JP2001294184A - Combination side marker lamp and direction indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a combination side marker lamp and direction indicator to be installed on each tip of a handlebar of a bicycle having excellent visibility to drivers of automobiles and motorcycles. SOLUTION: On a cover 14 to protect an LED 12 installed close to a tip of a handlebar 25 of a bicycle, a reflection plate 16 of a conical form is installed to compose this combination side marker lamp and direction indicator in which light from the LED 12 is dispersed in multiple directions. By this dispersion of light in multiple directions, visibility of this combination side marker lamp and direction indicator to drivers of many automobiles and motorcycles is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to bicycle side lights and turn indicators, and more particularly, to a side light and turn indicator mounted on a bicycle handle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to ensure the safety of a bicycle driver, a method of attaching a reflective plate or a reflective seal to a bicycle pedal or the like to make it easier for a driver of an automobile or a motorcycle to visually recognize the bicycle has been adopted. .

[0003] However, even if the driver of a car or a motorcycle can confirm the position of the bicycle, the behavior of the bicycle driver, that is, the movement of the bicycle such as right turn, left turn, and straight ahead, is checked by the bicycle. It is when the driver takes that action, and there is no end to collisions between cars and motorcycles and bicycles. Bicycle change is supposed to be instructed by a bicycle driver by hand signal. However, it is not widely used, and there is a risk that the hand may hit a car running sideways, and driving a bicycle with one hand There is a danger.
Also, when driving a bicycle at night, the light attached to the bicycle and the above-mentioned reflector may not be able to confirm the width of the bicycle, but may be in contact with the bicycle, even if the position of the bicycle can be confirmed. Further, even if a change of course is instructed by a hand signal at night, the driver of the car cannot confirm the change of course of the bicycle.

Therefore, a turn signal / width lamp to be attached to a handlebar of a bicycle is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 61-24330, and a pipe illuminated by the light of the lamp is used as a turn signal or a width lamp. is working. However, the pipe is thin and there is a problem in visibility. In addition, since the end of the pipe is not sealed, there is a possibility that rainwater may enter the inside of the steering wheel when traveling in rainy weather, and may corrode the turn signal lamp.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle side light and turn signal which is attached to a handlebar of a bicycle or the like and has excellent visibility.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The gist of the present invention is to provide a vehicle side light and turn signal which is installed so as to protrude from both ends of a handle of a bicycle and respectively installed near both ends of the handle. And a direction indicator / vehicle lamp including a cover for covering the light source, wherein the cover is integrally formed of a light-transmitting peripheral portion and a reflecting plate opposed to the light source at a predetermined distance. And the light from the light source reflected by the reflection plate is scattered to the outside of the cover through the peripheral portion.
By arranging the above-mentioned reflector against the front end portion of the light source, light traveling from the light source to the front of the light source is scattered by the reflector, reflected in multiple directions, and easily seen by a driver of an automobile or a motorcycle.

The light source is a light emitting diode, and a plurality of light sources are provided near both ends of the handle. A plurality of the above-mentioned light emitting diodes respectively installed near both ends of the handle emit light of different colors, or are lit or blinked, so that light for a turn signal and light for a sidelight can be used properly, and By changing the lighting method, such as blinking, the driver of an automobile or a motorcycle can easily recognize the driver and call attention.

[0008] Further, the above-mentioned light emitting diode is installed inside the vicinity of both ends of the handle. By installing the light emitting diode inside the handle in this way, even if the cover collides with an obstacle and is destroyed, the light emitting diode is not destroyed.

[0009] The reflector is a cone or a pyramid. By making the reflector a cone or a pyramid, light can be scattered in multiple directions, and visibility to a driver of an automobile or a motorcycle is improved.

[0010] The apex of the cone or the pyramid faces the light emitting diode. The light is most efficiently scattered when the light of the light-emitting diode is applied to the cone or pyramid-shaped reflector with the vertex of the cone or pyramid as the center. Accordingly, the visibility of the driver of the automobile or the motorcycle is improved as described above.

The above-mentioned cover or peripheral portion is flexible. By using such a flexible cover, even if the cover comes into contact with a person, the person is not injured.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a vehicle side light / direction indicator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the bicycle side light / direction indicator 10 and the connection form of the switch 20 and the power supply unit 30. In the present specification, the bicycle includes a three-wheeled bicycle, a bicycle with an electric motor, and the like. The vehicle side lamp / direction indicator 10 includes a light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as an LED) 12 as a light source, a translucent peripheral portion 14 that transmits light, and a translucent peripheral portion 14 that scatters light from the LED 12. L is constituted by the reflector 16 installed.
A switch 20 for controlling the ED 12 is connected to the LED 12, and the switch 20 and the power supply unit 30 are connected. Further, the cover 15 covering the LED 12 is provided with the translucent peripheral portion 1.
4 and a reflector 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, a vehicle width light / direction indicator 1 is provided.
Numerals 0 protrude from both ends of the handle 25 and are attached.
The LED 12, which is the light source of the side lamp and direction indicator 10, is installed at each end of the steering wheel 25. By controlling the switch 20 provided near the grip portion of the steering wheel 25, the vehicle side light / direction indicator 10 is operated. The switch 20 is placed in a position where a finger stops while holding the handle 25, for example, a position where a thumb stops, so that the switch 20 does not need to be released from the handle 25 when operating the switch 20. Further, the shape and position of the switch 20 shown in FIG. 2 are not limited to the shape and position shown in FIG. The switch 20 includes a right-turn switch 21 and a left-turn switch 2 that are switches for direction indicators.
2. Switch 23 for vehicle side light and switch 2 for power supply unit
There are four.

When the switch 21 for turning right is turned on, the LE installed on the right side of the handle 25 is turned on.
D12 blinks and a signal to turn right is given. Also, by turning on the switch 22 for turning left, the LED 12 installed on the left side of the handle 25 blinks, and a signal to turn left is given. Further, by turning on the switch 23 for the vehicle width light, the LEs installed at both ends of the steering wheel 25 are respectively set.
D12 is turned on, and it becomes a vehicle width light. As described above, by blinking the LEDs 12 installed at both ends of the steering wheel 25 when turning right or left, and turning on the vehicle width light,
The difference between right turn, left turn and side light is understood by drivers of automobiles and motorcycles. It is also possible to light the LEDs 12 installed at both ends of the steering wheel 25 when turning right or left, and to blink the vehicle width light.

The blinking or lit LED 12 is scattered in multiple directions by the effect of reflecting the light of the reflector 16.
The reflector 16 is in the shape of a cone. The reflection plate 16 includes a mirror-coated surface 16a and a surface 16b in which light is scattered in multiple directions by external light. The light of the LED 12 applied to the mirror-coated surface 16a is scattered in multiple directions and travels outward through the translucent peripheral portion 14, so that the visibility of the driver of an automobile or a motorcycle is improved. . As described above, in order to scatter the light of the LED 12, in the direction in which the light of the LED 12 travels, that is, on the extension of the central axis 19 of the LED 12 passing through the vertex 18 of the LED 12, The reflector 16 is set so that the vertex passes. This is L
The vertex 18 of the ED 12 and the vertex 1 of the reflector which is the vertex of the cone
7 is the facing shape. The range in which the light of the LED 12 is scattered can be changed by adjusting the angle θ of the vertex of the reflection plate 16. The interior of the mirror-coated surface 16a may be hollow.
Although the reflection plate 16 uses a cone, a pyramid can also be used. Mirror coated surface 16a
Is changed to a surface formed of a reflective material having irregularities, light can be irregularly reflected.

The surface 16b on which light is scattered in multiple directions by the external light is a well-known reflector (reflector) or reflective seal attached to a bicycle pedal or a spoke of a wheel. When light from headlights of an automobile or the like is applied from the side of the bicycle due to the surface 16b in which light is scattered in multiple directions by the external light, the light is scattered and the width of the bicycle is easily understood. Therefore, the reflection plate 16 is provided with the L installed inside the vehicle width light and direction indicator 10.
Light from the ED 12 and light from the outside by a headlight of an automobile or the like can be reflected. Also, the angle θ of the vertex of the reflection plate 16
If is small, it is also possible not to provide the surface 16b where light is scattered in multiple directions by external light. It is also possible to scatter the light of the LED 12 by changing the above-mentioned reflection plate 16 to a material such as glass or hard plastic through which the light passes, and reflecting and refracting the light of the LED 12.

The above-mentioned reflecting plate 16 is formed of a transparent peripheral portion 1.
Let 4 make up a cone-shaped part in advance,
A mirror coating and a reflector or a reflector attached to a bicycle pedal or a spoke of a wheel are mounted on the cone to provide a mirror-coated surface 16a and a surface 16b in which light is scattered in multiple directions. Is also possible. Furthermore, a surface 16a coated with a mirror and a surface 16b in which light is scattered in multiple directions are formed in an arbitrary cone shape.
Can be installed later on the translucent peripheral portion 14.

Further, the interior of the reflection plate 16 is made hollow and
By providing holes or slits in the mirror-coated surface 16a without providing the surface 16b in which light is scattered in multiple directions, the light of the LED 12 can be transmitted to the mirror-coated surface 1a.
The light can be divided into light scattered by 6a and light traveling straight through a hole or a slit. Therefore, the mirror-coated surface 16a provided with holes and slits
However, it also functions as the surface 16b where light is scattered in multiple directions.

According to the experiment of the present inventor, the light of the LED 12 of the above-mentioned vehicle side light / direction indicator 10 can be confirmed even at a distance of 100 meters or more.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the power supply unit 30 for supplying electricity to the LED 12 described above. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a power generation device provided in a bicycle is a dynamo (hereinafter, referred to as a hub dynamo) 32 installed inside a hub of wheels, and generates electric power during traveling.
The ED 12 can be turned on. However, the hub dynamo 32 does not generate power when the bicycle is stopped.
Therefore, a storage battery 34 such as a nickel-cadmium battery is disposed on the bicycle, and the electricity generated by the hub dynamo 32 is
When the storage battery 34 is charged with electricity other than D12 and the lighting of the light installed on the bicycle, that is, excessive electricity, and when the power is not generated by the hub dynamo 32, the storage battery 3
4 uses the electricity charged. As described above, the power supply unit 30 used in the present invention is an uninterruptible power supply. The charger 36 in FIG. 3 includes a rectifier, and has a function of converting AC electricity generated by the hub dynamo 32 to DC. Further, the control circuit 38 includes a circuit for adjusting a voltage and the like.

By the above-described method, the side lamp and the turn signal can always be used. When the bicycle is not driven, the electricity stored in the storage battery 34 is used. Therefore, the switch 24 for the power supply unit is turned off so that the electricity stored in the storage battery 34 is not used. The charger 36, the storage battery 34, and the control circuit 38 described above are installed in an arbitrary place such as a bicycle frame that does not hinder the driving of the bicycle. Further, the charger 36,
The storage battery 34 and the control circuit 38 are built in a bicycle frame, a steering wheel, or the like, so that corrosion due to wind and rain can be prevented. It is also possible to use a bicycle power generator other than the hub dynamo 32 described above.

Although the storage battery 34 is used for the power supply unit 30, a power supply unit 40 using a primary battery 42 as shown in FIG. 4 can be used. Bicycle is running,
When power is being generated by the hub dynamo 32, the switching circuit 44 supplies electricity of the hub dynamo 32 to the LED 12. When the bicycle is stopped and no power is generated by the hub dynamo 32, the switching circuit 4
4 supplies the electricity of the primary battery 42 to the LED 12. When the bicycle is not driven, the primary battery 42 is always used. Therefore, the primary battery 42 is not used by turning off the power supply switch 24 described above.

Further, the light for the vehicle side lamp is not necessary during daytime running. When power is generated by the hub dynamo 32, the light of the bicycle is automatically turned on and off by an optical sensor. Therefore, it is also possible to automatically turn on the vehicle width light only at night using this optical sensor without using the vehicle width light switch 23 shown in FIG.

In the case where electricity is insufficient only by the power generation by the hub dynamo 32, a solar cell can be used as an auxiliary. Furthermore, since the storage battery 34 deteriorates its power storage performance when repeatedly charged and discharged, in order to reduce the use of the storage battery 34 as much as possible, the storage battery 34 may be used supplementarily and the storage battery 34 may not be used in the daytime. It is possible.

By installing the LED 12 on the steering wheel 25 as described above, the vehicle width light and direction indicator 10 could be constructed. Since the vehicle width light / direction indicator 10 is installed at the end of the handle 25 having the longest width of the bicycle, it is easy for the driver of a car or a motorcycle to visually recognize the same. Reflector 16
Is provided, the light of the LED 12 and the light of the light of the automobile or the like are scattered in multiple directions, and thus the visibility of the driver of the automobile or the motorcycle is improved.

As described above, the embodiment of the vehicle width light and direction indicator according to the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. FIG. 5 shows another embodiment in which the LED 12 is installed inside the handle 25. Since the LED 12 is provided inside the handle 25, even if the cover 15 collides with an obstacle or the like and is broken, the LED 12 is not broken. In addition, by making the translucent peripheral portion 14 a flexible material, the translucent peripheral portion 14 is less likely to be broken, and even if it comes into contact with a person, the person may be injured. I will not let you.

Further, in FIG. 6, without using the reflecting plate 16,
3 shows an embodiment for scattering light. As shown in FIG. 6, the cover 65 includes an octagonal lens 64, a trapezoidal lens 62, and a light-transmitting peripheral portion 66. Octagonal lens 6
The 4 and trapezoidal lenses 62 can scatter light in multiple directions, and a trapezoidal lens 62 is installed on each side of the octagonal lens 64. By using the trapezoidal lens 62 and the octagonal lens 64, the octagonal lens 6
4. Light can be scattered in multiple directions outward from the trapezoidal lens 62 and the translucent peripheral portion 66. Therefore,
Since the light emitted by the LED 12 is scattered in multiple directions, the visibility for a driver such as an automobile is improved.

Also, as shown in FIG. 6, since the LED 12 is provided inside the handle 25 of the bicycle,
Even if 5 comes into contact with an obstacle and is destroyed, LED 12 will not be destroyed. Furthermore, by using a flexible material for the cover 65, even if it comes into contact with a person, the person is not injured.

In all of the above embodiments, the handle 25
Although one LED 12 is installed at each end of the LED, a plurality of LEDs 12 can be installed. For example,
As shown in FIG. 7, an LED 12a for right turn and an L for left turn
The ED 12b and the LED 12c for the sidelight are used. By turning on the power supply switch 24, the right turn switch 21, the left turn switch 22 and the vehicle width light switch 23 can be controlled. When the right-turn switch 21 is turned on, the right-turn LED 12a blinks. Also, when the switch 22 for turning left is turned on,
The left turn LED 12b flashes. Further, when the vehicle width light switch 23 is turned on, the vehicle width light LED 12c is turned on.

The color of the light emitted by the LEDs 12a and 12b and the color of the light emitted by the LEDs 12c can be different colors, so that the driver of a car or a motorcycle can easily recognize the color. The vehicle width light switch 23 can be changed to an optical sensor so that the vehicle width light LED 12c is automatically turned on at night. Light color of LED12a for right turn and LED12b for left turn, and LED1 for vehicle side light
It is also possible to make the color of the light of 2c different.

In the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 7, when the vehicle width light switch 23 is turned on, the vehicle width light LED 12c is always lit, so that the right turn LED 12a or the left turn LED 12b blinks. Also, LED12 for vehicle width light
By the light of c, the LED 12a for right turn or L for left turn
The light from the ED 12b may be difficult to recognize. Therefore, by using a circuit configuration as shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to switch between the LED 12a for a right turn or the LED 12b for a left turn and the LED 12c for a vehicle width light. The switch 82 for switching between right turn and side light is an LED 12 for right turn.
a and the LED 12c for the vehicle width light are switched, and when the LED 12a for the right turn is blinking, the LE for the vehicle width light is used.
D12c is turned off, and when the right turn LED 12a is turned off, the vehicle width light LED 12c is turned on. Furthermore,
The switch 84 for switching between left turn and vehicle width light is an LE for left turn.
Switching between D12b and LED 12c for side lights,
When the left turn LED 12b is blinking, the vehicle width light LED 12c is turned off, and when the left turn LED 12b is off, the vehicle width light LED 12c is turned on.
In addition, during the daytime, the LE for the vehicle width light is
D12c is not turned on. As described above, by switching between the LED 12a for a right turn or the LED 12b for a left turn and the LED 12c for a vehicle width light, it becomes easy for a driver of an automobile or a motorcycle to recognize a signal of a right or left turn and a vehicle width light.

In addition, the present invention can be variously improved, modified, and modified based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention.
The present invention can be implemented in a modified mode.

[0033]

According to the present invention, the vehicle side light and turn signal is L
By installing a reflector on the cover covering the ED, L
The light emitted by the ED is scattered in various directions, which makes it easier for a driver of a car or a motorcycle to visually recognize a signal indicating a right or left turn of a bicycle and a width of the vehicle.

Further, by using two LEDs near the tip of the steering wheel, the color of the light for the turn signal and the color of the light for the vehicle side light can be made different colors. It is easy to understand the difference between the signal of turning to the right or left for the driver of a car or motorcycle and the width light.

Further, by disposing the LED in the vicinity of the tip of the handle, the cover attached to the tip of the handle collides with an obstacle or the bicycle falls down, so that the cover is broken. L
When the ED is not destroyed and the cover is replaced with a new one due to the breakage of the cover, the LED can be used as it is and is economical.

By making the shape of the reflector a cone, light can be scattered in various directions, and the light of the vehicle side light and turn signal can be visually recognized by drivers of automobiles and motorcycles in various directions. And safety is further improved.

Also, the above-mentioned conical reflector is LE
By opposing D, the rate of light diffusion is maximized, and the light of the vehicle side light and turn signal is easily visible to the driver of an automobile or a motorcycle.

When the LED is installed inside the vicinity of the tip of the handle, by making the cover flexible, even if the cover comes into contact with a person, the person is not injured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle width light / direction indicator of the present invention and a connection configuration between a switch and a power supply unit.

FIG. 2 is a view in which a vehicle width light / direction indicator of the present invention is installed at the tip of a steering wheel.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power supply unit for emitting an LED of a vehicle sidelight / direction indicator according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a power supply unit when a storage battery is changed to a primary battery in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view of a vehicle width light and direction indicator when an LED is installed inside a steering wheel.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams of a vehicle width lamp and a direction indicator when a lens that scatters light in multiple directions is used. FIG. 6A is a side view, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a vehicle width from an octagonal lens direction. It is the figure which looked at the light and direction indicator.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a switch in a case where two LEDs are installed at each of the tips of a handle.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a switch in the case of switching between an LED for turning right or left and an LED for a vehicle width light.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 50, 60: vehicle width light and direction indicator 12: LED 12a: LED for right turn 12b: LED for left turn 12c: LED for vehicle width light 14, 66: translucent peripheral part 15, 65: Cover 16: Reflector 16a: Mirror-coated surface 16b: Surface on which light is scattered in multiple directions by external light 17: Apex of reflector 18: Apex of LED 19: Central axis of LED 20, 70, 80: Switch 21 : Switch for right turn 22: Switch for left turn 23: Switch for side light 24: Switch for power supply 25: Handle 30, 40: Power supply 32: Hub dynamo 34: Storage battery 36: Charger 38: Control circuit 42: primary battery 44: switching circuit 46: rectifying circuit 62: trapezoidal lens 64: octagonal lens

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor, Yoshitomo Kosuge 878, Kadayamacho, Hikone-shi, Shiga Prefecture (72) Inventor, Yukio Ita 1482, Nagano, Aichigawa-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi-gun, Shiga Prefecture

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle width light / direction indicator including a light source protruding from both ends of a handlebar of a bicycle and respectively installed near both ends of the handlebar, and a cover covering the light source. The cover is formed integrally with a light-transmitting peripheral portion and a reflector opposed to the light source at a predetermined interval, and passes light from the light source reflected by the reflector through the peripheral portion. A vehicle side light and turn signal, which is configured to be scattered outside the cover. 2. A vehicle width light and direction indicator including a light source protruding from both ends of a handle of a bicycle and respectively installed near both ends of the handle, and a cover covering the light source. The cover is formed integrally with a light-transmitting peripheral portion and a lens portion that scatters the light of the light source in multiple directions, and transmits the light of the light source scattered by the lens to the peripheral portion and the lens. A vehicle side light and turn signal which is configured to be scattered outside the cover through a portion. 3. The vehicle side light / turn indicator according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode. 4. The vehicle width light and direction indicator according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the light emitting diodes are respectively installed near both ends of the handle. 5. The vehicle side light and turn indicator according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of the light emitting diodes respectively installed near both ends of the handle emit different colors. 6. The vehicle side light and turn signal according to claim 4, wherein the light emitting diodes are installed inside the vicinity of both ends of the steering wheel. 7. The vehicle width light and direction indicator according to claim 1, wherein the reflector is a cone or a pyramid. 8. The side lamp and turn signal indicator according to claim 3, wherein a vertex of the cone or the pyramid faces the light emitting diode. 9. The vehicle width lamp and direction indicator according to claim 1, wherein the cover or the peripheral portion is flexible.