Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-17
2001-04-24
Tso, Laura K. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Automobile
C362S511000, C362S545000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220733
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention concerns a light system for lighting a wheel on a vehicle, particulary automobiles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
People have enjoyed automobiles for nearly a century, and many people feel that their automobile is an extension of their own personality. A primary factor for most people in considering which automobile to purchase is styling and aesthetics. The demand for improved styling has fueled the development of entire industries devoted to aftermarket automobile accessories.
Among the most common way to “accessorize” an automobile is to swap the wheels provided from the manufacture with “styled” wheels. The designs of these styled wheels include a variety of different forged and cast shapes, as well as the classic spoked wheel. Although there are many wheel choices available in today's market, no one has introduced a commercially successful system for lighting a wheel.
Moreover, ever since the introduction of the automobile there have been automobile accidents. Many accidents are caused when the driver of one vehicle fails to see the other vehicle due to restricted visibility caused by inclement weather or lighting conditions. This is particularly problematic at intersections where one auto approaches another from the side.
Auto manufacturers currently rely on passive reflectors to make vehicles more visible from the side. Typically, governmental regulations require that these reflectors be red or yellow. Reflectors merely reflect any light directed at them and do not actively project light. As a result, in the dark a vehicle having side reflectors goes undetected until the headlights of an approaching vehicle strikes the reflectors. In many instances, light may not strike the reflectors until it is too late to avoid a collision.
A proposed solution is to provide lights on the side of the vehicle. While some vehicles are provided with parking lights, this remedy is useless while the vehicle is in motion because the parking lights generally serve as turn-signal lights while the vehicle is driven.
Another proposed solution is to attach lights to the wheels of the vehicle. Several patents have issued concerning automobile wheels with lights. One such invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,230, which issued to Cummings and Rose on Aug. 9, 1988. The Cummings' et al. invention provides a plurality of light members in a string. The string of lights is interleafed between the spokes of a wheel. The string of lights is powered by a battery source.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,305 discloses a lighted wheel comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes connected in parallel and contained in a flexible, transparent tube. The light emitting diodes are powered by a battery power source preferably connected to the wheel. The apparatus is designed to be preferably used with spoked wheels. The primary purpose of this apparatus is for safety purposes and preferably is used with bicycle, scooters, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,085 discloses a wheel marker for an automobile wheel. The wheel marker extends radially from the wheel hub, and comprises a light-emitting section that includes a light emitting-element such as an electroluminescence element or a light emitting diode. The light-emitting element is powered by a battery or solar cell, and can be automatically turned on and off using a brightness detecting sensor.
One problem with the wheel lights described above is that they lack aesthetic appeal. Many, if not most, car owners are particular about how their car looks. The foregoing lighted wheels may not have reached significant commercial success because they look like what the are: lights or lighted elements that are attached to wheels that were not designed to have lights applied to them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, a lighting system for a vehicle wheel is provided comprising a light source, at least one reflective body, and a power source, particularly an electric power source, to power the light source. The light source and reflective body are operably coupled to a wheel so that the light source directs light toward a light-receiving end of the reflective body. The directed light is reflected within the reflective body, thereby illuminating the reflective body.
The reflective body preferably is made from a translucent or transparent material, such as a plastic or other polymeric material. Many features of the reflective body can be selected for individual preference, including the external shape, the hollow profile shape, the color, the material texture, etc.
In a working embodiment, the light source comprises multiple lights that are used to illuminate multiple reflective bodies. The lights preferably are light-emitting diodes, but also may be incandescent or fluorescent lights.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention replaces one or more spokes, preferably plural spokes, of a spoked wheel with reflective bodies. Commercially available spoked wheels are provided with removable spokes that connect an inner hub to an outer rim. At least one, and typically several, of the spokes are removed and replaced with reflective bodies that are suitably sized and shaped for replacing the removable spokes. The reflective bodies are situated so that a light-receiving end extends through the inner hub, and the opposite end extends through the outer rim. In a working embodiment the reflective body is secured in place using a cap. The reflective bodies typically include at least one flattened surface that runs substantially along the length of the bodies. A reflective tape also may, and typically is, applied to the flattened surface. Plural light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are circumferentially mounted to the inner hub so as to direct light toward the light-receiving ends of the reflective bodies, thereby illuminating them. The LEDs can be powered by batteries that are coupled to the wheel, such as by being mounted in the inner hub. The LEDs can be preferably activated by means of a remote-control switch, or optionally, by means of a manual switch.
One object of the present invention is to provide a lighting system for a vehicle wheel that is useful for safety purposes and is aesthetically pleasing.
Another object of this invention is to provide a lighted wheel that doesn't look like a wheel with added lights, but rather provides an appearance that the lights are integral with the wheel.
The foregoing and additional features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
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Gordon Ryan Lee
Klarquist Sparkman Campbell & Leigh & Whinston, LLP
Tso Laura K.
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