KR20070061523A - Automatic bicycle storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

The automatic bicycle storage system comprises bicycles (1) each of which is provided with an electric locking device (9) controllable by an external control device (2) which makes it possible to lock the bicycles on the passive anchoring members (10) of locking stands (8).

Description

Automatic bicycle storage system {AUTOMATIC BICYCLE STORAGE SYSTEM}

The present invention relates in particular to an automatic bicycle storage system, for temporary storage of public bicycles.

More specifically, the present invention

A plurality of bicycles (for example bipeds) each having a locking device and an electronic control circuit,

At least one storage area with at least one locking stand for locking the bicycle when the bicycle is not in use, and

At least one control device for selectively allowing the borrowing of bicycles from storage areas;

It relates to a bicycle automatic storage system having a.

Document EP-A-0 875 867 discloses an example of a bicycle storage system in which each bicycle is locked in a lock stand by cooperation between an electric latch device belonging to a fixed lock stand and a blocking device of the bike.

Such known bicycle storage systems have the disadvantage that in particular fixed installations in bicycle storage areas are expensive and require relatively considerable labor for installation.

The present invention aims, in particular, to solve these disadvantages.

To this end, the bicycle storage system according to the present invention has a lock stand with passive anchoring members which are passive (ie without electric drive means), the locking device of each bicycle being controlled by the electronic control circuit of the bicycle. And an electric clasp device adapted to be locked onto the fixing member.

Due to this configuration, the locking stand is almost inexpensive and does not require a lot of labor for installation since it does not have an electrically controlled clasp.

In various embodiments of the present invention, it may optionally further have one and / or the other of the following configurations:

The fastening member has identification means readable by the electronic control circuit of the bicycle;

The control device has a first short range wireless communication interface, each bicycle having a second short range wireless communication interface adapted to communicate with the first communication interface, the second communication interface being connected to the electronic control circuit of the bike; The control device is adapted to control the locking device of each bicycle via the first communication interface and the second communication interface;

The first and second communication interfaces are wireless communication interfaces;

The first and second communication interfaces are adapted to communicate according to a protocol selected from the DECT, WIFI, BLUETOOTH and ZIGBEE protocols;

 The control device has an interface adapted to allow the user to control the unlocking of the bicycle locked in the storage area;

The system further comprises a server adapted to communicate with the wireless telephone belonging to the user, the server communicating with the control device and unlocking the bicycle from the storage area by the control device according to the information received by the user's wireless phone. To do so;

The control device is arranged to communicate with the server wirelessly.

Further features and advantages of the invention will appear through the disclosure of two embodiments given below as non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing a bicycle automatic storage system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the bicycle lock of FIG. 1 locked to a fastening member of one of the lock stands. FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2.

4 is a block diagram of the bicycle storage system of FIG. 1.

5 is a block diagram of a bicycle storage system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate the same or similar elements.

As shown in FIG. 1, the invention relates to an automatic storage system of a bicycle 1, in particular a bicycle 1, such as a bicycle, which makes it possible to store the bicycle on the highway, for example by placing the bicycle at public disposal.

The automatic bicycle storage system is, for example, a keyboard 3, a screen 4, a portable electronic card reader 5 and, optionally, a ticket issuing device, which serves to confirm the allowance for deductions in the account of a payment or payment card, for example. It is further provided with a control device such as an interactive terminal 2 equipped with a user interface including 6).

The bicycle storage area 7, for example with a plurality of locking stands 8, is located in the vicinity of the interactive terminal 2 for accommodating the bicycle when the bicycle is not in use.

When the bicycle 1 is placed back in the storage area 7, they can stand for example on a wheel stop 1b pivotally mounted on the frame 1a. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, each bicycle can be mounted, for example, on a rim 9a or another support firmly fixed to the frame 1a of each bicycle and mounted on the lock stand 8. (1) is provided with the locking device 9 which can lock.

Each locking device 9 is adapted to be locked in a manual (ie no electric actuator) fixing member 10 fixed to the corresponding locking stand 8. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, each lock stand 8 may be in the form of a vertical terminal fixed to the ground, for example, and as shown in more detail in FIG. 2, each fastening member 10 is made of metal, for example. It may be a flat keyed type made of metal or plastic material connected to the locking stand 8 by means of a cable 11, a chain or another connecting means.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fastening member 10 has a platelet having, for example, an elongated body 10a and an elongated head 10b which forms two shoulder portions 10c towards the elongated body 10a, for example. It may be in the form. The fixing member 10 may be connected to the cable 11 by the end of the elongated body 10a located opposite the elongated head 10b.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the fastening member 10 may engage a small gap in the slit 12 belonging to the lock device case 13, for example.

Inside the case 13 there may also be arranged two hooks 14 provided in one lever 15, in which case the lever 15 is in an intermediate position along its length. It is pivoted around the located axis 15a. Each hook 14 is adapted to protrude transversely in the slit 12.

Each of the hooks 14

A stop edge 16 adapted to engage behind one of the shoulder portions 10c of the fastening member 10 when the fastening member is fully engaged in the slit 12, and

When the fastening member 10 is introduced into the slit 12, the hook 14 is directed in the direction of the arrow 18 to the concealed position whereby the fastening head 10b of the fastening member enables passage of the fastening head 10b. Cam edges 17 oriented and obliquely extending toward the opening of the slit 12 so that they can be pushed outwards

It may be provided.

Optionally, the expandable head 10b has a rounded, obliquely cut edge towards the front, ie opposite the elongated body 10a, thereby hooking in the direction 18 when the fastening member 10 is inserted into the slit 12. 14) can be pushed out more easily.

Each lever 15 acts elastically by the spring 19 in the direction of the arrow 20 toward the locking position shown in FIG. 2, with the hook 14 protruding from the inside of the slit 12. Receives. In addition, on opposite sides of the hook 14 with respect to the corresponding pivot axis 15a, both ends of the lever 15 are arranged in arrangement on both sides of the electromagnet 22 connected to the electronic control circuit 23. The electronic control circuit 23 supplies electric power to the electromagnet 22, which pulls both ends 21 of the lever 15 to conceal these levers 15 in the direction of the arrow 18. The locking member 10 can be released by displacing. In this way, the hook 14, the lever 15 and the electromagnet 22 form an electric latch device.

As shown in Fig. 3, the locking device 9 has a communication interface for reading (e.g., by induction) the mini electronic circuit 24 integrated in the locking device, for example, embedded in the material constituting the locking device. 25) may be further provided. This electronic circuit 24 may further comprise, for example, an identification code of the locking stand 8.

As shown in FIG. 4, the interactive terminal 2 comprises an electronic central unit such as a microprocessor or the like that communicates with the keyboard 3, the screen 4, the card reader 5 and the ticket issuing device 6. 26) (UC) may be further provided. The central unit 26 is further in communication with the communication interface 27 (COM), which can communicate with the central server 28 (S), for example, by means of a wireless channel or the like.

Finally, the central unit 26 of the interactive terminal 2 is substantially short-range wireless communication interface 29 (COM) having a range limited to a storage area 7, such as generally less than 50 m, advantageously 10 m. Connected to 1).

This communication interface 29 is adapted to communicate remotely with a similar communication interface 30 (COM 2) belonging to the locking device 9 of each bicycle. Advantageously, the two communication interfaces 29, 30 may advantageously be interfaces that communicate by means of a wireless channel in accordance with a near field communication protocol selected from the BLUETOOTH, WIFI, DECT and ZIGBEE protocols.

Optionally, the shape of the spatial extents of the interface 12 may be adapted to the shape of the location by the selection and / or orientation of the interface 12 antenna.

In particular, the electronic control circuit 23 (UC) of each bicycle 1, which may include a microprocessor, is provided with an electromagnet 22 (EM), an interface 25 (COM 3) and optionally a wheel stop 1b. It is connected to a communication interface 30 having an electroluminescent diode and a signal generator 31 such as a sensor 32 (SENS) adapted to detect a position.

The disclosed device is operated as follows.

When the user comes to rent a bicycle 1 in the storage area 7, he inserts an electronic payment card into the reader 5 of the interactive terminal 2, for example, and then enters a password using the keyboard 3. Can be.

The interactive terminal 2 communicates with the server 28 to obtain the unlocking permission of the bicycle 1 in the storage area 7. All bicycles 1 in the storage area 7 can be detected by the interactive terminal 2 as these bicycles 1 communicate with the interactive terminals via the communication interfaces 29, 30.

The permission to unlock the bike is given, for example, according to the validity of the user's application or, in some cases, the communication of the interactive terminal 2 and / or the server 28 with a currency server (not shown).

When the interactive terminal 2 is allowed to unlock the bicycle 1, the interactive terminal 2 sends a command to one of the bicycles 1 of the storage area 7 in a wireless channel, and the electronic control circuit 23 of the bicycle has an electromagnet 22. Command to release the fixing member inserted into the locking device 9. At the same time, the interactive terminal 2 can transmit the transaction identification code toward the user's identification code or the corresponding bicycle 1, and the electronic control circuit 23 of the bicycle stores this code.

The electronic control circuitry 23 of the bicycle can cause the electroluminescent diode 31 to flash to allow the user to find the unlocked bicycle. After that, the user can freely rent and use the bicycle.

Then, if the user came to return the bicycle to the storage area 7 (which may be a storage area that rented a bicycle or another similar storage area), the bicycle was stopped by bringing the bicycle to the desired storage area 7. It is sufficient to lower the stand 1b and insert the fastening member 10 of the locking stand 8 into the slit 12 of the locking device so that the locking member is automatically locked by the hook 14.

As soon as the bicycle enters the storage area 7, the corresponding interactive terminal 2 of the storage area 7, which is in communication with the bicycle 1 by a wireless channel,

-The user or transaction stored in the electronic control circuit 23 of the bicycle,

A locking stand 8 in which the bicycle is locked by reading the electronic circuit 24 of the fastening member, and

In some cases the position of the wheel stop 1b;

After confirming, the transaction termination information is transmitted to the server.

In the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, the bicycle 1 is the same as described above, but the interactive terminal 2 is removed so that the control includes only the communication interfaces 29 and 30 and the central unit 9. Replaced with device 33.

In this second embodiment, the control device 33 can be small in size and can be installed in an urban facility such as a waiting room such as a bus. This control device 33 can be powered by a battery that is recharged by a photocell as needed.

On the other hand, in this second embodiment, the user who wants to rent the bicycle 1 communicates directly with the server 28 or optionally the control device 33 via the mobile phone 34, and the server (with the mobile phone 34). 28) or the control device 33 can identify the user and optionally allow deduction from the payment or the account of the bank card.

In this second embodiment, the operation of the automatic bicycle storage system is the same as described above since the system allows the bicycle borrowing.

This second embodiment is particularly advantageous in that it limits the volume occupied by the storage zone 7 in the highway and limits the investment for creating a storage zone of the bicycle.

In this embodiment, the bicycle storage area 7 can be easily made temporarily in one place as needed and / or can be limited to very few locking stands 8. This locking stand is not necessarily a terminal fixed to the ground, but may for example consist of a location in which the locking device 10 is attached to a permanently or temporarily fixed beam.

In addition, the control device 33 can optionally be inserted into such a beam or more generally a device serving to form one or a plurality of lock stands. In this case, the communication between the control device 33 and the bicycle may optionally be made by, for example, a wired channel. In particular, the control device can communicate with the electronic circuit 24 of the stationary member by a wired channel, and the electronic circuit 24 of the stationary member can communicate with the electronic control circuit 23 via the interface 25. .

Claims (8)

A plurality of bicycles 1 each having a locking device 9 and an electronic control circuit 23, At least one bicycle storage area 7 having at least one locking stand 8 which can lock the bicycle 1 when the bicycle is not in use, and At least one control device (2; 33) for selectively allowing the borrowing of the bicycle (1) in the storage area; Bicycle automatic storage system having a, The lock stand 8 is provided with a manual fixing member 10, Each bicycle locking device 9 is provided with an electric latch device 14, 15, 22 which is controlled by the electronic control circuit 23 of the bicycle and can be locked on the fixing member 10. Featuring an automatic bicycle storage system. 2. The bicycle automatic storage system according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member (10) is provided with an identification means that can be read by the electronic control circuit (23) of the bicycle. 3. A control device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control device (2; 33) has a first short range wireless communication interface 29, each bicycle adapted to communicate with the first communication interface 29. A short range wireless communication interface 30, the second communication interface being connected to an electronic control circuit 23 of the bicycle, and the control device 2; 33 is connected to the first communication interface 29 and the second communication. The bicycle automatic storage system, which is adapted to control the locking device (9) of each bicycle through the interface (30). 4. The automated bicycle storage system according to claim 3, wherein the first and second communication interfaces (29, 30) are wireless communication interfaces. 5. The automated bicycle storage system according to claim 4, wherein the first and second communication interfaces (29, 30) are arranged to communicate according to a protocol selected from DECT, WIFI, BLUETOOTH and ZIGBEE protocols. The interface (3, 4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (2) is adapted to enable the user to control the unlocking of the bicycle (1) locked in the storage area (7). 5) bicycle automatic storage system. 7. A server according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a server (28) adapted to communicate with a wireless telephone (34) belonging to a user, said server (28) being in communication with the control device (33). And to unlock the bicycle (1) from the storage area (7) by the control device (33) in accordance with information received by the user's wireless telephone (34). 8. The automatic bicycle storage system according to claim 7, wherein the control device (33) is arranged to communicate with the server (28) wirelessly.

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