GB2411513A

GB2411513A - Manual operation alarm for vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2411513A
Application number: GB0404418A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fang Hsiung Hu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-27
Filing date: 2004-02-27
Publication date: 2005-08-31
Also published as: GB0404418D0

Abstract

A manual operation alarm for a vehicle, for example a bicycle bell, comprising a bell body having a spring and a hammer and being mounted for rotation on a central rod, with a cover secured to the bell body and a rack and pinion provided to be driven by a handle. A plurality of inclined channels are provided between the cover and bell body, each containing a steel ball which is forced along the channel as the pinion rotates, making the body rotate in one direction only when the handle is moved. The device is also provided with a transparent light mask, a power and light generating unit comprising a coil and a magnet, and LEDs connected so as to light up when the coil rotates about the magnet, which they do with the movement of the bell body. When the handle is actuated, the bell body is forced to rotate, thereby causing the hammer to strike the bell body via the action of the spring. The rotation of the bell body causes the central rod to rotate and with it the coil of the power generating unit. The effect of the rotating coil on the stationary magnet causes the LEDs to illuminate.

Description

MANUAL-OPERATION ALARM FOR VEHICLE

The present invention relates to a manual-operation sound and light emitting device, and particular to a manual-operation sound and light emitting device used in a vehicle, particularly in a bicycle.

The prior art vehicle bell devices have only the function of emitting sounds. The bell device is installed with a hammer, a bell, etc. for emitting sounds by the hammer to knock the bell. However, alarm light devices have been proposed for installation in a vehicle, particularly a bicycle. Such alarm light to devices can emit light to alert others to pay attention to the vehicle. Such alamm light devices require batteries and lights for emitting light. Furthermore bell devices and alamm light devices have separate function. No known device designed for installation on a bicycle combines the functions of lighting up and emitting sound.

An object of the present invention is to overcome or alleviate at least some of the above disadvantages.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, wherein: do Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an assembled cross section view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross section view of the above embodiment; Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the operation of the above embodiment; and Fig. 5 is a cross section view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figs, 1, 2 and 3, the structure of the preferred embodiment is illustrated. The illustrated manual-operation sound and light emitting device used so in a vehicle, especially a bicycle, comprises the following elements.

A seat 10 has an axial hole 15 at a center thereof, a shaft 11, a movable rod or actuating lever 12 pivotally mounted on the shaft 11, a block or stop 14 positioned near a periphery of the seat 10, a protruding base 16 extending from an outer periphery of the seat 10; and a sleeve 101 extending from a bottom of s the seat 10 for fixing a magnet 41 of a light emitting unit 40. One end of the protruding base 16 is provided with a serrated annular sealing portion 160 and has a threaded locking hole 161 at the center of the annular seating portion. The actuating lever 12 is provided with inwardly curved rack 120 and is connected to a spring 13.

Jo A locking ring 17 serves for securing the device to the handlebar tension of a bicycle. The locking ring 17 is connected to a serrated mounting ring 170 which is complementary to serrated annular sealing portion 160 and is provided with a central threaded locking hole 171 which, with co-aligned hole 161, receives a locking bolt 180. Thus the locking ring 17 is locked to the seat 10.

The orientation of the device on the mounting ring 170, is adjustably unscrewing bolt 18 and rotating serrated annular seating portion 160 about the common axis of holes 161 and 171.

A bell body 20 has a spring 22, hammer 23, a central rod 21 passing through the axial hole 15 of the seat 10 so that the bell body 20 is assembled to so the seat 10; and a cover 33 having a central hole. The central rod 21 passes through the central hole of the cover 33.

A pinion 30 is located on the seat 10 and has a center hole and is rotatably mounted on central rod 21 so as to be enclosed within the cover 33.

The pinion 30 is engaged with the rack 120 of the actuating lever 12. Thereby, as by moving the actuating lever 12, the pinion 30 will rotate so as to drive the cover 33 to rotate. Since the cover 33 is connected to the central rod 21, the bell body rotates. Then the hammer 23 is hindered by the stop block 14. By the elasticity of the spring 22, the hammer 23 will strike the bell body 20 so as to emit a sound.

so A disk base 31 is located above the pinion 30. A plurality of inclined grooves 310 are disposed around the periphery of the disk base 31. The disk base 31 is covered by the cover 33. Each groove 310 receives a steel ball 32.

When the gear 30 rotates, the steel balls 32 will move along the inclined surfaces of the grooves 310 until each steel ball 32 contacts and then locks against the cover 33.

s When actuating lever 12 is pulled and then released, tension spring 13 will rotate lever 12 and rack 120 anticlockwise about shaft 11 and thereby rotate pinion 30 anticlockwise. The balls 32 will ride up the inclined grooves 310 (which slope downwardly in the anticlockwise direction) and lock against cover 33, thereby rotating cover 33 and its associated bell cover 20, shaft 21 and hammer to 23, causing hammer 23 to strike block 14 and ring the bell.

When the user pulls the actuating lever 12 against the action of tension spring 13 and thereby rotates pinion 30 in the clockwise direction, the balls will unlock from cover 33 and roll down the inclined grooves 310, allowing shaft 21 and its associated bell cover 20 and hammer 23 to remain stationary i.e. without is ringing the bell.

A transparent light mask 50 has a central axial base 51. The axial base 51 is assembled with a central rod 21 of cover 20. Thus, the transparent light mask 50 is assembled to a bottom of the seat 10 and is driven to rotate with the central rod 21. Moreover, the transparent light mask 50 has a fixing base 52 for do assembling a coil 42 of a power and light generating unit 40.

Power and light generating unit 40 is formed by a coil 42 and a magnet 41.

The coil 42 is enclosed by a positive terminal strip 43 and a plurality of negative terminals 44. A plurality of LED lights 45 are connected between the positive terminal strip 43 and the negative terminals 44. The power and light generating us unit 40 has a plurality of locking sheets 440 for connecting to the fixing base 52 of the transparent light mask 50. The magnet 41 is assembled to the extending sleeve 101 of the seat 10 and is placed in the coil 42 so that the coil 42 rotates with the central rod 21. Thereby, the transparent light mask 50 can be driven so that power can be generated with the positive electrode sheet 43, negative so electrode sheets 44 and coil 42. Moreover, the LED lights 45 can light up.

In the above embodiment, the bell body can be made of metal.

Referring to Fig. 5, in this embodiment, the magnet 41 is fixed to the central rod 211. An upper end of the central rod 211 is assembled to the bell body 20 ( a transparent resilient mask 201 can be installed thereto). A lower end thereof is firmly secured with a transparent light mask 50. Furthermore, a lower base 301 serves to assemble the coil 42. The lower base 301 is further locked to a bottom of the seat 10. Thereby, the coil 42 is non-rotatable, while the magnet 41 is rotatable with the central rod 211. Thereby, when the gear 30 is rotated, the central rod 21 will rotate therewith so as to achieve the object of emitting sound and light.

to Referring to Fig. 5, in this embodiment, the bell body can be formed as a transparent resilient mask 201 with a bell body sheet 60 therein. Thereby, the hammer 23 can strike the sheet to emit sound. Moreover, decoration 61 can be added to the interior of the mask 201. Moreover, the transparent mask 201 may be colored.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A manual-operation sound and light emitting device for a

bicycle, the device comprising: a seat having an axial hole at a center thereof, a shaft, an actuating handle pivotally mounted on the shaft, a block positioned near a periphery of the seat, a protruding base extending from an outer periphery of the seat; an extending sleeve extending from a bottom of the seat for fixing a magnet of a light emitting unit; one end of the protruding base having a serrated annular To seating portion and a locking hole at the center of the seating portion, the actuating handle having a rack and being coupled to spring means; a locking base for locking to a handlebar of the bicycle; one end of the locking base having a further serrated annular seating portion and a locking hole at the center of the further seating portion, a fastener passing through the Is locking holes so as to engage the serrated annular seating portions; and thereby lock the base to the seat; the mutual orientation of the serrated annular seating portions being adjustable about the common axis of said locking holes; a bell body having a spring, and a hammer and mounted for rotation on a central rod passing through the axial hole of the seat so that the bell body is To assembled to the seat, a cover having a central hole being secured to the bell body, the central rod passing through the central hole of the cover; a pinion mounted for rotation on said central rod within the cover and engaging said rack; whereby the actuating handle can drive the pinion; a disk base located above the pinion beneath the cover, a plurality of inclined channels being disposed around the periphery of the disk base; each channel receiving a steel ball; wherein when the pinion rotates, each steel ball will move along the inclined surface of its associated channel until the steel ball contacts and then locks against the cover; whereby when the pinion rotates, the cover is driven to rotate about the central rod and thus rotate the bell body, so whereas, when the actuating handle is released, the actuating handle will return to its original position so that the pinion rotates in the reverse direction and the steel balls will disengage from the cover; whereby the bell body only rotates unidirectionally; a transparent light mask having a central axial base; the axial base being assembled with a central rod; thus, the transparent light mask being assembled s to the bottom of the seat and being driven to rotate with the central rod; the transparent light mask having a fixing base for carrying a coil of a power and light generating unit; a power and light generating unit being formed by a coil and a magnet; the coil being enclosed by a positive terminal strip and a plurality of negative terminal to strips; a plurality of LED lights being connected between the positive terminal strip and the negative terminal strips; the power and light generating unit having a plurality of locking sheets for connecting to the fixing base of the transparent light mask; the magnet being assembled to the extending sleeve of the seat and being placed in the coil so that the coil rotates with the central rod; whereby, the transparent light mask and generating unit are driven by the actuating handle to energise the LED lights.
2. The manual-operation sound and light emitting device used in a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnet is fixed to the central rod; an upper end so of the central rod is assembled to the bell body; a lower end thereof is firmly secured with a transparent light mask; a lower base is assembled with the coil; the lower base is further locked to a bottom of the seat, the coil is non-rotatable, while the magnet is rotatable with the central rod; whereby when the pinion is rotated, the central rod will rotate therewith so as to achieve the object of emitting sound and light.
3. A manual-operation sound and light emitting device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bell body is made of metal.
4. A manual-operation sound and light emitting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bell body is formed as a transparent mask with a bell body sheet therein; thereby, the hammer can strike the sheet to emit sound.
5. An alarm device for a vehicle, the device comprising a generator manually operable by an actuating handle of the device and an electric light powered by the generator.
6. An alamm device according to claim 5, wherein said generator is coupled to To a mechanical sound generator.
7. An alarm device for a bicycle substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 optionally as modified in accordance with Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.