Abstract:
A bicycle light assembly is electrically connected to a dynamo. The bicycle light assembly has a lamp housing mountable to a portion of the bicycle. An input portion is disposed on the lamp housing and electrically connected to the dynamo for inputting a dynamo output signal and for outputting an input signal. A regulator circuit is electrically connected to the input portion for regulating the input signal to a regulated signal. A light source is electrically connected to the regulator circuit for lighting the periphery and an output portion being disposed on the lamp housing and electrically connected to the regulator circuit for outputting the regulated signal. The output portion has at least one auxiliary electrical output connector for outputting the regulated signal to at least one auxiliary electrical device electrically connected to the at least one auxiliary electrical output connector.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to European Patent Application No. 05 015 070.5. The entire disclosure of European Patent Application No. 05 015 070.5 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention generally relates to a bicycle light assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bicycle head light assembly electrically connected to a dynamo for supplying the output of the dynamo to at least one electrical component coupled to the light assembly.  
         [0004]     2. Background Information  
         [0005]     Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the various components of the bicycle.  
         [0006]     In recent years, bicycles have been equipped with a number of electrical devices in order to meet various requirements by the users. Examples of electrical devices include lights, display devices, cell phone charger, electronic derailleurs and the like. In such a bicycle it is necessary to supply predetermined levels of power to each of the electrical devices. At the same time, it is necessary to deliver the predetermined power signal permanently to such components. While it is possible for each of the number of the above-mentioned electrical components to use batteries, the disadvantage of using batteries is to be seen in the inconvenience to replace them periodically. And even faster as the size and the need for electrical power of the electrical components increase.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, there is a significant advantage in supplying each of the electrically components with its required power from a dynamo. However, since the requirement of power of the different electrical components will differ from component to component, a separate dynamo for each electrical component is provided on the bicycle. For example if a light and a cell phone charger are installed on a bicycle, a first dynamo is installed on the bicycle for the light and a second dynamo installed on the bicycle for the cell phone charger. In other words, in some conventional bicycles, a separate dynamo is provided for each of the electrical components as each of the electrical components requires a predetermined level of power. For example the Japanese Utility Model Patent Publication No. 3 094 197 U discloses an electric power supply and charging equipment for a bicycle wherein an electrical component, being one of a cellular phone, a pager, a radio, a personal digital assistant or a rechargeable battery, is directly coupled to a dynamo via a plug terminal and a rectifier transformer. The single dynamo delivers a power signal to the electrical component coupled thereto when it is switched on, which means that it is brought into contact with the wheel of the bicycle.  
         [0008]     However, as the amount of the electrical components increases the amount of dynamos required has to be adapted to the plurality of electrical components. The mounting space which is required to mount the plurality of dynamos to the bicycle frame increases correlating with an increase of the weight of the bicycle at all. Actually the amount of electrical components that a rider may use on his bicycle is limited. Since a dynamo is designed to generate electricity through rotation of the bicycle wheel a greater amount of dynamos means a greater burden on the rider when the rider is turning the wheels to cause the dynamos generate power. The greater the burden is on he rider when turning the wheels the more likely it is that instability will result from insufficient power supply from dynamos to the electrical components.  
         [0009]     In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved bicycle light assembly. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention has been conceived to overcome these disadvantages in the prior art. Thus, one object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle light assembly that is configured to achieve the possibility of coupling a plurality of electrical components to a single dynamo and to deliver a stable and permanent output from the dynamo to the plurality of electrical components without installing multiple dynamos on the bicycle in a most efficient and space-saving way.  
         [0011]     The foregoing object and other objects can basically be attained by providing a light assembly for a bicycle is electrically connected to a dynamo. The light assembly basically comprises a lamp housing, an input portion, a regulator circuit, a light source and an output portion. The lamp housing is configured to be mountable to a portion of the bicycle. The input portion is disposed on the lamp housing and configured to electrically receive a dynamo output signal and output an input signal. The regulator circuit is electrically connected to the input portion for regulating the input signal to a regulated signal. The light source is electrically connected to the regulator circuit regulator circuit for external lighting. The output portion is disposed on the lamp housing and electrically connected to the regulator circuit via a permanent connection for outputting the regulated signal. The output portion has at least one auxiliary electrical output connector permanently connected to output the regulated signal to at least one auxiliary electrical device electrically connected to the at least one auxiliary electrical output connector.  
         [0012]     In a further aspect of the present invention, a charge storage element is disposed inside the lamp housing for storing the power delivered by the dynamo. The charge storage element is electrically connected to the input portion and to the regulator circuit outputting stored power to the regulator circuit when the dynamo is switched off to enable a permanent supply of a regulated signal to the at least one auxiliary electrical device that is electrically connected to the output portion of the light assembly. In this case, since a charge storage element accommodated within the lamp housing stores the dynamo output received from the input portion of the lamp housing, power from the dynamo can be supplied to the plurality of electrical components, even when the rider is not driving the bicycle.  
         [0013]     With such a light assembly, an output signal from a dynamo is input into the regulator circuit in order to regulate the dynamo output signal and to deliver it to a plurality of electrical components coupled to the head light, wherein the plurality of electrical components includes of the electrical component and at least one auxiliary electrical component. Here, once the regulator circuit has regulated the dynamo output signal such that it can be used by each of the plurality of electrical components the dynamo signal having been regulated by the regulator circuit is output from the output portion to the plurality of electrical components, whereby the output signal of the dynamo may be delivered stable and permanent to the plurality of electrical components, without installing multiple dynamos on the bicycle. By such a permanent supply of the regulated dynamo output signal any kind of electrical component is mountable to the corresponding electrical output connector, in particular a cellular phone, a pager, a radio, a personal digital assistant or a rechargeable battery.  
         [0014]     In another aspect of the present invention, the light assembly further comprises a wave shape circuit which is disposed inside the lamp housing. The wave shape circuit is electrically connected to the input portion to the input portion to generate a speed signal from the dynamo output signal received from the input portion.  
         [0015]     In a further aspect of the present invention, a control unit is disposed inside the lamp housing of the light assembly. The control unit is electrically connected to the wave shape circuit and the regulator circuit. The control unit generates a composite signal from the regulated dynamo output signal and the speed signal received from the regulator circuit and the wave shape circuit. The control unit is also coupled to the output portion to permanently supply a composite signal to at least one of the electrical output connectors of the output portion. As an advantageous feature of the present invention also the composite signal consisting of the regulated dynamo output signal and the speed signal is permanently supplied to at least one of the electrical output connectors of the output portion by the control unit. By such a permanent supply of the composite signal any kind of electrical component is mountable to the corresponding electrical output connector, in particular a cycle computer displaying the speed of the bicycle.  
         [0016]     In another aspect of the present invention, a rectifier circuit is disposed inside the lamp housing being electrically connected to the input portion and to the charge storage element. Further an auto-light circuit can be disposed inside the lamp housing having a sensor for automatically turning the lights on and off depending on the brightness.  
         [0017]     Fortunately each electrical component of the plurality of electrical components, comprising the electrical component and the at least one auxiliary electrical component, is detachably coupled to the at least one electrical connector of the output portion of the light assembly. Following each electrical component may be coupled to and decoupled from the light assembly and each electrical component may be replaced by another. As already stated above the at least one electrical component connected to an electrical output connector outputting either a regulated dynamo signal or a composite signal can be one of a cycle computer and/or a radio, a cellular phone, a pager, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a rechargeable battery and/or a light. Of course it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that also other electrical components then the ones listed above can be coupled to the output portion of the light assembly.  
         [0018]     In this regard it is either possible to directly connect the electrical components to the output portion by detachably attaching them into a corresponding mounting portion disposed on the lamp housing of the light assembly. Further, the at least one electrical component may also be detachably attached by a second connecting cord in order to mount the electrical component separately from the light assembly, e.g. to the frame or handle bar of the bicycle.  
         [0019]     In another aspect of the invention, a hub dynamo particularly integrated in the hub of the front wheel is used to produce the power to be delivered to the light assembly in order to supply a permanent power signal. The hub dynamo is electrically connected to the input portion via a first connecting cord. Of course, any other dynamo falls under the disclosure of the present invention which is suitable to permanently supply electrical power to the light assembly.  
         [0020]     According to the present invention, once a regulator circuit has regulated the output signal of a dynamo such that the output can be used by each of a plurality of electrical components, the output signal has been regulated by the regulator circuit is supplied to the plurality of electrical components by the output portion. Thereby, the plurality of electrical components coupled to the light assembly is supplied by a stable and permanent output of the dynamo, without installing multiple dynamos on the bicycle in a most efficient and space-saving way.  
         [0021]     These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a bicycle in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a handlebar portion of the bicycle illustrated in  FIG. 1  in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing an internal arrangement of the head light assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of an internal arrangement of the head light assembly in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of an internal arrangement of cycle computer in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     Selected embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.  
         [0029]     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a bicycle is illustrated that is equipped with a first embodiment of the present invention. The bicycle pertaining to the invention is a mountain bike having front and rear suspensions. The bicycle includes, among other things, a frame  1  having a frame body  2  with a front fork  3 , a handlebar portion  4 , a drive portion  5 , a front wheel  6  and a rear wheel  7 . The frame body  2  of frame  1  is constructed of welded irregular-shaped pipe. The drive portion  5  includes front and rear derailleurs  8  and  9  and a controller (not shown) for controlling various components including the front and rear derailleurs  8  and  9 . The front wheel  6  has a hub dynamo  10  installed thereon is mounted on the front fork  3  whereas the rear wheel  7  is installed to a rear portion of the bicycle frame  1 . The frame body  2  has a head tube  11  with rear suspension  13  attached, while the front fork  3  has front suspension  14  attached.  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the handlebar portion  4  has a handlebar stem  12  affixed to the upper end of front fork  3 . A handlebar  15  is affixed to the handlebar stem  12 . A brake lever  16  and a grip  17  are installed at each end of handlebar  15 . Various components, including a saddle  18  and the drive portion  5 , are mounted on the frame body  2 . The front fork  3  is installed on the front of frame body  2  so as to swivel about a diagonally inclined axis. The handlebar  15  is provided with a pair of shift switches  20   a  and  20   b.  The shift switches  20   a  and  20   b  are mounted adjacent the brake levers  16 . The shift switches  20   a  is used for manually shifting the rear derailleur  9 , while the shift switches  20   b  is used for manually shifting the front derailleur  8 .  
         [0031]     The hub dynamo  10  of the front wheel  6  is a hub permitting installation of the brake disk  60  of a disk brake. Internally, the hub dynamo  10  houses an alternating current generator (not shown) that generates electricity by turning the front wheel  6 . The alternating current generator is connected via a first connecting cord  66  to the head light assembly  30 . At the rear wheel  7 , a rear hub is equipped with a freewheel having a multiple-speed gear assembly. The drive portion  5  is disposed in the lower portion of frame body  2  (hanger portion), and basically includes the front derailleur  8  and the rear derailleur  9  in conjunction with the multiple-speed gear assembly having, for example, nine sprockets and a front crank assembly. The front crank assembly has a crank  27  with a right gear crank  27   a  with, for example, three sprockets and a left crank  27   b.  The drive portion  5  also has a chain  29  engageable on any of the sprockets of gear crank  27   a  and the multiple-speed gear assembly. The chain  29  engaged on sprockets of the right gear crank  27   a  and the multiple-speed gear assembly is then guided onto different sprockets on the gear crank  27   a  and the multiple-speed gear assembly by the derailleurs  8  and  9 . In a drive portion of this kind, when shift switch  20   a  or  20   b  is operated, a control signal from shift switch  20   a  or  20   b  is processed by a controller (not shown). The controller (not shown) is also configured and arranged to control various electrical components including a light assembly  30  that is used for mounting a plurality of auxiliary electrical components or devices  50 . The controller can be incorporated into a cycle computer or provided as a separate unit as needed and/or desired.  
         [0032]     The light assembly  30  is a component for supplying outputs, such as power or electrical signals, from the alternating current generator of the hub dynamo  10  to the plurality of auxiliary electrical components  50 . As shown in  FIG. 2  or  FIG. 3 , the light assembly  30  has a lamp housing  31 , an input portion  32 , and an output portion  33 . The light assembly  30  also has an internal light source  35  for providing external lighting from the lamp housing  31 . A mounting member (not shown) is attachable to lamp housing  31 . By this mounting member, the lamp housing  31  is detachably mounted on the head tube  11  (as shown) or on the handlebar  15  as needed and/or desired. The input portion  32  is disposed on the lamp housing  31 , with the first connecting cord  66  connected to the input portion  33 . The first connecting cord  66  connects the input portion  32  with the alternating current generator. The output portion  33  is disposed on the lamp housing  31 , and comprises first to fourth electrical output connectors  33   a,    33   b,    33   c  and  33   d.    
         [0033]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a rectifier circuit  40 , a charge storage element  41 , a regulator circuit  42  and an auto-light circuit  43  are all housed within the lamp housing  31  of the light assembly  30 . The rectifier circuit  40  converts AC power from the alternating current generator  19  input to the input portion  33  into DC power. The rectified DC power from the rectifier circuit  40  is output by the rectifier circuit  40  to the charge storage element  41 . The charge storage element  41  consists of a large capacity capacitor, for example, and stores the DC power that has been rectified by the rectifier circuit  40 . The charge storage element  41  could include of a secondary cell, such as a nickel-cadmium cell, lithium ion cell, or nickel-hydrogen cell, rather than a capacitor. The DC power stored by the charge storage element  41  is supplied by the charge storage element  41  to the regulator circuit  42 .  
         [0034]     The regulator circuit  42  regulates power into predetermined power so that it can be used by each of the auxiliary electrical components  50  (e.g., a lamp  51 , a radio  52 , a cell phone charger  53  and a personal digital assistant  54 ) described later. The regulator circuit  42  comprises a voltage regulator circuit (not shown) that regulates DC voltage, supplied by the charge storage element  41 , to predetermined voltage, and supplies this to the first electrical output connector  33   a,  the second electrical output connector  33   b,  the third electrical output connector  33   c,  the fourth electrical output connector  33   d  and to the auto-light circuit  43 . In this voltage regulator circuit, DC voltage supplied by the charge storage element  41  is regulated, for example, to 1.2 V, 3.0 V, 3.5 V, and 3.7 V. 1.2 V DC power is output to the first electrical output connector  33   a,  3.0 V DC power to the second and third electrical output connectors  33   b  and  33   c,  3.7 V DC power to the fourth electrical output connector  33   d  and 3.5 V DC power to the auto-light circuit  43 . The auto-light circuit  43  is provided for controlling power on the basis of a signal from a sensor  46  to automatically turn the light source  35  on and off. This auto-light circuit  43  also controls DC power from voltage regulator circuit  42  and outputs it to the first electrical output connector  33   a  and to the lamp  51  directly connected to the auto-light circuit  43 . Power regulated in this manner in voltage regulator circuit and the auto-light circuit  43  is supplied by the first to fourth electrical output connectors  33   a,    33   b,    33   c  and  33   d  to the various electrical components  50 .  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the auxiliary electrical components  50  include, for example, the lamp  51 , the radio  52 , the cell phone charger  53 , and the personal digital assistant (PDA)  54 . Each of the auxiliary electrical components  50  is detachably and reattachably mounted to the light assembly  30  via second connecting cords  75  that is detachably connecting each of the components  50  to its corresponding one of the electrical output connectors  33   a  to  33   d.    
         [0036]     The lamp  51 , the cell phone charger  53  and the personal digital assistant (PDA)  54  are detachably mounted on handlebar  15 . The radio  52  has a liquid crystal display portion  52   b  capable of displaying various bands (AM, FM etc.) and various frequencies. The radio is also provided with a control button  52   c  for selecting various bands and various frequencies, and a volume adjustment knob  52   d.  Alternatively, the radio or component  52  can be a pager having the liquid crystal display portion  52   b,  the control button  52   c  and the knob  52   d.    
         [0037]     One end of each of the second connecting cords  75  is connected to the lamp  51 , the cell phone charger  53  and the personal digital assistant (PDA)  54 , respectively. The other end of the second connecting cord  75  for the lamp  51  is detachably connected to the first electrical output connector  33   a,  the other end of the second connecting cord  75  for cell phone charger  53  is detachably connected to third electrical output connector  33   c  and the other end of the second connecting cord  75  for personal digital assistant (PDA)  54  is detachably connected to fourth electrical output connector  33   d  . By such an arrangement, the lamp  51 , the cell phone charger  53  and the personal digital assistant (PDA)  54  are detachably connected to the output portion  33  of the light assembly  30  via each second connecting cord  75 . The lamp  51  has an on/off switch  51   c  that can be used to turn the lamp  51  on and off. The cell phone charger  53  has a charging terminal (not shown) for charging a cell phone. The cell phone charger  53  is designed such that, when a cell phone is placed in cell phone charger  53 , the charging terminal of the cell phone charger  53  comes into contact with a charging terminal (not shown) disposed on the cell phone to charge the cell phone. The personal digital assistant (PDA)  54  has also a charging terminal (not shown) for charging the personal digital assistant (PDA)  54 . The personal digital assistant (PDA) charger is designed such that, when a personal digital assistant (PDA)  54  is placed in personal digital assistant (PDA) charger, the charging terminal of personal digital assistant (PDA) charger comes into contact with a charging terminal (not shown) disposed on the personal digital assistant (PDA), to charge the personal digital assistant (PDA).  
         [0038]     As described hereinabove, the light assembly  30 , by the rectifying circuit  40 , rectifies AC power that is inputted by the input portion  32  from the alternating current generator  19  of hub dynamo  10  to give DC power. In the voltage regulator circuit of the regulator circuit  42 , DC power supplied by charge storage element  41  is regulated to predetermined voltage, and output to first to fourth electrical output connectors  33   a,    33   b,    33   c  and  33   d  , respectively. Power signals regulated in regulator circuit  42  in this manner are output from first to fourth electrical output connectors  33   a,    33   b,    33   c  and  33   d  to the electrical components  50 . When such the light assembly  30  is used, power signals from the hub dynamo  10  are regulated in the regulator circuit  42  into power signals able to be used by the individual electrical components  50 . The power signals regulated by the regulator circuit  42  can then be supplied by the first to fourth electrical output connectors  33   a,    33   b,    33   c  and  33   d  to the electrical components  50 . By this arrangement, power signals from the hub dynamo  10  can be supplied consistently to the electrical components  50 .  
       Second Embodiment  
       [0039]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an alternate light assembly  130  is illustrated in accordance with a second embodiment. In view of the similarity between the first and second embodiments, the descriptions of the parts of the second embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment may be omitted for the sake of brevity. Moreover, identical parts will be given the same reference number. Basically, the light assembly  130  is installed on the bicycle  1  in place of the light assembly  30 . Thus, the light assembly  130  corresponds to the light assembly  30 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , except that a wave shape circuit  144  and a control unit  145  have been added, which are disposed inside the lamp housing  31  and connected to the input portion  32 . In particular, the control unit  145  is disposed in the lamp housing  31  and connected to the wave shape circuit  144  and the regulator circuit  42 .  
         [0040]     The light assembly  130  is a component for supplying outputs, such as power or electrical signals, from the alternating current generator of the hub dynamo  10  to the plurality of electrical components or devices  50 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , similar to the first embodiment, this light assembly  130  has the housing  31 , the input portion  32 , and the output portion  33 . The light assembly  130  also has the internal light source  35  for providing external lighting from the lamp housing  31 , similar to the first embodiment. The mounting member (not shown) is attached to the lamp housing  31 . By this mounting member, the housing  31  is detachably mounted on the head tube  11  (as shown in the first embodiment) or on the handlebar  15  as needed and/or desired. The input portion  32  is disposed on the housing  31 , with the first connecting cord  66  connected to the input portion  32 . The first connecting cord  66  connects the input portion  32  with the alternating current generator  19  of the hub dynamo  10 . The output portion  33  is disposed on the housing  31 , and includes the first to fourth electrical output connectors  33   a,    33   b,    33   c  and  33   d  , similar to the first embodiment.  
         [0041]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rectifier circuit  40 , the charge storage element  41 , the regulator circuit  42 , and the auto-light circuit  43  are all housed within the light assembly  130 . The rectifier circuit  40  converts AC power from the alternating current generator  19  input to input portion  32  into DC power. The rectifier DC power from the rectifier circuit  40  is output by the rectifier circuit  40  to charge the storage element  41 . The charge storage element  41  includes of a large capacity capacitor, for example, and stores the DC power that has been rectified by rectifier circuit  40 . The charge storage element  41  could consist of a secondary cell, such as a nickel-cadmium cell, lithium ion cell, or nickel-hydrogen cell, rather than a capacitor. The DC power stored by charge storage element  41  is supplied by the charge storage element  41  to the voltage regulator circuit of the regulator circuit  42 , described later.  
         [0042]     The regulator circuit  42  regulates power, signals and the like into predetermined power, signals and the like so that these can be used by each of the electrical components  50  (e.g., the lamp  51 , the radio  52 , the cell phone charger  53  or the cycle computer  153 , and the personal digital assistant  54 ). The regulator circuit  42  comprises a voltage regulator circuit. The wave shape circuit  144  is connected to the input portion  32 . The voltage regulator circuit regulates DC voltage, supplied by the charge storage element  41 , to predetermined voltage, and supplies this to the first electrical output connector  33   a,  the second electrical output connector  33   b  to the auto-light circuit  43 , and to the control unit  145 . In this voltage regulator circuit, DC voltage supplied by the charge storage element  41  is regulated, for example, to 1.2 V, 3.0 V, 3.5 V, and 3.7 V. 1.2 V DC power is output to the first electrical output connector  33   a,  3.0 V DC power to the second electrical output connector  33   b,  3.5 V DC power to the auto-light circuit  43  and 3.7 V DC power to the control unit  145 . The wave shape circuit  144  converts the electrical signal (sine wave) from the alternating current generator  19  supplied to the input portion  32  into a pulsed signal (rectangular wave) or speed signal. This speed signal is output from wave shape circuit  144  to the control unit  145 . The auto-light circuit  43  is provided for controlling power on the basis of a signal from a sensor  46  to automatically turn the light source  35  on and off. This auto-light circuit  43  controls DC power from voltage regulator circuit and outputs it to the first electrical output connector  33   a  and the lamp  51  directly connected to the auto-light circuit  43 . The control unit  145  is supplied with the power signal from the regulator circuit  42  and with the speed signal from the wave shape circuit  144  converts power and electrical signal to a composite signal consisting of the power signal and the speed signal. The composite signal is supplied by the control unit to the third and fourth electrical output connectors  33   c  and  33   d  . Power and electrical signals regulated in this manner in the voltage regulator circuit and in the auto-light circuit  43  are supplied by the first to second electrical output connectors  33   a  and  33   b  to the various electrical components  50 .  
         [0043]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , each of the electrical components  50  includes, for example, the lamp  51 , the radio  52 , the cell phone charger  53  or the cycle computer  153  and the cell phone charger  54 . Each of the electrical components  50  is detachably mounted to the light assembly  30  via the second connecting cords  75  detachably connecting each of the components  50  to its corresponding electrical output connector  33   a  to  33   d.    
         [0044]     The lamp  51 , the radio  52 , the cell phone charger  53  and the cell phone charger  54  correspond to the electrical components mentioned in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention. So these components will not be discussed again in every detail, except the cycle computer  153  as follows.  
         [0045]     The cycle computer  153 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , has a liquid crystal display portion  153   b  capable of displaying travel information of various kinds. A control portion  153   c  comprising a microcomputer is housed in the cycle computer  153 . This control portion  153   c  derives travel information of various kinds (e.g. travel velocity or trip distance) on the basis of a pulsed signal from the third electrical output connector  33   c,  and displays travel information of various kinds on liquid crystal display portion  153   b.    
         [0046]     As described hereinabove, the light assembly  130 , by the rectifying circuit  40 , rectifies AC power that is inputted to the input portion  32  by the alternating current generator  19  of the hub dynamo  10  to give DC power. In the voltage regulator circuit of the regulator circuit  42 , DC power supplied by the charge storage element  41  is regulated to predetermined voltage, and output to the first to second electrical output connectors  33   a  and  33   b,  to the auto-light circuit  43  and to the control unit  145 , respectively. The light assembly  130 , by the wave shape circuit  144 , also converts the electrical signal (sine wave) supplied to the input portion  32  from the alternating current generator  19  of the hub dynamo  10  into a pulsed signal (rectangular wave) or speed signal. This speed signal is output from wave shape circuit  144  to the control unit  145 . The control unit  145  is supplied with the power signal from the regulator circuit  42  and with the speed signal from the wave shape circuit  144  and converts power and electrical signal to a composite signal consisting of the power signal and the speed signal. The composite signal is supplied by the control unit  145  to the third and fourth electrical output connectors  33   c  and  33   d  . Power and electrical signals regulated in the light assembly  130  in this manner are output from the first to fourth electrical output connectors  33   a,    33   b,    33   c  and  33   d  to the plurality of electrical components  50 . When the light assembly  130  is used, power and electrical signals from the hub dynamo  10  are regulated in the light assembly  130  into power signals and composite signals able to be used by individual electrical components  50 . By this arrangement, power and electrical signals from the hub dynamo  10  can be supplied consistently to a plurality of electrical components  50 .  
       General Interpretation of Terms  
       [0047]     In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section or part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function. In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including ”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. As used herein to describe the present invention, the following directional terms “forward, rearward, above, downward, vertical, horizontal, below and transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a bicycle equipped with the present invention. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a bicycle equipped with the present invention as used in the normal riding position. Finally, terms of degree such as “substantially ”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed.  
         [0048]     While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.