Bell

Abstract

Provided is a bell that can achieve downsizing while ensuring safety. 【Solution means】The bell 10 includes a metal bell body 300 having an annular head and a cylindrical portion 320 extending from the outer edge of the head, a button 100 provided on the head so as to be reciprocally movable along the axial direction of the cylindrical portion, a hammer 500 rotatably held inside the cylindrical portion about a rotation axis, and a magnet 700 fixed inside the cylindrical portion and having a magnetic force for attracting the hammer. In a standby state where the hammer is attracted to the magnet by the magnetic force, the button is pushed outward of the bell body by the hammer. When the button is pushed inward of the bell body by a force overcoming the magnetic force, the hammer disengages from the standby state, abuts against the inside of the cylindrical portion, and then returns to the standby state by the magnetic force.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This specification discloses technologies related to bells.

Background Art

[0002] A bell is a device that produces sound by striking metal. Known bells include bicycle bells, trekking bells, and calling bells. The bicycle bell of Patent Document 1 includes a metal dome-shaped bell body, converts the vertical movement of a button into the reciprocating movement of a rack to rotate a hammer, and the ring of the hammer moves radially to strike the bell body to generate sound.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The bicycle bell of Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is difficult to reduce the diameter due to the relationship of the operating mechanism of the hammer. In bicycle bells, in particular, it is required to miniaturize while avoiding sharp and protruding shapes from the viewpoint of safety.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] One form of bell disclosed in this specification includes a metallic bell body having an annular head and a cylindrical portion extending from the outer edge of the head, a button provided on the head so as to be reciprocally movable along the axial direction of the cylindrical portion, a hammer rotatably held about a rotation axis inside the cylindrical portion, and a magnet fixed inside the cylindrical portion and having a magnetic force for attracting the hammer. In a standby state where the hammer is attracted to the magnet by the magnetic force, the button is pushed outward in the direction of the outside of the bell body by the hammer. When the button is pushed inward in the direction of the inside of the bell body by a force overcoming the magnetic force, the hammer disengages from the standby state, abuts against the inside of the cylindrical portion, and then returns to the standby state by the magnetic force. According to the bell of this form, by utilizing the magnetic force of the magnet that attracts the hammer, the operation of pushing the button and striking the bell body with the hammer can be repeatedly performed. Thereby, reduction in the number of parts and simplification of the structure in the bell can be achieved. As a result, it is possible to reduce the diameter of the bell while ensuring safety.

[0006] The bell of the above-described form may further include a loop through which a belt for fixing the bell is passed, provided at a position sandwiching the bell body between it and the button. According to the bell of this form, the bell can be fixed by winding a belt around a bicycle handle and frame, as well as a helmet, a sack, an arm of a human body, etc.

[0007] The bell of the above-described form may further include a protruding shaft protruding on the axis of the cylindrical portion, provided at a position sandwiching the bell body between it and the button. According to the bell of this form, the bell can be fixed by inserting the protruding shaft into a cylindrical end portion such as a bicycle handle stem and a grip end.

[0008] The bell of the above-described form may be a bicycle bell, a trekking bell, or a calling bell. The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the form of a bell, and can be realized, for example, in the form of a bicycle equipped with a bell, as well as parts of a bell.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing the bell 10. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view showing the bell 10. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the bell 10.

[0011] The bell 10 is a bell for a bicycle designed assuming it is to be mounted on a bicycle (not shown). The bell 10 is not limited to the use of being mounted on a bicycle, and can also be used as a bell for trekking and a calling bell.

[0012] The bell 10 includes a button 100, a connecting component 200, a bell main body 300, a base component 400, a hammer 500, a metal body 600, a magnet 700, and a back cover 800. The button 100, the connecting component 200, the base component 400, and the back cover 800 are molded components made of synthetic resin (for example, polypropylene, polyacetal, polycarbonate, AES resin, etc.).

[0013] When the button 100 is pushed inward (the +Z direction in FIGS. 1 and 2) by the user, the hammer 500 pushed by the button 100 strikes the bell main body 300. Then, the bell main body 300 struck by the hammer 500 vibrates. As a result, the bell 10 generates a sound.

[0014] The bell body 300 of the bell 10 is a part made of metal (such as brass and aluminum). The bell body 300 has a head 310 and a cylindrical part 320. The head 310 forms an annular shape. A through hole 305 is formed in the center of the head 310. The cylindrical part 320 forms a cylindrical shape extending from the outer edge of the head 310.

[0015] The button 100 of the bell 10 is a part that receives pressing by the user's finger. The button 100 is provided on the head 310 of the bell body 300 so as to be reciprocally movable along the axial direction (±Z direction in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the cylindrical part 320 of the bell body 300. The button 100 has a pressing part 110, a protruding part 150, and a locking claw 120. The pressing part 110 is a disk-shaped part. The protruding part 150 is a part protruding in the +Z direction from the pressing part 110. The locking claw 120 is a part protruding from the outer surface of the protruding part 150. The locking claw 120 engages with the connecting part 200 so that the button 100 does not fall off from the connecting part 200.

[0016] The connecting part 200 of the bell 10 is a part that connects the button 100 and the bell body 300 to the base part 400. The connecting part 200 has a through hole 210 and a locking claw 220. The through hole 210 is a part that receives and holds the protruding part 150 of the button 100. The locking claw 220 engages with the base part 400 to hold the bell body 300 in a sandwiched state between the connecting part 200 and the base part 400.

[0017] The base part 400 of the bell 10 is a part that holds parts such as the bell body 300 and the hammer 500. The base part 400 includes a cylindrical part 420, a convex part 430, and a bearing part 450. The cylindrical part 420 fits into the through hole 305 of the bell body 300 on the outer peripheral side. The cylindrical part 420 fits into the connecting part 200 on the inner peripheral side. The convex part 430 fits into the through hole 305 of the bell body 300 to prevent misalignment between the bell body 300 and the base part 400. The bearing part 450 rotatably supports the hammer 500.

[0018] The hammer 500 of the bell 10 is a component that strikes the bell body 300 to generate sound. The hammer 500 has a pressing portion 510, a striking portion 530, a rotating shaft 540, and a metal mounting portion 560. The pressing portion 510 is a part that receives the pressing by the protruding portion 150 of the button 100. The striking portion 530 is a part that abuts against the cylindrical portion 320 of the bell body 300 and strikes the bell body 300. The rotating shaft 540 is a part that fits into the bearing portion 450 of the base component 400. As a result, the hammer 500 is rotatably held around the bearing portion 450 inside the cylindrical portion 320 of the bell body 300. The metal mounting portion 560 is a part for mounting the metal body 600.

[0019] The metal body 600 of the bell 10 is a magnetic material (for example, SUS430) that is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet 700. The metal body 600 is fixed to the metal mounting portion 560 of the hammer 500.

[0020] The magnet 700 of the bell 10 is a component having a magnetic force that attracts the metal body 600 attached to the hammer 500. The magnet 700 is held between the base component 400 and the back cover 800. As a result, the magnet 700 is fixed inside the cylindrical portion 320 of the bell body 300.

[0021] The back cover 800 of the bell 10 is a component that covers the back of the bell 10. The back cover 800 is attached to the base component 400 by bolts 900. The back cover 800 is provided at a position that sandwiches the bell body 300 between it and the button 100. The back cover 800 has a loop 820. The loop 820 is a part through which a belt body 830 for fixing the bell 10 to a bicycle handle, frame, etc. passes. The belt body 830 may be a binding band made of synthetic resin. As a result, the bell 10 can be fixed by winding the belt body 830 around a bicycle handle, frame, helmet, sack, human arm, etc.

[0022] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the bell 10 in the standby state. The standby state in Figure 4 is a state where the hammer 500 is attracted to the magnet 700 by the magnetic force of the magnet 700. In the standby state of Figure 4, the metal body 600 attached to the hammer 500 may be in contact with the magnet 700 or may be spaced apart from the magnet 700. In the standby state of Figure 4, the button 100 is pushed out in the outer direction (-Z direction) of the bell body 300 by the pressing portion 510 of the hammer 500.

[0023] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the bell 10 in the pushed-in state. The pushed-in state in Figure 5 is a state where the button 100 is pushed into the inner direction (+Z direction) of the bell body 300 by a force that overcomes the magnetic force of the magnet 700. When the button 100 is pushed into the inner direction (+Z direction) of the bell body 300, the hammer 500 is pushed by the protruding portion 150 of the button 100, so it rotates about the rotation axis 540 in a direction away from the magnet 700. As a result, the striking portion 530 of the hammer 500 approaches the cylindrical portion 320 of the bell body 300 more than in the standby state.

[0024] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the bell 10 in the striking state. When the button 100 is pushed into the inner direction (+Z direction) of the bell body 300, the hammer 500, due to the momentum of leaving the standby state in Figure 4, passes through the pushed-in state in Figure 5 and enters the striking state in Figure 6. In the striking state of Figure 6, the striking portion 530 of the hammer 500 abuts against the inside of the cylindrical portion 320 of the bell body 300. Immediately after that, the striking portion 530 of the hammer 500 returns to the pushed-in state in Figure 5. As a result, a sound is generated due to the vibration of the bell body 300. After that, when the force pressing the button 100 becomes weaker than the force by which the magnet 700 attracts the hammer 500, the metal body 600 of the hammer 500 is attracted to the magnet 700 by the magnetic force, and the hammer 500 returns to the position in the standby state in Figure 4.

[0025] According to the bell 10 described above, by utilizing the magnetic force of the magnet 700 that attracts the hammer 500, the operation of pressing the button 100 and striking the bell body 300 with the hammer 500 can be repeatedly performed. As a result, the reduction in the number of parts and the simplification of the structure in the bell 10 can be achieved. Consequently, the bell 10 can be made smaller in diameter while ensuring safety.

[0026] The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the above-described embodiments, examples, and variations, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the gist thereof. For example, among the technical features in the above-described embodiments, examples, and variations, those corresponding to the technical features in each form described in the summary of the invention section can be appropriately replaced and combined in order to solve some or all of the above-described problems, or to achieve some or all of the above-described effects. In addition, technical features that are not described as essential in this specification can be appropriately deleted.

[0027] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the bell 20 of the modification. The bell 20 is the same as the bell 10 except that it includes a rear cover 802 instead of the rear cover 800. The rear cover 802 is the same as the rear cover 800 except that it has a protruding shaft 850 instead of the loop 820. The protruding shaft 850 is a part that protrudes on the axis of the cylindrical portion 320 of the bell body 300. Threads may be formed on the protruding shaft 850. As a result, the bell can be fixed by inserting the protruding shaft 850 into a cylindrical end portion such as a bicycle handle stem and a grip end.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0028] 10…Bell 20…Bell 100…Button 110…Pressing Portion 120…Locking Claw 150…Protruding Portion 200…Connecting Component 210…Through Hole 220…Locking Claw 300…Bell Body 305…Through-hole 310…Head 320…Cylindrical part 400…Base part 420…Cylindrical part 430…Protruding part 450…Bearing part 500…Hammer 510…Pressing part 530…Striking part 540…Rotating shaft 560…Metal mounting part 600…Metal body 700…Magnet 800…Rear cover 802…Rear cover 820…Loop 830…Band 850…Protruding shaft 900…Bolt

Claims

1. A bell, comprising: a metallic bell body having an annular head and a cylindrical portion extending from an outer edge of the head; a button provided on the head so as to be reciprocally movable along an axial direction of the cylindrical portion; a hammer rotatably held about a rotation axis inside the cylindrical portion; a magnet fixed inside the cylindrical portion and having a magnetic force for attracting the hammer; and in a standby state in which the hammer is attracted to the magnet by the magnetic force, the button is pushed out in an outer direction of the bell body by the hammer; when the button is pushed into an inner direction of the bell body by a force overcoming the magnetic force, the hammer disengages from the standby state, abuts against the inside of the cylindrical portion, and then returns to the standby state by the magnetic force.

2. The bell according to claim 1, further comprising a loop provided at a position sandwiching the bell body between the loop and the button and through which a belt for fixing the bell is passed.

3. The bell according to claim 1, further comprising a protruding shaft protruding on an axis of the cylindrical portion and provided at a position sandwiching the bell body between the protruding shaft and the button.

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