GB2071301A

GB2071301A - Lighting unit

Info

Publication number: GB2071301A
Application number: GB8107153A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Dunphy L C
Current assignee: Dunphy L C
Priority date: 1980-03-10
Filing date: 1981-03-06
Publication date: 1981-09-16
Also published as: GB2071301B

Abstract

A light unit for fitting to the rear of a bicycle or motor cycle has a casing 5 with a portion 6 of light transmitting material. A flexible elongate member 7 is arranged for securement to the bicycle or motorcycle so that the input end of the flexible member is illuminated when the light unit is in use. The member transmits light from its input end to the output end. The output end of the member is arranged somewhere convenient at the front of the bicycle or motorcycle so that the output end can readily be seen by the rider when in the normal riding position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lighting unit This invention relates to a device for use with the rear light unit of a bicycle or motorcycle.

Many accidents have occurred because the user of a bicycle or motorcycle has not realised that the rear light unit on his machine is not functioning when in fact it is supposed to be operating. It is not easy for the user of a bicycle or motorcycle to check whether or not the rear light.

unit of his machine is operating when he is riding the machine. Accident statistics have shown that accidents have occurred by the user attempting to turn round in the saddle in order to view the rear light unit and thus swerving or riding into an obstacle.

It is an object of the present invention to enable the user of a bicycle or motorcycle to easily check whether or not the rear light unit of the machine is operating without having to stop or turn to view the rear light unit.

According to the present invention, a device for use with the rear light unit of a bicycle or motorcycle comprises an elongate flexible member having input and output ends and which transmits light from its input end to its output end, and means for attaching the flexible member to the bicycle or motorcycle so that the input end is outside of the rear light unit and is facing a light transmitting portion thereof and the output end is positioned where it can readily be seen by the user of the bicycle or motorcycle in the normal riding or driving position.

It is intended that the output end of the member is positioned on the stem of the handlebars or on the frame of the machine at its front end so that the user of the machine can simply see the output end of the member without having to take his hands off the handle-bars or by having to turn in the saddle.

The rear light unit of the machine may have an integral union to which the input end of the member is connected or, alternatively, the member may have at its input end a union which can readily be secured, as for example by means of an adjesive, to a light transmitting portion of the rear light unit.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood it will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of part of a bicycle, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a rear light unit suitable for use on a bicycle, Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternative rear light unit suitable for use on a bicycle, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the front end of a bicycle showing an end portion of a device in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a bicycle has a front fork assembly 1, a rear fork assembly 2 and a cross-bar 3. The rear fork assembly includes a pair of stays, one of which is indicated by reference numeral 4.

A battery operated rear light unit 5 is securely mounted on one of the stays 4. The unit comprises a metal case having an end cover 6 of red light transmitting material. When the user is sitting on the saddle of the bicycle, in the normal riding position, it is impossible for him to see the cover 5 of the rear light unit without turning in the saddle and, consequently, the user may be unaware that the rear light unit of the machine is not functioning.

To overcome this difficulty, the invention provides for the rear light unit to be associated with an elongate member 7 having an input end which is illuminated by the electric lamp in the rear light unit when the lamp is energised. The member is arranged to follow along the upper part of the stay 4 and along the cross-bar 3 to a position close to the front fork assembly 1 and is clipped to the bicycle. The output end 8 of the member is thus in a position which can readily be seen by the user of the machine when he is seated in the normal position on the saddle. When the electric lamp in the rear light unit is illuminated, the input end of the member 7 is illuminated and the light is transmitted along the member to its output end 8.It is therefore very easy and safe for the user to occasionally glance at the output end 8 of the member where a spot of light can be seen when the lamp in the light unit at the rear of the bicycle is energised.

The output end 8 of the member can be positioned at any convenient position either on the cross-bar of the machine or on the stem of the handle-bars or on the front fork assembly.

Referring now to Figure 2, the rear light unit has an electric lamp 9 which is energised by a dry battery (not shown). The portion 6 of the light unit is of light transmitting material and is coloured red. Moulded integral with the portion 6 there is a union 10 to which the elongate member 7 is connected so that the input end of the member is illuminated by the lamp 9 when it is energised. As an alternative construction, the union 10 may be formed on the end of the member 7 and the union secured to the portion 6 of the light unit, for example by a suitable adhesive.

It will be understood that the rear light unit need not be mounted on the stay of the rear assembly but could be mounted on the rear mudguard of the bicycle and of course the light unit could be operated from a dynamo rather than from a dry battery.

In an alternative embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the flexible member 7 is terminated at each end by a hollow tubular portion 12. The tubular portion at the input end is held by a clip 14 which is connected to the securement device for the light unit. The free end of the tubular portion is arranged to be spaced from the portion 6 of the light unit by 1/4-1/2 inch and faces the portion 6. The tubular portion 12 at the output end of the member is also secured by a clip 1 6 to the handlebars or cross-bar of the bicycle. In the arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4, the member 7 is a bunch of glass fibres but the member can take any of several convenient forms.

It may be in the form of a length of plastic tubing which is metallised on the internal wall of the bore and light illuminating the input end of the tube is reflected along the wall of the bore and can be seen at the output end of the member. In an alternative form, the member may take the form of a thin walled metal tube which is provided with a highly refiecting surface on the wall which defines the bore of the tube. Furthermore, the member may take the form of a bundle of glass fibres and the light illuminating the input end of the bundle is transmitted along the length of the glass fibres and produces a spot of light at the output end 8 of the elongate member.

In the embodiments of the invention where the member 7 takes the form of a tube, a small mirror may be located at the output end 8 so that the user of the bicycle can see into the bore of the tube by looking into the mirror.

Claims

1. A device for use with the rear light unit of a bicylce or motorcycle comprising an elongate flexible member having input and output ends and which transmits light from its input end to its output end, and means for attaching the flexible member to the bicycle or motor cycle so that the input end is outside of the rear light unit and is facing a light transmitting portion thereof and the output end is positioned where it can readily be seen by the user of the bicycle or motorcycle in the normal riding or driving position.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the flexible member is a bunch of glass fibres.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the flexible member is a tube having a reflecting surface on the wall defining the bore of the tube.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the input end of the flexible member is attached to a union attached to the light transmitting portion of the casing of the rear light unit.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 3, in which the input end of the flexible member is spaced from the light transmitting portion of the casing of the rear light unit.

6. A device for use with the rear light unit of a bicycle or motorcycle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.