FR2620406A1

FR2620406A1 - Lighting system for racing bike

Info

Publication number: FR2620406A1
Application number: FR8712540A
Authority: FR
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-09-10
Filing date: 1987-09-10
Publication date: 1989-03-17
Also published as: FR2620406B3

Abstract

The invention relates to a lighting system intended for racing bikes. This system is characterised in that it comprises an optical prism 3 mounted on the handlebar stem 2 of the bike so that the light rays coming from in front of it undergo, on the rear face 15 of the said prism 3, total reflection which reflects them upwards, so that the user can carry on with his head down, and therefore more rapidly, without losing his visual contact with the road. Application to racing bikes.

Description

L'invention concerne un système optique destiné aux bicyclettes de course, et, plus précisément, un dispositif que l'on peut monter sur l'avant de telles bicyclettes afin de diminuer la résistance opposée par l'air å la progression de l'utilisateur. The invention relates to an optical system intended for racing bicycles, and, more specifically, to a device which can be mounted on the front of such bicycles in order to reduce the resistance opposed by the air to the progression of the user. .

I1 est unanimement reconnu que les coureurs cyclistes réduiraient sensiblement leur surface de pénétration dans l'air, ou "maitre couple", et augmenteraient leur vitesse de progression, s' ils pouvaient maintenir la tête baissée durant la plus grande partie de leur effort. Malheureusement, ils sont bien obligés de regarder souvent la route et ses abords, de sorte qu'ils ne peuvent pédaler longtemps la tête baissée. I1 is unanimously recognized that cyclists would significantly reduce their area of penetration in the air, or "master couple", and would increase their speed of progression, if they could keep their heads down during most of their effort. Unfortunately, they are often obliged to watch the road and its surroundings, so that they cannot pedal for a long time with their heads down.

Aussi, le but de la présente invention est-il de pallier cet inconvénient, et donc d'augmenter la vitesse de progression des coureurs cyclistes, en évitant qu'ils ne soient obligés de relever fréquemment la tête pour regarder au-devant d'eux. Also, the object of the present invention is to overcome this drawback, and therefore to increase the speed of progression of cyclists, by avoiding that they are obliged to raise their heads frequently to look ahead of them. .

Selon l'invention, cé but, et d'autres qui apparai- tront par la suite, sont atteints grace à un système optique pour bicyclette de course caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend un prisme optique monté à l'avant de la bicyclette de manière que les rayons lumineux provenant de l'avant de celle-ci subissent, sur la face arrière de ce prisme, une réflexion totale qui les renvoie vers le haut. According to the invention, this goal, and others which will appear subsequently, are achieved by virtue of an optical system for a racing bicycle, characterized in that it comprises an optical prism mounted on the front of the bicycle. so that the light rays coming from the front thereof undergo, on the rear face of this prism, a total reflection which returns them upwards.

On comprend que, grace a cette- disposition, le coureur n'a pas besoin de relever la tete pour regarder la route en face de lui et ses abords, puis qu'il la voit par réflexion dans le prisme de- l'invention qui se trouve dans son champ de vision lorsqu'il regarde vers le bas, perpendiculairement au sol. We understand that, thanks to this provision, the runner does not need to raise his head to look at the road in front of him and its surroundings, then he sees it by reflection in the prism of- the invention which is in his field of vision when looking down, perpendicular to the ground.

Ainsi, notamment dans les épreuves contre la montre individuelles, et, en particulier, par vent défavorable, l'utilisateur du dispositif selon l'invention augmente sa vitesse de progression, pour un même effort, gracie à la réduction de son maître couple consécutive à l'abaissement de'sa tête, sans qu'il soit privé pour autant de la vue de la route et de ses abords tout au long de son parcours. Thus, in particular in individual time trials, and, in particular, in unfavorable winds, the user of the device according to the invention increases his speed of progression, for the same effort, thanks to the reduction in his master torque following the lowering of his head, without being deprived of the view of the road and its surroundings all along its route.

Avantageusement, le prisme selon l'invention est monté de manière à pouvoir régler sa position longitudinale et/ou verticale et/ou l'inclinaison de sa face arrière réflectrice par rapport b la bicyclette. Advantageously, the prism according to the invention is mounted so as to be able to adjust its longitudinal and / or vertical position and / or the inclination of its reflective rear face relative to the bicycle.

De préférence, le prisme de l'invention est monté dans un boîtier et, afin de pouvoir régler l'inclinaison de sa face arrière, il est avantageusement monté pivotant dans ce boîtier grâce a deux vis latérales, et il peut y être bloqué a l'inclinaison voulue au moyen de boutons moletés vissés sur ces vis latérales. Preferably, the prism of the invention is mounted in a housing and, in order to be able to adjust the inclination of its rear face, it is advantageously pivotally mounted in this housing by means of two lateral screws, and it can be locked therein. 'desired inclination by means of knurled knobs screwed on these side screws.

Le boîtier en question peut être relié à la bicyclette en différents endroits et par différents moyens, par exemple grâce à deux colliers fixés au guidon de part et d'autre de la potence, ou à l'aide d'un collier fixé sur le tube de direction du cadre. The box in question can be connected to the bicycle in different places and by different means, for example by means of two collars fixed to the handlebars on either side of the stem, or by means of a collar fixed on the tube. executive management.

Selon une forme de réalisation avantageuse, le prisme de l'invention ou son boîtier est muni d'une patte permettant de le fixer sur la potence de la bicyclette. According to an advantageous embodiment, the prism of the invention or its housing is provided with a tab allowing it to be fixed on the stem of the bicycle.

De préférence, et afin de pouvoir régler la position longitudinale du prisme par rapport à la potence de la bicyclette, cette patte présente une lumière longitudinale traversée par un boulon qui est solidaire de la potence de la bicyclette, et elle peut y être bloquée dans la position longitudinale voulue par un écrou. Toutefois, la patte de fixation en question pourrait également être fixée sur la potence de la bicyclette au moyen d'un clip ou d'un collier. Preferably, and in order to be able to adjust the longitudinal position of the prism relative to the stem of the bicycle, this tab has a longitudinal lumen traversed by a bolt which is integral with the stem of the bicycle, and it can be blocked therein in the longitudinal position desired by a nut. However, the fixing bracket in question could also be fixed to the stem of the bicycle by means of a clip or a collar.

La description qui va suivre, et qui ne présente aucun caractère limitatif, permettra de bien comprendre comment la présente invention peut être mise en pratique. Elle doit être lue en regard du dessin annexé, dont la figure unique représente une vue en perspective schématique du système optique selon l'invention, laquelle est prise en vue de trois-quarts depuis l'avant de la bicyclette. The description which follows, and which has no limiting character, will make it possible to understand clearly how the present invention can be put into practice. It should be read with reference to the appended drawing, the single figure of which represents a schematic perspective view of the optical system according to the invention, which is taken in three-quarter view from the front of the bicycle.

Ce système est destiné à être monté à l'avant d'une bi-cyclette de course dont la figure montre seulement une partie du guidon 1 et de la potence 2 qui le relie au reste de la bicyclette. Il comprend un prisme 3 en verre ou en matière plastique qui est incorporé à un boitier 4, ce dernier étant solidaire d'une patte de fixation 5 qui lui est généralement perpendiculaire et qui s'étend à partir de son bord supérieur 6. This system is intended to be mounted at the front of a racing bi-bicycle, the figure of which shows only part of the handlebars 1 and of the stem 2 which connects it to the rest of the bicycle. It comprises a prism 3 made of glass or plastic which is incorporated into a housing 4, the latter being integral with a fixing lug 5 which is generally perpendicular to it and which extends from its upper edge 6.

La patte 5 coiffe le dessus de la potence 2 et elle est bloquée sur cette dernière par un boulon 7 qui en est solidaire et par un écrou 8 passé sur ce boulon 7, avec interposition éventuelle d'une rondelle. The tab 5 covers the top of the bracket 2 and it is blocked on the latter by a bolt 7 which is integral with it and by a nut 8 passed over this bolt 7, with possible interposition of a washer.

Avantageusement, ce dernier traverse, non . pas un trou pratiqué dans la patte 5, mais une lumière longitudinale 9, ce qui permet de régler la position de cette patte 5 sur la potence 2. Advantageously, the latter crosses, no. not a hole made in the lug 5, but a longitudinal slot 9, which makes it possible to adjust the position of this lug 5 on the bracket 2.

En outre, le prisme 3 est avantageusement monté dans son boitier 4 par deux vis latérales 10 sur chacune desquelles on visse un boulon moleté 11, ce qui permet de régler son inclinaison autour de l'axe déterminé par les vis 10. In addition, the prism 3 is advantageously mounted in its casing 4 by two lateral screws 10 on each of which a knurled bolt 11 is screwed, which makes it possible to adjust its inclination around the axis determined by the screws 10.

Dans la pratique, l'utilisateur ajuste la position du prisme -3 longitudinalement et en inclinaison de telle façon que, lorsqu'il se trouve en position d'effort et la tête complètement baissée, son regard, dirigé à peu près perpendiculairement au sol selon la ligne en traits mixtes 12 de la figure, capte l'image de la route qui vient selon la ligne 13 et qui subit en 14 une réflexion totale sur la face arrière 15 du prisme 3. In practice, the user adjusts the position of the prism -3 longitudinally and in inclination so that, when he is in the effort position and the head completely lowered, his gaze, directed approximately perpendicular to the ground according to the dashed line 12 of the figure, captures the image of the road which comes along the line 13 and which undergoes in 14 a total reflection on the rear face 15 of the prism 3.

Dans un exemple de mise en oeuvre qui a donné toute satisfaction, le prime 3, en verre, présente un angle au sommet voisin-de 35 , une longueur de 100mu, une largeur de 20 mm et une hauteur de 33 mm. Quand à la lumière 9, il est apparu qu'il est suffisant de lui donner une longueur de 20 mm. In an exemplary implementation which has given all satisfaction, the prime 3, made of glass, has an apex angle close to -35, a length of 100 mu, a width of 20 mm and a height of 33 mm. As for light 9, it appeared that it is sufficient to give it a length of 20 mm.

Sans sortir du cadre de la présente invention, il serait possible 'apporteur diverses modifications à la forme de réalisation qui vient d'être d'écrite. C'est ainsi que la fixation de la patte 5 sur la potence 2 pourrait être réalisée par un clip ou au moyen d'un collier solidaire ou indépendant de la patte 5. On peut prévoir en outre un réglage de la position verticale du boîtier 4 par rapport a la patte 5 à laquelle il serait alors relié, par exemple, gracie å au moins une lumière verticale traversée par un boulon avec blocage par un écrou. Without departing from the scope of the present invention, it would be possible to make various modifications to the embodiment which has just been written. Thus, the fixing of the lug 5 on the bracket 2 could be achieved by a clip or by means of a collar integral or independent of the lug 5. One can also provide for an adjustment of the vertical position of the housing 4 with respect to the lug 5 to which it would then be connected, for example, thanks to at least one vertical light through which a bolt is blocked with locking by a nut.

Claims

- CLAIMS

1 Optical system for a racing bicycle, characterized in that it comprises an optical prism (3) mounted on the front of the bicycle so that the light rays coming from the front of the bicycle are subjected to the rear face (15) of said prism (3>, a total reflection which returns them upwards.

2. Optical system according to claim 1, characterized in that said prism (3) is mounted on the front of the bicycle gracie to means for adjusting @a vertical and / or longitudinal position.

3. Optical system according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said prism (3) is mounted on the front of the bicycle thanks to means making it possible to adjust the inclination of its rear face (15 ,.

4. Optical system according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said prism <8 is mounted in a housing (4).

5. Optical system according to claim 4, characterized in that said prism (3) is pivotally mounted in its housing (4> by means of two, 'side screws (10), and that it can be blocked therein desired inclination by means of knurled knobs (ll) screwed onto these side screws (10).

6. Optical system according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that said housing t4) is connected to the bicycle by means of a clamp at least.

7. Optical system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that said housing '4 is provided with a lug (5) allowing it to be fixed on the stem (2> of the bicycle).

8. Optical system according to claim 7, characterized in that said tab (5) has a longitudinal lumen (9> through which a bolt (7) which is integral with the stem (2) of the bicycle and that it can be locked in the desired longitudinal position by a nut (8>.

9. Optical system according to claim 7, characterized in that said tab (5) is fixed to the stem (2) of the bicycle by means of a clip.

10. Optical system according to claim 7, characterized in that said lug (5) is fixed to the stem (2) of the bicycle by means of a collar.