Bicycle mounting device

Abstract

To provide a bicycle fitting device that can easily perform management on the device itself and management on a housing formed in the device.SOLUTION: A bicycle fitting device includes: a stationary member fixed to a bicycle; and a housing supported by the stationary member. The stationary member includes a first lock mechanism that can be locked so as to fix the housing to the stationary member in a state where the housing is supported by the stationary member. The housing includes a cover portion and a second lock mechanism that can lock the cover portion. The first lock mechanism and the second lock mechanism are locked and released by a common key.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a bicycle mounting device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a lock with an electric lamp. In this lock with an electric lamp, one end of a roughly U-shaped rod is swingably supported on a rod body with a light-emitting element at the front end and a storage battery inserted inside. A screw portion on the rear end of the rod is screwed into a screw portion on a cover. A lock body of a cylinder lock is press-fitted into the rear end of the cover. The other end of the roughly U-shaped rod is inserted into a hole in the lock body provided on the cover. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-309081 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, a bicycle mounting device that is attached to a bicycle may include a housing with a lid. With such a bicycle mounting device, it is conceivable to lock the mounting mechanism for the bicycle to prevent theft, etc. However, no consideration is given to managing the lid attached to the housing when the mounting mechanism is unlocked.

[0005] An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a bicycle mounting device that allows for easy management of the device itself and the housing that constitutes the device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A bicycle mounting device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a fixed member fixed to a bicycle and a housing supported by the fixed member, the fixed member having a first locking mechanism that can be locked to secure the housing to the fixed member while the housing is supported by the fixed member, the housing having a lid portion and a second locking mechanism that can lock the lid portion, and the first locking mechanism and second locking mechanism are locked and unlocked using a common key.

[0007] In the bicycle mounting device described above, the first locking mechanism can be locked or unlocked to control the attachment of the housing to the fixed member secured to the bicycle, and the second locking mechanism can be locked or unlocked to control the attachment of the lid to the housing. Furthermore, because a common key is used for both the first and second locking mechanisms, management of the device itself and the housing that makes up the device can be easily carried out. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a bicycle mounting device that allows for easy management of the device itself and the housing formed on the device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an example bicycle mounting device. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of an example bicycle mounting device. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of an example bicycle mounting device. [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an example bicycle mounting device. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of a bicycle mounting device. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing yet another example of a bicycle mounting device. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the bicycle mounting device of FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, identical or corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted. The drawings also show a coordinate system having an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, front, back, left, right, and up and down are defined based on a bicycle standing upright with the handlebars facing forward. In this case, the X direction is along the front and back, the Y direction is along the left and right, and the Z direction is along the up and down.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the front of an exemplary bicycle mounting device 1 attached to a bicycle handlebar 3. Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the rear of the exemplary bicycle mounting device 1 with the fixing member 10 removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view from the rear of the exemplary bicycle mounting device 1 with the battery 33 removed. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view (longitudinal cross-sectional view) of the exemplary bicycle mounting device 1.

[0012] The bicycle mounting device 1 is a device that is attached to a bicycle when in use. The bicycle mounting device 1 may be, for example, an imaging device for recording video while riding, and may be a so-called cycle recorder (driving recorder). As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the bicycle mounting device 1 in one example includes a fixing member 10 that is fixed to the bicycle, and a housing 30 that is supported by the fixing member 10.

[0013] An example of the fixing member 10 includes a fixing ring 11 and an extension portion 15. The annular fixing ring 11 is a portion fixed to the handlebar 3 of a bicycle. For example, the fixing ring 11 may be fixed to a portion of the handlebar extending along the Y direction. The fixing ring 11 in the illustrated example circumferentially surrounds a portion of the cylindrical handlebar 3 and includes an upper ring portion 12 corresponding to the upper half of the handlebar 3 and a lower ring portion 13 corresponding to the lower half of the handlebar 3. The upper ring portion 12 and the lower ring portion 13 are connected to each other at their front ends by a hinge structure 11a. The upper ring portion 12 and the lower ring portion 13 each have protruding pieces 12a, 13b with screw holes formed in their rear ends. With the upper ring portion 12 and the lower ring portion 13 surrounding the handlebar 3, the fixing member 10 is fixed to the handlebar 3 by tightening the screw 11b into the screw holes of the overlapping protruding pieces 12a, 13a. In the illustrated example, an elastic sheet 11c is provided inside the upper ring portion 12 and the lower ring portion 13. When the fixing member 10 is fixed to the handle 3, the elastic sheet 11c is pressed, thereby suppressing rotation of the fixing member 10 relative to the handle 3.

[0014] The extension portion 15 is a portion that extends radially from the annular fixing ring 11 so as to protrude outward from the fixing ring 11. One example of the extension portion 15 extends upward from the upper ring portion 12 as a base end. For example, the extension portion 15 may be plate-shaped with its thickness direction aligned with the front-to-rear direction (X direction) of the bicycle. The extension portion 15 is provided with a first locking mechanism 20. The first locking mechanism 20 is a mechanism that can lock the housing 30 to the fixing member 10 while the housing 30 is supported by the fixing member 10.

[0015] The first locking mechanism 20 includes a locking body 21 into which the key 9 is inserted from the rear side of the extension 15. In the illustrated example, the insertion portion of the key 9 is cylindrical. Therefore, the portion formed in the locking body 21 that receives the key 9 is a circular groove. The locking body 21 of the first locking mechanism 20 includes a protrusion 22 that protrudes from the extension 15 in a direction that intersects with the radial direction of the fixing ring 11 (see FIG. 4). In one example, the protrusion 22 protrudes toward the front from the top of the plate-shaped extension 15.

[0016] The housing 30 includes a housing main body 31, a lid 40 provided on the housing main body 31, and a second locking mechanism 45 capable of locking the lid 40. The housing main body 31 includes a front surface 31a (second side surface) and a rear surface 31b (first side surface) that face each other in the front-to-rear direction. The housing main body 31 includes at least an internal storage space. As the bicycle mounting device 1 in this example is a cycle recorder as described above, the housing main body 31 houses a battery 33 and a video camera unit 35 (image capture device) that operates on the battery 33. The video camera unit 35 is provided with a lens 35a facing the front surface 31a. In the illustrated example, a light-transmitting window 35b for protecting the lens 35a is provided at the top of the front surface 31a, and the window 35b faces the lens 35a of the video camera unit 35 housed in the housing main body 31.

[0017] Additionally, a light-emitting device 37 (light-emitting unit) powered by the battery 33 is provided at the bottom of the front surface 31a. The light-emitting device 37 is a device that emits light toward the outside of the housing 30 and may be, for example, a blinking flashlight. A plate-shaped member 36 that protrudes outward is provided on the front surface 31a between the window portion 35b and the light-emitting device 37. The plate-shaped member 36 is provided closer to the light-emitting device 37 than the center in the vertical direction. In the illustrated example, the plate-shaped member 36 is formed along the upper edge of the light-emitting device 37. The plate-shaped member 36 prevents light emitted from the light-emitting device 37 from directly entering the video camera unit 35 (window portion 35b). In one example of the bicycle mounting device 1, a switch 31s is provided at the top of the housing main body 31. The switch 31s may be provided to control the operation of the video camera unit 35 and the light-emitting device 37. The housing main body 31 may also be provided with an LED or the like to notify the outside of the operating status of the video camera unit 35, the charging status of the battery 33, etc.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2 , an engagement portion 38 that engages with the fixing member 10 is formed on the rear surface 31b of the housing main body 31. The engagement portion 38, in one example, constitutes the first locking mechanism 20 together with a lock body 21 provided on the extension portion 15 of the fixing member 10. The engagement portion 38 is formed, for example, on the lower portion of the rear surface 31b and has a cylindrical recessed shape that can accommodate the protrusion 22 of the lock body 21. In the first locking mechanism 20, the lock body 21 is locked with a key 9 with the protrusion 22 inserted into the engagement portion 38, thereby fixing the fixing member 10 (lock body 21) and the housing 30 to each other. Furthermore, the housing 30 can be removed from the fixing member 10 by unlocking the lock body 21 with the key 9. The circumferential positions of the engagement portion 38 and the protrusion 22 relative to each other may be arbitrarily changed. That is, the housing body 31 may be attachable to the protrusion 22 at any rotation angle around an axis that passes through the center of the protrusion 22 and is aligned in the X direction.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the lid 40 is a lid for the storage space 39 for the battery 33 provided in the housing body 31, and is provided on the rear surface 31b of the housing body 31. The battery 33 stored in the storage space 39 can be covered by the lid 40. The lid 40 is provided above the engagement portion 38. The lower portion of the lid 40 is connected to the housing body 31 by a hinge mechanism 40a (see FIG. 4). That is, the lid 40 can be opened and closed by swinging around the hinge mechanism 40a as a pivot point. An example of the lid 40 includes an outer wall 41 that is flush with the rear surface 31b of the housing body 31 when closed, and an inner wall 43 formed on the inner surface of the outer wall 41. When the lid 40 is closed, the inner wall 43 is inserted near the entrance of the storage space 39 and can press the battery 33 in the storage space 39 inward.

[0020] The lid 40 is provided with a second locking mechanism 45 that can lock the lid 40 in a closed state. The second locking mechanism 45 includes a lock body 46 into which a key 9 is inserted from the outer wall 41 side of the lid 40. The portion of the second locking mechanism 45 that receives the key 9 is a circular groove, similar to the first locking mechanism 20. The lock body 46 is provided to penetrate the outer wall 41 and the inner wall 43. With the second locking mechanism 45, when the lid 40 is closed, the lock body 46 is locked with the key 9, thereby maintaining the lid 40 in a closed state. Furthermore, the lock body 46 can be unlocked with the key 9, allowing the lid 40 to be opened.

[0021] The key 9 that locks and unlocks the lock body 46 of the second locking mechanism 45 is the same as the key 9 that locks and unlocks the lock body 21 of the first locking mechanism 20. Furthermore, the key 9 that locks and unlocks the first locking mechanism 20 and the second locking mechanism 45 that make up one bicycle mounting device 1 cannot lock or unlock the first locking mechanism 20 and the second locking mechanism 45 that make up another bicycle mounting device 1.

[0022] As described above, one example of a bicycle mounting device 1 comprises a fixed member 10 that is fixed to a bicycle and a housing 30 that is supported by the fixed member 10, the fixed member 10 having a first locking mechanism 20 that can be locked to fix the housing 30 to the fixed member 10 when the housing 30 is supported by the fixed member 10, the housing 30 having a lid portion 40 and a second locking mechanism 45 that can lock the lid portion 40, and the first locking mechanism 20 and the second locking mechanism 45 are locked and unlocked by a common key 9.

[0023] With the bicycle mounting device 1 described above, the attachment of the housing 30 to the fixed member 10 secured to the bicycle can be controlled by switching the first locking mechanism 20 between locking and unlocking, and the attachment of the cover 40 to the housing 30 can be controlled by switching the second locking mechanism 45 between locking and unlocking. That is, the user can secure the housing 30, which includes the video camera unit 35, light emitting device 37, and battery 33, to the bicycle by locking the first locking mechanism 20, and can remove the housing 30 from the bicycle by unlocking the first locking mechanism 20. Controlling the attachment state of the housing 30, a key component of the bicycle mounting device 1, can help prevent theft of the bicycle mounting device 1 and can be considered control of the bicycle mounting device 1 itself. Furthermore, the user can restrict removal of the battery 33 from the housing 30 by locking the second locking mechanism 45, and can remove the battery 33 from the housing 30 by unlocking the second locking mechanism 45. In other words, the second locking mechanism 45 makes it possible to manage the state of the lid 40 regardless of the state of the first locking mechanism 20. In the bicycle mounting device, a common key 9 is used for the first locking mechanism 20 and the second locking mechanism 45, making it easy to manage the device itself and the housing 30 that constitutes the device.

[0024] In one example, the housing 30 includes a battery 33 and a video camera unit 35 (image capture device) powered by the battery 33. Charging of the battery 33 is restricted when the cover 40 is locked by the second locking mechanism 45, and charging is permitted when the cover 40 is unlocked by the second locking mechanism 45. Thus, the bicycle mounting device 1 in one example may be a so-called cycle recorder. It is envisioned that such a cycle recorder will be attached to, for example, a child's bicycle. In this case, there may be a need for a guardian (e.g., a parent) to manage the charging of the battery 33. In the above example, even when the battery 33 is removed from the bicycle, if the second locking mechanism 45 is locked, a child who does not possess the key 9 is restricted from freely accessing the battery 33.

[0025] In one example, the housing 30 includes a rear surface 31b (first side surface) and a front surface 31a (second side surface) that face each other, the rear surface 31b includes an engagement portion 38 that engages with the fixing member 10, and the front surface 31a includes a window portion 35b that faces the lens 35a of the video camera unit 35 and a light emitting device 37 that irradiates light toward the outside of the housing 30. In this configuration, the lens 35a of the video camera unit 35 and the light emitting device 37 can be disposed forward of the fixing member 10 that is fixed to the handle 3.

[0026] In one example, the fixing member 10 includes a fixing ring 11 for fixing to a handlebar 3 of a bicycle, an extension portion 15 extending radially from the fixing ring 11, and a protrusion portion protruding from the extension portion 15 in a direction intersecting the radial direction and engaging with the engagement portion 38. With this configuration, the housing 30 can be fixed at a position higher than the handlebar 3. Therefore, even on a child's bicycle, the housing 30 can be placed at a relatively high position, making it easier to capture images captured from a high position. Furthermore, since the protrusion portion 22 protrudes forward, the housing 30 can be held by the protrusion portion 22, which prevents the housing 30 from falling when the first locking mechanism 20 is locked or unlocked.

[0027] In one example, a plate-like member 36 that protrudes outward is provided on the front surface 31a between the window portion 35b and the light-emitting device 37. This configuration prevents light emitted from the light-emitting device 37 from being directly input into the window portion. Furthermore, if the removed housing 30 is accidentally dropped, the plate-like member 36 functions as a bumper, preventing damage to the front surface 31a of the housing 30.

[0028] Although the present embodiment has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to the embodiment described in this specification. The present embodiment can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description in this specification is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present embodiment.

[0029] For example, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another example of a bicycle mounting device 1. The bicycle mounting device 100 shown in FIG. 5 differs from the bicycle mounting device 1 described above in that the extension portion has a protrusion that can be moved to multiple positions. This bicycle mounting device 100 includes the housing 30 described above and a fixed member 110. The fixed member 110 includes a fixed ring 11 and an extension portion 115. The extension portion 115 extends radially from the annular fixed ring 11, protruding outward from the fixed ring 11. In one example, the extension portion 115 extends upward from the upper ring portion 12 as its base end. The extension portion 115 has a lock body 121 that can be moved to multiple positions in the vertical direction. The lock body 121, like the lock body 21, can form the first lock mechanism 20.

[0030] The extension portion 115 in the illustrated example includes a slit-shaped rail portion 116 extending in the vertical direction, and a lock body 121 fitted into the rail portion 116 and movable in the vertical direction along the rail portion 116. The lock body 121 has a groove on its rear surface for inserting the key 9, and a protrusion (not shown) on its front surface for fitting into the engagement portion 38 of the housing 30. The protrusion of the lock body 121 has a configuration similar to that of the protrusion 22 of the lock body 21. The rail portion 116 penetrates the extension portion 115 in the front-rear direction (thickness direction of the extension portion 115). Therefore, the front and rear ends of the lock body 121 fitted into the rail portion 116 are exposed from the extension portion 115.

[0031] Balls 123 are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the lock body 121, protruding from the side surfaces by elastic bodies such as springs. In a natural state, the balls 123 protrude a predetermined height from the side surfaces and retract inward when pressed. A pair of left and right through-holes 117 corresponding to the balls 123 are provided in the rail portion 116 at multiple height positions (two positions in the illustrated example). When the balls 123 enter the through-holes 117, movement of the lock body 121 arranged inside the rail portion 116 relative to the rail portion 116 is restricted and the height position is fixed. In the illustrated example, the height position of the lock body 121 is fixed when the lock body 121 is located at the upper and lower ends of the rail portion 116. Furthermore, when a force is applied to move the lock body 121 in the vertical direction, the balls 123 are pressed against the edges of the through-holes 117. As a result, when a force greater than a predetermined value is applied, the balls 123 retract inward, allowing the lock body 121 to move within the rail portion 116. In this way, in the bicycle mounting device 100 shown in FIG. 5, the position of the lock body 121 that constitutes the first lock mechanism 20 can be moved up and down, so the height position of the housing 30 can be changed.

[0032] 6 and 7 show yet another example of a bicycle mounting device 200. This bicycle mounting device 200 includes a housing 230 and a fixing member 10. The housing 230 has a housing main body 231, a lid portion 240, and a second locking mechanism 245 that can lock the lid portion 240. The housing main body 231 includes a front surface 231a and a rear surface 231b that face each other in the front-to-rear direction. The housing main body 231 houses a battery (not shown) and also houses a video camera unit 35 and a light emitting device 37 that are powered by the battery. The video camera unit 35 and the light emitting device 37 are disposed facing the front surface 231a. Additionally, a plate-like member 36 that protrudes outward is disposed on the front surface 231a between the video camera unit 35 and the light emitting device 37.

[0033] An engagement portion 238 that engages with the lid portion 240 is formed on the rear surface 231b of the housing main body 231. The engagement portion 238 has a cylindrical concave shape, similar to the engagement portion 38. In addition, a connection terminal 233 for charging the built-in battery is provided on the rear surface 231b of the housing main body 231. That is, in this example, the battery cannot be removed from the housing main body 231 for charging. Note that the connection terminal 233 may also serve as a terminal for extracting captured video data to the outside. The connection terminal 233 is provided, for example, on a downward-facing end surface formed on the rear surface 231b so as to open downward. In the illustrated example, a connection cable 233a is inserted into the connection terminal 233.

[0034] The lid 240 is detachably attached to the housing body 231. The lid 240 in the illustrated example can cover the entire rear surface 231b of the housing body 231. That is, the lid 240 covers the engagement portion 238 and the connection terminal 233 provided on the rear surface 231b of the housing body 231. A lock body 246 constituting a second locking mechanism 245 is provided on the upper part of the rear surface 231b. The lock body 246 has a protrusion (not shown) that protrudes forward so as to engage with the engagement portion 38 of the housing body 231. The protrusion of the lock body 246 may have a configuration similar to that of the protrusion 22 of the lock body 21. In addition, an engagement portion 248 that constitutes the first locking mechanism 220 together with the lock body 21 provided on the extension portion 15 of the fixing member 10 is formed on the lower part of the rear surface 231b of the lid 240. The engaging portion 248 has the same configuration as the engaging portion 38, and has a cylindrical recessed shape that can accommodate the protrusion 22.

[0035] With this type of bicycle mounting device 200, the user can secure housing 230, which includes housing main body 231 and lid 240, to the bicycle by locking first locking mechanism 220, and can remove housing 230 from the bicycle by unlocking first locking mechanism 220. Additionally, the user can restrict charging of the battery built into housing 230 by locking second locking mechanism 245, and can enable battery charging by unlocking second locking mechanism 245.

[0036] Bicycle mounting device 1 may also have other configurations. For example, in bicycle mounting device 1 shown in Figures 1 to 4, opening lid 40 allows the stored battery 33 to be removed, but the contents of the present disclosure are not limited to this. For example, in bicycle mounting device 1 shown in Figures 1 to 4, battery 33 may also be built into housing main body 31, and opening lid 40 may expose a connection terminal for charging battery 33. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1...Bicycle mounting device, 9...Key, 10...Fixing member, 20...First locking mechanism, 30...Housing, 33...Battery, 40...Cover portion, 45...Second locking mechanism

Claims

1. a fixing member fixed to the bicycle; a housing supported by the fixing member, the fixing member has a first locking mechanism that can be locked to fix the housing to the fixing member while the housing is supported by the fixing member, the housing has a lid and a second locking mechanism that can lock the lid, the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism are locked and unlocked by a common key; The housing includes a battery that can be covered by the lid portion, and an imaging device that is powered by the battery.

2. a fixing member fixed to the bicycle; a housing supported by the fixing member, the fixing member has a first locking mechanism that can be locked to fix the housing to the fixing member while the housing is supported by the fixing member, the housing has a lid and a second locking mechanism that can lock the lid, the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism are locked and unlocked by a common key; The housing includes a battery housed within the housing and an imaging device operated by the battery.

3. A bicycle mounting device as described in Claim 2, wherein charging of the battery is restricted when the lid portion is locked by the second locking mechanism, and charging is possible when the lid portion is unlocked by the second locking mechanism.

4. the housing includes a first side surface and a second side surface facing each other, the first side surface includes an engaging portion that is engaged with the fixing member, The bicycle mounting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second side includes a window portion overlooking a lens of the imaging device and a light emitting portion that emits light toward the outside of the housing.

5. 5. The bicycle mounting device according to claim 4, wherein the second side surface is provided with a plate-like member that protrudes outward between the window portion and the light emitting portion.

6. The fixing member is a fixing ring for fixing to a handle of the bicycle; an extension portion extending radially from the fixing ring; 6. The bicycle mounting device according to claim 4, further comprising: a protrusion that protrudes from the extension in a direction intersecting the radial direction and that constitutes the first locking mechanism and engages with the engagement portion.

7. 7. The bicycle mounting device according to claim 6, wherein the protrusion is movable to a plurality of positions in the radial direction on the extension.

Images