GB2481989A

GB2481989A - A vehicle electronic warning device for mounting on a bulb and bulb holder of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2481989A
Application number: GB1011735.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Reynolds
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-13
Filing date: 2010-07-13
Publication date: 2012-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2030-07-13
Also published as: GB201011735D0; GB2481989B

Abstract

A vehicle electronic warning device for mounting around a bulb and subsequent insertion into a bulb holder. A flexible circuit incorporates a sound emitting device which when assembled around a light bulb activates when the bulb is illuminated. The flexible circuit includes a plurality of conductive fingers 9 and contacts 19 which draw current from bulb's power supply when brought into contact with the conductive surfaces of the bulb. Uses for the device particularly but not exclusively are with a motorcycle indicator bulb which will give audible feedback to the rider that the indicators are in operation. Also when used with an automobile reversing light will give a warning to pedestrians that the vehicle is in reverse gear.

Description

A VEHICLE ELECTRONIC WARNING DEVICE FOR

MOUNTING ON A BULB AND BULB HOLDER OF A VEHICLE

The present invention relates to a vehicle electronic warning device for mounting on a bulb and bulb holder of a vehicle and particularly but not exclusively relates to a device for use with a motorcycle turning indicator light.

Motorcycles are provided with turning indicator lights that are activated and deactivated using a switch on the handlebars. Usually a warning light on the instrumentation of the motorcycle flashes to indicate that the indicator light is activated. However, the warning light is often difficult to see in use, and it is a common problem that the motorcycle indicator light is inadvertently left on. Whilst being inconvenient, this can also be dangerous in certain situations where other road users may make an incorrect assumption about the intended direction of the motorcycle based on the continued illumination of the indicator light. Providing a solution to this problem is exacerbated by the relatively small and light nature of a motorcycle, and the relative lack of space for additional components.

Likewise in other types of vehicle, it can be desirable to provide an audible warning that a vehicle light is illuminated, or to supplement a warning provided by the vehicle light, whilst minimising the space taken up by, and requirement for, additional components.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle electronic warning device for mounting on a bulb and bulb holder of a vehicle, the device comprising a main body provided with an electrical circuit including positive and negative conductors, and a sound emitter electrically connected to the positive and negative conductors, the main body comprising an aperture dimensioned to receive a bulb stem of a bulb, one of the conductors being positioned at the aperture to form an electrical connection with the bulb stem in use, a flexible tail depending from the main body and being provided with an electrical contact remote from the aperture and connected to the other of the conductors, the tail being of a sufficient length and flexibility that when the bulb stem is received in the aperture in use, the contact extends to the base of the bulb stem to form an electrical connection therewith, the device, when the bulb stem is mounted on a bulb holder, being operative to tap electrical power from the bulb to power the sound emitter such that when the bulb illuminates, sound is emitted from the sound emitter.

Thus, when used with a turning indicator bulb on a vehicle, the flashing illumination of the bulb causes an intermittent sound to be emitted, drawing the vehicle operator's attention to the fact that the turning indicator bulb is on.

The device may be formed entirely from a flexible material, that is, the main body and tail are both flexible. Preferably the material comprises two flexible, electrically non-conductive layers, sandwiching the electrically conductive circuit.

The sound emitter may be mounted on the main body.

Preferably, the aperture is defined by a plurality of fingers, at least one of which comprises an electrically conductive contact.

Preferably the fingers are inclined relative to the plane of the main body so as to facilitate insertion of the bulb stem through the aperture.

The circuit may be provided with a fuse in line with at least one of the electrical conductors.

The circuit may further be provided with an oscillator electrically connected between the sound emitter and one of the conductors and operative to oscillate the electrical power tapped from the bulb in use, the oscillated power being operative to cause the sound emitter to emit a non-constant sound.

This enables the device to be used with, for example, a reversing light of a vehicle to enable a non-constant warning sound to be emitted, despite the constant illumination of the reversing light when reverse gear is selected.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a bulb assembly comprising a bulb holder, a bulb, and the device of the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle comprising the device of the first aspect of the invention.

The same principle may be used with any bulb and bulb holder and is not limited to use with vehicle bulb and bulb holders.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided an electronic warning device for mounting on a bulb and bulb holder, the device comprising a main body provided with an electrical circuit including positive and negative conductors, and a sound emitter electrically connected to the positive and negative conductors, the main body comprising an aperture dimensioned to receive a bulb stem of a bulb, one of the conductors being positioned at the aperture to form an electrical connection with the bulb stem in use, a flexible tail depending from the main body and being provided with an electrical contact remote from the aperture and connected to the other of the conductors, the tail being of a sufficient length and flexibility that when the bulb stem is received in the aperture in use, the contact extends to the base of the bulb stem to form an electrical connection therewith, the device, when the bulb stem is mounted on a bulb holder, being operative to tap electrical power from the bulb to power the sound emitter such that when the bulb illuminates, sound is emitted from the sound emitter.

Other aspects of the present invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein.

The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a vehicle electronic warning device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded side view of a bulb assembly comprising the device of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bulb assembly of Figure 3 with the bulb holder removed for clarity; and Figure 5 is an enlarged section side view of the bulb assembly device of Figures 3 and 4.

Referring to the Figures, a vehicle electronic warning device 1 comprises a strip of flexible circuit comprising a main body 3, and a narrower diameter tail 5 depending from the main body 3. The main body 3 and tail 5 are formed from two sheets of flexible, electrically non-conductive material which sandwich electrically conductive elements.

The main body 3 comprises a circular region formed with a circular aperture 7. The aperture 7 is defined by a plurality of flexible fingers 9 that extend generally radially inwardly and downwardly from the plane of the main body 3. Each finger 9 includes an electrically conductive contact 11 that forms a part of a negative conductor 13, the other end of the negative conductor 13 being electrically connected to a sound emitter 15 mounted on the main body 3 adjacent the aperture 7.

The sound emitter 15 is also connected to a positive conductor 17 which extends along the main body 3, around the aperture 7, and along the tail 5. The positive conductor 17 terminates in an electrical contact 19 at a position about 75% along the length of the tail 5. An optional fuse 21 is provided inline with the electrical contact 19 on the positive conductor 17.

It will be appreciated that the electrical contacts 11 on the fingers 9, and the electrical contact 19 on the tail 5 project through the non-electrically conductive sheets, or may be exposed via a cut-away portion of at least one electrically conductive sheet.

In use of the device 1, and with particular reference to Figures 3 to 5, the stem 31 of a light bulb 33 is pushed through the aperture 7 of the device 1, deflecting the fingers 9 downwardly away from the plane of the main body 3 of the device 1. The tail 5 of the device 1 is bent so as to extend at 90° to the main body 3 down the stem 31 of the bulb 33, and then at 90° again so as to extend underneath the base of the stem 31 of the bulb 33 to a position in which the electrical contact 19 on the tail 5 is in contact with the centre pin 35 of the bulb 33. A small section of the tail 5 is bent upwardly through 900 to extend partially up the other side of the stem 31 of the bulb 33. This may help to retain the tails on the bulb stem 31.

The bulb stem 31, and the bent tail 5 of the device 1, are then inserted into a bulb holder 37 in the normal manner, that is, until the centre pin 35 of the bulb 33 makes contact with an electrical contact at the base of the bulb holder 37. This also ensures the contact 19 on the tail 5 of the device 1 makes an electrical connection with the contact at the base of the bulb holder 37.

The stem 31 of the bulb 33 makes an electrical connection with the interior side wall of the bulb holder 37 as normal. The fingers 9 of the device 1 form an electrical connection with the bulb stem 31.

When the bulb 33 is activated using the standard switch (not shown) on the motorcycle handlebars or the like, the electrical power supply to the bulb 33 via the bulb centre pin 35 and the bulb stem 31 is tapped off by the electrical contact 19 on the tail 5, and the contacts 11 on the fingers 9. This provides electrical power, via the negative and positive conductors 13, 17, to the sound emitter 15 such that a warning sound is emitted from the sound emitter 15 when the light bulb 33 is activated.

Thus, where the light bulb 33 is controlled to illuminate intermittently, as with a vehicle side indicator for example, a sound is also emitted intermittently.

The sound can be any suitable sound and the sound emitter 15 can be selected accordingly. A buzzing, beeping or clicking sound is envisaged.

If the device 1 is used in connection with a bulb that is not intermittently illuminated, such as a vehicle reversing light for example, an oscillator 39 may optionally be provided on the main body 3, in contact with the negative and positive conductors 13, 17. The oscillator 39 serves to convert a constant electrical input into an intermittent electrical output that is used by the sound emitter 15 to produce an intermittent warning sound.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A vehicle electronic warning device for mounting on a bulb and bulb holder of a vehicle, the device comprising a main body provided with an electrical circuit including positive and negative conductors, and a sound emitter electrically connected to the positive and negative conductors, the main body comprising an aperture dimensioned to receive a bulb stem of a bulb, one of the conductors being positioned at the aperture to form an electrical connection with the bulb stem in use, a flexible tail depending from the main body and being provided with an electrical contact remote from the aperture and connected to the other of the conductors, the tail being of a sufficient length and flexibility that when the bulb stem is received in the aperture in use, the contact extends to the base of the bulb stem to form an electrical connection therewith, the device, when the bulb stem is mounted on a bulb holder, being operative to tap electrical power from the bulb to power the sound emitter such that when the bulb illuminates, sound is emitted from the sound emitter.
2. The device of claim 1 formed from a flexible material, that is, the main body and tail are both flexible.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the material comprises two flexible, electrically non-conductive layers, sandwiching the electrically conductive circuit.
4. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein the sound emitter is mounted on the main body.
5. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein the aperture is defined by a plurality of fingers, at least one of which comprises an electrically conductive contact.
6. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein the fingers are inclined relative to the plane of the main body so as to facilitate insertion of the bulb stem through the aperture.
7. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein the circuit is provided with a fuse in line with at least one of the electrical conductors.
8. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein the circuit is further provided with an oscillator electrically connected between the sound emitter and one of the conductors and operative to oscillate the electrical power tapped from the bulb in use, the oscillated power being operative to cause the sound emitter to emit a non-constant sound.
9. A bulb assembly comprising a bulb holder, a bulb, and the device of any one of claims 1 to 8.
10. A vehicle comprising the device of any one of claims 1 to 8.
11. A vehicle electronic warning device substantially as described herein and as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
12. A bulb assembly comprising a bulb holder, a bulb, and a device substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 2.