Bicycle lighting systems and methods

• US 8,545,068 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Weistech Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Revolights, Inc.
• Inventors: Frankovich, John Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, THAI N
• Application Number:
  US13/718,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20130107554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: 315/76, 315/77, 315/80, 340/426.33, 340/432, 340/444, 340/459, 340/815.45, 362/192, 362/459, 362/464, 362/473, 362/500
• US Class Current: 362/473
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/01 Electric circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/057 Automatic activation, e.g. by sensors
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing adequate lighting and sighting for a bicycle are disclosed. A lighting system that includes an illumination ring configured to be coupled to a wheel is also disclosed. The illumination ring is configured to simultaneously project light forward and to the side of a front wheel and to project light rearward of and to the side of a rear wheel. The illumination ring may be mounted to or integrated with the bicycle wheel. Methods of controlling light sources on the illumination ring are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A hub for a bicycle wheel, the bicycle wheel including a plurality of light emitting elements that rotate with the bicycle wheel, the hub comprising:

a controller mounted to the hub that controls each of the light emitting elements to operate between;

a lit mode wherein the light emitting element projects light radially outward of the wheel when the light emitting element is within an arcuate area defined from a reference point, the arcuate area having an arc length of less than 360 degrees; and

a dim mode when the light emitting element is outside the arcuate area; and

an electrical connector that connects the controller to the light emitting elements.

2. The hub of claim 1, wherein the wheel has a central plane extending through the wheel circumference and a midpoint of the wheel width, wherein each light emitting element projects light in a vector substantially parallel to the central plane when in the lit mode.

3. The hub of claim 2, wherein each light emitting element projects light in a vector that intersects the central plane when in the lit mode.

4. The hub of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector comprises a power wire.

5. The hub of claim 4, wherein the power wire extends along a spoke of the wheel.

6. The hub of claim 4, wherein the controller is individually wired to each light emitting element.

7. The hub of claim 6, wherein the controller is individually wired to each light emitting element by a wire pair comprising the power wire and a ground wire.

8. The hub of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises an index sensor that indexes the reference point.

9. The hub of claim 8, wherein the index sensor comprises a contact switch.

10. The hub of claim 8, wherein the reference point is defined by an emitter statically coupled to a vehicle frame, wherein the hub rotatably couples to the vehicle frame.

11. The hub of claim 10, wherein the controller switches a light emitting element to the lit mode in response to the index sensor passing the emitter.

12. The hub of claim 11, wherein the controller applies a voltage across a light emitting element to place the light emitting element in the lit mode.

13. The hub of claim 12, wherein the controller electrically connects a power source with the light emitting element in the lit mode.

14. The hub of claim 11, wherein the controller switches off a light emitting element in the dim mode.

15. The hub of claim 14, wherein the controller disconnects the power source from the light emitting element in the dim mode.

16. The hub of claim 1, wherein the controller is mounted to an arcuate surface of the hub.

17. The hub of claim 16, wherein the controller is mounted within the hub.

18. The hub of claim 1, wherein the controller is integrated with a disk that is coaxially mounted an end of the hub.

19. A wheel comprising a hub and a plurality of light emitting elements, the wheel comprising:

an emitter configured to statically mount to a vehicle frame, thereby defining a reference position;

a controller mounted to the hub and electrically connected to the light emitting elements by a wire extending along a spoke of the wheel, the controller comprising an index sensor, the controller configured to switch each light emitting element between;

a lit mode wherein the light emitting element projects light radially outward of the wheel when the light emitting element is within an arcuate area defined from a reference point, the arcuate area having an arc length of less than 360 degrees; and

a dim mode when the light emitting element is outside the arcuate area;

wherein the controller switches the light emitting element to the lit mode in response to the index sensor passing the emitter.

20. A hub for a wheel, the hub including a hub shell and an axle extending coaxially through an interior of the hub shell, the wheel including a plurality of lights mounted to rotate with the wheel, the hub comprising:

a controller mounted to the hub shell interior that controls each of the light emitting elements to operate between;

a lit mode, wherein the light emitting element projects light radially outward of the wheel when the light emitting element is within an arcuate area defined from a reference point, the arcuate area having an arc length of less than 360 degrees; and

a dim mode when the light emitting element is outside the arcuate area;

an emitter configured to statically mount to a vehicle frame in rotatable relation to the controller and define the reference position; and

an electrical connector configured to transmit signals from the controller to the light emitting elements.