Wheel incorporating a flashing light feature

• US 6,851,817 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cheerine Development Limited
• Original Assignee: Cheerine Development Limited
• Inventors: Wong, Wai Kai
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US10/288,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20040085777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 362/35, 362/234, 362/486, 362/500, 362/800, 362/802, 362/806, 301/5.301, 280/11.203, 280/816, 315/76, 315/241.S
• US Class Current: 362/35
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0036 with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/22 Wheels for roller skates
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/14 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A wheel incorporating a flashing light feature includes a power source, a plurality of lighting elements and a flashing circuit to selectively provide lighting signals to the plurality of lighting elements. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature further includes at least two motion switches to activate the flashing circuit. The at least two motion switches include a spring having a fixed end and a free end and a metal cap positioned proximate the free end of the spring for electrical engagement by the free end of the spring. Examples of articles with a wheel incorporating a flashing light feature include scooters, roller skates, in line skates, roller shoes and other types of wheeled footwear.

Claims

1. A wheel incorporating a flashing light feature comprising:

a plurality of light sources;

a flashing circuit to selectively provide lighting signals to the plurality of light sources; and

at least two motion switches operatively connected to the flashing circuit and arranged circumferentially around an axis of rotation of the wheel to activate the flashing circuit when the wheel is in motion, the at least two motion switches including

a spring having a fixed end and a free end, and

an arch positioned proximate the free end of the spring for electrical engagement by the free end of the spring.

2. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 1 further comprising:

a power source.

3. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 1 wherein an angle is formed between the at least two motion switches and the angle formed is greater then about 45 degrees.

4. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 1 wherein an angle is formed between the at least two motion switches and the angle formed is less then about 315 degrees.

5. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 1 further comprising:

leads coupling the springs of the at least two motion switches and the arches of the at least two motion switches with the flashing circuit.

6. The wheel incorporating flashing light feature of claim 5 further comprising:

a housing containing the power source, the lighting elements, the flashing circuit and the at least two motion switches.

7. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 1 wherein the at least two motion switches further comprise a spring base of the at least two motion switches which is a printed circuit board.

8. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 1 wherein the at least two motion switches further comprise a spring stand of the at least two motion switches which is made of conductive material.

9. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 1 wherein the arch of the at least two motion switches is made of conductive material.

10. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 1 wherein the spring of the at least two motion switches is made of conductive material.

11. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 10 wherein the spring of the at least two motion switches is a coil spring.

12. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 10 wherein the spring of the at least two motion switches is a leaf spring.

13. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 1 wherein the wheel incorporating a flashing light feature is operatively connected to one of:

a scooter;

a roller skate;

an in-line skate; and

a roller shoe.

14. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 1 wherein the at least two motion switches are electronically coupled to the flashing circuit to provide switching signals to the flashing circuit.

15. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 14 wherein the switching signals have a predetermined logical relationship and cause the flashing circuit to provide a signal to the light sources.

16. The wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 15 wherein the at least two motion switches are arranged to only close at the same time due to the centrifugal force of rotation of the wheel.

17. A circuit for a wheel incorporating a flashing light feature comprising:

a resistor;

a plurality of light sources operatively connected to the resistor;

a flashing circuit to selectively provide lighting signals to the plurality of light sources and operatively connected to the resistor;

a digital logic gate operatively connected to the flashing circuit; and

at least two motion switches operatively connected to the flashing circuit and the digital logic gate and arranged circumferentially around an axis of rotation of the wheel such that the flashing circuit is activated only when the wheel is rotated.

18. The circuit for a wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 17 further comprising:

a power source.

19. The circuit for a wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 17 further comprising:

an enable pin on the flashing circuit that requires a low level to enable the integrated circuit.

20. The circuit for a wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 17 further comprising:

a plurality of output pins on the flashing circuit to drain current from the plurality of light sources.

21. The circuit for a wheel incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 17 wherein the digital logic gate is a two input NAND gate.

22. A wheel incorporating a flashing light feature comprising:

a power source;

a resistor operatively connected to the power source;

a plurality of light sources operatively connected to the resistor;

a flashing circuit to selectively provide lighting signals to the plurality of light sources and operatively connected to the resistor and the power source;

a digital logic gate operatively connected to the flashing circuit; and

at least two motion switches operatively connected to the flashing circuit and the digital logic gate and arranged circumferentially around an axis of rotation of the wheel with an angle between the at least two motion switches wherein the angle is greater then about 45 degrees to activate the flashing circuit when the wheel is in motion, the at least two motion switches including

a spring having a fixed end and a free end, and

an arch positioned proximate the free end of the spring for electrical engagement by the free end of the spring.

23. Wheeled footwear incorporating a flashing light feature comprising:

a plurality of light sources;

a flashing circuit to selectively provide lighting signals to the plurality of light sources; and

at least two motion switches operatively connected to the flashing circuit and arranged circumferentially around an axis of rotation of the wheel to activate the flashing circuit when the wheel is in motion, the at least two motion switches including

a spring having a fixed end and a free end, and

an arch positioned proximate the free end of the spring for electrical engagement by the free end of the spring.

24. The wheeled footwear incorporating a flashing light feature of claim 23 wherein the wheel footwear comprises one of:

a roller skate;

an in-line skate; and

a roller shoe.

25. A wheel incorporating a flashing light feature, the wheel comprising a power source, a plurality of light sources connected to the power source and to a flashing circuit which selectively provides signals to the plurality of light sources, and at least two motion switches connected through a digital logic gate to the flashing circuit, the at least two motion switches including a spring flexible for electrical engagement by the spring due to centrifugal force produced when the wheel rotates to close the at least two motion switches at the same time, thus providing a signal to the digital logic gate allowing the flashing circuit to illuminate the light sources.