GB2349450A - Motorcycle helmet lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

A system of alarm lamps on a motorcycle helmet comprises a transmission unit installed under the motorcycle rear seat and a mounting unit releasably installed on the helmet, including a reception unit, a display unit and a fixing unit. The transmission unit transmits an infra red control signal to the helmet reception unit when the appropriate controls on the motorcycle are activated, causing the helmet alarm lamps in the display unit to illuminate simultaneously with the motorcycle alarm lamps. The alarm lamps are powered by batteries stored in the fixing unit, which attaches the mounting unit to the helmet. The lamps may comprise tail lights, brake lights and indicator lights.

Description

MOTORCYCLE LIGHT SYSTEM The present invention relates to a motorcycle light system.

Within a highly developed traffic network, people have to rely on vehicles such as buses, mini-buses, taxis, private cars, motorcycles, etc. As a result, vehicles have been increasing in proportion to the growth of population and traffic jams have become an everyday occurrence even on expressways and to an even worse degree on holidays and during rush hours. On the other hand, large-sized vehicles suffer much difficulty in city traffic, such as trucks, buses, gravel trucks, etc., and it is often impossible to find a parking space for such vehicles. Therefore, people would tend to choose a motorcycle to travel a relatively short distance, since a motorcycle is relatively small in size and so easy to manoeuvre through heavy traffic. Also, it is easier to find a parking space for a motorcycle than it is for a car.

Further, a car is formed of a chassis that envelopes the driver whereas a motorcycle comprises a chassis that is effectively enveloped by its rider/driver. Therefore, in spite of the many inconveniences of driving a car, it is considered much safer than riding a motorcycle.

Motorcyclists have to take protective measures, such as wearing a helmet since head injuries tend to be the most frequent injuries suffered by motorcyclists. The head is an important part of the human anatomy. Although a minor injury to the head may be insignificant, a major injury may cause death or the vegetative state of the victim. Many fatalities in traffic accidents are found not to be wearing a helmet, and this leads to high casualty figures.

There is a wide variety of helmet models available on the market. The main functions of a safety helmet include protection against wind, rain and dust, as well as against head injury, so that possible injury to a motorcyclist's head can be minimized.

Traffic accidents involving motorcyclists often occur at night-time, and arise particularly due to insufficient lighting on the part of the motorcyclist and motorcycle.

Though the motorcyclist can employ standard warning/indicator lights such are not readily visible and identifiable to following motorists.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide for a motorcycle light system having advantages over known such systems.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a motorcycle light system comprising a transmission unit for mounting to a motorcycle, a reception unit and a lamp unit arranged to be driven by a signal from the said reception unit, wherein the reception unit and the lamp unit are mounted to a mounting unit which is in turn arranged to be mounted to a motorcycle helmet.

Accordingly, the present invention can provide for an improvement of alarm lamps on a helmet, comprising a reception unit, a transmission unit, a display unit and a fixing unit, wherein said reception unit is installed inside a fixing unit on the helmet, said transmission unit being accommodated under the rear seat of the motorcycle; the two units involving infrared ray device, transmitting at a same frequency, respectively to control the display of a left lamp, a right lamp, a rear lamp and a brake lamp on the fixing unit on the helmet as well as on the motorcycle; characterized in that; when the control knob on the motorcycle is activated, the transmission unit on the motorcycle will transmit signals that are received by a reception unit on the fixing unit on the helmet, so that the turning lamps, brake lamp and rear lamp on the motorcycle will simultaneously display alarm signals along with those installed on the fixing unit on the helmet.

Preferably, the alarm lamps are installed on the helmet.

Advantageously, the helmet alarm lamps can be removably mounted to become independent alarm display lamps.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a close-up of the reception unit of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a close-up of the display unit of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a close-up of the fixing unit of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the battery compartment of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an exploded view of embodiment of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a view of a preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8 is another view of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 9 is a close-up of the transmission unit in the embodiment of Fig. 1.

The drawings identify the following features by means of the reference numbers indicated.

1 reception unit 11 right lamp wire 10 left lamp wire 12 rear lamp wire 13 brake lamp wire 31 right turn lamp 14 grounding (auxiliary) wire 32 rear turn lamp 15 circuit plug 33 brake lamp 16 circuit plug 34 positive charge 17 transmission unit 35 negative charge 18 left lamp wire 36 circuit plug 19 right lamp wire 4 fixing unit 20 rear lamp wire 40 battery compartment 21 brake lamp wire 401 positive charge 22 grounding (auxiliary) wire 402 negative charge 23 circuit plug 403 circuit plug 24 circuit plug 41 fixing unit plate 25 display unit 42 lamp housing 30 left turn lamp Turning first to Figs. 1-6 the invention can be seen to relate to an improvement of a lamp arrangement on a helmet, and comprising a reception unit 1, a transmission unit 2, a display unit 3 and a fixing unit 4, wherein, said reception unit 1 is installed on a safety helmet, said transmission unit 2 is, for example, installed under the rear seat of a motorcycle although it could be located elsewhere; the two units involving infra-red devices that transmit at a same frequency to respectively control left lamps, right lamps, a rear lamp and a brake lamp of a motorcycle.

With specific reference to Fig. 2, inside said reception unit 1 are four sets of signal receivers. To each of the two sides of the unit are connected a left lamp wire 10, a right lamp wire 11, a rear lamp wire 12, a brake lamp wire and a grounding (auxiliary) wire 14 ; said wires being connected to a set of circuit plugs 15 and 16.

Referring now to Fig. 3, onto said display unit 3 are installed four warning/alarm lamps, including a left-turn indicator lamp 30 at the left side, a right-turn indicator lamp 31 at the right side, a rear-lamp 32 at the uppermiddle part and a brake-lamp 33 at the lower-middle part of said unit. From the left side of the display unit are connected two wires of a positive charge 34 and a negative charge 35, which are connected into a circuit plug 36.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, in said fixing unit 4 are a battery compartment 40, a fixing unit plate 41 and a lamp housing 42, wherein, said fixing unit plate 41 can be assembled with the lamp housing 42, said battery compartment 40 is fixed onto said fixing unit plate 41, connected from said battery unit 40 to a circuit plug 403 are two wires providing for positive 401 and negative 402 connections.

Referring to Fig. 6, the circuit plug 403 contained in said battery compartment 40 is connected to the circuit plug 16 of one side of said reception unit 1, and the circuit plug 15 of the side of the reception unit 1 is connected to the circuit plug 36 of said display unit 3, said reception unit 1 and said display unit 3 are fixed to said fixing unit plate 41. Finally, said fixing unit plate 41 is assembled with said lamp housing 42 and so as to accommodate batteries.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, said fixing unit plate 41 is then fitted to a safety helmet.

Referring to Fig. 9, inside said transmission unit 2 are also four sets of transmitters, from each of their two sides are connected five wires, ie. a left lamp wire 20, a right lamp wire 21, a rear lamp wire 22, a brake lamp wire 23 and a grounding (auxiliary) wire 24, which are connected to a set of circuit plugs 25 and 26, which are installed in the same way as the reception unit 1 in the fixing unit on the helmet. However, the circuit plugs 25 and 26 of the transmission unit 2 are connected to the circuit plugs on the motorcycle lamp unit and control lamp unit.

Operation of the subject invention of alarm lamps on a helmet: 1. Before trying to turn the motorcycle to the left or right, a motorcyclists will have to turn on the signal lamps. This invention involves a transmission device that is installed on a motorcycle to transmit signals to a reception unit on the fixing unit on a helmet to display alarm signals, so that the left and right lamps on a helmet will flash simultaneously with the left and right lamps on the motorcycle.

2. As stated above, before stopping the motorcycle, the brake lamps on the motorcycle as well as on the helmet will be lit simultaneously.

3. As stated in the first paragraph, when the main beam of a motorcycle is switched on, its rear lamp will also be lit, therefore, the rear lamp on the helmet will also be lit.

The subject invention of alarm lamps on a motorcyclist's helmet involves a fundamental mechanism, wherein instead of the installation of both a transmitter and a receiver, an alarm signal indicator lamp is installed with two knobs to switch on or off. Whenever the display function is needed, the user need only switch on the knob.

Otherwise, the knob is switched off to save power. It is quite practical and convenient, with effective performance of the helmet's characteristics.

It should be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments. For example, the light array can be arranged for releasable mounting to a motorcyclists helmet or indeed to any other part of a motorcyclists clothing or indeed to part of the motorcycle. Also, any appropriate signalling means can be provided for delivering a control signal to the means for powering/controlling the lights for illumination.

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS 1. A motorcycle light system comprising a transmission unit for mounting to a motorcycle, a reception unit for receiving a signal from the transmission unit, and a lamp unit arranged to be driven by a signal from the said reception unit, wherein the reception unit and the lamp unit are mounted to a mounting unit which is in turn arranged to be mounted to a motorcycle helmet.
2. 2. A light system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the mounting unit is arranged to be releasably mountable to the said motorcycle helmet.
3. 3. A light system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the transmission unit is arranged to be located under the motorcycle seat.
4. 4. A light system as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the transmission unit is arranged to transmit an electromagnetic radiation signal and the reception unit is arranged to receive the said electro-magnetic radiation signal.
5. 5. A light system as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4, wherein the transmission unit is arranged to transmit an infra-red signal and the reception unit is arranged to receive the said infra-red signal.
6. 6. A light system as claimed in any one of Claims 1-5, wherein the transmission unit is arranged to be activated by means of a control switch on the motorcycle.
7. 7. A light system as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the said control switch comprises a standard control switch for activating one or more of the lights mounted to the motorcycle.
8. 8. A light system as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the light comprises one or more of the tail light, brake light or the left and right indicator lights and wherein the lamp contains a corresponding one or more a tail light, brake light or the left and right indicator light.
9. 9. A light system substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figs. 1-6 and 9 and Figs. 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.