Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Automobile
Utility Patent
1999-03-10
2001-01-02
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Automobile
C362S042000, C362S549000, C362S800000
Utility Patent
active
06168301
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a system for illuminating rotating objects. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a system for illuminating wheels and the like.
(b) Discussion of Known Art
The appeal of illuminating rotating objects, such as the wheel of a vehicle, has long been recognized. Accordingly, many devices have been developed to meet this need to provide the pleasing appearance of rotating illumination on wheels or the like. One such device is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 1,539,394 to Leeman. The Leeman patent discloses the use of a contact ring which is permanently attached to the wheel of a vehicle. Unfortunately, however, the Leeman patent does not provide the ordinary artisan with guidance as to how mount this contact ring so that the wheel does not have to be modified. Perhaps more importantly, Leeman does not provide the necessary guidance to avoid problems associated with the need to dissipate the heat generated by the friction associated with the constant rubbing of the brush against the contact ring.
Another device that serves for providing illumination to a wheel is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 2,083,514 to Brown. The Brown patent teaches the use of a contact ring and brush assembly which cooperate with hollowed out fasteners that are used to provide a path for electrical conductors that extend to a light bulb mounted in a hub cap over the wheel. The contact ring of the Brown device is fastened against the wheel with the use of these hollow fasteners. A significant disadvantage of this system, aside from the need to provide hollow bolts, is that the contact ring is held against the wheel by means of the fasteners that hold the wheel against the wheel hub. Additionally, the contact ring must be electrically insulated in order to prevent a short circuiting of the current being provided for the illumination of the wheel. Accordingly, the stacking of a contact ring on top of an insulating material, which in turn is stacked on top of the wheel creates significant problems associated with the stability of the overall structure and the bending stresses introduced into the fasteners due to the distances introduced by the stacking of several components.
Another approach at illuminating the wheel of a vehicle is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,099,401 to Bell. The Bell invention mounts a brush to the wheel spindle of the vehicle. The brush contacts a contact ring or track that is mounted against the drum of the brake. The Bell invention, however, suffers from the disadvantage that the contact ring or track must be made such that its radius matches the radius of the drum on which it is mounted. Additionally, the use of an insulating material and a series of screws threaded directly into the brake drum can lead to serious fatigue or similar problems associated with the heating of the brake drum during operation.
Another known device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,113,727 to Bradway. The Bradway device provides a solution to the problems associated with illuminating hub caps. Towards this end, the Bradway invention includes hollow studs and a contact rig that mounts against the interior of the break drums. The Bradway invention uses the hollow studs to support fasteners that are used to hold the contact ring against the drum. This arrangement solves many of the thick stack up problems associated with the Brown device, but is severely limited in that the structure on which the Bradway device attaches has become increasingly unpopular in modern automobiles. Accordingly, the applicability of the Bradway device continues to dwindle.
Still another approach at the problem of how to illuminate rotating components includes U.S. Pat. No. 3,340,389 to Senseman. The Senseman device uses hollow studs to support fasteners which in turn support the contact ring and circuitry that leads to light bulbs mounted on the wheel. The similarities of the Senseman structure and the Bradway structure cause similar limitations in the Senseman device as are found in the Bradway device.
More recent approaches at the problem of illuminating wheels and the like include U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,919 to Pearsall et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,153 to Scott. The Pearsall device uses the motion of the wheel to generate electricity to activate Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), while the Pearsall device provides another system for supporting and engagement of a contact ring.
Thus, a review of know devices reveals that there remains a need for a device or system that allows illumination of a rotating element, such as a the wheel on a vehicle, without requiring significant modifications to existing installations. For example, there remains a need for a system that does not require that the user drill or replace the wheel studs to provide a set of hollow studs that provide a route for current or support for a contact ring.
There remains a need for a system that allows illumination of the wheel without needing to modify existing components of the wheel mounting.
Still further, there remains a need for a wheel illumination system that can be added on to or attached to the existing wheel installation, and which can easily accommodate differences in vehicle structure.
Still further, there remains a need for a wheel illumination system that addresses the problems associated with heat generated due to the contact of the brushes against a moving surface. There remains a need for an illumination system that is light weight, and thus provides little opportunity for creating an imbalance on the wheel structure.
SUMMARY
It has been discovered that the problems left unanswered by known art can be solved by providing a wheel luminaire systems which includes:
an insulated contact ring with connectors for mounting the ring directly to the wheel, so that the contact ring is supported from the wheel;
a contact brush with a mounting bracket to support the contact brush at a location near the wheel; and
light emitting devices which are electrically connected to the contact ring and grounded through the wheel, so that illumination of the wheel is carried out by creating a circuit from a power source on the vehicle, through the brush to the contact ring, and from the contact ring to the light emitting devices and back to the power source.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the contact ring attaches to the outer rim of the internal portion of the wheel in a manner that is similar to the mounting of a vehicle hub cap. The ring will include a conductive portion which will be mounted over an insulating portion. In a highly preferred embodiment of the invention, the insulating portion will be made from an insulating foam material which will insulate the contact ring from thermal conductivity as well as electrical conductivity. Furthermore, it is contemplated that this insulating portion will also include an adhesive backing material that allows the contact ring to adhere to the wheel.
It is also contemplated that the brush may be of any known design. The mounting bracket will provide an adjustable support for the brush, and will preferably include attachment points for mounting the bracket to vehicle structure, so that the brush is held near the outer perimeter of the wheel. It is contemplated that this mounting bracket may include positions for mechanical fasteners or areas that include adhesives for mounting the bracket against the brake backing plate, for example. It is important to note that it is contemplated that the mounting bracket may also be mounted against other stationary structure near the outer rim of the wheel, and that the mounting to this structure may be carried out, as indicated above, with the use mechanical fastening devices such as ratcheting ties or the like.
It should also be understood that while the above and other advantages and results of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, showing the contemplated novel construction, combinations and elements as here
Martinez Edward
Martinez Marvin R.
Crabtree Edwin H.
O'Shea Sandra
Pizarro Ramon L.
Ward John Anthony
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