Amusement and alert accessory for bicycles

Abstract

An accessory which produces distinct sounds, in order ro alert others of the presence of a bicycle. The accesssory is forme of a bicycle mounting assembly and a flapper mounting assembly. The bicycle mounting assembly clamps around a member near either the front or rear tire of a bicycle. The flapper mounting assenmbly interchangeably attaches a flapper to the bicycle mounting assembly. When fully installed, the flapper is disposed within the spokes of the bicycle tire. Therefore, when the bicycle is in motion, the spokes impact the flapper producing a sound. Depending on the configuration and size of the flapper, different sounds and sound intensities are produced.

I claim  
     
         1 . An access ry for a wheeled vehi le, comprising: 
 an enclosure,    a first attachment means for attaching said enclosure onto the wheeled vehicle proximate a wheel,    an interchangable sound producing element,    a second attachment means for detachably attaching said sound producing element to said enclosure.    wherein when said sound producing element is attached to said enclosure, a portion of the wheel impacts said interchangable sound producing element, thereby producing a sound.    
     
     
         2 . The accessory of  claim 1  wherein said first attachment means comprises: 
 a clamp having a generally circular channel running therethrough,  
 and a tightening means for a tightening said clamp around a generally cylindrical member of the wheeled device.  
 
     
     
         3 . The accessory of  claim 1  wherein said interchangable sound producing element is generally planar.  
     
     
         4 . The accessory of  claim 1  further comprising a texture on a surface of said sound producing element.  
     
     
         5 . The accessory of  claim 1  further comprising voids located within said sound producing elements.  
     
     
         6 . The acessory of  claim 1  further comprising a chamber within said enclosure  
     
     
         7 . The accessory of  claim 1  further comprising a resonance chamber located within said enclosure, said resonanccce chamber amplifying vibrations of said sound producing element  
     
     
         8 . An accessory for a velocipede, comprising: 
 a enclosure,    a first attachment means for attaching said enclosure onto the velocipede,    an interchangable und producing element,    a ec nd attachment means f r interchangeably attaching said interchangabl s und producing element t said enclosure,    wherein when said sound producing element is attached to said enclosure, a portion of the wheel impacts said interchangable sound producing element, thereby producing a sound.    
     
     
         9 . The accessory of  claim 8  wherein said first attachment means comprises: 
 a clamp having a generally circular channel running therethrough,  
 and a tightening means for tightening said clamp around a generally cylindrical member of the velocipede.  
 
     
     
         10 . The accessory of  claim 9  wherein said generally cylindrical member is chosen from the group of members consisting of a prong of a velocipede frame fork, a seat stay, a chain stay, and a fender brace.  
     
     
         11 . The accessory of  claim 8  wherein said second attachment means has at least one projection which selectively interlocks within said enclosure.  
     
     
         12 . The accessory of  claim 11  wherein each of said at least one projection has an engagement position and a disengagement position, wherein when in said engagement position said at least one projection is engaged with said enclosure, and wherein when in said disengagement position said at least one projection is disengaged from said enclosure.  
     
     
         13 . The accessory of  claim 12  further comprising an actuation means, said actuation means moving said at least on structure between said engagement position and said disengagement position.  
     
     
         14 . The accessory of  claim 8  wherein said second attachment means has a plurality of structures which selectively interlocks within said enclosure.  
     
     
         15 . The accessory of  claim 8  wherein said interchangable sound producing element is a generally planar member disposed within the path of spokes of a wheel of the velocipede, wherein when the wheel on the velocipedes In motion, the spokes impact said interchangable sound producing element to produce a sound.  
     
     
         16 . In combination: 
 a bicycle, having at least ne wheel having spokes,    a sound access ry, c mprising: 
 a enclosure,  
 a clamping means for clamping said enclosure the bicycle proximate said at least one tire,  
 an interchangable sound producing element,  
 a second attachment means for detachably attaching said sound producing element to said enclosure,  
 wherein when said sound accessory is clamped onto said bicycle and said interchangable sound producing element is attached to said enclosure, said spokes impact ssaid sound producing element to produce a sound.  
   
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 16  wherein said enclosure has a chamber located therein.  
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 16  further comprising a plurality of structures having an engagement position and a disengagement position, wherein when in said engagement position said structures are engaged with said enclosure, and wherein when in said disengagemnet position said structures are disengaged from said enclosure.  
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18  further comprising an actuation means, said actuation means moving said plurality of structures between said engagement position and said disengagement position.  
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 16  wherein said second attachment means comprises: 
 a mounting plate,  
 a third attachment means for attaching said interchangable sound producing element to said mounting assembly,  
 at least one structure depending from said mounting assembly, said at least one structure having a projection, said projection being sized to fit within an opening within said enclosure,  
 an actuation means for releasing said projection from said opening within said enclosure.  
 
     
     
         21 . The combination of  claim 20  further comprising a guide, said guide extending from said mounting assembly and sized to fit within a channel within said enclosure, wherein said guiding means guides said mounting assembly when said m unting assembly is slid int positi n within said enclosure, with said nclosure c ntain alignm nt groov n t p and bott m of channel.