Patent Publication Number: US-2006002119-A1

Title: Bicycle headlight

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Bicycle headlights are traditionally releasably coupled to the handlebars, frame or forks of a bicycle by a user-mounted bracket. However, fitting a bracket securely in a suitable position can be difficult. Furthermore, the bracket failure or unwanted release of a headlight from a bracket can lead to the headlight falling to the ground. A headlight that falls to the ground is likely to be seriously damaged. Some prior art headlights comprise a battery pack intended to be mounted remotely from a light unit, e.g. in a bottle cage or by strapping to a bicycle frame. However, this requires a long interconnection between the battery pack and the light unit, which is inconvenient. Also, in use the interconnection and/or the battery pack may cause damage to the frame.  
      It is an aim of preferred embodiments of the present invention to allow a bicycle headlight to be coupled to a bicycle using simple tools and with added security against unwanted release of the headlight.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a bicycle headlight comprising a light unit including means for coupling the light to a stem front clamp.  
      According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a stem front clamp comprising a mounting for receiving a light unit of a bicycle headlight.  
      According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a bicycle headlight kit including: a stem front clamp comprising a mounting for receiving a light unit of a bicycle headlight; and a light unit including means for coupling the light unit to the mounting.  
      According to a forth aspect of the invention there is provided a bicycle headlight comprising a light unit mounted to a stem front clamp.  
      Suitably, the light unit can be pivotally coupled to the stem front clamp. Suitably, the pivotal coupling allows the angle of the light unit to the horizontal to be adjusted when the stem front clamp is in place on a bicycle stem. Suitably, the light unit is releasably coupleable to the stem front clamp at the mounting. Alternatively, the light unit may be fixedly coupled to the stem front clamp.  
      Suitably, the light unit is self contained. Suitably, the light unit comprises an electrical connector arranged to allow battery packs to be coupled thereto. 
    
    
     BRIEF FIGURE DESCRIPTION  
      For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the light coupled to a bicycle handlebar stem;  
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the light coupled to a bicycle handlebar stem;  
       FIG. 3  is simplified perspective view of a bicycle having a third preferred embodiment of the light coupled to a bicycle handlebar stem;  
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the handlebar and stem portions of the bicycle shown in  FIG. 3 ; and  
       FIG. 5  is a further enlarged view of the handlebar portion and light as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE  
      Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a bicycle headlight  10  comprising a light unit  20  and a mounting  30 . The mounting  30  comprises a pivotal coupling between the light unit  20  and a stem front clamp  40 . Also shown in  FIG. 1  are handlebars  1  and steerer tube  2 .  
      The mounting  30  allows the headlight  10  to be bolted in place to a bicycle stem  50  using bolts  52 . In this way the headlight  10  is securely fixed to the bicycle, so there is no risk of the headlight  10  falling from the bicycle. The light unit  20  is self contained, in that no additional batteries or electrical connections are required over and above those provided in or on the light unit  20  in order for the headlight  10  to function. The light unit  20  includes a light-emitting element such as one or more incandescent bulbs, light emitting diodes or high intensity discharge (HID) light source.  
      The pivotal coupling can be used to adjust the angle of the light unit  20  to the horizontal, so that a desired illumination range is achieved. The mounting  30  comprises locking bolts  32  that are adjustable to hold the light unit  10  at a required angle to the horizontal.  
      The stem front clamp  40  can be provided with one of a range of arrangements of bolts  52  to allow the headlight  10  to be fitted to an existing stem as a replacement front clamp. For example, as an alternative to the four bolt design shown in  FIG. 1 , a two bolt arrangement is possible with bolts  52  positioned at the top and bottom centres of the stem front clamp  40 . Alternatively, the headlight  10  can be supplied with a replacement stem adapted to receive the stem front clamp  40 .  
      Also shown in  FIG. 1  is a battery pack  60 . The battery pack  60  can optionally be strapped to the stem  50 , and is used to supplement batteries contained within the light unit  20 , allowing a longer illumination time between battery charges or replacement. A wire or other connection means such as a hot shoe, or plug connectors (not shown) connects the battery pack  60  to an electrical connector on the light unit  20 .  
      Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a light  70  is shown, featuring an alternative mounting. The light comprises a light unit  80  and a mounting  90 . The mounting  90  comprises a pivotal coupling between the light unit  80  and a stem front clamp  100  for mounting the light on the handlebars  1 .  
      The mounting  90  allows the headlight  70  to be bolted in place to a bicycle stem  50  using bolts  72 . In this way the headlight  70  is securely fixed to the bicycle, so there is no risk of the headlight  70  falling from the bicycle. The light unit  80  is self contained, in that no additional batteries or electrical connections are required over and above those provided in or on the light unit  80  in order for the headlight  70  to function.  
      The mounting  90  can be used to adjust the angle of the light unit  80  to the horizontal, so that a desired illumination range is achieved. This is accomplished by loosening the bolts  72  sufficiently to allow the light unit  80  to be pivoted on the handlebar to the desired angle, and then retightening the bolts  72 .  
      The stem front clamp  100  can be provided with one of several arrangements of bolts  72  to allow the headlight  80  to be fitted to an existing stem as a replacement front clamp. For example, as an alternative to the four bolt design shown in  FIG. 1 , a two bolt arrangement is possible with bolts positioned at the top and bottom centres of the stem front clamp  100 . Alternatively, the headlight  70  can be supplied with a replacement stem adapted to receive the stem front clamp  100 .  
      Also shown in  FIG. 2  is a battery pack  110 . The battery pack  110  can optionally be strapped to the stem  50 , and is used to supplement batteries contained within the light unit  80 , allowing a longer illumination time between battery charges or replacement. A wire or other connection means such as a hot shoe, or plug connectors (not shown) connects the battery pack  110  to an electrical connector on the light unit  80 .  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 3-5 , a further embodiment of the light is shown and indicated generally at reference numeral  140 , and mounted to a conventional bicycle “B.” As is most clearly shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , The light  140  comprises a light unit  150  and a mounting  160 . The mounting  160  comprises first and second bracket members  161 ,  162  joined by bolts  163  to clamp the mounting  160  onto the handlebar  1 . The light unit  150  is self contained, in that no additional batteries or electrical connections are required over and above those provided in or on the light unit  150  in order for the headlight  140  to function.  
      The mounting  160  also includes pivot bracket  165  mounted to the front of the mounting  160  in order to adjust the angle of the light unit  150  to the horizontal, so that a desired illumination range is achieved. This is accomplished by loosening a bolt  167  sufficiently to allow the light unit  150  to be pivoted on the handlebar to the desired angle, and then retightening the bolt  167 .  
      Also shown in  FIGS. 3-5  is a battery pack  180 . The battery pack  180  is mounted on a bracket  182  attached to the bottom of mounting  160 . The battery pack  180  is released by a quick release bolt  184  that normally maintains the bracket  182  in a locked position on the mounting  160 . The batter pack contains an electrical connection to the light unit  150  through appropriate wiring, hot shoe or plug assembly. The battery pack  180  may be the sole power supply for the light unit  150  or may be used to supplement batteries contained within the light unit  150 , allowing a longer illumination time between battery charges or replacement.  
      Although the word “bicycle” has been used throughout, it is to be understood that this term also encompasses tricycles, four-wheeled cycles and a range of other land or water vehicles having a handlebar arrangement including a stem. The bicycle headlight described can be conveniently and securely attached to a bicycle. The headlight is robust, easy to adjust and relatively secure against theft.  
      All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.  
      Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.  
      The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.