Bicycle Light Mounting Bracket With Magnetic Elastic Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laterally projecting bicycle lights are prone to misalignment due to jolting forces, leading to reduced effectiveness and safety issues, as they are susceptible to lever effects and decoupling from magnetic mounts, which fail to provide sufficient resistance to twisting and jolting forces.
Innovation Solution
A two-part mounting bracket with magnetic and elastic couplings that stabilize the light's position, using cooperating engagement portions and alignment features to ensure the magnets remain attracted and the elastic engagement corrects deviations, providing a resilient and adjustable mounting system that resists twisting and jolting forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the light is mounted laterally away from the bicycle frame, then the light provides better safety indication of bicycle width, but the mounting becomes susceptible to misalignment due to lever effects and jolting forces
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is divided into two separate parts: a first part that mounts to the bicycle frame and a second part that holds the light source. These parts are coupled together through magnetic interaction between first and second magnets, allowing the lateral projection function while enabling flexible positioning that accommodates jolting forces without misalignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional rigid mechanical coupling with magnetic coupling between the first and second parts. The magnets provide attractive force to maintain connection while allowing slight movements and rotations, eliminating the lever effect problems associated with rigid lateral projections and providing resilience against jolting forces.
2Strength
If strong magnetic coupling is used to maintain light position, then the light remains securely mounted, but the mounting becomes vulnerable to decoupling under large lever forces from lateral projection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a third dimension to the coupling system by incorporating vertical engagement portions that interact in addition to the horizontal magnetic attraction. This creates a multi-dimensional coupling where the engagement portions provide mechanical interlocking in the vertical direction while magnets provide attraction in the horizontal plane, distributing the lever forces across multiple interaction points and preventing decoupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two coupling mechanisms: magnetic attraction between the magnets and mechanical engagement between the engagement portions. This combination creates a hybrid coupling system that benefits from both the flexibility of magnetic interaction and the mechanical strength of physical interlocking, ensuring the light remains securely mounted even under large lever forces.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the mounting system is made rigid to prevent misalignment, then alignment stability improves, but the system cannot accommodate jolting forces from bumpy roads or curbs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic mounting system where the two parts can move relative to each other within the magnetic field's range of attraction. The magnetic coupling maintains connection while allowing the second part to shift position in response to jolting forces, and the engagement portions provide guidance to maintain proper alignment. This dynamic capability allows the system to accommodate road irregularities while maintaining stable light positioning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a stable and adjustable mounting system that maintains the light's lateral projection, enhancing safety by preventing misalignment and allowing easy removal and reattachment, thus protecting the light from damage and theft.
Implementation Method 1
the magnets are provided such that they can interact with opposite poles facing each other so that the two parts are attracted to one another
Implementation Method 2
cooperating engagement portions are provided to allow a selective elastic engagement to be formed which stabilises the magnetic coupling both against twisting and also against jolting forces decoupling the magnets entirely
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting bracket for a bicycle light is disclosed which is formed in two parts, a first part for mounting on part of a bicycle frame, the first part having a first magnet, and a second part having an elongate portion arranged to extend laterally away from the plane of the bicycle frame. The elongate portion is arranged for holding a light source at a distal end, and having a having a second magnet arranged towards its proximal end. The second magnet configured to engage with the first magnet to couple the first and second parts together. The first and second parts are further provided with cooperating engagement portions for selectively elastically engaging the first and second parts with one another. Optionally the first and second parts have cooperating alignment portions to help ensure that the coupling occurs at a desired orientation.