Miniature centrifugal lighting assembly
First Claim
1. A wheel for an in-line skate to enhance the safety of skating in darkness, said wheel having a central axis of rotation, comprising:
- a hub for journalled rotation about an axle and having an inner ring and an outer annular ring;
a plurality of radially oriented spokes connecting said inner ring and said outer annular ring;
a nonconductive elastomeric ground engaging tire molded about said outer annular ring and having two generally parallel lateral sides, said hub and tire having external surfaces comprising an envelope of said skate wheel; and
a light module encased off-axis in said tire and said hub, said light module including an electrical circuit comprising a centrifugal switch, a light emitting diode and a battery power source.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A miniaturized lighting apparatus for a rotating object includes a light-emitting diode (LED), a centrifugal switch, a tiny 3 volt power source, and electrical conduits. The switch is configured to provide power to the LED only upon application of a specific centrifugal force. As applied to an in-line roller skate wheel, the switch and LED may be sealed within the wheel, and the batteries never need replacement because the battery life exceeds the expected wheel life. An in-line skate wheel incorporating the lighting apparatus within it is activated to light the wheel at a predetermined centrifugal force equivalent to a given rotational speed of the wheel, such as 80 rpm. As applied to a reflector light for a bicycle wheel, the light draws power from the battery(ies) only while the wheel is turning at a minimum predetermined rotational speed such as 20 rpm. As applied to a rotatable flying disc, lighting apparatus are mounted on opposite sides of the disc, near the disc periphery. The switch is constructed to actuate the LED at a low rotational speed, and the disc itself is constructed of a phosphorescent material with persistent afterglow. Alternatively, a time delay may be incorporated into the lighting circuit to provide a delayed shut-off of current to the LED.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A wheel for an in-line skate to enhance the safety of skating in darkness, said wheel having a central axis of rotation, comprising:
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a hub for journalled rotation about an axle and having an inner ring and an outer annular ring; a plurality of radially oriented spokes connecting said inner ring and said outer annular ring; a nonconductive elastomeric ground engaging tire molded about said outer annular ring and having two generally parallel lateral sides, said hub and tire having external surfaces comprising an envelope of said skate wheel; and a light module encased off-axis in said tire and said hub, said light module including an electrical circuit comprising a centrifugal switch, a light emitting diode and a battery power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification