Patent US3781082A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3781082A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reflector mount for spoked wheel
Assignee: Beatrice Companies Inc
•
Filing: 1972-07-31
•
Granted: 1973-12-25
•
Expires: 1992-07-31
Abstract
Abstract Side reflectors mountable between adjacent spokes of a bicycle wheel, each reflector having an obverse side with a reflector element and a reverse side with frictional locking tabs formed at opposite ends. Closely dimensioned locking spaces are between the tabs and the reverse side of the plate so that adjacent bicycle spokes may be captured within the spaces. The adjacent spokes urge portions of the locking tabs away from the reverse side of the plate, and thereby assume frictional locking engagement with the reflector.
Inventors
- 👤 H Linder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:09
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62J; B62J6/00; B62J6/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A reflector assembly for mounting to adjacent spokes of a bicycle wheel, said spokes diverging from the hub to the rim of the wheel, including a molded plastic plate, a reflector element mounted on said plate, said plate having an obverse side, said plate having a reverse side on which a spaced pair of frictional locking tabs are formed, each tab being an angle formed by a yieldable arm lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the plate and a connecting arm joining said yieldable arm to the reverse side of said plate, each arm having an entry to receive one of an adjacent pair of spokes, a locking space between each yieldable arm and the reverse side of the plate, and said yieldable arm being normally spaced from said plate by said connecting arm a distance less than the diameter of said adjacent bicycle spoke, whereby the captured spoke in the locking space urges said yieldable arm away from the plate in frictional locking engagement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A reflector assembly for mounting to adjacent spokes of a bicycle wheel, said spokes diverging from the hub to the rim of the wheel, including a molded plastic plate, a reflector element mounted on said plate, said plate having an obverse side, said plate having a reverse side on which a spaced pair of frictional locking tabs are formed, each tab being an angle formed by a yieldable arm lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the plate and a connecting arm joining said yieldable arm to the reverse side of said plate, each arm having an entry to receive one of an adjacent pair of spokes, a locking space between each yieldable arm and the reverse side of the plate, and said yieldable arm being normally spaced from said plate by said connecting arm a distance less than the diameter of said adjacent bicycle spoke, whereby the captured spoke in the locking space urges said yieldable arm away from the plate in frictional locking engagement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A reflector assembly as in claim 1, wherein the reflector is on the obverse side and wherein a second reflector element is affixed to the reverse side of the plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A reflector assembly as in claim 1, wherein said locking tabs are integrally molded with said plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A reflector assembly as in claim 2, wherein said plate is elongated between said opposite ends, said locking tabs being open towards the center of the plate, whereby said tabs are outboard of adjacent spokes near the wheel hub and engage the spokes as the device is moved towards the wheel rim.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A reflector assembly as in claim 4 wherein a plurality of locking projections extend into each of the locking spaces, said projections being spaced apart a distance sufficient to capture a circumferential portion of the spokes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A reflector assembly as in claim 1, wherein said plate and locking tabs are integrally molded plastic, and said reflector element is a separate unit mounted to the obverse side of said plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A reflector assembly as in claim 2, wherein said plate has annular mounting ribs formed on the obverse and reverse sides, and said reflector elements are mounted over said mounting ribs, the interiors of each of said reflector elements having annular sealing beads bonded to the tops of the opposite mounting ribs after exposure to sonic vibrations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A reflector assembly as in claim 5 wherein said projections are integrally formed on each yieldable arm, each spoke being captured between adjoining projections on each arm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
A reflector assembly as in claim 8 which further includes a recessed portioN in each backer plate opposite each of said yieldable arms, a projection on each of the yieldable arms adjacent the locking tab entry being raised and extending to the opposite recessed portion to normally close the locking tab entry, whereby said yieldable arm must be displaced sufficiently to remove the raised projection from the recessed portion and open the entry to allow introduction and removal of the spoke.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
A reflector assembly as in claim 9 wherein the recessed portion is a cutout in the plate, said raised projection normally extending into said cutout, a lowered projection spaced from said raised projection to define a locking space between the projections on each yieldable arm, and said raised projection having a trailing straight face adjoining the locking space, said projections and striaght faces being canted so that the straight faces converge towards the hub of the wheel when the reflector device is mounted in correct orientation, whereby said straight faces abut the divergent adjacent spokes captured in the locking spaces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |