GB1596062A - Reflector for fixing to the spokes of bicycle wheels - Google Patents

Description

(54) REFLECTOR FOR FIXING TO THE SPOKES OF BICYCLE WHEELS (71) I, HANS-JOACHIM OTTO, a German Citizen of 4830 Gutersloh 1, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may by granted to me, and the method by which it Is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a reflector for fixing to the spokes of a bicycle wheel, said reflector comprising a member of trapezium or quasitrapezium shape whereof the opposite nonparallel sides subtend an angle conforming to the angle subtended by adjacent spokes at the same side of the bicycle wheel and have formed thereon spoke spanning resilient clamping lugs.

There has already been proposed in the specification of German Gebrauchsmuster No.

76 23 725, a reflector of this generic construction which can easily be fixed to the spokes of bicycles. This proposed reflector meets the problem, with illumination of the bicycles at the sides thereof, of inducing a conspicuous reflection of light, and points out a way for fixing same simply to the spokes of the bicycle.

It has, however, tumed out that the angles, which the adjacent spokes at one side of the wheel form with one another, take in a considerable tolerance among the individual types and sizes of wheels. The problem with which the present invention has been concerned is the provision of a reflector which can be fixed to all current types of spoked wheels without the use of tools and supplementary fixing material.

There should, however, be evolved a reflector which produces an adequate reflection not only on irradiation from the side but also on incident light slanting from both fore and aft.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide a reflector for fixing to the spokes of a bicycle wheel representative of a selection of bicycle wheels most varied both in diameter and spoke arrangement, said reflector comprising a member of trapezium or quasitrapezium shape whereof the opposite nonparallel sides subtend an angle conforming to the mean of the angle subtended by adjacent spokes at the same side of a bicycle wheel and have formed thereon spoke-spanning resilient clamping lugs, the clamping lugs on each of said non-parallel sides consisting of at least three tongues which project from the lateral edge faces thereof and are staggered relative to one another in such a way that there is between the faces disposed opposite one another a clearance which is somewhat less than the thickness of a bicycle wheel spoke, there being formed in said oppositely-disposed faces grooves which are symmetrical about a plane normal to said faces and parallel to the pertaining nonparallel side, with the opposite sides of the series of grooves diverging in both directions from midway of the middle tongue or tongues whereat the groove width is minimal and just sufficient to admit a bicycle wheel spoke, the degree of divergence being such that the grooves in each of the outer tongues at the tongue side nearer the middle tongue or tongues is double said minimum width, the groove arrangement in the faces disposed opposite one another of the tongues on each of the non parallel sides of the member of trapezium shape or quasi-trapezium shape enabling the reflector to be fitted by hand between adjacent spokes on the same side of the bicycle wheel with each of the spokes extending through one of the two groove arrangements, and that sur face of the member of trapezium or quasi trapezium shape which faces outwardly when the reflector is fitted in operative position, comprising two co-planar reflector surface areas disposed parallel to the plane between the adjacent spokes, and centrally therebetween a prominence of isosceles triangular cross-section with the base of the prominence in the plane of said surface areas and the flanking surface thereof also formed as reflector surface areas.

It is preferable that said flanking surfaces are plane and the inwardly-facing or reverse sur face of the member of trapezium shape or quasi-trapezium shape is provided with a plu rality of retrorellective prisms. lhe member ot trapezium shape or quasi-trapezium shape is preferably bordered with a marginel reinforcement projecting beyond the inwardly-facing surface thereof. It is further preferred that the inwardly-facing or reverse surface of the member of trapezium shape or quasi-trapezium shape is clad by a cover plate fitted within the marginal reinforcement, in order to protect the retroreflective prisms from contamination.

An embodiment of a reflector in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the reflector looking on the surface thereof which faces outwardly when the reflector is in use; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section along the line 11-11 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a veritical section along the line llI-ffl in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section through the clamping lug or tongue along the line IV-IV in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a section on a larger scale along the line V-V in Fig. 1.

The reflector (Fig. 1) has an almost uapezium-shaped outline, the mutually parallel sides 1 and 2 of the trapezium being slightly curved for design reasons to conform to the shape of the wheel. The two other and nonparallel sides 3 and 4 of the trapezium are adapted in their inclinations to the mean of the angle of adjacent spokes on one side of the wheel. By this is meant the adjacent spokes which are strained at the same side of the wheel hub. This angle amounts in practice to about 36 degrees. The reflecting surface arranged between the sides of the trapezium is divided into three portions, namely two flat portions 5 and 6, which are parallel to the plane between two adjacent spokes at the same side, and centrally therebetween a prominent portion 7 of isosceles triangular cross-section with the base of the portion 7 in the plane of the portions 5 and 6, (Figs. 1 and 2). The plane surfaces of the middle portion 7 form an angle of about 120 degrees. The reverse surfaces of these three portions 5 to 7 of the reflector are provided with a plurality of retroflective prisms 8.

The portions 5 to 7 provided on the reverse surface with retroreflective prisms 8 are bordered by a marginal reinforcement 10, which confers the desired surface rigidity to the reflector and also serves as mounting for a cover plate (not shown) for the retroreflective prisms 8 in order to protect the latter from contamination.

On the marginal reinforcement of the two non-parallel sides 3 and 4 are formed resilient clamping lugs which enable the reflector to be fitted between and fixed to two adjacent spokes on the same side of the wheel. As can be seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the clamping lugs on the marginal reinforcements 10 of each of the two non-parallel sides 3 and 4 consist of several tongues 12 which project from the lateral edge faces of the sides 3 and 4 and are staggered relative to one another in such a way that there is between the faces disposed opposite one another a clearance which is somewhat less than the thickness of a bicycle wheel spoke.

There are four tongues on each of the sides 3 and 4 in the embodiment shown, and successive ones in each series of tongues grasp the pertaining spoke from alternate sides when the reflector is in the operative position. The tongues 12 .have, in their faces turned towards the spokes, grooves 13 which are symmetrical about a plane normal to said faces and parallel to the per taining side 3 or 4, with the opposite sides 15 and 16 of the series of grooves diverging in both directions from midway of the series of tongues. In the middle of the length of the series of tongues 12, where indicated at 14, on each of the non-parallel sides 3 and 4, the grooves of the two adjacent clamping lugs or tongues 12 conform in their lateral spread and depthwise to the diameter of the spokes (i.e.

the groove width is minimal and just sufficient to admit a bicycle wheel spoke. The degree of divergence of the recesses of the series is such that the grooves in each of the outer tongues 12 at the tongue side nearer the middle tongues is double said minimum width. Through the recesses widening towards the ends of the nonparallel sides 3 and 4 with constant depth, the clamping lugs or tongues 12 also permit press- ing of the reflector against adjacent spokes which do not include with one another the mean angle of 36 degrees.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing there is achieved, through the groove arrangements shown in Fig. 1, an accommodation to the spoke arrangement of practically all wheels in normal commercial usage and in which adjacent spokes at the same side of the wheel include with one another an angle between 24 and 48 degrees. It is obvious that the distance of the reflector from the wheel hub depends on the angle between two adjacent spokes at the same side of the wheel.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A reflector for fixing to the spokes of a bicycle wheel representative of a selection of bicycle wheels most varied both in diameter and spoke arrangement, said reflector comprising a member of trapezium or quasi-trapezium shape whereof the opposite non-parallel sides subtend an angle conforming to the mean of the angle subtended by adjacent spokes at the same side of a bicycle wheel and have formed thereon spoke-spanning resilient clamping lugs, the clamping lugs on each of said non-parallel sides consisting of at least three tongues which project from the lateral edge faces thereof and are staggered relative to one another in such a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   rality of retrorellective prisms. lhe member ot trapezium shape or quasi-trapezium shape is preferably bordered with a marginel reinforcement projecting beyond the inwardly-facing surface thereof. It is further preferred that the inwardly-facing or reverse surface of the member of trapezium shape or quasi-trapezium shape is clad by a cover plate fitted within the marginal reinforcement, in order to protect the retroreflective prisms from contamination.

   An embodiment of a reflector in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the reflector looking on the surface thereof which faces outwardly when the reflector is in use; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section along the line 11-11 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a veritical section along the line llI-ffl in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section through the clamping lug or tongue along the line IV-IV in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a section on a larger scale along the line V-V in Fig. 1.

   The reflector (Fig. 1) has an almost uapezium-shaped outline, the mutually parallel sides 1 and 2 of the trapezium being slightly curved for design reasons to conform to the shape of the wheel. The two other and nonparallel sides 3 and 4 of the trapezium are adapted in their inclinations to the mean of the angle of adjacent spokes on one side of the wheel. By this is meant the adjacent spokes which are strained at the same side of the wheel hub. This angle amounts in practice to about 36 degrees. The reflecting surface arranged between the sides of the trapezium is divided into three portions, namely two flat portions 5 and 6, which are parallel to the plane between two adjacent spokes at the same side, and centrally therebetween a prominent portion 7 of isosceles triangular cross-section with the base of the portion 7 in the plane of the portions 5 and 6, (Figs. 1 and 2). The plane surfaces of the middle portion 7 form an angle of about 120 degrees. The reverse surfaces of these three portions 5 to 7 of the reflector are provided with a plurality of retroflective prisms 8.

   The portions 5 to 7 provided on the reverse surface with retroreflective prisms 8 are bordered by a marginal reinforcement 10, which confers the desired surface rigidity to the reflector and also serves as mounting for a cover plate (not shown) for the retroreflective prisms 8 in order to protect the latter from contamination.

   On the marginal reinforcement of the two non-parallel sides 3 and 4 are formed resilient clamping lugs which enable the reflector to be fitted between and fixed to two adjacent spokes on the same side of the wheel. As can be seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the clamping lugs on the marginal reinforcements 10 of each of the two non-parallel sides 3 and 4 consist of several tongues 12 which project from the lateral edge faces of the sides 3 and 4 and are staggered relative to one another in such a way that there is between the faces disposed opposite one another a clearance which is somewhat less than the thickness of a bicycle wheel spoke.

   There are four tongues on each of the sides 3 and 4 in the embodiment shown, and successive ones in each series of tongues grasp the pertaining spoke from alternate sides when the reflector is in the operative position. The tongues 12 .have, in their faces turned towards the spokes, grooves 13 which are symmetrical about a plane normal to said faces and parallel to the per taining side 3 or 4, with the opposite sides 15 and 16 of the series of grooves diverging in both directions from midway of the series of tongues. In the middle of the length of the series of tongues 12, where indicated at 14, on each of the non-parallel sides 3 and 4, the grooves of the two adjacent clamping lugs or tongues 12 conform in their lateral spread and depthwise to the diameter of the spokes (i.e.

   the groove width is minimal and just sufficient to admit a bicycle wheel spoke. The degree of divergence of the recesses of the series is such that the grooves in each of the outer tongues

   12 at the tongue side nearer the middle tongues is double said minimum width. Through the recesses widening towards the ends of the nonparallel sides 3 and 4 with constant depth, the clamping lugs or tongues 12 also permit press- ing of the reflector against adjacent spokes which do not include with one another the mean angle of 36 degrees.

   In the embodiment shown in the drawing there is achieved, through the groove arrangements shown in Fig. 1, an accommodation to the spoke arrangement of practically all wheels in normal commercial usage and in which adjacent spokes at the same side of the wheel include with one another an angle between 24 and 48 degrees. It is obvious that the distance of the reflector from the wheel hub depends on the angle between two adjacent spokes at the same side of the wheel.

   WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A reflector for fixing to the spokes of a bicycle wheel representative of a selection of bicycle wheels most varied both in diameter and spoke arrangement, said reflector comprising a member of trapezium or quasi-trapezium shape whereof the opposite non-parallel sides subtend an angle conforming to the mean of the angle subtended by adjacent spokes at the same side of a bicycle wheel and have formed thereon spoke-spanning resilient clamping lugs, the clamping lugs on each of said non-parallel sides consisting of at least three tongues which project from the lateral edge faces thereof and are staggered relative to one another in such a

   way that there is between the faces disposed opposite one another a clearance which is somewhat less than the thickness of a bicycle wheel spoke, there being formed in said oppositelydisposed faces grooves which are symmetrical about a plane normal to said faces and parallel to the pertaining non-parallel side, with the opposite sides of the series of grooves diverging in both directions from midway of the middle tongue or tongues whereat the groove width is minimal and just sufficient to admit a bicycle wheel spoke, the degree of divergence being such that the grooves in each of the outer tongues at the tongue side nearer the middle tongue or tongues is double said minimum width, the groove arrangement in the faces disposed opposite one another of the tongues on each of the non-parallel sides of the member of trapezium shape or quasi-trapezium shape enabling the reflector to be fitted by hand between adjacent spokes on the same side of the bicycle wheel with each of the spokes extending through one of the two groove arrangements, and that surface of the member of trapezium or quasi-trapezium shape, which faces outwardly when the reflector is fitted in operative position, comprising two coplanar reflector surface areas dispose parallel to the plane between the adjacent spokes, and centrally therebetween a prominence of isosceles triangular cross-section with the base of the prominence in the plane of said surface areas and the flanking surfaces thereof also formed as reflective surface areas.
2. 2. A reflector in occordance with claim 1, in which said flanking surfaces are plane and the inwardly facing or reverse surface of the member of trapezium shape or quazi-trapezium shape is provided with a plurality of retroreflective prisms.
3. 3. A reflector in accordance with claim 1 or 2, in which the member of trapezium shape or quasi-trapezium shape is bordered with a marginal reinforcement projecting beyond the inwardly-facing or reverse surface thereof.
4. 4. A reflector in accordance with claim 3, in which the inwardly-facing or reverse surface of the member of trapezium shape or quasitrapezium shape is clad by a cover plate fitted within the marginal reinforcement.
5. 5. A reflector for fixing to the spokes of a bicycle wheel representative of a selection of bicycle wheels most varied both in diameter and spoke arrangement, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.