U.S. patent application number 12/378986 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-26 for light assembly for bicycle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ravx Inc.. Invention is credited to Darren Retief.
Application Number | 20100214793 12/378986 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42583265 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100214793 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Retief; Darren |
August 26, 2010 |
LIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR BICYCLE
Abstract
A light assembly includes an attaching member having a chamber
for attaching onto an object and having two couplers, two electric
cables engaged in the attaching member and each having two end
terminals disposed in the couplers, a light device and a power
supply device each include a latch device for engaging with the
couplers and for attaching to the couplers of the attaching member,
and each having two connectors for electrically connecting to the
terminals of the electric cables and for electrically connecting
the light device to the power supply device, and for allowing the
light device and the power supply device to be easily and quickly
attach to and disengaged from the attaching member without external
wires.
Inventors: |
Retief; Darren; (Vista,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQUIRE
90 JOHN STREET, SUITE 309
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Assignee: |
Ravx Inc.
|
Family ID: |
42583265 |
Appl. No.: |
12/378986 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/473 ;
362/183 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62J 6/16 20130101; B62J
6/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/473 ;
362/183 |
International
Class: |
B62J 6/00 20060101
B62J006/00; F21L 4/08 20060101 F21L004/08 |
Claims
1. A light assembly comprising: an attaching member including a
chamber formed therein for receiving an object and for attaching
and securing onto the object, and including a first coupler and a
second coupler provided on said attaching member, said attaching
member including two channels formed therein, two electric cables
engaged and shielded in said channels of said attaching member and
each include two end terminals disposed in said first and said
second couplers respectively, a light device including a light
member disposed in a housing, and including a latch device for
engaging with said first coupler and for attaching and securing
said latch device of said light device to said first coupler of
said attaching member, and including two connectors electrically
coupled to said light member for electrically connecting to said
terminals of said electric cables when said latch device of said
light device is engaged with said first coupler, and a power supply
device including a container having a chamber formed therein, a
battery received in said container, and including a latch device
for engaging with said second coupler and for attaching and
securing said latch device of said power supply device to said
second coupler of said attaching member, and including two
connectors electrically coupled to said battery for electrically
connecting to said terminals of said electric cables when said
latch device of said power supply device is engaged with said
second coupler of said attaching member.
2. The light assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said channels
of said attaching member are communicating with said chamber of
said attaching member for receiving and shielding said electric
cables.
3. The light assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and
said second couplers each include two orifices formed therein and
communicating with said channels of said attaching member for
engaging with said terminals of said electric cables
respectively.
4. The light assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power
supply device includes a switch for being actuated to control a
power supply from said power supply device to said electric cables
and to said light device.
5. The light assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power
supply device includes a connecting member electrically coupled to
said battery for connecting to an electric power source and for
supplying an electric energy to charge said battery.
6. The light assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and
said second couplers each include a base plate, and two arms
extended from said base plate and extended away from said attaching
member and spaced from each other for forming a space between said
arms and for detachably receiving said latch devices of said light
device and said power supply device respectively.
7. The light assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first and
said second couplers each include an inwardly folded flange
extended from each arm for partially closing said space and for
forming a C-shaped retaining space in each of said first and said
second couplers, and said latch devices of said light device and
said power supply device each include two opposite ribs for
engaging with said spaces of said first and said second couplers,
and two opposite grooves for receiving said flanges and for
attaching and securing said latch devices to said first and said
second couplers respectively.
8. The light assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first and
said second couplers each include a stop formed in one end portion
thereof for engaging with said flange and for limiting said latch
devices to slide relative to said first and said second couplers
respectively.
9. The light assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and
said second couplers each include a catch extended from said base
plate, and said latch devices of said light device and said power
supply device each include a lock cavity formed therein for
engaging with said catch and for detachably latching and securing
said latch devices to said first and said second couplers
respectively.
10. The light assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first
and said second couplers each include a knob extended outwardly
therefrom and located closer to said catch for disengaging said
catch from said lock cavity of said latch device for allowing said
latch device to be disengaged from said first and said second
couplers respectively.
11. The light assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
attaching member includes two end members, and a fastener for
selectively securing said end members of said attaching member
together and for selectively disengaging from said end members of
said attaching member.
12. The light assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said end
members of said attaching member each include a bifurcated
structure having a slot formed between two limbs, and said
attaching member includes an aperture laterally formed in one of
said end members and formed through said limbs and communicating
with said slot of said end member for receiving a pole, and said
pole includes a screw hole formed therein for engaging with said
fastener, and said fastener is slidably engaged through said slot
of the other end member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a light assembly for
attaching to a bicycle, and more particularly to a light assembly
including a simplified structure for easily and quickly attaching
and securing onto a bicycle and for allowing the light assembly to
be easily and quickly disengaged from the bicycle without external
wires that connecting the light device and the power supply
device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical light assemblies or illumination devices for
bicycles comprise a light device attached to the handlebar of the
bicycles, and a rotary electrical contact assembly providing an
electric power from a bicycle generator to the light device for
generating a constant illumination.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,972 to Thomas et al.
discloses one of the typical illuminated spoke mounted reflectors
for bicycles and also comprising a complicated bicycle generator
attached to a fork member of the bicycles and coupled to a light
device with electric wires or cables.
[0006] However, it takes time to attach or to mount the complicated
bicycle generator and the light device onto the bicycles. In
addition, the typical illuminated spoke mounted reflectors for
bicycles comprise a complicated structure that may not be easily
manufactured and that may include a greatly increased manufacturing
cost. Furthermore, the electric wires or cables are exposed and may
be easily cut by various objects, and may be dangerous to the
riders.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,529 to Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 7,070,295 to
Lee, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,293,900 to Lee disclose three further
typical light devices each having a complicated configuration
having many parts and elements for attaching and securing onto
various objects or bicycles with fastening straps.
[0008] However, an outer housing comprise a complicated structure
for attaching and securing various parts and elements therein, such
as the light members, the reflectors, the battery storing casings,
etc., such that the typical light devices also may not be easily
manufactured and such that the typical light devices also may
include a greatly increased manufacturing cost. In addition, the
light members and the battery storing casings may not be disengaged
from the outer receptacle and may not be changed to the other new
ones.
[0009] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional light
assemblies for bicycles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a light assembly including a simplified structure for easily and
quickly attaching and securing onto a bicycle and for allowing the
light assembly to be easily and quickly disengaged from the bicycle
without external wires that connecting the light device and the
power supply device.
[0011] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a light assembly comprising an attaching member including
a chamber formed therein for receiving an object and for attaching
and securing onto the object, and including a first coupler and a
second coupler provided on the attaching member and including two
channels formed therein, two electric cables engaged in the
channels of the attaching member and each include two end terminals
disposed in the first and the second couplers respectively, a light
device including a light member disposed in a housing, and
including a latch device for engaging with the first coupler and
for attaching and securing the latch device of the light device to
the first coupler of the attaching member, and including two
connectors electrically coupled to the light member for
electrically connecting to the terminals of the electric cables
when the latch device of the light device is engaged with the first
coupler, and a power supply device including a container having a
chamber formed therein, a battery received in the container, and
including a latch device for engaging with the second coupler and
for attaching and securing the latch device of the power supply
device to the second coupler of the attaching member, and including
two connectors electrically coupled to the battery for electrically
connecting to the terminals of the electric cables when the latch
device of the power supply device is engaged with the second
coupler of the attaching member, and thus for allowing the light
device and the power supply device to be easily and quickly
attached onto and disengaged from the object or the handlebar of
the bicycle.
[0012] The channels of the attaching member are communicating with
the chamber of the attaching member for receiving and shielding the
electric cables. The first and the second couplers each include two
orifices formed therein and communicating with the channels of the
attaching member for receiving or engaging with the terminals of
the electric cables respectively.
[0013] The power supply device includes a switch for being actuated
to control a power supply from the power supply device to the
electric cables and to the light device. The power supply device
includes a connecting member electrically coupled to the battery
for connecting to an electric power source and for supplying an
electric energy to charge the battery.
[0014] The first and the second couplers each include a base plate,
and two arms extended from the base plate and extended away from
the attaching member and spaced from each other for forming a
substantially C-shaped space between the arms and for detachably
receiving the latch devices of the light device and the power
supply device respectively.
[0015] The first and the second couplers each include an inwardly
folded flange extended from each arm for partially closing the
space and for forming a C-shaped retaining space in each of the
first and the second couplers, and the latch devices of the light
device and the power supply device each include two opposite ribs
for engaging with the spaces of the first and the second couplers,
and two opposite grooves for receiving the flanges and for
attaching and securing the latch devices to the first and the
second couplers respectively.
[0016] The first and the second couplers each include a stop formed
in one end portion thereof for engaging with the flange and for
limiting the latch devices to slide relative to the first and the
second couplers respectively and for preventing the latch devices
from being disengaged from the first and the second couplers
inadvertently.
[0017] The first and the second couplers each include a catch
extended from the base plate, and the latch devices of the light
device and the power supply device each include a lock cavity
formed therein for receiving or engaging with the catch and for
detachably latching and securing the latch devices to the first and
the second couplers respectively.
[0018] The first and the second couplers each include a knob
extended outwardly therefrom and located closer to the catch for
disengaging the catch from the lock cavity of the latch device for
allowing the latch device to be disengaged from the first and the
second couplers respectively.
[0019] The attaching member includes two end members, and a
fastener for selectively securing the end members of the attaching
member together and for selectively disengaging from the end
members of the attaching member.
[0020] The end members of the attaching member each include a
bifurcated structure having a slot formed between two limbs, and
the attaching member includes an aperture laterally formed in one
of the end members and formed through the limbs and communicating
with the slot of the end member for receiving a pole, and the pole
includes a screw hole formed therein for engaging with the
fastener, and the fastener is slidably engaged through the slot of
the other end member.
[0021] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an attachment of a
light assembly onto a bicycle in accordance with the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating
the operation of the light assembly and the bicycle;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the light
assembly;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the light assembly;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of the light assembly;
and
[0027] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the light assembly taken
along lines 6-6 of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIG. a light
assembly 1 in accordance with the present invention is provided for
easily and quickly attaching and securing onto various objects 8,
such as the handlebar 80 of the bicycles 8, and arranged for
allowing the light assembly 1 to be easily and quickly disengaged
from the handlebar 80 of the bicycles 8 when required. As shown in
FIGS. 3-6, the light assembly 1 comprises an attaching member 10
including a substantially C-shaped structure having a chamber 11
formed therein for receiving the object or the handlebar 80 of the
bicycle 8, and for easily and quickly attaching and securing onto
the handlebar 80 of the bicycle 8.
[0029] The C-shaped attaching member 10 includes two end portions
or end members 12, 13 located close to each other and positioned
one above the other, the two end members 12, 13 each include a
bifurcated structure having a slot 14, 15 formed between two limbs
16, 17, in which the slots 14, 15 at the two end members 12, 13 of
the attaching member 10 are aligned with each other, best shown in
FIG. 4. The attaching member 10 further includes an aperture 18
laterally formed in one end member 13 thereof and formed through
both of the limbs 17 and intersecting or communicating with the
slot 15 of the end member 13 of the attaching member 10 for
receiving a pole 20 therein which includes a screw hole or an inner
thread 21 formed therein (FIG. 6).
[0030] A bolt or fastener 22 is slidably engaged through the slot
14 of one end member 12, and threaded or engaged with the screw
hole or inner thread 21 of the pole 20 for allowing the fastener 22
to selectively and solidly secure the two end members 12, 13
together and thus to solidly secure the attaching member 10 onto
the object or the handlebar 80 of the bicycle 8. When the fastener
22 is unthreaded relative to the attaching member 10, the fastener
22 and the pole 20 may be rotated relative to the attaching member
10, and the fastener 22 may be disengaged from the slot 14 of the
end member 12 for allowing the two end members 12, 13 to be
separated from each other and for allowing the attaching member 10
to be easily and quickly attached onto and disengaged from the
object or the handlebar 80 of the bicycle 8.
[0031] The attaching member 10 further includes two substantially
C-shaped attachments or couplers 30, 31 oppositely formed or
provided thereon, or formed on the upper portion and the lower
portion thereof respectively for quickly and detachably attaching
or securing a light device 40 and a power supply device 50 to the
attaching member 10. For example, the couplers 30, 31 each include
a base plate 32, and two limbs or arms 33 extended from the base
plate 32 and extended away from the attaching member 10 and spaced
from each other for forming a space 34 between the arms 33, and an
inwardly folded hook or flange 35 extended from each arm 33 for
partially closing the space 34 and for forming a C-shaped locking
or retaining space 34 in each of the couplers 30, 31 (FIGS. 3,
5).
[0032] The attaching member 10 further includes two channels 24
formed therein and communicating with the chamber 11 of the
attaching member 10, and two electric wires or cables 25 received
and shielded and engaged into the channels 24 of the attaching
member 10 respectively. The couplers 30, 31 each include two
orifices 36 formed therein (FIGS. 5, 6) and communicating with the
channels 24 of the attaching member 10 respectively, and the
electric cables 25 each include two end connectors or terminals 26
disposed or engaged in the orifices 36 of the couplers 30, 31
respectively. The couplers 30, 31 each further include a projection
or catch 37 extended from the base plate 32 and located closer to
an outer end or free end portion of the couplers 30, 31, and a hand
grip or knob 38 extended outwardly therefrom and located closer to
the outer end or free end portion of the couplers 30, 31 or the
catch 37.
[0033] The light device 40 and the power supply device 50 each
include a latch device 60 formed or provided thereon, for example,
the latch devices 60 each include a T-shaped dovetail or latch
member 61 attached or secured to the light device 40 and the power
supply device 50 with screws or fasteners 62 respectively, for
engaging with the couplers 30, 31 respectively and for quickly and
detachably attaching or securing the light device 40 and the power
supply device 50 to the attaching member 10. The latch members 61
each include two opposite ribs 63 for engaging with the spaces 34
of the couplers 30, 31, and two opposite grooves 64 for receiving
or for engaging with the flanges 35 respectively and for quickly
and detachably attaching or securing the latch members 61 to the
couplers 30, 31 respectively.
[0034] It is preferable that the latch members 61 or the latch
devices 60 each include a stop 65 formed in one end portion thereof
and extended into one end portion of the groove 64 for engaging
with the flanges 35 and for limiting the latch members 61 or the
latch devices 60 to slide relative to the couplers 30, 31
respectively, and for preventing the latch members 61 or the latch
devices 60 from being disengaged from the couplers 30, 31
inadvertently. The latch members 61 each further include a lock
cavity 66 formed therein for selectively engaging with the catch 37
and for detachably latching and locking or anchoring or securing
the latch members 61 or the latch devices 60 to the couplers 30, 31
respectively. The knob 38 may be depressed or actuated to disengage
the catch 37 from the lock cavity 66 of the latch member 61 for
allowing the latch members 61 or the latch devices 60 to be easily
and quickly attached and secured to and disengaged from the
couplers 30, 31 respectively.
[0035] The light device 40 includes an outer housing 41, a light
bulb or light emitting diode or light member 42 disposed or engaged
in the housing 41, a hood or lens 43 also disposed or engaged in
the housing 41 and engaged onto the light member 42, and secured or
retained to the housing 41 with a cap 44, and includes two
terminals or connectors 45 (FIG. 6) electrically coupled to the
light member 42, and partially extended out of the latch member 61
for engaging into the orifices 36 of the coupler 30 respectively
and for electrically coupling or connecting to the electric cables
25 with the terminals 26 when the latch member 61 or the latch
device 60 of the light device 40 is engaged with the coupler
30.
[0036] The power supply device 50 includes a container 51 having a
chamber 52 formed therein for receiving one or more batteries 53
therein, and includes two terminals or connectors 54 (FIG. 5)
electrically coupled to the batteries 53, and partially extended
out of the latch member 61 for engaging into the orifices 36 of the
coupler 31 respectively and for electrically coupling or connecting
to the electric cables 25 with the terminals 26 when the latch
member 61 or the latch device 60 of the power supply device 50 is
engaged with the coupler 31, and includes a button or switch 55 for
being depressed or actuated by the user to control the power supply
from the power supply device 50 to the electric cables 25 and to
the light device 40.
[0037] The power supply device 50 may further include a socket or
plug or connecting member 56 electrically coupled to the batteries
53 and for coupling or connecting to the other electric power
supplies or sources, such as the cigarette lighter sockets for the
vehicles or the like and for supplying the electric energy to
selectively charge the batteries 53 when required. It is to be
noted that various kinds of light devices 40 and various kinds of
power supply devices 50 may be easily and quickly and changeably
attached or secured to the attaching member 10 with the latch
devices 60 and the couplers 30, 31, and the electric cables 25 may
be suitably received and shielded within the attaching member 10
without being exposed.
[0038] Accordingly, the light assembly in accordance with the
present invention includes a simplified structure for easily and
quickly attaching and securing onto a bicycle and for allowing the
light assembly to be easily and quickly disengaged from the bicycle
without external wires that connecting the light device and the
power supply device.
[0039] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *