CA2036487A1 - Warning device for a bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A warning device for incorporation in the handle-bar of a bicycle has a casing with a tubular portion and a head portion. The tubular portion fits inside the end of the handle-bar while the head portion abuts the end of the handle-bar. A flat spring member with an arc like configuration extends longitudinally outside the tubular portion to engage the inside of the handle bar and retain the casing in its installed position. There is a battery cell within the tubular portion as well as circuitry. A piezoelectric transducer mounted inside the head portion is connected to the circuitry to form an oscillatory circuit. A switch is mounted externally of the head portion, preferably extending back over the end of the handle bar. One side of the switch is connected through the spring member to one side of the cell and the other side of the switch is connected to the oscillatory circuit. Closing of the switch supplies power to the oscillatory circuit causing the transducer to generate a warning sound.

Description

~3~87 ~Pl~
WARNING I)EVICE FOP~ A BICYCLE
This invention relates to a warning device -for a bicycle, and in pærticular to a warning device or sound ge-nerating device adapted for disposition in the and portion o~ the 5 handle-bar of a bicycle.
The use of bicycles ~or exercise and recrea-tion as well as for transportation has been increasing and it appears the number of bicycles in use may continue to increase. The large number of bicycles increa~s the situations in which there may 10 be the threat o~ an accidental injury due to collisions between bicyclists and other vehicles or pedestrians.
Many bicycles are provided wi-th bells for use as warning devices so that the bicyclist may aler-t other vehicles and pedestrians to the presence of the bicyclist. The bell has 15 limitations. The volume of the sound generated by a bell may be too low to aler-t o-ther vehicles or pedestrians, particularly in a noisy heavy traffic area, and-the pitch ~nay be too high.
United States patent No. 4,915,054, Vidovic et al, issued 20 April 10, t990 descr:ibes a warning device for a bicycle. A
special large handgrip fits over the handle-bar of a bicycle and has a por-tion extending to one side which incorpora-tes a pres.surized gas cylinder. An ac-tuator opens a valve which directs pressurized gas towards a diaphragm. The diaph~M~m 25 is caused to vibrate, geneIating a sound which issues f!rom 1 horn-shaped part extendirlg to one sicle Or the grip. I'his warning device providcs a much gre~-ter volume oE ~ound than a bell. ~lowever, it requires -that the regular handgrip be replaced by a much larger special handgrip which incorporates 30 the pressurizecl gas cylinder externally of the handle-bar itself, and which ex-tends to one side of the handle-bar It is, of course, known to incorporate a llght assembly within the end of a bicycle hændle-bar. For axample, United States pa-tents Nos. 4,623,964, Scho-tt et al, issued Novembe~
36 18, 1986, and 4,779,169, Cruze, issued October 18, 1988, each show a light assembly which is mounted in -the end of a handle-bar and has a light cover or lens projecting beyond the end of the handle-bar to provide æ vis:ible light. These ~3~87 2 AP1~4Ch assemblies for a safe-ty light are no-t s~i-table Eor use as an audible warnlng device. Souncl generating equipmen-t reqllires more spaee than a ligh-t bulb and is more complex.
It is an objec-t of the inven-tion to provide a warning 5 device for a bicycle which generates an audible warning signal and which is readily moun-ted within the handle-bar o-f a bicycle.
It is another object of the invention to provide a warning device for a bicycle that is of simple construction 10 wi-th a readily accessible operating switch.
The present inven-tion is for a warning device -for generating an audible sound and adapted for incorporation in the hand]e-bar of a bicycle. The warning device is o~ simple construction with a t~bular portion-for fitting within the end 15 opening of a handle-bar and a head portion which abuts the end of the handle-bar and preferably also abuts the end of a handgrip positioned adjacent -the end of the handle-bar. The tubular portion con-tains drive circuitry connected with a transducer in the head portion. A switch member extends from 20 the head portion, preferably extending over part of -the handgrip, and comprises a switch for opera-ting the drive circuit and hence the transducer.
The warning device may be retained in the handle-bar by means of a spring member which has an arc-like c~Jn~iguratior 25 and extends longi-tudina:lly externally Oe th~3 tUbll.L~:r pOrt:iOrl from a position adjacent the head port,ion, that; is the proximal end o-l' the tubl~lar portion, to the opposit,e end or dista] end of -the tubular portion. When the -tubular portion is inserted into the open end of a handle-bar, the spring 30 member engages the inner surface o-E the handle-bar and is deformed. The engagement o the spring ~nember with the inner surface o-E the handle-bar re-tains the warning device in position wi-th the tubular portion substantially entirely within the handle-bar. The warning device may be wi-thdrawn 35 by applying su~ficient force to overcome the fric-tiona] forces due to the engagemen-t between the spring member and the handle-bar.

2 0 ~ 7 3 APlg~A
ln preferred embodiments of the inven-tion, the switch member comprises a pressure-actuated membrane o-r diaphra~m switch housed in a flexible sleeve and clisposed adjacent the handgrip. The swi-tch can be actuated by squeezing the switch 5 member against -the handgrip. Preferably the switch member is pliable and can be conformed to the contour of the underlyin~
handgrip.
The drive circuitry may comprise a power source, for example an electric cell, housed within the tubular portion.
The circuitry and the transducer may form an oscillator and may include an amplifier to cause the transducer to vibrate, generating an audible sound.
The warning device is simple and easy to install or mount. The operating switch is readily available for 15 actuation.
According -to one embodiment of the invention there is provided a warning device for incorporation in the handle-bar of a bicycle, the handle-bar comprising a handle-bar wall of generally circular cross-section defining a hollow central 20 portion, said warning device comprising a tubular portion for fitting within the hollow central portion of the handle-bar, a head portion having a first wall fixed to a firs-t end of the tubular portion and a second wall spaced ou-twardly from the first wall defining with a peripheral wall a compartment, -the 25 second wall having a sound passing opening, a pieY~oelcctr:ic transducer mounted within the compartment, oircllLt mcans within the tubular por-tion connected with -the transduccr to Eorm an oscillatory circu:Lt, means for supplying electric power to -the oacillatory circuit Eor generating an audible 30 sound, and swi-tch means extending from the head portion and connected between the means for supplying electric power and the circuit means whereby operating the switch means to a closed condition applies electric power to the circuit means and transducer causing an audible sound to he generated.
An embodimen-t of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyin~
drawings, in which:

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4 AP~ C~
F.igure 1 is a ~ectional side v:iew r.) e a warning device according to the invention;
Figure 2 ls arl ex-ploded sec-tional v:iew, slightly enl.argecl, o~ -the c1evice of -the inven-tion;
5Figure 2A is a partial sectional side view showing the head portion of an alternate form o~ the invention;
Figure 3 is a schematic diag:ram showing a form of circuit suitable for use in the invention; and Figure ~ is a perspective view of a warning de~ice 10 according to -the invention.
Referring -to Figure 1, there is shown the end o~ a handle-bar 10 having thereon a handgrip 11. The ends 12 o-f the handle-bar 10 and the handgrip 11 are con~eniently co-extensive. As shown also in Figure 4, a tubular portion 14 15 and a head portion 15 comprise the casing o-f the audible warning devi.ce. The tubular portion 14 and -the head por-tion 15 are preferably of an insulating material, such as a plastics material, for example polypropylene.
Referring for -the moment to Figures 2 and 2A, -the head 20 portion 15 is shown in Figure 2 as having a radially ex-tending base 16 with a circular out--turned -flange 17 and a cap 18.
The cap 18 is secured to flange 17 using an adhesive, such as an epoxy :resin type adhesive.
An alternative arrangement is shown in Figure 2A wh:ich 25 shows a base 16 wi-th a flange t7 as :in :Figure 2, but di.~-~ers i,n -that it shows a cap 18~ which extends ou-twarclly o:~ ~lange 17 and has, at spaced points on its periphery, i,nwardly directed clips or ~astenin~ members 20 wh:ich proj~ct behind base 16 when cap 18A is installecl to hold cap 18A agains-t 30 flange 17. It will be sean in Figure 2A -that the end of handgrip 11 must be recessed slightly to accommodate clips 20.
Alternately the base 16 must be spaced outwardly a short distance.
Referring once again to Figure 1 and to Figure 2, the 35 tubular portion 14 has a circuit board 21 mounted at the proximal end, -that is at the end adjacent the head portion 15.
Suitable circuitry is on the circuit board 21 but i9 not shown in this drawing. It will be described subsequently with 2 0 3 6 4 8 r~

re-~erence to Fi~ure 3. A power source, such as an electric cell 2Z or a bat-tery if the -tubular por-tion is leng-thened, is contained w:i-thin tubular por-tion 14. A ~pring contac-t 23 interconnec-ts an end o-f cell 22 and the circui-try of circui-t 5 board 21. The other end of cell 22 con-tacts an end 24 of a longitudinally e~-tending, flat leaf spring member 25 o-f electrically conduc-ting material. The spring member 25 passes through an opening 26 in tubular por-tion 14 at the dis-tal encl, and extends longitudinally of the casing -to the proxima:L end 10 of tubular portion 14, tha-t is substantially to the junc-tion of tubular portion 14 and head portion 15, where it passes through the casing and projects within the compartment formed by the casing walls. An end cap or closure 27 has a head 28 and a screw portion 30. There may be a small internal ~lange 15 31 at the distal end of tubular portion 14 which has an internal thread 32 for threaded engagemen-t with screw por-tion 30. When the screw portion 30 of closure 27 is engaged wi-th thread 32 and closure 27 rota-ted, -the end of closure 27 engages the end 24 of spring member 25 and presses -the end 24 20 inwardly against the terminal of cell 22. This ensures good contact and also biases spring member 25 outwardly into an arc-like configuration. When tubular portion 14 is inserted into the handle-bar 10, the arc-like cont`igura-tion deforms slig~h-tly as -the spring member 25 is pressed agairlst the inner 25 surface of -the handle-bar 10. This en~ures ~ood er:ictionaL
engagement and retains the tubu:Lar portion 14 firmLy inside handle-bar 10. The tubular portion 10 may be ~ithdrawn by application of su~ficient force -to head por-tion 16.
Within head portion 15 is a piezoelec-tric transducer 33, 30 such as is available commercially under the type name PKM29-3A0 by Murata Manufac-turing Co. Ltd. 9 Japan. The transducer 33 is mounted1 for example by bonding with an adhesive, to a tublllar insert 34 in head portion 15. Sou~d vibrations genera-ted by transducer 33 are emitted -through opening 35 35 defined by the walls of tubular insert 34 The opening 35 may, if desired, be sealed by a flexible plas-tic membrane to exclllde moisture.

203~48 ~

6 AP1~4~A
The piezoelectric transducer has three conn~ctions made to it. These connec-tions are a power connection, a feedback connec-tion, and a common connection or "ground". While the connections may be made directly by soldering, it is preferred 5 to form three pads or projections on the inner sur-~ace of base 16, which are connected by wires to the circuitry, and which engage appropriate points on the -transducer 33 when the head por-tion 15 is assembled. The pads will be referred to in connection with Figure 3.
Mounted to the side of head portion 15 is a switch arm 36. Switch arm 36 has an elongate member 37, one end of which extends into, and seals, a slot in the flange 17. The other end of member 37 terminates in a flat sleeve portion 38 containing a pressure-opera-ted membrane swi-tch 40. Two 15 lengths of stiff, yet pliable, copper wire 42A and 42B, respectively, extend through the member 37 to con~ect the switch 40 to the circuit board 21, as will be described later with respect to Figure 3.
The member 37 is preferably of flexible insulating 20 material 3 such as a plastics material, and the flat sleeve member 38 is of a compressible or highly -flexible insulating ma-terial definirlg a space in which switch 40 is mounted. The pliability of the copper wires 42A and 42B allows the switch arm to be conformed to -the ~urface of the harld~r~p by fiIm 25 pressure on sleeve 37 once -the device has beerl :installed in the handle bar.
To operate the warning device, pressure is applied to switch arm 36, particularly pressure in -the area indicated by arrow 41, to press switch arm 36 against handgrip 11 and flex 30 the material of flat member 38 to compress and close membrane switch 40.
Reference was previously made to Figure 2A where there is shown a form of the invention with head portion 15 comprising a cap lBA fastened to base 16 wi-th clips or 35 fas-tening members ~0. Figure 2A is shown having pads or contact members 43, 44 and 45. This is the pre-ferred manner of making connection between the circuitry of board ~1 and transducer 33 when it is installed.

~3~

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Ref'err;r1~f now -to FiguIe 3, -there is sh~wn one s:imple form Qf circuitry sui-table for use in the device of t,he invention. Sul-table known alterna-te forms o-f circuitry may be used. Cell 22 is shown connected to -the base of transistor 5 46 which is on circuit board 21. The collec-tor o-f'-transistor 46 is connected through a series arrangement of resistors 47 and 48 to a conductor 50. Conduc-tor 50 is connected -to pad ~5 and represents a common or ground connection. The emi~,-ter o-~ transis-tor 46 is connec-ted via resistor 61 and conductor lO 5~ to pad 43. This represents the drive connection or power connection. Conductor 53 is connec-ted at one end to pad 44 and at the other end to the junction between resis-tors 47 and 48. This represents the feedback connection from transducer 33. The other terminal of cell 22 is connected through end l5 24 and spring member 25 to conductor or wire 42A. Conductor or wire 42B connects a side of switch 40 to conduc-tor 50. The other side of switch 40 is connected by wire 42B to the conductor 50. The transducer 33 and the associated circui-try oscilla-te when switch 40 is closed, causing transducer 33 -to 20 vibrate and generate sound.
It will be apparent that stages of amplification could be included in the circuitry of Figure 3. Moreover, the drive circuit might include an inver-ter St~lgC to allow the device to be used with a power source havir1g an operat-in~ volt,a~e 25 significantly lower than-that o~`-the piezoeLec-tric trar1sd1lcer.
I'he warn:ir1g dev1ce o~ the :invent,ion provides a loud sound when ac-tuated to alert the drivers Or other vehicles, and pedestrians, of the presence of a bicyclis-t tha-t has -the device installed. The warning device is easily ins-talled, and 30 is o~ simple design and configuration.

Claims (17)

1. A warning device for a bicycle, comprising:
a casing having a tubular portion sized for fitting within the end of a bicycle handle-bar and a head portion for abutting the end of said handle-bar;
means for securing said warning device to said handle-bar;
drive circuit means in said tubular portion;
means for supplying power to said circuit means;
a transducer in said head portion connected with said drive circuit means; and switch means operable between an open condition and a closed condition for energizing said circuit means to operate said transducer, said switch means comprising a switch arm extending from said head portion to overlie a handgrip portion of said handle-bar when said warning device is installed.

2. A warning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said securing means comprises a leaf spring member extending longitudinally outside said tubular portion and secured by its opposite ends thereto, said leaf spring member being biased into an arc-like configuration for engagement with the inner surface of said handle-bar to retain said tubular portion therein.

3. A warning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein one end portion of said tubular portion is screwthreaded and carries a correspondingly screwthreaded end cap, and one end of said leaf spring member engages the end cap such that, as the end cap is tightened, a medial portion of said leaf spring member is biased away from said tubular portion.

4. A warning device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said leaf spring member is an electrical conductor connected in series with said drive circuit said drive circuit comprises an electric cell, and said end cap urges said one end of said leaf spring member into contact with one terminal of said cell.

5. A warning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch arm comprises a pressure-actuable switch membrane housed in a flexible sleeve.

6. A warning device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said switch arm is pliable and conformable to said handgrip portion.

7. A warning device as claimed in claim 19 wherein said transducer comprises a piezoelectric device, said drive circuit and said piezoelectric device comprising an oscillatory circuit.

8. A warning device for generating an audible warning sound and adapted for incorporation in the end of a handle-bar of a bicycle, said handle-bar comprising a wall of generally circular cross-section defining a hollow central portion and having a handgrip around the outer surface of said wall of said handle-bar, said handgrip having an end which is generally co-extensive with the and of said wall, said warning device comprising a casing of insulating of material having a tubular portion for fitting within having said central portion of said handle-bar, and a head portion comprising a compartment defined by a first flat radially-extending wall fixed to a first end of said tubular portion, an axially projecting peripheral flange, and a second wall spaced outwardly from said first wall and abutting said flange, said second wall having at least one sound passage therein, a leaf spring member extending longitudinally outside said tubular portion from a second end, opposite said first end, to said first end in an arc-like configuration for engagement with the inner surface of said wall of said handle-bar to retain said tubular portion within said hollow central portion with said first wall of said head portion abutting said end of said handgrip, a piezoelectric transducer mounted within said compartment, circuit means within said tubular portion connected with said piezoelectric transducer to form an oscillatory circuit, an electric cell within said tubular portion for supplying electric power, and switch means externally of said head portion including a pressure sensitive switch connected through said switch means to said cell and said circuit means, said switch having an open and a pressure-operated closed condition and in said closed condition providing electric power to said oxcillatory circuit causing said transducer to generate an audible sound.

9. A warning device as claimed in claim 8, in which said second wall of said head portion is fixed to said flange with an adhesive.

10. A warning device as claimed in claim 8, in which said second wall has a longitudinally projecting peripheral wall portion having an inner diameter just greater than the outer diameter of said peripheral projecting flange, and fastening members spaced around said longitudinally projecting peripheral wall portion of said second wall for engaging said first flat wall to secure said second wall to said flange.

11. A warning device for a bicycle, comprising:
a casing having a tubular portion sized for emitting within the end of a bicycle handle-bar and a head portion for abutting the end of said handle-bar, circuit means in said tubular portion, a transducer in said head portion and connected with said circuit means, means within said tubular portion for supplying power to said circuit means and having first and second terminals, said second terminal being connected to said circuit means, a spring member extending outside said tubular portion substantially the entire length thereof and having an arc-like configuration for engaging the inside of said bicycle handle-bar for retaining said casing in position, and a switch having an open and a closed condition mounted to said head portion and accessible externally, said switch having a first terminal connected through said spring member to said first terminal of said cell and a second terminal connected to said circuit means, said switch in said closed condition supplying electric power to said circuit means and said transducer for generating an audible sound.

12. A warning device for generating an audible warning sound and adapted for incorporation in the handle-bar of a bicycle, said handle-bar comprising a handle-bar wall of generally circular cross-section defining a hollow central portion, said warning device comprising:
a tubular portion for fitting within said hollow central portion of said handle-bar, a head portion fixed to a first end of said tubular portion for abutting the end of said handle-bar, a transducer mounted within said head portion;
circuit means within said tubular portion and connected with said transducer, means for supplying electric power to said circuit means for operating said transducer to generate an audible sound, and switch means extending from said head portion and connected to said means for supplying electric power whereby operating said switch means supplies electric power to said circuit means for generating an audible sound.

13. A warning device as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising a leaf spring member extending from a second end of said tubular portion opposite said first end to said first end and having an arc-like configuration for engaging the inner surface of said wall of said handle bar for retaining said tubular portion within said hollow central portion.

14. A warning device as claimed in claim 12, in which said means for supplying electric power comprises at least one electric cell within said tubular portion.

15. A warning device as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for supplying electric power comprises at least one electric cell within said tubular portion.

16. A warning device as claimed in claim 1, in which said switch means comprises a switch arm of flexible insulating material extending from said head portion and curving over the end of said handgrip and a substantially flat member of flexible insulating material at the end of said switch arm and adjacent said handgrip and containing a pressure actuated switch, whereby pressure on said flat member actuates said switch.

17. A warning device as claimed in claim 1, in which said casing is of an insulating material.