Safety light or the like

• US 4,423,473 A
• Filed: 09/29/1982
• Issued: 12/27/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jog-O-Lite Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jog-O-Lite Incorporated
• Inventors: Kirkley, J. Darrell
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/428,112
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 362/186, 362/800, 362/200, 362/190, 362/191, 362/103, 362/802, 362/268, 362/396, 200/60
• US Class Current: 362/186
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A relatively light weight, low cost compact safety light which may be worn or carried by athletes such as joggers, runners, cyclists, etc. is provided. The safety light is comprised of a light source coupleable to a battery power supply by a position sensitive switch which is sensitive to movement of the athlete and provides intermittent bursts of light which are highly visible to oncoming cars. In one embodiment, the light source is comprised of a light emitting diode coupled to one or more pen light batteries by a position sensitive switch such as a mercury switch. One or more lense members are provided to increase the visibility of the light generated by the light source. A first reflective means located within the safety light housing is utilized to reflect the light generated by the light source through the lense member while a second reflective means located on the outside of the housing provides additional reflectivity for the light generated by oncoming cars. The edges of the safety light housing are so angled or curved that the safety light can only rest on either its front or rear major surface, in which position the position sensitive switch is always off, thereby eliminating the need for any additional on/off switch. The light source may be operated from a battery source which provides current to the light source in excess of its maximum current rating to provide light of greater intensity than is normally producible from such light source. The position sensitive switch is so positioned within the housing that the light source goes on only intermittently when the safety light is being jiggled by the athlete in motion, and as a result the light source may be operated indefinitely in this over maximum rating condition without danger to the light source.

Claims

1. A safety light for athletes or the like to be recognized by oncoming vehicles comprising:

(a) housing including a first lens member disposed therein and adapted to contain battery means;

(b) light generating means contained within said housing for generating intermittent bursts of light;

(c) first reflector means located within said housing and positioned for directing light generated by said light generating means through said first lens member; and

,

(d) second reflector means mounted on the outer surface of said housing for reflecting light from oncoming vehicles.

2. A safety light according to claim 1 wherein said light generating means includes a light emitting diode means.

3. The safety light according to claim 2 wherein said light generating means includes a position sensor means mounted in said housing and operable to provide intermittent current from said battery means to said light emitting diode means when said housing is jiggled.

4. The safety light according to claim 2 including a second lens member disposed over said light emitting diode means for spreading the light beam generated by said light emitting diode means, thereby increasing the visibility of said light beam through said first lens member.

5. The safety light according to claim 1 wherein said second reflector means completely encircles the outer perimeter of said first lens member.

6. The safety light according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes a clip member for clipping the safety light to an article of clothing.

7. A safety light for generating intermittent bursts of light when said safety light is jiggled by an athlete or the like, comprising:

(a) a housing having first and second major surfaces and at least one edge surface and adapted to contain battery means;

(b) a first lens member disposed in said first major surface;

(c) light source means;

(d) first reflector means for directing light generated by said light source means through said first lens member;

(e) position sensor means coupled to said light source means; and

,

(f) connector means for coupling battery means in series with said light source means and said position sensor means;

wherein,

(g) said edge surface is sufficiently angled or curved with respect to said first and second major surfaces to prevent said housing from resting on said edge surface and said position sensor means is positioned within said housing for preventing said light source from being activated while said housing is resting on either of said first or second major surfaces.

8. A safety light according to claim 7 wherein said light source means is comprised of light emitting diode means.

9. The safety light according to claim 8 including a second lens member disposed over said light emitting diode for spreading the light beam generated by said light emitting diode means, thereby increasing the visibility of said light beam through said first lens member.

10. The safety light according to claim 7 wherein said position sensor means is comprised of a mercury switch.

11. The safety light according to claim 7 including a second reflector means mounted on the outer surface of said housing for reflecting light from oncoming vehicles.

12. The safety light according to claim 7 wherein said second reflector means completely encircles the outer perimeter of said first lens member.

13. The safety light according to claim 7 wherein said housing includes a clip member for clipping the safety light to an article of clothing.