US Patent No: 5,548,274

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Strobe light for a vehicle tire and wheel

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

Importance

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Abstract

The lighting device and method of this invention makes the wheel well areas of a vehicle available for displaying messages and graphical indicia. The lighting device also allows the wheel well to be illuminated during normal and emergency repairs when insufficient light is available. The lighting device further enhances the appearance of the vehicle and will attract the attention of others. The lighting device can have a sensor to monitor the rotation of the tire and has a pulse modulator to synchronize light flashes from a flash generator with information a sidewall of the tire. The tire will appear to be stopped. A stroboscopic flash tube is used to provide bright flashes of light for a short duration to illuminate the wheel well including the tire. A number of different indicia can be displayed on each tire by modulating the frequency and the phase angle of the light flashes.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

  • Assignment data not available. Check USPTO

International Classification(s)

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  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Anderson, Kent G 925 N. Griffin, Bismarck, ND 58501 5 36
Reed, Robert R Gurnee, IL 10 70

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO (2)
4,645,299 Rotary indicating device 1 1984
4,655,546 Rotary indicating device 7 1984
 
STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD. (2)
5,357,238 Wheel marker for vehicle including solar cell 6 1992
5,363,085 Wheel marker for vehicle 3 1992
 
BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE RESEARCH, INC. (1)
4,318,436 Tire sidewall addition members that undergo perceptible change during abnormal operation 25 1980
 
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY (1)
4,241,337 Appliance door position sensor arrangement 28 1979
 
SCOTT; DAVID DUANE (1)
4,881,153 Vehicle wheel lighting system 21 1989
 
SYNCRO CORPORATION (1)
4,775,919 Lighted wheel cover with a self-contained inertia-operated generator 32 1987
 
U.S. PHILIPS CORPORATION (1)
4,225,227 Multiple speed stroboscope device 4 1978
 
OTHER [CHECK PATENT PROFILE FOR ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION] (2)
4,289,376 Light reflectors 6 1979
4,430,692 Automotive vehicle wheel illumination and light reflective system 25 1981

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC. (3)
7,940,370 Interactive zoetrope rotomation 0 2008
7,940,371 Interactive zoetrope for animation of solid figurines and holographic projections 0 2010
8,139,197 Interactive zoetrope for animation of solid figurines and holographic projections 0 2011
 
OSIAS, JOEL (3)
7,377,676 Methods and apparatuses for illuminating wheel surfaces 2 2004
7,123,134 Methods and apparatuses for providing strobe effects for wheel illumination systems and wheel lighting systems 3 2004
7,126,233 Methods and apparatuses for generating electrical power in a rotating reference frame 1 2004
 
MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA (2)
6,490,508 System and method for presenting information to passengers in conveyance 1 2001
6,745,111 System and method for presenting information to passengers in conveyance 0 2002
 
OLDS, MICHAEL S. (2)
6,641,041 Vehicle tire illumination system 13 2002
7,150,549 Wheel rotational speed controlled vehicle illumination system 5 2003
 
AMERICAN VEHICULAR SCIENCES LLC (1)
7,379,800 Tire pressure monitoring using hall effect sensors 13 2006
 
DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (1)
5,893,638 Side lamp usable as a turn signal side lamp and as a side marking lamp 6 1996
 
MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A. (1)
6,798,140 Tire having an electroluminescent device 7 2003
 
MOTIONLITE, LLC (1)
7,220,031 Automobile wheel lighting system 0 2005
 
MOTORCAR PARTS OF AMERICA, INC. (1)
7,604,374 Illuminated alternator and method of operation 0 2006
 
PACCAR INC (1)
6,685,349 Marker light module 5 2001
 
TEXTRON AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY INC. (1)
6,422,725 Ground lighting device for motor vehicles 6 2000
 
TODOROV, WILLIAM (1)
7,046,131 Display method and apparatus 7 2003
 
VARAD INTERNATIONAL, INC. (1)
D497442 Flat undercar light bar 3 2003
 
OTHER [CHECK PATENT PROFILE FOR ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION] (7)
6,789,928 Automatic mechetronic wheel light device 10 2001
6,923,561 Vehicle wheel illumination device 2 2002
6,945,679 Vehicle tire illuminating apparatus 2 2002
6,817,743 Vehicle wheel illumination system 7 2003
6,910,788 LED vehicle wheel well illumination device 4 2003
7,144,142 Illuminated cover for a brake caliper 0 2004
7,175,321 Projector systems 4 2005