Anti-theft system integrated in a bicycle

Abstract

The anti-theft device (2) is integrated in a one-piece bicycle frame (3) and comprises an electronic communication / GPS unit (4) and a battery (5) for powering the electronic unit (4). The electronic unit (4) and the battery (5) are configured to be mounted and fixed in a dedicated compartment (6) inside the frame (3). The one-piece structure of the frame (3) is made of composite material tubes, including at least one substantially vertical tube (9) with a transverse end hole (11) for mounting a bottom bracket of pedal crank (12). The compartment (6) is located inside the substantially vertical tube (9) near the transverse end hole (11) and has a lower opening (15) sealed by an external cover (16) located at the lowest point of the frame (3). The external cover (16) is connected to a plurality of antennas (17, 18, 19) connected by a first electrical conductor (20) to the electronic communication / GPS unit (4) in order to receive and transmit electromagnetic signals for the operation of the electronic unit (4) without shielding.

Description

[0001] illustrate Invention Field This invention is generally applicable to the technical field of bicycles and their accessories, and particularly relates to an anti-theft system integrated into a bicycle. Background Technology

[0002] It has long been known that bicycles such as recreational bicycles, city bicycles, mountain bikes, racing bicycles, tricycles, and quad bikes are easily stolen, which not only causes economic losses to users, but also brings social and logistical damage and losses.

[0003] To curb theft, various types of mechanical locking devices have been created, which essentially include chains, anchors, and locks that must be locked with a key.

[0004] Although these devices are relatively simple and inexpensive, they are easily broken, opened, or damaged, and once such a situation occurs, it is impossible to re-cover the vehicle on which they are installed.

[0005] An alternative to these mechanical anti-theft devices is electronic locks, often referred to as “smart” or GPS anti-theft devices because they are equipped with geolocation sensors that can track the device, thus allowing the bicycle to be tracked.

[0006] These devices are typically designed to be permanently mounted on a bicycle, such as on the exterior or interior of the frame.

[0007] Korean patent application KR20180036030 illustrates an example of such a structure, namely a GPS anti-theft device, which includes electronic components and its battery, inserted into the front tube of the vehicle frame and covered by a cover with an opening on it and secured with screws.

[0008] The drawback of this approach is that the equipment must be at least partially located outside the vehicle frame to allow the antennas of the electronic components to receive satellite, radio, and telephone signals, making it easily accessible and susceptible to tampering by thieves.

[0009] KR20180049699 shows another example of the same type, in which the anti-theft device is also installed in the compartment of the bicycle frame's slanted front tube and uses an additional power source.

[0010] Nowadays, anti-theft devices need to be installed inside the vehicle frame where they are difficult for thieves to access.

[0011] In recent years, bicycles with monocoque frames, made entirely of carbon fiber, have become increasingly popular due to their robust structure and lightweight design.

[0012] However, this type of structure presents a problem because carbon fiber is essentially a complete shield against electromagnetic waves. This shielding makes it nearly impossible to house all the electronic components of the anti-theft device (including the antenna) inside the frame, and limits the potential for reducing the risk of theft and preventing tampering. On the other hand, drilling and slotting into bicycles with a carbon fiber monocoque structure is extremely difficult.

[0013] Technical issues According to the background art, the technical problem of the present invention is how to install a geolocation and wireless communication type anti-theft device in an integrated carbon fiber bicycle frame, the frame itself being made of a material that is not transparent to electromagnetic waves, while ensuring wireless signal reception and transmission. Summary of the Invention

[0014] The overall objective of this invention is to solve the aforementioned problems by providing an efficient and relatively inexpensive anti-theft device integrated into a bicycle.

[0015] The specific goal is to provide an anti-theft system that can be fully integrated into the bicycle frame, preferably made of tubing made of materials that are not transparent to electromagnetic waves.

[0016] A further objective is to create an anti-theft system integrated into the carbon fiber bicycle frame, installed in a location that facilitates assembly.

[0017] A further objective is to design an anti-theft system integrated into the carbon fiber bicycle frame that will not interfere with other electronic components on the bicycle, such as the electronic derailleur, which is also installed in the frame, in terms of space and function.

[0018] The aforementioned objectives, as well as other objectives which will be presented more clearly below, are achieved by the anti-theft system integrated into the bicycle as described in claim 1.

[0019] The aforementioned integrated anti-theft system includes an anti-theft device associated with an integrated bicycle frame, which includes an electronic communication / GPS unit and a battery that powers the electronic unit, both configured to be installed and stably fixed in a specially designed compartment within the frame, wherein the integrated frame structure is made of composite tubing and includes at least one substantially vertical tube having a transverse end hole for the crank arm bottom bracket.

[0020] The system is characterized in that: the compartment is located in a substantially vertical tube near the transverse end hole; the compartment has a lower opening and is sealed by an external cover located at the lowest point of the rack, the external cover being connected to a plurality of antennas which are connected to the electronic communication / GPS unit via a first electrical conductor in order to receive and transmit electromagnetic signals for the operation of the electronic unit.

[0021] In one embodiment, the distance between the compartment and the crank arm's base bracket is sufficient to ensure that they are separated from each other and do not interfere with any possible electronic shift control unit.

[0022] In one embodiment, the cover is an integral, generally shell-shaped element with its front portion configured to at least partially cover the slanted tube of the frame and a pair of rear appendages below the tube supporting the bicycle's rear wheel axle.

[0023] Preferably, the cover plate is connected to the frame by special screws, which can be loosened using appropriate special tools to reduce the risk of tampering.

[0024] In one embodiment, the battery is rechargeable and connected to two electrical terminals via a second conductor located on the cover and equipped with a removable magnetic protection / cover.

[0025] In another embodiment, the battery is rechargeable and connected to a wireless charging device via a second conductor. The wireless charging device is mounted on the cover and includes a coil.

[0026] In one embodiment, the electronic unit is a microcontroller board on which a first GPS module, a second GPRS general monitoring module, a third LTE mobile phone module with Bluetooth protocol, and an accelerometer sensor are mounted.

[0027] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are conceived according to the claims.

[0028] Brief description of the attached figures Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the anti-theft system integrated into bicycles is described in detail.

[0029] The system is illustrated by a non-limiting example, with reference to the following figures, wherein: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a bicycle with an integrated shell or integral molding of the anti-theft system of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the anti-theft system of the present invention on a vertical plane; Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A detailed view; Figure 4 yes Figure 2 The system is viewed from the bottom perspective.

[0030] Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring to the foregoing figures, the anti-theft system of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 1, and essentially includes the anti-theft device usually indicated by 2, associated with the bicycle frame 3.

[0031] The anti-theft device 2 essentially includes an electronic communication / GPS unit 4 and a battery 5 for powering the electronic unit 4.

[0032] The electronic unit 4 and battery 5 are configured to be installed and stabilized within a special compartment 6 manufactured within the vehicle frame, possibly using polyurethane foam pads or other shape-memory plastic materials, not shown in the figure.

[0033] The bicycle frame 3 can be composed of a one-piece lattice structure called a diamond structure, which consists of multiple composite material tubes that are essentially cylindrical and are interconnected at structural nodes.

[0034] From what is known in itself, the lattice structure of the frame 3 includes a generally horizontal tube 7, a diagonal tube 8 connected to the front end, and a generally vertical tube 9 connected to the rear end, which forms the support for the seat post 10.

[0035] The basically vertical tube 9 is connected to the inclined tube 8, and its lower end is provided with a fairly horizontal transverse end hole 11 for mounting the crank bottom bracket, which is usually equipped with a bearing pair, usually ball bearings, not shown in the figure.

[0036] For the sake of completeness, tube 12 extends from the lower end of the basically vertical tube 9 to form a fork-shaped structure, with the rear end supporting the rear axle of the rear wheel 14.

[0037] In one example, the composite material of the integral structural tubing of the frame 3 is carbon fiber, which is characterized by extremely high strength and light weight, but has the disadvantage of being unable to penetrate electromagnetic waves, thus forming a shield against external signals.

[0038] In order to conceal the anti-theft device and reduce the risk of external tampering, the compartment 6 of the anti-theft device 2 is formed in a generally vertical tube 9 near the horizontal end hole 11.

[0039] Since bicycles with carbon fiber structures are mainly equipped with electronically operated gearboxes and electronic control units 14, they are usually mounted near the crank arm 12.

[0040] In one instance of the system, a sufficient distance is maintained between compartment 6 and crankshaft base shaft to ensure that they are separated from each other and do not interfere with the aforementioned electronic transmission control unit 14.

[0041] According to the invention, the compartment 6 has a lower opening 15, which is sealed by an outer cover 16 installed on the lower part of the frame.

[0042] In one embodiment, the outer cover 16 is associated with a plurality of antennas 17, 18, 19, which are connected to the electronic communication / GPS unit 4 via a first wire 20.

[0043] Since antennas 17, 18, and 19 are located outside the essentially vertical tube 9, electronic unit 4 is able to receive and transmit the electromagnetic signals required for its operation without any electromagnetic shielding.

[0044] In one embodiment, the cover 16 is an integral, generally shell-shaped element, the front portion 21 of which is configured to at least partially cover the diagonal tube 8 of the frame, the central portion 22, and the rear appendages 23 located below the paired tubes 13 of the rear fork.

[0045] In one embodiment, the cover 16 is connected to the tube 9 of the frame by a special screw 24, which can be unscrewed with a special tool to reduce the risk of tampering.

[0046] Battery 4 is rechargeable and is connected to two contacts 27 via a second conductor 26, thus connecting to a contact charging system.

[0047] In this embodiment, the charging contact 27 is located on the central portion 22 of the cover 16 and is protected by a removable cover 28, which is fixed in the closed position by a magnetic system (not shown in the figure).

[0048] In another embodiment, a wireless charging device 25 is located on the central portion 22 of the cover 16 and includes a coil, not shown in the figure.

[0049] Based on known methods, electronic unit 4 is preferably a microcontroller board on which a first GPS module, a second general GPRS monitoring module, a third LTE mobile phone module with Bluetooth protocol, and an accelerometer are mounted; these components are not visible in the figure.

[0050] Antennas 17, 18, and 19 are naturally connected to the three modules mentioned above.

[0051] In one embodiment, antennas 17, 18, and 19 are made of a flexible laminated material, preferably a polyimide film, and integrated into cover 16 to protect compartment 6 from impacts and atmospheric conditions. Preferably, the plastic material of integrated antennas 17, 18, and 19 has a generally uniform thickness, ranging from 4 to 6 millimeters, and most preferably close to 5 millimeters.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, an electronic program is installed on the circuit board microcontroller to activate the system to a first “standby” mode, a second “driving and fall detection” mode, a third “sentinel” mode, and a fourth “anti-theft / alarm” mode.

[0053] The above operating modes can be selected by the user through a dedicated interface device or mobile phone.

[0054] In the first "standby" operation mode, the bicycle equipped with the anti-theft system of this invention should be located within a range preset by the user via a dedicated application. In this first operation mode, the LTE mobile phone module is configured to send a notification to the user when the accelerometer sensor detects movement of the bicycle. Upon notification, the system will generate an alarm and location signal in TX mode at predetermined intervals.

[0055] In the second "Riding and Fall Detection" mode, the accelerometer sensor is activated to detect any falls and interact with the LTE phone module, which then sends a notification to the user's phone via a dedicated app. If there is no response, the GPS and LTE modules are activated to convey the cyclist's location in the incident.

[0056] In the third "Sentinel" operating mode, the system is activated by the user when the bicycle is unattended. The accelerometer is activated, and once the bicycle is moved, a message is sent to the user's mobile phone via an app and Bluetooth or LTE. In the fourth operating mode, "Anti-theft / Alarm," the system sends notifications to the user's mobile phone at fixed intervals at predetermined times.

[0057] Finally, the electronic software program installed on the microcontroller is compiled to leverage the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence to optimize management and extend battery life based on the needs of each component.

[0058] Although the system has been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the reference numbers used in the description and claims are intended to enhance the intelligence of the invention and do not constitute any limitation on the scope of protection claimed.

[0059] Industrial applicability This invention has industrial applicability because it can be industrialized by companies in the bicycle parts industry.

Claims

1. An anti-theft system (1) integrated into a bicycle, the system comprising an anti-theft device (2) integrated into a bicycle frame (3) of an integral structure, wherein the anti-theft device (2) comprises an electronic communication / GPS unit (4) and a battery (5) for powering the electronic unit (4); in, The electronic unit (4) and the battery (5) are configured to be installed and securely fixed within a special compartment (6) formed within the frame (3); The frame (3) is an integral structure made of tubing made of composite material, which forms an electromagnetic wave shielding layer and includes at least one substantially vertical tube (9) with a transverse end hole (11) for mounting the bottom axle of the pedal crank (12). The compartment (6) is located inside the substantially vertical tube (9) near the transverse end hole (11), and the compartment (6) has a lower opening (15) sealed by an outer cover (16) located at the lowest part of the frame (3), the outer cover (16) being connected to multiple antennas (17, 18, 19) via a first electrical conductor (20) to receive and transmit electromagnetic signals for the operation of the electronic unit (4) without shielding.

2. The anti-theft system as described in claim 1, wherein the distance between the compartment (6) and the base of the crank arm is sufficient to ensure that they are separated from each other and do not interfere with the electronic control unit (14) of the transmission.

3. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover (16) is a generally shell-shaped integral component, the front (21) of which is configured as an inclined tube (7) that at least partially encloses the frame (3), the middle (22) of which is designed to cover the opening (15), and a pair of rear appendages (23) located below the tube (12) that supports the rotation axle of the bicycle rear wheel (13).

4. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover (16) is connected to the frame (3) by a special screw (24), the special screw (24) can be unscrewed with a special tool to reduce the risk of tampering.

5. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery (5) is rechargeable and connected to the charging contact (27) via a second conductor (26).

6. The anti-theft system of claim 5, wherein the charging contact (25) is located on the central portion (22) of the cover (16) and is protected by a removable cap that is held in a closed position by a magnetic system.

7. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic unit (4) includes a microcontroller board on which a first GPS module, a second LTE mobile communication module, a third short-range Bluetooth communication module and an accelerometer are mounted.

8. The anti-theft system as described in claim 1, wherein the multiple antennas include three antennas (17, 18, 19), which are respectively connected to the first, second and third modules of the electronic unit.

9. The anti-theft system of claim 8, wherein the three antennas (17, 18, 19) are integrated in a relatively rigid plastic material (the material being suitable for manufacturing the cover (16) and protecting the compartment (6) from impacts and atmospheric factors).

10. The anti-theft system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the microcontroller on the circuit board is equipped with an electronic program for activating the system to a first "standby" mode, a second "driving and fall detection" mode, a third "sentinel" mode, and a fourth "anti-theft / alarm" mode, and the user can select these operating modes through a dedicated interface device or mobile phone.

11. The anti-theft system according to claim 11, wherein, In the first "standby" working mode, the bicycle is within the range set by the user, and the LTE mobile phone module sends a notification to the user when the accelerometer detects the movement of the bicycle. Subsequently, in TX mode, an alarm and location signal are generated at predetermined intervals.

12. The anti-theft system according to claim 11, wherein, In the second "riding and fall detection" operating mode, the accelerometer is activated to detect a possible fall and interacts with the LTE mobile phone module to send a notification to the user's mobile phone via a dedicated application. If no response is received, the GPS and LTE modules will be activated to convey the location of the injured cyclist.

13. The anti-theft system according to claim 11, wherein, The system operates in the third "sentinel" mode, whereby it is activated by the user when the bicycle is unattended. Once the bicycle is moved, the system will send a message to the user's mobile phone via an application and Bluetooth or LTE.

14. The anti-theft system according to claim 11, wherein the operation of the system in the fourth "anti-theft / alarm" mode includes sending notifications to the user's mobile phone at fixed intervals at predetermined times.

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