GB2408639A - Illuminated signals for bicycles - Google Patents

Illuminated signals for bicycles Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2408639A
GB2408639A GB0323812A GB0323812A GB2408639A GB 2408639 A GB2408639 A GB 2408639A GB 0323812 A GB0323812 A GB 0323812A GB 0323812 A GB0323812 A GB 0323812A GB 2408639 A GB2408639 A GB 2408639A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
bicycle
safety apparatus
units
unit
power
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0323812A
Other versions
GB0323812D0 (en
Inventor
Luke John Ian Smith
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0323812A priority Critical patent/GB2408639A/en
Publication of GB0323812D0 publication Critical patent/GB0323812D0/en
Publication of GB2408639A publication Critical patent/GB2408639A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62J—CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
    • B62J6/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices on cycles; Mounting or supporting thereof; Circuits therefor
    • B62J6/01—Electric circuits
    • B62J6/015—Electric circuits using electrical power not supplied by the cycle motor generator, e.g. using batteries or piezo elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62J—CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
    • B62J6/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices on cycles; Mounting or supporting thereof; Circuits therefor
    • B62J6/02—Headlights
    • B62J6/028—Headlights specially adapted for rider-propelled cycles with or without additional source of power
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62J—CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
    • B62J6/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices on cycles; Mounting or supporting thereof; Circuits therefor
    • B62J6/04—Rear lights
    • B62J6/045—Rear lights indicating braking
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62J—CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
    • B62J6/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices on cycles; Mounting or supporting thereof; Circuits therefor
    • B62J6/05—Direction indicators
    • B62J6/055—Electrical means, e.g. lamps
    • B62J6/056—Electrical means, e.g. lamps characterised by control means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62J—CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
    • B62J6/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices on cycles; Mounting or supporting thereof; Circuits therefor
    • B62J6/16—Arrangement of switches

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Abstract

Apparatus for communicating information concerning bicycle movement to other road users includes a front light unit 1 mounted on the front fork 3 and a rear light unit 2 fitted to the saddle support 4. The front unit may include a headlight 9, a horn and turn indicators activated by handlebar switches 6 and 7. The rear unit may include a tail light, a brake light and turn indicators. The tail and brake light may be combined in a single high/low intensity unit. Power is provided by a battery 14 which may be charged using mains electricity or a generator powered by user action.

Description

Safety Apparatus for Bicycles The present invention relates to safety
apparatus for bicycles and in particular to such apparatus for providing indications of a user's intentions to other road users.
Cyclists are at considerable risk from other road users because such users may be unaware of the presence of the cyclist or more likely because such users may be unaware of the intentions of the cyclist. One particular vulnerability is at road junctions where a change of direction is intended whereby the cyclist may indicate intention using hand signals during which period the control of the bicycle is reduced and the user may become unstable. While waiting to turn having indicated, the bicycle user may not be giving any indication of intention in a rest position so that another road user may fail to recognize the users intention.
Another particular vulnerability occurs when a bicycle user is coming to a halt because it is not apparent to other road users that a stop is occurring.
It is known to provide indication apparatus in the form of indicator and braking lights on other road vehicles but hitherto few successful attempts to provide such a system on pedal propelled vehicles have been made, in part because of weight, power and mounting problems for such units. If such units are to be successful then they require high visibility to other road users and must be protected from theft and damage in case of accidents.
Thus individual lighting units for each function are vulnerable to damage and require significant activity by the user to mount initially, and to remove for protection subsequently. Such inconvenience inhibits the uptake of such devices and discourages retrospective fitting of systems to bicycles and similar.
The term bicycle as used herein should not be construed as limiting to traditional two wheeled pedal cycles but may include similar vehicles having more than two wheels such as tandems, pedal tricycles, and other vehicles for use in a similar manner using manual propulsion.
According to the present invention there is provided safety apparatus for a bicycle, the safety apparatus comprising a plurality of Remountable units each of which includes at least three separately controllable illuminable sections at least two of which provide a signalling indication, the apparatus further including means - 2 to control an electrical signal to said sections which provide a signalling indication, switch means for determining which, if any, of the sections are illuminated and means to store electrical power for provision of electrical power to the illuminable sections.
Preferably, one of said units has an illuminable section responsive to the application of electrical power to provide a high intensity light output on operation of switch means linked to braking means of a bicycle.
One of said units may also incorporate warning means responsive to application of electrical power from switch means operable by a user.
One of said units for mounting on a bicycle frame in a rearward facing position and including said section for providing a high intensity light output may include primary and secondary illuminable intensities whereby a rear (tail) light function may be provided at a lower intensity output and a braking function may be provided by a higher intensity output in the same section.
The lower intensity output may be controllable to be stable or may be provided with a flashing output.
The other of said units is preferably provided with an illuminating beam output which may have selectable power levels for use in different situations to provide better illumination in less well lit environments.
The electrical power source is preferable a battery which may be of the rechargeable kind, the power unit including a socket for connection to electrical mains power when the unit is not in use. The battery may also be arranged to be recharged by a dynamo or other generating means powered by user action.
Each of the units may be arranged for attachment to a carrier portion attachable to the framework of a bicycle and having a pluggable connection for connecting power supply and signalling wires. Alternatively, slide contacts maybe provided on the carrier portion and on the units whereby on attachment of the units to the carrier portion respective electrical connections for each of the functions of the units is provided.
A safety system in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a bicycle showing the location of various parts of the apparatus; - 3 Figure 2 shows a front view of the bicycle of figure 1; Figure 3 shows a rear view of the bicycle of figure 1; Figure 4 shows the component parts of the system; Figure 5 is a view of a part of a bicycle showing the mounting of a rearward facing component of the system; Figure 6 shows in greater detail the mounting unit of figure 5; Figure 7 shows a detail of the mounting of a forward facing unit of the system; and Figure 8 is a circuit diagram showing the wiring of the system.
Referring to figures 1, 2 and 3 the system essentially comprises a front light unit 1 and a rear light unit 2 respectively mounted on the front fork 3 and saddle support 4 of a bicycle frame. Also shown as a separate unit is a warning device 5, for example a horn, although this may be incorporated within the body of the front light unit 1.
Switching units 6, 7 are shown mounted on the handlebars of the bicycle frame for controlling the operation of the lighting units 1, 2 and warning device 5.
The front lighting unit 1 has three sections containing respectively a right indicator section 10, a left indicator section 11 and a headlamp section 9. The rear lighting unit 2 includes a centre section 12 which incorporates a tail light and a braking indicator light, a right indicator section 13 and a left indicator section 14. It will be appreciated that the indicator sections 10, 1 1, 13 and 14 are appropriately coloured, generally speaking being arranged to provide an amber light output while the centre section 12 of the rear light unit should emit a red light output.
For completeness, also shown in the figures are operating levers for the bicycle brakes each of which may be coupled to a switch unit. Alternatively and preferably, the switch units comprise a strain operated switch (not shown) connected to operating cables of the front and/or rear brake calipers for providing an electrical connection between a power source and the rear light section 12.
Power for the operation of all of the units is derived from a battery pack 14 mounted on the framework of the bicycle. Also mounted on the framework of the bicycle, although it could be incorporated in the battery pack 14 is a relay or astable multivibrator arrangement for controlling the flashing operation of the indicator sections of the front and rear lighting units 1,2. - 4
It will be noted that while the front an drear lighting units 1,2 are shown mounted on the framework of the bicycle the actual attachment is by way of a clip to which the units may be attached or detached as appropriate so that the units 1,2 can be taken for safe keeping by the user.
Thus turning now to Figure 4, the essential components of the system are a battery unit (Fig 4A) which is for example a six volt rechargeable battery and which may incorporate a connector for connection to a mains operable recharging unit or such unit may be incorporated within the battery pack allowing for a simple plug connection to a mains electrical socket when the bicycle is not in use. Note that it is not necessary for the lighting units to be coupled to the system for recharging of the battery 14 to take place. Terminals 16, 17 of the battery 14 may also be connected to a dynamo or other generating unit of the bicycle to extend the life of the battery by trickle charging during periods of non-use of power therefrom or to reduce the load while the safety system is in use.
Figure 4B shows the switch unit 7 mounted to one side of the handlebars 8 of figure 1. The switch unit incorporates a 3 position switch 18 having a central quiescent position at which no through connection is made whilst moving the switch lever in the direction 20 will cause contact to provide electrical power derived from the relay unit 15 to the left hand indicator sections 1 1, 14 and moving in the opposed direction 21 will provide electrical power to right hand indicator sections 10, 13. The switch unit 7 also includes a spring loaded contact button 19 for providing electrical power to the warning device 5.
A handbrake lever is shown in detail in figure 4D while figure 4E shows in side and plan view the centre section of the front lighting unit 1, said lighting section being controlled from the switch unit 6 shown in figure 4C to which reference is now made. The switch unit 6 is similar in construction to that of the switch unit 7 except that a push button is not required for the function of the headlamp and tail lamp sections of the front and rear lighting units. Essentially, the switch 22 again has a quiescent, central position at which no power is supplied to the illuminating sections of the front and rear light units 1,2 while moving the switch in a first direction 23 causes power to be supplied to the tail light section 12 of the rear light unit and to the headlamp section 9. The headlamp section 9 preferably includes a plurality of bulbs to provide a variable intensity of illumination - 5 so that moving the switch generally in the direction 24 causes power to be supplied to a higher power bulb for example as well as to the tail light section.
While the switch unit 6 is shown as having a central quiescent position it will be appreciated that the non-power position could be at either extreme of the positions with the power level being effected by moving the switch to one of the other two positions.
Referring briefly to Figure 4G, the rear light unit centre section 12 again incorporates low and high intensity bulbs, the first providing a tail light indication being controlled from the switch unit 6 and the second, higher power illumination being provided from the braking switches (not shown). Figures 4F and 41 show details of the indicator sections of the two units 1 and 2, the figure 4F showing a generally preferred shape for the left and right hand sections and figure 41 showing the shaping of the casing with the lens cover removed to show the bulb.
Figure 4H shows the kind of relay unit 15 which may be incorporated to provide flashing control of the indicating portions of the front an drear light units although it will be noted that an astable multivibrator or microprocessor control unit could be used to perform such a function. In a further alternative flashing control could be incorporated into the lighting units themselves so that stable power supplied to an indicator section results in a flashing illumination of the lighting section. This may also be achieved by providing a bulb incorporating a bimetallic strip to effect self flashing on the application of power.
Turning then to figure 5, the rear light unit 2 is shown demounted from a carrier clip 25 which is attached to the saddle support pillar 4. Typically, the unit 2 carries a male clip arrangement 26 for attachment to the female portion mounted on the frame by attaching the unit with an upward and sideways motion as indicated by the arrows. For preference the two parts 25, 26 of the mounting arrangement carry sliding contacts for coupling together automatically when the unit 2 is mounted to the clip 25. Alternatively, a separate plug and socket arrangement having multiple pins could be used. Figure 6 shows further detail of the mounting arrangement of the rear light unit and a similar arrangement is provided for the front lighting unit 1 as shown in figure 9.
Finally, considering Figure 8, a wiring diagram is shown in which the component parts are correspondingly labelled to the component parts hereinbefore - 6 described. For completeness the wiring diagram also shows the switches 27, 28 for detection of braking activity by the user and the respective high and low intensity bulbs of the headlamp unit are shown as 9a and sib. Correspondingly the low intensity tail light bulb is shown as 1 2a while the high intensity braking indicator is shown as 1 2b.
While as hereinbefore described the primary illumination sources are conventional lamp bulbs it will be realised that some or all of the illumination functionality could be provided by light emitting diodes or similar which could be controlled from a microprocessor circuit to vary in intensity and/or colour and to flash steadily or randomly to reflect the activity of the user.
It is known to provide a flashing sequence to tail light indication for example to make the unit attract attention more readily than a stable light output and such may be incorporated in the units of the present invention. - 7

Claims (2)

1. Safety apparatus for a bicycle, the safety apparatus comprising a plurality of Remountable units each of which includes at least three separately controllable illuminable sections at least two of which provide a signalling indication, the apparatus further including means to control an electrical signal to said sections which provide a signalling indication, switch means for determining which, if any, of the sections are illuminated and means to store electrical power for provision of electrical power to the illuminable sections.
2. Safety apparatus for a bicycle as claimed in claim 1 in which one of said units has an illuminable section responsive to the application of electrical power to provide a high intensity light output on operation of switch means linked to braking means of a bicycle.
3 Safety apparatus for a bicycle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which one of said units incorporates warning means responsive to application of electrical power from switch means operable by a user.
4 Safety apparatus for a bicycle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which one of said units for mounting on a bicycle frame in a rearward facing position and including said section for providing a high intensity light output includes primary and secondary illuminable intensities whereby a rear (tail) light function may be provided at a lower intensity output and a braking function may be provided by a higher intensity output in the same section.
Safety apparatus for a bicycle as claimed in claim 4 in which the lower intensity output is controllable to be stable or to provide a flashing output.
6 Safety apparatus for a bicycle as claimed in any preceding claim in which one of said units is provided with an illuminating beam output which has selectable power levels for use in different situations to provide better illumination in less well lit environments.
7 Safety apparatus for a bicycle as claimed in any preceding claim in which the electrical power source is a battery.
8 Safety apparatus for a bicycle as claimed in claim 7 in which the battery is of the rechargeable kind. - 8
9 Safety apparatus for a bicycle as claimed in claim 8 in which the power unit includes a socket for connection to electrical mains power when the unit is not in use.
Safety apparatus for a bicycle as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 in which the battery is arranged to be recharged by a dynamo or other generating means powered by user action.
11 Safety apparatus for a bicycle as claimed in any preceding claim in which each of the units is arranged for attachment to a carrier portion attachable to the framework of a bicycle and having a pluggable connection for connecting power supply and signalling wires.
12 Safety apparatus for a bicycle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 in which each of the units is arranged for attachment to a carrier portion attachable to the framework of a bicycle and slide contacts are provided on the carrier portion and on the units whereby on attachment of the units to the carrier portion respective electrical connections for each of the functions of the units is provided.
13 Safety apparatus for a bicycle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14 A lighting unit for inclusion in safety apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB0323812A 2003-10-10 2003-10-10 Illuminated signals for bicycles Withdrawn GB2408639A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0323812A GB2408639A (en) 2003-10-10 2003-10-10 Illuminated signals for bicycles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0323812A GB2408639A (en) 2003-10-10 2003-10-10 Illuminated signals for bicycles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0323812D0 GB0323812D0 (en) 2003-11-12
GB2408639A true GB2408639A (en) 2005-06-01

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ID=29433709

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0323812A Withdrawn GB2408639A (en) 2003-10-10 2003-10-10 Illuminated signals for bicycles

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2019081539A (en) * 2013-06-20 2019-05-30 プロダクト ディベロップメント テクノロジーズ エルエルシー Bicycle system
WO2021005350A1 (en) * 2019-07-05 2021-01-14 Gerez Cycles Limited Improved bicycle
WO2024108279A1 (en) * 2022-11-21 2024-05-30 Da Luz Jose Roberto Safety device with indicator lights for use on bicycles

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112478030A (en) * 2020-11-02 2021-03-12 杭州骏伟信息科技有限公司 Kinetic energy recovery bicycle capable of being cooled

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4204191A (en) * 1977-04-07 1980-05-20 Daniels Travis J Lighting system for bicycles
GB2237367A (en) * 1989-10-25 1991-05-01 Alex Mcginlay Bicycle brake and indicator unit
GB2295005A (en) * 1995-11-08 1996-05-15 Mourad Zaky Michael Bicycle indicator light set
FR2744690A1 (en) * 1996-02-12 1997-08-14 Laugier Jean Claude Electronic turn and stopping indicators for bicycle
GB2329957A (en) * 1997-10-01 1999-04-07 Ridge David Alexandre Mestres Position and indicator lights for bicycles
FR2777525A1 (en) * 1998-04-15 1999-10-22 Jacques Ortega Self-contained direction and stop bicycle indicating light kit
DE20215196U1 (en) * 2002-10-02 2003-01-09 Donner Ulf Lighting system for bicycle has head, dipped and rear lamps, brake light LED, direction indicators, permanent power supply and control console

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4204191A (en) * 1977-04-07 1980-05-20 Daniels Travis J Lighting system for bicycles
GB2237367A (en) * 1989-10-25 1991-05-01 Alex Mcginlay Bicycle brake and indicator unit
GB2295005A (en) * 1995-11-08 1996-05-15 Mourad Zaky Michael Bicycle indicator light set
FR2744690A1 (en) * 1996-02-12 1997-08-14 Laugier Jean Claude Electronic turn and stopping indicators for bicycle
GB2329957A (en) * 1997-10-01 1999-04-07 Ridge David Alexandre Mestres Position and indicator lights for bicycles
FR2777525A1 (en) * 1998-04-15 1999-10-22 Jacques Ortega Self-contained direction and stop bicycle indicating light kit
DE20215196U1 (en) * 2002-10-02 2003-01-09 Donner Ulf Lighting system for bicycle has head, dipped and rear lamps, brake light LED, direction indicators, permanent power supply and control console

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2019081539A (en) * 2013-06-20 2019-05-30 プロダクト ディベロップメント テクノロジーズ エルエルシー Bicycle system
EP3511234A1 (en) * 2013-06-20 2019-07-17 Konnectronix, Inc. Bicycle system
US10926824B2 (en) 2013-06-20 2021-02-23 Konnectronix, Inc. Bicycle system
WO2021005350A1 (en) * 2019-07-05 2021-01-14 Gerez Cycles Limited Improved bicycle
WO2024108279A1 (en) * 2022-11-21 2024-05-30 Da Luz Jose Roberto Safety device with indicator lights for use on bicycles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)