EP3329069A1

EP3329069A1 - Device for bicycle parking

Info

Publication number: EP3329069A1
Application number: EP16775871.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Cornelis Hendrikus Johannes Van De Vecht
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-07-31
Filing date: 2016-07-26
Publication date: 2018-06-06
Also published as: WO2017023168A1; NL1041418B1

Abstract

Device (1) for bicycle (2) parking, comprising floor surfaces (3), wherein on each floor surface a rotation device (5) is arranged, rotatable around an axis of rotation (4), which device is arranged for rotating a series of bicycle modules (7) by means of a drive controlled by control means (6). Each floor surface comprises an IU-location (8), which is arranged for displacing the bicycle modules. The control means are adapted to record the location of each bicycle module. The device further comprises IU-means (9) for operating the device by a user (10) for respectively introducing a bicycle to and removing a bicycle from a bicycle module, by means of associated communication and/or registration operations.

Description

Title: Device for bicycle parking DESCRIPTION The invention relates to a device for bicycle parking.

The present invention is a further development of an earlier invention of the applicant, described in NL1041260, filed on 09-04-2015, in which a housing for a bicycle is disclosed, arranged to substantially entirely envelop the bicycle in a state, wherein the front wheel of the bicycle is oriented substantially transverse to the longitudinal horizontal direction of the bicycle. The housing comprises two substantially vertical sidewalls of which the main directions, as viewed in the horizontal plane, are non- parallel to each other so that the housing comprises a wide portion and a narrow portion. The dimensions of the wide portion are such, that just sufficient space is provided within the housing for the transverse oriented front wheel, while the dimensions of the narrow portion are such, that just sufficient space is provided within the housing for the rear portion of the bicycle.

According to the present invention a device is provided for parking bicycles, comprising one or more, in the horizontal direction extending, floor surfaces (levels), wherein on each floor surface a rotation device is arranged being rotatable around an axis of rotation, which device is arranged for rotating a series of modules by means of a drive controlled by control means, which modules are each arranged as a housing for a bicycle, hereinafter referred to as bicycle modules. In particular - but not exclusively - these bicycle modules are bicycle housings such as proposed in NL1041260.

In the device as proposed by the present invention, each floor surface comprises a location, hereinafter referred to as IU-location, which is arranged for removing a bicycle module from (the working space of) the rotation device, and/or for introducing a bicycle module into (the working space of) the rotation device, respectively.

The control means are adapted to record the location of each bicycle module belonging to the device, while the device further comprises IU-means, which are arranged for operating the device by a user for respectively introducing a bicycle into and for removing a bicycle from a bicycle module, by means of associated communication and/or registration operations. On or at the level of one or more floor surfaces, the IU-location is adapted for removing a bicycle module from or inserting a bicycle module into the rotation area (working space, engagement area, rotation area) of the rotation device in the vertical direction or partly in horizontal direction and partly in vertical direction.

It is noted that from the international patent application WO2014184817 a device for parking bicycles is known with one rotatable platform with frames onto which bicycles can be attached, which device can be operated by users via an IU-location and IU- means. However, the device known from WO2014184817 is not adapted to respectively remove a bicycle module from or introduce a bicycle module into the rotation area in the vertical direction or partly in horizontal direction and partly in vertical direction. Furthermore, in WO2014184817 use is being made of open attachment frames onto which the bicycles must be attached, and not, as in the device according to the invention, into (individual and protective) housings for the bicycles such as, for example, proposed in NL1041260. The use of such housings can not, or at least certainly can not easily, be realized in the device of WO2014184817.

In a first embodiment of the invention, on one or more floor surfaces the IU-location is arranged for removing a bicycle module in a vertical direction from inside the rotation area of the rotation device and for inserting the bicycle module inside the rotation area of the rotation device respectively, wherein the IU-location, for example, comprises a recess in the floor surface, which is adapted for vertical displacement of the bicycle module through said recess by means of vertical displacement means. In a second embodiment of the invention, on one or more of the floor surfaces the IU- location is arranged for removing a bicycle module from inside the rotation area of the rotation device and for inserting the bicycle module inside the rotation area of the rotation device respectively, wherein the IU-location is provided with radial movement means, which are adapted for displacing the bicycle module in radial direction to and from the inside of the rotation area of the rotation device, and with vertical displacement means, which are arranged for vertical displacement of the bicycle module outside the rotation range of the rotation device.

The invention will now be further discussed on the basis of the figure description hereinafter. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a device according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a device according to the invention;

Figures 3 and 4 show an artist's impression of the embodiment also shown in

Figure 2;

Figures 5 and 6 show alternative embodiments of the device as shown in Figure

1.

The figures show a device 1 for parking bicycles 2, comprising a plurality of horizontally extending floor surfaces or floor frames, hereinafter referred to as floor surfaces 3. On each floor surface 3 a rotation device 5 is provided, which is rotatably bearing-mounted around a rotation axis 4. The rotation device is arranged for rotating a series of modules by means of a drive (not shown), which is controlled by control means 6. The modules are each designed as a housing for a bicycle, hereinafter referred to as bicycle modules 7.

On or at the height of each floor surface 3 a location is provided, referred to as IU- location 8. The location is arranged for removing a bicycle module 7 from (the rotating rotation area of) the rotation device 5 (the module being selected by the control means 6); the module being located on the IU-location 8. The location is also arranged for supplying a bicycle module 7 to the rotation device 5 (i.e., positioning inside the rotation area of the rotation device 5).

The control means 6 are adapted to record the location of each bicycle module 7 belonging to the device (e.g., bicycle module A is located on floor surface III in segment c). The device 1 further comprises IU-means 9, which are adapted to enable a user 10 to operate the device 1 for supplying a bicycle 2 to and/or for removing a bicycle from a bicycle module 7, and to operate associated communication and/or registration operations (incl. payment, providing a parking ticket, etc.). On each floor surface 3, the IU-location 8 is adapted for removing the bicycle module 7 from and for inserting the bicycle module into (the area of the rotation of) the rotation device 5 in the vertical direction (embodiment of Figure 1), or partly in horizontal and partly in vertical direction (embodiments of Figures 2, 3 and 4) .

Figure 1 shows an embodiment in which the IU location 8 on each of the floor surfaces 3 is arranged to remove a bicycle module 7 from the rotation device 5 and to insert a bicycle module 7 into the rotation device 5, both in the vertical direction. In Figure 1, the IU-location is a recess in a fixed floor 3, being arranged for vertically displacing the bicycle module 7 through said recess by means of vertical displacement means. The vertical displacement means in the Figures 1 and 2 are represented by a drive column 11 having thereupon a platform 12. The column is movable in the vertical direction by means of vertical drive means (not shown), with which the bicycle module 7 can be transported vertically.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the platform 12 is directed to the correct floor surface 3 (under the control of the control means 6), for example to floor surface III, for moving the bicycle module 7 selected by means of the IU-means 9 and/or control means 6. Whereupon the rotation device 5 on floor surface III is rotated in such a way (under the control of the control means 6) that the bicycle module A (of which the current location, that is segment c on floor III, is known within the control means 6) is moved from segment c to (the segment of) the IU-location 8, so that bicycle module A is located on platform 12. After the bicycle module 7 is positioned onto the platform 12 through rotation of the rotation device 5, the platform 12 with the bicycle module 7 is vertically transported to the loading/unloading location on a desired floor (usually ground level), after which the user 10 is able to reclaim the bicycle 2 from the bicycle module 7 on the loading/unloading location.

When entering a bicycle 2 for parking, the user 10 enters this information into the control means 6 via the IU-means 9, after which the control means verifies in its database on which location (floor/segment) an empty bicycle module 7 is available. When the bicycle module 7, under the control of the control means 6, has been transported to the loading/unloading location by means of rotation by the rotation device 5 and (if necessary) by means of vertical displacement of the platform 12, the user 10 is able to load the bicycle to be parked into the bicycle module 7. Subsequently the loaded bicycle module 7 is again transported, under the control of the control means 6, to its starting location on one of the floor surfaces 3 by means of (if necessary) vertical movement of platform 12 and of rotation, by the rotation device In Figures 2, 3 and 4, an exemplary embodiment of the device is shown with a vertical displacement module 11/12, which is located outside the rotation area of the rotation device 5. On each floor surface 3, the IU-location 8 is arranged for removing a bicycle module 7 from and for inserting a bicycle module 7 inside (the rotation area of) the rotation device 5, respectively. The IU-location comprises radial displacement means (not explicitly shown) for displacing the bicycle module 7 in the radial direction R to and from the vertical displacement means, i.e., the platform 12 and the column 11, which are arranged for vertical displacement of the bicycle module. However in this embodiment - contrary to the embodiment of figure 1 -, these means are located outside the rotation area of the corresponding rotation device 5.

It is noted that in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the floor surface 3 is formed as a fixed floor 3, across which the bicycle modules 7 can be displaced, driven by the rotatably driven rotation device 5. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the floor surface 3 is part of the rotation device 5. Therefore, the floor surface 3, onto which the bicycle modules 7 are placed, is also rotatably driven, so that all the bicycle modules 7 placed thereupon co-rotate. It is further noted regarding the embodiment of Figure 1, that each floor has always one empty location 8 for the purpose of the vertical transport of the selected bicycle modules 7, via the empty, one above the other situated, iu-locations 8 on each floor, by using the control means 6. In the embodiment of Figure 2, this is not necessary, since the vertical transport of the selected bicycle modules 7 takes place outside the rotation area of the rotation devices 5.

Figures 5 and 6 each show an alternative embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1. Herein the floor surfaces 3 - corresponding to the embodiments of Figures 2 to 4 - are formed by a more or less spoke-shaped frame 5 of, for example, T-profiles, being rotatable around a rotation axis 4. Each floor surface 3 comprises an IU-location 8, which is adapted for displacing a bicycle module 7 in the vertical direction, by means of a drive column 11 with a platform 12 thereupon, which are vertically movable. For example, a bicycle module A, being located on the "fork" formed by two adjacent spokes of T-profiles of the middle rotatable floor surface 3, must be displaced to the (upper) input/output module. Therefore the middle rotation frame is rotated such, that module A is located on the "I/U shaft", which is intended for vertical displacement. Subsequently the bicycle module A is pushed upwards by the displacement column 11. After which the bicycle can be removed from the bicycle module at the top, in the position, "I/U", or after which, if module A is an empty module, a bicycle can be placed within that module. Because the modules 7 are positioned on the T-profiles, they can only be moved upwards from their level. The I/U location of the device, in other words the location where users can introduce their bicycles into the device, or can retrieve their bicycles from the device respectively, must therefore be located at the top floor of the device. Consequently, this embodiment is ideally suited for underground placement of the device, wherein, for example, only the upper floor protrudes above the ground level. However, the upper floor can also be situated below ground level and the I/U location, in the form of, for example, a more or less separate I/U terminal, can be located above ground level, while the I/U-shaft is extending upwardly, into/up to the I/U terminal.

Based on the same principle, however but the other way around, the device shown in Figure 6 also comprises rotatable frame-spokes on each floor level. However, in this embodiment, the bicycle modules 7 are repeatedly hung between two adjacent frame- spokes, for example by means of a well-known hook or bayonet construction, such as shown in Figure 6a, by way of example. Furthermore in this embodiment, a bicycle module A, selected by the control system, is disposed in the vertical I/U-shaft by rotation of (only) the rotation frame. After positioning the displacement column 11 under the module A, and after disengaging the hook or bayonet construction, with which the module 7 is suspended from the frame, the module A is displaced downwards, to the I/U location of the device, where the bicycle module can be loaded with or unloaded from a bicycle. In this case, the selected modules can only be moved vertically by means of the I/U-shaft between the location of the selected module (e.g., A) and the lower floor of the device. Consequently, the device shown in Figure 6 is ideally suited to be set up as a "bicycle tower", wherein the bottom floor is located on ground level and the other floors above ground level. However, the bottom floor can also be located above ground level, and the I/U location, in the form of, for example, a more or less separate bicycle I/U terminal, can be located at ground level, while the I/U-shaft is extending downwards, up to/into the I/U terminal. For example, this is the case if the device shown in Figure 6 is elevated mounted on, for example, a frame or on (or within) a structure, such as a public toilet or other space, like a shop space, for example a bicycle repair shop, a bicycle rental shop, a Public Transport shop, Tourist Information shop, newspaper and sweet kiosk or the like; wherein it is possible to terminate the I/U terminal, which is interconnected with the 'bicycle tower' by means of the (possibly extended) I/U-shaft, in or near such a space under the 'bicycle tower'.

Claims

1. Device (1) for parking bicycles (2), comprising one or more, in the horizontal direction extending floor surfaces (3), wherein on each floor surface a rotation device (5) is arranged being rotatable around an axis of rotation (4), which device is arranged for rotating a series of modules by means of a drive controlled by control means (6), which modules are each arranged as a housing for a bicycle, hereinafter referred to as bicycle modules (7),

wherein on or at the level of each floor surface a location is provided, hereinafter referred to as IU-location (8), which is arranged for removing a bicycle module from the rotation device, and for introducing a bicycle module into the rotating device;

wherein the control means are adapted to record the location of each bicycle module belonging to the device,

wherein the device further comprises IU-means (9), which are arranged for operating the device by a user (10) for respectively introducing a bicycle into and removing a bicycle from a bicycle module, by means of associated communication and/or registration operations, and

wherein on or at the level of one or more floor surfaces, the IU-location is adapted for removing a bicycle module from and for inserting a bicycle module into the rotation area of the rotation device, in the vertical direction or partly in horizontal direction and partly in vertical direction.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein at the level of one or more floor surfaces the IU-location is arranged for removing a bicycle module in a vertical direction from inside the rotation area of the rotation device and for inserting the bicycle module inside the rotation area of the rotation device, wherein the IU-location comprises a recess (8) in the floor surface, which is adapted for vertical displacement of the bicycle module through said recess by means of vertical displacement means (11/12). Device according to claim 1, wherein at the level of one or more of the floor surfaces the IU-location is arranged for removing a bicycle module from inside the rotation area of the rotation device and for inserting a bicycle module inside the rotation area of the rotation device respectively, wherein the IU-location is provided with radial displacement means, which are adapted for displacing the bicycle module in radial direction (R) to and from the inside of the rotation area of the rotation device, and with vertical displacement means, which are arranged for vertical displacement of the bicycle module outside the rotation area of the rotation device.