GB2503642A

GB2503642A - Light apparatus for a scooter wheel

Info

Publication number: GB2503642A
Application number: GB201207183A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry Christopher Alban Davies; Camilla Rosalie Alban Davies
Original assignee: SCOOT N PULL Ltd
Current assignee: SCOOT N PULL Ltd
Priority date: 2012-04-24
Filing date: 2012-04-24
Publication date: 2014-01-08
Also published as: GB201207183D0

Abstract

An apparatus 100 for emitting light from a wheel 200 comprises a body having a light emitting device. The body is adapted to be mounted within the circumference of a wheel and is adapted to be removably inserted in an opening 202 in the wheel. The body may comprise a deformable material such as an elastomer, and may be retained by friction after insertion into the opening 202. The light emitting device may function automatically when wheel movement is detected. Movement detected may include acceleration, deceleration, or speed above a threshold velocity.

Description

Light Apparatus for Wheels

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for emitting light. Such an apparatus may be insertable into or mountable on wheels, such as, but not limited to those of a child's push-scooter.

Background of the Invention

Many different types of equipment employ wheels and these wheels are often mounted on equipment which is pretty basic in terms of function, design and shape and which is customised for a particular activity. The wheels are small, often no larger than 10cm in diameter and have an outer ring of hardened plastic, nylon or rubberised material which acts as a tyre, supported on its inner circumference by a circular support structure which often contains spokes or openings. The centre of the support structure comprises a central hub on which there is circular opening for mounting the wheel on a circular shaft itself mounted on the equipment. The inner support structure is often formed of hardened plastic, nylon or metal. The equipment on which such wheels are employed may include roller skates, roller blades or push-scooters which have a design dictated by their function, for example: roller blades are formed as footwear to fit the foot of a user and the wheels are fitted to the base of the footwear; and push-scooters are designed to be pushed simply using a handle attached to a vertical column which is then attached to a base plate on which the user stands and the wheels are attached to the base plate. The variety of designs of the different equipment which employ the wheels is huge and it is difficult to provide accessories which can be used across all the different types, brands and models of equipment. One such useful accessory which is desirable to use on different types, brands and models of equipment which use wheels is a light. Lights on equipment which employ wheels are useful for many reasons, particularly for reasons of safety when using the equipment in the dark and for personalising equipment with different coloured lights. However, since the equipment can vary widely in shape, form and design, it has hitherto not been possible to provide a standard light which can be fitted to the different types of equipment employing wheels.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention aims to solve the aforementioned problems.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for emitting light from wheels, comprising: a body comprising a light emitting device, wherein the body is adapted to be mounted within the circumference of a wheel, wherein the body is adapted to be removably inserted and held in an opening in the wheel.

Since the apparatus is for mounting on a wheel, it can be connected to a variety of different types of equipment.

The light emitting device may be contained wholly within the body. Thus, the light emitting device is protected as the wheel rotates. The connection of the apparatus to the wheel may also be dictated solely by the form (e.g. shape and material) of the body.

In one embodiment, the light emitting device comprises: a light emitting component having a first state in which light is generated and output from the light emitting component, and a second state in which light is not generated and is not output from the light emitting component; and the apparatus further comprises: control electronics electrically connected to the light emitting component and configured to control whether the light emitting component is in its first state or its second state; and a power source electrically connected to the control electronics.

The light emitting component may be one or more light emitting diodes (LED). The power source may be a battery or electrical generating device, such as an motion electrical generator or solar cell, or combination of battery and electrical generating device such that the generating device device recharges the battery and/or supplies electrical power to the control electronics and/or light emitting component.

The light emitting device may further comprise a motion detection device, such as an accelerometer, connected to the control electronics, wherein the control electronics is configured to control the light emitting component to transition into its second state when a particular state of motion of the light emitting device or motion detection device connected thereto is detected. The particular state of motion being detected may be rotational motion of the wheel, or translational movement of the wheel. The particular state of motion being detected may be only rotational motion of the wheel. Alternatively, the particular state of motion being detected may be acceleration of the light emitting device or motion detection device connected thereto. The particular state of motion being detected may be motion above a threshold velocity (rotational or straight-line motion), such that motion above the threshold velocity is detectable by the control electronics. In all of these scenarios, the detection of motion ensures that the light emitting component is always on when the state of motion has been detected. This is advantageous for safety reasons and for ease of use since it avoids having to actively switch on the light emitting device.

The control electronics may be further configured to transition the light emitting device into its first state when the particular state of motion has not been detected for a predefined time.

Wherein the control electronics comprises a switching component which is configured to detect deformation of the body, e.g. physical deformation such as squeezing, and thereby cause the light emitting device to transition into its second state, or vice-versa if the light-emitting device is already it is second state.

The control electronics may be further configured to transition the light emitting device into its first state at a predefined time after having being transitioned into its second state as a result of deformation of the body. This ensures that the light emitting device is turned off and avoids wasting stored energy in the power source when the apparatus is not being used, i.e. no movement is detected.

The body may shaped and adapted so that it can be gripped by the side or sides of the opening in the wheel in which the body is mounted. In this regard, the body may comprise an external surface including or wholly formed from a grip-like material for holding the body in place against a side or sides of the opening in the wheel. The grip-like material may be a malleable material. The grip-like material may simply any a material that when in contact with the opening provides a static coefficient of friction which is larger than 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8 or 0.9. For example, the grip-like material may comprise a composition comprising or consisting of: (i) a rubber or rubber-like material, such as silicone rubber, or (ii) thermoplastic elastomer, or (Hi) thermoplastic rubber. The material forming the opening of the wheel, i.e. its support structure, may be metal, such as aluminium or steel, or plastic, or nylon. These materials may be painted.

The body may be formed wholly of the grip material. The body may be formed of a resiliently deformable material such that deformation of the body permits it to be reshaped so that it can be inserted into the opening. On its return to normal dimensions and/or shape, the body then applies force to the side or sides of the opening so that it is held firmly in place within the opening. Thus, when the wheel rotates, the body will not generally become loose and fall out of the opening. Also, this permits the body to be fitted into a variety of wheel openings of different shapes and sizes.

The body may comprise a clear, transparent, translucent or opaque material through which light from the light emitting device can be emitted. The body may also be of different transparent, translucent or opaque materials comprising one or more different colours.

The opening may formed between spokes of the wheel and the body is adapted to be removably inserted between the spokes. The spokes of the wheel may form at least two sides of the opening into which the body is removably insertable. In addition there may be one or more additional sides to the opening formed by parts of the wheel support structure, such as the central hub or outer support ring. The spokes may generally be defined as extending from the central hub to the outer support ring. This may make the shape of the opening triangular or in the shape of another quadrilateral, such as a rectangle or square.

The body may be adapted to be removably inserted and held between adjacent spokes of the wheel, and/or other sides of the opening.

The body may have a substantially rectangular or oval shape in its undeformed state when viewed from at least one side, such that the body is insertable between adjacent spokes of a wheel forming two sides of a rectangular or oval-like shape having a corresponding rectangular or oval shape to the body. Alternatively, the body may have a substantially triangular shape in its undeformed state when viewed from at least one side, such that such that the body is insertable between adjacent spokes of a wheel forming two sides of a triangular-like shape having a corresponding triangular shape to the body. These shapes of the body and corresponding openings may have rounded corners at the intersection of its sides.

The body may be of a size whereby its longest side is of a length which is less than 5cm, 4cm, 3cm, 2cm, 1.5cm, 1cm, 0.9cm, 0.8cm, 0.7cm, 0.6cm or 0.5cm.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a wheel comprising the apparatus of any one of the preceding claims comprising an opening into which the apparatus is removably

insertable.

The opening may be of a similar shape to a shape of the body of the apparatus.

The opening may be of a smaller size than the shape of the body of the apparatus, wherein the body is deformable so that it can be inserted into the opening and held in place within the opening.

The wheel may have a diameter less than 20cm, 15cm, 14cm, 13cm, 12cm, 11cm, 10cm, 9cm, Scm, 7cm, 6cm, Scm or 4cm.

The wheel may be the wheel for a push-scooter or for rollerblades, or the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present is described below with reference to an exemplary embodiment only in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:-Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. I showing its internal components; Fig. 3 is a schematic of the electronic circuitry contained within the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view of a wheel with which the apparatus of Fig. 1 can be employed; and Fig. 5 is a side view of a scooter employing the wheel of Fig. 4 and the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

The apparatus of the present invention is described below with reference to a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment only. It will be appreciated that disclosure below is not intended to be limiting on the invention and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the appendant claims.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, a light emitting apparatus 100 comprises a body 102 which contains a light emitting device 104 wholly within its body 102. The body 102 is shaped and dimensioned so that the body 102 can be mounted within an opening 202 circumference of a wheel 200. The body can be inserted into or removed from the opening in the wheel 200 and adapted to inserted between spokes 204 of the wheel 200 that define the opening 202. The spokes 204 of the wheel 200 form two sides S of the opening into which the body 102 is removably insertable.

The wheel 200 comprises a plurality of openings 202 between the spokes 204. A plurality of light emitting apparatuses 100 can be used and removably inserted into or removed from the openings 202, with each opening being sized to receive only one apparatus 100.

As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 4, the body 102 has a substantially rectangular/oval shape so that the body 102 is insertable between the adjacent spokes 204 forming the opening 202 which has a rectangular/oval-like shape having a corresponding rectangular/oval shape to the body 102. As a result, the body 102 can be gripped by the sides of the opening 202. In this regard, the body 102 is of a size whereby its longest side along its longitudinal length is of a length L which is less than 5cm, 4cm, 3cm, 2cm, 1.5cm, 1cm, 0.9cm, 0.8cm, 0.7cm, 0.6cm, or 0.5cm.

Moreover, the body 102 has an external surface 110 with grip material for holding the body 102 in place against the sides S of the opening 202. In the depicted embodiment, the body 102 is formed wholly of the grip material.

The body 102 is malleable and/or resiliently deformable so that deformation of the body 102 permits its insertion into the opening 202. The body 102 is also formed of translucent material through which light from the light emitting device 104 is emitted.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the light emitting device 104 has a light emitting component 150 which has a first "on" state in which light is generated and output from the light emitting component 150, and a second state "off' in which light is not generated and is not output from the light emitting component 150. The light emitting component 150 also comprises control electronics 152 electrically connected to the light emitting component 150 and configured to control whether the light emitting component 150 is in its first "on" state or its second "off' state. A battery 154 is electrically connected to the control electronics 152 for powering the control electronics 152 and light emitting component 150.

The light emitting device 104 also comprises a motion detection device 112 connected to the control electronics 152. The control electronics 152 is configured to control the light emitting component 150 to transition into its first "on" state when a particular state of motion of the light emitting device 104 or motion detection device 112 is detected. The particular state of motion being detected is rotational motion of the wheel.

The control electronics 152 is further configured to transition the light emitting device 104 back into its second "off" state when the particular state of motion has not been detected for a predefined time.

In addition, the control electronics 152 comprises a mechanical switching component (not shown) which is configured to detect deformation of the body 102 and thereby cause the light emitting device 104 to transition into its first "on" state from its second "off' state, and vice versa.

Fig. 5 shows the wheel 200 mounted in place as a scooter wheel of a push-scooter 300 into which the light emitting apparatus 100 has been inserted. As shown in Fig. 5, a plurality of light emitting apparatuses have been inserted into the plurality of openings in the wheel 200.

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus for emitting light from wheels, comprising: a body comprising a light emitting device, wherein the body is adapted to be mounted within the circumference of a wheel, wherein the body is further adapted to be removably inserted in an opening in the wheel.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light emitting device is contained wholly within the body.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the light emitting device comprises: a light emitting component having a first state in which light is generated and output from the light emitting component, and a second state in which light is not generated and is not output from the light emitting component; and the apparatus further comprises: control electronics electrically connected to the light emitting component and configured to control whether the light emitting component is in its first state or its second state; and a power source electrically connected to the control electronics.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the light emitting device further comprises a motion detection device connected to the control electronics, wherein the control electronics is configured to control the light emitting component to transition into its first state from its second state when a particular state of motion of the light emitting device or motion detection device is detected.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the particular state of motion being detected is rotational motion of the wheel.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the particular state of motion being detected is only rotational motion of the wheel.
7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the particular state of motion being detected is acceleration of the light emitting device.
8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the particular state of motion being detected is motion above a threshold velocity, such that motion above the threshold velocity is detectable by the control electronics.
9. The apparatus of any one of claims 4 to 5, wherein the control electronics is further configured to transition the light emitting device into its second state when the particular state of motion has not been detected for a predefined time.
10. The apparatus of any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the control electronics comprises a switching component which is configured to detect deformation of the body and thereby cause the light emitting device to transition into its second state from its first state, or vice versa.
11. The apparatus of any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the control electronics is further configured to transition the light emitting device into its second state at a predefined time after having being transitioned into its first state as a result of deformation of the body.
12. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body is shaped so that it can be gripped by the side or sides of the opening in the wheel.
13. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body comprises an external surface including a section of grip material for holding the body in place against a side or sides of the opening in the wheel.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the grip material comprises: a rubber or rubber-like material, such as silicone rubber; thermoplastic elastomer; or thermoplastic rubber.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the body is formed wholly of the grip material.
16. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body is formed of a resiliently deformable material or malleable material such that deformation of the body permits its insertion into the opening.
17. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body comprises a clear, transparent, translucent or opaque material through which light from the light emitting device can be emitted.
18. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body is adapted to be removably inserted between the spokes of a wheel that define the opening.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the spokes of the wheel form at least two sides of the opening into which the body is removably insertable.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the body is adapted to be removably inserted between adjacent spokes of the wheel.
21. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body has a substantially rectangular shape in its undeformed state when viewed from at least one side, such that the body is insertable between adjacent spokes of a wheel forming two sides of a rectangular-like shape having a corresponding rectangular shape to the body.
22. The apparatus of any one of claims ito 20, wherein the body has a substantially triangular shape in its undeformed state when viewed from at least one side, such that such that the body is insertable between adjacent spokes of a wheel forming two sides of a triangular-like shape having a corresponding triangular shape to the body.
23. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body is of a size whereby its longest side is of a length which is less than: 5cm, 4cm, 3cm, 2cm, 1.5cm, 1cm, 0.9cm, 0.8cm, 0.7cm, 0.6cm or 0.5cm.
24. A wheel comprising the apparatus of any one of the preceding claims comprising an opening into which the apparatus is removably insertable.
25. The wheel of claim 24, wherein the opening is of a similar shape to a shape of the body of the apparatus.
26. The wheel of 24, wherein the opening is of a smaller size than the shape of the body of the apparatus, wherein the body is deformable so that it can be inserted into the opening and held in place within the opening.
27. A scooter wheel comprising the wheel of any one of claims 24 to 26.
28. A push-scooter comprising the scooter wheel of claim 27.
29. The apparatus, wheel or scooter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.