Abstract:
A bicycle or moped lighting system projects light onto a rider&#39;s moving legs to make the rider more visible to motor vehicle operators and thereby improve the rider&#39;s safety. A single safety light fixture is mounted below the bicycle seat and directs diverging light beams towards the backs of both of the rider&#39;s legs. While peddling, the motion of the lighted legs attracts the attention of the motor vehicle operators thereby improving rider visibility. A second light fixture may reside ahead of the rider to direct diverging light beams onto the fronts of the rider&#39;s moving legs.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a Continuation in Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/810,604 filed Jun. 6, 2007 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/812,056, filed Jun. 8, 2006, which applications are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to bicycle safety and in particular to bicycle safety lighting. 
         [0003]    Bicycle riding has been both a form of transportation and recreation for many years and in many parts of the world. When such riding occurs in low light and/or dark conditions the safety of the rider depends upon the rider&#39;s ability to see the road surface ahead and more importantly being able to be seen by motor vehicle operators using the road. This invention addresses the safety need to be seen by motor vehicle operators. 
         [0004]    Various safety devices, generally comprising reflectors and/or lights, are known and used by bicycle riders. Most bicycles are sold with reflectors, however such reflectors are small and depend on light being directed towards them. Both forward facing and rearward facing lights are also common, and are generally mounted on or near handle bars, or under the bicycle seat. While such lights provide some added visibility to the rider, it is often not sufficiently conspicuous to motor vehicle operators. 
         [0005]    Several attempts have been made to provide an elevated lighting for bicycles based on the belief that a higher light is more visible. Such elevated devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,049,959, and 4,309,741. Unfortunately, while these are intuitively attractive, in practice they have failed to gain acceptance, possibly because of the ungainly appearance, and because they do not provide a significant improvement in visibility compared to existing lights. 
         [0006]    Other attempts have been made to provide safety lighting to improve the visibility of motorcycle riders. U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,339 discloses a light residing towards the rear of motorcycle seating, which light illuminates a rider&#39;s back to improve visibility. Unfortunately, such lighting fails to illuminate an easily identifiable portion of the rider, especially when the rider is leaning forward on the handle bars, and is not likely to cause a motor vehicle operator to immediately identify the rider and provide increased safety. 
         [0007]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/810,604 filed Jun. 6, 2007 by the present applicant addresse many of the needs identified above by providing lights mountable to the bicycle frame behind the rider&#39;s legs to direct light beams onto the rider&#39;s moving legs. The illumination of the rider&#39;s moving legs attracts the attention of motor vehicle operators and thereby significantly improves rider safety. While the &#39;604 application provides a good solution to rider safety, some riders may prefer a simple single device over the two lights disclosed in the &#39;604 application. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a bicycle, moped, or electric bicycle lighting system which projects light onto a rider&#39;s moving legs to make the rider more visible to motor vehicle operators and thereby improve the rider&#39;s safety. A single safety light fixture is mounted below the bicycle seat and directs diverging light beams towards the backs of both of the rider&#39;s legs. While peddling, the motion of the lighted legs attracts the attention of the motor vehicle operators thereby improving rider visibility. A second light fixture may reside ahead of the rider to direct diverging light beams onto the fronts of the rider&#39;s moving legs. 
         [0009]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a bicycle and safety lighting system. The safety lighting system includes a single safety light fixture producing horizontally diverging light beams, the safety light fixture mounted to the bicycle and configured to illuminate a rider&#39;s legs while the rider is sitting on the bicycle seat and peddling the bicycle. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a bicycle safety light fixture including a housing and columns of light elements. The housing has a horizontal cross-section with forward and outward horizontally diverging arms angularly spaced apart in azimuth and on each side of a concave mouth. The arms have a convex “D” shaped vertical profile, with the rounded faces of the “Ds” facing forward. The columns of light elements are curved columns of vertically spaced apart light elements on the forward facing rounded faces of the “Ds”, and comprise at least four light elements pointing in different elevation angles to provide a broad vertical illumination including downward illumination. A lens covers the column of light elements on each arm and the safety light fixture produces two horizontally diverging beams of light. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0011]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a prior art bicycle. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the bicycle and a safety light system with a single beam safety light fixture according to the present invention, attached behind a seat tube. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a more detailed view of the safety light fixture mounted behind the seat tube. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is a front view of the safety light fixture according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  is a top view of the safety light fixture according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4A  is a front view of the safety light fixture according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4B  is a left side view of the safety light fixture according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4C  is a rear view of the safety light fixture according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4D  is a horizontal cross-section of the single safety light fixture according to the present invention taken along line  4 D- 4 D of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0021]      FIG. 4E  is a left side view of a second embodiment of the safety light fixture according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the bicycle and a safety light system with a second safety light fixture according to the present invention, attached to a steering head and illuminating fronts of a rider&#39;s legs. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is the second safety light fixture with a shade according to the present invention cover upper light elements of the second safety light fixture. 
       
    
    
       [0024]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0026]    A prior art bicycle  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The bicycle  10  includes a frame including a top tube  11 , a seat tube  12 , a steering head  14 , seat stay  24 L and chain stay  26 L. A fork  16  is rotatably mounted to the steering head  14 , and handlebars  17  are mounted to the frame and fork  16  by a stem  15 . A seat  22  is mounted to the seat tube  12  of the frame by a seat post  21 . A front light  20   a  is mounted to the stem  15  and a rear light  20   b  is mounted to the seat post  21 . While the front light  20   a  and rear light  20   b  provide some visibility to the bicycle  10 , motor vehicle operators still often fail to see and identify a bicycle and rider at night and in low light conditions. Further, a common “point like” rear light  20   b  may provide no indication of distance to motor vehicle operators. 
         [0027]    A side view of the bicycle  10  and a safety light system according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 2  and in a more detailed view in  FIG. 3 . The safety lighting system according to the present invention includes a safety light fixture  200  mounted below the seat  22  and behind the axis of the seat post  21  and/or the seat tube  12 . The safety light fixture  200  includes at least two light elements  224  (see  FIGS. 4A and 4B ) which produce at least two horizontally diverging beams  202   a  and  202   b  of light having downward, forward, and upward components. The safety light fixture  200  is preferably mounted to the seat tube  12  or the seat post  21 , but may be mounted to the seat tube  12 , the seat post  21 , the seat  22 , the top tube  11 , seat rails, a saddle bag attached to the seat rails, seat post, or seat, rear rack or bag attached to seat stays, axle, chain stays, or the seat post, a rear fender, or to any feature of the bicycle  10  allowing the light beams of the safety light fixture  200  to be directed towards a rider&#39;s legs, and preferably towards the backs of the rider&#39;s legs. The safety light fixture  200  is preferably attached by a strap  210 . While the safety light fixture is shown attached using a strap, any single safety light fixture producing two horizontally diverging light beams to illuminate both of a rider&#39;s moving legs is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. For example, the safety light fixture may also be attached by a strap or a clamp to the bottom of the seat  22  and illuminate the rider&#39;s legs. 
         [0028]    A front view of the safety light fixture  200  with the strap  210  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3A  and a top view of the safety light fixture  200  with the strap  210  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3B . The strap  210  comprises a first strap portion  210   a  and a second strap portion  210   b , both attached to slotted features  218  of the safety light fixture  200 . The first strap portion  210   a  includes a buckle  216 . The second strap  210   b  includes cooperating hook and loop material  214   a  and  214   b . The concave front face of the safety light fixture  200  includes two strips of gripping material  228  to prevent or reduce slipping on the safety light fixture  200  when attached to the bicycle  10 . Each of the two strips of gripping material  228  may be replace by two or more smaller pieces of gripping material, for example, by two or more, about one half inch diameter, pieces of gripping material. 
         [0029]    The safety light fixture  200  is attached to the bicycle  10  by holding the safety light fixture  200 , and specifically the gripping material  228 , against a bicycle  10  surface (preferably a cylindrical surface,) and attaching the first strap portion  210   a  and the second strap portion  210   b  around the surface and looping the end of the second strap portion  210   b  through the buckle  216  and pressing the cooperating hook and loop material  214   a  and  214   b  against each other. The two strips of gripping material  228  are preferably a silicone material and preferably at least 32.5 mm high and approximately 10 mm wide with a rounded cross-section. 
         [0030]    A front view of the safety light fixture  200  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4A , a left side view of the safety light fixture  200  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4B , a rear view of the safety light fixture  200  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4C , and a horizontal cross-sectional view of the safety light fixture  200  according to the present invention taken along line  4 D- 4 D of  FIG. 4A  is shown in  FIG. 4D . The safety light fixture  200  has a housing  210  with a height H, a width W and a depth D. The height H is preferably approximately five inches, the width W is preferably approximately three inches, and the depth D is preferably approximately 2½ inches. The horizontal cross-section of the housing  210  (see  FIG. 4D ) is arced with a concave mouth  213  and left and right arms  211   a  and  211   b  of the arc on each side of the mouth  213  facing forward. The arms  211   a  and  211   b  preferably have a convex “D” shaped vertical profile seen best in  FIG. 4B  and angularly spaced apart in azimuth ψ as best seen in  FIG. 4D  and light elements  224  reside on rounded faces  210 ′ of the “Ds” facing forward. A curved column of light elements in each arm follows the vertical convex “D” shape of each arm. 
         [0031]    Lenses  220  cover the forward edge of each arm  211   a ,  211   b  of the housing  210  and light elements  224  reside in columns behind the lenses  220 . A lower most light element  224 ′ is pointed down at an elevation angle θ between 30 and 105 degrees from the horizontal, and the light elements in each column are preferably elevationally spaced apart (i.e., pointed at different elevations or vertical angles) although consecutive pairs or triples of light elements may be pointed in the same vertical direction. Depending on the mounting location of the safety light fixture  200 , various of the light elements  224  and  224 ′ provide forward, upward, and/or downward illumination to illuminate a rider&#39;s moving legs to attract the attention of motor vehicle operators thereby improving rider visibility and safety. A preferred embodiment of the safety light fixture  200  includes between four and twelve light elements  224  on each arm  211   a  and  211   b  of the safety light fixture  200 , and more preferably eight light elements  224  on each arm  211   a  and  211   b  of the safety light fixture  200 . 
         [0032]    The light elements  224  may be vertically symmetrical or asymmetrical with the light elements  224  vertically spaced apart on each arm  221   a  and  211   b  and wrapping around each arm  221   a  and  211   b  thereby pointing down, foreward, and up producing a 180 degree vertical beam pattern. The left and right arms  211   a  and  211   b  are also angularly spaced apart in azimuth angle γ to form a horizontally diverging “V” shaped light pattern thereby illuminating both legs with a single safety light fixture. The azimuth angle ψ is preferably between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 120 degrees and more preferably approximately 90 degrees. The light elements  224  are preferably Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) having white 9000 millicandles (MCDs) and 20 to 60 degree beamwidths. 
         [0033]    While a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B  has two columns of vertically spaced apart light elements providing 180 degrees of vertical coverage, any single safety light fixture providing diverging light beams and mounted to a bicycle to direct light towards a rider&#39;s legs is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0034]    An ON/OFF switch  222  resides near the top of the front side of the safety light fixture  200  and is preferably water proof, and more preferably sealed by a silicone seal. An additional red LED  223  resides near the top of the safety light fixture  200 . The safety light fixture  200  preferably is powered by batteries  225  housed inside the safety light fixture  200 , and more preferably powered by three AA batteries. A battery door  226  on the front side of the safety light fixture  200  is opened to remove and replace the batteries. The batteries may also be rechargeable and may be recharged from a conventional wall outlet, from a PC USB port, from a solar panel, or from any suitable power source using an appropriate circuit. 
         [0035]    A side view of a front mounted second safety light fixture  300  with a single beam safety light fixture according to the present invention, attached to a steering head  14  of the bicycle  10  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The back side of the safety light fixture  300  faces the fronts of the rider&#39;s legs to illuminate the rider&#39;s moving legs to attract the attention of motor vehicle operators thereby improving rider visibility and safety. The safety light fixture  300  is similar to the safety light fixture  200  but may includes features to mount to any forward member of the bicycle  10 . The safety light fixture  300  may be mounted to the steering head  14 , the fender  204 , the top tube  11 , the down tube  308 , the handle bars  17 , the stem  15 , front mounted rack, or to any point in front of the rider using an appropriate bracket or strap where the safety light fixture  300  may direct illumination towards the fronts of the rider&#39;s legs. 
         [0036]    A left side view of a second embodiment of the safety light fixture  200   a  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4E . The safety light fixture  200   a  is similar to the safety light fixture  200 , except that the light elements  224  are in straight vertical columns, and do not have the convex “D” shaped vertical profile shown in  FIG. 4B . 
         [0037]    The second safety light fixture  300  with a shade  306  according to the present invention covering upper light elements of the second safety light fixture  300  is shown in  FIG. 6 . Because the safety light fixture  300  may be mounted to direct light towards the front of the rider&#39;s legs, in some mounting locations, the light may interfere with the rider&#39;s vision. To address this possibility, the safety light fixture  300  may be manufactured with a modified vertical beam pattern, or may be rider adjustable or modifiable to adjust the vertical beam pattern, or the shade  306  may be positioned over the upper light elements. The safety light fixture  300  is preferably mounted to the bicycle ahead of the rider and preferably adjusted to create light beams extending vertically from the horizontal the lowest travel of the bicycle pedals to illuminate fronts of the rider&#39;s legs while the rider is sitting on the seat and peddling the bicycle. 
         [0038]    As seen by comparing  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 5 , the safety light fixture  200  shown in  FIGS. 4A-4D  provides light over approximately a 180 degree vertical beam while the safety light fixture  300  provides less vertical beam coverage, and preferably the safety light fixture  300  provides vertical beam coverage no higher than the horizontal plane (i.e., −zero degrees) and down to −90 degrees, directed toward the toes of the rider toward the ground. Such wide vertical beam allows flexibility in mounting the safety light fixture  200  to the bicycle  10 . The safety light fixture  300  may also be attached to a range of points along a front fender  204  or other locations and is manufactured or user modifiable to adjust the vertical beam coverage to still illuminate the rider&#39;s legs directed towards a rider&#39;s legs, without interfering with the rider&#39;s vision. Such versatility allows use of a single safety light fixture with horizontally diverging light beams on a variety of bicycles and at positions preferred by a variety of riders. 
         [0039]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.