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US4423473A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Safety light or the like

Assignee: JOG-O-LITE INC A CORP OF TX
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Filing: 1982-09-29
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Granted: 1983-12-27
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Expires: 2002-09-29
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Abstract

Abstract A relatively light weight, low cost compact safety light which may be worn or carried by athletes such as joggers, runners, cyclists, etc. is provided. The safety light is comprised of a light source coupleable to a battery power supply by a position sensitive switch which is sensitive to movement of the athlete and provides intermittent bursts of light which are highly visible to oncoming cars. In one embodiment, the light source is comprised of a light emitting diode coupled to one or more pen light batteries by a position sensitive switch such as a mercury switch. One or more lense members are provided to increase the visibility of the light generated by the light source. A first reflective means located within the safety light housing is utilized to reflect the light generated by the light source through the lense member while a second reflective means located on the outside of the housing provides additional reflectivity for the light generated by oncoming cars. The edges of the safety light housing are so angled or curved that the safety light can only rest on either its front or rear major surface, in which position the position sensitive switch is always off, thereby eliminating the need for any additional on/off switch. The light source may be operated from a battery source which provides current to the light source in excess of its maximum current rating to provide light of greater intensity than is normally producible from such light source. The position sensitive switch is so positioned within the housing that the light source goes on only intermittently when the safety light is being jiggled by the athlete in motion, and as a result the light source may be operated indefinitely in this over maximum rating condition without danger to the light source.

Inventors

  • 👤 J. Darrell Kirkley

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 14:03
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21L; F21L2/00; F21Y; F21Y2115/00; F21Y2115/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S362/00; Y10S362/80; Y10S362/802

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 87 words
A safety light for athletes or the like to be recognized by oncoming vehicles comprising: (a) housing including a first lens member disposed therein and adapted to contain battery means; (b) light generating means contained within said housing for generating intermittent bursts of light; (c) first reflector means located within said housing and positioned for directing light generated by said light generating means through said first lens member; and, (d) second reflector means mounted on the outer surface of said housing for reflecting light from oncoming vehicles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 87 words
A safety light for athletes or the like to be recognized by oncoming vehicles comprising: (a) housing including a first lens member disposed therein and adapted to contain battery means; (b) light generating means contained within said housing for generating intermittent bursts of light; (c) first reflector means located within said housing and positioned for directing light generated by said light generating means through said first lens member; and, (d) second reflector means mounted on the outer surface of said housing for reflecting light from oncoming vehicles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
A safety light according to claim 1 wherein said light generating means includes a light emitting diode means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 42 words
The safety light according to claim 2 wherein said light generating means includes a position sensor means mounted in said housing and operable to provide intermittent current from said battery means to said light emitting diode means when said housing is jiggled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 44 words
The safety light according to claim 2 including a second lens member disposed over said light emitting diode means for spreading the light beam generated by said light emitting diode means, thereby increasing the visibility of said light beam through said first lens member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The safety light according to claim 1 wherein said second reflector means completely encircles the outer perimeter of said first lens member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
The safety light according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes a clip member for clipping the safety light to an article of clothing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 167 words
A safety light for generating intermittent bursts of light when said safety light is jiggled by an athlete or the like, comprising: (a) a housing having first and second major surfaces and at least one edge surface and adapted to contain battery means; (b) a first lens member disposed in said first major surface; (c) light source means; (d) first reflector means for directing light generated by said light source means through said first lens member; (e) position sensor means coupled to said light source means; and, (f) connector means for coupling battery means in series with said light source means and said position sensor means; wherein, (g) said edge surface is sufficiently angled or curved with respect to said first and second major surfaces to prevent said housing from resting on said edge surface and said position sensor means is positioned within said housing for preventing said light source from being activated while said housing is resting on either of said first or second major surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 167 words
A safety light for generating intermittent bursts of light when said safety light is jiggled by an athlete or the like, comprising: (a) a housing having first and second major surfaces and at least one edge surface and adapted to contain battery means; (b) a first lens member disposed in said first major surface; (c) light source means; (d) first reflector means for directing light generated by said light source means through said first lens member; (e) position sensor means coupled to said light source means; and, (f) connector means for coupling battery means in series with said light source means and said position sensor means; wherein, (g) said edge surface is sufficiently angled or curved with respect to said first and second major surfaces to prevent said housing from resting on said edge surface and said position sensor means is positioned within said housing for preventing said light source from being activated while said housing is resting on either of said first or second major surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
A safety light according to claim 7 wherein said light source means is comprised of light emitting diode means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 43 words
The safety light according to claim 8 including a second lens member disposed over said light emitting diode for spreading the light beam generated by said light emitting diode means, thereby increasing the visibility of said light beam through said first lens member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 18 words
The safety light according to claim 7 wherein said position sensor means is comprised of a mercury switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
The safety light according to claim 7 including a second reflector means mounted on the outer surface of said housing for reflecting light from oncoming vehicles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
The safety light according to claim 7 wherein said second reflector means completely encircles the outer perimeter of said first lens member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 24 words
The safety light according to claim 7 wherein said housing includes a clip member for clipping the safety light to an article of clothing.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2854563A Cited
US3321617A Cited
US4309743A Cited
US4296459A Cited
US4319309A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-12-26 1987-06-27 1987-12-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-12-26 1991-06-27 1991-12-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-12-26 1995-06-27 1995-12-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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