GB2321514A

GB2321514A - Bicycle direction indicators

Info

Publication number: GB2321514A
Application number: GB9701563A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Anthony Dolan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-25
Filing date: 1997-01-25
Publication date: 1998-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2017-01-25
Also published as: GB2321514B; GB9701563D0

Abstract

A direction indicator for a bicycle has a plug (3) which fits into the end of a tubular handlebar and a flasher unit assembly (1,2) which removably attaches to the plug. A cover (2) for the bulb (4) can act as a tinted lens and as the actuator for the flasher unit, being pressed in towards the plug (3) to activate the unit, and pressed in again to de-activate it.

Description

"Improvements relating to Direction Indicators" This invention relates to direction indicators, and is concerned with those for bicycles.

At night, it is difficult for a cyclist to indicate a change of direction sufficiently clearly for following and approaching traffic to be fully aware of his intentions. It has been proposed to provide reflective bands for cyclists to wear around the wrists, and for these to carry flashing lights which can be actuated by the movement of the arm from grasping the handlebar to indicating the new direction.

However, to keep these illuminated, the arm has to stay extended, and this reduces the cyclist's control.

It is the aim of this invention to provide an indicator which can be fitted to the bicycle itself, and easily operated without significant movement of the hand away from the handlebars.

According to the present invention there is provided a direction indicator for bicycles comprising a flashing light assembly with a plug base to fit the open end of a tubular handlebar.

Preferably, the assembly will be generally symmetrical about the axis of the plug with its bulb shielded by a translucent cover, usually orange tinted and acting as a lens, at the end opposite the plug. The light will then show all round, and not just in one direction.

The cover may be spring biased away from the plug, and serve as the actuator. By pressing the cover in towards the plug the flashing light will be switched on, and a further press will switch it off again.

In the preferred form, the cover is at the end of a body which contains a switch and a flasher unit, and which is adapted to receive a battery and to mount a bulb. This body, with the cover, may be separable from the plug so that the plug can be left in the handlebar with one end projecting and the rest of the indicator removed. Conveniently, this separation is transverse to the axis of the plug, there being mutual engagement by a T-section or dovetail stud and a corresponding blind ended slot. Preferably, the slot will be formed in the base of the body, and the stud will be on the projecting end of the plug.

For security, there should be means for tightening the plug into engagement, and this may be achieved by screw means which, once the plug is entered, are tightened axially to compress the plug and thereby cause its radial expansion.

For a better understanding of the invention, one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an indicator for a bicycle, Figure 2 is an end view of a plug forming part of the indicator, Figure 3 is an opposite end view of the plug.

The indicator has a generally barrel shaped body 1 with a translucent cover 2, usually orange tinted, at one end, and a plug 3 at the opposite end. Within the cover, there is a bulb 4 which is powered by a battery and flasher unit (not shown) within the body 1. The cover is not fixed to the body 1 but is captive thereto and spring urged outwardly to the position shown. It can be pressed inwardly (down in the figure) to operate a switch (also not shown) which will activate the flasher unit. When released, it springs back to the position shown. A further press de-activates the flasher unit, and so on.

The plug 3 is of rubber or stiffly resilient plastics material and has a T-section stud 5 standing proud of a disc 6 at one end. In plan view, as best seen in Figure 2, the cross arm of the T is generally rectangular with curved ends of a radius slightly less than that of the disc 6. It is a close frictional fit into a correspondingly T-shaped, closed end slot 7 formed in the base of the body 1. This slot is open only to the side of the body visible in Figure 1: it does not emerge at the other side.

On the other side of the disc, there is a spigot 8 with external annular ribs 9. This fits within the end of a tubular handlebar of a bicycle and the ribs grip against the inside to hold the plug firmly in place.

For an even more secure grip, the plug may be made in two parts with a hollow spigot and a bolt 10 co-axially holding those parts together, its head being countersunk into the stud 5. By screwing the head to tighten the bolt, the spigot is compressed axially and forced to bulge radially, thereby increasing the grip.

The plug 3 will be fitted to a handlebar with the cross arm of the T-stud vertical or nearly so, and the body 1 will be fitted to the plug with the open end of the slot 7 lowermost, reducing the risk of accidental separation.

Handlebars have various configurations, but almost straight transverse ones are increasingly popular, especially on mountain bikes. The indicator described above is suitable for those, and will show well behind the rider as well as in front. If the handlebar is not long enough, the plug could be extended.

For handlebars where the grips are aligned substantially with the fore and aft direction, the ends of the tube tend to be nearer the centre line of the bicycle. An indicator with a plug as described might therefore not be easily visible from behind, being shielded by the rider. But the plug could be L-shaped with one arm inserted in the tube and the other arm projecting laterally to hold the indicator at a greater distance from the centre line.

The body 1 with the cover 2 can readily be removed when the cyclist dismounts and put in a pocket for safety. The plug 3 is intended to be left permanently in place.

Claims

1. A direction indicator for bicycles comprising a flashing light assembly with a plug at its base to fit the open end of a tubular handlebar.

2. A direction indicator as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the assembly is generally symmetrical about the axis of the plug.

3. - A direction indicator as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the bulb from which the flashing light emanates is shielded by a translucent tinted cover that acts as a lens at the end opposite the plug.

4. A direction indicator as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the cover is spring biased away from the plug and serves as an actuator, pressing the cover in towards the plug alternately activating and de-activating the flashing light.

5. A direction indicator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flashing light assembly is separable from the plug.

6. A direction indicator as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the separation is transverse to the axis of the plug.

7. A direction indicator as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the mutual engagement of the flashing light assembly and the plug is by a T-section or dovetail stud and a corresponding blind ended slot.

8. A direction indicator as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the slot is formed in the base of the flashing light assembly and the stud is on the end of the plug projecting from the handlebar.

9. A direction indicator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there are means for tightening the plug into engagement once entered into the handlebar.

10. A direction indicator as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the tightening means includes screw means which can compress the plug axially and thereby cause it to expand radially.

11. A direction indicator for bicycles, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.