Patent Publication Number: US-2015085508-A1

Title: System for Illuminating a Bicycle

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to a system for illuminating a bicycle. 
     For years, bicycles are being used not only as a form of recreation but also as a means of transportation. Many bicycle collisions with vehicles occur during dusk or at night due to poor visibility. It is for this reason that safety precautions such as helmets, lights, and reflectors are continuously being developed to improve safety of the riders. Methods for illuminating bikes have evolved over the years. Reflectors are one of the commonly used devices, which can allow cyclist to be seen by other motorists. However, reflectors can be inadequate as they do not provide enough light for a motorist to see the bicyclist clearly from all directions. Another commonly used device involves the use of flashing halogen lights, which are usually attached at the front and rear of a bike. However such method can usually distract or dazzle oncoming motorists, resulting in accidents. 
     As such, it would be useful to have a system for illuminating a bicycle. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system for illuminating a bicycle is described herein. In one embodiment the bicycle frame illuminator can comprise a plurality of LED lights, one or more holders, one or more connectors, and a battery. Each of the holders can comprise the plurality of LED lights. Moreover, each of the connectors connectable to each of the holders. Furthermore, the battery that electrically connects the holders and the connectors. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates an exploded view of a LED light strip and a two-pin connector. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates another embodiment of LED light strip and a four-pin connector  106 . 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of a LED light system that uses a two-pin connector. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates another embodiment of a LED light system that uses a four-pin connector. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates an exploded view of a remote control comprising an ON and/or OFF button, a brightness control button, a color control button, and a mode control button. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a LED light system installed to a bicycle. 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates an exploded view of a LED light strips comprising a strapping mechanism and an adhesive. 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates how a LED light strips can be attached to a frame. 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates an embodiment of a LED light strips housed in a tubular casing. 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates how a tubular casing can be attached to a frame. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Described herein is a system for illuminating a bicycle. The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particular examples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve the designers&#39; specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from one implementation to another. It will also be appreciated that such development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates an exploded view of a LED light strip  100  and a two-pin connector  101 . LED light strip  100  can comprise of a tape  102 , a plurality of LED lights  103 , and a female plug  104 . LED light strips  100  can be any type of light-emitting diode such as miniature, mid-range, high-power, and/or application-specific variations. LED light strips  100  can vary in sizes, shapes, and/or color. Tape  102  can be a long and thin strip material made of plastic, fabric, and/or metal. Tape  102  can be used to enclose and hold one or more LED light  103  together. Moreover, tape  102  can be made of waterproof material to protect LED light  103  from water and/or moisture. Female plug  104 , as illustrated in this figure, comprises of two holes which can be mateable with two-pin connector  101 . Two-pin connector  101  can comprise a plurality of metal pins  105  which can be compatible with female plugs  104 . Two-pin connector  101  can be a type of an electrical connector that can be used to connect one or more electrical circuits together, either temporarily or permanently. 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates another embodiment of LED light strip  100  and a four-pin connector  106 . In this embodiment, female plug  104  can comprise of four holes that can be mateable with four-pin connector  106 . Four-pin connector  106  can comprise of metal pins  105  which can be compatible with female plugs  104 . Four-pin connector  106  can be a type of an electrical connector that can be used to connect one or more electrical circuits together, either temporarily or permanently. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of a LED light system  200  that uses two-pin connectors  101 . In such embodiment, LED light system  200  can comprise LED light strips  100 , a plurality of wires  201 , a battery  202 , and a switch  204 . LED light system  200  can be a mechanism used to illuminate any land transportation vehicles or mobile devices that can include but are not limited to bicycles, scooters, and motor bikes. Wires  201  can comprise any insulated or non-insulated conductors designed to bear electrical loads and carry electrical signals. Wires  201  can be used to connect one or more LED light strips  100  with battery plug-in  203 . As such, each two-pin connector  101  can be connected to both ends of LED light strips  100 . The two-pin connector  101  can be used to either connect another set of LED light strips  100  together or to connect one set of LED light strips  100  to battery  202 . A two-pin male plug  205  can be used to connect LED light strips  100  to battery plugin  203 . One or more LED light strips  100  connected through two-pin connector  101  can allow LED light strips  100  to produce solid LED-light color. 
     Battery  202  can be electrochemical cells capable of converting energy into an electrical energy. Battery  202  can vary in shapes, sizes, and can be made of waterproof coating material capable of resisting ingress of water. In one embodiment, battery  202  can be rechargeable. As such, battery  202  can comprise a battery plug-in  203 . Battery plug-in  203  can be any form of device or system capable of charging battery  202 . In another embodiment, battery  202  can be removable and replaceable. Switch  204  can be connected to battery plug-in  202 . In one embodiment, switch  204  can be used to turn on and/or of LED light strips  100 . In another embodiment, switch  204  can be used to regulate the light emitted from LED light strips  100 . As such, the current supplied to LED light strips  100  can be regulated thus, controlling the brightness of light produced from LED light strips  100 . 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates another embodiment of an LED light system  200  that uses four-pin connectors  106 . In such embodiment, LED light system  200  can further comprise a control box  301  and a remote control  302 . Control box  301  can be a device that directs the operation of LED light system  200 . Remote Control  302  can be a component of LED light system  200  that enables a user to wirelessly control the operation of LED lights  103 . In another \embodiment, control box  301  can also comprise of buttons that can be used to control LED light system  200 . 
     LED light strips  100  can be connected through wires  201 . Four-pin connectors  106  can be attached on both ends of LED light strips  100 . As such, wires  201  can be attached on four-pin connectors  106 , which connect one or more LED strips  100  together. A four-pin male plug  303  can be used to connect to a four-pin female plug  304  of control box  301 . Battery  202  can be connected to a control box  301  that can supply the required electric current of LED light system  200 . 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates an exploded view of remote control  302  comprising an ON and/or OFF button  305 , a brightness control button  306 , a color control button  307 , and a mode control button  308 . ON and/or OFF button can be used to turn LED light system ON and/or OFF. Brightness control button  306  can comprise of two or more level of brightness of light. As such, a user can choose to set LED light strips  100  from dim to brightest. Color control button  307  can comprise of one or more colors. The colors LED light switch system  200  can project can vary from shades of red, green, blue, white, and/or combination of the said colors. Furthermore, color control button  307  can enable a user to choose a specific color that LED light strips  100  projects. The key buttons of color control buttons  307  can acquire the same color it can project on LED lights  103 . Mode control button  308  can comprise of four modes a flash mode  308   a,  a strobe mode  308   b,  a fade mode  308   c,  and a smooth mode  308   d.  Flash mode  308   a  can produce a sudden or intermittent burst of light. Flash mode can be used to quickly illuminate a dark area. Strobe mode  308   b  can create pulses of light at controllable duration rates. Strobe mode  308   b  can be used to emit series of short or instant lighting to freeze a series of motions. Fade mode  308   c  can project light that gradually dims or dies out gradually. Smooth mode  309   d  can produce a standard solid illumination of light. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates LED light system  200  installed to a bicycle  400 . Frame  401  is typically the largest portion of bicycle  400 . Frame  401  can be the main component of bicycle  400  wherein seat  402  and wheels  403  are attached. Seat  402  can be the portion of bicycle  400  that a user can occupy or sat on. Wheels  403  can be the mechanism that allows bicycle  400  to move from one place to another. Handle  404  can be the part of bicycle  400  that a passenger can grip on. Handle  404  can be used maneuver bicycle  400  to any desired direction. 
     LED light system  200  can be attached to frame  401  through different methods such as adhesion, clamping, strapping, and/or snapping technique. Sets of LED light strips  100  can be connected together through one or more connectors to cover frame  401 . Battery  202  can either be permanently or temporarily attached at the bottom of seat  402  and can be connected to one of LED light strips  100  that is closest to battery  202 . In an embodiment wherein LED light system  200  can comprise control box  301 , control box  301  can also be attached underneath seat  402 . In another embodiment, control box  301  can be attached in handle  404 . In such embodiment, a user can easily access and/or control the lights illuminating from LED light system  200 . Wires  201  can connect two or more LED light strips  100  and battery  202  together to allow continuous flow of electrical current through LED light system  200 . 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates an exploded view of LED light strips  100  comprising a strapping mechanism  500  and an adhesive  501 . Strapping mechanism  500  can be made up of long narrow strip of pliant material such as fabrics, leather, rubber, or plastic. Strapping mechanism  500  can comprise of fasteners that includes but are not limited to buttons, hook and eye, and hook-and-loop fastener. Portion of strapping mechanism  500  can be permanently attached to LED light strips  100 . Adhesive  501  can be used to either permanently or temporarily bond two or more objects together. As such, adhesive  501  can be used to attach LED light strips  100  to any flat surface. 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates how LED light strips  100  can be attached to frame  401 . In one embodiment, bottom surface of tape  102  can comprise adhesive  501  that are capable of adhering into frame  401 . In another embodiment, strapping mechanism  500  can be utilized to ensure that LED light strips  100  stays in a fixed position around frame  401 . As such, one or more LED light strips  100  can be strapped around frame  401 . In such embodiment, LED light strips  100  can be removable from frame  401 . 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates an embodiment of LED light strips  100  housed in a tubular casing  600 . Tube casing  600  can be a hollow cylinder made of non-corrosive, waterproof, and transparent material such as plastic, rubber, fiber glass, or polymer glass. Tubular casing  600  can comprise a hinge  601 , a snap mechanism  602  and LED lights  103 . Hinge  601  can be placed at the outer portion of tubular casing  600  while snap mechanism  602  can be positioned at the opposite side of hinge  601 . LED lights  103  can be aligned along the inner portion of tubular casing  600 . Snap mechanism  602  can be any fastening device that can comprise a pair of interlocking parts, including a socket and a protruding member comprising a catch, where protruding member is linkable to the socket. Further, snap mechanism  602  can comprise a male snap  602   a  and a female snap  602   b.  Male snap  602   a  can be the part of snap mechanism  602  that comprises a protruding part or a snapper. While, female snap  602   b  can comprise a depression that can securely hold male snap  602   a.    
       FIG. 6B  illustrates how tubular casing  600  can be attached to frame  401 . Hinge  601  can allow tubular casing  600  to open on the opposite side creating a side opening. As such, the side opening can allow tubular casing  600  be positioned along frame  401 . Once properly placed along frame  401 , tubular casing  600  can be closed and snap mechanism  602  can hold or lock tubular casing  600  in place. In this embodiment, one or more tubular casings  600  can be large enough to fit and wrapped around tightly along frame  401 . Moreover, one or more tubular casings  600  can all be connected together with LED light strips  100 . 
     Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methods are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as being separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may be omitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the method is being implemented in. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”