llumination Device

Field of the invention

This invention relates generally to illumination devices but more particularly to detachable illumination device in combination with reflectors configured to be worn on the body of pedestrians and animals such as dogs and horses; such that the device is not only giving illumination when "ON", but also that the reflector can be seen through light which is incident on it, especially when the electrically powered illuminated component of the device is "OFF", such that the wearer can still be noticed in the dark.

Background of the invention

Description of Related Art

The prior art reveals a number of safety light devices that identify a biker or jogger by means of reflectors and/or illumination. Among the prior art references that the present applicant is aware of are the following: US Pat. No.7,011,427 Bl, issued to Baez, discloses a safety light tube that is wearable on the body of a person or dog' leashes.

US Pat. No. 4,423,473, issued to Kirkley, discloses a safety light worn by joggers and cyclists that provides intermittent illumination.

US Pat. No. 4,523,258, issued to Morse, discloses a flexible safety belt worn by a jogger. The device includes oscillating lights so that the jogger is visible from virtually any angle.

US Pat. No. 4,709,307, issued to Branom, discloses an illuminated article of clothing with light emitting diodes arranged in a pattern thereon.

US Pat. No. 4,849,863, issued to Gallegos, discloses a belt for joggers and cyclists adapted with a forwardly shining light.

US Pat. No. 4,860,177, issued to Simms, discloses a bicycle safety light having constantly moving light emitting diodes.

US Pat. No. 5,690,411, issued to Jackman, discloses a wearable signalling system to be worn on the user's person.

US Pat. No. 5,070,436, issued to Alexander et al., disclose a signal vest with reflective and lighted elements.

US Pat. No. 5,504,662, issued to Huang, discloses a bicycle saddle adapted with a flashing light device triggered by a switch disposed in the saddle.

US Pat. Appl. No. 20050265015 issued to Salazar, Tracy A discloses a lighted bicycle helmet with a headlight to allow the bicyclist to see at night, with a connection to allow the power packs to be recharged.

US Pat. Appl. No. 2004090769 discloses a Bicycle Helmet Safety Lights, which composed of small lights built into the outer rim of the helmet.

The increase in the number of bicycle riders and scooters is correspondingly accom- panied by increase in the rate of accident with these transportation means, particularly collision with motor vehicles. These accidents occurs mostly when it is dark or other forms of poor visibility arising from thick fog or drizzling rain weather. Bicycle accidents occur frequently, particularly at night, because bicycle riders often share roads with vehicular traffics.

All over the world, millions of people exercise by jogging, trekking, bicycling or hiking, especially in Europe, America and Asia. The increase in the number of bicycle riders, joggers, hikers and scooters is equally accompanied by an increase in the rate of accident with these transportation means, particularly collision with motorised ve- hides. These accidents occurs mostly when it is dark or other forms of poor visibility arising from thick fog, snowing or drizzling rain weather.

Bicycle accidents occur frequently, particularly at night, because bicycle riders often share roads with vehicular traffics. Scooters and rollers-skaters are other high speed,

means of transport that is not strictly monitored by the traffic management arm of the law; especially on the aspect of making themselves as visible as possible in the dark through the carriage of illumination safety devices. There is need for more than reflective clothing for these high speeding roller-skaters and scooters which will help to make them noticeable to other road users when they are not directly in the path of other sources of illumination and hence cannot reflect any.

In other to enable a higher degree of safety for bicycle and scooter riders, governments all over the world have instructed such riders to carry certain specified colours of il- luminations on their vehicles or on their body in such a manner that will make them quite noticeable by other road users from the front, the sides and also from the rear end. Conventionally, these illumination devices comprises of a white, blue, green or yellow light for the front and a red light for the rear end of the vehicle or pedestrian.

Reflectors are also recommended to be attached to the wheels of bicycles, or incorporated into clothing, bands and other items to be carried on the person of the wearer, but these are only visible when light shine on them and often when a rider emerges suddenly from an angle away from the direct path of the on-coming vehicle's light, the rider remains invincible, so accident can still occur.

Reflective clothing, arm and leg bands are also a popular and conventional means of indicating the position of cyclists, scooters and pedestrians, but this is only effectively visible at certain distance from the light-bearing vehicle. Such illumination is equally dependent on the intensity of the incident light, which could be limited by environ- mental conditions such as fog, rain, snowing, landscape, and etcetera.

This invention takes into consideration the fact that a white light carried on the head region of the wearer is only seen by the traffic observing the carrier from the front and not those from the rear, so unless said illumination is reflected by an object in its path and towards the path of the observer, it remains unseen. The present invention is aimed at ensuring all-round visibility of the wearer, since the illuminated personal safety device of the present invention is provided with additional red colour illumination element which is visible from either side and also the rear-end of the wearer, with the added advantage that it is positioned at the highest point on the body. On the other

hand, the strong front light carried on the head will give a better illumination of wherever the bearer is observing, while the red illumination at the rear-end of the embodiment is observable to observers viewing from the side and also the rear-end of the wearer.

In recent years, the marketing of illumination devices intended for safety and enhanced visibility has been going through a lot of innovations especially on power management and brightness of the illumination elements. Most of such devices are designed to be energy efficient through the use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as illuminating elements in place of conventional light bulbs, often programmed to blink so as to reduce battery consumption.

A major category of safety devices are equipped with reflectors which can be worn on the body such as arm, head or attached to belts and jackets. Reflectors, like afore- mentioned illuminated personal safety devices, are also going through innovations. Reflector clothing provided with LED illuminating elements have been disclosed. Incorporation of electrically powered illumination elements into reflector jackets and reflector bands is a way of ascertaining that wearers of such safety devices have a higher degree of being seen whether or not there is light incident on the wearer. This could be of advantage when the wearer is emerging from a direction hidden from any source of illumination.

In other to enable a higher degree of safety for bicycle, scooter and horse-back riders, governments all over the world have instructed such riders to carry certain specified colours of illuminations and reflectors on their vehicles and sometimes also on their body in such a manner that will make them quite noticeable by other road users from the front, the sides and also from the rear. Generally, such illumination devices comprises of a white, green or yellow light for the front of the vehicle and a red light for the rear of the vehicle, otherwise reflectors are used as alternative.

Reflectors are also recommended to be attached to the wheels of bicycles, but this is only visible when light shines on it and often when the rider emerges suddenly from an angle away from the direct path of other on-coming vehicle's light, the rider remains invincible, so accidents still do occur and cyclists and pedestrians get killed or

maimed by motorists because they were not adequately visible. Reflective clothing, arm and leg bands are also a popular and conventional means of indicating the position of cyclists, scooters and pedestrians, but these are only effectively visible at certain distance from the incident light. Such reflective devices equally dependent on the intensity of the incident light, which could be limited by environmental conditions such as fog, rain, snowing, landscape etc.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a illumination device comprising two or more light emitting components being mounted on a printed circuit board, peculiar in that it comprises an independent circuit for each light emitting component, that each light emitting component is controlled by a different programmable chip and a switch, that said printed circuit board is situated within a housing, that said light emitting components has different colours and different preconfigured orientations, that an electrical energy source is electrically connected to power said light emitting components, that electronic components are provided for power management, that said housing is provided with connection means for detachable attachment of the device and that said housing is provided with an enclosure of reflective material.

The invention relates generally to safety light, and more particularly to a multifunctional and multi-modal, personal safety lights with complementary reflective optical configurations for reflecting, refracting and magnifying lights generated by itself and also lights shone on it from external sources; which is adapted for being worn on the head region of a person, on the arm, legs or detachably attached to arm bands, head bands; belts, collars of a pedestrian, jogger, worker, trekker; or pets such as dogs, horses, cats etcetera for the purpose of noticing the carrier in the dark. Said safety light in same housing of the device is configured to have two different colours of LEDs on opposite ends of same embodiment; such that white LED is employed on one end and red colour LED on the other end which are configured to blink independently accord- ing to the user's choice and according to programmes on provided juxtaposed multiple circuits on one printed circuit board powered from one common source of electrical energy, giving increased possibilities for more combinations of "ON", "OFF" and

blinking function modes depending on how many blinking modes is programmed into each of the juxtaposed circuits.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that it comprises two light emitting components for emitting light beams of different colour, preferably white and red, directed at two oppositely arranged orientations of the housing and that a it may also comprise a further light emitting component for emitting a light beam having an orientation perpendicular to the direction of the beams of said two first mentioned light emitting components. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that when said device is mounted on a person animal or object, it is possible to display one colour at the front and the other at the back of the carrier.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that said electrical energy source is a battery , dynamo or other electric energy generating or storage construction, from which electrical energy is supplied to the illuminated device, that said illumination device may comprise a point of detachable electrical connection to any electrical generating source of appropriate energy rating, which could also serve as a source of re-charging batteries or other elec- tricity storage component of the said illumination device. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that depleted energy of the rechargeable battery can be replenished many times to be used-again.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that the light emitting components comprise white, yellow, blue or green colour illumination element for emitting light having a first orientation and a red illumination element for emitting light having an opposite orientation.

Hereby it is obtained that this have the advantage that when mounted on a person, animal or moving object, it is easy to assign one light colour, e.g. white or yellow for forward illumination and the other, e.g. red colour for the backward illumination.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that said connections means are provided with an undercut groove with ridges preconfigured to fit to curve surfaces in alternate direction.

Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that the device can be mounted onto objects by means of said undercut groove and suitably configured head which is fastened to an object such as metal bar or headlamp elastic construction.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that said connections means comprises elastic bands and are arranged for mounting or attaching said illumination device to a person's head, arm or leg or to an object or an animal. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that the device can be mounted on a person, or an animal or on an object without the use of the undercut groove, but adjustable elastic bands, which can easily fit to various shapes and sizes.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that the connections means comprises clasp, clips or needle members for mounting or attaching said illumination device to a person or animal. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that it can be mounted on clothing, belt or other places where mounting cannot be done by means of elastic band or undercut groove.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that the reflective materiel of the enclosure of the housing has prism and rectangular block constructions in order to reflect backwards through refraction and total internal reflection a substantial amount of light from the illuminating elements. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that some of the the scat- tered light rays are re-directed towards the orientation of the illuminating elements, while some are transmitted in the opposite direction such that they are visible to an observer viewing from opposite orientation to the illuminating element.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that that the housing comprises a reflector. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that the surface of the device can reflect incident light to give the position of where it is mounted, especially when it is switched off.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that that the housing is provided with lenses construction to magnify retracted and reflected lights. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that most of the refracted and reflected light is strengthened by provided lenses con- struction by magnification and convergence of said scattered light.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that coloured screens are provided to change colours of transmitted light. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that transmitted white light can be observed in the colour of provided coloured screens which is placed in their path.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that a condenser lens construction is provided for optimum magnification of available light. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that condenser lenses are more powerful than ordinary convex lenses when used to magnify transmitted light.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that it is provided with two juxtaposed individual circuits with individual switching and blinking modes, and connected via a resistor of appropriate rating to same electrical energy source and that said light emitting elements are controlled independently, such that separate coloured light emitting component is turned "ON", "OFF" or "BLINK" separate from other light emitting components in same illumination device. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that either of the light emitting elements can be operated and controlled independent of the other, which gives more choices and better control to the user, while giving more functionality to the device.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that it is provided with voltage increase technology. Hereby it is obtained that the device will be able to operate on lesser battery voltage than normally would have been required for full capacity operation for such illumination de-

vice, such that the device will operate for example at 2 volts at capacity equivalent to when 6 volts or higher energy is supplied to power the illuminating elements.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that the housing comprises a reflective flexible tubular construction and that at least some of the illumination elements are connected to the electrical energy source by flexible electric cable housed in said reflective flexible tubular construction. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that some of the illuminating elements can be taken to another location away from the main housing of said illumination device while it is controlled with the control switch on the main housing of the device.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that male and female connectors are provided between said electrical energy source and said connectable illumination elements which then are configured to be detachable when not desired and re-connected via said male and female connector.

Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that the battery in the device can be recharged from any electrical energy source of appropriate rating, provided the female and the male connector fits together.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that at least some of said illuminating elements in the tubular housing are coloured optic fibres. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that one colour of illuminating element is transmitted in another colour and in a different direction from the normal path of orientation of said light.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that said optic fibre are colourless with colour screen cover on its outlet. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that the original colour of light emitted from the illuminating element is transmitted away from its normal path through refraction principle of optic fibre and thereafter given another colour through colour screen placed in its path.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that at least one of said illumination elements comprises more than one colour set of illumination element independently controlled from a switch. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that it is possible to shift from one colour set of illumination to another in same direction, for example from white light to yellow light using the same switch and one circuit, while a second switch may dedicated to a third and/or fourth illumination colour set which also can blink.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that said colour set of illumination element is arranged in such manner that they make a definite pattern or icon such as a smiley. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that one colour set of illumination can be designated to give one significant message or graphics while another set can be designated to give another for the purpose of safety or fun.

According to a further embodiment the illumination device according to the present invention is peculiar in that said flexible electric connection cable is retractable into a spool house in the battery compartment. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that the illuminating element mounted on said flexible electric connection cable can be extended away from the main housing from where it is controlled and retracted back to place after it has served the purpose.

According to a further embodiment the illuminating device according to the present invention is peculiar in that at least one of said illuminating elements which is con- nected through retractable electric connection cable is detachably attached to an object by means of glue, adhesive tape, clip, elastic band, VELCRA adhesive or a magnet; such that said at least one illuminating element can be taken away from the main housing of the device to a considerable distance depending on the length of said connection cable to give illuminating while the control switch remains within the housing and when released, the connection cable winds up again to return said at least one illuminating element to its original position on the housing. Hereby it is obtained that this has the advantage that said extendable illuminating element can be detachably mounted away from the main housing while being controlled remotely from same circuit board and control switch as the other illuminating element on the main housing.

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the invention, together with further advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings of prototypes in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings of prototypes are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of said illumination device.

FIG. 2 is an example of the device revealing the printed circuit board, the prisms and condenser lens arrangements.

FIG. 3 is example of the device revealing a bi-directional undercut groove for detachable attachment to suitably configured head and also construction for holding complementary attachment material such as a belt or elastic.

FIG. 4a is a frontal view of an example of said illumination device revealing two sets of multiple frontal illumination elements, such as LEDs or Krypton light bulbs with one illumination elements on either side of the face.

FIG. 4b reveals a side view of a person wearing on his head an example of said illumination device provided with one rear-end illumination on the housing and another illumination element mounted on the attachment belt, which is connected to the housing through electric cable via a socket.

FIG. 4c is a, rear view of a person's head carrying said reflective illumination device revealing three sources of illumination: one in the top-middle part of the head of a person and one on either side of the head of the wearer, such that said illuminations are all visible to an observer from the rear-end of the wearer.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of said reflective illumination device revealing that the illuminated construction is disposed perpendicularly to the face of the wearer.

Detailed description of the drawings and preferred embodiments of the invention

A detachable, reflective illumination cum safety device comprising two or more different colours of illumination elements in one embodiment or connected through electric cables, wherein one colour is revealed as frontal illumination and another colour is revealed as rear-end illumination which is also visible from the side; such that one embodiment of the device gives all round illumination that is visible to observers from two to four cardinal points around the carrier; which also is provided with power management configuration that enables one group of illumination elements to be controlled independently to give various "ON" and "OFF" or blinking combinations.

FIG. 1 reveals said detachable, reflective illumination cum safety device 22, with frontal illumination element 2 and rear-end disposed illumination element 1 provided with grab-able construction 27 to enhance pulling out the illuminating element 1. Fig. 1 further reveals said reflective illumination device 22 provided with surface reflector 20 and 20a to reflect same colour of light that is incident on it and not colour of the hous- ing. Also revealed are hooks 26 and 26a shaped as fore and hind limbs of a tortoise provided for the purpose of securing adjustable elastic belt 8 complemented with adjuster buckle 9 when said belt is employed to attach the device 22 to objects. Further revealed in this drawing figure is an undercut grove 24, two "ON/OFF" push buttons 5 and 5a wherein button 5 controls the frontal illumination element while button 5a con- trols rear end illumination element, a protective covering 25 for the connection port 18 for external electrical energy input, lenses 29 on the top of the device for magnifying refracted and reflected rays of light from inside of the device 22 at right angle to the orientation of the illumination elements, while condenser lens 32 is revealed at the front and also back of the device 22 for magnifying reflected and refracted light rays from inside of the device 22 towards the same orientation of respective illumination element.

Also revealed were hooks 26 and 26a shaped in the form of fore and hind limb of a tortoise provided for retaining the elastic belt 8, adjustable through movable buckle 9 when it is used to fasten the device 22 to an object.

FIG. 2 reveals an overhead view of the inside of a tortoise-shaped example of said detachable, reflective illumination cum safety device 22 showing the printed circuit board-PCB 35, prisms 33, and condenser lens 32; wherein the prisms 33 were reflecting and refracting light transmitted backwards 34 by LEDs 1 and 2, re-direct them in various direction which is converged by provided condenser lens arrangement 32 and 32a to produce light rays 14 and 14a in same orientation as the LED 1 and 2 that produced them.

Also revealed is electric cable 36 which connects the PCB 35 to connection port 18 which doubles as connection for recharging the device 22 through external electrical energy source such as a AJC to DC transformer 17; also as connection port for connecting detachable s illumination element Ib via connection jacks 16 and 16 a. The connection jack for the transformer 17 is provided with electric cable 15 while connection cable 30 which also is provided with weather-proof cover 7 connects said detachable illumination elements to the PCB.

FIG. 3 reveals a dorsal view of tortoise-shaped example of said detachable, reflective illumination cum safety device 22 showing the bi-directional undercut groove with curved surfaces on the groove ridges 24 and a stopper 37 for stopping a precoπfigured head from slipping out of said undercut grooves.

FIG. 4a reveals a frontal view of said detachable, reflective illumination cum safety device 22, worn on the head of a person 13 in active mode; displaying multiple frontal illumination elements 2a configured in a specific pattern, displaying light rays 14 and lighted illumination elements Ib positioned on either side of the face of a person 13.

FIG. 4b reveals side view of said detachable, reflective illumination cum safety device 22 worn on the head of a person 13, producing frontal illumination 2 and lighted rear- end illumination on element I ₅ complemented with a detachable rear-end oriented illumination element Ib connected via electric connection cable 19, which is provided

with weather-proof holder 7, while the embodiment is configured such that the fron- tally disposed illumination housing is adjustable in up and down and side to side movements along the provided pivot 3. Said pivoted holder 3 is mounted on precon- figured resilient belt 8 with movable buckle 9.

FIG. 4c reveals a rear view of a person 13 wearing said detachable, reflective illumination cum safety device 22, on the centre of the head region showing lighted rear-end illuminated element 1, which is complemented by two illuminated elements Ib one on either side of said head of a person 13. Said detachable, reflective illumination cum safety device 22, is revealed to be mounted on a belt 8.

FIG. 5 reveals a side perspective view of example of another means for mounting said device by means of a belt 8 on the head of a person 13, revealing both the frontal illumination element 2 and also the rear-end illumination element 1. Also revealed is spherical lenses 29 one control switch 5 for the frontal illumination element and control switch 6 for the rear-end illumination element.