Shaped neon light spark plug connectors

• US 7,018,080 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kevin L. Alexander
• Original Assignee: Kevin L. Alexander
• Inventors: Alexander, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US10/697,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20050094408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 362/217, 362/221, 362/263, 362/216, 362/369, 362/390, 362473-476, 362/640, 362/645
• US Class Current: 362/473
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/00 Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/40 Ornaments or toys
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices on cycles; Mounting or supporting thereof; Circuits therefor

Abstract

Shaped neon light spark plug connectors which include a continuous length of neon tubing fitted with electrodes at each end and configured to extend between and connect to the spark plug and coil of a motorcycle engine. The spark plug connectors are each characterized by a continuous, shaped neon tube light source that pulsates and flickers with operation of the engine at low engine speeds and displays a substantially continuous glow of a selected color at higher engine speeds. A specially designed jig is provided for bending the heated neon tubing into the desired configuration and fitting it between the spark plug and the coil locations. Included is a method for providing a continuous, shaped neon light spark plug-to-coil connector on a motorcycle engine, which method includes the steps of providing a jig for measuring, cutting and bending a heated neon light tube into a desired configuration and fitting the shaped tube between the coil and the spark plug connectors of a motorcycle; adding electrodes to each end of the neon tube and evacuating the tube; and attaching end connectors and boots on each end of the neon tube for electrical connection to the coil and spark plug terminals of the motorcycle engine.

Claims

1. A neon light spark plug/coil connector for an engine comprising a shaped, continuous neon light tube having a selected color, a coil connector electrically connecting one end of said neon light tube to the coil;

a coil boot provided on said one end of said neon light tube at the coil for covering said coil connector;

a spark plug connector electrically connecting the opposite end of said neon light tube to the spark plug; and

a spark plug boot provided at said opposite end of said neon light tube at the spark plug for covering said spark plug connector.

2. The neon light spark plug/coil connector of claim 1 comprising a first sleeve provided on said one end of said neon light tube under said coil boot for covering said coil connector and a second sleeve provided on said opposite end of said neon light tube under said spark plug boot for covering said spark plug connector.

3. The neon light spark plug/coil connector of claim 1 comprising at least one flexible corrugation provided in said coil boot for attenuating vibration in said neon light tube from the engine.

4. The neon light spark plug/coil connector of claim 1 comprising:

(a) a first sleeve provided on said one end of said neon light tube under said coil boot for covering said coil connector and a second sleeve provided on said opposite end of said neon light tube under said spark plug boot for covering said spark plug connector; and

(b) at least one flexible corrugation provided in said coil boot for attenuating vibration in said neon light tube from the engine.

5. The neon light spark plug/coil connector of claim 1 wherein said neon light tube comprises a neon tube or a mercury vapor tube and is configured to define at least two bends for connecting with the spark plug and the coil of the engine.

6. The neon light spark plug/coil connector of claim 5 wherein said at least two bends comprises three bends provided in said neon light tube.

7. The neon light spark plug/coil connector of claim 5 comprising a coil connector electrically connecting one end of said neon light tube to the coil;

a coil boot provided on said one end of said neon light tube at the coil and a first sleeve provided on said one end of said neon light tube for covering said coil connector;

a spark plug connector electrically connecting the opposite end of said neon light tube to the spark plug; and

a spark plug boot provided at said opposite end of said neon light tube at the spark plug for covering said spark plug connector.

8. The neon light spark plug/coil connector of claim 7 comprising a second sleeve provided on said opposite end of said neon light tube under said spark plug boot for covering said spark plug connector.

9. The neon light spark plug/coil connector of claim 6 comprising:

(a) a coil connector electrically connecting one end of said neon light tube to the coil;

a coil boot provided on said one end of said neon light tube at the coil and a first sleeve provided on said one end of said neon light tube for covering said coil connector;

a spark plug connector electrically connecting the opposite end of said neon light tube to the spark plug; and

a spark plug boot provided at said opposite end of said neon light tube at the spark plug for covering said spark plug connector; and

(b) a second sleeve provided on said opposite end of said neon light tube under said spark plug boot for covering said spark plug connector.

10. The neon light spark plug/coil connector of claim 5 comprising at least one flexible corrugation provided in said coil boot for attenuating vibration in said neon light tube from the engine.

11. The neon light spark plug/coil of claim 6 comprising:

(a) a coil connector electrically connecting one end of said neon light tube to the coil and a coil boot provided on said one end of said neon light tube at the coil for covering said coil connector;

a spark plug connector electrically connecting the opposite end of said neon light tube to the spark plug and a spark plug boot provided at said opposite end of said neon light tube at the spark plug for covering the said spark plug connector; and

at least one flexible corrugation provided in said coil boot for attenuating vibration in said neon light tube from the engine; and

(b) a first sleeve provided on said one end of said neon light tube under said coil boot for covering said coil connector and a second sleeve provided on said opposite end of said neon light tube under said spark plug boot for covering said spark plug connector.

12. A light tube connector for connecting a coil and a spark plug in a motorcycle engine, said light tube connector comprising a continuous light tube having a selected color and shape to join the coil and the spark plug;

a coil connector provided on one end of said light tube for electrically connecting said one end of said light tube to the coil and a spark plug connector provided on the opposite end of said light tube from said one end for electrically connecting said opposite end of said light tube to the spark plug;

a coil boot provided on said one end of said light tube at the coil for covering such coil connector and a spark plug boot provided on said opposite end of said light tube at the spark plug for covering said spark plug connector.

13. The light tube connector of claim 12 comprising a first sleeve provided on said one end of said light tube for covering said coil connector and a second sleeve provided on said opposite end of said light tube for covering said spark plug connector.

14. The light tube connector of claim 12 comprising at least one flexible corrugation provided at least in said coil boot for attenuating vibration in said light tube from the engine.

15. A neon light tube connector for electrically connecting a coil to a spark plug in a motorcycle engine, said neon light tube connector comprising a continuous neon light tube having a selected color and sized and shaped to span the distance between the coil and the spark plug;

a coil connector provided on one end of said neon light tube for electrically connecting said one end of said neon light tube to the coil;

a spark plug connector provided on the opposite end of said neon light tube from said one end for connecting said opposite end of said neon light tube to the spark plug;

a coil boot provided on said one end of said neon light tube at the coil for covering said coil connector;

a spark plug boot provided on said opposite end of said neon light tube at the spark plug for covering said spark plug connector;

a first sleeve provided on said one end of said neon light tube under said coil boot for covering said coil connector and a second sleeve provided on said opposite end of said neon light tube under said spark plug boot for covering said spark plug connector.

16. The neon light tube connector of claim 15 comprising at least one flexible corrugation provided in said coil boot for attenuating vibration in said neon light tube from the engine.