Patent Publication Number: US-2010124049-A1

Title: Lighting system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/114,802 filed on Nov. 14, 2008 the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to lighting systems for riders of motorcycles or other exposed vehicles, and more particularly, to a lighting system configured for a garment that may be worn by a rider of an exposed vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Motorcycling and riding bicycles are common modes of transportation. However, riders of such exposed vehicles may be prone to accidents and may therefore be vulnerable road travelers who are not seen by motorists of cars and trucks, particularly in conditions of poor visibility. Accordingly, the riders may have an increased risk of collisions with the other motorists. 
     Various devices have been developed to prevent accidents related to motorcycles or other exposed vehicles. For example, a reflective tape may be attached to clothing of a rider to increase the rider&#39;s visibility to other motorists. However, the reflective tape may seem unattractive to many riders and may also damage the clothing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     One embodiment of a lighting system for a rider of a vehicle may include a garment configured to be worn on a torso of the rider. The garment may include a front portion and a rear portion. The rear portion may include a first side section, a second side section, and a center section disposed between the first and second side sections. The lighting system may further include one or more controllers carried by the vehicle. The controllers may be configured to generate a running signal, a brake signal, a left turn signal and a right signal. The lighting system may also include a first light emitter carried by the center section of the rear portion. The first light emitter may be associated with the controllers to receive the running signal and the brake signal therefrom. Further, the first light emitter may produce a first illumination in response to one of the running signal and the brake signal. The lighting system may also include a second light emitter carried by the first side section and spaced apart from the first light emitter. The second light emitter may be associated with the controllers to receive the left turn signal therefrom. Further, the second light emitter may produce a second illumination in response to the left turn signal. Moreover, the lighting system may include a third light emitter carried by the second side section and spaced apart from the first light emitter and the second light emitter. The third light emitter may be associated with the controllers to receive the right turn signal therefrom. Further, the third light emitter may produce a third illumination in response to the right turn signal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims, and accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a lighting system including a garment worn by a rider of a motorcycle; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the garment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the garment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the lighting system of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the lighting system having various components and the interconnections therebetween; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a lighting system including one or more controllers carried by a vehicle and one or more light emitters wirelessly communicating with the controllers; and 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating association of various components of the lighting system of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The exemplary embodiments described herein in detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to a particular lighting system, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Further, the term “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, elevation or importance, but rather are used to distinguish placement of one element over another. Further, the terms, “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Unless limited otherwise, the term “coupled” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect couplings. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , a lighting system  1000  may include a garment  100  configured to be worn by a rider  2000  of a vehicle  3000 . The term, “vehicle” relates to a motorcycle or any other exposed vehicle such as a bicycle. For the purpose of the description, the vehicle  3000  is a motorcycle. The garment  100  may have a front portion  110  and a rear portion  120 . The rear portion  120  may include an outer layer  122  having a first side section  112 , a second side section  114 , and a center section  116  disposed between the first and second side sections  112 ,  114 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the first side section  112  may have a first plurality of holes  124 . Similarly the second side section  114  may have a second plurality of holes similar to the first plurality of holes  124 . In addition, the center section  116  may have a third plurality of holes similar to the first plurality of holes  124 . Each section  112 ,  114  and  116  may have eighteen holes. Of course, the each section  112 ,  114  and  116  may have more or less than eighteen holes. The rear portion  120  may also have one or more inner layers  130  carried by the outer layer  122  and disposed adjacent to the holes  124 . 
     The garment  100  may also include a fastener  102  carried by the front portion  110  for attaching the two halves of the front portion  110  together in order to secure the garment  100  on a torso  1200  of the rider  2000 . The fastener  102  may be a zipper. Alternately, the fastener  102  may be a hook and loop fastener, a snap fit fastener, or any other fastener known in the art for closing the two halves of the front portion  110 . The garment  100  is shown to be a sleeve-less and collarless vest. Alternately, the garment  100  may include a first sleeve portion and a second sleeve portion, and an optional collar portion. 
     The lighting system  1000  may further include one or more controllers  200  carried by the vehicle  3000 . The controllers  200  may be associated with a variety of actuators, such as an ignition, a brake, a left turn indicator, and a right turn indicator. Of course, the controllers  200  may also be associated with sensors, such as motion sensors, direction sensors, and the like. More specifically, the controllers  200  may be electrically coupled to a brake activation mechanism  3100  of the vehicle  3000  via a wire  802 . The brake activation mechanism  3100  may include a brake lever. Moreover, the controllers  200  may also be electrically coupled with an electrical indicating system  3200  of the vehicle  3000  via a wire  804 . The electrical indicating system  3200  may control the illumination of vehicular signals, including running and brake lights, and right and left turn indicators of the vehicle  3000 . The controllers  200  may be configured to generate a running signal, a brake signal, a left turn signal, and a right signal in response to, for example, a rider actuating a respective one of the ignition, the brake lever, the left turn indicator, and the right turn indicator. Further, the controllers  200  may include a transmitter  220  for transmitting the running signal, the brake signal, the left turn signal, and the right turn signal. The controllers  200  may also include one or more switches (not shown) for performing different functions, such as, activation/deactivation, selecting frequency transmission, transmitting signals, selecting appropriate transmission intensity, monitoring signal strength, and the like. 
     The lighting system  1000  may further include a wire harness  600  extending from the controllers  200 . The wire harness  600  may be carried by the vehicle  3000  and covered by or disposed underneath a seat  3300  of the vehicle  3000 . Further, the lighting system  1000  may also have a resilient coil cord  610  that may have one end  612  that may be operably connected to the wire harness  600  adjacent to a front end  3310  of the vehicle seat  3000 . The cord  610  may have another end  614  that may include an electrical connector, such as a male connector  654 . 
     Furthermore, the lighting system  1000  may include a first light emitter  300  carried by the center section  116  of the rear portion  120  of the garment  100 . The first light emitter  300  may be associated with the controllers  200  to receive the running signal and the brake signal therefrom. Specifically, the first light emitter  300  may be electrically coupled to a female connector  652  that may be capable of receiving the male connector  654  for receiving the running signal and the brake signal from the controllers  200 . Accordingly, the first light emitter  300  may be electrically interconnected with the controllers  200  via the wire harness  600  and the cord  610  extending from underneath the front end  3310  of the seat  3300  of the vehicle  3000 . The female connector  652  in one form may be at least partially covered by a portion of the garment  100 . The first light emitter  300  may produce a first illumination in response to the running signal or the brake signal. For example, the first light emitter  300  may emit a red light or other suitable colored light at a first luminous intensity in response to the running signal, and a red light or other suitable colored light at a second luminous intensity that is greater than the first luminous intensity in response to the brake signal. 
     The first light emitter  300  may include a housing  320  or a plastic board that may be carried by the center section  116  of the garment  100  and disposed between the inner and outer layers  130 ,  122 . The first light emitter  300  may also have one or more light emitting diodes  330  (LEDs) carried by the housing  320  and extending through the third plurality of holes. The first light emitter  300  in this form may include about eighteen LEDs  330 . Alternately, the first light emitter  300  may instead include any number of LEDs, incandescent bulbs, neon lights, or any other light. 
     The lighting system  1000  may also include a second light emitter  400  carried by the first side section  112  and spaced apart from the first light emitter  300 . The second light emitter  400  may be associated with the controllers  200  to receive the left turn signal therefrom. Specifically, the second light emitter  400  may be electrically coupled to the female connector  652 , which may be capable of receiving the male connector  654  to receive the left signal from the controllers  200 . Accordingly, the second light emitter  400  may be electrically interconnected with the controllers  200  via the wire harness  600  and the cord  610 . The second light emitter  400  may produce a second illumination in response to the left turn signal. For example, the second light emitter  400  may intermittently emit yellow light or other suitable colored light in response to the left turn signal. 
     The second light emitter  400  may include a housing  420  or a plastic board that may be carried by the first side section  112  of the garment  100  and disposed between the inner and outer layers  130 ,  122 . The second light emitter  400  may also have one or more LEDs  430  carried by the housing  420  and extending through the holes  124 . The second light emitter  400  in this form may include about eighteen LEDs  430 . Of course, the second light emitter  400  may include any number of LEDs, incandescent bulbs, neon lights, or any other light. 
     In addition, the lighting system  1000  may also include a third light emitter  500  carried by the second side section  114 , and spaced apart from the first light emitter  300  and the second light emitter  400 . The third light emitter  500  may be electrically coupled to the female connector  652 , which may be capable of receiving the male connector  654  to receive the right signal from the controllers  200 . Accordingly, the third light emitter  500  may be electrically interconnected with the controllers  200  via the wire harness  600  and the cord  610 . The third light emitter  500  may produce a third illumination in response to the right turn signal. For example, the third light emitter  500  may intermittently emit yellow light or other suitable colored light in response to the right turn signal. 
     The third light emitter  500  may include a housing  520  or a plastic board that may be carried by the second side section  114  of the garment  100  and disposed between the inner and outer layers  130 ,  122 . The third light emitter  500  may also have one or more LEDs  530  carried by the housing  520  and extending through the second plurality of holes. The third light emitter  500  in this form may include about eighteen LEDs  530 . Of course, the third light emitter  500  may include any number of LEDs, incandescent bulbs, neon lights or any other light. 
     The second light emitter  400  and the third light emitter  500  may be operated separately, irrespective of each other. However, the second light emitter  400  and/or the third light emitter  500  may be operated in combination with the first light emitter  300 . 
     The lighting system  1000  may also include a power source  700  carried by the vehicle  3000  and electrically coupled with the controllers  200  through a wire  800 . The wire  800  may be a wire harness of the vehicle  3000 . Specifically, the controllers  200  may be hardwired with the power source  700 . The power source  700  may include one or more batteries, such as a rechargeable battery. Of course, the power source  700  may include one or more solar cells capable of receiving solar energy and converting the solar energy into electrical current. The controllers  200  may be activated by power supplied by the power source  700 . Therefore, the controllers  200  may have the capability to interface with the vehicle  3000 , when appropriate, for power requirements. The power source  700  may also provide power to the first, second and third light emitters  300 ,  400 ,  500 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , another embodiment of a lighting system  4000  may include a power source  4900  that may be carried by the garment  4100 , and operatively coupled to first, second and third light emitters  4300 ,  4400 ,  4500  via an electrical means  4910 . 
     The lighting system  4000  may be similar to the lighting system  1000 . Further, the lighting system  4000  may include one or more controllers  4200 , which may be similar to the controllers  200 , and may be carried by the vehicle  3000 . The controllers  4200  may be associated with a power source, such as a power source  4700 , of the vehicle  6000  via a wire  4800  for activation thereof, similar to the controllers  200 . The controllers  4200  may be configured to generate a running signal, a brake signal, a left turn signal, and a right signal in response to, for example, a rider actuating a respective one of an ignition, a brake, a left turn indicator, and a right turn indicator. Further, the controllers  4200  may include a transmitter  4220  for transmitting the running signal, the brake signal, the left turn signal, and the right turn signal. In addition, the controllers  4200  may be electrically coupled with a brake activation mechanism of a vehicle. Moreover, the controllers  4200  may also be electrically coupled with an electrical indicating system of the vehicle, similar to the controllers  200 . 
     However, each of the first, second and third light emitters  4300 ,  4400 ,  4500  may be wirelessly connected with the controllers  4200 . Specifically, the each of the first, second and third light emitters  4300 ,  4400 ,  4500  may be wirelessly connected with the controllers  4200  by, for example, BLUETOOTH technology, an infrared technology or other wireless technology. 
     The first light emitter  4300  may include a first receiver  4310  carried by a housing  4320 . The receiver  4310  may be adapted to wirelessly receive the running signal and the brake signal from the controllers  4200 . The first light emitter  4300  may produce a first illumination in response to the running signal and the brake signal. Specifically, the first light emitter  4300  may include one or more light emitting diodes  4330  for producing the first illumination. 
     Further, the second light emitter  4400  may include a receiver  4410  carried by a housing  4420 . The receiver  4410  may be adapted for wirelessly receiving the left turn signal from the controllers  4200 . The second light emitter  4400  may produce a second illumination in response to the left turn signal. Specifically, the second light emitter  4400  may include one or more light emitting diodes  4430  for producing the second illumination. 
     Furthermore, the third light emitter  4500  may include a third receiver  4510  carried by a housing  4520 . The receiver  4510  may be adapted for wirelessly receiving the right turn signal from the controllers  4200 . The third light emitter  4500  may produce a third illumination in response to the right turn signal. Specifically, the third light emitter  4500  may further include one or more light emitting diodes  4530  for producing the third illumination. 
     In use, the garment  100  of the lighting system  1000  may be worn by the rider  2000  of the vehicle  3000 . The power source  700  may supply power to the controllers  200 , which may then activate in response to actuating different parts, such as the ignition, brake lever, the left turn and the right turn indicators, of the vehicle  3000 . Accordingly, the transmitter  220  of the controllers  200  may transmit the running signal, the brake signal, the left turn signal and the right turn signal, depending on the requirement. 
     The rider  2000  may also actuate the brake lever, and the controllers  200  may generate the brake signal in response to actuation of the brake lever. The transmitter  220  may then transmit the brake signal from the controllers  200  to the first light emitter  300  to induce the first light emitter  300  to emit, for example, red light at the second luminous intensity to signify that the rider  2000  has applied brake to decelerate the vehicle  3000 . In addition, the rider  2000  may release the brake lever, and the controllers  200  may generate the running signal in response to release of the brake lever. The transmitter  220  may then transmit the running signal from the controllers  200  to the first light emitter  300  to induce the first light emitter  300  to emit, for example, red light at the first luminous intensity to signify that the vehicle  3000  is in a running mode. 
     Furthermore, the rider  2000  may actuate the left turn indicator of the electrical indicating system  3200  of the vehicle  3000 , and the controllers  200  may generate the left turn signal in response to actuation of the left turn indicator. The transmitter  220  may then transmit the left turn signal from the controllers  200  to the second light emitter  400  to induce the second light emitter  400  to intermittently emit yellow light to signify that the rider  2000  intends to make a left turn. Similarly, the rider  2000  may actuate the right turn indicator of the vehicle  3000 , and the controllers  200  may generate the right turn signal in response to actuation of the right turn indicator. The transmitter  220  may then transmit the right turn signal from the controllers  200  to the third light emitter  400  to induce the third light emitter  400  to intermittently emit yellow light to signify that the rider  2000  intends to make a right turn. 
     In addition, the rider  2000  may also actuate the brake mechanism of the vehicle  3000 , and the controllers  200  may generate the brake signal based on actuation of the brake mechanism. The transmitter  220  may then transmit the brake signal from the controllers  200  to the first light emitter  300  to induce the first light emitter  300  to emit red light or other suitable colored light at the second luminous intensity to signify that the rider  2000  is actuating the brake mechanism. Further, the rider  2000  may release the brake mechanism, and the controllers  200  may generate the running signal based on the release of the brake mechanism. The transmitter  220  may then transmit the running signal from the controllers  200  to the first light emitter  300  to induce the first light emitter  300  to emit red light or other suitable colored light at the first luminous intensity to signify that the vehicle  3000  is in a running mode. 
     It should be evident that the lighting system  4000  may be utilized in the above manner as described for the lighting system  1000 . Accordingly, a description thereof has been avoided for the sake of brevity. 
     The present disclosure provides a lighting system, such as the lighting systems  1000  and  4000 , for a rider of an exposed vehicle, such as a motorcycle. The lighting system enhances visibility of other motorists to recognize the rider and to indicate the other motorists about the rider&#39;s intentions. The first light emitter, the second light emitter and the third light emitter give off light signals that may be seen by other motorists in order to avert the occurrence of an accident. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure.