Bicycle light system
AssigneeTrek Bicycle Corporation
InventorErik van Houweling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle fork assembly includes a steering tube configured and arranged to be rotatably mounted to a front part of a frame of a bicycle. A fork crown is secured to a lower end of the steering tube and includes first and second arms that extend laterally in opposite directions from the center portion. First and second suspension systems are secured to the arms of the fork crown and a lighting system is integrated into at least one of the first and second suspension systems. The lighting system preferably includes two lights that are configured such that the respective light beams overlap to provide a single operating beam to illuminate a travel path.
Claims21
A bicycle fork assembly comprising:
- a fork crown having a center portion for being secured to a steering tube;
- a first arm and a second arm extending in opposite directions from the fork crown;
- a first and a second suspension system secured to the first and second arms, respectively;
- a brake arch extending between the first and second suspension systems;
- and
- a lighting system integrated into and supported by at least one of the first and second suspension systems, the lighting system being laterally offset from a portion of the brake arch that is between the first and second suspension systems and oriented to generally overlie the one of the first and second suspension systems.
A bicycle light system comprising:
- a first suspension fork and a second suspension fork, each suspension fork having a first member and a second member movably attached to the first member, the first and second suspension forks being oriented to support a wheel therebetween;
- and
- a first light attached to the first suspension fork and a second light attached to the second suspension fork;
- the first light and the second light oriented such that light generated by the first and second lights is aligned to form a common beam.
A method of forming a bicycle comprising:
- providing a frame having a head tube for receiving a steer tube;
- providing a fork crown for engaging the steer tube;
- providing a pair of shock absorbing forks for extending from the fork crown and connecting a wheel to the bicycle;
- and
- forming each of a pair of light housings for attachment to the pair of shock absorbing forks such that each of the light housings moves with the pair of shock absorbing forks during operation of the bicycle and so that each light housing generally overlies a respective shock absorbing fork.
A bicycle fork assembly comprising:
- a fork crown having a center portion for being secured to a steering tube;
- a first arm and a second arm extending in opposite directions from the fork crown;
- a first and a second suspension system secured to the first and second arms, respectively, each of the first and second suspension systems including an upper leg extending from the fork crown and a lower leg for engaging the upper leg such that the upper leg can move axially therein;
- a brake arch extending between the first and second suspension systems;
- and
- a lighting system including a pair of lights wherein each light is integrated into a respective lower leg of one of the first and second suspension systems.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.