Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-13
2004-09-14
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Automobile
C362S545000, C362S464000, C362S473000, C340S441000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06789928
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to the area of illuminating safety devices, particularly to the area of illuminating safety devices for, but not limited to, bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, trucks, and emergency response vehicles. This invention casts light from a wheel or wheel cover of a vehicle to make the vehicle more visible and, as an added benefit, provide aesthetic enhancement.
Manufacturers of domestically sold vehicles are required by the Federal government to equip their vehicles with illuminating side markers and/or light reflectors. This requirement is to help ensure the conspicuousness of the vehicle and reduce the risk for accidents. The aforementioned safety devices however, provide limited effectiveness. Illuminating side markers do not provide for a “bright” source of light and are thus commonly regarded as mere “accent lights”. Additionally, illuminating side markers and light reflectors are “stationary” as they are invariably mounted in a fixed position on the fenders, quarter panels and bumpers of most vehicles. The present invention however, can greatly promote the conspicuousness of a vehicle for the following reasons: 1) The present invention generates a highly visible light of intense brightness and of varying colors; 2) The present invention rotates about the wheel's center and is thus “non-stationary”; and 3) The present invention is located on a vehicle where one would not normally expect light to emanate.
In recent years, explosive growth in the “aftermarket” automobile accessories industry has occurred. Studies show that domestic sales for automotive accessories that complement or create a unique look for vehicles have nearly doubled since 1985 and that automobile enthusiasts are likely to continue the escalating purchasing trend. Similar expansions in the aftermarket motorcycle accessories industry have also recently occurred. In addition to enhancing safety by making a vehicle more visible, the present invention enhances and personalizes the aesthetic appearance of vehicles. To date, such a wheel lighting system, particularly one that offers a plurality of lights, has not been commercially available. Because of the present invention's novelty in design and utility, the present invention could be a positive element in the aftermarket automobile and motorcycle accessories industry.
The wheel light systems of prior art, which are based on simple and obvious methods, present limitations in capability and applicability. The present invention however, overcomes the shortcomings of prior art, solves art-related problems, and offers uniqueness in technological design and functionality. Known and cited prior art include all listed herein:
3,099,401
Bell
July 1963
3,767,909
Bell
October 1973
3,987,409
Freeman
October 1976
4,381,537
Hinrichs
April 1983
4,725,928
Strepek
February 1988
4,763,230
Cummings
August 1988
4,782,431
Park
November 1988
4,881,153
Scott
November 1989
5,121,305
Reed
June 1992
5,122,673
Scott
June 1992
5,497,302
O'Donnell
March 1996
5,558,426
Cabanatan
Sepember 1996
5,580,092
Hsu
December 1996
6,045,244
Dixon
April 2000
6,176,603
Spicer
January 2001
6,220,733
Gordon
April 2001
The proceeding discussions of select patents clearly illustrate how the present invention discloses new and preferred embodiments. A detailed comparison of all other cited prior art will yield the same conclusion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,928, issued to Strepek, describes a “self-contained lighting assembly” device that includes a generator. Strepek's device is said to be suitable for “heavy trucks”. Because of its girth and potential heaviness, Strepek's method is unsuitable for use with bicycles and especially unsuitable for motorcycles, wherein a low-mass, low-inertia system is crucial. Strepek's device also requires motion to generate electrical power to illuminate its lights. The present invention however, solves the problem of bulkiness and does not require motion to generate electrical power.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,431, issued to Park, teaches a complicated “magetogenerator” design, requiring many parts that are not likely to be inexpensively fabricated or easily installed. Like the aforementioned Strepek device, size, weight, and inertia potentially preclude Park's method from being suitable for use with bicycles and motorcycles. Park acknowledges the engineering burden of supplying a vehicle's electrical power to a light(s) on a rotating wheel. Park says, “ . . . connecting the power source to the wheel lamps is . . . impossible . . . because of rotation of the wheels . . . ” The current invention provides a solution for this problem while teaching simplicity and compactness and being suitable for bicycles and motorcycles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,230, issued to Cummings, details a simple and obvious “light string” wheel light design. Cummings' device closely parallels, in appearance and functionality, ordinary string lights that have been commonly used for decorating Christmas trees for over 100 years. The Cummings' method is inherently unsuitable for many vehicle applications other than bicycles and does not change in color or brightness. The present invention however, applies to all vehicles that have wheels and offers vast improvements in capability.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,302, issued to O'Donnell, describes a “lighted hubcap” device for a wheel of an automobile. The activation of the lights of O'Donnell's device is limited to only when the automobile is moving O'Donnell's device therefore, can not function as auxiliary hazard lights or auxiliary turn signal lights when the automobile is not in motion. O'Donnell's device also fails to include the capability of activating a plurality of separate light circuits and the capability to achieve a change in color and/or brightness. Like the devices of Strepek and Park, O'Donnell's uses a generator. O'Donnell places the generator inside the hubcap cover and around the axle; this arrangement makes O'Donnell's approach unsuitable for bicycles and motorcycles since costly and impractical redesigns and retrofits for bicycle frames and motorcycle suspension components would likely be required.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,603, issued to Spicer, teaches a method for providing a light source behind the wheel of an automobile. Spicer's method employs “an annular light source” (such as a neon light tube formed in a circle) which, through the use of brackets, is mounted “behind” the wheel and affixed to the stationary “spindle” and “axle” of the automobile's front and rear wheel assemblies respectively. This method is clearly not suitable for bicycles or motorcycles. This technique also fails to be applicable for automobiles or other vehicles with non-stationary front spindles or non-stationary rear axles. This limitation of Spicer's method is significant since the majority of automobiles sold throughout the world today is front-wheel driven and have non-stationary front spindles. Furthermore, the majority of today's sports cars have non-stationary rear axles, not the “solid” axle designs as shown in
FIG. 5
of Spicer's patent specification. The variations in automobile wheel and axle designs however, do not affect the utility of the present invention; the present invention can be crafted as a fitment for any vehicle regardless of the vehicle's wheel/axle assembly type. Additionally, since the Spicer method uses a stationary light source, it is not as effective in providing conspicuity as the present invention, which uses a rotating light source(s).
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a means for automatic illumination of a wheel or wheel cover of an automobile, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, or any other vehicle that has wheels. The present invention creates the appearance of a co
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