KR20230174950A - Belt-type bicycle chain lock with led light - Google Patents

Abstract

A belt-type bicycle lock is provided. It is in the form of a belt that the user wraps around the waist and has at least one LED on the outside. Inside the belt, wiring is included to supply current from the circuit unit to the LED. These belts can be adjusted in length to fit the user's waist. When the user ties the bicycle to a stand, etc., it is locked and the belt locks the bicycle's wheels and body. While riding, the user wears a bicycle lock in the form of a belt worn around the waist, and at night, the LED lights up to serve as a tail light to recognize the location of the bicycle to vehicles approaching from behind.

Description

Belt-type bicycle lock with LED light {BELT-TYPE BICYCLE CHAIN LOCK WITH LED LIGHT}

Relates to bicycle accessories, and more specifically to bicycle chain locks.

Bicycles are exercise equipment and a means of transportation that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and the bicycle equipment market is also growing. A variety of items are used in bicycles, one of which is a bicycle lock, which prevents theft when the bicycle is parked. The lock type and chain type are representative, and among them, the chain type, which can be wrapped around the bicycle body and stored while riding and can be used on stands in various locations, is highly utilized.

Meanwhile, among bicycle products, LED lights, which are mainly used as tail lights, exist as safety products. It is a safety product that notifies drivers of vehicles approaching from behind at night of the existence and location of a bicycle, helping vehicle drivers easily identify bicycles. There are various types of lights, most of which are red lights that are fixed to the back of the bicycle seat facing backwards, and are supplied with power from a battery and turn on/off or blink. A wide variety of products are being introduced.

Among the previous prior art literature, there were attempts to partially assist or replace the function of these safety tail lights by attaching LED lamps to bicycle locks or coating them with fluorescent materials and securing them by wrapping or fitting them around the bicycle body. However, there was a limit to convenience from the user's perspective because it was difficult to orient and fix the LED lamp so that it was facing exactly toward the rear, or it had to be fastened in a fixed direction.

Republic of Korea Registered Utility Model No. 20-0321784 (announcement date: July 31, 2003) proposes a bicycle lock that also functions as a safety light. Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1253911 (announcement date: April 16, 2013) proposes a bicycle lock with a lighting unit. Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1667573 (announcement date: October 13, 2016) proposes a bicycle lock that also functions as a turn signal light.

We provide a bicycle lock that doubles as a safety tail light when riding a bicycle at night. We provide a bicycle lock with safety tail light that can be adjusted to fit the user's waist circumference. In particular, by simply hanging it comfortably on your waist without fastening it to the bicycle in a special way, the direction of light emission from the tail light is clearly visible to the driver of the vehicle behind you.

We also provide a bicycle lock that functions as a safety taillight by combining it with a commonly used chain-type bicycle lock. Even when combined with a regular bicycle lock, the tail light emission direction is directed toward the rear vehicle driver's field of view.

Furthermore, we provide a bicycle lock that accommodates a regular lock used on a door handle, not a bicycle lock, and functions as a bicycle lock while also serving as a safety taillight.

According to one side, a belt-type bicycle lock that doubles as a safety tail light is proposed. A belt-type lock includes: a set of locks that bind together to bind each other - for example, a dial lock and a key that is inserted and combined with it; a lighting control unit accommodated in one of the set of locks and including a battery, a control switch, and a circuit unit; a belt that connects the set of locks, has at least one LED on one side, and has a wiring inside that supplies current from the circuit unit to the LED; and an adjuster that adjusts the length of the belt by fixing the belt to be partially folded.

According to one embodiment, the belt is made of aramid reinforced fiber, such as Kevlar fiber from DuPont, and has a lead-out path for the wiring at a connection portion with the side that accommodates the lighting control unit among the set of locks.

Meanwhile, according to one embodiment, the side of the set of locks that is not connected to the lighting control unit may have a ring. For example, in the case where a dial lock and a key inserted and restrained therein are a set, if the equalization control unit is embedded in the key portion, the ring may be included on the opposite side of the dial lock. In this case, the adjuster fixes the folded portion of the belt with other portions of the belt through the loop.

According to another side, a belt-type bicycle lock is proposed in which two sets of belts are provided in a branched manner. A belt lock is: a set of locks that lock together; a lighting control unit accommodated in one of the set of locks and including a battery, a control switch, and a circuit unit; a first belt that connects the set of locks, has at least one LED on one side, and has a wiring inside that supplies current from the circuit unit to the LED; and a second belt that is coupled to and branches off from the first belt and is removable from the user's waist.

According to one embodiment, the position at which the second belt is coupled to the first belt can be changed and adjusted to fit the user's waist. By way of example, but not limitation, the second belt may be in the form of an elastic band. Additionally, the second belt may be a set of belts attached to the first belt in the form of a buckle strap of general mountaineering pants. As the second belt approaches the rear, it can be tailored to a user with a small waist circumference. As the second belt approaches the front (i.e., the dial lock portion), it can be tailored to a user with a large waist circumference. In addition, the second belt can be worn not only around the waist, but also around the opposite side of the waist through the shoulder, like a messenger bag, allowing for a variety of applications.

According to another side, another type of bicycle lock is proposed that can be used in combination with a commonly used chain-type bicycle lock. The bicycle lock includes: a tunnel-type storage portion that secures a chain-type bicycle lock by passing it inside, and has at least one LED on the outer surface; A belt coupled to the tunnel-shaped storage portion and secured by wrapping around the user's body; a lighting control unit that includes a battery, a control switch, and a circuit unit and controls lighting of the LED; and an adjuster that adjusts the length of the belt so that the belt matches the size of the user's body.

According to another side, a type of bicycle lock is proposed that can be used as a bicycle lock by fastening a lock commonly used on a door handle rather than a bicycle chain. A bicycle lock includes a ring that holds the lock and secures it; A belt whose first end is connected to the ring portion, has at least one LED on one surface, and has a wiring inside for supplying current from the circuit portion to the LED; a lock receiving portion connected to the second end of the belt and coupled to the lock by fixing it therein; and a lighting control unit that includes a battery, a control switch, and a circuit unit and controls lighting of the LED.

These various belt-type bicycle locks are equipped with an LED taillight on the belt, and the side equipped with the LED taillight is oriented toward the rear at an azimuth of about 0 to 45 degrees, based on the rear.

According to embodiments, a long bicycle lock functions as a bicycle tail light even when riding a bicycle at night or in bad weather, so visibility is higher than that of a regular bicycle tail light. The convenience of using bicycle locks is high because there is no need to put the bicycle lock in a separate storage bag or wrap it around the bicycle body to secure it.

In addition, the lighting control unit is located in front of the user's abdomen, so it is safe and easy to turn the tail light on or off and change the lighting mode while riding the bicycle.

As the heavy part of the bicycle lock with the lock assembly pushes down, the surface of the taillight part of the back part wrapped around the waist is slightly upward, so there is a high possibility that the bicycle's location will naturally be identified in the driver's field of vision of a rear-approaching vehicle.

It is a bicycle lock that doubles as a tail light, but it can be adjusted and fixed to fit the user's waist circumference, so regardless of age or gender, anyone can easily wear it around their waist and ride.

Furthermore, it can be used by combining it with a commonly used chain-type bicycle lock, so it can also be used with a commonly used bicycle lock.

Also, even if it is not a chain-type bicycle lock, you can use it as a bicycle lock by fastening a regular lock you have, so you can also use a bicycle lock that acts as a safety taillight at minimal cost.

1 shows a belt-type bicycle lock according to one embodiment.
Figure 2 shows the structure of a lighting control unit included in a lock, according to one embodiment.
Figure 3 shows an adjuster that adjusts the length of the belt by partially folding and fixing the belt according to one embodiment.
Figure 4 shows a belt-type bicycle lock according to another embodiment.
Figure 5 shows a belt-type bicycle lock according to another embodiment.
Figure 6 shows the ring portion of the lock to which the belt is fixed according to one embodiment, and Figure 7 shows the ring and the belt being combined.
Figure 8 shows a bicycle lock that can be coupled to a general bicycle lock chain according to another embodiment.
9 to 11 show a bicycle lock that can be combined with a general lock according to another embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, the scope of rights is not limited or limited by these embodiments. The same reference numerals in each drawing indicate the same members.

The terms used in the description below have been selected as general and universal in the related technical field, but there may be different terms depending on technological developments and/or changes, customs, technicians' preferences, etc. Accordingly, the terms used in the description below should not be understood as limiting the technical idea, but should be understood as illustrative terms for describing embodiments.

In addition, in certain cases, there are terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in this case, the detailed meaning will be described in the relevant description section. Therefore, the terms used in the description below should be understood based on the meaning of the term and the overall content of the specification, not just the name of the term.

Bicycles have now gone beyond a means of transportation and have become part of culture, including exercise, leisure, and tourism. A variety of items are used on bicycles, a representative example being a bicycle lock. A bicycle lock is used to tie a bicycle to a fixed facility to prevent theft when the bicycle is parked. The chain type is used by wrapping it around the bicycle body and storing it or putting it in a bag while riding the bicycle, then releasing it and reusing it when parking the bicycle. This is high.

However, chain-type bicycle locks, especially those coated with stiff reinforcing fibers, require force to bend the curvature small and can put a strain on the lock, so sometimes you see chain-type bicycle locks with a long oval structure instead of tightly wrapping them around the car body. You can also see them hanging on the handlebars or bicycle bodies. This can be seen as the fact that chain-type bicycle locks are useful as locks that can be used on various structures, but at the same time, it is somewhat inconvenient to wrap a long chain around a bicycle with a small curvature and store it when riding a bicycle.

Meanwhile, among bicycle products, LED lights, which are mainly used as tail lights, exist as safety products. It is a safety product that notifies drivers of vehicles approaching from behind at night of the existence and location of a bicycle, helping vehicle drivers easily identify bicycles. There are various forms, but most of them are fixed to the back of the bicycle saddle or seatpost, point towards the rear, and light up or flash on/off. There are a wide variety of products, and most of them do not have a separate control switch remotely, but are provided together in a housing such as an LED. Therefore, if the surroundings become dark while riding the bike, get off the bike for a moment, turn on the LED light, and resume riding again.

The inventor, an elementary school student, noticed this inconvenience while enjoying riding a bicycle with his father. So, the present invention was conceived from the question of whether it would be possible to make a chain-type bicycle lock accommodate the function of an LED tail light so that the chain could be worn like a belt when riding a bicycle instead of wrapping it around the car body or putting it in a bag.

Through KIPRIS provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the Korea Patent Information Service, and through other patent information search sites, I searched for prior art literature on bicycle locks with LED safety tail lights. I searched and read prior art literature several times while changing search terms. Among the previous prior art literature, I found that bicycle locks partially assist or replace the safety tail light function by attaching LED lamps or coating them with fluorescent materials and fixing them on the bicycle body. It was discovered that the concept exists (prior art documents and patent documents presented above).

However, these prior art documents still have inconveniences such as difficulty in orienting and fixing the LED lamp so that it faces exactly toward the rear, or having to fasten a chain to a structure that secures it by inserting a chain, so a bicycle lock functions as a tail light. Although it can do some things, it is rather inconvenient in terms of ease of use, and therefore was considered an unattractive technology for most users who dislike hassle.

Therefore, while retaining the advantages of a chain-type bicycle lock that allows you to easily tie your bicycle to a bicycle stand, stationary facility, or neighboring bicycle, you do not have to spend time wrapping it around the bicycle or putting it in a bag to store it in a bag when you unlock the lock and ride the bicycle. It can be stored and used at the same time by fastening it around the user's upper body like a belt or sling bag (shortening the starting time and minimizing annoyance). When the taillight needs to be turned on for safety, such as in the evening or on a cloudy day, it can be turned on by turning it on at the taillight control panel right in front of the user. Embodiments of the present invention were designed so that the rear-facing LED placed on the back can be turned on through a control switch and the lighting mode can be changed at any time.

While devising various embodiments, we confirmed that there were more various advantages in addition to user convenience, and made several modifications to take advantage of those advantages. For example, the conventional bicycle tail light LED was not long because there was a risk of damage if it protruded too much to the side even when fixed to the seat port. Among products sold on the market, the longest axis is about 15 centimeters, so in places with poor surrounding lighting, it may not be recognized by cars approaching from the rear, and it may also be a safety light attached to a facility such as a guardrail or bicycle. In some cases, it was difficult to determine whether an object was large in volume and mobile, such as a person riding a horse.

However, belt-type bicycle locks according to embodiments are long because they are wrapped around the waist or back. Therefore, it is possible to create an LED taillight about 30 to 50 centimeters tall by arranging multiple LEDs, or it can be implemented as an elongated surface-light LED to create various shapes or colors, making it a safety light that is much larger and more beautiful than a typical bicycle LED taillight. can be implemented. Also, rather than having to reach back and fumble for the switch, which can be inconvenient, you can use it by wrapping a belt-type bicycle lock around your waist or slung diagonally from your shoulder like a slingback bag and placing it on your chest or stomach. You can operate the LED comfortably and safely through the control switch.

Furthermore, because it is in the form of a waist belt, the padlock of the bicycle lock located in front of the abdomen presses down and at the same time, the tail light surface of the back of the waist is lifted slightly upward (the waist band of the old Joseon Dynasty official uniform was heavy in the front, so the rear surface was lowered). (same as sounding in the direction of the face of the person behind you) is likely to naturally identify the location of the bicycle in the driver's field of view of a vehicle approaching from behind. The following description is made with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a belt-type bicycle lock 100 according to one embodiment. The example shown is an embodiment of the basic type. The dial-type bicycle lock 102 and the key 101 fitted and locked therein are similar to a typical chain-type bicycle lock. However, the belt 103 may be wide and elongated so that it can be naturally wrapped around the waist like a regular waist belt. However, the shape of the belt 103 is not limited to the exemplary shapes shown, and various other modifications are possible while achieving the object of the present invention.

The back of the belt 103 includes one or more LEDs 120 that are arranged long. This LED (120) acts as a tail light that is much longer and larger than typical bicycle accessories. This LED 120 receives power from the lighting control unit 110 through the wiring indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 1. The equalization control unit 110 is equipped with a battery (not shown), and can be operated through the control switch 111, such as on/off operation, lighting speed adjustment, and mode change.

Figure 2 shows the structure of a lighting control unit included in a lock, according to one embodiment. In order to fasten the belt 220 and the equalization control unit 110, a fixing pin 211 and a hole 221 are provided on both sides, and the wire in the belt 220 is connected through the fixing pin 211 and the hole 221. The ring connects to the circuit of the equalization control unit 110.

Referring again to FIG. 1, an adjustment unit 130 is included that adjusts the length of the belt and/or allows the belt 103 to be worn according to the thickness of the user's waist. The adjuster 130 may be a Velcro-type strap, but any other type is possible as long as it can be fixed by folding and tying the belt 103 or pulling a part of the belt 103 and other parts. For example, it may be a buckle-type strap, or it may be composed of an elastic band and a snap-in button. Figure 3 shows an adjuster 130 that adjusts the length of the belt 103 by partially folding and fixing it according to one embodiment. The belt length is adjusted and folded (310), and the folded belt 103 is tied through the adjusting unit 130 (320). Depending on the material of the belt, such as when the belt 103 includes aramid-based reinforcing fibers (such as DuPont's Kevlar fibers), the belt 103 may not be easily folded as shown (310 and 320). An alternative is to create processing grooves in some parts of the belt so that they can be selectively folded so that folding can easily occur. Another alternative is to configure it like an actual mountaineering belt or a length adjustment part of a bag. These other alternatives are described with reference to FIGS. 5-7.

Figure 5 shows a belt-type bicycle lock 500 according to another embodiment. Other parts are similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1, but a ring 510 is formed on the body on the dial lock side. Therefore, the belt 103 is folded and fixed through the loop 510, so that the length of the belt 103 can be adjusted to the user's waist. Figure 6 shows the ring portion 610 of the lock 102 to which the belt is fixed according to one embodiment, and Figure 7 shows the ring 610 and the belt 103 combined. Since the adjusting part 104 is of a Velcro type, etc., it is possible for the user to adjust the length of the belt 103 to suit his or her waist circumference while riding the bicycle. This structure may be the same as the structure that adjusts the length of the shoulder strap of a mountaineering bag, and is simply expressed to aid understanding.

Meanwhile, another example of a method of adjusting the length of the belt 103 to fit the user's waist circumference or to wear it around the shoulder is to start from one side of the belt 103 and pull it directly to another arbitrary position on the opposite side. It is tied. Apart from fixing the lock 102 and the key 101, it is possible to tie it to the waist by directly pulling any part of the belt 103. With this in mind, a structure similar to that shown in Figure 4, which is another embodiment, was designed.

Figure 4 shows a belt-type bicycle lock 400 according to another embodiment. The overall structure is similar to the basic type embodiment, but the difference is that in addition to the main first belt 103, which functions as a bicycle locker, there is a second belt set 411, 421 that is coupled to and branches off. There is. Since the second belt set (411, 421) is used to wrap around the user's waist, it does not need to be made of the same material as the first belt (103), which must be sturdy as a bicycle locker. Therefore, the second belt set (411, 421) may be made of a fabric material such as nylon, which is used as a shoulder strap for a backpack. It may also be a stretchable band material with elasticity for length adjustment or user comfort.

This second belt set (411, 421) is detachable by a set of male and female buckle sets (410, 420) so that the user can fasten it around the waist without relying on the key (101) and dial lock (102) to control the LED (120). It preserves the function of the tail light and allows the lock (400) to be worn. Since the second belt set (411, 421) can be moved and fixed to any position on the belt (103) as shown, people with narrow waists can wear the second belt set (411, 421) with the LED (LED) on the back as much as possible. 120) to reduce the waist circumference, and people with thick waists can increase the waist circumference by pushing the second belt set (411, 421) in the direction of the front lock (102) and key (101) as much as possible.

Meanwhile, in addition to these basic products, a type of bicycle lock that only expands the function by combining with a commonly used chain-type lock on the market is also possible, and an example of this is also presented. Since the function of the existing bicycle lock is expanded like the present invention, it is named the extending type.

Figure 8 shows a product 800 that implements the aforementioned bicycle lock with LED taillight by inserting and combining a general bicycle lock chain (not shown) on the market.

A commercially available chain-type bicycle lock (not shown) is inserted into the tunnel-type storage portion 830 and combined with the product 800. The key portion of the bicycle chain is passed through the storage portion 830 like a snake passing through a tunnel. However, the fact that the illustrated storage unit 830 is of a tunnel type is only one of several applicable embodiments, and other structures are also possible as long as they can be fastened to a regular bicycle chain. For example, it is possible to have multiple Velcro-type straps and tie them around a chain.

The storage unit 830 itself may be understood to function as a basic belt, or a chain-type bicycle lock (not shown) inserted into the storage unit 830 may be understood to function as a basic belt. In any case, the product 800 is fixed by a set of buckles 831 and 832 that are interlocked and fastened together, and this includes a length adjustment portion that can adjust the length to fit the user's waist.

And, on the outside of the storage unit 830, an LED 820 is placed as in the basic type, and this LED 820 is connected to the lighting control unit 810 through a wire placed inside and is operated by the control switch 811. do.

Meanwhile, another embodiment is possible in which an ordinary lock used on a door handle is applied to the extended type rather than the existing chain-type bicycle lock. 9 to 11 show a bicycle lock that can be combined with a typical lock according to another embodiment.

Compared to the basic type, the LED 920, belt 940, lighting control unit 910, control switch 911, length adjustment unit 941, etc. are provided similarly, and various modified embodiments of each are also shown in FIG. 1 It is the same as described with reference to Figures 7 and the explanation will focus on the differences.

In this embodiment, since a general lock is applied, there is a lock receiving portion 930 that acts as an adapter to accommodate such a lock, and a ring portion 950 that is combined with the lock coupled to the receiving portion 930 to function as a bicycle lock as a whole. It is characterized by being equipped. The receiving portion 930 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 10 .

The left side of FIG. 10 shows the state 1010 before the lock is coupled to the receiving portion 930. There is a structure 932 at the top through which the lock ring is passed and coupled, and this structure 932 may be a hole or a protruding elastic fixing structure. If it is a structure capable of fixing the lock 1001, it can be modified in any way. possible. Holes 931 are arranged for coupling with belt 920. The right side shows the lock 1001 fastened to the receiving portion 930.

Figure 11 shows a general door handle lock combined with the bicycle lock described with reference to Figure 9.

Figure 12 shows some photos of prototypes for verification of the belt-type bicycle lock invention according to the embodiments.

According to the above embodiments, various belt-type bicycle locks are equipped with an LED tail light on the belt, and the side equipped with the LED tail light is larger and longer than a typical bicycle LED, and has an angle of 0 to 45 degrees upward toward the rear, based on the rear. The plane is oriented in azimuth, increasing visibility to drivers of vehicles approaching from behind. Also, when you start riding the bike, you can start using it quickly by unlocking it and immediately wrapping it around your waist or other body, and since it can be adjusted and fixed to suit your waist circumference, anyone regardless of gender or age can easily wear it around your waist and ride. It is easy and safe to operate the LED, such as turning it on and off while driving.

The lock according to the described embodiment can be used for a variety of purposes. Therefore, other uses other than those described by way of example in the drawing are possible. For example, in addition to being a safety light while driving, it can also function as a safety device such as an emergency tripod by hanging it on a bicycle, bag, or nearby facility. In addition, it is described as being worn around the waist, but depending on the user's type of use, it can also be worn as a backpack.

Therefore, although it has been described with limited examples and drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and various modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art from these descriptions. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined by the claims and equivalents thereof as well as the claims described later.

100: Belt type bicycle lock
110: Equalization control unit
120: LED
130: Control unit
101: lock key
102: lock
103: belt
111: control switch

Claims (7)

A set of locks that join together to bind each other;
a lighting control unit accommodated in one of the set of locks and including a battery, a control switch, and a circuit unit;
a belt that connects the set of locks, has at least one LED on one side, and has a wiring inside that supplies current from the circuit unit to the LED; and
An adjuster that adjusts the length of the belt by fixing the belt to be partially folded
Bicycle locks including. According to paragraph 1,
The belt is made of aramid reinforced fiber, and the connection portion with the side that accommodates the lighting control unit among the set of locks has a lead-out path for the wiring. According to paragraph 1,
Among the set of locks, the side to which the lighting control unit is not connected has a ring,
The adjusting unit is a bicycle lock that secures the folded portion of the belt with other portions of the belt through the loop. A set of locks that join together to bind each other;
a lighting control unit accommodated in one of the set of locks and including a battery, a control switch, and a circuit unit;
a first belt that connects the set of locks, has at least one LED on one side, and has a wiring inside that supplies current from the circuit unit to the LED; and
A second belt that is coupled to and branches off from the first belt and is detachable from the user's waist.
Bicycle locks including. According to paragraph 4,
A bicycle lock in which the position at which the second belt is coupled to the first belt can be changed and adjusted to fit the user's waist. A tunnel-type storage portion that secures a chain-type bicycle lock by passing it inside and has at least one LED on the outer surface;
A belt coupled to the tunnel-shaped storage portion and secured by wrapping around the user's body;
a lighting control unit that includes a battery, a control switch, and a circuit unit and controls lighting of the LED; and
An adjuster that adjusts the length of the belt so that the belt matches the size of the user's body
Bicycle locks including. A ring portion that is secured with a lock;
A belt whose first end is connected to the ring portion, has at least one LED on one surface, and has a circuit portion inside and wiring for supplying current from the circuit portion to the LED;
a lock receiving portion connected to the second end of the belt and coupled to the lock by fixing it therein; and
A lighting control unit that includes a battery, control switch, and circuit and controls lighting of the LED.
Bicycle locks including.

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