High visibility safety lighting system integrated within a vehicle's frame

• US 7,997,775 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nite Glow Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nite Glow Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hurwitz, Marni Markell
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember; Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US12/284,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20090080207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 362/102, 362473-474, 362/464, 362/486, 362/540, 362/541, 362/544, 362/545, 362/234, 362/253, 362/84, 362/551, 362/554, 362/555, 135/910
• US Class Current: 362/474
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2615 mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/16 Arrangement of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/26 warning or informing other road users, e.g. police flash lights

Abstract

A self-contained battery powered high visibility safety lighting system is integrated within portions of a vehicle or article'"'"'s frame, such as a handlebar or body assembly of a motorcycle, bicycle, scooter or toy cycle, stroller, wheel chair, baby carriage, cane or ski pole. The system comprises at least one illumination segment having at least one light source located therein. The light source may comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes integrated within a plurality of apertures located within each of the illumination segments. In another embodiment the illumination segments may be composed of a transparent material to yield transparent illumination segments with an inlay cavity therein for accommodating an electroluminescent light strip. Light may further be emitted from illuminated streamers located on the handlebar grips. Multifaceted emission of light from illumination segments integrated within the frame of the vehicle is highly visible from virtually all directions. An omnidirectional light-alert increases safety for drivers and others in the vehicle'"'"'s vicinity.

Claims

1. A high visibility safety lighting system integrated within an external frame of a vehicle, comprising:

a. at least one illumination segment incorporated within said frame, said frame comprising a handlebar assembly and a body assembly;

b. at least one light source located within said illumination segment;

c. a power supply means activated by a power control for supplying current to said light source and activating same to emit light; and

d. said light source comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes integrated within a plurality of apertures located within each of said illumination segments of said frame to form a diode illumination segment;

whereby said light source emits light from said illumination segment of said frame of said vehicle so that said frame of said vehicle is highly visible alerting all proximate drivers and traffic to the presence of said vehicle and increasing safety accorded to an operator of said vehicle.

2. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 1, wherein said vehicle is a motorcycle, scooter, or other motor driven cycle-like device.

3. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 1, wherein said vehicle is a stroller, walker, or child'"'"'s toy.

4. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 1, wherein said vehicle is a bicycle for an adult or child.

5. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 1, wherein at least one of said illumination segments is integrated within said handlebar assembly of said frame.

6. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 5, wherein said body assembly of said frame comprises a rear shaft assembly, support body, seat shaft, and front wheel shaft, and wherein at least one of said illumination segments is integrated within said rear shaft assembly, support body, seat shaft, and/or front wheel shaft assembly of said body assembly of said frame.

7. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 1, wherein said handlebar assembly includes at least one of said diode illumination segments.

8. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 7 comprising streamers extending from a pair of handlebar grips of said handlebar assembly, wherein said streamers include an electroluminescent wire integral therewith so that light is further emitted form said streamers.

9. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 7 comprising streamers extending from a pair of handlebar grips of said handlebar assembly, wherein said streamers include a plurality of fiber optic cables and a light source is associated with said fiber optic cable streamers so that said streamers emit light through said fiber optic cables.

10. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 7, wherein at least one of said diode illumination segments is integrated within a portion of said body assembly of said frame.

11. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 1, wherein said light emitting diodes of said diode illumination segments are sequenced intermittently to generate moving, blinking, flashing or cascading light.

12. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 1, wherein at least one illumination segment is transparent and comprises an inlay cavity therein to form a transparent illumination segment, and wherein said light source comprises an electroluminescent wire or strip that is housed within said inlay cavity of said transparent illumination segment.

13. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 12 further comprising at least one said diode illumination segment.

14. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 1, wherein said body assembly and said handlebar assembly of said frame are substantially composed of a transparent material constructed with an inlay channel appointed for housing said light source, wherein said light source comprises an electroluminescent light strip, and said inlay channel and said electroluminescent light strip extends within said frame so that a substantial portion of said frame emits light, thereby forming a lighted outline of said frame in dimly lit surroundings.

15. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 1, wherein said power supply means comprises one or more on-board batteries.

16. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 1, wherein said power control attached to said power supply means is activated by a pressure sensor located within an interior/seat of said vehicle for supplying current to said light source.

17. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 1 comprising a light sensor engaged with said power control attached to said power supply means for automatically activating/deactivating said current supply to said light source.

18. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 1 comprising one or more acceleration detecting means, a delay generating circuit means, and a microprocessor powered by said power supply for receiving acceleration information from said acceleration detecting means and delay time period information from said delay generating circuit means, said microprocessor turning on said light source located on said external illumination segment of said frame and keeping them turned on for a time period equal to the delay time, whereby any movement or change in velocity of said vehicle causes said light source to be actuated to an “

on”

condition and remain in the “

on”

condition for said delay time period even when said vehicle is stationary.

19. A high visibility safety lighting system integrated within an external frame of a vehicle, comprising:

a. at least one illumination segment incorporated within said frame, said frame comprising a handlebar assembly and a body assembly;

b. at least one light source located within said illumination segment;

c. a power supply means activated by a power control for supplying current to said light source and activating same to emit light; and

d. streamers extending from a pair of handlebar grips located in said handlebar assembly, wherein said streamers include an electroluminescent wire integral therewith so that light is further emitted form said streamers;

whereby said light source emits light from said illumination segment of said frame of said vehicle so that said frame of said vehicle is highly visible alerting all proximate drivers and traffic to the presence of said vehicle and increasing safety accorded to an operator of said vehicle.

20. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 19, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes integrated within a plurality of apertures located within each of said illumination segments of said frame to form a diode illumination segment.

21. A high visibility safety lighting system integrated within an external frame of a vehicle, comprising:

a. at least one illumination segment incorporated within said frame, said frame comprising a handlebar assembly and a body assembly;

b. at least one light source located within said illumination segment;

c. a power supply means activated by a power control for supplying current to said light source and activating same to emit light; and

d. streamers extending from a pair of handlebar grips located in said handlebar assembly, wherein said streamers include a plurality of fiber optic cables and a light source is associated with said fiber optic cable streamers so that said streamers emit light through said fiber optic cables;

whereby said light source emits light from said illumination segment of said frame of said vehicle so that said frame of said vehicle is highly visible alerting all proximate drivers and traffic to the presence of said vehicle and increasing safety accorded to an operator of said vehicle.

22. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 21, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes integrated within a plurality of apertures located within each of said illumination segments of said frame to form a diode illumination segment.

23. A high visibility safety lighting system integrated within an external frame of a vehicle, comprising:

a. at least one illumination segment incorporated within said frame, said frame comprising a handlebar assembly and a body assembly;

b. at least one light source located within said illumination segment;

c. a power supply means activated by a power control for supplying current to said light source and activating same to emit light; and

d. said power control attached to said power supply means includes a card reader, and a key is provided including a card tag that activates said card reader, which in turn activates said power control for supplying current to said light source;

whereby said light source emits light from said illumination segment of said frame of said vehicle so that said frame of said vehicle is highly visible alerting all proximate drivers and traffic to the presence of said vehicle and increasing safety accorded to an operator of said vehicle.

24. A high visibility safety lighting system as recited by claim 23, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes integrated within a plurality of apertures located within each of said illumination segments of said frame to form a diode illumination segment.