Antlights (TM) bicycle lights that span a bilateral safety zone

摘要

This invention comprises a flexibly-resilient system of lighting that spans a bilateral safety zone around a bicycle in the upper-rear quadrant of space around the bicycle that can be clearly seen by the driver of a vehicle approaching the bicycle from the rear. This invention can help to prevent bicyclists from being hit by a vehicle from behind during the evening or at night, especially when a bicyclist is stopped at an intersection. This bicycle lighting system may also prove useful for reducing the chances of bicyclists being hit by vehicles that are turning right at an intersection, at any time of the day. This invention corrects many of the limitations of the prior art and can be a significant advance in bicycle safety.

主权项

1. A bicycle safety lighting device comprising:
at least one flexibly-resilient light-supporting member attached to a bicycle: (a) wherein a flexibly-resilient member is a member that has a first configuration when not deflected by contact with an object external to the bicycle, has a different configuration if deflected by contact with an object external to the bicycle, and automatically returns to the first configuration after contact with the object external to the bicycle stops; and (b) wherein one or more of these flexibly-resilient members collectively span a bilateral safety zone at a single point in time, wherein this zone includes: a portion of the space to the right of the central longitudinal (front-to-back) plane that is vertical and goes through the main frame of the bicycle, a portion of the space to the left of this central longitudinal plane, a portion of the space to the rear of a lateral (side-to-side) plane that is vertical and goes though the seat post and is perpendicular to the central longitudinal plane, and a portion of the space above a horizontal plane that goes through the rear wheel axle; and a plurality of light sources on, or within, the at least one flexibly-resilient light-supporting member, wherein these light sources can be seen by someone to the rear of the bicycle unobscured by the bicycle rider; wherein this plurality of light sources collectively span from a left location which is at least one foot to the left of the central longitudinal plane to a right location which is at least one foot to the right of the central longitudinal plane; wherein there are at least three light sources in this plurality of light sources; and wherein the maximum horizontal gap between adjacent light sources as seen by someone to the rear of the bicycle is no greater than one foot.