GB2523727A

GB2523727A - Straight in line

Info

Publication number: GB2523727A
Application number: GB1322386.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lawrence Adeokun
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-12-18
Filing date: 2013-12-18
Publication date: 2015-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2033-12-18
Also published as: GB201322386D0; GB2523727B

Abstract

A cycle alignment device that allows a user to align components of a cycle comprised a primarily rigid enclosure that houses one or more directional light beam or laser module 7, a lens 8, and a mounting mechanism. The device can be mounted on the cycle at designated points such as handlebar, handlebar stem and saddle rail via an appropriate mounting mechanism that may be integral or removable from the device. In use the device is mounted onto the cycle and any necessary adjustments are made to the handlebar and/or saddle stem, to ensure the light beam/laser line emitted by the device is trained along the central axis of the wheel and/or frame thereby aligning the components of the cycle. The constituent parts of the device may be detachable, and the light beam/laser module may be adjustable. The device can also be used to check the alignment of the rear wheel with the saddle and cycle frame. The device may have visual markers such as arrows 5, 6 to assist the user during alignment. A saddle adapter (fig 1b) may be used to mount the device on the saddle rails (fig 5, 5.1)

Description

Stay In tine The invention relates to wheels-cycle alignment.

The object of the invention is to provide a Portable Cycle Alignment Device used to ensure the wheels, handlebar and saddles are aligned properly in relation to the cycle frame. For ultimate alignment, the central axis (cross section) of the cycle (assuming the wheels are trued) must be perpendicular to the handlebar. When aligning the front wheel, central axis of the handlebar stem must run parallel to the central axis of the wheel. When aligning the saddle, the central axis of the saddle must run parallel to the central axis of the cycle.

Accordingly, this invention provides a device that comprises a hard rigid casing housing a directional light beam/laser source and a lens, which can be attached to designated areas on the cycle for the purpose of properly aligning the handlebar with the front wheel, the saddle with the cycle frame and the rear wheel with the saddle and cycle frame..

Though the invention is not limited to the handlebar alignment, the description and illustrations addresses Handlebar alignment in greater detail. The same principles employed to attain an accurate alignment of the handlebar in relation to the front wheel, can be applied to the saddle in relation to the frame, as well as the rear wheel in relation to the saddle or cycle frame.

It is essential that the outer casing of the device is made from a rigid material as this is vital in attaining an accurate alignment.

The recommended mount points for alignmen: are typically the stem mount point on the handlebar and saddle rails for saddle and rear wheel alignment. Alternative mount points can be used.

The actual invention can be varied in dimensions, material or implementation depending on the required application. It can also be manufactured as a single integrated unit or employ modular and changeable parts. Please note that the diagrams are not to scale and are for illustrative purposes only. There is no circuitry detail included in the illustrations.

The following section is a detailed explanation of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the following graphical illustrations.

FIGURE 1 shows the Projection Component of the invention at a front and side angle.

FIGURE la shows the SIDE VIEW of the Projection Component ofthe invention with primary constituent parts visible.

FIGURE lb shows the Saddle Adapter; FIGURE 1.1 shows. the Projection Component "in use" to align the front wheel.

FIGURE 2 shows the Projection Component "in use" from the side view.

FIGURE 3 shows Projection Component "in use" from the top angle. The central axis of the Projection Component is aligned with the central axis of the front wheel.

FIGURE 3.1 shows the Projection Component from the top view.

FIGURE 4 shows the Projection Component "in use" from a lower angle. This illustrates the alignment of the central axis of the Projection Component with the central axis of the front wheel.

FIGURE 4.1 shows the Projection Component from a lower angle, showing the Ught Aperture 9.

FIGURE 5 shows the Projection Component in use to align the Saddle with the cycle. The Projection Component is attached to the saddle using the Saddle Adapter Component.

FIGURE 5.1 shows the side view of the invention when mounted on to the saddle rail.

FIGURE 5.2 show the invention "in use" to align the rear wheel whilst mounted on the saddle rail.

As shown in Figure 1 and la, the Portable Cycle Alignment Device comprises ofa rigid casing with one or more Mounting Mechanisms. The rigid casing without the mounting mechanism is the Module Compartment 3. The full model. illustrated in fig 1 is referred to as the Projection Component.

The mounting mechanism for attaching the Projection Component to the handlebar is a pair of Handlebar Mount Clip 3 and a pair of Arm 2. This Is illustrated as an integral piece of the device, though it can be designed to be detachable. It is also possible to utilize a single Handlebar Mount Clip 3 and Arm 2 instead of a pair.

The Directional ght Beam/Laser Module 7 is installed perpendicular to the belly of the Module Compartment 3 (fig la). An alternative configuration would be to employ the use of a mirror to redirect the light beam/laser. -3

The centre of the laser module is aligned with the centre of the UghtAperture 9 and a Lens 8 (fig 3.1). A Lens 8 is used to convert a dot laser to a line laser.

Alternatively, the Directional Light Beam/Laser Module 7 could be a self-contained component that generates a straight line laser/beam.

Lens 8 could also be an integrated part of the Module Compartment 3.

Additional components such as battery and. circuitry can be housed in the. Module Compartment 3, though such details have been omitted in the illustrations.

The pair of Arm 2 is connected to the Module Compartment 3 ensuring the pair of Arm 2 run parallel to the light beam/laser line generated along the axis shown in fig 3.1.

A Module CompartnientLid. 4 can incorporate a switch along the spine.

The Front Arrow 5 and Rear Arrow 6 enables a line-of-vision alignment, though they are not essential.

An additional component is the Saddle Adapter shown in fig lb. The pair of Saddle Rail Mount 10 hooks on to the saddle rails as shown in fig 5.1. The Projection Component can then be mounted on the Mount Rod 11 as shown in fig 5 and fig 5.1.

To achieve accurate alignment of the handlebar, the device is attached to the handlebar as shown in Figure 1.1 using the pair Handlebar Mount Clip 3. As the handlebar will be moved around in the process of alignment, it is essential that the device is secured firmly to the handlebar so as to prevent any movement of the device independent of the. handlebar.

If the front wheel has gone through the process of ensuring it is running straight along its axle, the central axis. (cross section) of the wheel will. run parallel to the central axis of the cycle frame. Once the Projection Component is attached to the handlebar, the handlebar can then be aligned with the front wheel by focusing the projected laser/focused beam line generated by the Directional Light Beam/Laser Module 7 through the Lens 8 is projected along the central join seam of the tyre. fig Li, fig 2 and fig 3 Majority of tyres have a visible joining point that should: be the central axis of a properly manufactured cycle tyre.

In the absence of a visible join seam, the projected line can still be used by ensuring it runs parallel to the side of the tyre.

The saddle can be aligned with the cycle frame as shown in figS. When the saddle is aligned, the line generated by the Projection component should run along the central axis of the cycle and pass through the centre of the head set.

An aligned saddle is essential if the current. mount mechanism is used. An alternative mount point could be used.

Once the saddle is aligned, the rear wheel alignment can be done by using the saddle as a fixed reference point. If the rear wheel is in alignment with an aligned saddle, the line generated by the Projection Component runs down the join seam of the rear wheel as shown in 5.2.

Key to Drawings 1 = Handlebar Mount Clip 2= Arm 3 = Module Compartment 4 = Module Compartment Lid = Front Visual Gauge 6 = Rear Visual Gauge 7 = Directional Light Beam/Laser module 8 = Lens 9 = Light Aperture = Saddle Rail Mount 11 = Mount Rod

Claims

Claims 1. A device for ensuring alignment of the handlebar, wheels and/or saddle on a cycle that comprises of a rigid casing enclosing one or more directional light beam/laser module, relevant circuitry, mounting mechanism(s), and lens to project a straight line that runs parallel to designated axis on components of tle cycle.
2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 where the device can be mounted securely on designated parts of the cycle, including but not limited to handlebar, saddle rail, handlebar stem.
3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim.2 where the device employs the use of one or more Directional light beam/laser module (or any other directional medium) and Lens, fixed to the device, in order to project a straight line.
4. A device..as claimed in any precedingclaim where the position of the directional light.beam/laser module may be fixed or adjustable.
5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim where the mounting mechanism enables swift attachment to and removal from the designated part of the cycle.
6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim where the mounting mechanism is an integral or removable part of the device.
7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, which is made from a rigid inflexible material with an outer finish for aesthetics.
8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim where the constituent parts may be detachable.
9. A device substantially as described above and in the accompanying drawings.