GB2530144A

GB2530144A - Magnetically mounted bicycle direction indicators

Info

Publication number: GB2530144A
Application number: GB1511972.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Luca Amaduzzi; Agostino Stilli
Original assignee: Indive Ltd
Current assignee: Indive Ltd
Priority date: 2014-07-09
Filing date: 2015-07-08
Publication date: 2016-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 2035-07-08
Also published as: GB201412248D0; GB201511972D0; GB2530144B

Abstract

A direction indicator system for a bicycle comprises a mount for attachment to a bicycle, preferably at the handlebar ends, and a direction indicator which is removably mountable to the mount. The removable mounting of the direction indicator to the mount is achieved by both a releasable mechanical coupling and a releasable magnetic coupling between the direction indicator and the mount. The mechanical coupling may comprise a cooperating recess and projection and may further comprise an additional projection to ensure mounting in the correct orientation. Two complementary indicators may be connected together by their respective magnets within a storage member which may take the form of a keyring (see figure 6.2).

Description

Magnetically mounted bicycle direction indicators

Technical Field

This invention relates to direction indicators for a bicycle. An embodiment relates to direction indicators for a bicycle magnetically attachable to the side of the handlebar.

Background

This invention aims to give to cyclists a safer way to show their intended turning direction rather than raising an arm. When motorcycles were first introduced they didn't incorporate any direction indicators and, as cyclists today, bikers indicated their intended turning direction by raising an arm. Later in the 1970s direction indicators were developed and integrated into all motorcycles to increase safety for bikers along with all other road users.

Like with motorcycles in the 1970s, our invention aims to increase the safety of cyclists by integrating a blinking orange light on the bicycle that indicates their intended turning direction.

Statements of invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a direction indicator system for a bicycle, comprising: a) a mounter for attachment to a bicycle, and b) a direction indicator which is removably mountable to the mounter; wherein the direction indicator and the mounter are arranged to provide both a releasable mechanical coupling and a releasable magnetic coupling therebetween for the removable mounting of the direction indicator to the mounter.

By mounting the direction indicator to the mounter by both mechanical and magnetic couplings, embodiments of the invention can improve the security of the mounting of the direction indicator to the mounter. This is particularly beneficial, as a bicycle (and hence any direction indicator mounted to it) will typically receive shocks and other sharp or jerky movements as a user cycles the bicycle e.g. as a result of travelling over pot holes in the road, mounting and demounting kerbs, and the like. By mounting the direction indicator to the mounter by both mechanical and magnetic couplings, embodiments of the invention can improve the security of the mounting of the direction indicator to the mounter, to ameliorate the risk of the direction indicator becoming unintentionally separated from the bicycle as a result of such shocks and other sharp movements being received, but at the same :i.

time providing a system in which a user can readily remove the direction indicator from a bicycle when desired e.g. to prevent theft or damage of the direction indicator when the bicycle is left unattended.

Preferably, a first projection is provided on one of the mounter and the direction indicator and a first receiving portion is provided in the other of the mounter and the direction indicator, wherein the first receiving portion is arranged to receive the first projection to provide the releasable mechanical coupling.

By providing a first projection and corresponding first receiving portion, a secure yet releasable mechanical coupling may be provided.

Preferably) the mounter is arranged to be attached to an end of the handlebars of the bicycle, and the first projection extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handlebars when the mounter is attached to the handlebars and the direction indicator is mounted to the mounter.

By extending parallel to the axis of the handlebars, the projection may provide improved resistance to unwanted detachment of the direction indicator as a result of shocks received as the bicycle moves forward i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension of the first projection.

Preferably, the direction indicator system further comprises co-operating engagement means provided on the mounter and the direction indicator which engage to provide a further releasable mechanical coupling between the mounter and the direction indicator.

By providing a further releasable mechanical coupling, the security of mounting of the direction indicator may be further enhanced.

Preferably, the engagement means is further arranged to permit the direction indicator to be mounted to the mounter only in one or more predetermined orientations relative to the mounter.

By permitting the direction indicator to be mounted to the mounter only in one or more predetermined orientations relative to the mounter, the orientation of the direction indicator relative to the bicycle may also be controlled, for example to ensure that the direction indicator points in a certain way relative to the bicycle and hence the direction of travel of the user.

Preferably, the engagement means comprises a second projection provided on one of the mounter and the direction indicator and a second receiving portion provided in the other of the mounter and the direction indicator.

Preferably, the second projection extends from the first projection, and wherein the second receiving portion is provided in the first receiving portion.

Preferably, the mounter is provided with a first magnet and the direction indicator is provided with a second magnet, and wherein the first and second magnets are arranged for mutual magnetic attraction so as to provide the releasable magnetic coupling.

By providing both the mounter and the direction indicator with a magnet, the strength of the releasable magnetic coupling therebetween may be greatly enhanced as compared to a system in which only one of the mounter or the direction indicator is provided with a magnet.

Preferably, the first magnet is provided in one of the first projection and the first receiving portion and the second magnet is provided in the other of the first projection and the first receiving portion.

By co-locating the magnets with the first projection and receiving portion, the security of the releasable mounting may be enhanced.

Preferably, the direction indicator is provided with a switch to selectively turn on and turn off a light source of the direction indicator.

By providing a switch to selectively turn on and turn off a light source of the direction indicator, a system is provided in which a user may simply and intuitively control the direction indicator to indicate a direction change for the complete period desired by a user e.g. for a certain time before, and then throughout, a given manoeuvre.

Preferably, the switch is provided with a cover portion.

Preferably, the direction indicator is provided with a plurality of housing components which fit together to define a housing of the direction indicator.

Preferably, the direction indicator is further provided with at least one electrical cell or battery located within the housing to power the direction indicator, and wherein the plurality of housing components may be removed from each other so as to access and/or replace the at least one cell or battery.

Preferably, the cover portion further provides a seal between first and second ones of the plurality of housing components.

By providing a cover portion which further provides a seal between first and second ones of the plurality of housing components, the number of components of the direction indicator may be reduced and hence the design simplified.

Preferably) the mounter is provided with an insertion portion for insertion into the hollow interior of the handlebars of the bicycle so as to be attached to an end of the handlebars of the bicycle.

Preferably, the insertion portion comprises a deformable portion which is arranged to be selectively deformed by a user to increase in size in at least one dimension after the insertion portion has been inserted into the hollow interior of the handlebars, so as to attach the mounter to the handlebars of the bicycle.

Preferably, the deformable portion comprises a resilient element mounted on a threaded rod and which is selectively compressible by a nut also mounted on the threaded rod so as to laterally expand the resilient element.

Preferably, the direction indicator system further comprises a further mounter for attachment to the bicycle and a further direction indicator for removable mounting to the further mounter.

Preferably, the direction indicator system further comprises a storage member to which the direction indicator and further direction indicator may be mounted when removed from the mounter and further mounter.

Preferably, the storage member comprises a body having an aperture, and wherein the second magnets of the direction indicator and further direction indicator may be brought together via the aperture to mount the direction indicator and further direction indicator to the storage member.

Preferably, the storage member comprises a keyring.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mounter of the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a direction indicator of the first aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a further mounter of the first aspect.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a further direction indicator of the first aspect.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage member of the first aspect.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of mounting a direction indictor to a bicycle, wherein the method comprises: a) attaching a mounter to the bicycle, and b) releasably attaching the direction indicator to the mounter by both a releasable mechanical coupling and a releasable magnetic coupling between the direction indicator and the mounter.

By mounting the direction indicator to the mounter by both mechanical and magnetic couplings, embodiments of the invention can improve the security of the mounting of the direction indicator to the mounter. This is particularly beneficial, as a bicycle (and hence any direction indicator mounted to it) will typically receive shocks and other sharp or jerky movements as a user cycles the bicycle e.g. as a result of travelling over pot holes in the road, mounting and demounting kerbs, and the like. By mounting the direction indicator to the mounter by both mechanical and magnetic couplings, embodiments of the invention can improve the security of the mounting of the direction indicator to the mounter, to ameliorate the risk of the direction indicator becoming unintentionally separated from the bicycle as a result of such shocks and other sharp movements being received, but at the same time providing a system in which a user can readily remove the direction indicator from a bicycle when desired e.g. to prevent theft or damage of the direction indicator when the bicycle is left unattended.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention) there is provided a direction indicator attached through a magnetic mounting system to the sides of a bicycle handlebar, as it is described herein.

Preferably, each unit would be constructed in a manner to incorporate a magnet that allows two units to attach together.

Preferably, the unit would be constructed in a manner to incorporate a magnet that allows two units to attach to a keyring mount, as it is described herein.

Preferably, by means of a button located on the outer part of the device, the activated direction indicator would "blink" (on and off).

A direction indicator system to be used on bicycles and to be located on the ends of the handlebar. The claimed direction indicator system for bicycles is formed by two identical pieces. One of these two pieces attach on the left and one on the right side of the bicycle's handlebar. Each piece is composed of two main components: the direction indicator and the mounter. These two components are connected together with a magnetic joint. The mounter remains inserted inside the bicycle handlebars) the direction indicator is designed to detach and can be easily removed due to the magnetic connection with the mounter. The system is provided with a keyring to allow the user to attach the two direction indicators to it when they have been removed from the bicycle.

The presented direction indicator system utilises a set of ultra-bright LEDs. Each indicator can be activated by a momentary push button located on its side. One push activates the blinking of the corresponding direction indicator, a second push turns it off. An innovation of the system of the present invention compared with the others available for the same purpose is the possibility to detach and reattach the direction indicators from the mounter (which remains attached to the bicycle) with a simple action thanks to the integrated magnetic joint.

Brief description of drawings

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: FIGURE 1.1 is a rear view of the direction indicator system assembled on the handlebar; FIGURE 1.2 isa perspective view of the direction indicator system assembled on the handlebar; FIGURE 1.3 is a front view of the direction indicator system assembled on the handlebar; FIGURE 2.1 shows a left piece of the direction indicator system assembled and mounted on the handlebar; FIGURE 2.2 shows a left piece of the direction indicator system with the direction indicator detached and the mounter inserted in the handlebar; FIGURE 2.3 shows a left piece of the direction indicator system with the direction indicator detached and the mounter removed from the handlebar; FIGURE 3 comprises both perspective and exploded perspective views of a direction indicator of the direction indicator system of Figure 1.1; FIGURE 4 comprises a side-elevation and cross-sectional view of the direction indicator of Figure 3; FIGURE 5 comprises both perspective and exploded perspective views of a mounter of the direction indicator system of Figure 1.1; FIGURE 6.1 shows a keyring in section, front and perspective view; FIGURE 6.2 shows the keyring of Figure 6.1 with the pair of direction indicators with graphic description about how to connect them to the keyring; and FIGURE 6.3 shows the keyring of Figure 6.1 with the pair of direction indicators connected.

Detailed description

The system contains two identical pieces. One of these two pieces attach on the left and one on the right side of the bicycle's handlebars. Each piece is composed of two main components: the direction indicator and the mounter.

The Figure 1 shows the system mounted on the bicycle handlebar in a rear (Fig. 1.1), perspective (Fig. 1.2) and front view (Fig. 1.3). The brackets highlight the system in order to make it clear where the handlebar terminates and where the direction indicator system starts.

The Figure 2 shows an overview of the system. The Figure 2.1 shows the left piece of the direction indicator system assembled and mounted on the handlebar. The Figure 2.2 shows the left piece of the direction indicator system with the mounter attached on the handlebar and the direction indicator detached. The Figure 2.3 shows the left piece of the direction indicator system with the mounter removed from the handlebar and the direction indicator detached.

The system is provided with a keyring to allow the user to attach the two direction indicators to it when they have been removed from the bicycle.

The following descriptions of the parts of the two main components refer to Figures 3, 4 and 5.

* The Direction Indicator: This component contains the light source and the push button that allows the user to turn on and off the blinking light. This component is composed of the following parts (the letters are with reference to Figures 3 and 4): a -Magnet (direction indicator side): This forms one half of the joint between the direction indicator and the mounter.

b -Aluminium base case: This part has a female thread on the side that faces the push button in order to connect the part with the clear orange plastic shield (d). This part (b) can be unscrewed to replace the batteries. On the side that faces the mounter there is a cylindrical extrusion at the top of which is located the magnet (a). On the lateral surface of this extrusion there is a pin (j), which provides a reference to the users in order to attach the direction indicator on the mounter in the correct orientation (projecting the light to the front and rear of the bicycle).

c -Electronic components: This includes the PCB with LEDs (h) and the integrated momentary push button (g) and the batteries. These components are surrounded by an aluminium holder.

d -Clear orange plastic shield: This is coloured with an orange pigment in order to give the LED's light an orange colour, as is typically used for the indicator lights of road vehicles. Inside this part, in the central cylindrical cavity, are located the batteries (2 lithium CR2032 batteries) and all of the electronic components (c). This part has two male threads, one on the side which faces the mounter and one on the opposite side. The former thread is to connect the plastic shield (d) with the aluminium case base (b) and the latter thread is to connect the plastic shield (d) with the aluminium top case (f).

e -Silicon cover for the push button momentary switch: This part is ergonomically shaped as a dome (for a clearer view refer to Figure 4 at the letter i) and is held in position by the compression between the plastic shield (d) and the aluminium top case (f).

f -Aluminium top case: This part has a female thread on the side that faces the mounter in order to connect the part with the clear orange plastic shield (d). This part has a central hole to accommodate the silicon cover (e) for the momentary push button.

The direction indicator is totally waterproof thanks to a silicon 0-ring placed between the clear orange plastic shield (d) and the aluminium base case (b). The sealing of the connection between the clear orange plastic shield (d) and the aluminium top case (f) is formed by the silicon cover of the momentary push button.

* The mounter: This component, as it is shown in the Figure 2.3, has to be placed in the lateral cylindrical cavity of the handlebar and is designed to remain on the bicycle after installation. This component is composed by the following parts (the letters refer to Figure 5 page 4): -Magnet (mounter side): This forms the other half of the joint between the direction indicator and the mounter.

m -Aluminium base: This part has a cylindrical cavity where the magnet (I) is located and where the corresponding cylindrical extrusion of the aluminium base case (a) is hosted when the direction indicator is mounted. On the side of the cylindrical cavity there is also a semicircular keyway where the pin (j) is hosted when the direction indicator is correctly connected to the mounter.

n-Threaded rod: On this rod the silicon ring (o) is located and the customized flat nut (p) is screwed, in turn compressing the silicon ring (o). The compression of the silicon ring (o) leads to its lateral expansion.

This expansion allow for the mounter to fix its position inside the lateral cylindrical cavity of the handlebar.

o -Silicon ring: See description n.

p -Customized flat nut: See description n.

The following description of the keyring refers to Figure 6.

* The keyring: This system has been designed in order to have the two magnets (a and I) magnetized with opposite polarities on the exposed faces, resulting in an attraction force between the two direction indicators. The user is provided with a complementary keyring mount for the system illustrated in Figure 6.1. The two indicators can be easily inserted into either side of the keyring as it is illustrated in the Figure 6.2. The keyring, with the pair of direction indicators connected (Figure 6.3), can then be carried or stored by the user reducing the risk of them being lost or stolen.

In the foregoing, references to "silicon" are to be understood as references to "silicone".

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Thus, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described by way of example only. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A direction indicator system for a bicycle, comprising: a) a mounter for attachment to a bicycle, and b) a direction indicator which is removably mountable to the mounter; wherein the direction indicator and the mounter are arranged to provide both a releasable mechanical coupling and a releasable magnetic coupling therebetween for the removable mounting of the direction indicator to the mounter.
2. The direction indicator system of claim 1, wherein a first projection is provided on one of the mounter and the direction indicator and a first receiving portion is provided in the other of the mounter and the direction indicator, wherein the first receiving portion is arranged to receive the first projection to provide the releasable mechanical coupling.
3. The direction indicator system of claim 2, wherein the mounter is arranged to be attached to an end of the handlebars of the bicycle, and the first projection extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handlebars when the mounter is attached to the handlebars and the direction indicator is mounted to the mounter.
4. The direction indicator system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising co-operating engagement means provided on the mounter and the direction indicator which engage to provide a further releasable mechanical coupling between the mounter and the direction indicator.
5. The direction indicator system according to claim 4, wherein the engagement means is further arranged to permit the direction indicator to be mounted to the mounter only in one or more predetermined orientations relative to the mounter.
6. The direction indicator system of claim 4 or 5, wherein the engagement means comprises a second projection provided on one of the mounter and the direction indicator and a second receiving portion provided in the other of the mounter and the direction indicator.
7. The direction indicator system according to claim 6, wherein the second projection extends from the first projection, and wherein the second receiving portion is provided in the first receiving portion.
8. The direction indicator system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounter is provided with a first magnet and the direction indicator is provided with a second magnet, and wherein the first and second magnets are arranged for mutual magnetic attraction so as to provide the releasable magnetic coupling.
9. The direction indicator system according to claim 8 as dependent directly or indirectly upon claim 2, wherein the first magnet is provided in one of the first projection and the first receiving portion and the second magnet is provided in the other of the first projection and the first receiving portion.
10. The direction indicator system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the direction indicator is provided with a switch to selectively turn on and turn off a light source of the direction indicator.
11. The direction indicator system of claim 10, wherein the switch is provided with a cover portion.
12. The direction indicator system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the direction indicator is provided with a plurality of housing components which fit together to define a housing of the direction indicator.
13. The direction indicator system of claim 12, wherein the direction indicator is further provided with at least one electrical cell or battery located within the housing to power the direction indicator, and wherein the plurality of housing components may be removed from each other so as to access and/or replace the at least one cell or battery.
14. The direction indicator system of claim 13 as dependent directly or indirectly upon claim 11, wherein the cover portion further provides a seal between first and second ones of the plurality of housing components.
15. The direction indicator system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounter is provided with an insertion portion for insertion into the hollow interior of the handlebars of the bicycle so as to be attached to an end of the handlebars of the bicycle.
16. The direction indicator system of claim 15, wherein the insertion portion comprises a deformable portion which is arranged to be selectively deformed by a user to increase in size in at least one dimension after the insertion portion has been inserted into the hollow interior of the handlebars, so as to attach the mounter to the handlebars of the bicycle.
17. The direction indicator system of claim 16, wherein the deformable portion comprises a resilient element mounted on a threaded rod and which is selectively compressible by a nut also mounted on the threaded rod so as to laterally expand the resilient element.
18. The direction indicator system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a further mounter for attachment to the bicycle and a further direction indicator for removable mounting to the further mounter.
19. The direction indicator system of claim 18, further comprising a storage member to which the direction indicator and further direction indicator maybe mounted when removed from the mounter and further mounter.
20. The direction indicator system of claim 19 as dependent directly or indirectly upon claim 8, wherein the storage member comprises a body having an aperture, and wherein the second magnets of the direction indicator and further direction indicator may be brought together via the aperture to mount the direction indicator and further direction indicator to the storage member.
21. The direction indicator system of claim 19 or 20, wherein the storage member comprises a keyring.
22. The mounter of any one of the preceding claims.
23. The direction indicator of any one of the preceding claims.
24. The further mounter of any one of claims 18 to 21.
25. The further direction indicator of any one of claims 18 to 21.
2. The storage member of any one of claims 19 to 21.
27. A method of mounting a direction indictor to a bicycle, wherein the method comprises: a) attaching a mounter to the bicycle, and b) releasably attaching the direction indicator to the mounter by both a releasable mechanical coupling and a releasable magnetic coupling between the direction indicator and the mounter.
28. A direction indicator system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
29. A direction indicator attached through a magnetic mounting system to the sides of a bicycle handlebar, as it is described herein.
30. A direction indicator system as in claim 29, wherein each unit would be constructed in a manner to incorporate a magnet that allows two units to attach together.
31. A direction indicator system as in claim 29, wherein the unit would be constructed in a manner to incorporate a magnet that allows two units to attach to a keyring mount, as it is described herein.
32. A direction indicator system as in claim 29 wherein by means of a button located on the outer part of the device, the activated direction indicator would "blink" (on and off).