The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 30, 1976
Filed:
Dec. 26, 1974
Frank P Brilando, Niles, IL (US);
Sidney A Heenan, Park Ridge, IL (US);
Rudolph L Schwinn, Niles, IL (US);
Jay S Waxman, Skokie, IL (US);
Schwinn Bicycle Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A bicycle wheel assembly having a safety reflector stably supported between three adjacent spokes parallel to the plane of rotation of the wheel. The reflector has a flat body with retroreflective surfaces on opposite side portions and may, as in the embodiment illustrated, have margins curved to fit the contour of the wheel rim. One of the side portions has a spoke-receiving groove for receiving and fastening to the middle one of the three adjacent spokes. The reflector is positioned in a V-shaped cage defined by the spokes and rim in such a way that the grooved surface of the reflector abuts against a selected spoke. Further, the groove is diagonal in two directions to match the standard, non-radial inclination of the spoke. In the embodiment which is illustrated in the drawings for standard 27 inch wheels, the groove is inclined 7.degree. from the plane of rotation and 5.degree. from a radial line in that plane of rotation and the outer margin is curved along a 121/4 inch radius arc. With these specific dimensions, the reflector may be assembled on a 27 inch wheel with the outer margin abutting the ends of the nipples for the three spokes involved. For other sizes of wheels, the outer margin will be symmetrical, that is, its ends will be equally spaced, with respect to the wheel rim. The reflector is held in place by a single bolt extending through the body. The bolt is threadedly engaged with a clamp having a flange with a spoke-receiving recess aligned with the spoke-receiving groove in the body. This holds the reflector firmly on the middle spoke while preventing rotation about that spoke by wedging engagement with the two adjacent spokes. The opposite retroreflective surfaces are thereby maintained upright and parallel to the plane of rotation and therefore, retroreflect light effectively and uniformly to cross traffic in both directions.