Equipment rack with lighting

Abstract

An equipment rack is described with an integrated lighting system. The integrated lighting system may connect to the vehicle's electrical system to provide tail light, brake light, hazard, reverse light, and turn signal functions. The lighting system may include an automatic connection for lighting attached to a rack extension when the rack extension is attached to a base rack. The lighting may also be visible on a pivoting rack when the rack is stowed or in use to carry bicycles. The lighting elements may be disposed on or inside the equipment rack and may be provided with internal wiring to connect the lights to the vehicle's electrical system.

1 . An equipment rack for a vehicle, the equipment rack comprising:
 a configurable hub attached to the vehicle;   a support member attached to the configurable hub;   a light emitting element attached to the support member.   
     
     
         2 . The equipment rack of  claim 1  wherein the configurable hub pivots from a first configuration to a second configuration, and the light emitting element is visible in the first configuration and the second configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The equipment rack of  claim 1  wherein the light emitting element is controlled by the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The equipment rack of  claim 3  wherein the light emitting element is electrically connected to the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The equipment rack of  claim 3  wherein the light emitting element is controlled by the vehicle to function as a tail light, turn signal, brake light, hazard light, or reverse light for the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The equipment rack of  claim 1  further comprising a lens disposed to scatter the light emitted by the light emitting element. 
     
     
         7 . The equipment rack of  claim 6  wherein the lens scatters the light emitted by the light emitting element over an arc that is substantially 90 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The equipment rack of  claim 7  wherein the arc is measured in a substantially vertical plane. 
     
     
         9 . The equipment rack of  claim 2  further comprising a lens disposed to scatter the light emitted by the light emitting element; wherein the lens is disposed to scatter a portion of the light from the light emitting element in a substantially horizontal plane when the configurable hub is in the first configuration and the second configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The equipment rack of  claim 1  wherein the equipment rack further comprises a removable rack extension for attachment to the support member, and the light emitting element is attached to the removable rack extension. 
     
     
         11 . The equipment rack of  claim 10  wherein attachment of the removable rack extension to the support member connects the light emitting device to an electrical system of the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The equipment rack of  claim 10  wherein the configurable hub pivots from a first configuration to a second configuration, and the light emitting element is visible in the first configuration and the second configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The equipment rack of  claim 12  wherein the light emitting element is controlled by the vehicle to function as a tail light, turn signal, brake light, hazard light, or reverse light for the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The equipment rack of  claim 10  further comprising a lens disposed to scatter the light emitted by the light emitting element. 
     
     
         15 . The equipment rack of  claim 14  wherein the lens scatters the light emitted by the light emitting element over an arc that is substantially 90 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The equipment rack of  claim 15  wherein the arc is measured in a substantially vertical plane. 
     
     
         17 . The equipment rack of  claim 12  further comprising a lens disposed to scatter the light emitted by the light emitting element; wherein the lens is disposed to scatter a portion of the light from the light emitting element in a substantially horizontal plane when the configurable hub is in the first configuration and the second configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The equipment rack of  claim 1  wherein the light emitting element emits light over an arc measured in a substantially vertical plane. 
     
     
         19 . The equipment rack of  claim 18  wherein the arc is at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The equipment rack of  claim 3  wherein the electrical connected to the vehicle by a magnetic connector.