WO2008121883A1

WO2008121883A1 - Bicycle light with clip

Info

Publication number: WO2008121883A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/058761
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin Tarter; Jake Hillard
Original assignee: The Coleman Company, Inc.
Priority date: 2007-04-02
Filing date: 2008-03-28
Publication date: 2008-10-09

Abstract

ABSTRACT A bicycle light (20) . The bicycle light (20) includes a light (22) and a mount (24). The light (22) has a clip (34) configured to pass through a passage (80) of the mount (24), thereby securing the light to the mount. The light (22) may be removed from the mount (24) and attached by the clip (34) to other items, such as clothing or backpacks.ABSTRACT

Description

BICYCLE LIGHT WITH CLIP

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

(0001) This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application serial Number 60/909,667, filed April 2, 2007, incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(0002) In general, a bicycle light is a portable electric light, such as a luminaire, configured to be mounted on a bicycle, often on the handlebars. Bicycle lights are useful for riding at night and increasing one's visibility.

SUMN[ARY OF THE INVENTION

(0003) The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description of some embodiments that are presented later.

(0004) In accordance with an embodiment, a bicycle light (hereinafter "light assembly") is provided. The light assembly includes a light and a mount. The mount attaches to a bar such as the handlebars of a bicycle. The mount has a passage through which a tab of the light is inserted to attach the light to the mount. The light may be removed from the mount by removing the tab from the passage, and may be held in one's hand or attached to another item such as clothing or a backpack by securing the tab to the item.

(0005) Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(0006) FIGURE 1 is a side perspective view of a light assembly in accordance with an embodiment;

(0007) FIG. 2 is a diagram of a circuit which may be used with the light assembly of FIG. 1 ;

(0008) FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the light assembly of FIG.l;

(0009) FIG. 4 is a side view of the light assembly of FIG. 1;

(0010) FIG. 5 is a side view of a light of the light assembly of FIG. 4, with the light attached to a strap;

(0011) FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the light of the light assembly of FIG. 1;

(0012) FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a mount of the light assembly of FIG. 1; and

(0013) FIG. 8 is an exploded side perspective view of the components of the light assembly of FIG. 1 with the light detached from the mount.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(0014) In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well- known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment being described.

(0015) Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a light assembly 20 in accordance with an embodiment. The light assembly 20 includes a light 22 and a structure for attaching the light to a bicycle, which is, in an embodiment, a mount 24, although other structures may be used. The light 22 may have the shape of a disk and includes a housing 30, and a circuit 32, such as the circuit shown in FIG. 2. The light 22 also has a structure for securing the light 22 to other objects. In an embodiment, this structure is a clip 34, but other structures may be used. The housing 30 is an enclosure for the light 22 and may be formed from material such as plastic or aluminum.

(0016) The circuit 32 may be mounted inside the housing 30. As seen in FIG. 2, the circuit 32 may be a simple circuit often used in electric lamps such as flashlights. For example, the circuit 32 may include one or more batteries 40 connected in series, a switch 42 and a light source 44. The switch 42 is configurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the switch 42 allows the batteries 40 to power the light source 44. In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the switch 42 is a push-button switch mounted on a side of the housing 30, but it may be located in any suitable location on the light 22.

(0017) The light source 44 may be one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), it may be one or more incandescent bulbs, or any device or combination of devices capable of emitting light. In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the light source 44 comprises a formation of four LEDs 45, three LEDs 45 forming an equilateral triangle with a fourth LED 45 in the center of the triangle, oriented to emit light from the top face of the housing 30, that is, the side of the housing 30 opposite the mount 24. Other formations and numbers of LEDs may be used and the light source 44 may be located at any suitable location in the light 22. In addition, other circuits may be used instead of or in addition to the circuit 32. For instance, circuits that allow users to choose several modes of lightening, such as a steady light, different brightnesses, or a pattern of flashing lights, may be used.

(0018) The clip 34 is preferably flexible and resilient so that it may provide a clipping function, as described below. In an embodiment, the clip 34 is formed of spring steel, which permits the clip to flexed to some degree, but the clip is resilient so that it has a tendency to return to its original shape after being flexed. The clip 34 may be another structure, for example, a clamp, clasp, or other mechanism. In an embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 3, the clip 34 is an elongated strip of material such as spring steel having a hook shape.

(0019) The clip 34 includes a first tab 50, a second tab 52 and a ridge 54. The first tab 50 may be shorter than the second tab 52 and may extend approximately parallel to the second tab 52 and is connected to an end of the second tab 52. The flexibility of the clip 34 permits the first and second tabs 50, 52 to be pulled apart, and the resiliency of the clip 34 causes to the two tabs to return together, in an embodiment applying slight force towards one another. Thus, the resiliency of the clip 34 causes the second tab 52 to be biased towards the first tab 50.

(0020) The ridge 54 is a bending of the second tab 52 in the direction of the first tab 50 and is located at the end of the second tab 52, opposite the connection to the first tab 50. The first tab 50 is secured to the underside of the housing 30, perhaps by a screw or other suitable fastener, so that the second tab 52 extends a short distance away from the underside of the housing 30.

(0021) As can be seen in FIG. 7, the mount 24 includes a hollow cylinder 60 with open ends, a slot 62, a first tab 64, a second tab 66, a screw 68, a nut 70, and a receiver 72. The cylinder 60 has an inner diameter approximately equal to the diameter of a typical handlebar of a bicycle. A spacer may be provided to make the mount 24 universal, that is, able to fit various handlebars having various diameters. The first tab 64 and the second tab 66 are elongated strips of material extending from the outer surface of the cylinder 60 and parallel to the axis of the cylinder 60 and on opposite sides of the slot 62, which is a cut of the wall of the cylinder 60 extending the complete length of the tabs 64, 66.

(0022) Referring back to FIG. 3, the screw 68 extends through a hole in the first tab 64 and the second tab 66. The nut 70 is threaded on the end of the screw 68, with the head of the screw 68 secured within the first tab 64 and the nut 70 secured within the second tab 66. Tightening the screw 68 reduces the distance between the head of the screw 68 and the nut 70 and pulls the tabs 64, 66 together, thereby reducing the width of the slot 62 and the inner diameter of the cylinder 60.

(0023) As can be seen in FIG. 7, the receiver 72 is attached to an outer surface of the cylinder 60 at a position which may be diametrically opposed to the location of the first tab 64 and the second tab 60. The receiver 72 includes a passage 80 which may extend through the receiver perpendicularly to the axis of the cylinder 60. In an embodiment, the passage 80 is rectangular and large enough for the second tab 52 of the clip 34 to pass through.

(0024) In accordance with an embodiment, the light assembly 20 may be attached to a bicycle (not shown) . In particular, the cylinder 60 may be positioned around a handlebar of a bicycle and the screw 68 and nut 70 may be tightened until the interior walls of the cylinder 60 firmly grip the handlebar. If needed, a spacer may be used for a tighter fit. To move the handlebar into the cylinder 60, either an end of the handlebar can be passed into the cylinder 60 through an open end of the cylinder 60 or the tabs 64, 66 may be separated, thereby widening the slot 62, and allowing the handlebar to pass through the slot 62 to the interior of the cylinder 60. The light assembly 20 may be adjusted by loosening the screw 68 and nut 70, rotating the light assembly 20 about the handlebar until the light assembly 20 is in a suitable position, perhaps with the light source 44 aiming straight ahead, and tightening the screw 68 and nut 70.

(0025) As can be seen in FIG. 4, the light 22 may be attached to the mount 24. When the light 22 is attached to the mount 24, the second tab 52 extends through the passage 80 with the ridge 54 located on the opposite side of the passage 80 from the first tab 50. The clip 34 may need to be flexed apart to allow the second tab to enter the passage. The ridge 54 may engage the edge of the passage 80 thereby securing the light 22 to the receiver 72 so that the light 22 does not move relative to the mount 24. The resiliency of the clip 34 causes the outer wall of the passage 80 to be gripped by the clip, further securing the light 22 into place on the mount 24.

(0026) As can be seen in FIG. 5, the light 22 may be removed from the mount 24 and secured to other items such as a strap 90. In particular, an item such as the strap 90 or a portion of an article of clothing (not shown) may be slid to a position between the second tab 52 and the housing 30 and the ridge 54 secures the light 22 to the strap 90. The flexibility of clip 34 permits the clip to open to receive such a strap or clothing, and resiliency of the clip causes the clip to press closed, with the bias of the second tab 52 toward the first tab 50 holding the light 22 in place.

(0027) The light 22 may be attached to other items as well and, in general, may be attached to any item having a portion able to fit between the housing 30 and the second tab 52 of the clip 34. In the embodiment shown, because the clip 34 and light source 44 are located on opposite sides of the light 22, the light source 44 aims away from a user's body when the light 22 is attached to a piece of clothing or a strap of an item, such as a backpack. In this manner, the light 22 provides a convenient way for a person to make himself more visible and/or to provide path lighting by simply clipping a light onto himself.

(0028) FIG. 8 demonstrates how the light 22 may be attached to the mount 24. In particular, the end of the second tab 52 having the ridge 54 is inserted into one end of the passage 80 of the receiver 72 until the ridge 54 exits the opposite end of the passage 80 of the receiver 72 and engages the edge of the passage 80 thereby securing the light 22 to the mount 24. This motion is demonstrated by the arrow shown in FIG. 8.

(0029) To remove the light 22 from the mount 24, the steps for inserting the light 22 into the mount 24 are followed in reverse. In particular, the second tab 52 is flexed away from the first tab 50, and the ridge 54 is passed through the passage 80 of the receiver 72 until the ridge clears the opposite end of the passage. A user may not have to flex the second tab 52 outward if the ridge 54 is appropriately chamfered so that the ridge guides itself into the passage, forcing the second tab outward.

(0030) Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

(0031) The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including, " and "containing" are to be construed as open- ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted. The term "connected" is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

(0032) Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above- described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A light assembly, comprising: a mount configured and adapted to fit on a bicycle handlebar, with a passage therethrough; and a light, comprising: a lamp; and a flexible and resilient clip removably attached to the mount, the clip including a first tab for removably extending into the passage.

2. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein the clip is formed from spring steel.

3. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein the clip comprises a loop with the first tab and a second tab, the second tab being attached to a back of the light, and the first tab extending adjacent to the second tab.

4. The light assembly of claim 3, wherein the second tab is biased towards the first tab.

5. The light assembly of claim 4, wherein the second tab comprises a ridge that, when the second tab is fully extended into the passage, extends on the opposite side of the passage.

6. The light assembly of claim 3, wherein the second tab comprises a ridge that, when the second tab is fully extended into the passage, extends on the opposite side of the passage.

7. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein the lamp comprises at least one LED.

8. The light assembly of claim 7, wherein the lamp comprises three or more LEDs.

9. The light assembly of claim 1, wherein the lamp projects a light beam along an axis, and wherein the first tab extends transverse to the axis.

10. A light assembly, comprising: a mount configured and adapted to fit on a bicycle handlebar, with a passage therethrough; and a light, comprising: a lamp for projecting a light beam along an axis; and a structure for removably extending into the passage, when the structure extending tranverse to the axis .

11. The light assembly of claim 10, wherein the structure comprises a clip.

12. The light assembly of claim 11, wherein the clip comprises a loop with a first tab and a second tab, the second tab being attached to a back of the light, and the second tab extending adjacent to the first tab.

13. The light assembly of claim 12, wherein the second tab is biased towards the first tab.

14. The light assembly of claim 13, wherein the second tab comprises a ridge that, when the second tab is fully extended into the passage, extends on the opposite side of the passage.

15. The light assembly of claim 12, wherein the second tab comprises a ridge that, when the second tab is fully extended into the passage, extends on the opposite side of the passage.

16. The light assembly of claim 10, wherein the lamp comprises at least one LED.

17. The light assembly of claim 16, wherein the lamp comprises three or more LEDs.