Bicycle light assembly

Abstract

A bicycle light assembly for the front or rear of a bicycle has a housing, a mounting, a power source, a light source, and a light guide. The mounting differs for the front and rear bicycle light assemblies, and is adapted for attaching the housing to a bicycle. The power source and light source are in the housing, and the light source is coupled to the power source and arranged to project light in the plane of a bicycle's front wheel when the bicycle light assembly is attached to the front of said bicycle, and arranged to project light rearwardly in the main plane of a bicycle when the bicycle light assembly is attached to the rear of said bicycle. The light guide is also in the housing, on either side of the light source, for receiving and redirecting some of the light projected by the light source, each light guide extending from the light source so as to be visible over an arc of at least 90° from the respective plane.

Description

[0001] BICYCLE LIGHT ASSEMBLY

[0002] This disclosure relates to bicycle light assemblies.

[0003] In recent years, several factors have contributed to an ever-increasing number of cyclists on public roads. As motorists continue to face growing fuel costs and greater restrictions when driving in towns and cities, and as recent regulatory changes in the United Kingdom have supported and incentivised road cycling, more and more people are choosing to cycle over driving than ever before.

[0004] There is an ever-present need for light assemblies that make a bicycle and its rider more visible to other traffic and to pedestrians.

[0005] This disclosure arises from the Inventor’s work seeking to provide improved light assemblies for bicycles.

[0006] One consequence of increasing numbers of road cyclists has been a parallel increase in the occurrence of cycling offences and accidents. For example, cyclists can and have been known to frequently violate 20 mph (miles per hour) speed limits, which are commonly set in many residential areas in the United Kingdom for the safety of pedestrians. For more serious offences or accidents, there is an even greater need for law enforcement officials, insurance companies and even ordinary members of the public to be able to readily identify or track down any cyclists involved.

[0007] There is also a likelihood that cyclists in the United Kingdom may be called upon to take out compulsory insurance, just as motorized road users must, and to display number plates, licence plates or other identifiers on their bicycles to be visible to other road users. One or more of these are already a requirement in some other countries.

[0008] While other two-wheeled vehicles, namely motorcycles, have had to include both light assemblies and number plates, licence plates or other identifiers, it is not feasible to simply transfer this existing technology to bicycles. Unlike motorcycles where the light assemblies and number plates are incorporated into the design of the bodywork, a bicycle has no bodywork as such, and both number plates and light assemblies for the bicycle market must be relatively light in weight and are supplied as add-on products separately from the vehicle itself. With a limited amount of bicycle frame or handlebars available for mounting add-ons, it has often been the case previously that number plates and lighting assemblies mounted on a bicycle interfere with each other on the bicycle or in visibility to other road users.

[0009] As an ancillary aim, the present Inventor has also sought to overcome these problems to make it easier for bicycles to carry number or licence plates or other identifiers.

[0010] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a bicycle light assembly for the front or rear of a bicycle, the assembly comprising: a housing; a mounting, differing for the front and rear bicycle light assemblies, adapted for attaching the housing to a bicycle; a power source in the housing; a light source in the housing coupled to the power source and arranged to project light in the plane of a bicycle’s front wheel when the bicycle light assembly is attached to the front of said bicycle, and arranged to project light rearwardly in the main plane of a bicycle when the bicycle light assembly is attached to the rear of said bicycle; and a light guide in the housing on either side of the light source for receiving and redirecting some of the light projected by the light source, each light guide extending from the light source so as to be visible over an arc of at least 90° from the respective plane.

[0011] Preferably, the housing is provided with a depending bracket mounting a holder for a bicycle identification or number plate to be visible to nearby traffic beneath the housing without obstructing the light projected by the light source in the respective plane. The housing is preferably provided with a window serving as an auxiliary light source on its underside diverting a portion of the light projected by the light source to illuminate a front face of the holder. Each light guide may extend from the light source in a curved path initially generally perpendicularly to the respective plane and then generally parallel to the respective plane.

[0012] As will be readily appreciated, directing a greater proportion of light sideways of the bicycle in a direction perpendicular to the respective plane confers greater visibility of a bicycle to adjacent or close-proximity traffic.

[0013] Preferably, the housing is slidably receivable in the mounting. More preferably, the housing for a bicycle front light assembly and the housing for a bicycle rear light assembly may be essentially the same, being receivable in differing mountings depending on whether the light is to be used as a front bicycle light or as a rear bicycle light. A flexible elastic strap may be used to prevent the housing from becoming inadvertently detached from the mounting. A sliding click-lock mechanism may also be used to prevent the housing from becoming inadvertently detached from the mounting.

[0014] The mounting for a bicycle rear light assembly may include a pair of claws that clamp onto the saddle rails of a bicycle seat.

[0015] The mounting for a bicycle front light assembly may include one or more circular clamps that clamp around the handlebars of a bicycle.

[0016] It will be appreciated that a number plate or other identifier could be incorporated in a bicycle light assembly as described above independently of whether the assembly includes light guides. Similarly, the modular design of a common housing and respective mountings for front and rear bicycle light assemblies as described above may be used without the need for light guides or the presence of a number plate or other identifier.

[0017] Reference may now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle rear light assembly; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rear light assembly shown in Fig. 1 as seen from below;

[0019] Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the rear light assembly in the orientation of Fig. 1;

[0020] Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the rear light assembly in the orientation of Fig. 2;

[0021] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rear light assembly shown in Figs. 1 to 4 mounted to the saddle rails underneath a bicycle seat;

[0022] Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 5 omitting the bicycle seat proper;

[0023] Fig. 7 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, but for a bicycle front light assembly;

[0024] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the front light assembly shown in Fig. 7 from below;

[0025] Fig. 9 is an exploded view of the front light assembly in the same orientation as Fig. 7;

[0026] Fig. 10 is an exploded view of the front light assembly in the same orientation as Fig. 8;

[0027] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a bicycle front light assembly;

[0028] Fig. 12 is an exploded view of the bicycle front light assembly of Fig. 11 ;

[0029] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the mounting apparatus of the bicycle front light assembly of Figs. 11 and 12;

[0030] Fig. 14 is an underneath plan view of the mounting apparatus of Fig. 13;

[0031] Fig. 15 is an exploded view of the mounting apparatus of Figs. 13 and 14;

[0032] Fig. 16 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a bicycle rear light assembly;

[0033] Fig. 17 is an exploded view of the bicycle rear light assembly of Fig. 16;

[0034] Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the mounting apparatus of the bicycle rear light assembly of Figs. 17 and 18; and

[0035] Fig. 19 is an exploded view of the mounting apparatus of Fig. 18.

[0036] For ease of reference, like parts will be denoted by like reference numerals. Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, bicycle light assembly 1 has a lightweight plastics housing 2 assembled from a top half 3 and a corresponding bottom half 4. The assembled housing 2 has a generally cylindrically-shaped body 5 and two curved wings 6 extending from opposite sides of said cylindrical body 5 near the front end of housing 2, as seen in Fig. 1. Body 5 of housing 2 contains a rechargeable battery 7, which serves as a power source. Body 5 also contains towards its front end a light source 8 powered by battery 7 and arranged to operationally project light out through a light shield 9 on a front face of body 5.

[0037] In this embodiment, light source 8 is a NeoPixel 7-LED Module which emits between 50 to 1000 lumen light, depending on whether the light is used as a front or rear bicycle light and depending on user requirements, in accordance with standard bicycle light road requirements, but could be more or less as required. Light shield 9 serves to protect light source 8 from external damage.

[0038] When the light assembly 1 is attached to the rear of a bicycle, light source 8 projects light out through light shield 9 on the front face of body 5 rearwardly in the main plane of that bicycle. When the light assembly 1 is attached to the front of a bicycle (See Figs. 7 and 8), light source 8 projects light out through light shield 9 on the front face of body 5 in the plane of that bicycle’s front wheel. Depending on whether a specific light assembly is to be employed for a front-light assembly or a rear-light assembly, its LEDs or its light shield may be differently coloured (that is white or red).

[0039] An optic tube 10 runs from either side of the light source 8 through the respective curved wing 6 of housing 2 over an arc of about 90° from the plane in which light is projected from the light source 8. Optic tube 10 acts as a light guide, meaning that it receives some of the light emitted by light source 8 and redirects it over its 90° arc, so as to be visible over that 90° arc. Each optic tube 10, after running through most of the respective curved wing 6, then terminates by abruptly curving back into the housing 2 and then emerging back out from the housing 2 at an end 11 of the optic tube 10 in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane in which light is projected from the light source 8. This abrupt curving allows a greater proportion of light entering the optic tube 10 to be directed out from the terminal end 11 of optic tube 10 generally perpendicular to said plane, thereby providing greater visibility of a bicycle to adjacent or close-proximity traffic. The optic tube may be integrated with an LED strip running along each respective wing, and the light assembly may also or alternatively include peripheral LEDs located near the ends of the optic tube, both of these features providing enhanced visibility.

[0040] An angle bracket 12 depends from an underside of body 5, and has two screw holes 13 for receiving screw fasteners for a bicycle identification or number plate 14 to be supported by the bracket 12 beneath the body 5 of the housing 2. An auxiliary light source 15 is located within body 5 of the housing 2 just under the light source 8 to project light through a window or light cover 16 on underside 17 of body 5, thereby lighting up the identification or number plate 14 to make it visible to nearby traffic. Auxiliary light source 15 is contained behind window or light cover 16 to protect auxiliary light source 15 from external damage. In a simpler and alternative embodiment, a diffuser may be used to project light from the light source through the window or light cover in place of auxiliary light source.

[0041] By positioning bracket 12 slightly inboard and below the light source 8, identification or number plate 14 mounted on bracket 12 remains easily visible to nearby traffic without obstructing any light projected by light source 8.

[0042] A button 18 exposed on the top half 3 of housing 2 is connected to a PCB 19, which communicates with battery 7, light source 8 and auxiliary light source 15. PCB 19 is configured to initially detect when the button 18 is pressed by a user twice in quick succession, to which PCB 19 responds by activating light source 8 and auxiliary light source 15. In the United Kingdom, light source 8 flashes between 60 - 240 times per minute, emitting white light in the case of a front bicycle light assembly, or red light in the case of a rear bicycle light assembly. Auxiliary light source 15 beams white light without visibly flashing. It will be appreciated that the configuration of the various light sources (including the colour of the light emitted, flashing frequency, etc.) may be adapted to meet a user’s requirements or to fulfil the requirements of any local regulations. Subsequently pressing button 18 twice in quick succession causes PCB 19 to deactivate light source 8 and auxiliary light source 15 until a further subsequent activation step. A USB 3.0 port (not shown), or any other suitable charging port, present on the PCB 19 may be exposed from housing 2 to allow a user to charge battery 7.

[0043] The light source 8 may be capable of emitting both red and white light, and PCB 19 may be programmed to cause the light source 7 to switch between a red-light- emitting mode and a white-light-emitting mode depending on user input via button 18, so that the housing 2 and the components contained therewithin may be identical for both front and rear bicycle light assemblies.

[0044] The light assembly 1 is attached to the rear of a bicycle by a rear mounting 20 (shown in Figs. 1 to 6), or to the front of a bicycle by a front mounting 21 (shown in Figs. 7 to 10). Housing 2 includes a generally cylindrical extension 22 of slightly smaller diameter than the cylindrical body 5 of housing 2 and projects from the rear end of body 5. Both rear mounting 20 and front mounting 21 are generally hollow- cylindrical with one open end 23 and one closed end 24 and shaped complementary to the generally cylindrical extension 22 of housing 2 to be able to slidably receive and hold by friction therewithin said extension 22. The cylindrical extension 22 and inside surfaces of the mountings 20, 21 are keyed together by a longitudinal surface projection 25 received in a complementary key slot 26 allowing relative longitudinal sliding but preventing relative rotation between cylindrical body extension 22 and the respective mountings 20, 21. Thus, the housing 2 for a bicycle front light assembly and for a bicycle rear light assembly can be the same, and the same housing 2 may be received in differing mountings 21, 20 depending on whether the light assembly 1 is to be used as a front bicycle light or as a rear bicycle light. This advantageously reduces the overall complexity of parts needed to provide both a front and rear bicycle light assembly, and thus saves considerably on manufacturing costs.

[0045] On the outer closed ends 24 of the respective mountings 20, 21 a pair of projecting lips 27 are formed. In the case of rear mounting 20, a bridge piece 28 is fastened. Ends 29 of the bridge piece 28 carry opposing claws 30 drawn towards each other by screws received in through screw holes 31 into ends of the bridge piece 28. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the mounting 20 is attached to a bicycle by fitting each of the opposing claws 30 over each of two saddle rails 32 located underneath a bicycle seat 33. Claws 30 are then screwed tight into bridge 28 to draw towards each other and clamp onto the two saddle rails 32 to fix the mounting 20, and thus also the housing 2, to a bicycle.

[0046] A flexible elastic strap 34 has openings 35 that are stretched over lugs 36 on the body 5 to prevent the housing 2 from becoming inadvertently detached from the mounting 20.

[0047] Front mounting 21 similarly includes on its outer closed end 24 a pair of projecting lips 27, between which a bridge piece 28 is fastened. In the case of front mounting 21, ends 37 of the bridge piece 28 carry respective parallel circular clamps 38. Each clamp 38 consists of a fixed jaw 39 extending generally perpendicular to and formed as part of bridge piece 28 and a movable jaw 40 pivotably mounted to the fixed jaw 39 at pivot 41. The jaws 39, 40 meet to define a substantially circular clamping area. The jaws 39, 40 are first drawn apart to allow them to be fitted over a handlebar of a bicycle, and are subsequently brought together to clamp the bicycle handlebar within their substantially circular clamping area. The jaws 39, 40 are then fixed together by driving a screw through a screw hole 42 extending through both jaws 39, 40. This is done with both circular clamps 38 to fix the mounting 21, and thus also the housing 2, to a bicycle.

[0048] Again, a flexible elastic strap 34 has openings 35 that are stretched over lugs 36 on the body 5 to prevent the housing 2 from becoming inadvertently detached from the mounting 20.

[0049] In an alternative embodiment, the light assembly 1 includes on the top side of its cylindrical body 5 a mounting block 43, for releasably engaging a quick-release front mounting 44 (shown in Figs. 11 to 15) for attaching the light assembly 1 to the front of a bicycle, or, for releasably engaging a quick-release rear mounting 45 (shown in Figs. 16 to 19) for attaching the light assembly 1 to the rear of a bicycle. The mounting block 43 is attached to the cylindrical body 5 by standoff screws 46, and the front and rear quick-release mountings 44, 45 include respective mounting blocks 47 for engagement with the cylindrical body mounting block 43. This engagement takes place by a grooved slot 48 at the upper end of the cylindrical body mounting block 43 slidably receiving a circumferential projection 49 (corresponding in shape to the grooved slot 48) located on the front / rear mounting block 47 to bring the mounting blocks 43, 47 into releasable engagement via a conventional internal click-lock mechanism. The front and rear quick-release mountings 44, 45 include a button 50 that mechanically deactivates the click-lock mechanism, allowing for the mounting block 47 of quick-release mountings 44, 45 to be slid out from the cylindrical block mounting block 43 with relative ease. Advantageously, the circumferential projections 49 on both the front and rear quick release mountings 44, 45 can have the same design, such that the mounting block 43 is compatible for engagement with either of the front and rear quick-release mountings 44, 45 depending on whether the light assembly 1 is to be used as a front bicycle light or as a rear bicycle light. As will be appreciated, the resultant arrangement is more versatile and simpler to manufacture.

[0050] The rear quick-release mounting 45 includes an elongate body 51 extending away from the mounting block 47 towards the rear of the light assembly 1. In this embodiment, there is a bridge piece 28 and opposing claws 30 as previously described, the bridge piece 28 being formed as part of the elongate body 51 at the end distal from the mounting block 47. The claws 30 are operated as previously described to clamp onto the two saddle rails of a bicycle to fix the rear quick-release mounting 45, and thus also the housing 2 of light assembly 1, to a bicycle.

[0051] The front quick-release mounting 44 similarly includes an elongate body 51 extending away from the mounting block 47 towards the rear of the light assembly 1. In this embodiment, there is a single clamp 38 as previously described, the fixed jaw 39 of clamp 38 being formed as part of the elongate body 51 at the end distal from the mounting block 47. The clamp 38 is operated as previously described to clamp the bicycle handlebar within its substantially circular clamping area to fix the front quickrelease mounting 45, and thus also the housing 2 of light assembly 1, to a bicycle.

[0052] The housing 2 of light assembly 1 may also be formed to accommodate an integrated camera 52, for example, located next to and orientated in the same plane of light emitted by the light source 8, as shown in Figs. 11 to 19. The camera 52 is powered by the battery, and continuously records footage while the light assembly 1 is in operation, saving the footage to an onboard removable MicroSD Memory Storage Card. The camera is in circular / loop recording mode, so that it overwrites previous recordings once the memory card is full, so that the user does not have to manually delete the recordings for the camera to continue operating as intended. The camera incudes connectivity circuitry to allow a user to view and download recordings via a connected software application. The application also allows a user to toggle between selectable day and night modes of operation of the camera, allowing the camera to select different recording parameters to better suit the environment.

Claims

Claims1. A bicycle light assembly for the front or rear of a bicycle, the assembly comprising: a housing; a mounting, differing for the front and rear bicycle light assemblies, adapted for attaching the housing to a bicycle; a power source in the housing; a light source in the housing coupled to the power source and arranged to project light in the plane of a bicycle’s front wheel when the bicycle light assembly is attached to the front of said bicycle, and arranged to project light rearwardly in the main plane of a bicycle when the bicycle light assembly is attached to the rear of said bicycle; and a light guide in the housing on either side of the light source for receiving and redirecting some of the light projected by the light source, each light guide extending from the light source so as to be visible over an arc of at least 90° from the respective plane.

2. A bicycle light assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with a depending bracket mounting a holder for a bicycle identification or number plate to be visible to nearby traffic beneath the housing without obstructing the light projected by the light source in the respective plane.

3. A bicycle light assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the housing is provided with a window serving as an auxiliary light source on its underside diverting a portion of the light projected by the light source to illuminate a front face of the holder.

4. A bicycle light assembly according to any preceding Claim, wherein each light guide extends from the light source in a curved path initially generally perpendicularly to the respective plane and then generally parallel to the respective plane.

5. A bicycle light assembly according to any preceding Claim, wherein the housing is slidably receivable in the mounting.

6. A bicycle light assembly according to any preceding Claim, wherein thehousing for a bicycle front light assembly and the housing for a bicycle rear light assembly are the same, being receivable in differing mountings depending on whether the light is to be used as a front bicycle light or as a rear bicycle light.

7. A bicycle light assembly according to any preceding Claim, wherein a flexible elastic strap is used to prevent the housing from becoming inadvertently detached from the mounting.

8. A bicycle light assembly according to any preceding Claim, wherein a clicklock mechanism is used to prevent the housing from becoming inadvertently detached from the mounting.

9. A bicycle light assembly according to any preceding Claim, wherein the mounting includes a pair of claws that clamp onto the saddle rails of a bicycle seat.

10. A bicycle light assembly according to any preceding Claim, wherein the mounting includes a pair of one or more circular clamps that clamp around the handlebars of a bicycle.

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