Photo-sensitive illuminated skate wheel

• US 6,175,196 B1
• Filed: 07/02/1999
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary Dean Ragner, Tom Earl Duntley
• Original Assignee: Gary Dean Ragner, Tom Earl Duntley
• Inventors: Duntley, Tom Earl, Ragner, Gary Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, TUYET THI
• Application Number:
  US09/346,918
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 362/500, 362/251, 362/802, 315/200.A, 315/149, 315/150, 315/156, 315/151
• US Class Current: 315/200.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/20 Arrangement of reflectors , e.g. on the wheel spokes pedals incorporating reflectors B62M3/12 ; Lighting devices mounted on wheel spokes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The disclosed safety light (15) is designed to provide automatic operation for safety lights placed on rotating assemblies such as wheels, flying disks, and etc. Safety light (15) comprises a battery (20), acceleration/motion sensor (22), photo sensor (24), and illumination device (26) placed substantially in series with one other. Battery(20) provides electromotive power to operate all circuitry. The acceleration/motion sensor(22) is designed to conduct current when a specific acceleration or motion is detected. The photo sensor (24) conducts current when photo detector(25) detects a sufficiently low level of light. When both acceleration sensor(22) and photo sensor(24) are conducting, current will flow and illuminate illumination device(26). Alternatively, a time delay may be added to the acceleration/motion sensor(22) to delay shut-off of current to the illumination device(26), and a time delay may be added to the photo sensor(24) to delay turn-on of current to illumination device(26) when light level is suddenly reduced.

Claims

1. An illuminated skate wheel, comprising:

a central hub adapted for attachment to skate shoes and made of a hard high-impact plastic material;

an electronic circuit comprising;

a battery for providing electromotive power;

a motion sensor for detecting acceleration and vibration of the wheel;

a photo sensor for detecting low ambient light levels;

and an illumination device;

a substantially translucent polymer tire molded around said central hub to form a complete wheel;

said electronic circuit completely and permanently sealed within said wheel to protect the circuit from both mechanical stress and the environment, and said illumination device can project light out through said translucent polymer tire;

said electronic circuit is connected electrically for conducting substantial current from said battery through said illumination device when both the motion sensor detects movement of the wheel, and the photo sensor detects low ambient light levels;

said electronic circuit further includes a first delay means adapted to delay onset of current flow through said illumination device for a period of time after ambient light levels have suddenly decrease, whereby the circuit prevents waste of battery power when the photo sensor momentarily rotates into the shadow of the skate shoe.

2. The illuminated wheel in claim 1, wherein, said motion sensor includes a second delay means, said second delay means adapted to keep current flowing pass said motion sensor for a duration of time after said motion sensor has stopped detecting motion.

3. An illuminated skate wheel, comprising:

a wheel portion defined for use on skate shoes being made of a substantially translucent polymer material;

an electronic circuit comprising;

a battery for providing electromotive power;

a motion sensor for detecting centrifugal force and vibration having a first conductance means associated with said motion sensor for conducting electrical current when such centrifugal force and vibration is detected;

a photo sensor for detecting a substantially dark environment, having a second conductance means associated with said photo sensor and designed for conducting current when low light levels are detected;

an illumination device;

said electronic circuit completely and permanently enclosed with said wheel portion, thereby protecting it from environmental hazards, and said illumination device can project light out through said translucent polymer material;

said first and second conductance means connected electrically such that substantial current is conducted from said battery to said illumination device only when the illuminated wheel is in active use under a substantially continuous dark environment;

said electronic circuit further includes a first delay means for substantially stopping conduction through said second conductance means for a period of time after said photo sensor has detected a sudden decrease in ambient light level.

4. The illuminated wheel in claim 3, herein said electronic circuit further includes a second delay means for providing conduction pass said first conductance means for a duration of time after said motion sensor no longer detects movement sufficient for activation.