Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-18
2001-07-10
Husar, Stephen (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
C362S540000, C362S542000, C362S544000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257744
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a safety lighting device for snowmobiles; to a snowmobile having a safety lighting device; and to a method for providing safety lighting on a snowmobile.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The sport of snowmobiling has become increasingly popular over the past several decades. It is believed that this increase in popularity can be attributed, at least in part, to advances made in snowmobile design technology. As a result of this increase in popularity, snowmobile traffic on trails in New England states, Mountain States and the Upper Midwest has increased. It is expected that the popularity of snowmobiling will continue to grow, and that congestion on snowmobile trails will increase.
It is believed that the growth in snowmobile traffic has resulted in an increased number of snowmobile related accidents. Many of these accidents occur at night. Generally, snowmobiles provide lighting in the form of headlights and taillights. These lights have at least two purposes. They allow the snowmobile operator to see the terrain, and they increase the visibility of the snowmobile to others. The headlights and taillights of snowmobiles presently on the market do not remain on when the snowmobiles are turned off. As a result, snowmobiles which are turned off may pose a hazard at night if they are not sufficiently visible to other snowmobile operators. Snowmobile operators have many reasons to turn off their engines, which in turn results in turning off the headlights and taillights. While snowmobiles have become increasingly reliable, mechanical failure often occurs and requires turning off the engine. In addition, snowmobile operators often stop their vehicles for various other reasons including resting checking fluid levels, changing gloves, reading a map, and the like. In general, snowmobile operators do not want to leave their snowmobiles running when they stop for prolonged periods of time. The reason is that the cooling systems of most snowmobiles are designed to have snow constantly thrown onto their heat exchangers by means of forward propulsion. Prolonged idling can cause the engine to overheat and ultimately become damaged.
Snowmobile operators sometimes carry flashlights with them at night. When they leave their snowmobile on the side of a trail or on a lake without any illumination, it poses a hazard to other snowmobile operators in the vicinity. If they leave a flashlight with the snowmobile to illuminate it, the flashlight tends to project light in essentially one direction and may not provide sufficient warning for other snowmobile operators in the vicinity. Furthermore, the cold temperature has an adverse effect on the batteries causing a decrease in voltage and a dimming of the light.
Snowmobiles have become much faster over the years. As a result, snowmobiles often travel at high speeds, even at night. It is believe that many snowmobile operators travel at speeds which are unsafe considering the illumination provided by their headlights. Even if the snowmobile operators are not traveling at high speeds, the snow conditions may be too slippery or icy to permit rapid braking once an object comes within view of the snowmobile operators' headlights. Many groomed snowmobile trails have sharp corners and turns which decreases the visibility of potential hazards in the trails such as stopped snowmobiles. When the hazard is another snowmobile which is not illuminated, severe injury can result if the snowmobiles collide. With the increase in snowmobile deaths in recent years, a need exists for providing better illumination for snowmobiles which have been turned off.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a safety lighting device for use on a snowmobile. The safety lighting device includes a light emitting diode for providing illumination, an energy source for providing a current, a switch for controlling electrical connectivity between the light emitting diode and the energy source, and an energy source mounting assembly for holding the energy source on a snowmobile. The light emitting diode preferably provides a luminous intensity of at least about 1,000 mcd at 25° C. and a forward current of 20 mA. The energy source preferably provides a current of between about 1 and about 5 volts. The energy source mounting assembly preferably includes a first surface constructed and arranged for mounting to a snowmobile, and a second surface constructed and arranged for holding the energy source. Preferably, the energy source is either an alkaline battery source or a lithium battery source. It is expected that two size AA lithium batteries will provide sufficient illumination and longevity for the present invention.
The light emitting diode is preferably an ultra bright LED. This means that it preferably provides a luminous intensity of greater than about 5,000 mcd at 25° C. in a forward current of 20 mA. In addition, the light given off by the LED is primarily focused light. This means that a majority of the light given off by the LED is primarily projected in a focused field of view. Preferably, the focused field for purposes of the present invention is less than about 90 degrees at 25 feet from the LED.
The invention relates to a snowmobile including a safety lighting device. The snowmobile includes an engine, a cowl covering the engine, a dashboard, a headlight, and a taillight. The headlight includes a light emitting diode therein for providing illumination when the snowmobile is turned off. An energy source is provided for energizing the light emitting diode, and the energy source is provided proximate to the engine to receive warming heat therefrom. A switch is provided for controlling electrical connectivity between the energy source and the light emitting diode. Preferably, both the headlight and the taillight include a light emitting diode therein for providing illumination when the snowmobile engine is turned off. In addition, the energy source is desirably provided underneath the cowl in order to protect the energy source from the wind, snow, and cold temperatures. It is expected that the temperature underneath the cowl, proximate the engine, will be warmer than the ambient temperature around the snowmobile under usual conditions of operation.
The invention relates to a method for providing safety lighting on a snowmobile. According to the present invention, safety lighting refers to lighting provided when the engine of a snowmobile, or other transportation apparatus, has been turned off. The method includes steps of providing a snowmobile having an engine, a cowl covering the engine, a dashboard, a headlight, and a taillight; providing a low voltage light within the taillight; and providing an energy source for illuminating low voltage light. Preferably, the low voltage light is a light emitting diode having ultra bright characteristics.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5149190 (1992-09-01), MacKenzie
patent: 5175528 (1992-12-01), Choi et al.
patent: 5565839 (1996-10-01), Poss
patent: 5598065 (1997-01-01), Lakosky
patent: 5886627 (1999-05-01), Brady et al.
patent: 6109769 (2000-08-01), Lakosky
Husar Stephen
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Snow Glow, Incorporated
Ward John Anthony
LandOfFree
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