FR2873654A1 - BICYCLE EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-THEFT DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Bicycle comprising: - a frame (10) on which a wheel is mounted in rotation, - a braking system comprising a brake (14, 16) adapted to act on the wheel to control the rotation relative to the frame (10), a brake handle (18) and a brake cable (20) connecting the handle (18) to the brake (14, 16); - a locking system (33) having a latch (35) mounted movably relative to to the frame (10), between two stable equilibrium positions, namely: - a neutral position in which the lock (35) leaves the brake cable (20) free, and- a locking position in which the lock (35) ) exerts sufficient force on the brake cable (20) to lock the wheel (8, 9) in rotation.

Description

Bicycle equipped with an anti-theft device

  The invention relates to bicycles.

  Many antitheft devices have been devised in the past to temporarily immobilize a bicycle or, at least, make it unusable by an unauthorized person.

  The applicant has in particular proposed to provide a bicycle with a locking device of the front wheel in a position where it forms with the frame an angle such that normal riding of the bicycle is made impossible.

  This device equips the bicycles of urban fleets available for rent. In fact, the sustainable parking of these bicycles on public roads makes them particularly vulnerable to theft. The antitheft device mentioned above, generally used by tenants during breaks they perform during the use of the bicycle, for example to enter a business, generally gives satisfaction, but it can not prevent some relentless to unlock the wheel by forcing on it, even to damage the bicycle.

  In addition, some users may consider wheel lock-up and unlocking operations to be tedious and messy.

  The inventors, these elements taken into account, were keen to further improve the safety and ergonomics of bicycles.

  For this purpose, they propose, according to a first object, a bicycle comprising: a frame on which a wheel is mounted in rotation, a braking system comprising a brake capable of acting on the wheel to control its rotation relative to to the frame, a brake handle, and a brake cable connecting the handle to the brake, - and a locking system comprising a latch movably mounted relative to the frame, between two positions of stable equilibrium, namely: a position neutral in which the lock leaves free the brake cable, and a locking position in which the lock exerts on the brake cable sufficient force to lock the wheel in rotation.

  According to a second object, the invention proposes a bicycle comprising: - a frame on which a driving wheel is mounted in rotation, - a pedal, - a transmission having at least two positions, namely an engaged position in which it couples in rotation the pedal and the wheel, and a disengaged position in which it cuts in rotation the pedal and the wheel, - a control lever of the transmission, connected thereto by a control cable, and - a locking system comprising a lock mounted movable relative to the frame, between two positions of stable equilibrium, namely: a neutral position in which the lock leaves the control cable free, and a locking position in which the lock exerts on the control cable a force such that the transmission is put in the disengaged position.

  In this way, it is possible for an authorized user to lock - and unlock - the bicycle in a jiffy, while in the locked position the bicycle is made unusable to an unauthorized person, or that one of the wheels either blocked by the brake, or the pedal, decoupled from the drive wheel, turns in a vacuum.

  According to one embodiment, the latch is in the form of a cam movable in rotation relative to the frame.

  According to another embodiment, the lock is in the form of a pusher movable in translation relative to the frame.

  Whatever the embodiment chosen, the locking system is preferably electromechanical, the lock being connected to a motor which controls the displacement.

  In this case, the bicycle includes, for example, in addition to the aforementioned components: a current generator, and an on-board electronic unit to which are connected the generator and the engine, and which controls the power supply thereof.

  A user interface, connected to the electronic control unit, can also be provided.

  This interface comprises for example a keypad, the electronic control unit being programmed to control the motor power supply when a code entered on the keypad corresponds to a predetermined code stored in the central.

  Alternatively, the user interface comprises a smart card reader or magnetic stripe, the electronic control unit being programmed to control the power supply of the engine when a code written on the chip or the track of a card and read by the reader corresponds to a predetermined code stored in the central.

  According to a third object of the invention, there is provided a bicycle equipped with a driving wheel, a crankset and a transmission having at least two positions, namely a first position in which it couples in rotation the wheel and the crankset according to a first transmission ratio, and a second position in which it couples in rotation the wheel and the crankset according to a second transmission ratio, or in which it cuts in rotation the wheel and the crankset, the bicycle being furthermore equipped an on-board electronic control unit arranged to control the position of the transmission as a function of the speed of the bicycle, and means for detecting the position of the transmission, connected to said central.

  This bicycle may further comprise means for detecting the stopping of the bicycle, connected to the central unit, the latter being programmed to control the passage of the transmission to its first position when the transmission is in a second position and when is detected stopping the bicycle.

  Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the light of the description given hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a rental fleet of bicycles locked on fixed terminals connected to an automaton accessible to users; - Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a bicycle that can equip a fleet as shown in Figure 1; in this case, the bicycle is shown in a stowed position where it is temporarily fixed to a fixed terminal; FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a locking system according to a first exemplary embodiment, represented here in a neutral position; Fig. 4 is a diagram similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the same locking system in a locking position; - Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a locking system according to a second embodiment, shown in a neutral position; FIG. 6 is a diagram similar to FIG. 5, which illustrates the same locking system, in a locking position; FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an antitheft device fitted to a bicycle, comprising an electromechanically controlled locking system acting on a brake cable or on a transmission control cable; - Figure 8 is a partial schematic view, from above, of a bicycle equipped with a user interface for controlling the locking of the bicycle; the interface here comprises a keypad; FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 9, in which the interface comprises a magnetic reader capable of remotely reading a card presented by a user.

  In Figure 1 are shown several bicycles 1 which, in this case, belong to a fleet of bicycles available for rent in urban areas, although this application is given as an illustrative example.

  The bicycles 1 are here represented in a stowed position where each is temporarily fixed to a storage terminal 2, which is provided with a locking system (not shown) which cooperates with attachment means (not shown) provided on the bicycle 1 to prevent its use by an unauthorized person.

  The terminals 2 are connected by underground cables 3 to a PLC 4 accessible to users, this PLC comprising a user interface 5 provided with a screen 6 and a numeric or alphanumeric keyboard 7.

  At the request of a user who followed the PLC 4 rental process, possibly including a payment step, the locking system of a given terminal, selected by the controller 4, can be disabled to allow the user to have the corresponding bicycle 1 for a predetermined period.

  A procedure for renting a bicycle, a terminal and its locking means are described in detail in the international applications published under the numbers WO 02/09 5698 and WO 01/54080 in the name of the applicant, to which the person skilled in the art will be able to refer.

  As can be seen in FIG. 2, each bicycle 1 comprises a front wheel 8 free, a rear wheel 9 driving, both rotatably mounted on a frame 10 comprising a tubular 11 metal.

  This bicycle 1 is furthermore equipped with a front light 12, a rear light 13, two brakes, namely a front brake 14 acting on the hub 15 of the front wheel 8, and rear brake 16 acting on the front wheel. hub 17 of the rear wheel 9, to control the rotation thereof relative to the frame 10.

  The brakes 14, 16 are controlled, conventionally, by brake handles 18 mounted on the handlebar 19 of the bicycle 1 and each connected to the corresponding brake 14, 16 by a brake cable 20 which, circulating inside the tubing 11, is inaccessible except dismantle the bicycle 1.

  The brakes 14, 16 are for example drum brakes of a known type, so it is not useful to describe in detail.

  The bicycle 1 further comprises a pedal 21 and a transmission 22 (by chain or belt) having at least two positions, namely: an engaged position in which it couples in rotation the crankset 21 and the rear wheel 9, and a disengaged position in which it cuts in rotation the pedal 21 and the rear wheel 9.

  In other words, in the disengaged position, the rotation of the pedal 21 has no effect on the rotation of the rear wheel 9. This position is also called neutral.

  The transmission 22 may comprise several different engaged positions, corresponding to several transmission ratios. These different transmission ratios can be achieved by means of trays of different diameters provided on the pedal 21, and / or by means of pinions mounted on the hub of the rear wheel 9, and whose selection is carried out through a derailleur (not shown).

  Be that as it may, the bicycle 1 here comprises a throttle control lever 23 mounted on the handlebar 19 of the bicycle 1 and connected to the transmission 22 by a control cable 20 (for reasons of convenience, this cable bears the same reference as the brake cable 20) for, under the action of a wrist movement of the user, to control the change of position of the transmission 22, that is to say from one transmission ratio to another, either of any transmission ratio in neutral, and vice versa.

  The bicycle 1 is furthermore equipped with an on-board electronic control unit 24 in the form of a processor, hereinafter referred to as CPU (central processing unit) according to the terminology in force, continuously supplied by a current generator, that is, when the bicycle is in motion, an alternator 25 mounted on one of the wheels 8 or 9 and, when the bicycle 1 is stopped, a battery 26 of accumulator charged by the alternator 25.

  The CPU 24 includes a flash memory 27 in which, as we shall see later, certain data relating to the bicycle 1 are stored, as well as an internal clock 28.

  The alternator 25 is preferably integrated in the hub of one of the wheels 8, 9, for example that of the front wheel 8, for compactness purposes and to avoid any damage to which the conventional friction dynamos are exposed.

  Patents have been filed in the past for such generators integrated in a hub. The skilled person can refer to it.

  The CPU 24 is connected to a transceiver 29 capable of communicating remotely by radio waves with a transceiver 30 which is equipped with the storage terminal 2, the latter being connected to a CPU 31 of the controller 4, to which is also connected the user interface 5 (Figure 7).

  The bicycle 1 is further provided with an antitheft device 32 provided, according to a first embodiment, for acting on one and / or the other of the brakes 14, 16 and, according to a second embodiment, for acting on the transmission 22.

  As can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 6, the antitheft device 32 comprises a locking system 33 comprising a housing 34 mounted on the frame 10 between two successive sections 11a, lib of the tubing 11, the housing in which the cable 20 passes ( brake or control of the transmission) and whose interior is inaccessible to an unauthorized person, except to break the case 34.

  The cable 20 extends in a longitudinal direction L, parallel to which it can slide when it is put under tension (under the action of the brake handle 18 or the control lever 23 of the transmission 22) to control the corresponding device (brake 14, 16 or transmission 22).

  The locking system 33 comprises a latch 35 mounted in the housing 34 in the immediate vicinity of the cable 20, the latch 35 being movable relative to the housing 34 (that is to say with respect to the frame 10) between two positions of stable equilibrium, namely: - a neutral position in which the lock 35, although adjacent to the cable 20, is at a distance from it so as to leave it free to slide longitudinally, and - a locking position in which the latch 35 bears transversely on the cable 20, exerting on it a force sufficient to lock the wheel 8 or 9 in rotation (according to the first embodiment), or to place the transmission 22 in position in the disengaged position ( according to the second embodiment), under the tension of the cable 20 resulting from its transverse displacement.

  The displacement of the lock 35 from its neutral position to its locking position, and conversely, to be manually controlled and locked in position by means of a key which the authorized user of the bicycle is for example in possession.

  But, according to a preferred embodiment, the movement of the lock 35 is motorized. More specifically, the locking system 33 comprises an electric motor 36 mounted in the housing 34 and electrically connected to the CPU 24 which controls the power supply.

  Two examples are proposed for the realization of the locking system 33.

  According to a first exemplary embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the latch 35 is in the form of a cam mounted in rotation about an axis 37 formed by an output shaft of the motor 36.

  The cam 35, asymmetrical with respect to its axis of rotation 37, has a curved cam surface 38 which, in the neutral position, is turned away from the cable 20 (FIG. 3), and which, in the locked position, comes apply transversely against it (Figure 4).

  According to a second exemplary embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the latch 35 is in the form of a pusher movable in translation, having an end surface 39 which, in the neutral position, is at a distance the cable 20 (Figure 5), while in the locked position, it is applied transversely against it (Figure 6).

  Specifically, a portion of the pusher 35 is for example formed in a rack meshing with a pinion mounted on a rotating shaft of the motor.

  Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the bicycle 1 comprises a user interface 40 connected to the CPU 24.

  According to a first exemplary embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 5, the interface 40 comprises a numeric or alphanumeric keyboard 41, the CPU 24 being programmed to control the power supply of the motor 36 when a code entered on the keyboard 41 corresponds a predetermined code (for example 5 or 6 digits) stored in the memory 27 of the CPU 24, unique for each bicycle 1.

  According to a second exemplary embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 6, the user interface 40 comprises a reader 42 of cards 43 with chip or magnetic stripe, the CPU being programmed to control the power supply of the motor 36 when a code , written on the chip or the track of the card 43 and read by the reader 42, corresponds to the code stored in the memory 27 of the CPU 24.

  After the user has been assigned a bicycle 1, according to a standard rental procedure (see above), it may be that during its use the bicycle 1 must be momentarily abandoned, the user having for example decided to walk to a place inaccessible to bicycles, such as a shop.

  In order to deter any persons who covet the bicycle 1 to seize the latter, the user activates the antitheft device 32.

  For this purpose, the user: dials on the keyboard 41 of the interface 40 a code that was communicated to him during the loan of the bicycle 1, this code having been introduced into the memory of the CPU 24 by the CPU 31 of the 4 via the transceivers 29, 30, or present to the reader 42 a card 43 chip or magnetic stripe that was issued to him when the loan of the bicycle 1, and on which is inscribed the code introduced in the memory of the CPU 24 by the CPU 31 of the PLC 31 via the transceivers 29, 30.

  The code provided by the user is compared by the CPU 24 with that entered in its memory 27.

  In the event that the user code is wrong, no action is ordered.

  By cons, since the user code is identical to the stored code, the CPU 24 controls the power supply of the motor 36 of the locking system 33, so as to place the lock 35 in the locked position.

  Since each of the positions of the lock 35 is stable, current consumption is required only when switching from one to the other of these positions. The system 33 is therefore particularly economical in electrical energy.

  In order to warn the user of the proper operation, the CPU 24 can control a temporary and intermittent supply of lights 12, 13 lighting of the bicycle 1, as seen on automobiles. The user is therefore visually assured that the antitheft device 32 is activated.

  When the antitheft device 32 corresponds to the first embodiment described above, at least one of the brakes 14, 16 of the bicycle 1 is then tightened, rendering the latter unusable.

  When the antitheft device 32 corresponds, on the contrary, to the second embodiment described above, the transmission 22 is then in neutral and the rotation of the pedal 21 has no effect on the drive wheel 9, which also makes unusable bicycle 1.

  The procedures described above can be performed by appropriate programming of the CPU 24, within the abilities of those skilled in the art.

  At each locking, as well as at each unlocking, the CPU 24 preferably inserts into the flash memory 27 the date and time provided by the internal clock 28, so that when stored on the terminal 2 at the end of hiring, the CPU 31 of the controller 4 can, via the transceivers 29, 30, by reading the data of the memory 28, control the number and the duration of the various locks, for statistical purposes concerning the use of the bicycles .

  In addition, once the bicycle 1 has been stored at a terminal 2, the CPU 31 of the automaton 4 can, in addition to the locking of the bicycle 1 on the terminal 2, control the internal locking of the bicycle, by controlling via the transmitters- Receivers 29, 30 and the CPU 24, the passage of the lock 35 in the locked position, which further reduces the risk of theft of the bicycle 1 on its terminal 2.

  The CPU 24 may further be programmed to control an automatic transmission ratio change depending on the speed of the bicycle 1, either from a first gear to a second gear or a given gear in neutral and vice versa.

  Thus, the gear change can be controlled according to the speed of the bicycle. Thus, when a certain predetermined speed is reached, the CPU 24 controls the passage of the transmission 22 at a higher or lower ratio, for example by controlling the shift of the chain or the transmission belt towards a plateau or to a pinion of greater diameter - or, conversely, of smaller diameter.

  For this purpose, the bicycle 1 will be equipped with a speed detector (not shown), which may be in the form of an instrumented bearing mounted on one of the wheels and electrically connected to the CPU 24 (SNR proposes the sale of such instrumented bearings), or in the form of a current intensity sensor supplied by the alternator 25, this intensity being a linear function of the speed of the bicycle 1.

  The bicycle 1 further comprises a sensor 44 of the position of the transmission 22, electrically connected to the CPU 24, so that it has at every moment knowledge of the engaged gear ratio.

  The speed detector mentioned above also constitutes a means of detecting the stopping of the bicycle 1, insofar as the absence of a signal coming from the instrumented bearing or from the current sensor means that the bicycle 1 is at judgment.

  When the bicycle is stationary (for example at a traffic light), it may be appropriate for the CPU 24 to control the passage of the transmission 22 at the first gear, in order to provide the drive wheel with the maximum torque at startup. .

  For this purpose, the bicycle 1 can be equipped with a motorized selection system, connected to the CPU, and acting directly on the transmission control cable 20, in the manner of the locking system described above.

  Thus, the powering of the transmission control cable 20 by a pusher or a cam acting transversely automatically places the transmission 22 in the selected transmission ratio, or in neutral.

  It follows from the foregoing provisions ergonomics and increased safety of the bicycle.

  The antitheft device, simple design and particularly easy use, is highly deterrent, insofar as one can not use a bicycle whose wheels are locked in rotation or whose drive wheel is crazy.

  In addition, the cables circulating inside the tubing of the frame, they are inaccessible, so that a potential thief can, without a long intervention requiring patience and equipment, disable the antitheft device.

  As for the automatic transmission, its advantages are obvious. When walking the bicycle, it saves the user the transmission ratio selection operations and, when stopped, it allows to restart the bicycle directly and automatically from the first transmission report.

Claims (9)

  Bicycle comprising: a frame (10) on which a wheel (8, 9) is rotatably mounted, a braking system comprising a brake (14, 16) adapted to act on the wheel (8, 9) to control it rotation relative to the frame (10), a brake handle (18) and a brake cable (20) connecting the handle (18) to the brake (14, 16), said bicycle being characterized in that it comprises a locking system (33) comprising a latch (35) mounted movable relative to the frame (10), between two stable equilibrium positions, namely: a neutral position in which the latch (35) leaves the cable free brake (20), and a locking position in which the lock (35) exerts on the brake cable (20) sufficient force to lock the wheel (8, 9) in rotation.   Bicycle comprising a frame (10) on which a drive wheel (9) is rotatably mounted, a pedal (21), a transmission (22) having at least two positions, namely an engaged position in which it rotates the pedal (21) and the wheel (9), and a disengaged position in which it divides in rotation the pedal (21) and the wheel (9), a lever (23) for controlling the transmission, connected thereto by a control cable (20), and a locking system (33) comprising a latch (35) mounted movable relative to the frame (10), between two 2873654 16 positions of stable equilibrium, namely: - a neutral position wherein the latch (35) leaves the control cable (20) free, and - a locking position in which the latch (35) exerts on the control cable (20) a force such that the transmission (22) is set in the disengaged position.   3. Bicycle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the latch (35) is in the form of a cam movable in rotation relative to the frame (10).   4. Bicycle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the latch (35) is in the form of a pusher movable in translation relative to the frame (10).   Bicycle according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the latch (35) is connected to a motor (36) which controls the displacement.   6. A bicycle according to claim 5, which comprises: - a current generator (25, 26), and - an onboard electronic control unit (24) to which the generator (25, 26) and the engine (36) are connected, and which controls the power supply of the latter.   Bicycle according to claim 6, which comprises a user interface (40) connected to the electronic control unit (24).   A bicycle according to claim 7, wherein the user interface (40) comprises a digital keyboard (41), and wherein the electronic control unit (24) is programmed to control the power supply of the motor (36) when a code entered on the keyboard (41) corresponds to a predetermined code stored in the central unit (24).   The bicycle according to claim 7, wherein the user interface (40) comprises a chip or magnetic stripe card reader (43) and wherein the electronic control unit (24) is programmed to control the power supply of the motor (36) when a code written on the chip or the track of a card (43) and read by the reader (42) corresponds to a predetermined code stored in the central unit (24).