JP2005047364A - Hood device of bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hood device for a bicycle allowing the rider to maneuver the bicycle at the time of riding under the rainfall in such a way as without single-hand riding while he has an umbrella opened over him. <P>SOLUTION: The hood device M to be attached to a front cage B of bicycle is equipped with a left and a right expansion shaft 10 capable of expanding and contracting up and down, a hood frame 30 supported in such a way as set over between the forefront parts of the expansion shafts 10 and arranged capable of being spread at least backward and folded up, and a canvas 40 spread tight on the hood frame 30, and is arranged capable of being accommodated in the front cage B and spread in such a way as covering the rider. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a hood device that is installed in a bicycle and can be used in place of a parasol or a parasol.

To ride a bicycle in the rain, you must hold an umbrella with one hand, which is dangerous and difficult to ride.
Therefore, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a transparent plastic sheet wound in a roll shape on a front basket of a bicycle. When it rains, the seat is extended backwards to form an arch and cover the rider's head.
Moreover, the thing of patent document 2 has attached the support rod to the handle | steering-wheel of a bicycle, and attached the board for sun protection or rain protection to the front-end | tip part of this support rod.

JP 2003-127842 A JP-A-9-123968

However, in the above-mentioned document 1, a plastic sheet having both flexibility that can be wound in a roll shape and shape retention that can maintain an arch shape regardless of its own weight or wind pressure when it is unrolled is produced. Is not easy.
In addition, the one described in the above-mentioned document 2 needs to be attached to the bicycle every time it is used, and it is necessary to remove it after use. Depending on the situation, it cannot be used and is inconvenient.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a hood device that can be accommodated and deployed in a front basket of a bicycle, and is a telescopic shaft that is vertically extendable in a pair of left and right sides of the front basket. And a hood frame that is supported so as to be bridged between the distal ends of the telescopic shafts and that can be expanded and contracted at least rearward, and a hood cloth stretched on the hood frame. Features. This makes it possible to reliably cover the rider's head by deploying a hood device when it rains, and there is no need to put an umbrella in one-handed operation. Since the hood device has a pair of telescopic shafts and a frame supported by these shafts, the necessary strength such as wind resistance can be reliably ensured. Moreover, it can be stored in the front basket when not in use. And it can be deployed whenever necessary. Thereby, the convenience of the bicycle can be improved.

The hood frame is composed of a plurality of articulated frame parts that are connected so that relative displacement (rotation or sliding) is possible between a contracted state in which adjacent ones are overlapped with each other and a deployed state in which the hood frame is deployed forward and backward. It is desirable. As a result, the hood frame can be reliably deployed and accommodated.
It is desirable that the hood frame can be vertically adjusted in the expanded state (around the tip of the telescopic shaft). As a result, the angle of the hood frame can be raised or lowered according to the height of the rider, and the rider's head can be prevented from hitting the hood frame, or the gap between the rider and the hood frame being too vacant.
It is desirable that the hood frame can be adjusted to the left and right in the deployed state (around a predetermined position on a line connecting the tip portions of the pair of telescopic shafts). Thereby, for example, when getting off a bicycle and pushing it, the hood frame can be positioned above the head.
Preferably, the hood frame is folded so as to fold along the telescopic shaft when housed in the front car. Thereby, it can accommodate compactly.

  The hood frame is attached to the distal end of the telescopic shaft so as to be rotatable via a horizontal axis, and the hood frame can be locked to be unrotatable at an unfolded angle and an accommodated angle (and unlocked). It is desirable that a possible frame lock mechanism is provided. As a result, the unfolded state can be reliably maintained during use, and the housed state can be reliably maintained when not in use.

It is desirable that the telescopic shaft is provided with a shaft lock mechanism that can lock (and unlock) the telescopic shaft in an extended state. As a result, the height of the hood frame can be reliably maintained.
The distal ends of the pair of telescopic shafts are connected to each other by a connecting beam, and a single unlocking button is provided at the center of the connecting beam. It is desirable that it is also linked to the shaft lock mechanism, and the locked state can be released simultaneously. As a result, the lock of the two telescopic shafts can be unlocked only by operating a single lock release button, and the operability can be improved.

The front cage is further provided with an auxiliary telescopic shaft that can be vertically expanded and contracted, and it is desirable that the unfolded hood frame is releasably supported at the tip of the extended auxiliary telescopic shaft. As a result, the strength of the hood frame when deployed can be increased.
It is desirable that the hood cloth is detachable from the hood frame. As a result, for example, a hood cloth for rain protection and a hood cloth for sun protection can be prepared and replaced according to the purpose, thereby further enhancing convenience.
It is desirable to apply a fluorescent paint to the hood cloth, the telescopic shaft, or the hood frame. This can improve nighttime safety.

  According to the above characteristic configuration, the overhead of the rider can be reliably covered by deploying the hood device in rainy weather, and there is no need to insert an umbrella in one-handed operation. Since the hood device has a pair of telescopic shafts and a frame supported by these shafts, the necessary strength such as wind resistance can be reliably ensured. Moreover, it can be stored in the front basket when not in use. And it can be deployed whenever necessary. Thereby, the convenience of the bicycle can be improved.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a bicycle. A hood device M is provided in the front basket B of the bicycle. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hood device M includes front / rear and left / right extension shafts 10, 20, a hood frame 30 supported by the extension shafts 10, 20, and a hood cloth stretched on the hood frame 30. And has.

The pair of left and right telescopic shafts 10 on the rear side are attached substantially vertically so as to be slightly inclined rearwardly upward. The upper end portions (tip portions) of the telescopic shafts 10 are connected by a connecting beam 16.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the telescopic shaft 10 has inner and outer three-stage cylinders 11 to 13, and the lower outer cylinder 11 is fixed to the left and right inner surfaces of the car B by fixing means (not shown). While being fixed, the middle inner cylinder 12 and the upper inner cylinder 13 are moved up and down so that they can be expanded and contracted.
As shown in FIG. 3, the telescopic shaft 10 in a completely contracted state is accommodated in the front car B almost entirely. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the end of the telescopic shaft 10 in a fully extended state is positioned at a position slightly higher than the rider.

  Further, the telescopic shaft 10 is provided with a shaft lock mechanism that locks in the extended state. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the middle stage locking means 14 is accommodated in the lower end portion of the middle stage cylinder 12. The middle locking means 14 includes a claw portion 14a provided so as to be able to protrude and retract from the through hole 12a at the lower end portion of the middle cylinder 12, and a biasing means 14b such as a leaf spring for biasing the claw portion 14a in the protruding direction. have. In the extended state, the claw portion 14a of the middle-stage lock means 14 is fitted into the locking hole 11a at the upper end portion of the outer cylinder 11, so that the middle cylinder 12 cannot be lowered.

  An upper locking means 15 is accommodated in the inner cylinder 13. The upper locking means 15 has an inverted L-shaped bar 15a, a claw 15b provided at the lower end of the link 15a, and a biasing means 15c made of a torsion spring or the like. The link 15 a is rotatable at a bent portion located at the upper end portion of the inner cylinder 13. The urging means 15 c urges the link 15 a so that the claw portion 15 b protrudes from the through hole 13 a at the lower end portion of the inner cylinder 13. In the extended state, the claw portion 15b of the upper lock means 15 is fitted into the locking hole 12b at the upper end portion of the middle cylinder 12, so that the inner cylinder 13 cannot be lowered.

  The horizontal portion of the link 15 a of the upper locking means 15 is accommodated in about half of the connecting beam 16. The links 15 a of the pair of telescopic shafts 10 face each other close to each other at the central portion of the connection beam 16. A single lock release button 17 is provided at the center of the connecting beam 16. As shown in FIG. 5 (a), when the release button 17 is pressed, the links 15a on both sides of the link 15a rotate against the urging means 15c, and the claw portions 15b retract and disengage from the locking holes 12b. . As a result, the vertical movement of the inner cylinder 13 of the pair of telescopic shafts 10 is allowed. The release button 17 is pushed back by the link 15a when released. As shown in FIG. 5 (b), when almost the entire inner cylinder 13 is accommodated in the middle cylinder 12, the lower end portion of the inner cylinder 13 is a leaf spring 14 b (cam part) that forms the slant of the middle locking means 14. At the end, the cam action causes the claw portion 14a to retract and disengage from the locking hole 11a. As a result, the vertical movement of the middle cylinder 12 is allowed. As a result, expansion-contraction of the expansion-contraction shaft 10 is accept | permitted.

  The pair of auxiliary telescopic shafts 20 on the front side has substantially the same configuration as the telescopic shaft 10 on the rear side. The rear shaft 10 is slightly inclined, while the front shaft 20 is almost vertical.

  Next, the hood frame 30 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hood frame 30 includes three (a plurality) of connecting frame portions 31 to 33 that are connected in the front-rear direction, and an arm 39 that is connected to each of the telescopic shafts 10. . As shown in FIG. 6, the connecting arm 39 has a “<” shape, and the rotation shaft portion 39 a at the base end thereof is connected to the upper end portion of the inner cylinder 13 of each telescopic shaft 10 so as to be vertically rotatable. Yes. The distal ends of the connecting arms 39 are connected together by an arch-shaped center beam 36.

  Between the telescopic shaft 10 and the connecting arm 39, an arm lock mechanism for locking the connecting arm 39 and thus the hood frame 30 so as not to rotate is provided. That is, at the upper end portion of the inner cylinder 13 of the telescopic shaft 10, a stopper 51 that can project and retract toward the rotating shaft 39a of the connecting arm 39, and a spring 52 (attached) that biases the stopper 51 in the projecting direction. And a detent release button 53 constituting a cam mechanism in cooperation with the stopper 51. On the other hand, two engaging holes 39b and 39c are formed 180 degrees apart in the rotating shaft 39a of the connecting arm 39. When the connecting arm 39 is in the standing position (solid line in the figure), the stopper 51 is fitted in the engagement hole 39b by the bias of the spring 52. As a result, the connecting arm 39 is locked (stopped) in the standing position. When the release button 53 is pressed, the stopper 51 is retracted against the bias of the spring 52 by the cam action. As a result, the lock of the connecting arm 39 is released and rotation is allowed. Then, when the connecting arm 39 is positioned at a downward position (two-dot chain line in the figure) along the front side surface of the telescopic shaft 10, the stopper 51 is fitted into the other engagement hole 39c. As a result, the connecting arm 39 is locked in the downward position. This lock can also be released by pressing the release button 53.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the connecting frame portion 31 on the front side of the hood frame 30 is formed between a “U” -shaped frame member 31 a and a pair of left and right proximal ends (rear end portions) of the frame member 31 a. And a center beam 35 spanned between the two and has a quadrangular shape. The left and right base end portions of the front frame member 31 a are rotatably connected to a rotation shaft portion 39 d provided at the distal ends of the left and right connecting arms 39. The center beam 35 is curved in an arch shape, and both left and right end portions thereof are integrally connected to the tip end portions of the respective connecting arms 39 to connect the left and right connecting arms 39 to each other. The center beam 35 is also a component of the central connecting frame portion 32. That is, the connecting frame portion 32 includes a pair of left and right frame members 32a, and a center beam 35 and a rear beam 36 that connect between the end portions of the frame members 32a, and has a quadrangular shape. A base end portion (front end portion) of each frame member 32 a is rotatably connected to a rotation shaft portion 39 d of the connecting arm 39. As a result, the connecting frame portions 31 and 32 are rotatably connected between the unfolded state (solid line in FIG. 6) deployed forward and backward and the contracted state (three-dot chain line in FIG. 6) superimposed. Yes.

  The rear beam 36 is also a component of the rear connecting frame portion 33. That is, the connecting frame portion 33 is constituted by a “U” -shaped frame member 33 a and the rear beam 36 and has a quadrangular shape. The pair of left and right base ends (front end portions) of the frame member 33a are connected to the front end portions (rear end portions) of the respective frame members 32a via the rotation shafts 37, respectively. The left and right rotating shafts 37 are connected by a rear beam 36. As a result, the connecting frame portions 32 and 33 are rotatably connected between the unfolded state (solid line in FIG. 6) deployed forward and backward and the contracted state (three-dot chain line in FIG. 6) superimposed. Yes.

  As a result, the three connecting frame portions 31 to 33 of the hood frame 30 are expandable and contractible (foldable). As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting frame portions 31 to 33 are folded and the connecting arm 39 is suspended to bring the entire hood frame 30 into a downward position. Further, the telescopic shaft 10 is contracted, so that the hood The entire apparatus M is accommodated in the front car B.

  Although not shown in detail, the hood frame 30 is provided with a frame lock mechanism that can lock and unlock the articulated frame portions so as to be unrotatable to the angle at the time of expansion and the angle at the time of contraction. . This frame lock mechanism is configured to eliminate play between the shafts 39d, 37 and the frame members 31a, 32a, 33a, which is necessary for rotating the frame members 31a, 32a, 33a, for example, by tightening screws. Alternatively, a moderation mechanism may be used.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a hood cloth 40 is stretched on the connecting frame portions 31 to 33. The hood cloth 40 swells in the left and right central portions following the arch shape of the center beam 36. The hood cloth 40 has a waterproof property for preventing rain, but may have a light-shielding property (particularly, an ultraviolet ray-cutting property) for shading. The hood cloth 40 may be detachable from the hood frame 30, and both a rain protection and an awning may be prepared and replaced according to the purpose. Fashionability can also be improved by coloring or coloring the hood cloth 40.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a band 38 (engaging means) is provided at the front end portion of the front connecting frame portion 31. The band 38 is wound around the connection beam 26 of the extended auxiliary telescopic shaft 20 and is prevented from being opened by a planar fastener (not shown). Accordingly, the front end portion of the hood frame 30 is supported by the auxiliary telescopic shaft 20. Further, when the hood device M is accommodated, the band 38 can be easily released from the auxiliary telescopic shaft 20 simply by unwinding the planar fastener.

A method of using the bicycle hood device M configured as described above will be described.
As shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, the hood device M is folded and contracted and stored in the front car B during normal times (such as in fine weather). As a result, the use of the bicycle can be prevented.
As shown by the arrow in FIG. 3, the hood device M is taken out from the front car B and deployed when it rains. That is, first, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, the telescopic shaft 10 is extended until the locking means 14 and 15 are locked. Next, as shown in FIG. 3 and the three-dot chain line in FIG. 3 and the three-dot chain line in FIG. 6, while raising the hood frame 30, as shown in FIG. Apply the lock. Further, the front auxiliary telescopic shaft 20 is extended, and the band 38 at the front end of the hood frame 30 is wound thereon. In this way, the hood device M can be deployed with a simple operation, and can reliably cover the rider's head. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, the rider can drive the bicycle without inserting an umbrella, and does not need to perform a one-handed operation, thereby improving safety.
Since the hood frame 30 is supported by the pair of front and rear telescopic shafts 10 and 20, it is possible to ensure the strength such as wind resistance.
Since the hood device M is always installed in the bicycle, it can cope with any rain.
After using the hood device M, the hood device M can be easily stored by going through the reverse procedure at the time of deployment. In particular, when the telescopic shaft 10 is contracted, the two telescopic shafts 10 can be unlocked at the same time by simply pressing one button 17, thereby further facilitating the operation. Moreover, since the hood frame 30 is folded and suspended so as to follow the telescopic shaft 10, it can be accommodated in a compact manner.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
For example, various modes can be adopted for the shaft lock mechanism, the arm lock mechanism, and the frame lock mechanism, respectively. The telescopic shaft may be locked not only in the extended state but also in the contracted state.
Various modes can be adopted as a mechanism for expanding and contracting the hood frame. For example, the connecting frame portions may be expanded and contracted by sliding. In this case, at the time of deployment, it is desirable that the adjacent articulated frame portions slide relative to each other back and forth to a position where they are lined up and down, and slightly slide relative to each other up and down so as to be substantially flush with each other.

  A plurality of engagement holes 39b of the arm lock mechanism are provided at small angles, the stopper 51 can be fitted into any engagement hole 39b, and the angle of the connecting arm 39 in the standing state can be adjusted. The hood frame may be adjustable in angle up and down. As a result, the angle of the hood frame can be raised or lowered according to the height of the rider.

  The unfolded hood frame is connected to one tip of the pair of left and right telescopic shafts so as to be slidable back and forth, and is connected to the tip of the other telescopic shaft so as to be slidable back and forth in the opposite direction. Thus, the angle of the entire hood frame can be adjusted from side to side. As a result, for example, when getting off a bicycle and pushing it, the hood frame can be positioned above the head.

The number and shape of the connecting frame parts of the hood frame can be arbitrarily changed. You may provide braces, such as X shape, in a connection frame part.
There is no need to provide the connecting frame portion on the front side of the telescopic shaft 10.
An auxiliary telescopic shaft may also be provided at the rear of the bicycle to support the rear end of the hood frame.

The hood cloth may be one sheet for the entire hood frame, or may be divided into a plurality of sheets for each connecting frame part. When the articulated frame parts expand and contract in a sliding manner, it is desirable to divide the hood cloth. Hard plastic or ceramic may be used as the material of the hood.
You may apply fluorescent paint to structural members, such as a hood cloth, a hood frame, and an expansion-contraction shaft. This can improve nighttime safety.

The constituent members of the telescopic shafts 10 and 20 and the hood frame 30 are preferably made of a material having a required rigidity and being as light as possible.
The front car B may be constituted by a waterproof sheet.

1 is an overall view of a bicycle equipped with a hood device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the said hood apparatus in the expansion | deployment state. It is the perspective view which shows the state which stored the said hood apparatus in the front cage with a continuous line, shows the state which extended the expansion-contraction shaft with a dashed-two dotted line, and shows the state which raised the hood frame with the dashed-three dotted line. It is an explanatory front view which shows the expansion-contraction shaft of the said hood apparatus in the expansion | extension state. (A) is an explanatory front view of the state where the upper inner cylinder of the telescopic shaft is unlocked, and (b) is an explanatory front view of the state where the middle cylinder of the telescopic shaft is unlocked. FIG. 3 is a side view of the hood frame of the hood device, where the unfolded state is indicated by a solid line, the lowered state is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the raised state is indicated by a three-dot chain line.

Explanation of symbols

B Bicycle front basket M Bicycle hood device 10 Telescopic shafts 14 and 15 Locking means 17 Single lock release button 20 Auxiliary telescopic shaft 30 Top frame 31 to 33 Joint frame section 40 Top cloth

Claims (9)

A hood device that can be accommodated and deployed in a front basket of a bicycle, and is stretched between a telescopic shaft provided in a pair of left and right sides so as to be vertically expandable and contractable between the front ends of the telescopic shafts. A bicycle hood device, comprising: a hood frame that is supported in such a manner that it can be expanded and contracted at least rearwardly; and a hood cloth stretched on the hood frame. The hood frame is composed of a plurality of articulated frame portions that are connected to each other so as to be relatively displaceable between a contracted state in which adjacent objects are overlapped with each other and a deployed state in which the adjacent hood frame is deployed in the front-rear direction. The bicycle hood device according to claim 1. The bicycle hood device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hood frame is vertically adjustable in an unfolded state. The bicycle hood device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hood frame is adjustable in angle from side to side in a deployed state. The bicycle hood device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hood frame is contracted when being accommodated in the front car and is hung so as to follow the telescopic shaft. The bicycle hood device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the telescopic shaft is provided with a shaft lock mechanism capable of locking the telescopic shaft in an extended state. The distal ends of the pair of telescopic shafts are connected to each other by a connecting beam, and a single unlocking button is provided at the center of the connecting beam. The bicycle hood device according to claim 6, wherein the bicycle hood device is linked to a shaft lock mechanism and can be released simultaneously. The front cage is further provided with an auxiliary telescopic shaft that can be vertically expanded and contracted, and a hood frame in an unfolded state is releasably supported at a distal end portion of the extended auxiliary telescopic shaft. The bicycle hood device according to any one of 7 above. The bicycle hood device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the hood cloth is detachable from the hood frame.

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