Notification device

Abstract

To provide a notification device that is mounted on a vehicle, and has a simple structure which emits a sound only within a speed range where the vehicle overtakes a pedestrian.SOLUTION: A notification device 1 mounted on a bicycle 10 comprises a bell 31 fixed to a front fork 11, a striking rod 6 for sounding the bell 31, and a support portion 2 that elastically supports the striking rod 6 so as to be movable in the radial direction of a wheel 12. The support portion 2 includes a cylinder 5 and a coil spring accommodated inside the cylinder 5. The striking rod 6 passes through a slit formed in the cylinder 5. The bell 31 is fixed at an intermediate position within the movable range of the striking rod 6. The notification device 1 with the simple configuration automatically emits a notification sound to pedestrians only within a speed range (6 to 10 km / h) where the bicycle overtakes a pedestrian, and does not emit the notification sound at other times, thereby contributing to traffic safety without generating unnecessary noise.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an alarm device mounted on a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Warning devices that are mounted on vehicles and emit sounds while the vehicles are moving to alert pedestrians of an approaching vehicle are known.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device in which a pin is attached to a bicycle wheel and a sound-producing body is attached to the fork, so that when the wheel rotates, the pin strikes the sound-producing body and produces a sound. This device produces a sound that continues to emit periodically while the bicycle is moving.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a device that includes a tube that is fixed to the wheel of a low-noise vehicle and a weight stored inside the tube; when the vehicle is traveling at low speeds, the weight slides to make a sound, but when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds, the weight does not move due to centrifugal force, making no sound. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Publication No. 52-164967 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-20665 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The device in Patent Document 1 above emits a periodic sound while the bicycle is moving, regardless of the speed at which the bicycle is moving. This means that the sound is emitted even when the bicycle is moving at, for example, 20 km / h on a roadway where there are no pedestrians, resulting in unnecessary noise.

[0007] The device in Patent Document 2 does not make noise when traveling at high speeds where centrifugal force is applied, but it is designed to make noise when traveling at low speeds where centrifugal force is not applied, even when traveling very slowly. Therefore, if this device is applied to a bicycle, for example, it will make noise even when the bicycle is being pushed, which can be annoying to the rider.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a warning device to be mounted on a vehicle, which has a simple configuration and emits sound only when the vehicle is traveling at a speed that would require the vehicle to overtake a pedestrian. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention is an alarm device comprising an impacting body, a support part fixed to a wheel of a vehicle and elastically supporting the impacting body so that the impacting body can move radially around the wheel, and a sound-producing body fixed to a fixed part of the vehicle and struck directly or indirectly by the impacting body, wherein the sound-producing body is fixed in the middle of the movable range of the impacting body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a notification device with a simple configuration that emits sound only in a speed range where a vehicle is likely to overtake a pedestrian. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a state in which an alarm device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a bicycle. [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram showing an impacting body and a support part of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the sound generating body of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the notification device of FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the mechanism of the notification device of FIG. 1. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the mechanism of an alarm device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An "announcement device" according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1, the alarm device 1 of this example is mounted on a bicycle 10, which serves as a vehicle, and emits a sound to alert pedestrians and others of the approach of the bicycle 10. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a front fork (corresponding to a "fixed portion"). Reference numeral 12 denotes a wheel (front wheel). Reference numeral 13 denotes spokes.

[0014] The alarm device 1 comprises a striking rod (corresponding to the "striking body") 6, a support part 2, a mounting stay 4, a sub-striking rod 32 (see Figure 6), a sound-emitting bell (corresponding to the "sound-making body") 31, and a mounting stay 9.

[0015] The striking rod 6 is a rod used to strike the bell 31. As shown in Figure 5, the striking rod 6 has a rod-shaped base 61, a spherical tip 63 that is separate from the base 61, and an elastic body 62 that is interposed between the base 61 and the tip 63 and connects the base 61 and the tip 63. In this example, a coil spring is used as the elastic body 62.

[0016] In this example, as shown in Figure 6, the hammer 6 strikes the sub-hammer 32, which then strikes the bell 31, causing the bell 31 to ring. When the hammer 6 strikes the sub-hammer 32, the elastic body 62 is elastically deformed, and when the hammer 6 separates from the sub-hammer 32, the elastic body 62 returns to its original state. The elastic body 62 absorbs the impact of the strike.

[0017] The support part 2 is fixed to the wheel 12 and elastically supports the striking rod 6 so that it can move in the radial direction of the wheel 12. In this example, the support part 2 is fixed to the spokes 13 by mounting stays 4.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the support part 2 has a cylinder 5, and a coil spring 71 and a striking rod holding member 72 housed in the cylinder 5.

[0019] The cylinder 5 has a cylindrical cylinder body 51 and a pair of caps 52 that close both ends of the cylinder body 51. A slit 51a extending in the axial direction of the cylinder body 51 is formed in the cylinder body 51. The striking rod 6 is passed through the slit 51a, with a base 61 positioned inside the cylinder 5 and an elastic body 62 and a tip 63 positioned outside the cylinder 5.

[0020] The striking rod holding member 72 supports the striking rod 6 so that it does not fall over, and is attached to the base 61 of the striking rod 6. The striking rod holding member 72 is positioned closer to the hub axle than the coil spring 71 within the tube 5. In this way, the striking rod 6 is elastically supported on the wheel 12 by the coil spring 71.

[0021] In this example, the bell 31 is fixed to the front fork 11 by the mounting stay 9. The bell 31 is fixed to the center of the movable range of the striking rod 6. As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting stay 9 has a bell mounting portion 91 and a fixing portion 92. The sub striking rod 32 is provided rotatably relative to the bell 31.

[0022] In the alarm device 1, the position of the striking rod 6 changes in the radial direction of the wheel 12 due to the balance between the centrifugal force corresponding to the traveling speed of the bicycle 10, the biasing force of the coil spring 71, and gravity. In this example, it is assumed that the bicycle 10 passes a pedestrian at a speed of 6 to 10 km / h, and the striking rod 6 is adjusted so that it strikes the bell 31 via the sub-striker 32 when the bicycle 10 is traveling at a speed of 6 to 10 km / h (medium speed range). When the speed of the bicycle 10 is 0 to 6 km / h (low speed range) or 10 km / h or higher (high speed range), the striking rod 6 does not hit the sub-striker 32, and the bell 31 does not ring. In other words, the alarm device 1 can determine whether or not to sound an alarm in three stages (low speed range: do not ring, medium speed range: ring, high speed range: do not ring).

[0023] Specifically, when the speed of the bicycle 10 is between 0 and 6 km / h (low speed range), the centrifugal force is small when the striking rod 6 and the front fork 11 intersect, so the coil spring 71 does not compress (the deflection of the coil spring 71 is 0), and the striking rod 6 is located below the bell 31, so no sound is produced. When the speed of the bicycle 10 is 6 km / h, the coil spring 71 deflects 5 mm, and the striking rod 6, which has a diameter of 3 mm, hits the 8 mm-wide receiver, causing the sub-strike rod 32 to strike the bell 31 and produce a sound. In other words, when the speed of the bicycle 10 is between 6 and 10 km / h (medium speed range), the balance between the centrifugal force, the biasing force of the coil spring 71, and gravity causes the striking rod 6 to be at the same height as the bell 31 when the striking rod 6 and the front fork 11 intersect, resulting in a sound. When the speed of the bicycle 10 is 10 km / h, the deflection of the coil spring 71 becomes 13 mm, and the striking rod 6 does not hit the receiver, so the bell 31 does not ring. In other words, when the speed of the bicycle 10 is 10 km / h or more (high speed range), a large centrifugal force acts when the striking rod 6 intersects with the front fork 11, causing the coil spring 71 to compress and the striking rod 6 to be positioned above the bell 31, so no sound is produced.

[0024] In this way, the alarm device 1 of this example has a simple configuration, but automatically sounds an alarm to pedestrians and the like only at speeds where the vehicle will be overtaking pedestrians, and does not sound at other times, thereby contributing to traffic safety without generating unnecessary noise.

[0025] Next, a "notification device" according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 7. In Fig. 7, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0026] The alarm device 101 of this example does not include a sub-strike stick 32, and the bell 31 rings when the striker 6 directly strikes the bell 31. In this case, when the striker 6 strikes the bell 31, the elastic body 62 elastically deforms, and when the striker 6 separates from the bell 31, the elastic body 62 returns to its original state.

[0027] In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the notification device is mounted on a bicycle has been described, but the present invention may also be applied to vehicles other than bicycles (for example, automobiles, kick scooters, etc.).

[0028] In addition to the above-described embodiments, by using a striking rod (impacting body) as a "position-based on / off switch," a battery-powered buzzer can be used as the sounding body instead of a bell. Also, by attaching multiple bells with different tones to the front fork and adjusting their positions and springs so that each one rings according to the bicycle's speed, it is possible to play a specific melody. Furthermore, by combining bells with unpleasant sounds at dangerous speeds within the speed range where the bells are rung, the rider can be alerted that they are going too fast and be urged to slow down.

[0029] The above-described embodiment merely shows a typical form of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In other words, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the gist of the present invention. As long as such modifications still include the configuration of the present invention, they are of course included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1,101 alarm devices 2 Support part 5 tubes 6. Striker (striker) 10 Bicycles (vehicles) 11 Front fork (fixed part) 12 wheels 13 spokes 31 Bell (sounding body) 71 Coil spring

Claims

1. A striking body; a support portion that is fixed to a wheel of a vehicle and elastically supports the impacting body so that the impacting body is movable in a radial direction of the wheel; a sound-generating body that is fixed to a fixed portion of the vehicle and that is struck directly or indirectly by the striking body, The sound generating body is fixed at the center of the movable range of the impacting body. An alarm device characterized by:

2. the vehicle is a bicycle, The fixed part is a front fork.

2. The notification device according to claim 1.

3. The support portion has a coil spring.

2. The notification device according to claim 1.

4. the support portion has a cylinder and a coil spring housed in the cylinder, A slit extending in the axial direction of the cylinder is formed in the cylinder, The impacting body is passed through the slit.

2. The notification device according to claim 1.

5. When the speed of the vehicle is in a medium speed range, the impacting body directly or indirectly strikes the sound generating body.

2. The notification device according to claim 1.

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