GB2583916A

GB2583916A - Bicycle light

Info

Publication number: GB2583916A
Application number: GB1906467.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stone Colin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-05-08
Filing date: 2019-05-08
Publication date: 2020-11-18
Also published as: GB201906467D0

Abstract

A rear bicycle warning light 4 that illuminates a rider’s lower limbs. The lower limbs are illuminated by a front facing light element 7. The rear light may be composed of a highly reflective material to increase light reflectivity and improve visibility. The rear lighting elements 5 may be powered by an internal rechargeable battery which may be charged by a solar element. The device may be secured to the bicycle by a clamping bracket 2 and a main supporting arm 3. The bracket may have high density foam inserts 1 that permit the bracket to conform to the profile of the bicycle tubing. The device may be remotely operated by third party software or hardware. There may be a retracting spring-loaded handle 6 that locks the lighting main body to the arm. The bracket arm may be fixed on either side of the bicycle depending on which side of the road a vehicle is travelling in that country.

Description

Background

This invention relates to an invention providing both rear lighting to a bicycle whilst also illuminating the moving leg of the rider to increase visibility to other road users. At present, bicycle lights fulfil a single purpose, namely shining a bright light rearward to identify the presence of a bicycle on the highway. This has several limitations.

Firstly, the light is typically fixed to the bicycle in a central position, which does not clearly indicate the true width of the bicycle and rider. Secondly, whilst attached to the bicycle in a centralised position road grime and dirt can be picked up by the rear wheel and transferred up to obscure the illuminated lens, reducing the effectiveness of that light source. Thirdly, such lights can be inadvertently obscured by longer clothing worn by the rider. Finally, lights as currently designed do not help to objectify the fragile nature of the human being riding the bicycle, as it is just another light amongst many for passing traffic to identify and navigate.

To overcome these problems and to improve the visibility of riders in low light settings the invention is fixed to the rear seat stay of the bicycle by means of a fixed bracket. This places the light to the side of the bicycle, visually widening the appearance of the rider to encourage safer passing of traffic. The light can quickly be removed for security and recharging purposes. The rear of the light contains light emitting sources on a reflective background, either with a flashing or fixed light source. The front of the light contains light emitting sources to illuminate the rear of the moving leg, either with a flashing or fixed light source.

Third party research supports that cyclists are dehumanised by passing motorists as objects to be navigated past, this may lead to dangerous close passes that are a substantial source of fear and anxiety to a rider. The invention, illuminating the rear of the moving leg, aims to humanise the rider in front of approaching traffic and change perception that a human being is in front as opposed to just an object.

The bracket arm can be fixed to either side of the bicycle in order to fulfil the needs of countries using either left or right sides of travel.

Devices have been proposed to project light onto the back of the rider such as * Li Huayu (BICYCLE WITH ATTENTION DEVICE CN105460107 A) and * Guo Yao-Bin (BACK-ILLUMINATING DEVICE FOR BICYCLE RIDING 1WM476741 U) but these are fixed centrally to the bicycle to illuminate just the upper body of the rider negating the important aspect of highlighting the physical movement of the leg to catch the eye and to warn of the true width of the cyclist and rider.

They also do not contain any rear facing red illumination to perform the secondary task of warning traffic from the rear and they can both be easily obscured by long articles of clothing. They also do not appear to be easily removable for security purposes and do not appear to offer an easy recharge option.

Other devices have been proposed that warn of the true width of the cyclist and rider such as * Connor Robert A. (ANTLIGHTS (TM) BICYCLE LIGHTS THAT SPAN A BILATERAL SAFETY ZONE US20130148375 Al) * Mandlebaum David E. (AUTOMOBILE DETERRENT DEVICE FOR BICYCLE US20120060746 Al) Such proposals however could act as a danger to the rider as passing traffic can physically strike the devices given their width and potential for protrusion into the path of other vehicles. None of these devices propose illuminating to the rear and to the front to highlight the moving limb of the rider and are essentially little more than physical barriers that offer an element of danger to the user Many other devices propose the addition of retro fitted turning signals, general lighting, retractable light wands and basic reflector devices, none of which are like the device relating to this application in that they do not propose illuminating the moving limb of the rider whilst also acting as a rearward safety light in a position that reflects the true width of the bike and rider.

Statement of Invention

This invention will increase the safety of the cyclist in that it communicates to passing traffic the true width of the object in front of them. It achieves this due to its position on the bicycle, in a non-central location and because it shines red light rearwards just as a conventional light would do.

However, innovation has been achieved by designing this unit to also shine a light forward, which illuminates the moving limb of the cyclist. Being able to illuminate a moving limb, such as the leg, not only increases the visibility of the cyclist but also humanises the cyclist so that a sense of caution and increased care is readily evident in order to undertake a safe overtaking manoeuvre.

Advantages The device offers significant advantage over a regular rear light in that it cannot easily be obscured by road grime or dirt as it is offset away from the line of the tyre. The light cannot be obscured by articles of clothing, again due to its location. The light acts both as a rear facing light but offers additional benefit by powerfully illuminating the rear of the riders' leg.

Illuminating a moving limb leads to an exaggerated awareness of the rider on the road and playing on basic human psychology, helps passing traffic to identify the object in front as a fragile human being that requires care to pass. No other device offers this unique ability and particularly in low light conditions the additional awareness this device can bring to vulnerable road users is striking.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is constructed with an extruded aluminium main body with ABS or similar materials housing the lighting nodes. The main body is designed to be aerodynamic in form.

Detailed Description

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a rear view of the invention. A main supporting arm 3 is secured to the bicycle by a clamping bracket 2. Within that bracket are high density foam inserts 1 that permit the bracket to conform to the profile of the bicycle tubing. A retracting spring-loaded handle 6 locks the main body of the light to the supporting arm. The rear of the light body 4 is composed of highly reflective material to increase light reflectivity and improve visibility. Within the light body are fixed rear lighting elements 5 powered by an internal rechargeable battery. Potential exists for a solar charging element to be included.

Figure 2 illustrates the invention from the front. The invention contains front facing light elements 7, which combine to illuminate the rear of the cyclists' leg highlighting the pedalling motion.

Figure 3 represents a side perspective of the invention showing the fixing bolts Bused to clamp the bracket together. A covered micro USB port 11 allows the invention to be recharged as necessary. A sealed power on/off button 9 allows the user to select main light functions. Alternatively, or additionally the invention may become smart enabled allowing the user to operate the invention remotely.

The main body of the light 10 is constructed from extruded aluminium or a plastic and can be removed for recharging and security purposes with the power status light 12 displaying real time battery status, possibly allowing communication with a remote device to signal current charging capacity.

Figure 4 shows the rear of the invention with a possible future iteration containing a high definition camera 13 to allow the user to record any incidents that may occur for evidence gathering purposes. This may include a sound recording feature.

Claims

Claims 1. A device fixed to a bicycle that illuminates and draws attention to the lower limb whilst also projecting light rearwards to simultaneously act as a rear warning light.
2. A device according to claim 1 fixed to a bicycle that illuminates and draws attention to the lower limb as a singular function.
3. A device according to claim 1 fixed to a bicycle that illuminates and draws attention to any moving limb as a singular function.
4. A device according to claim 1 that accentuates and humanises the cyclist by using light to specifically highlight human movement.
5. A device according to claim 1 that is so positioned as to highlight the true width of the bicycle and rider to other approaching road users.
6. A device according to claim 1 that can be remotely operated by the user by way of third-party software or hardware.
7. A device according to claim 1 that embodies a camera recording facility.
8. A device according to claim 7 that embodies any sound recording feature.