Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF INVENTION:
This invention relates to the atla~;hll ,ent of retroflective devices to the spoked wheels of a
bicycle 11 ,ereb~ increasing the visibility of the bicycle in twilight and evening conditions.
This embodiment ei"~l,asi,es the aspect of bicyciing safety as it relates to the sport of
bicycling.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION:
The field of invention pertains to the general area of bicycling safety. Retroflective materials
have been used extensively in the past as a means of pro",oting pedestrian and vehicle
safety. Ret,or~llective s~ sl~nces have been used in a variety of fashions and applications
when these devices are subjected to sources of illumination such as automobile headlights
and lighting from various origins. It is well known that retroflective materials are widely used
in a variety of applications involving vehicle and pedestrian traffic. These materials promote
safety by improving the visibility of objects which are illu",.."aled by other sources of light.
Various r6ne~;ti~/e apparatuses have been utilized in the known prior art for providing
retroflective illumination for safety p~ oses.
Such known art sets forth a system in which a reflective material is permanently secured to
the wall of the bicycle tire. Bicycle tires with atlacl,ed illumination r"aterial can be expensive.
Additional known art sets forth a system where illumination is achieved through side
mounted r~lle~lo, s which are adapled for mounting to the wheel spokes. Many of these
systems are rather limited since these reflectors are confined to the dispelxion of the
reflected light over a limited area. In effect a person has to be sihl~ted at an angle which is
pe"~endicular to the reflective plane of the effective reflector surface of the reflector to
receive the full benefit of the illumination effect. In a normal cycling action the cyclist travels
in a variety of d;r~tiGns and ll ,er~fore the retroflected image is generally degraded as the
intended observers are moved away from the pr~fer, ed angular range of the mounted
r~le~;tor. These systems require mounting means or ,nechanical hardware.
It is an object of this invention to provide a need for a new and improved bicycle reflector
oryar,i~ation which addlesses the previous known art problems of ease of use and
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effectiveness. The p(oposed embodiment fulfills the need for an efficient and economical
bicycle reflection system.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION:
In view of the forego.. ,g known art disadvantages the present e")bodiment will address the
disadvantages of the previously known systems wherein the same provides a device to be
mounted to the bicycle spGl~s to enhance the visibility of the bicycle. It is known that the
need for such a device is great owing to the rapid increase in the desire to mount reflector
assel"blies on cycle spokes to improve the visibility of the cyclist at night. To acco"",lish this
goal the proposed embodiment presents a structure that will be mounted to the bicycle
spokes which will enhance the visibility of the bicycle regardless of the angle of illumination
upon which the bicycle will be subjected. The general purpose of this new and useful
invention which will be des~ibed in greater detail is to furnish a new reflector system which
will encol"pass all of the new e"~l,od; "ent advanlages and none of the previous system
disadvantages.
To achieve this goal my invention will provide an illumination system which consists of in
conjunction with the spokes of a bicycle wheel an elongated circular apparalus which is
co"",rised of a core "~alerial wherein this core material is bonded to a reflective material.
This reflective s~ st~- ,ce will due to the configuration and shape of the core " ,dlerial
improve the visibilitv of the bicycle from all angles. The reflective device is made from
ine,~pensive ",dler;31s and can be readily manufactured using simple manufacturing
tecl"~i~ues and cost-effective processes.
This invention provides a simple installation procedure which does not require any normal or
sp~ci~' tools and can be mounted to the wheel spokes with a mini",al of difficulty.
The n~aler;als ~tili~ed in the new e"lbodi",enl are durable and stable and which can function
in the specified n,anner in various environrnenlal situations.
It is an object of this invention to provide a vehicle reflector system which will allow the
lete-1ion of a cyclist s bicycle from a multitude of angles and positions.
It is anotl,er object of this invention to provide a co"""odily which is simple to install and
which requires no simple or specialized tools.
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It is yet anott,er object of this invention to provide a reflective system which is lra"srer,able
and po, lable. The retroflective device can be easily removed from a cycling vehicle and
replaced onto a"otl ,er.
It is still yet an.~tl ,er object of this invention to provide a situation where the cyclist can
readily move the reflective devices to various locations on the spokes and can also
determine the lengths and colours of each reflective figure.
It is still yet ar,-tl~er additio,lal object of this invention is to provide a ret,orerlective
collllllodity which can be e~nG"Iically manufactured in a cost-effective "~ar")er thereby
",~h:ng such an enha"ced ret,or~le~ti~/e device econol"irally available to the consumer.
In acco, da"ce with these and other objects which will be a~ dl ~nl herci. ,~fler the invention
will now be described with particular r~rerence to the accor"panying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS:
The el~lbGuimenl of the new invention will now be desc,iLecl with reference to the
acc~"",a"yingdrawv;ngs of which:
FIG. 1 is a cross se~;tiGn pe,specti~e view of the new invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged overall per~pecti~/e view of the r~fle~ti"g device.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of the invention as applied to the wheel spokes.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the er"bodi",enl of the invention as applied to the various
reflector options which can be utilized with the new invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
As shom in FIG. 1 the core material 1 bonded to the ret,urene~;ti~/e sheeting malerial 2.
The bonding adhesive is applied over the core material 1 which will secure the retroflective
"~lerial 2 to the core l"dterial 1. The core ",dlerial and rene~;ti~/e material asse"~bly is shown
as it is co"ne~ted to the wheel spoke 3. As shown in FIG. 1 the cross sections of the core
",dterial 1 and the r~trorene~;ti~/e rnat~rial 2 shows that the contour is rather circular in form.
This configuration will exploit the ability of the retroflective "~aterial 2 to reflect light over a
large viewing angle. This angle will er,compass a circular viewing range of 360 degrees as
viewed from the known positions of vehicles on a roadway. As per FIG. 1 the width of the
longitudinal channel in core material 1 which extends through the total length of the
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retroflective device has been c hosen to provide an appropriate degree of inte, rerence
between the cl ,annel and the e,clerior dia, I leter of the spoke 3. The core material 1 has an
exterl lal radius at the leading edge of the longitudinal opening which will facilitate an ease of
entry of the core l,late,ial onto and over the spokes 3. Generally the spoke widths vary in
dia,neter ll,ererore the width of the elongated slot in core material 1 shall be chosen as to
have a width which is app'opriate for slidable e, Igage,,lenl and which is consistent with the
degree of i"le, rerence that will not depart from the range and scope of the proposed
invention.
FIG. 2 shows the full length of the retroflector device as it asse"l~le d onto the spoke 3
within the wheel asse"lbly. Suitable "laterials for core material 1 embody semi-rigid
pla~tics which will resist d;slol lion and tvlisliny thereby allowing the core rnalerial to retain its
designated shape and to provide a sl-~st~llial and firm grip over the bicycle spokes 3. The
,et,~neu1i~/e ",dterial 2 s~le~1ed will provide a high r~f,a~ti~/e index and it will be capable of
withstanding the various envi,unnlental condilions to which it will be subjected.
FIG. 3 shows the wheel assembly 4. Wheel 4 co"l~rises a plurality of spokes 3. The
retlor~llecti~e device is assembled to the spokes 3. The inle, rerence created by the inlen ,al
longitudinal aperture of the core mdlerial 1 holds the malerial around the spokes 3. As an
option the core ,ndterial may be ce,~,enled to the spokes 3 with an appropriate adhesive to
prevent theft of the devices from the spokes.
FIG. 4 shows the wheel asse,l~bly 4. This view illusl,dtes some of the options which this
embodiment can provide. The retrorerle~ti~/e devices can be easily cut to any dinlelllsiûned
length and in this illuslraliull it is shown that three dirrerenl sized lengths can be adapted to
each spoke 3. This option allows the cyclist to customize the reflective devices to various
lengths and also to utilize reflective devices of dirrerenl colours and quantities. In
accorda, Ice with the Fig. 1 speciri~liol ,s this option will still provide a 360 deyree viewing
angle to all vehicular traffic. This selection will not degrade the safety aspect of the proposed
invention it will provide the cyclist with the option of mix and matching dirrerenl
retror~lective colours.
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My invention resides not in any particular feature but rather in the particular combination of
all of them herein disclosed and claimed.
The invention has been shown and described herein in what has been considered to be the
most practical and prefer,ed embodiment. It is recoyni~ed that .;hanyes and mo.liric~lior,s
may be made to meet specific requirements and such changes may be made without
depa, ling from the scope and spirit of the invention.
