WO2020151788A1

WO2020151788A1 - Bicycle forward-view device

Info

Publication number: WO2020151788A1
Application number: PCT/DE2020/200006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Grell; Oliver Hennes
Original assignee: Jan Grell; Oliver Hennes
Priority date: 2019-01-24
Filing date: 2020-01-23
Publication date: 2020-07-30
Also published as: DE112020000499A5

Abstract

The invention relates to a bicycle forward-view device comprising a housing (2) having two mirror surfaces (4) arranged inside same and at an angle to one another, as well as comprising a viewing window opposite the mirror surfaces (4) and closed by at least one transparent pane (12; 14; 28), wherein the viewing window and the two mirror surfaces (4) are arranged opposite one another in such a way that light beams passing into the housing (2) through the viewing window along an entry axis (E) are each reflected via the two mirror surfaces (4) in such a way that they travel along an exit axis (A) at an angle to the entry axis (E), through the at least one viewing window, and pass out of the housing (2).

Description

Bicycle front view device

description

[01] The invention relates to a bicycle front view device which is intended to be attached to a bicycle, in particular to a bicycle handlebar or a bicycle handlebar attachment.

In cycling, especially in triathlon, bicycles with handlebars are used which enable an extremely aerodynamic seating position, the so-called aeroposition. The upper body of the athlete is bent very far forward. In order to grasp the situation in front of the bike and on the street, the athlete has to raise his head back. The muscles in the shoulder and neck area are stressed significantly more than in the comparatively upright posture on a normal bicycle. The strain results from the overstretching of the head in the neck, so that the gaze can be directed towards the front, despite the lying position. [03] This can lead to neck pain, but also to pain in the shoulder blade area, which, despite the aerodynamic advantages, leads to a reduction in performance if the body is not used to it. [04] From US 4,375,316 a mirror arrangement for attachment to a bicycle handlebar is known, which makes it possible to look forward on the bicycle even in a bent position. However, this mirror arrangement is relatively delicate, difficult to adjust and prone to contamination. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a bicycle front view device which has a compact structure, is easy to assemble and is also robust in use.

[06] This object is achieved by a bicycle front view device with the features specified in claim 1. Preferred embodiments result from the subclaims, the following description and the attached figures.

[07] The bicycle front view device according to the invention is provided and designed to be fastened to a bicycle handlebar or to a bicycle handlebar attachment in order to serve there as a deflecting mirror so that a driver in a bent position can see the situation in front of the bicycle can observe, even though the gaze is directed downwards towards the handlebar. The bicycle front view device according to the invention has a housing which has two mirror surfaces angled to one another in its interior. These serve to redirect the image, whereby an upright image is achieved by the double reflection on the mirror surfaces. Furthermore, the housing has a viewing window, which lies opposite the mirror surfaces and is closed by at least one transparent pane. This arrangement ensures that the mirror surfaces in the interior of the housing are protected against dirt and can also be positioned securely in order to permanently maintain a predefined position relative to one another. The viewing window and the two mirror surfaces are arranged opposite one another in such a way that light rays can enter the housing along an entry axis through the viewing window. These light beams are reflected in each case over both mirror surfaces in such a way that they emerge from the housing again through the viewing window along an exit axis angled to the entry axis. All light rays entering through the viewing window along the entrance axis are reflected on both mirrors. that is, first on a first mirror surface and then subsequently on a second mirror surface, before they then emerge from the viewing window out of the housing along the exit axis. This creates an upright image. The entry axis and the exit axis form the main axes or optical axes which define the viewing or viewing directions. According to the invention, it is provided that the driver looks through the same viewing window at the mirror arrangement inside the housing through which the light rays to be viewed also enter the housing. This means that the viewing window forms the entrance and exit opening at the same time. This enables a compact construction and enables the housing to be tightly closed in a simple manner, since it is not necessary to provide several openings for the light beams to enter and exit.

[08] The housing preferably has an outer shape, which is defined by the angular position of the mirror surfaces relative to one another. This means that at least two outer walls of the housing extend essentially parallel to the directions of extension of the mirror surfaces. On the one hand, this leads to a compact housing construction, and on the other hand the angular position of the mirror surfaces can be defined by the housing shape.

[09] According to a first preferred embodiment, the viewing window can be closed by two angled transparent panes, one of which forms an entry area and one pane an exit area of the viewing window. This means that one pane preferably faces the viewing direction from the front sight device, while the other pane faces the cyclist. For example, both disks can be arranged at an angle of 90 ° to one another. The disks can be designed as two separate elements, but can also be formed as an angled disk. The panes can be directly abut each other or be connected to one another via a connecting element, for example a connecting web. The two disks are preferably permanently and tightly connected to one another, but can also be detachably or in another suitable manner directly or indirectly connected to one another.

[10] According to a second alternative embodiment, the viewing window can be closed by a single pane, which preferably extends essentially in one plane. Particularly preferably, the disk extends in the functional position of the bicycle mirror unit, that is to say in the intended mounting position on the bicycle, at an angle to the horizontal. This ensures that water can run off the pane. The arrangement of a single pane for closing the individual viewing window has the advantage that the number of interfaces to be sealed is reduced, so that a closed housing can be formed in a simple manner, in the interior of which the mirror surfaces are arranged in a protected manner. Furthermore, a compact structure of the entire front view device can be achieved, which enables a problem-free arrangement on a bicycle handlebar. Furthermore, the front view device can also be shaped slightly aerodynamically in this way and have the lowest possible weight.

In the arrangement of a pane, if two housing surfaces, that is to say preferably the housing surfaces which are arranged adjacent to the two mirror surfaces, extend at an angle to one another, one in cross section (in one of the recesses and Exit axis spanned plane) achieved essentially triangular or trapezoidal housing shape. The two end faces of the housing are preferably closed by side walls extending transversely to the mirror surfaces. According to a further preferred embodiment, the at least one pane which closes the viewing window can be designed for the defined diffraction and / or refraction of the light beams passing through the pane, preferably structured and / or at least in sections shaped like a lens. For example, the pane can be curved in a defined convex or concave manner and can be thickened in sections in the form of a lens in order to achieve a lens effect by means of which the front view device can be individually adapted, for example, to a driver's eyesight or, for example, the image can be enlarged.

[13] According to a further possible embodiment, the at least one pane can be coated and / or tinted. For example, a coating with nanoparticles can be provided which is dirt-repellent. Furthermore, a coating could also serve to reduce reflections or to increase the scratch resistance of the pane, in particular if it is made of plastic. Tinting, for example, can reduce glare from the sun.

[14] The pane is preferably tightly connected to the housing, so that the viewing window is preferably essentially sealed by the pane. Moisture penetration can thus be prevented and the mirror surfaces inside the housing can be safely protected against dirt, condensation and the like. [15] More preferably, a seal can be arranged for the tight connection between the at least one disk and the housing. This can be a loose seal or a seal that is firmly connected to the disc or the housing, for example in injection molding. The seal is preferably an elastomer element. [16] As an alternative or in addition, the pane can be glued or welded to the housing in order to achieve a tight connection. Furthermore, the pane can preferably be firmly connected to the housing by means of the gluing and welding.

[17] Alternatively, the disk can be detachably connected to the housing. This can be useful, for example, if the pane has defined optical properties. For example, the lens can be exchanged in order to change the optical properties, for example to adapt it to an individual prescription, as described above. Furthermore, such a detachable arrangement also makes it possible to open the housing for cleaning or maintenance purposes. If it is detachably connected to the housing, the disk can be detachably connected to the housing, for example via screw, latching and / or clamping connections.

[18] The viewing window particularly preferably forms the only opening in the housing which is closed by the pane.

[19] The mirror surfaces in the interior of the housing are preferably angled to one another in such a way that the entry axis and the exit axis run essentially at an angle of 90 ° to one another. The position of the mirror surfaces is preferably defined by defined contact points or brackets for the mirror surfaces in the interior of the housing, so that the housing simultaneously protects the mirror surfaces from contamination and the mirror surfaces are positioned in relation to one another.

According to a further preferred embodiment, a fastening device is attached to the housing and is adapted for attachment to a bicycle part. That means the fastening direction forms the interface for attachment to the bicycle. The housing can thus form a base holder, while the fastening device can be designed, for example, as an adapter, which serves to fasten the housing to the bicycle. The fastening device can be designed in such a way that it can be adapted to different types of bicycles or bicycle handlebars, so that, in the case of a modular construction, the same housing can preferably be fastened to different bicycle handlebars using different fastening devices. The fastening device can have, for example, a fork bridge, which overlaps two bars of a bicycle handlebar, in particular an aero handlebar, and can thus be attached to the handlebar in a particularly clamping manner.

[21] More preferably, the housing can have various fastening points for attaching the fastening device, so that, for example, the housing can be fastened once so that it is located under a bicycle handlebar and can be fastened in other types of handlebars in such a way that it is is arranged above the handlebar or stem. It is also possible to provide different housings with fastening devices which are arranged in different positions or are designed differently.

[22] According to a further preferred embodiment, the fastening device can be connected to the housing in an exchangeable manner, so that it is possible to change the fastening device in order, for example, to allow adaptation to different handlebar types.

As described, the fastening device is preferably designed such that it enables fastening to a bicycle handlebar. However, it is also possible to use a fastening device as an alternative or additionally be designed so that it can be attached to other bicycle parts. for example on the handlebar stem.

[24] Furthermore, the fastening device preferably has an adjusting device by means of which the housing can be positioned in a variable manner relative to the bicycle part. In particular, the adjustment device is preferably designed in such a way that it enables the housing to be pivoted about a pivot axis which extends normally to the entry axis and the exit axis, as described above. The adjustment device serves to align the housing on the bicycle in such a way that the driver can achieve the desired front view via the front view device. The rider can position the housing on the bicycle in a way that suits them.

[25] The fastening device is expediently designed such that when fastening to a bicycle, the entry axis is directed forward in the direction of travel and the exit axis is directed upwards. The effect according to the invention is achieved in such a way that a driver can stoop and look into the front view device from above and can look forward over the two mirror surfaces in the direction of the entry axis in the direction of travel.

[26] The mirror surfaces are preferably designed as mirror disks and preferably as mirror disks made of glass, which are fastened in the interior of the housing. Such mirror surfaces achieve a high optical quality, which enables a clear view. The housing is preferably designed such that the mirror disks are held firmly in the housing and are positioned relative to one another in a defined manner. For this purpose, the housing can have receiving guides or fastening elements on the inner surfaces which hold the mirror disks. [27] The mirror panes are preferably inserted into the housing through the viewing window. This applies in particular if the viewing window, as described above, forms the only opening in the housing. For example, guide grooves can be formed in the interior of the housing, into which the side edges of the mirror disks engage. These guide grooves can extend transversely to the viewing window, so that the mirror disks can be inserted through the viewing window into the guide grooves. According to a further preferred embodiment, the at least one pane can be arranged in such a way that when it closes the viewing window, it simultaneously secures the mirror panes in the interior of the housing in at least one direction. This greatly simplifies assembly.

[28] In a special embodiment of the invention, at least one of the mirror surfaces can be curved, for example concave or convex, in at least one partial area. In this way, distortion of the image, for example to enlarge the image, can be achieved. Such a curved mirror surface can at the same time be combined with special optical properties of the pane, as described above by way of example. The housing is particularly preferably made of plastic and / or metal. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing can be made in one piece from plastic, in particular as an injection molded part made from plastic. This enables a particularly light design. To reduce the weight, the housing is preferably, particularly preferably on the inside, essentially completely hollow.

[30] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the attached figures. In these shows: Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the invention, and

2 shows a perspective view of a bicycle front view device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

1 shows an exploded view of a first exemplary embodiment of a bicycle front view device which has a housing 2, in the interior of which two mirrors 4 are arranged which define two mirror surfaces arranged at an angle to one another. The housing 2 is formed by a central element in the form of a base holder 6, which acts as a carrier for the two mirrors 4. The end faces of the central housing part or base holder 6 are closed by two side parts 8. It should be understood that the side parts or side walls 8 can also be molded in one piece with the housing part 6, for example as a plastic injection molded part. The central housing part or the base holder 6 is essentially formed by two angled walls which define the receptacles for the mirrors 4 and which expand starting from a connecting region 10. The side parts 8 and the base holder 6 leave a viewing window open, which is stretched between the free edges of the base holder 6 and the side parts 8. This viewing window is closed by the two panes 12 and 14. The panes 12 and 14 are arranged at right angles to one another and close the viewing window, so that the mirrors 4 or the mirror surfaces formed by them are arranged protected inside a closed housing 2.

[32] On the top of the housing 2 there is a fastening device 16, which is used for fastening to a bicycle or bicycle handlebar. The fastening device 16 has a fork bridge 18. The fork bridge 18 is on the bicycle handlebar or on Bicycle handlebar mount installed. In this exemplary embodiment, the fastening device 16 also has an adapter 20, a screw 22 and a threaded block 24. The fork bridge 18 is fastened to the base holder 6 via the screw 22 and the adapter 20. For this purpose, the threaded block 24 is arranged in the base holder 6, so that the screw 22, which passes through the fork bridge 18 and the adapter 20, engages in the threaded block 24. The opening through which the threaded block 24 is inserted into the housing or the base holder 6 is closed by a blind plug 26. The adapter 20 can be used to adapt to different handlebar types. Furthermore, instead of the fork bridge 18 shown here, other fastening elements could be mounted for fastening. In this example, the fastening device 16 is fastened to the top of the housing 2. For other applications it would be conceivable to alternatively attach the fastening device 16 to the underside of the housing 2.

[33] The position of the base holder 6 relative to the handlebars can be aligned on the adapter 20 by means of a not shown nose connection or corrugation. In particular, pivoting about an axis, which extends transversely to the screw 22 and parallel to the mirrors 4, is possible here.

The fork bridge 18 itself is fastened to the handlebars or to the bicycle handlebar attachments by means of clamping elements, not shown here, which pass through the recesses in the fork bridge 18.

[35] The two mirrors 4 in the base holder 6 are positioned in relation to one another in such a way that the light incident through the pane 12, which forms an entry surface, exits the exit surface formed by the pane 14 in the correct direction after being reflected by both Mirror 4 was deflected a total of 90 °. The light kicks 1 enters the interior of the housing 2 through the disk 12 along the entry axis E and first strikes the upper mirror surface 4 in FIG. 1, is then reflected onto the lower mirror surface 4 and then occurs deflected by 90 ° along the exit axis A through the disc 14. The entry axis E and the exit axis A form the optical axes or central axes of the image which define the viewing directions. In use, the entry axis E on the bicycle extends essentially forward and the exit axis A extends upward. It is essential to the invention that the mirrors 4 lie in a closed housing 2 and that the light enters and exits through the same opening, namely through the viewing window of the housing 2, which in this case is provided by two panes arranged at an angle to one another 12 and 14 is closed. [37] Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention. This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the viewing window, which is stretched between the free edges of the base holder 6 and the side walls 8 of the housing 2, is closed by a single pane 28. The disk 28 thus simultaneously forms the inlet and the outlet opening. The arrangement of the individual disk 28 has the advantage; that the sealing in the region of the peripheral edge of the disk 28 is simplified. At the same time, as shown here, the pane 28 can fix the mirrors 4, which are held in the interior of the housing 2 by holding elements 30, in the axial direction, that is to say in the direction of extension of the mirrors 4. The mirrors 4 can be inserted under the holding elements 30 through the viewing window. The viewing window can then be closed by the pane 28. Another advantage is that the disc is in the functional position, which in Fig. 2 is shown, extends obliquely so that water can drain and the shape has a lower aerodynamic resistance.

[38] Otherwise, the configuration of the second embodiment corresponds to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, so that reference is made to the description there.

Reference list

2 housings

4 mirrors

6 base holders, central housing part

8 side panels

10 connection area

12, 14 slices

16 fastening device

18 triple tree

20 adapters

22 screw

24 threaded clamps

26 blind plugs

28 disc

30 holding element

E entry axis

A exit axis

Claims

Expectations

1. Bicycle front view device with

a housing (2) which has two mutually angled mirror surfaces (4) in its interior and is provided with a viewing window opposite the mirror surfaces (4) and closed by at least one transparent pane (12; 14; 28),

the viewing window and the two mirror surfaces (4) being arranged opposite one another in such a way that light rays entering the housing (2) through the viewing window along an entry axis (E) are each reflected via both mirror surfaces (4) in such a way that they go along an outlet axis (A) angled to the inlet axis (E) through which at least one viewing window emerge from the housing (2).

2. Bicycle front view device according to claim 1, wherein the viewing window is closed by two angled transparent panes (12; 14; 28), of which a pane (12; 14; 28) has an entry area (E) and a pane (12 ; 14; 28) forms an exit area (A) of the viewing window.

3. Bicycle front view device according to claim 1, in which the viewing window is closed by a single pane (12; 14; 28) which, in the functional position of the bicycle mirror unit, preferably extends obliquely to the horizontal.

4. Bicycle front view device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one disc (12; 14; 28) is designed for the defined diffraction and / or refraction of the light beams passing through the disc (12; 14; 28), preferably structured and / or is shaped like a lens.

5. Bicycle front view device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one pane (12; 14; 28) is coated and / or tinted.

6. Bicycle front view device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one disc (12; 14; 28) is tightly connected to the housing (2).

7. Bicycle front view device according to claim 6, in which a seal is arranged between the at least one disc (12; 14; 28) and the housing (2).

8. Bicycle front view device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the at least one disc (12; 14: 28) is glued or welded to the housing (2).

9. Bicycle front view device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the disc (12; 14; 28) is detachably connected to the housing (2).

10. Bicycle front view device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the mirror surfaces are angled to one another such that the entry axis (E) and the exit axis (A) run at an angle of 90 ° to one another.

1 1. Bicycle front view device according to one of the preceding claims, in which a fastening device (16) is attached to the housing (2) and is adapted for attachment to a bicycle part.

12. Bicycle front view device according to claim 1 1, wherein the fastening device (18) is connected interchangeably to the housing (2).

13. Bicycle front view device according to claim 1 1 or 12, in which the fastening device (16) is designed such that it enables fastening to a bicycle handlebar.

14. Bicycle front view device according to one of claims 1 1 to 13, in which the fastening device (16) has an adjusting device by means of which the housing (2) can be positioned relative to the bicycle part in a variable manner.

15. Bicycle front view device according to one of claims 1 1 to 14, in which the fastening device (16) is designed such that when attached to a bicycle, the entry axis (E) in the direction of travel forward and the exit axis (A) directed upward are.

16. Bicycle front view device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the mirror surfaces are designed as mirror disks and preferably as mirror disks made of glass, which are fastened in the interior of the housing.

17. Bicycle front view device according to claim 16, wherein the

Housing (2) is designed in this way. that the mirror panes are inserted through the viewing window into the housing (2).

18. Bicycle front view device according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one of the mirror surfaces is arched at least in a partial area.

19. Bicycle front view device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the housing (2) is made of plastic and / or metal.