Lighting assembly and a wheel rim including a lighting assembly

• US 7,354,182 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kurt Wilson Bartels
• Original Assignee: Kurt Wilson Bartels
• Inventors: Bartels, Kurt Wilson
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong; Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US11/111,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20060152938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 362/500, 362/42, 362190-193, 362/800, 362/806, 362/184, 362/234, 362/249, 362/362, 362364-366, 362/374, 362/375, 362/382, 310/73, 405/87, 359/524
• US Class Current: 362/500
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions

Abstract

A lighting assembly 10 which is adapted to be operatively placed within a portion or rim of a wheel, such as rims 802, 804, and which selectively generates light signals 800 or which is adapted to be integrally and operatively placed within a rim of a wheel, such as rims 802, 804.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly comprising a body portion which is selectively placed within a wheel rim bore;

a light generation assembly which is operatively contained within said body portion, wherein said body portion is selectively expandable and includes a generally cylindrical housing which operatively contains said light generation assembly; and

comprises a center bore adapter which is coupled to said housing and which includes a first generally circular and flat member;

a second generally circular and flat member; and

an abutment member which is contained between said first and second generally circular flat members.

2. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein said first and second generally circular members are substantially identical.

3. The lighting assembly of claim 2 wherein said abutment member comprises an O-ring.

4. The lighting assembly of claim 1 wherein said light generation assembly comprises a battery;

and a light emission assembly which is coupled to said battery and which selectively receives electrical power which emanates from said battery.

5. The lighting assembly of claim 4 wherein said light generation assembly comprises a generator;

and a light emission assembly which is coupled to said generator.

6. The lighting assembly of claim 4 wherein said light generation assembly further comprises a radio frequency receiver which is coupled to said battery and which selectively prevents said electrical energy from being coupled to said light emission assembly.

7. The lighting assembly of claim 6 wherein said light emission assembly comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

8. The lighting assembly of claim 5 wherein said generator is coupled to a counterweight portion.

9. The lighting assembly of claim 4 further comprising a trickle charge assembly which is coupled to said battery and to said light emission assembly.

10. An assembly for use in combination with a wheel rim of the type having a center bore of a certain shape, said assembly comprising a body having a shape which is substantially identical but slightly smaller than said certain shape;

and a lighting assembly which is operatively housed within said body and which selectively generates light;

wherein said body comprises a first generally flat and circular member having at least a first bullet portion;

a second generally flat and circular member having at least a second bullet portion ;

an abutment member which is operatively disposed between said first and second generally circular members; and

a cam member which is movable from a first position in which said cam member is remote from said first generally flat and circular member to a second position in which said cam member contacts said first generally flat and circular member, thereby causing said first generally flat and circular members to move with respect to said second generally flat and circular member and causing said first bullet portion to selectively contact an interior surface of said bore, thereby allowing said body to be fitted within said center bore.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said abutment member comprises an O-ring.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said lighting assembly comprises a battery which selectively emits electrical power;

and a plurality of light emission assemblies which are coupled to said battery and which, upon receipt of said electrical power, emit light energy.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein said lighting assembly further comprises a radio frequency receiver which is coupled to said battery and which selectively inhibits the reception of said electrical power by said plurality of light emission assemblies.

14. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said lighting assembly comprises a generator which provides electricity;

and a plurality of light emission assemblies which are coupled to said generator and which receive said electricity from said generator and which, in response to the received electricity, emit light energy.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein said plurality of light emission assemblies comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

16. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising a remote transmitter which is communicatively coupled to said radio frequency receiver.

17. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising a lens which is removably coupled to said body and which substantially overlays said lighting assembly.