Abstract:
A lighting assembly for mounting to the exterior of a wheel of a vehicle includes a mounting assembly which enables the lighting assembly to be mounted to the wheel via the lug nuts ordinarily associated with a wheel cover. The mounting assembly, in one embodiment, includes a twist lock assembly which not only mounts the lighting assembly to the wheel but also stabilizes it while mounted thereto. The lighting assembly includes and interchangeable LED display for providing interchangeable messages, advertising or the like.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a completion application of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/681,900, filed Aug. 10, 2012 for “Wheel Mounted Lighted Assembly”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety including the drawings. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention concerns lighting assemblies. More particularly, the present invention concerns vehicular-related lighting assemblies. Even more particularly, the present invention concerns indicia displaying vehicle wheel lighting assemblies. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    In U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,182 there is disclosed a lighting assembly which is mounted to the wheel rim bore and which is selectively illuminated, as desired by the user. As noted, the assembly is only positionable or useful if secured to the wheel rim/bore. This is disadvantageous in many respects because of the fixed configuration associated with the lighting emission assembly, itself. 
         [0006]    The present invention, as is disclosed hereinafter, overcomes this deficiency by providing a lighting assembly which is capable of being mounted exteriorly of the bore and which is adapted to be deployed with various wheel covers. 
         [0007]    The utilization of such a lighting assembly not only provides decorative or aesthetic enhancements to vehicles but also provides a safety device where vehicles can be observed at night and otherwise dark environments. 
         [0008]    In addition, the lighting assembly can be deployed on trailers or similar such vehicles. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides an exteriorly mounted lighting display for use in connection with a wheel of a vehicle. 
         [0010]    Generally, the present invention comprises a lighting assembly and means for mounting the lighting assembly via the lug nuts of a wheel cover. 
         [0011]    In a particular embodiment, the mounting assembly includes twist lock including a mounting plate having a plurality of key ways which twistingly lock in place a lock. A plurality of plungers are used to further stabilize the lighting assembly. 
         [0012]    The lighting assembly, per se, includes an interchangeable LED or other lighting such as LCDs, electroluminescent, incandescent and similar light sources for displaying advertising, messages or other indicia. 
         [0013]    For a more complete understanding of the invention reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing. 
         [0014]    In the drawing like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view showing the construction and mounting of the lighting assembly hereof to a quick connect adapter; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a partial view of the quick connect adapter used herein&#39; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the wheel adapter for use herein; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the quick connect adapter; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view, partially exposed, of the present invention with the outer ring partially open; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of an adapter plate mounted to a wheel of a vehicle; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a socket mounted to a wheel; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a center bore mount adapter in a second embodiment hereof; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an alternate lug nut mounting plate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    At the outset, it is to be noted that the lighting assembly, per se, is substantially the same as that disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,182, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, including the drawings thereof. However, as noted above, the present invention enables the lighting assembly to be mounted exteriorly of a vehicle wheel. It is to be further understood that the present invention exhibits utility with any wheeled vehicle, including in-road and off-road vehicles which mount a wheel to an axle, wheel lug nuts and the like. 
         [0025]    Referring now to the drawing, and in particular  FIG. 1 , there is shown therein a light emission or lighting assembly, generally, denoted at  10 . The assembly, generally, comprises a housing  12  in which is disposed a display mechanism. The light emission display mechanism includes a light control portion, generally, denoted at  16  and a diffuser  18 . 
         [0026]    A first lens  20  is circumferentially disposed within the housing  12  adjacent the diffuser  18  and is retained within the housing  12 . 
         [0027]    To enhance the aesthetics, a ring or beauty member  122  ( FIG. 5 ) may surround the housing  12 . The assembly also includes an exterior lens  21  disposed adjacent the first lens, as shown. 
         [0028]    More specifically, the control portion  16  includes a light source  17 . The light source  17  comprises a mounting plate  25  having a plurality of LEDs  23  disposed therein and in electrical communication with a pc board  23  which is also fixed on the plate  25 . Although the ensuing description is made with reference to LEDs it should be noted that electroluminescent, incandescent and other illumination sources are equally applicable to and within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0029]    The lighting assembly  10  is powered by the light control portion  16  which comprises an electromagnetic motor assembly. The assembly includes a stator, magnet and a generataor housing  31 . The stator and magnet cooperate to generate electricity as described below. A generator housing  31  has the combined magnet and stator seated or disposed therewithin. The magnet  29 , which receives the stator  27  in the conventional manner, may be fixed through a suitable adhesive or frictionally fitted to the housing  31 . The stator  27  may be likewise fitted within the magnet  29 . 
         [0030]    The motor assembly, also, comprises a bearing assembly  38 . The bearing assembly  38  includes a bearing mount  44  and a rotatable bearing  46 . The bearing assembly  38  receives the generator housing  31 , as shown. 
         [0031]    A counterbalance  32  maintains the proper orientation of the lighting assembly as the wheel rotates. 
         [0032]    The counterbalance  32 , also, defines a mounting disk for the plate  25 . 
         [0033]    The counterbalance  32  has its cutout portion  33  disposed at the top of the counterbalance. The counterbalance further includes a mounting portion  35  having at least one aperture  37  provided therein. The aperture  37  receives a fastener (not shown) for securing the bearing assembly  39  thereto. The mounting portion  35  includes a substantially cylindrical disk  41  about which the bearing assembly  38  is seated. A concentric threaded shaft  43  extends from the disk  41  and projects outwardly therefrom and is secured to the stator  12 . 
         [0034]    The bearing mount  44  is secured to the housing  12  by a suitable fastener(s), such as threaded bolt(s) or the like (not shown. 
         [0035]    The bearing  46  is nested within the mount  44  and is secured to the housing  43  in the well-known manner. The generator housing  31  is affixed to the housing  12  by any suitable means, such as a threaded fastener (not shown). Thus, as the wheel rotates, the bearing permits the counterbalance to remain in position while the motor rotates to cause the pc board to power the LEDs and thus, cause light emission via the LEDs. 
         [0036]    A battery backup B is affixed to the plate  25  and is in electrical communication with the pc board  23 . Thus, as electricity is generated, excess electricity is stored therewithin. A conventional R-C circuit (not shown) prevents overload of the battery B. All the elements are maintained in position through a seal such as a gasket  50  or the like. 
         [0037]    Suitable fasteners (not shown) project through suitable apertures to interconnect the lenses and the counterbalance to the housing  12 , as shown. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 5  the outer ring envelope the assembly. The outer ring comprises a toroidal member having a first section  122 ′ and a second section  124  which are hingedly interconnected by a hinge  126 . The hinge rotatably interconnects the two sections at a first position. 
         [0039]    A fastener  128  is disposed diametrically opposite the first position. 
         [0040]    When the fastener  128  is removed, the first section  122  rotates with respect to the second portion  124  thereby providing access to the internal lenses and assembly. This readily permits changing the front lens  20  to display different indicia. 
         [0041]    As is known to the skilled artisan, rotation of a wheel W ( FIG. 6 ) of a vehicle causes generation of electricity to power the LEDs and, thereby, emit light. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  6 , in deploying the present invention it is essential to have a lug nut adapter, such as is shown at  60  and which is designed to accommodate the mounting of the present lighting assembly to the exterior of the wheel W. The lug nut adapter  60  contemplated for use herein is a substantially circular  62  plate having a plurality of apertures  64  formed therein. The apertures  64  are designed to be coincident with and mountable onto a lug nut post (not shown) in registry with and secured in place through a lug nut (not shown) in a manner well known to the skilled artisan. 
         [0043]    The adapter  60  has a central twist lock socket  68  concentric with the adapter plate  62  and integrally formed therewith. The socket  68  removably receives a twist lock  70  as described hereinbelow. 
         [0044]    The twist lock socket  68 , comprises a substantially cylindrical element  72  having a plurality of keyways  74  circumferentially disposed therearound. The keyways  74 , generally, comprise L-shaped cut-outs  76  which define tracks  78  for a locking element  66  as discussed below. 
         [0045]    The socket  68  further comprises a plurality of circumferential openings or perimetral openings  82  which define seats for ball plungers  84  associated with the lock  70 . 
         [0046]    The lock  70  is removably seated in the socket  68 . 
         [0047]    As shown, the lock  70  comprises a disk  86  having a plurality of circumferential arcuate projections  88  which are in registry with and nestingly mate with associated cut-outs  76  associated with the socket  68 . 
         [0048]    The lock  70 , preferably, is integrally formed with a plate  90 . A plurality of ball plungers  84  are circumferentially disposed about the plate  90 . The plungers are spring loaded and normally urge the plungers outwardly toward the socket when deployed. 
         [0049]    In use, the projections  88  are nested within their associated cut-outs  76  or tracks. Once inserted into the socket tracks  76  the lock is twisted or rotated to keep the lock in place. 
         [0050]    The plungers  84  mate with associated apertures  82  formed in the socket. The plungers further reinforce the stability of the locking feature. 
         [0051]    The lock, itself, is preferably integrally formed with the housing  12  and projects laterally outwardly therefrom. The lock is centrally disposed of the housing. 
         [0052]    The lug nut adapter is secured to the exterior housing via the lock  70 . 
         [0053]    Typically, even with luxury vehicles, the center emblem plate is removable to expose the center axle as well as the mounting plate. This enables the universal adapter to be secured thereto through suitable fasteners  81  ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0054]    In a second embodiment hereof the present light assembly can be center bore mounted. Referring to  FIG. 8  there is shown a center bore mount adapter  200 . The center bore mount  200  is inserted over and envelopes the center bore of wheel W inserted to the requisite depth. The mount  200  is a cylindrical member  202  having a plurality of apertures  204  formed therein. A shoulder  206  is integrally formed therewith. Openings or apertures  208  are formed in the shoulder which receive fasteners to fix the adapter place thereto (not shown). Fasteners (not shown) project through the apertures  204  provided therein to secure the center bore adapter. The lock assembly is then secured to the center bore adapter via apertures as shown. 
         [0055]    In  FIG. 9  there is depicted another embodiment of a lug nut adapter  300  which accommodates the assembly of the present invention. As shown, the adapter  300  spans across the axle and is fixed to the wheel via lug nuts. The socket itself is secured to the adapter  300  via suitable fasteners secured via the apertures  302 . 
         [0056]    It should be further pointed herein that in actuating the present assembly an on-off switch is provided which is used to power up the LEDs, which may be automatic or manual. 
         [0057]    The present invention also contemplates the lighting assembly being in communication with a satellite to enable satellite transmission to change the LED display and, thus, any message generated thereby. In this regard, the LEDs can be arranged in any fashion to generate messages through the actuation of selected ones of such LEDs. 
         [0058]    Additionally, the assembly hereof can generate a signal, i.e., a GPS tracking signal or a microwave that can be tracked via cell phone towers and the like.