  30 ; in this embodiment, the brake pad post mounting clips  37 . The brake pad post mounting clips  37  attach to the brake pad mounting posts  38 . The brake pad mounting clips  37  are secured to move with the calipers  32  when the brake pad housings  35  are mounted in a conventional fashion using brake pad mounting posts  38 . Power is supplied and controlled as described above.  
         [0036]      FIG. 8  shows a phosphorescence charging system  50  that directs ultraviolet light onto the same side of two different wheels  20 . The phosphorescence charging system  50  of  FIG. 8  includes a control unit  52  and at least two ultraviolet emitters  70 . The ultraviolet emitters  70  take the form of respective ultraviolet light emitting fluorescent tubes  74  attached to forks  12  and attached to bike main frame  11 . As generally described above, suitable wires  56 , secured to and/or routed through the main frame  11  and/or forks  12 , connect the fluorescent tubes  74  with control unit  52  for controlling the on/off state of the fluorescent tubes  74 . As can be seen, fluorescent tube  74  associated with forks  12  projects ultraviolet light onto the left side  20   a  of front wheel  20  and while the other fluorescent tube  74  projects its ultraviolet light onto the left side  20   a  of rear wheel  20 . Thus, in  FIG. 8 , phosphorescence charging system  50 , comprising fluorescent tubes  74 , wires  56 , and switch  54 , direct ultraviolet light at the same side (e.g., left side) of two different wheels  20  of the bicycle  10 . The excited areas on the wheels  20  in turn emit visible light, which advantageously forms respective visual circles as the wheels  20  rotate. If desired, a similar approach may be taken for the other side (e.g., right side) of the main frame  11 /forks  12 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 9  shows an arrangement where each wheel  20  has a corresponding unit  66  that houses two ultraviolet LEDs  72  for shining ultraviolet light on the wheel  20 . One unit  66  is attached to main frame  11 , and the other unit is attached to forks  12 . The two units  66  are in turn controlled by control unit  52  attached to handlebars  14 . The units  66  each include a plastic housing for attaching to the forks  12  or main frame  11 , a battery  62 , and a receiver switch  53 . In addition, control unit  52  includes a transmitter (not shown), a battery, and a switch  54 . Activating switch  54  causes a signal to be wirelessly transmitted from control unit  52  to the units  66 , which is received by receiver switches  53 , and which causes the batteries  62  to be electrically connected to the corresponding LEDs  72 . Thus, the embodiment of  FIG. 9  is conceptually a wireless version of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  with LEDs  72  rather than fluorescent tubes  74 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 10  shows a plurality of ultraviolet LEDs  72  mounted in forks  12  on one side of front wheel  20  and a plurality of ultraviolet LEDs  72  mounted in bike main frame  11  near rear wheel  20 . Power is supplied and controlled as described above. Thus, the embodiment of  FIG. 10  is conceptually similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , with two sets of LEDs  72 , rather than fluorescent tubes  74 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 11  shows an embodiment where the power source  60  is a dynamo  64  (sometimes referred to as a “generator” in the art) rather than batteries  62 , and where the LEDs  72  are contained within a plastic housing  66  attached to forks  12 . The dynamo  64  generates power from moving magnetic fields in any fashion known in the art. Only the front portion of the bicycle  10  is shown in  FIG. 11 , it being understood that an arrangement similar in concept of any of the embodiments may be used for rear portion. There may be, in some embodiments, both front and rear dynamos  64 , although such an arrangement may not be cost effective.  
         [0040]      FIG. 12  shows a phosphorescence charging system  50  used in conjunction with a stroller  80 . In general, the stroller includes a front frame tube  82 , a rear frame tube  84 , and a bottom frame tube  86 , that together form a generally triangular shape that supports front wheel  20  and rear wheels  20  (typically in a tricycle configuration). In this embodiment, the phosphorescence charging system  50  includes number of ultraviolet LEDs  72  contained within the stroller&#39;s fender  87  and a different set of LEDs  72  contained within a plastic housing  89  connected with bracket to bottom frame tube  86 . Switch  54  and battery pack  62  may be mounted to handles  88 , and switch  54  selectively connects LEDs  74  to battery pack  62  as generally described above. The embodiment of  FIG. 13  uses a similar approach, but with dynamo  64  in place of battery pack  62 , and with a correspondingly different wire routing arrangement.  
         [0041]     The embodiments discussed above employ various means to direct electromagnetic energy in the form of ultraviolet light onto phosphorescent wheels  20 . Such wheels  20  include phosphorescent materials on their side(s)  20   a , 20   b  that, following excitement (or “charging”) by ultraviolet light, persistently emit visible light in a non-reflective manner, with an intensity that decays over time. The phosphorescent materials may be molded into the side-facing materials of the wheels  20 , particularly tire sidewalls  20   a , 20   b , or may be coated onto, or applied via adhesive stickers, thereto. Examples of phosphorescent materials include materials known in the art as “zinc sulphide” and “strontium aluminate,” which may phosphoresce in a natural color or may phosphoresce in altered colors using methods known in the art of phosphorescent materials.  
         [0042]     The present invention is not limited to charging by emitters that emit solely ultraviolet light, as that term may be used in the strictest scientific sense. Instead, the emitters  70  may emit a broad spectrum of light that may include some ultraviolet light and some near-ultraviolet (but visible) light. As used herein the term ultraviolet means having a wavelength of between about 410 nm and about 10 nm. As used herein the term ultraviolet emitter means an emitter (e.g., LED, fluorescent tube, high intensity discharge lamp, laser, etc.) that emits electromagnetic radiation, with a significant portion of that radiation being ultraviolet. By way of non-limiting example, the ultraviolet emitter(s) may be LEDs with a peak wavelength in the range of 100-410 nanometers, and advantageously in the range 315-405 nanometers.  
         [0043]     It should be noted that the various aspects of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-13  may be combined as desired. For example, the embodiment of  FIG. 1  may be altered to use a dynamo-based power source  60 , rather than a battery pack  62 , and to include a photosensor control  55 , etc. The other embodiments may likewise be altered to incorporate the various teachings of the various embodiments, alone or in combination. Also, it should be noted the power source  60  for the phosphorescence charging system  50  may be also used to power other lights  100  on the vehicle  10 , 80 . For example, the bicycle  10  may additionally include visible light sources  100  that are directed outwardly, either to the side or to the front/rear of the bicycle  10 , with these visible light sources  100  powered by battery pack  62 . These visible light sources  100  may be of any suitable kind, such as incandescent bulbs, light emitting diodes, fluorescent bulbs, high intensity discharge lamps, and lasers.  
         [0044]     The illustrative embodiments of  FIG. 1-13  have been in the context of a human powered vehicle (e.g., bicycle  10 , stroller, etc.); however, in some embodiments, the idea may be extended to an internally powered vehicle, such as a motorcycle. With reference to  FIG. 14 , a motorcycle may have a plurality of ultraviolet LEDs contained within the surface of its forks. Wire, running up the front of the motorcycle, may connect LEDs to switch associated with handlebars. In addition, a plurality of ultraviolet LEDs may be contained within the surface of the motorcycle&#39;s rear swingarm. Wire, running along swing arm and the motorcycle main body, connects LEDs to switch. The switch is, in turn, connected to the motorcycle&#39;s battery or other internal power system. The LEDs, shine their ultraviolet light on respective phosphorescent wheels  20 .  FIG. 15  shows a related embodiment, where the LEDs are located within the inner curvature of the motorcycle&#39;s fenders.  
         [0045]     The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.