GB2404005A - Lighting display system for motorcycles - Google Patents

Lighting display system for motorcycles Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2404005A
GB2404005A GB0413539A GB0413539A GB2404005A GB 2404005 A GB2404005 A GB 2404005A GB 0413539 A GB0413539 A GB 0413539A GB 0413539 A GB0413539 A GB 0413539A GB 2404005 A GB2404005 A GB 2404005A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
lights
motorcycle
array
arrays
light
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB0413539A
Other versions
GB2404005B (en
GB0413539D0 (en
Inventor
Susan Sterling
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 GB0413539D0 publication Critical patent/GB0413539D0/en
Publication of GB2404005A publication Critical patent/GB2404005A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2404005B publication Critical patent/GB2404005B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • 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
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/32—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating vehicle sides, e.g. clearance lights
    • 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
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V33/00—Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for

Landscapes

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

Abstract

A plurality of light arrays 10, 11 are mounted on a motorcycle, each array 10, 11 comprising a plurality of lights, with control means controlling operation of the lights whereby the lights in each array are switched on and off in sequence. The arrays may be of a single or multiple colours and may provide a rainbow effect. The power supply may be from the motorcycle battery or generated by vibration from the motorcycle. Further disclosed is a garment comprising similar lighting arrays.

Description

LIGHTING DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR MOTORCYCLES
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a lighting display system for motorcycles.
Safety is of increasing importance for riders of motorcycles and one factor that has to be taken into account in this respect is the limited visual awareness of motorcycles by drivers of ordinary motor vehicles because motorcycles are much smaller than other motor vehicles.
A major cause of collisions between a motorcycle and another motor vehicle is that the motorcycle is not seen or not noticed sufficiently promptly by the driver of the other vehicle.
Substantial effort has accordingly gone into making motorcycles and motorcyclists more conspicuous. For example, it is common practice for the headlights of motorcycles to be operated continuously when on the road during daylight hours.
One proposal that has been made is that described in US Patent Specification No. 5,754,097. This involves the use of a plurality of flash-lamps mounted on the motorcycle in a prescribed geometrical configuration that identifies it as being a motorcycle.
The flash-lamps radiate with a spectrally broad visual display, a specified range of angular illumination, a prescribed operating range of flashing frequency, and a prescribed flashing mode.
Another proposal that has been made is that described in US Patent Specification No. 5,590,947. This involves the use of an illuminated windscreen attached to the motorcycle fairing, with at least three light bulbs mounted at an outer edge contour of the windscreen so as to emit light into the windscreen to cause it to appear to glow.
It is an object of the present invention to provide improved means for enhancing the visibility of a motorcycle and/or a motorcyclist.
Summary of the Invention
According to the present invention there is provided a motorcycle on which a plurality of arrays each comprising a plurality of lights are mounted, with control means controlling operation of the lights whereby the lights in each array are switched on and off in sequence.
The lights in each array may be of a single colour but preferably comprise lights of at least two colours, for example, the lights may provide a rainbow effect. There are typically two arrays of lights at the front of the motorcycle, two arrays of lights at each side of the motorcycle, and an array of lights at the rear of the motorcycle.
Each array of lights preferably comprises a row of lights arranged within a housing that has a transparent or translucent cover which is of tapering form along the length of the row and which comprises a plurality of segments of different colours.
The power supply for the lights may comprise the motorcycle battery and/or an auxiliary supply generated by vibration of the motorcycle.
The motorcyclist preferably wears a garment on which a plurality of arrays each comprising a plurality of lights are mounted, with control means controlling operation of the lights whereby the lights in each array are switched on and off in sequence.
The lights in each array again preferably comprise lights of at least two colours. For example, the lights may provide a rainbow effect.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a motorcycle, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic front view of the motorcycle, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic rear view of the motorcycle.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
The motorcycle shown in the drawings is provided with seven arrays of lights, namely two light arrays 10 at the front of the motorcycle, two light arrays 11 at each side of the motorcycle and a light array 12 at the rear of the motorcycle.
Each of the light arrays 10 includes a plurality of light bulbs that are arranged to be lit in sequence, such that the effect is given of a moving light source. Each array 10 has a front cover that includes a plurality of segments of different colours so that the moving light source appears to change colour as it moves along the row of lamps in the array. This moving light source that changes in colour will accordingly be highly visible and the peripheral vision of the driver of another vehicle will pick up this movement. The colours that are transmitted by the lamps in each light array 10 are typically white and purple, or a rainbow effect.
As shown in the drawings, the front covers of the light arrays vary in height from one end of the row of lamps so that the impression is given of a moving light source that varies in height, further enhancing the visibility of the motorcycle.
The light arrays 11 on the two sides of the motorcycle will be of a design similar to that of the light arrays 10 at the front of the motorcycle, except that the colours that are transmitted by the lamps in each light array 11 are typically white and amber, or a rainbow effect.
The light array 12 at the rear of the motorcycle comprises a series of lamps that are arranged in line vertically and the cover for the light array 12 increases in width from the bottom to the top thereof so that, as the lamps are operated in sequence to give the effect of a light that is moving vertically, the light will also appear to vary in width. The lamps in the light array 12 are typically red.
The power supply for the lights may comprise the motorcycle battery and/or an auxiliary supply in the form of a rechargeable battery that is recharged by vibration of the motorcycle.
In addition to the provision of arrays of lights on the motor cycle, the motorcyclist may wear a suit on which arrays of light are mounted, the arrays of lights on the suit of the motorcyclist being of a similar design to those described above.

Claims (12)

  1. Claims: 1. A motorcycle on which a plurality of arrays each comprising a
    plurality of lights are mounted, with control means controlling operation of the lights whereby the lights in each array are switched on and off in sequence.
  2. 2. A motorcycle as claimed in Claim 1, in which the lights in each array comprise lights of at least two colours.
  3. 3. A motorcycle as claimed in Claim 2, in which the lights provide a rainbow effect.
  4. 4. A motorcycle as claimed in Claim 1, in which the lights in each array are of a single colour.
  5. 5. A motorcycle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which there are two arrays of lights at the front of the motorcycle, two arrays of lights at each side of the motorcycle, and an array of lights at the rear of the motorcycle.
  6. 6. A motorcycle as claimed in Claim 5, in which each array of lights comprises a row of lights arranged within a housing that has a transparent or translucent cover.
  7. 7. A motorcycle as claimed in Claim 6, in which each housing is of tapering form along the length of the row and comprises a plurality of segments of different colours.
  8. 8. A motorcycle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the power supply for the lights comprises the motorcycle battery.
  9. 9. A motorcycle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, in which the power supply for the lights comprises an auxiliary supply generated by vibration of the motorcycle.
  10. 10. A motorcycle having a lighting display system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  11. 11. The combination of a motorcycle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a garment on which a plurality of arrays each comprising a plurality of lights are mounted, with control means controlling operation of the lights whereby the lights in each array are switched on and off in sequence.
  12. 12. The combination claimed in Claim 11, in which the lights in each array comprise lights of at least two colours.
GB0413539A 2003-06-17 2004-06-17 Lighting display system for motorcycles Expired - Fee Related GB2404005B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0313977.1A GB0313977D0 (en) 2003-06-17 2003-06-17 Lighting display system for motorcycles

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0413539D0 GB0413539D0 (en) 2004-07-21
GB2404005A true GB2404005A (en) 2005-01-19
GB2404005B GB2404005B (en) 2006-06-07

Family

ID=27636678

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB0313977.1A Ceased GB0313977D0 (en) 2003-06-17 2003-06-17 Lighting display system for motorcycles
GB0413539A Expired - Fee Related GB2404005B (en) 2003-06-17 2004-06-17 Lighting display system for motorcycles

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB0313977.1A Ceased GB0313977D0 (en) 2003-06-17 2003-06-17 Lighting display system for motorcycles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB0313977D0 (en)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2200736A (en) * 1987-02-04 1988-08-10 Robert Anthony Brown Vehicle recognition side lights
US5754097A (en) * 1996-07-02 1998-05-19 Vredenburgh; Alison G. Conspicuous lighting display system for motorcycles
GB2330679A (en) * 1997-10-21 1999-04-28 911 Emergency Products Inc Warning signal light
GB2374272A (en) * 2001-04-03 2002-10-16 John Cromarty Motorcycle helmet or other apparel with signalling means
US20030031019A1 (en) * 2001-08-13 2003-02-13 Irene Chen Light-emitting structure for tires
GB2382297A (en) * 2001-11-22 2003-05-28 Peter Ronald Langmaid Safety jacket with pulsed lights

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2200736A (en) * 1987-02-04 1988-08-10 Robert Anthony Brown Vehicle recognition side lights
US5754097A (en) * 1996-07-02 1998-05-19 Vredenburgh; Alison G. Conspicuous lighting display system for motorcycles
GB2330679A (en) * 1997-10-21 1999-04-28 911 Emergency Products Inc Warning signal light
GB2374272A (en) * 2001-04-03 2002-10-16 John Cromarty Motorcycle helmet or other apparel with signalling means
US20030031019A1 (en) * 2001-08-13 2003-02-13 Irene Chen Light-emitting structure for tires
GB2382297A (en) * 2001-11-22 2003-05-28 Peter Ronald Langmaid Safety jacket with pulsed lights

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0313977D0 (en) 2003-07-23
GB2404005B (en) 2006-06-07
GB0413539D0 (en) 2004-07-21

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20180617