GB2336201A - Monitoring the functioning of vehicle lamp - Google Patents

Monitoring the functioning of vehicle lamp Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2336201A
GB2336201A GB9907781A GB9907781A GB2336201A GB 2336201 A GB2336201 A GB 2336201A GB 9907781 A GB9907781 A GB 9907781A GB 9907781 A GB9907781 A GB 9907781A GB 2336201 A GB2336201 A GB 2336201A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
lamp
vehicle
light
sensor
cycle
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9907781A
Other versions
GB9907781D0 (en
Inventor
Simon David Adams
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB9907781D0 publication Critical patent/GB9907781D0/en
Publication of GB2336201A publication Critical patent/GB2336201A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q11/00—Arrangement of monitoring devices for devices provided for in groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q9/00
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62J—CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
    • B62J6/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices on cycles; Mounting or supporting thereof; Circuits therefor
    • B62J6/04—Rear lights

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Abstract

Apparatus for indicating if a lamp on a vehicle, particularly a bicycle, is functioning comprises a sensor which can pick up the light from the lamp 1 and means, eg a fibre optic cable 2, to convey the light to an indicator 5 within the view of the driver or rider. The casing of the lamp may be connected to the cable by means of a grommet 4 for quick release.

Description

2336201 LIGHT SENSOR This invention relates to a Sensor for indicating if
a lamp is functioning correctly.
On a particularly dark night a cyclist can feel very vulnerable as to the condition of his lights. Especially his rear light as this cannot be easily checked while in motion. The cyclist may be in constant fear of a rear end collision, if his rear light has failed either because of a battery or bulb for example.
Trying to check whilst in motion can be impossible and may itself cause an accident.
An object of the present invention is to give a clear indication to the cyclist whilst in motion as to the condition of his light and will instantly indicate if they should fail.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for indicating if a lamp on a vehicle is functioning correctly, the apparatus comprising a sensor in a position relative to a light bulb in the lamp such that it is able to pick up light emitted therefrom, means to convey said light picked up by said sensor to indicating means within the f ield of view of a driver or rider of the vehicle.
1 According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lamp for a cycle having the apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit comprising the apparatus according to the first aspect for modifying an existing lamp.
The sensor may be one end of a fibre optic cable.
The means to convey the picked up light may be a f ibre optic cable.
The indicating means may be an end of a fibre optic cable remote from a sensor end. Alternatively, a suitable lens maybe used to amplify the signal e.g:- RS part No.223-1565 The vehicle may in one case be a cycle. The indicating means may be fixed to any suitable part of the cycle such as the handlebars or frame for example.
A fibre optic cable may be run from the light (front or rear), along the cycle frame and up to the handlebar where it is connected to a suitable indicator.
An advantage of the present invention is that the cable picks up the light source from the bulb and transmits it to the indicator without any extra drain on the light's batteries.
2 A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a view of a cycle from above. Figure 2 shows a view of the cycle of Figure 1 from the side. Figure 3 shows a "Blown up" view of a rear light for a cycle.
Figure 4 shows a indicator.
%Blown up" view of the handlebar Referring now to the drawings, apparatus for determining if a cycle lamp is functioning correctly comprises a light is (1), fibre optic cable (2), cable ties (3), quick release type grommet (4), handlebar indicator(5).
A fibre optic cable 2, is attached to the light 1 us - Lng quick release grommet 4 positioned in the casing 6 of the lamp 1, this facilitates the easy removal of the cable to allow bulb or battery changes and also to allow the lamp to be removed from the cycle for any reason.
The cable 2 is attached to the cycle frame 7 and to the 25 handlebar 8, secured suitably with cable ties 3. The cable is then inserted into the indicators and secured using the handlebar clamp 13. One end 9 of the cable 2 picks up light from the bulb 10 and transits it via the cable 2 to the remote end 11 where the cable is inserted into a 3 suitable indicator 12 which is held in a clamp arrangement 13 fixed to the handlebars 8 for example.
In Figure 4, two indicators 12, 15 are shown, the indicator 12 being red for example for the rear lamp and the indicator 15 being white for example for a front lamp.
4

Claims (15)

  1. Apparatus for indicating if a lamp on a vehicle is functioning correctly, the apparatus comprising a sensor in a position relative to a light bulb in the lamp such that it is able to pick up light emitted therefrom, means to convey said light picked up by said sensor to indicating means within the field of view of a driver or rider of the vehicle.
  2. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sensor is one end of a fibre optic cable.
  3. 3. Apparatus according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the means to convey the picked up light is a fibre optic cable.
    is
  4. 4. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the indicating means is an end of a fibre optic cable remote from a sensor end.
  5. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the indicating means include lenses.
  6. 6.
    Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the lenses are coloured so a to indicate which lamp on vehicle is being sensed.
  7. Apparatus according to any one 1Dreceding claim wherein the lamp is a cycle lamp.
  8. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein a casing of the lamp has a grommet therein to allow the sensor to be disconnected and/or removed.
  9. 9. Apparatus according to any one preceding claim wherein the vehicle is a cycle.
  10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the indicating means are fixed to the handlebars or frame.
  11. 11. A lamp for a cycle having the apparatus according to any one of preceding claims 1 to 10.
  12. 12. A kit comprising the apparatus according to any one of preceding claims 1 to 10 for modifying an existing lamp.
  13. 13. Apparatus for indicating if a lamp on a vehicle is functioning correctly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying description and drawings.
  14. 14. A lamp for a cycle having apparatus for indicating if the lamp is functioning correctly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying description and drawings.
    6
  15. 15. A kit comprising apparatus for modifying a lamp for a vehicle so as to indicate if the lamp is functioning correctly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying description and drawings.
    7
GB9907781A 1998-04-08 1999-04-07 Monitoring the functioning of vehicle lamp Withdrawn GB2336201A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9807429.7A GB9807429D0 (en) 1998-04-08 1998-04-08 Cycle light indicator

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9907781D0 GB9907781D0 (en) 1999-06-02
GB2336201A true GB2336201A (en) 1999-10-13

Family

ID=10829986

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9807429.7A Pending GB9807429D0 (en) 1998-04-08 1998-04-08 Cycle light indicator
GB9907781A Withdrawn GB2336201A (en) 1998-04-08 1999-04-07 Monitoring the functioning of vehicle lamp

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9807429.7A Pending GB9807429D0 (en) 1998-04-08 1998-04-08 Cycle light indicator

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB9807429D0 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3107799B1 (en) * 2014-03-31 2019-09-11 Matthias Ebel Lighting device for an at least partially muscle driven vehicle by means of light guide elements

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2037969A (en) * 1978-08-18 1980-07-16 Gibson B T Monitoring vehicle lamp operation
GB2071301A (en) * 1980-03-10 1981-09-16 Dunphy L C Lighting unit
GB2094965A (en) * 1981-02-24 1982-09-22 Kirk John Miles Light source condition indicator
GB2206706A (en) * 1987-02-18 1989-01-11 Drumlord Limited Light monitoring system
GB2240387A (en) * 1990-01-24 1991-07-31 Alan John Watts Safety device
GB2303434A (en) * 1995-07-18 1997-02-19 Care Slade Wayne Paul Indicator apparatus
GB2328063A (en) * 1997-08-07 1999-02-10 Oleg Golovatyi Exterior lights monitoring system for vehicles

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2037969A (en) * 1978-08-18 1980-07-16 Gibson B T Monitoring vehicle lamp operation
GB2071301A (en) * 1980-03-10 1981-09-16 Dunphy L C Lighting unit
GB2094965A (en) * 1981-02-24 1982-09-22 Kirk John Miles Light source condition indicator
GB2206706A (en) * 1987-02-18 1989-01-11 Drumlord Limited Light monitoring system
GB2240387A (en) * 1990-01-24 1991-07-31 Alan John Watts Safety device
GB2303434A (en) * 1995-07-18 1997-02-19 Care Slade Wayne Paul Indicator apparatus
GB2328063A (en) * 1997-08-07 1999-02-10 Oleg Golovatyi Exterior lights monitoring system for vehicles

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3107799B1 (en) * 2014-03-31 2019-09-11 Matthias Ebel Lighting device for an at least partially muscle driven vehicle by means of light guide elements

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9907781D0 (en) 1999-06-02
GB9807429D0 (en) 1998-06-03

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)