Method of and apparatus for operating a brake light and turn signal

• US 10,442,485 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2015
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexander Applegate
• Original Assignee: Alexander Applegate
• Inventors: Applegate, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afrifa-Kyei, Anthony D
• Application Number:
  US14/815,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20170029056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 362473, 362475, 362476, 340432, 340438
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/01 Electric circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/045 indicating braking
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/057 Automatic activation, e.g. by sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/165 Wireless switches

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for and method of bicycle signaling. The present invention provides an ease of setup on a wide variety and style of bicycle handlebars providing a magnet disposed on a bicycle brake lever and a control unit comprising sensors, also disposed on the bicycle handlebars. The present invention provides a wireless signaling apparatus and a wireless method of signaling.

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for easy configuration and pairing of a bicycle light system. The present invention system provides for a plurality of lights that are configured and able to function independently in different patterns, including but not limited to a left turn signal, and a right turn signal, thus providing a wide array of pattern visibility and patterns that motor vehicle drivers are expecting to see.

Claims

1. A bicycle system for signaling comprising:

a radio frequency control unit mounted on a handlebar, said RF control unit comprising sensors wherein said RF control unit measures the distance between a magnet and said sensors when a brake is fully engaged;

said magnet mounted on a brake lever wherein said magnet connects to said control unit through contactless actuation;

lights mounted anywhere on a bicycle, or on a bicyclist;

LED patterns comprising active patterns and passive patterns wherein said active patterns provide for multiple lights configured or chained together wirelessly and said passive patterns provide for one of five modes when a brake light is not on;

left turn/right turn buttons operated by a user disposed on said RF control unit to indicate turns;

a display unit mounted on any surface visible to others on the roadway; and

a wireless connection between said control unit and said display unit, wherein said wireless connection sends real time signals to the display unit.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a system disposed on the bicycle.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising the magnet disposed on the bicycle brake lever.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said control unit is paired with the magnet.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said control unit Is paired with a plurality of display units.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said display unit provides multiple light configurations.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said multiple light configurations comprise a right turn signal.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said multiple light configurations comprise a left turn signal.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein said multiple light configurations comprise a brake signal.

10. A method for bicycle signaling comprising the steps of:

mounting a radio frequency control unit on a bicycle handlebar wherein the radio frequency control unit comprises sensors;

measuring the distance between a magnet and the sensors when a brake is fully engaged;

disposing the magnet on a brake lever wherein the magnet connects to the radio frequency control unit through contactless actuation;

mounting lights anywhere on the bicycle or on a bicyclist;

providing LED patterns comprising active patterns and passive patterns wherein the active patterns provide for multiple lights configured or chained together wirelessly and the passive patterns provide for one of five modes when a brake light is not on;

operating by a user left turn/right turn buttons disposed on the RF control unit to indicate turns;

activating the control unit by depressing the brake lever;

disposing a display unit on any surface visible to others; and

providing a wireless connection between the control unit and the display unit.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the signaling provides the bicyclist to signal without dismounting from the bicycle.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the signaling comprises the step of pressing the control unit until a tail light beeps.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the signaling further comprises the step of the sensors disposed in the control unit sending a signal to discover the distance between the magnet and the plurality of sensors.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising activating the magnet by the control unit.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising activating the display unit by depressing the brake lever, while stationary, decelerating or accelerating.