Illuminated gas tank or shell

• US RE39,417 E1
• Filed: 06/01/1999
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thunder & Lighting Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Thunder & Lighting Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Barry, James E
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US09/323,636
• Time in Patent Office: 2,744 Days
• Field of Search: 362/473, 362/101, 362/307, 362/310, 362/311, 362/396, 362/362, 362/363, 280/835, 280/288.4
• US Class Current: 362/473
• CPC Class Codes: N/A

Abstract

Disclosed is a double-walled gasoline or fluid tank having a hollow space allowing light to be visible externally through a variety of openings or designs. A concave side portion of an existing tank is removed and a flat side wall, having an illumination device attached thereto, is attached where the original side portion was removed to create a new tank. An opening is created on the original side portion and the original side portion is reattached to the tank. The illumination device provides light through the opening in the original side portion. In an alternative embodiment a lighting device is provided underneath the gas tank to help illuminate the area in front and to the sides of the motorcycle. The lighting device is provided with a reflective surface area which reflects light received a light bulb in the direction in front of the motorcycle and to the side of the motorcycle corresponding to the side of the gasoline tank to which the motorcycle is attached.

Claims

1. An external illumination device disposed underneath a gasoline tank of a motorcycle or a hollow body shell disposed where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally disposed, to provide light to an adjacent side and front ground area to help aid in the visibility of the motorcycle while also improving the visibility of the surroundings to a motorcyclist while he or she is riding the motorcycle, the gasoline tank or shell having a bottom surface portion, said external illumination device comprising:

a body member having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface of said body member provided with a reflective member, the outer surface of said body member attached to a bottom surface of said motorcycle gasoline tank; and

an illumination member operatively connected to said body member;

said illumination member provides light which is reflected by the reflective member and illuminating the adjacent side and front ground area around the motorcycle while improving the visibility of the surrounding to the motorcyclist.

2. The external illumination device of claim 1, further including a transparent member attached to said body member, wherein the light reflected by said reflective member is passed through the transparent member.

3. The external illumination device of claim 1, wherein said body member is curved shaped.

4. The external illumination device of claim 1, wherein said body member is removably attached to the bottom surface of said motorcycle gasoline tank.

5. The external illumination device of claim 4, wherein said body member is removably attached adjacent an inner edge of the bottom surface of said motorcycle gasoline tank.

6. The external illumination device of claim 1, wherein said body member is attached adjacent an inner edge of the bottom surface of said motorcycle gasoline tank.

7. The external illumination device of claim 1, wherein said illumination member is replaceable.

8. An external illumination device disposed underneath a gasoline tank of a motorcycle or a hollow body shell disposed where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally disposed, to provide light to an adjacent side and front ground area to help aid in the visibility of the motorcycle while also improving the visibility of the surroundings to a motorcyclist while he or she is riding the motorcycle, the gasoline tank or shell having a bottom surface portion, said external illumination device comprising:

a body member having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface of said body member provided with a reflective member, the outer surface of said body member attached to a bottom surface of said motorcycle gasoline tank; and

an illumination member operatively associated with said body member;

wherein said illumination member provides light which is reflected by the reflective member and illuminating the adjacent side and front ground area;

said illumination member is removably attached to said body member by at least one clip member, said clip member attached to said body member and depending therefrom.

9. An external illumination device disposed underneath a gasoline tank of a motorcycle or a hollow body shell disposed where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally disposed, to provide light to an adjacent side and front ground area to help aid in the visibility of the motorcycle while also improving the visibility of the surroundings to a motorcyclist while he or she is riding the motorcycle, the gasoline tank or shell having a bottom surface portion, said external illumination device comprising:

a curved body member having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface of said curved body member provided with a reflective member, the outer surface of said curved body member attached to a bottom surface of said motorcycle gasoline tank;

a transparent member attached to said curved body member forming an area; and

an illumination member disposed within said area formed by said transparent member and said curved body member;

said illumination member provides light which is reflected by the reflective member through the transparent member and illuminating the adjacent side and front ground area around the motorcycle while improving the visibility of the surrounding to the motorcyclist.

10. The external illumination device of claim 9, wherein said curved body member is removably attached to the bottom surface of said motorcycle gasoline tank.

11. The external illumination device of claim 10, wherein said curved body member is removably attached adjacent an inner edge of the bottom surface of said motorcycle gasoline tank.

12. The external illumination device of claim 9, wherein said curved body member is attached adjacent an inner edge of the bottom surface of said motorcycle gasoline tank.

13. The external illumination device of claim 9, wherein said illumination member is replaceable.

14. The external illumination device disposed underneath a gasoline tank of a motorcycle or a hollow body shell disposed where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally disposed, to provide light to an adjacent side and front ground area to help aid in the visibility of the motorcycle while also improving the visibility of the surroundings to a motorcyclist while he or she is riding the motorcycle, the gasoline tank or shell having a bottom surface portion, said external illumination device comprising:

a curved body member having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface of said curved body member provided with a reflective member, the outer surface of said curved body member attached to a bottom surface of said motorcycle gasoline tank;

a transparent member attached to said curved body member forming an area; and

an illumination member disposed within said area formed by said transparent member and said curved body member;

said illumination member provides light which is reflected by the reflective member through the transparent member and illuminating the adjacent side and front ground area;

said illumination member is removably attached to said curved body member by at least one clip member, said clip member attached to said curved body member and depending therefrom.

15. The external illumination device disposed underneath a gasoline tank of a motorcycle or a hollow body shell disposed where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally disposed, to provide light to an adjacent side and front ground area to help aid in the visibility of the motorcycle while also improving the visibility of the surroundings to a motorcyclist while he or she is riding the motorcycle, the gasoline tank or shell having a bottom surface portion, said external illumination device comprising:

a curved body member having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface of said curved body member provided with a reflective member, the outer surface of said curved body member attached to a bottom surface of said motorcycle gasoline tank;

a transparent member attached to said curved body member forming an area; and

a replaceable illumination member disposed within said area formed by said transparent member and said curved body member, said illumination member removably attached to said curved body member by at least one clip member, said clip member attached to said curved body member and depending therefrom;

said illumination member provides light which is reflected by the reflective member through the transparent member and illuminating the adjacent side and front ground area.

16. The external illumination device of claim 15 wherein said curved body member is removably attached to said motorcycle gasoline tank, adjacent an inner edge of the bottom surface of said motorcycle gasoline tank.

17. A motorcycle gasoline tank or motorcycle hollow body shell disposed where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally disposed on a motorcycle, the motorcycle having a frame, the motorcycle gasoline tank or motorcycle hollow body shell comprising:

a body member shaped as a motorcycle gasoline tank and adapted for attachment to the frame of the motorcycle where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally disposed; and

an illumination member secured to said body member such that light from said illumination member illuminates an adjacent side and front ground area around the motorcycle;

wherein a portion of said body member is removed and at least a portion of said illumination member is disposed therein.

18. A device for illuminating a ground area adjacent a motorcycle, said device comprising:

an illumination assembly having a reflective member and adapted for attachment to a motorcycle gasoline tank or a motorcycle hollow body shell disposed where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally disposed such that light from said illumination assembly is directed away from the motorcycle gasoline tank or motorcycle hollow body shell to illuminate an adjacent side and front ground area around the motorcycle.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein at least a portion of said illumination assembly is adapted for attachment to a front half portion of the gasoline tank or motorcycle hollow body shell;

wherein the front half portion is closest to a front area of the motorcycle to which said gasoline tank or motorcycle hollow body shell is attached.

20. A motorcycle gasoline tank or motorcycle hollow body shell disposed where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally disposed on a motorcycle, the motorcycle having a frame, the motorcycle gasoline tank or motorcycle hollow body shell comprising:

a body member shaped as a motorcycle gasoline tank and adapted for attachment to the frame of the motorcycle where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally disposed; and

an illumination member secured to said body member such that light from said illumination member illuminates an adjacent side and front ground area around the motorcycle;

wherein said illumination member having a reflective element for directing the light.

21. A device for illuminating a ground area adjacent a motorcycle, said device comprising:

an illumination assembly adapted for attachment to a motorcycle gasoline tank or a motorcycle hollow body shell disposed where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally disposed such that light from said illumination assembly is directed away from the motorcycle gasoline tank or motorcycle hollow body shell to illuminate an adjacent side and front ground area around the motorcycle;

wherein said illumination assembly having a reflective element for directing the light.

22. A motorcycle gasoline tank or motorcycle hollow body shell disposed where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally disposed, comprising:

a non-transparent body member shaped as a motorcycle gasoline tank and adapted for attachment to a frame of a motorcycle where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally disposed; and

an illumination member secured to said body member;

wherein said illumination member having a reflective element for directing light generated by said illumination member to illuminate an adjacent side and front ground area around the motorcycle.

23. A method for illuminating a front and front side ground area adjacent a motorcycle, the motorcycle having a motorcycle gasoline tank or a motorcycle hollow body shell disposed where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally disposed, said method comprising the step of:

attaching an illumination assembly having a reflective element to a motorcycle gasoline tank or motorcycle hollow body shell attached to a motorcycle frame where a conventional motorcycle gasoline tank is normally attached such that light from said illumination assembly is projected away from the motorcycle gasoline tank or motorcycle hollow body shell to illuminate the front and side ground area adjacent the motorcycle.

24. The method for illuminating of claim 23 wherein the step of attaching an illumination assembly includes attaching the illumination assembly to a front half portion of the gasoline tank or motorcycle hollow body shell;

wherein the front half portion is closest to a front area of the motorcycle to which said gasoline tank or motorcycle hollow body shell is attached.