Patent Application
20100206123
The present invention relates generally to bicycle accessories and, more particularly, to a bicycle accessory that cooperates with a bicycle frame structure in a manner that allows the accessory to be quickly and efficiently moved from bicycle to bicycle. The bicycle accessory includes an integrated, generally fixed position, mount arrangement that secures the accessory to the underlying structure.
Interest in recreational and/or competitive cycling continues to increase. The consequence of this popularity of bicycle riding has been a growing presence of bicycle operators or riders or cyclists, of all ages, on public roads or off road trails. Further, as the recreation has grown, typical bicycle excursions or trips have lengthened in extent and, concomitantly a great variety of lighter, multi-geared and faster bicycles have entered the marketplace. Increasingly, as bicycle trips are planned for longer durations and distances, riders commonly prefer to carry several accessories with them during such excursions. One such accessory is commonly referred to as a “computer” that can be further characterized as an electronic device. Understandably, such devices can be relatively compact and configured to provide a variety of information that may be of interest to a rider. Such information can relate to the time of day, calendar information, trip duration, ride performance, rider physical performance data, terrain characteristics, performance comparative data, positional information, etc. It is readily appreciated that such devices can be quickly, conveniently, and economically configured to detect, calculate, display, or communicate such information to a rider or other remote devices.
Many electronic bicycle accessories are configured to be multi-functional and powerful enough that riders often desire to use them for uses that are not necessarily associated with the operation of a specific bicycle. That is, riders occasionally desire to use such devices with more than one particle bicycle such as between a road bike, a mountain bike, and/or a stationary bicycle. Furthermore, many riders desire to remove such devices to prevent theft, protect the device from inclement weather, and/or to simply protect the integrity of the device. Others provide such electronic devices in a two-part form factor wherein an electronic device removably cooperates with a mount assembly. In most of such configurations, the mount assembly remains secured to a bicycle even though the electronic device may be removed therefrom. Unfortunately, such configurations have several undesirable attributes.
Although connecting a mounting assembly to a bicycle allows the rider to quickly and efficiently remove the electronic device from the bicycle, such a configuration limits the use of the electronic device in other applications. That is, to use the electronic device with other bicycles, the user must also remove the mounting assembly or system from the bicycle. Commonly, removing the mounting assembly requires awkward manual manipulation of one or more connection assemblies. Still other mounting assemblies require multiple or specialty tools to remove the mounting assembly from the bicycle. Although such systems provide a mounting arrangement that is less susceptible to inadvertent or unintended loosening and/or removal of the electronic device and/or mounting assembly, such systems have limited applicability beyond use with the bicycle to which the mounting system is affixed. Such devices are ill-equipped for simple and efficient transfer of the desired accessory from one structure of another.
Regardless of the intended use, such accessories must also have some degree of flexibility with respect to interacting with different bicycle structures. That is, regardless of the number of bicycles owned and operated, not all riders prefer the same physical location for such accessories. That is, riders may prefer different locations of the electronic accessory as determined in part by riding conditions, experience, or simply ergonomic preference. Accordingly, it is also desired to provide an electronic accessory that is securable to any of a number of underlying structures.
In view of the above, there exists a need for an improved bicycle electronic accessory that is engageable with a variety of bicycle configurations and components, is constructed such that the electronic accessory can be quickly and efficiently removed from the underlying bicycle and in manner wherein the electronic accessory can be secured to another bicycle, is simple and cost effective to produce, is lightweight, compact, and robust, and is usable across a variety of product platforms.
The present invention provides an electronic bicycle accessory that overcomes one or more of the drawbacks discussed above. According to one aspect of the invention, a bicycle accessory is disclosed that includes a pair of mounting arms that extend in an opposite direction relative to a display of an electronic device. The mounting arms are oriented in a generally downward facing C-shape so as to define a cavity between the mounting arms. A distal or terminal end of each mounting arm extends to an over-center position of the cavity. When the electronic accessory is associated with a bicycle structure, the mounting arms deflect away from one another thereby allowing the bicycle structure to pass into the cavity. Once positioned in the cavity, the mounting arms provide a closure pressure that maintains the desired orientation of the accessory relative to the bicycle.
Another aspect of invention useable with one or more of the above aspects discloses an electronic bicycle accessory that includes a body having a cavity formed therein. An electronic device is secured in the cavity. A first arm and a second arm each extend in a cantilevered manner from a side of the body that is generally opposite the cavity. The first arm and the second arm are positioned at generally opposite lateral sides of the body so as to form a mount cavity between the first arm and the second arm. Distal ends of the first and second arms are spaced apart from one another a distance that is less than a greatest distance between the first arm and the second arm so as to retain a bicycle structure that is positioned between the arms.
Another aspect of the invention usable with one or more of the above aspects discloses an electronic bicycle device that has a mount base that includes a clamp portion and which is constructed to support an electronic device. The clamp portion is defined by a pair of arms that extend from the mount base a distance that allows the clamp portion to engage a bicycle structure in an over-center manner. The pair of arms is oriented to apply a clamping force to a bicycle structure positioned therebetween. Preferably, the clamping force is sufficient to maintain the orientation of the mount base during use of a bicycle.
A further aspect of the invention that is combinable with one or more of the above aspects discloses a method of forming an electronic bicycle accessory. A body is formed with a pair of clamp arms. An electronic device is attached to a side of the body that faces in a direction generally opposite the pair of clamp arms. An open gap is formed between the pair of clamp arms and each clamp arm is terminated so that the body snap-fittingly engages a bicycle structure and cooperates with the bicycle structure in a manner that maintains the orientation of the body relative to the bicycle structure when the body is engaged therewith.
Preferably, the arms are constructed so that a display of the electronic device is oriented to align an output with a rider during use of the bicycle. Preferably, the arms engage a handlebar so that a display of the electronic device is oriented generally transverse to a plane that passes though both of the first and second arms. Another preferred aspect of the invention includes configuring the electronic device to communicate with other electronic devices, such as a cadence sensor, associated with the bicycle.
Preferably, another aspect of the invention that is combinable with one or more of the above aspects includes forming the arms in a variety of positions so that a bicycle accessory can be used with bicycles having a variety of constructions.
These and various other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings.
The drawings illustrate one preferred embodiment presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. In the drawings:
It is appreciated that although electronic accessory 10 is shown engaged with handlebar 14, accessory 10 could be configured to cooperate with portions of frame 18 or bicycle structures 11 that form other portions of the overall bicycle assembly. It is further envisioned that bicycle 12 could be configured in any of what is commonly termed an off-road or mountain bike, a street bike, or a stationary or exercise bicycle. As will be readily understood from the forthcoming description, electronic accessory 10 can be constructed to engage any of a variety of bicycle structures 11. As described further below, it is envisioned that accessory 10 be provided in a number of “sizes” that generally mimic the shape shown in
Referring to
An opening or gap 46 is formed between distal ends 42, 44 of arms 32, 34. Arms 32, 34 and distal ends 42, 44 deflect in respective outward directions, indicated by arrows 48, 49, to allow bicycle structure 11 to pass through gap 46 into a mount cavity 51 between arms 32, 34 when accessory 10 is translated in a direction, indicated by arrow 50, relative to bicycle structure 11. Mount cavity 51 is generally defined as the area encircled or substantially enclosed by arms 32, 34. The gradual deflection of distal ends 42, 44 of arms 32, 34 over bicycle structure 11 provides a snap-fit cooperation of accessory 10 with the respective bicycle structure 11.
As alluded to above, it is envisioned that accessory 10 be provided in different sizes that are generally determined by the size of mount cavity 51. Although arms 32, 34 are generally flexible so as to accommodate some variation in the size and shape of the underlying bicycle structure 11 for which they are intended to cooperate, it is appreciated that some bicycles have fairly large frame tube sizes and comparably small handlebar tubes. It is also appreciated that handlebar tubes are provided in a variety of sizes that may be too great to be accommodated with a single mount cavity size. Accordingly, it is envisioned that accessory 10 be provided in a variety of sizes that are each usable with bicycle structures with a given size range.
Preferably, body 30 is formed of a single material 56 although body 30 could be formed of a variety of layers or portions of different materials. Preferably, body 30 is formed of a more pliable rather than rigid material and is formed via an injection molding process. It is appreciated that body 30 could be formed from any of a number of materials and any of a number of processes. Minimally, body 30 is formed so as to support the electronic device therein and of a material that facilitates the repeated engagement and removal of accessory 10 from an underlying bicycle structure 11.
As described further below, arms 32, 34 cooperate with bicycle structure 11 to preferably maintain a desired position and orientation of body 30 relative to bicycle structure 11. As shown in
As shown in
Electronic device 90 includes an optional shell 92 that supports an electronic circuit 94. Optional shell 92 is slidably received within cavity 80 of body 30. Alternatively, cavity 80 could be configured to directly receive electronic circuit 94. A digital, LCD, or LED display 96 is connected to electronic device 90 and generates an output according the configuration of the electronic circuit 94 as discussed above. A cover or lens 98 is disposed over display 96 and cooperates with lip 82 such that electronic device 90 is secured in body 30 in a generally sealed manner.
Still referring to
Regardless of the specific size of mount cavity 51, distal ends 42, 44 of arms 32, 34 preferably extend beyond a proximate center, indicated by axis 110, of mount cavity 51. That is, arms 32, 34 extend to an over-center position of mount cavity 51. Preferably, distal ends 42, 44 of arms 32, 34 are offset a desired distance, indicated by dimension arrow 114, 116, respectively from center axis 110 of mount cavity 51. Understandably, arms 32, 34 could terminate nearer axis 112 and still maintain a desired orientation of the accessory 10 relative to a respective bicycle structure. Furthermore, although mount cavity 51 is shown as having a generally circular cross-sectional shape, it is envisioned that mount cavity 51 could be provided in any of a number of alternative shapes. That is, it is envisioned that mount cavity 51 could be provided in a variety of shapes and/or sizes to correspond to a shape and/or size of a variety of bicycle structures.
Regardless of the exact size and shape of the bicycle structure, arms 32, 34 are oriented to provide a compression or spring clamp force so as to maintain the desired orientation of body 30 relative to the bicycle structure. That is, accessory 10 cooperates with the underlying structure in a snap-fitting manner and in a manner that does not adversely affect the underlying bicycle structure. Accessory 10 does not include any separable mount hardware that would remain secured to a bicycle after the accessory has been removed therefrom nor does accessory 10 mar or otherwise damage the quality of the surface finish of the bicycle.
The integrity of the surface of the bicycle structure is further protected by material 56. Preferably, material 56 is generally supple, resilient, and/or compliant so as to accommodate variations and/or inconsistencies between the bicycle structure and the mount cavity 51. It is further envisioned that material 56 has a coefficient of friction that contributes to the clamping force associated with the orientation of arms 32, 34 so that the orientation of body 30 can be maintained even with low compression or spring forces being generated by arms 32, 34. Electronic bicycle accessory 10 is self-supporting in that the accessory can be conveniently and efficiently moved between support structures. It is further appreciated that when accessory 10 is removed from a bicycle structure, no trace or indication of the existence of accessory 10 is left behind.
Therefore, an electronic bicycle accessory according to one embodiment of the invention includes a body having a cavity formed therein. An electronic device is secured in the cavity. A first arm and a second arm each extend in a cantilevered manner from a side of the body that is generally opposite the cavity. The first arm and the second arm are positioned at generally opposite lateral sides of the body so as to form a mount cavity between the first arm and the second arm. Distal ends of the first and second arms are spaced apart from one another a distance that is less than a greatest distance between the first arm and the second arm so as to retain a bicycle structure that is positioned between the arms.
Another embodiment of the invention usable with one or more of the features of the above embodiment includes an electronic bicycle device that has a mount base with a clamp portion and which is constructed to support an electronic device. The clamp portion is defined by a pair of arms that extend from the mount base a distance that allows the clamp portion to engage a bicycle structure in an over-center manner. The pair of arms is oriented to apply a clamping force to a bicycle structure positioned therebetween.
A further embodiment of the invention that is combinable with one or more of the above features of the above embodiments includes a method of forming an electronic bicycle accessory. A body is formed with a pair of clamp arms. An electronic device is attached to a side of the body that faces in a direction generally opposite the pair of clamp arms. An open gap is formed between the pair of clamp arms and each clamp arm is terminated so that the body snap-fittingly engages a bicycle structure and cooperates with the bicycle structure in a manner that maintains the orientation of the body relative to the bicycle structure when the body is engaged therewith.
Understandably, the present invention has been described above in terms of the preferred embodiment. It is recognized that various alternatives and modifications may be made to these embodiments which are within the scope of the appending claims.
