TWM672890U - Modified accessories for bicycle seat - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to bicycle anti-theft technology. Specifically, it comprises a bicycle seat modification accessory, comprising a bicycle seat and a removable mounting chamber within the seat. This chamber is used to house a tracking device and is not easily visible from the bicycle. A cover is used to conceal the chamber, making it difficult for thieves to easily discover the chamber and the tracking device within. Furthermore, the use of non-standard screws or locking pins prevents the cover from being easily removed, making it more difficult for thieves to disengage the tracking device and, therefore, reducing their willingness to steal a bicycle equipped with this invention, effectively preventing bicycle theft.

Description

Bicycle seat modification accessories

This invention relates to a bicycle seat modification accessory as described in the preamble of claim 1.

The number of bicycle thefts in Germany remains high, with around 250,000 thefts reported annually (according to Statista). The number of unreported thefts is much higher, as many bicycle thefts go unreported. One reason for this is the relatively low clearance rate for Germany as a whole, around 10%, and the rate is much lower in cities.

Protecting their bikes is crucial for bicycle owners; however, modern security mechanisms can often be circumvented or are simply too expensive. For this reason, the use of tracking mechanisms for stolen bikes is becoming increasingly popular; the use of Airtags, other trackers, and devices integrated with Apple's "Find My" system to locate stolen bikes is very common.

However, existing mounting options for these trackers on bicycles have significant drawbacks. They are often awkward to install, such as under the motor cover on an e-bike. On the other hand, they are sometimes conspicuous and easily visible, such as through a bottle cage shape with a visible mount or through conspicuous wheel arches, bells, or reflectors, each with a visible Airtag compartment. Furthermore, these attachment options often do not provide secure attachment, such as under-saddle mounts. Furthermore, these mounting options often do not provide adequate protection against thieves removing the tracker, and the mount can sometimes break. Many mounting options even limit the tracker's reach, such as when mounted inside the bicycle frame, especially steel frames.

Therefore, this invention provides a better way to connect a bicycle tracker to a bicycle.

According to the invention, a retrofit accessory, such as a bicycle saddle, luggage, pump holder, handlebar pad, reflector, or aluminum rim, that can be retrofitted to an existing bicycle is proposed. The bicycle retrofit accessory is characterized in that it has a mounting chamber, invisible from the outside, for the permanent accommodation of a tracker. The mounting chamber is invisible from the outside and therefore cannot be directly seen, or at least is essentially invisible, since it cannot be identified without careful inspection. The "permanent" placement of the tracker means that the tracker remains in the mounting chamber, preferably throughout the life of the bicycle, but at least as long as the user wants to track the bicycle. The tracker is preferably installed during the period when the user equips the bicycle with the tracker.

Therefore, this bicycle modification accessory can be easily retrofitted onto existing bicycles and offers the possibility of modifying a bicycle while discreetly placing a tracker without compromising the riding experience; however, it is also possible that this bicycle modification accessory could be installed on bicycles produced by bicycle manufacturers.

In a preferred embodiment, the bicycle device portion is the bicycle seat, and the installation chamber is preferably located in the last 1/7 of the rear portion of the seat as viewed in the direction of travel. The tracker can be placed very unobtrusively inside the bicycle seat. Many people, especially sports riders, rarely sit on the outer rear end of the bicycle seat. Even if they do sit on the outer side of the bicycle seat, the seat pressure generated by the rider's weight is minimal. This means that the driver will not have a negative impact on the tracker, and the driver's driving comfort will not be restricted or will be minimally restricted. In addition, mobile phones are often placed in trouser pockets, especially when operating the handlebars with both hands. In some cases, the thief's own phone could indicate the tracker's location while riding the bike, because it was connected to the tracker on the seat in close proximity, unnoticed by the thief.

Furthermore, while the next best option is a pocket in the bicycle seat lining, it's better to have the two large surfaces of the tracker rest directly against the seat lining material. This provides a simple and well-concealed way to house the tracker in the seat. Consequently, the tracker also nestles nicely into the seat, as it won't feel "hollow" and "wiggle," or even rattle against the seat base, which is typically made of hard plastic. This seat substructure is much better suited to supporting the seat lining.

Furthermore, it would be best if the bicycle seat's mounting compartment were designed so that the tracker could be fully or partially inserted into a groove in the seat substructure and then positioned between the seat substructure and the seat lining. As mentioned earlier, the seat base is a more suitable location for the seat lining. This way, the tracker would not add bulk, or at least reduce it, making it less noticeable to potential thieves. Furthermore, this method of mounting the tracker would not interfere with seat comfort, or only minimally.

Furthermore, it is best if the mounting chamber in the seat is accessed through an opening in the rear front surface of the seat along with the tracker; this allows the tracker to be easily inserted into the rear area of the bicycle seat.

Furthermore, it is best if the opening for access to the installation compartment is a narrow seam in the seat liner (preferably one that closes inconspicuously) or in the seat substructure or between the seat liner and the seat base; this makes it easy to ensure the tracker is placed inconspicuously.

Another preferred embodiment is that the opening in the bicycle seat for the tracker to enter the mounting compartment is covered by a cover, preferably in the form of an emblem, displaying the seat manufacturer's brand and/or the seat type. On the one hand, this makes it possible to design the mounting compartment and the opening for loading variable, as there are no special requirements for the opening's inconspicuousness, as it can be covered. On the other hand, this provides a simple, unobtrusive, and at the same time aesthetically pleasing way to conceal the tracker or its placement.

Furthermore, it's best if the cover is securely screwed and/or locked to the seat, ideally preventing removal without tools. This, in turn, helps conceal the tracker or mounting compartment discreetly and aesthetically. Furthermore, it's more difficult for a thief to easily remove the tracker if its location is obvious to them. The added effort required to remove the tracker can signal to the thief that the bike is staying away from the thief and making it an unsuitable target.

Furthermore, if the cover can be opened from the bottom of the seat, the best arrangement is to provide holes in the seat base into which locking pins can be inserted. These holes allow the cover's locking pins to be positioned and locked to the seat base. In this case, the cover is designed with locking pins that insert into corresponding counterparts to lock. To remove these locking pins, a special tool must be inserted to remove one or more locking pins, which is used to release the locking pins from the holes. This is a cost-effective method to prevent the locking pins from being easily separated from the holes, or to remove the locking pins from the holes without using tools.

Furthermore, it is preferable if the mounting chamber is formed in the housing portion beneath the seat cushion at the junction between the seat cushion riser and the majority of the metal longitudinal seat components. This means that the tracker is easily concealed and, even if discovered by a thief, cannot be easily removed or disassembled without tools. The fact that the seat cushion riser is preferably made of aluminum also means that it poses little or no risk of damage to the tracker.

Details of one or more embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the following drawings and description to make other features, objectives, and advantages of the present invention more readily apparent.

1: Bicycle seat

2: Installation Room

3: Seat lining

4: Seat cushion base

5: Cover plate

6: Seat bow

7: Screws

8: Locking pin

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of this invention, showing the mounting chamber at the rear of the seat cushion; Figure 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of this invention; Figure 3 is a side view of the screw cover of this invention; Figure 4 is a front view of the screw cover of this invention; Figure 5 is a side view of the second embodiment of this invention, showing the mounting chamber in the center of the seat cushion; Figure 6 is a bottom view of the second embodiment of this invention; Figure 7 is a front view of the locking pin cover of this invention; Figure 8 is a side view of the locking pin cover of this invention;

First, Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a first preferred embodiment of a bicycle seat 1 with a corresponding cover 5. The bicycle seat 1 has a mounting chamber 2 for permanently housing a tracker. This chamber 2 is not visible from the outside because it or its opening is covered by the cover 5. The mounting chamber 2 is located in the rearmost one-seventh of the bicycle seat 1, as viewed in the direction of travel. The tracker can be inserted into the opening of the mounting chamber 2, which opens onto the rear end surface of the bicycle seat 1 (see Figure 2).

In the case of the bicycle seat 1 shown, the mounting chamber 2 is in the form of a bag, preferably in the form of a nearly rectangular parallelepiped (see FIG. 1 ), and is located at least partially in the seat lining 3. In the example shown, the mounting chamber 2 passes through the seat base 4 and the seat lining 3, but can be arranged in different ways depending on the type and shape of the seat. In the embodiment shown, the mounting chamber 2 is preferably positioned so that its large surface is at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal portion of the bicycle seat 1.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cover plate 5 is preferably designed as a curved planar portion (see FIG. 3 ), with its curved surface preferably corresponding to the curved surface of the opening of the installation chamber 2, such that its inner side with the screw holes contacts the opening area of the installation chamber 2. The cover plate 5 preferably includes a fastener for securing it to the bicycle seat 1. In the first embodiment, the fastener is a screw 7, which is screwed onto the bicycle seat 1 as shown in FIG. 2 . The cover plate 5 may have one screw 7 (as shown in FIG. 4 ) or may have several screws 7, preferably two, and more preferably four, as shown in FIG. 2 . The cover plate 5 preferably completely covers the opening of the installation chamber 2.

Figures 5 to 8 show a second preferred embodiment of a bicycle seat 1 having a corresponding cover 5. The bicycle seat 1 has a mounting chamber 2 for permanently accommodating the tracker. The mounting chamber 2 is not visible from the outside because it or its opening is covered by the cover 5. The opening of the mounting chamber 2 is located on the lower side of the seat base 4 of the bicycle seat 1 (see Figure 5).

In the case of the bicycle seat 1 shown, the mounting chamber 2 is a pocket, preferably in the form of a nearly cubic shape (see FIG. 6 ), and is at least partially located within the seat lining 3. In the embodiment shown, the mounting chamber 2 passes through the seat base 4 and the seat lining 3, but may be arranged in different ways depending on the type and shape of the seat. In the embodiment shown, the mounting chamber 2 is preferably arranged in a fixed orientation so that its large area runs at least substantially vertically.

The cover 5 of the second embodiment shown preferably covers the large opening of the installation chamber 2 (see FIG6 ), wherein the cover 5 is in turn connected to the bicycle seat 1, preferably to the seat base 4, by fasteners; preferably, a locking pin 8 is used here, which snaps into a corresponding locking pin bracket of the bicycle seat 1; thus, the tracker can also be prevented from sliding out of the installation chamber 2 due to gravity; preferably, any horizontal cover 5 (as shown in FIG6 ) is so large in size that it does not pass through the parallel parts of the seat rails 6 and be blocked by them; the tracker in the installation chamber 2 must be removed after the bicycle seat 1 is separated from the seat tube, and this will cause additional dismantling work for thieves, making thieves afraid to steal.

The tracker is preferably placed in a pocket on the seat cushion during or after manufacturing; the pocket can be located: in the seat liner, between the seat liner and the cover, between the seat base and the seat liner, inside or on the seat base, under the seat longitudinal member (the cover is then inserted under the seat longitudinal member), above the seat longitudinal member (between the seat longitudinal rail and the seat liner or cover), or on the underside of the seat cushion; the pocket can be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.

If the tracker is inserted and removed by the user, various tracker attachment options are available, such as Velcro, zippers, buttons, drawers, accordion elements, sockets, magnetic attachments, and screw connections.

You can also choose to use a waterproof case to seal the tracker from water.

The dimensions of the compartments or bags that form the mounting chamber can be customized through different processing and manufacturing methods to accommodate different tracker models.

Use an off-the-shelf tracker from the manufacturer or a removable tracker powered by a replaceable battery (the replaceable battery can be replaced through a special opening, or the tracker can be removed to replace the battery), a rechargeable battery (removable or rechargeable via existing cables built into the seat cushion or a solar module that can be charged directly in the seat cushion), a disposable system (non-replaceable battery), or an on-board power source such as a gear, lighting, or drive.

Additionally, the cover can be secured with non-standard size screws to protect the tracker from theft or vandalism.

Bicycle seats with a tracker mounting compartment can be provided by the seat manufacturer or prepared by the user. From the moment of purchase, the smart device is already installed on the seat and only requires pairing and activation with your own communication system (such as a mobile phone), or a suitable compartment is provided in which the smart device is inserted for activation and pairing.

1: Bicycle seat

2: Installation Room

3: Seat lining

4: Seat cushion base

6: Seat bow

Claims (10)

A bicycle seat modification accessory includes a bicycle seat and a mounting chamber, wherein the mounting chamber is located in the rear 1/7 area of the bicycle seat surface. According to the bicycle seat modification accessory of claim 1, the mounting chamber is a pocket in the seat lining, so that two large surfaces of the tracker are in contact with the seat lining. According to the bicycle seat modification accessory of claim 1, the mounting chamber allows the tracker to be partially or completely inserted into the seat base and positioned between the seat base and the seat lining. According to the bicycle seat modification accessory of claim 1, the mounting chamber and the tracker are inserted into the bicycle seat from behind the bicycle seat surface. According to the bicycle seat modification accessory of claim 1, the opening of the installation chamber is defined by the seam between the seat base and the seat lining or between the seat base and the seat lining. According to the bicycle seat modification accessory of claim 1, the opening of the installation chamber is covered by a cover plate, and the cover plate may be a seat manufacturer's brand or a seat type badge. According to the bicycle seat modification accessory described in claim 6, the cover is locked on the bicycle seat and cannot be removed without tools. According to the bicycle seat modification accessory of claim 6, the cover can be locked to the bottom of the bicycle seat with a locking pin and can be removed from the bottom of the bicycle seat. According to the bicycle seat modification accessory of claim 1, the mounting chamber is located in the space at the connection area between the seat tube and the seat rail. According to the bicycle seat modification accessory described in claim 9, the indoor tracker can only be removed after the bicycle seat is separated from the seat tube.