GB2453106A

GB2453106A - Emergency stopping system for a bicycle/tricycle

Info

Publication number: GB2453106A
Application number: GB0718600A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Hope Robertson; David Ian Atkins
Original assignee: BIKE STOPPA Ltd
Current assignee: BIKE STOPPA Ltd
Priority date: 2007-09-25
Filing date: 2007-09-25
Publication date: 2009-04-01
Also published as: GB0718600D0

Abstract

A mechanical device which can be fixed to a bicycle or tricycle which provides a fail safe mechanism for remote braking of the bicycle or tricycle, particularly when a signal between a transmitter and receiver is broken. The stopping mechanism may comprise a friction pad that is held out of contact of the wheel by a solenoid and when the solenoid is released falls onto the wheel under the effect of gravity.

Description

EMERGENCY STOPPING SYSTEM

Description:-

This invention relates to a device that allows a 3 party to activate an emergency system to stop a wheeled vehicle particularly a child's bicycle which is fitted with or without stabilisers. The invention will be described with reference to stopping a child's bicycle, but it could be applied equally to vehicles with more than 2 wheels such as a tricycle.

When children are learning how to ride a bicycle they manually operate a conventional braking system to slow the bicycle down to a stop. This has been fitted by the manufacturer. On the smaller bicycles, which come with stabilisers fitted or have stabilisers fitted, the standard is a front brake only.

However, the use of conventional brakes by the child can lead to a number of difficulties.

The result of which causes the parent/adult supervising the child riding the bicycle to lose control of the situation and which ultimately puts the child's safety at risk.

This occurs for 3 main reasons:- 1. Children do not register danger.

2. Children do not remember rules.

3. Children do no listen and respond to instructions.

4. Children cannot operate the braking system correctly and effectively. :. 25

With young children they start learning to cycle on the pavement, with the adult usually walking behind them so that they can see what is going on -often running to keep up and to maintain control of the situation. The adult cannot have them next to them if they are pushing a pram or have more than one child. The following difficult situations can arise. * S. * . * **.*

1. As they approach a road crossing they initially ignore it and just continue cycling across with no appreciation of road safety.

2. Even after several outings, the child's ability to remember the rules will frequently mean they will continue across the road without attempting to stop on the pavement. This is also made more likely, as at this age, the excitement of riding the bike itself together with the speed means they are easily distracted and not taking the environment into consideration, ignoring safety and in this example the road.

3. Adults are often ignored for many different reasons even when shouting instructions, for example, the child could be following older siblings or just simply likes riding away from the adult for more attention. So when shouting "slow down" or "stop!" they continue to ride ahead.

4. Often the conventional brakes fitted to the bicycles are too difficult to operate effectively even on the flat, and the child reverts to using his/her feet (shoes) as a method of stopping. The shoes can often catch between the ground and pedal, having the potential to cause the child to fall off the bike, particularly downhill.

This occurs very frequently when approaching a road, with the end result that the bicycle and more importantly the child end up partially on the road.

WO 2004/094221 relates to an electromagnetic system which can be used for remote control of a child's bicycle. The device however is not fail safe and has limited operability.

To address these flaws with the current technology an emergency stopping system activated by a 3 party is provided. The primary function of this device is to emergency stop the bicycle; it has been designed fail safe, both in control system philosophy and gravity to activate the mechanism. This ensures that it works every time and in all situations. * *

The present invention therefore provides an apparatus for the remote control of a bicycle or tricycle comprising a brake activated by remote control wherein the brake is activated in a fail safe manner. In a preferred embodiment the brake comprises a friction device which falls onto the wheel under gravity when activated.

::::. In a further embodiment the remote control provides a signal between a transmitter and * :" receiver positioned on the bicycle and the brake is activated by breaking the signal.

The invention further provides a system for the remote control of a bicycle or tricycle comprising a remote signal transmitter and a receiver for attachment to the bicycle or tricycle wherein when the signal between the transmitter and the receiver is broken a brake is applied, in a preferred embodiment the brake comprises a friction pad which falls onto the rear wheel or wheels under gravity when activated.

In a further preferred embodiment the break in the signal retracts a pin to release the friction pad.

The invention further provides a bicycle or tricycle provided with a system or apparatus previously described.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the mechanical device installed on a bicycle with 3 positions of the friction pad marked. Position (A) -Primed and held away from rear tyre, Position (B) -Release and dropping onto rear tyre under gravity, Position (C) -Driven into locked position against the rear tyre by wheel momentum Figure 2 shows the mechanical device from a vertical view Figure 3 shows the mechanical device from a side view The simple design shown in Fig I has been designed so that it can be provided installed on the bicycle or can be installed by the purchaser. In the preferred embodiment it is fixed to the bicycle to the main vertical central shaft with 2 blocks (1) and 2 bolts (2). The : * 25 adjustment slider (3) moves along the block and is held when set to the correct position with the fixing screw (4). The overhang edge of the slider with the main block stops any rotation movement. The setup of the slider is required to ensure that the friction pad (5) that stops the rear wheel is at the correct distance from the wheel when held by the S..

trigger pin (6). This allows the design to fit the majority of bicycles currently supplied to the market with no modifications. The packaging will include the instruction to allow ::::. assembly.

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The device is connected to a receiver and a power pack mounted on the bicycle for interaction with the remote supervisor. The receiver maybe conveniently be part of the unit. The receiver when receiving a signal from the transmitter held by the adult supervisior activates a solenoid which retains the trigger pin in place to hold the friction pad (5) in position (A) Position (A) shown in figure 1 is when the friction pad (5) is held in position remote from the wheel by the trigger pin (6) and the bicycle is ready to ride.

To activate the emergency system the supervising adult presses a button preferably the only button, on the transmitter such as a key Fob, which cuts its signal to the receiver on the bicycle. This in turn cuts the power to the trigger solenoid. This automatically retracts the trigger pin (6) and hence the friction pad (5) drops due to gravity -Emergency stopping the bicycle as the friction pad engages the rear wheel, instantaneously stopping it. (Position (C) figure 1) To reset the device:-With the friction pad (5) in the down position (C) push the bicycle backwards, rotating the rear wheel. This will lift the friction pad to position (B). Press the single button on the transmitter to allow the trigger pin (6) to retract. This will allow the supervising adult to move the friction pad (5) into position (A), let go of the transmitter button to restore the signal and energise the solenoid -pushing the trigger pin out. This will then hold the friction pad in position (A) allowing the bicycle to be ridden again.

In this way the transmitter is required to reset the mechanism and hold the friction pad.

and as such it cannot be done by the rider, child. So once activated by the adult the bicycle will come to an emergency stop and cannot be moved by the rider in the conventional way until reset by the adult. * .**

Other optional fail safe features include:-The design feature includes a pin (7) which stops the friction pad (5) from going beyond **** * :.: vertical and thus ensures that it will always drop onto the wheel. Friction pad (5) which is the moving part is held in position with a trigger pin (6) when energised -Power on from battery is required. This means if the power source is lost then the pin trigger retracts * * . using gravity. So the friction pad (5) drops due to gravity the same way every time -engaging the rear wheel, emergency stopping the bicycle.

The transmitter sends out a continuous signal when turned on, this signal turns on the power to the trigger solenoid holding the pin (6) in an outward position, which holds the friction pad (5) up (Position A figure 1). Again if the transmitter battery runs out, the signal would stop, resulting in the power being cut to the trigger solenoid. This automatically retracts the pin (6) and hence the friction pad (5) drops -stopping the bicycle.

If the bicycle is taken outside the range of the transmitter signal either in distance or obstructions then again the signal would be broken, power to trigger pin cut, pin (6) retracts under gravity and the friction pad (5) drops -stopping the bicycle.

This device design means that there has been no change to a conventional bicycle's operation when the rider is pedalling and so the rider can learn to ride with normal resistance. This is due to the fact there are no contact parts whilst moving. This will allow the child to develop his cycling skills as per normal.

With signals unique between the transmitter and a receiver (9) on the bicycle, no interference will be generated.

The system of the present invention provides the following benefits:-1. The emergency stopping system has been design to be Fail Sate and will work every time. This has been achieved as it requires the power to be on and a continuous signal for the bicycle to be functional, so that it can be ridden. So should any power failures or interruption of signal occur then the emergency system will trigger and stop the bicycle.

:. 25 2. The emergency stopping system when triggered the friction pad will stop the rear wheel every time instantaneously, stopping the bicycle quickly.

3. The emergency stopping system allows the adult to take the child out with confidence that they are in control, hence reducing stress levels. Knowing that they can stop the bicycle at any time will increase the usage and enjoyment of the bicycle, It will also stop the need for the rider using their shoes to stop the bicycle, as the adult can stop the bicycle any time, removing the need for the shoe option. It will also help train the child's behaviour when taken on a bicycle ride.

4. The emergency stopping system when activated will emergency stop the bicycle and will not be able to be reset by the child as the system requires the operator with the transmitter to perform this function.

5. The emergency stopping system stops a child using the bicycle without permission as the transmitter is needed for the continuous signal to allow the bicycle to function correctly. Without this signal the friction pad (5) will be in contact with the rear wheel stopping its movement. This makes the bicycle immobile.

6. The emergency stopping system when set in the normal prime position there is no additional resistance to the bicycle operation. This will ensure that the normal learning process has not been affected by installing the emergency stopping system.

7. The emergency stopping system is quick and easy to fit.

8. The emergency stopping system is designed to be adjustable to fit the majority of makes of bicycles in both fixing to the bicycle main vertical shaft and the setting adjustment slider to the rear wheel.

9. The emergency stopping system can be fitted to bicycles with both front and rear braking systems. It is also independent of them and as such does not affect the learning speed and experience for the rider.

10. The emergency stopping system can be used on bicycles with both inflated and solid tyres, also with and without stabilisers. *.S. * * S...

11. The emergency stopping system can be fitted with uO rings as the friction * 30 surface which will allow easy replacement if or when warn. * S. * . . S...

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Claims

1. Apparatus for the remote control of a bicycle or tricycle comprising a brake activated by remote control wherein the brake is activated in a fail safe manner.

2, An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the brake comprises a friction device which falls onto the wheel under gravity when activated.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the remote control provides a signal between a transmitter and a receiver positioned on the bicycle and the brake is activated by breaking the signal.

4. A system for the remote control of a bicycle comprising a remote signal transmitter and a receiver for attachment to the bicycle or tricycle wherein when the signal between the transmitter and the receiver is broken a brake is applied.

5. A system according to claim 4 in which the brake comprises a friction pad which falls onto the rear wheel or wheels under gravity when activated.

6. A system according to claim 5 in which the break in the signal retracts a pin to release the friction pad.

7. A system according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 provided with means to prevent the friction pad positioning past the vertical relative to the rear wheel or wheels. * .

8. A bicycle or tricycle provided with a system or apparatus according to any of the preceding claims. * .

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