GB2440552A

GB2440552A - Directional indicator for cyclists

Info

Publication number: GB2440552A
Application number: GB0616919A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dawn Webbon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-01
Filing date: 2006-08-26
Publication date: 2008-02-06
Also published as: GB0615237D0; GB0616919D0

Abstract

A direction indicating device for a cyclist comprises a sleeve, band, bangle or gauntlet 10 comprising on its outside surface a plurality of light emitting diodes 24, 26 and adapted to be fitted around an arm of a cyclist. A battery is connected to the diodes 24, 26 through wiring 42 and a switch is operable to supply electric current to illuminate the diodes 24, 26 when the arm is lifted, to indicate to a following road user that the cyclist intends to change direction. The diodes 24, 26 are arranged in the form of a arrowhead or chevron, and are positioned on the arm so that the or each arrowhead or chevron is pointing away from the shoulder and towards the hand, so that when the arm is raised they point in the direction which the cyclist intends to travel. The diodes 24, 26 can emit a coloured light. The battery may be rechargeable and a solar panel charging device may be incorporated in the device, the battery or the bicycle. Alternatively the device may comprise a material or light emitting device which glows in the dark either due to fluorescence or phosphorescence or a radio active material whose radioactivity causes light to be emitted.

Description

I

Description

Title: Cyclist's aid.

Field of invention

This invention concerns cyclist's aids and in particular a device by which a cyclist's intention to turn, especially when turning to the right, can be more readily observed by a following road user such as the driver of a vehicle or another cyclist.

Background to the invention

Motor vehicles and motor cycles normally have illuminated direction indicators such as orange flashing lights, which are readily seen by following road users, who are thereby warned of the intention of the driver's or motorcyclist's intentions.

In general it has not been practical to install such devices on pedal cycles since the electrical power required is not normally available.

In addition flashing lights or illuminated fingers (such as were installed on cars many years ago) could in general only be installed on a pedal cycle on the rear mudguard or to the rear of the seat, and at that height might not be seen by following road users, especially if seated high up in the cab of a lorry or van, or in the relatively elevated driving seat of a 4 x 4 or people carrier.

Object of the invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a direction indicating aid for a cyclist that should normally be visible to a following road user and which either does not require any electrical energy, or only requires minimal electrical energy, to power it.

Summary of the present inventiun

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a direction indicating device for a cyclist comprising a sleeve, band, bangle or gauntlet comprising or including on its outside surface a plurality of light emitting diodes and adapted to be fitted around an arm of a cyclist, and a battery connectable to the diodes through wiring and a switch which is operable to supply electric current to illuminate the diodes at least when the arm is lifted to indicate to a following road user that the cyclist intends to change direction.

The diodes may be connected in series or parallel.

The diodes may be arranged in the form of at least one arrowhead or one or more chevrons, and the device is preferably positioned on the arm so that the or each arrowhead or chevron is pointing away from the shoulder and towards the hand, so that when the diodes are illuminated, the or each illuminated arrowhead or chevron points towards the cyclist's hand and away from their shoulder, so that when the arm is raised the or each illuminated arrow or chevron points in the direction which the cyclist intends to take.

The diodes may emit a coloured light and if so preferably all the diodes on the one device produce light of the same colour, although if devices are to be worn on both arms then the diodes in the device for the one arm may be selected to produce a different colour light from those in the device to be worn on the other arm.

The battery may be carried by the cyclist in a pocket in their clothing or in a sachet or sack or compartment formed in or on the sleeve, band, gauntlet or bangle or may be mounted on the bicycle and flexible wiring is provided between the battery and the device.

Where a plug and socket connection is to be incorporated into the wiring, one section of the plug and socket may be attached to or form part of the sleeve, band, bangle or gauntlet.

In the latter even a plug and socket connection may be provided in the wiring so that cyclist can disconnect the device (and themselves) from the battery where this is mounted on the bicycle.

The battery may be a rechargeable battery.

Where the battery is to be mounted on the bicycle it may conveniently be fitted to the underside and or rear of the saddle.

A dynamo, or alternator and charging circuit may be provided on the bicycle to charge a rechargeable battery as the bike is used.

Alternatively a solar panel may be incorporated into the device or the battery or the bicycle to provide a charging current to keep a rechargeable battery fully charged.

Where a solar panel is to be provided this may be incorporated into the device, on the exterior thereof, so that it will be positioned so as to generally face upwards and outwards when the cyclist is in the cycling position with his/her hands gripping the hand grips at opposite ends of the handlebar.

According to an alternative aspect of the present invention there is provided a direction indicating device for a cyclist comprising a sleeve, band, bangle or gauntlet formed from or including at least on its outside surface a material or light emitting device which glows in the dark either due to fluorescence or phosphorescence or a radio active material whose radioactivity causes light to be emitted, and which has a half-life of at least a year, and which is adapted to be attached to the arm of a cyclist so as to be visible to a following road user when the cyclist raises their arm to indicate they are turning.

In one embodiment the device is attached only to the right arm so as to only indicate when the cyclist is turning right.

In another embodiment a device is attached to each arm so that following road users will be warned if the cyclist intends to turn right or left.

In the said other embodiment the light emitting material or light emitting device may be selected so that one colour of light is emitted by the device on the right arm while another different colour is emitted by the device on the left arm.

The device may be adapted to be attached to the cyclists arm by means of pads of Velcro (RTM) one attached to the rear of the material forming the device and the other complementary pad being attached to the cyclists arm.

In one arrangement the latter may be attached to the outside surface of an elastic band which can be slipped over the cycJists sleeve leaving the Velcro (RTM) exposed ready to receive the complementary pad of Velcro (RTM) attached to the rear of the device.

Alternatively the pad may be attached to a strap which has a buckle at one end, and in use can be wrapped around the cyclists arm and the free end of the strap secured using the buckle to form an endless band around the cyclists arm.

According to a preferred embodiment of this alternative aspect of the invention the device may comprise a band which in use is securable around a cyclists arm and has a piece of the light emitting material, or a light emitting device, secured to what in use is the external surface of the band, the piece of material or light emitting device being in the shape of at least one arrowhead or chevron, and the band is fitted to the arm so that the or each arrowhead or chevron is pointing towards the hand and away from the shoulder so that when the arm is lifted the arrowhead or chevron will point in the same direction as the arm and therefore in the direction in which the cyclist intends to turn.

Where a device incorporating either aspect of the invention is to be incorporated into a gauntlet the latter may comprise a glove or may simply comprise the flared sleeve section of a conventional combined gauntlet and glove.

Irrespective of the nature of the light emitting means, the sleeve band bangle or gauntlet may be constructed as a single length of material having means at opposite ends thereof by which they can be joined together to form a continuous loop around the arm or wrist of a cyclist to retain it in position on their wrist or arm.

The joining means may comprise two patches of Velcro (RTM) which when pressed together will become enmeshed in known manner but which can be separated in known manner by peeling one patch from the other.

Alternatively the joining means may comprise a buckle attached to one end and a strap secured to or formed integrally with so as to extend from the other end.

Where a device incorporating either aspect of the invention is in the form of a sleeve the latter may form part of, or be adapted to be secured to, an outer garment to be worn by the cyclist, which may include a cape of the type which is used by cyclists in wet weather, or a tee shirt or jumper or pullover or jacket.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 illustrates a gauntlet having mounted thereon two rows of LED's in the form of chevrons, Fig. 2 illustrates how the LED's may be connected to a remote battery, mounted on a bicycle, Fig.3 illustrates a similar gauntlet, in which the LED's are arranged as an arrowhead, Fig. 4 illustrates a bangle having a chevron of LED's and self contained battery, and Fig.5 illustrates the rear of a jacket on which chevrons of light emitting material are sewn or otherwise secured to the sleeves.

Fig.! shows a gauntlet 10 which is securable around an arm by means of straps 12, 14 having Velcro. (RTM) pads 16, 18 on their underside, for engaging complementary pads 20, 22 on the outside of the gauntlet sleeve 10.

Attached to the outside of 10 are two rows of LED's 24, 26 in the form of two chevrons.

The LED's in 24 and 26 are connected in series and one end of 24 is connected via a cable 28 (show dotted) to the one end of 26. The other ends of each of 24 and 26 are connected via cables 30, 32 (also shown dotted) to two conductive elements of a socket 34 secured to the gauntlet near one edge thereof.

Power for the LED's is provided by a battery 36 secured in a pouch 38 hung from the rear of the saddle of a bicycle which is to be ridden by a cyclist who is to wear the gauntlet 10.

A flexible two core cable 42 joins two plugs 44 and 46, the former adapted to be fitted into the socket 34 and the latter into a socket 48 which may be incorporated into one end of the battery 36, or connected to the battery and secured to the pouch 38.

The battery may be a rechargeable battery and in that event a solar panel charging device such as 50 may be fitted to the bicycle, for example above the rear mudguard 52 as shown, and connected via cables (not shown) to the battery.

Alternatively or in addition a dynamo 54 may be fitted to the rear forks in known manner to be spring loaded in use against the side wall of the tyre on the rear wheel (not shown), so as to be rotated as the bicycle moves in a forward direction so as to generate an electric current for charging the battery 36. A cable is shown at 56 connecting the dynamo 54 to the battery.

in Fig. 3 a gauntlet sleeve 100 is shown having an array of LED's mounted thereon in the form of an arrowhead 102. Straps 104, 106 and securing plate 108, 110 incorporating Velcro (R T M) or similar, allow the sleeve to be wrapped around a cyclists arm and secured in place.

A battery 112 is secured in a pouch 114 by a strap 116 and stud closure 118, and wires 120, 122 connect the two poles of the battery to opposite ends of the LED array 102. The LED's are connected in series.

The battery may be a normal dry cell battery in which event, it is simply replaced when spent.

Where the battery is rechargeable, flexible solar panels 124, 126 may be mounted on the underside of the gauntlet sleeve 100 and connected in series (by wire 127) and to the battery by wires 128, 140.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative device in the form of a bangle 200 of flexible material which can be wrapped around a cyclists arm and secured by means of complementary pads of Velcro (R T M) or the like 202, 204.

On the outside of the bangle is a array of LED's connected in a series in the form of a single chevron 206. Wires (shown dotted at 208, 210) connect the ends of the series array of LED's to the two poles of a battery (not shown), contained in a pouch 212 and secured therein by a closure strap 214. In use the bangle is secured around the cyclists arm with the chevron to the rear of the arm and pointing away from the shoulder.

A tumbler switch, such as shown at 31 in Fig. 1, may be connected in one of the cables between the battery and the LED's in any of the illustrated embodiments. The switch is adapted to close when the arm is lifted as when indicating a turn, and to open when the hand and arm is lowered into the normal handlebar gripping position.

Fig. 5 illustrates how light emitting material in the form of chevrons 300, 302 and 304, 306 can be fitted to the rear of the arms of a jacket 308. When the cyclist's hands grip the handlebar, the chevrons will point in a downward direction, and will not be noticeable, in any case, in daylight. However at dusk or in the dark, the chevrons. will emit light and when the cyclist raises an arm to indicate they are turning left or right, the illuminated chevrons will be fully visible to any following road user.

The chevrons 300, 302 etc., my be formed from luminous material or material coated with a luminous coating or from a fluorescent or phosphorescent material or a radio active material which gives off light as it decays.

Claims

V Cl

Claims Title: Cyclist's aid.

I. A direction indicating device for a cyclist comprising a sleeve, band, bangle or gauntlet comprising or including on its outside surface a plurality of light emitting diodes and adapted to be fitted around an arm of a cyclist, and a battery connectable to the diodes through wiring and a switch which is operable to supply electric current to illuminate the diodes at least when the arm is lifted to indicate to a following road user that the cyclist intends to change direction.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the diodes are connected in series.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the diodes are connected in parallel.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the diodes we arranged in the form of at least one arrowhead or at least one chevron.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the device is positioned on the arm so that the or each arrowhead or chevron is pointing away from the shoulder and towards the hand, so that when the diodes are illuminated, the or each illuminated arrowhead or chevron points towards the cyclist's hand and away from their shoulder, so that when the arm is raised the or each illuminated arrow or chevron points in the direction which the cyclist intends to take.

6. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the diodes emit a coloured light.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein all the diodes in the one device produce light of the same colour. l0

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 in combination with a similar device for fitting to both arms of a cyclist in which the diodes in the device for the one arm are selected to produce a different colour light from those in the device to be worn on the other arm.

9. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the battery is carried by the cyclist in a pocket in their clothing, or in a sachet or sack or compartment formed in or on the sleeve, band, gauntlet or bangle.

10. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the battery is mounted on the bicycle and flexible wiring is provided between the battery and the device.

11. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 wherein a plug and socket connection is incorporated into the wiring.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein one section of the plug and socket is attached to or forms part of the sleeve, band, bangle or gauntlet.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the plug and socket connection is provided in the wiring so that the cyclist can disconnect the device from the battery, to allow them to dismount and/or leave the bicycle while still wearing the device.

14. A device as claimed in any of claimed 1 to 13 wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

15. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14 wherein the battery is mounted on the bicycle to the underside and/or rear of the saddle.

16. A device as claimed in claim 14 or 15 in combination with a dynamo, or alternator and charging circuit, on the bicycle, to charge the rechargeable battery as the bike is used. I,

17. A device as claimed in claim 14 or 15 in combinations with a solar panel incorporated into the device, or the battery, or the bicycle, to provide a charging current to charge the battery.

18. A device as claimed in claim 14 or 15 in which a solar panel is incorporated on the exterior of the device, so that in use it will be positioned so as to generally face upwards and outwards when the cyclist is in the cycling position with his/her hands gripping the handlebar.

19.A direction indicating device for a cyclist comprising a sleeve, band, bangle or gauntlet formed from or including at least on its outside surface a material or light emitting device which glows in the dark either due to fluorescence or phosphorescence or a radio active material whose radioactivity causes light to be emitted, and which has a half-life of at least a year, and which is adapted to be attached to the arm of a cyclist so as to be visible to a following road user when the cyclist raises their arm to indicate they are turning.

20. A device as claimed in any of claimed 1 to 19 in which the device is attached only to the right arm so as to only indicate when the cyclist is turning right.

21.A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 19 when attached to each arm of a cyclist so that following road users will be warned if the cyclist intends to turn right or left.

22. A device as claims in claim 21 when dependent on claim 19 wherein the light emitting material or light emitting device is selected so that one colour of light is emitted by the device on the right arm while another different colour is emitted by the device on the left arm.

23. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 22 wherein the device is adapted to be attached to the cyclist's arm by means of pads of Velcro (RIM) one attached to the rear of the material forming the device, and the other complementary pad being attached to the sleeve of clothing worn by the cyclist. 12.

24, A device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the said other pad is attached to the outside surface of an elastic band which in use is slipped over the cyclists sleeve, leaving the Velcro (RTM) exposed ready to receive the complementary pad attached to the rear of the device.

25. A device as claimed in any of claims Ito 23 wherein the said other pad is attached to a strap which has a buckle at one end, and in use is wrapped around the cyclists arm with the free end of the strap secured using the buckle to form an endless band around the cyclists arm.

26. A device as claimed in any of claims 20 to 24 when dependant on claim 19 wherein the device comprises a band of material which in use is securable around a cyclists arm and has a piece of the light emitting material, or a light emitting device, secured to the outside surface thereof, the piece of material or light emitting device being in the shape of at least one arrowhead or chevron, and in use the band is fitted to the arm so that the or each arrowhead or chevron is pointing towards the hand and away from the shoulder, so that when the arm is lifted the arrowhead or chevron will point in the same direction as the arm and therefore in the direction in which the cyclist intends to turn.

27. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 26 wherein the device is incorporated into a gauntlet and the latter comprises a complete glove, or only the flared gauntlet sleeve section.

28. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 19 the form of a sleeve which forms part, of or is adapted to be secured to, an outer garment to be worn by a cyclist.

29. A device as claimed in claim 28 wherein the garment is a cape of the type which is used by cyclists in wet weather, or a tee shirt or jumper or pullover or jacket. (3

30. A direction indicating device for use by a cyclist constructed, arranged and adapted to be used, and to operate, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.