GB2241775A

GB2241775A - Bicycle lamp

Info

Publication number: GB2241775A
Application number: GB9005147A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard John Laidler; Trevor Michael Gilchrist
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-03-07
Filing date: 1990-03-07
Publication date: 1991-09-11
Also published as: GB9005147D0

Abstract

A bicycle lamp having a casing provided with a fitting enabling its readily detachable mounting to a bracket on the bicycle and a through-hole on said casing for enabling the lamp to be non-removably mounted on to the chain or other securing means used to secure the unattended bicycle against theft.

Description

Bicycle Lamp This invention relates to a lamp for fitting at the front or rear of a bicycle.

One of the problems arising with bicycle lamps is the theft of the lamps when the bicycle is left parked or otherwise unattended.

A solution to this problem is for the cyclist to remove the lamps and carry them until returning to the bicycle.

Bicycle brackets and lamps readily removable from such brackets have been specially designed with this solution in view. The problem remains, however, that the lamps have to be carried by the cyclist for the period that the bicycle is parked, and this can sometimes be very inconvenient.

According to the invention, there is provided a bicycle lamp having a casing provided with a fitting enabling its readily detachable mounting to a bracket on the bicycle and a through-hole on said casing for enabling the lamp to be nonremovably mounted on to the chain or other securing means used to secure the unattended bicycle against theft.

Preferably, the lamp casing houses a battery and light bulb, and is openable to provide access thereto. In this case, the arrangement is preferably such that the non-removable mounting of the lamp on the bicycle securing means also secures the casing against opening.

Moreover, such a battery powered lamp will have an on/off switch, and the arrangement may also be such that the nonremovable mounting of the lamp on the bicycle securing means also prevents operation of the switch to the oncondition.

The securing of the casing against opening may be achieved by a two part casing each part of which has a through-hole, the two through-holes being brought into alignment when the casing is closed. The two parts of the casing may be hinged together for opening purposes.

The securing of the switch may be achieved by a switchinhibiting element which normally protrudes into the through hole and when displaced out of its normal position by passage of the bicycle securing means through the hole either prevents the switch from being moved to its on position or prevents contact closure when the switch is moved to its on position.

Two (or more) bracket-cooperating fittings may be provided on the casing, in particular to enable the lamp to be mounted either to a plate-type bracket or a ring-type bracket which encompasses the lamp casing. In the latter case, the fitting on the casing simply comprises a mechanical stop to prevent the lamp from dropping through the ring.

Front or rear use of the lamp is determined simply by the colour of a lens behind which the light bulb is mounted, and by the amperage of said bulb.

An embodiment of the bicycle lamp in accordance with the invention is diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the lamp when the casing is closed; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the closed lamp; Figure 3 shows the lamp in perspective when the casing is in course of opening; and Figure 4 shows the opened lamp from the side.

The illustrated lamp comprises a casing 10 formed in front and rear parts 12, 14 hinged together at 16 (Figure 4).

Opening the casing by relative hinging of the two parts gives access to a battery and a light bulb 18 mounted behind a lens 20, coloured white or red as appropriate. The casing also carries an accessible on/off switch 22 (Figure 3).

On the back the casing is provided with a clip (not shown) providing a slot enabling the lamp to be fitted to a platetype bicycle bracket. Additionally, the casing has a projection or lip (not shown) for limiting its insertion into a ring-type bicycle bracket, as indicated by bracket 24 in Figure 2, where the ring-type bracket is shown detached from the bicycle to which it is normally fitted.

Ir accordance with the invention, the two parts of the casing are provided with through-holes 26, 28 at the end of the casing remote from the hinge 16. The two holes 26, 28 are aligned in the closed condition of the casing to allow the casing to be threaded on to a security chain, U-clip or like bicycle security device at the same time as the security device is locked in position to prevent theft of the bicycle.

The same security device therefore now also serves to prevent theft of the bicycle lamp. Front and rear lamps can be secured at the same time.

It will be appreciated that the bicycle security device also prevents the two parts of the casing from being hinged open, so that access to the battery and/or light bulb is also prevented.

Moreover, the casing may be provided with a displaceable switch-inhibiting element 30, mechanically interconnected with the on/off switch or the switch contacts, and which normally protrudes into the through-holes 26, 28 to allow normal operation of the switch. When the lamp is threaded on to a security chain or other bicycle security device, however, the element 30 is displaced to prevent the switch contacts from being closed. In this way the lamp cannot be switched on to waste the battery whilst secured on the bicycle security device.

Claims

1. A bicycle lamp having a casing provided with a fitting enabling its readily detachable mounting to a bracket on the bicycle and a through-hole on said casing for enabling the lamp to be non-removably mounted on to the chain or other securing means used to secure the unattended bicycle against theft.

2. A bicycle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the lamp casing houses a battery and light bulb, and is openable to provide access thereto.

3. A bicycle lamp according to claim 2, wherein the nonremovable mounting of the lamp on the bicycle securing means also secures the casing against opening.

4. A bicycle lamp according to claim 2 or claim 3, having an on/off switch.

5. A bicycle lamp according to claim 4, wherein the hon- removable mounting of the lamp on the bicycle securing means also prevents operation of the switch to the oncondition.

6. A bicycle lamp according to any of claims 1 to 5, having a two part casing each part of which has a throughhole, the two through-holes being brought into alignment when the casing is closed.

7. A bicycle lamp according to claim 6, wherein the two parts of the casing are hinged together for opening purposes.

8. A bicycle lamp according to claim 4 or any claim appendant thereto, wherein the securing of the switch is achieved by a switch-inhibiting element which normally protrudes into the through-hole and when displaced out of its normal position by passage of the bicycle securing means through the hole either prevents the switch from being moved to its on position or prevents contact closure when the switch is moved to its on position.

9. A bicycle lamp according to any of claims 1 to. 8, wherein at least two bracket-cooperating fittings may be provided on the casing, in particular to enable the lamp to be mounted either to a plate-type bracket or a ring-type bracket which encompasses the lamp casing.

10. A bicycle lamp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.