Bicycle with Light System, Bicycle Cassette and Method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bicycle with light system. The bicycle includes a tube assembly including a frame with mutually fixed tube elements with a tube wall and movable tube elements, such as a steering pin and a handlebar, a light generation subsystem including at least one independently controllable light source for generation of light, a light control for controlling the light generation subsystem for providing at least one light effect, and a light guiding subsystem for guiding light over a part of the path between the at least one light source and the surroundings of the bicycle. The at least one light source is arranged in at least one of the at least one tube element. The bicycle includes the at least one opening in at least one tube element for passing the light through the tube wall. The light guiding subsystem provides a guiding from the inside of the respective at least one tube element to the outside of the at least one tube element of the frame.

Claims

1. A bicycle with light system, the bicycle comprising: a tube assembly comprising a frame with mutually fixed tube elements with a tube wall and movable tube elements, such as a steering pin and a handlebar, a light generation subsystem comprising at least one independently controllable light source for generation of light, a light control for controlling the lights generation subsystem for providing at least one light effect, a light guiding subsystem for guiding light over a part of the path between the at least one light source and the surroundings of the bicycle, wherein the at least one light source is arranged in at least one of the at least one tube element, at least one opening in at least one tube element for passing the light through the tube wall, and wherein the light guiding subsystem provides a guiding from the inside of the respective at least one tube elements to the outside of the at least one tube element of the frame.

2. The bicycle with light function according to claim 1, wherein the at least one opening comprises a number of openings in an array or in a grid pattern.

3. The bicycle with light function according to claim 1, wherein the light generation subsystem is arranged for generating graphical and/or text representations by means of a number of independently controllable light sources, preferably functioning as a matrix display or dotmatrix display.

4. The bicycle with light function according to claim 1, wherein the light generation subsystem or a part thereof is arranged in at least one cassette that is arrangeable in a respective tube elements, such as a bicycle cassette for insertion thereof in the top tube.

5. The bicycle with light function according to claim 4, wherein the light generation subsystem, a number of light sources is arranged in an array or in a grid pattern, wherein these are preferably directed toward an inner surface of the respective tube element.

6. The bicycle with light function according to claim 1, wherein the light guiding subsystem comprises a number of light guiding elements and/or lenses, preferably arranged at or in an opening of the respective tube elements.

7. The bicycle with light function according to claim 1, comprising a cover element for covering of at least a part of the openings and/or light guiding elements.

8. The bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the light generation subsystem is arranged for irradiating the inside or the inside surface of a tube element, or a part or a segment thereof, for passing the irradiated light through the openings.

9. The bicycle with light function according to claim 1, wherein a light effect comprises at least one of: continuous illumination, alternating illumination, an animation, such as a ticker effect; as well as information elements for the purpose of for example a contact lock function, wheel lock function such as for locking and unlocking, bell function, horn function, engine level, startup sequence, feedback for the purpose of a code input sequence and, charging function for a battery, error function, switching on of an alarm, switching off of an alarm, alarming in the event of actions by persons assessed as such.

10. The bicycle with light function according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit arranged for receiving bicycle information of at least one subsystem of the bicycle, such as a speedometer, wherein the control unit is configured and/or programmed to assemble input information for the light generation subsystem or the light control for generating light and/or light effects by the light generation system in accordance with the input information.

11. The bicycle with light function according to claim 1, further comprising configuration means or program code means for rendering feedback information relating to a subsystem, at least one of: a charge of a drive battery, status of a bicycle lock, status of a contact lock function, status of an alarm function, status of a tachometer, such as of a bottom bracket, and/or a status of connection functions such as of a network connection such as a connection via a telephone network or a Bluetooth network.

12. The bicycle with light function according to claim 1, further comprising a light generation system in at least a top tube, bottom tube, settle tube, France day, rear stay such as a rear upper stay or a rear bottom stay, and/or a handlebar.

13. The bicycle with light function according to claim 1, the light function providing an alarm function, indicator function, animation function, front light function, rear light function, navigation function, and/or a notification function.

14. The bicycle with light function according to claim 1, wherein the bicycle cassette comprises a main part for arranging in several types of bicycle, preferably comprising a cassette contact for connection with a connector contact for a bicycle connector arranged in the respective tube element.

15. The bicycle with light function according to claim 4, wherein the bicycle cassette is connectable with a sub cassette for providing a further functionality to the bicycle cassette, such as a rear light or a clamp for a saddle pin.

16. The bicycle with light function according to claim 1, wherein the lights generation system comprises a wedge shaped or tapered surface, preferably for cooperation with a corresponding wedge shaped or tapered surface of the light guiding subsystem.

17. The bicycle with light function according to claim 1, further comprising a sealing that it is this a the club stated that in essence they are natives and athletes all moved abates after a lady exit document drivers on the this year jumbo Windows safe by m, a Maar yeah observe is the most current bond sheet arranged at the outside of the tube element at the location of the light generation subsystem.

18. A bicycle with light function comprising a sealing means for sealing a space of play between the light guiding subsystem and respective openings in a respective tube elements.

19. The bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the light function functions as a display arranged in the surface of a tube elements.

20. The bicycle cassette for arranging thereof in a tube element for a bicycle with light system, preferably according to claim 1, further comprising a light generation system comprising at least one independently controllable light source for generation of light, such as for cooperation with a light guiding subsystem for guiding the light over a part of the path between the at least one light source and the surroundings of the bicycle.

21. The bicycle cassette according to claim 20, further comprising a light control for controlling the light generation subsystem for providing at least one light effect, suitable for coupling with a bicycle control unit in connection with at least a bicycle subsystem.

22. The bicycle cassette according to claim 20, further comprising a control unit for the bicycle.

23. The bicycle cassette according to claim 20, wherein the light generation subsystem comprises a wedge shape or tapered surface, preferably for cooperation with a corresponding wedge shaped or tapered surface of the light guiding subsystem.

24. The bicycle cassette according to claim 20, further comprising one or more features preferably arranged in a bicycle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be further elucidated on the basis of a description of one or more preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Similar yet not necessarily identical parts of different preferred embodiments may be indicated with the same reference numerals.

[0033] FIG. 1 relates to a representation in perspective view of a first preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 2 relates to an exploded representation in perspective view of a preferred embodiments.

[0035] FIG. 3 relates to an exploded representation in perspective view of the preferred embodiment according to FIG. 2.

[0036] FIG. 4 relates to side views of a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment.

[0037] FIG. 5 relates to a representation in perspective view of further preferred embodiments.

[0038] FIG. 6 relates to views of a further preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTON

[0039] A first preferred embodiment (FIG. 1) according to the present invention relates to a bicycle with light function 1. It comprises a matrix display 3 in top tube 2. The matrix display is created by means of openings 4 in the top tube.

[0040] A cassette 11 for arrangement thereof in the top tube has a display module 12 comprising a number of components 13-16. The display module 12 comprises a bottom housing 13 and a top housing 16. In between, a control unit 14 for controlling of the LEDs of the LED module 15 arranged above, preferably embodied flexibly, further preferably integrated on a flexible PCB.

[0041] The LEDs 24 of the LED module 15 correspond with the openings for in the top tube to for providing of the display 3. The display is formed by a grid of the LEDs 24, and this case for example 169 for providing of a number of graphical and/or light effects. The number of LEDs is sufficient for providing a graphical representation or a text representation of information towards the user. The graphical and textual representation is generated by a control unit that is also arranged in the cassette and that is in communication with subsystems of the bicycle. Such subsystems comprise a bicycle lock, a bicycle motor, a ref counter, a bell button or a contact lock function. Based on in-formation from these subsystems, the control unit assembles display information for the display thereof on the display.

[0042] A light guiding unit 17 comprises a base 19 with light guiding members or lenses 26 extending therefrom that corresponds with each LED of the LED module 15. Each light guiding member or lens 26 extends through a respective opening for in the top tube for guiding of light of the LEDs to the outside of the tube and for as such making this light visible.

[0043] At the inside of the tube, an amount of kit or a glue for water tight ceiling of the through openings 4 of the top tube is arranged. The cassette is inserted sideways in the direction of the arrow a into the top tube. The bottom side of the light guiding unit 17 and the top side of the housing 16 is tapered by means of cooperating services 28 for the purpose of a good contact between the LEDs and light guiding elements.

[0044] Alternative arrangements of the light function and/or display function according to the present invention relates to such a function in the handlebar 46 (FIG. 1). Furthermore, such a display and/or lighting is considered in the front state 44, real estate 41, rear bottom state 46, settled tube 45 and bottom tube 43. This is considered as both a display according to FIG. 1-5 and as a more general illumination from the inside of the tube with through illumination through openings through the respective tube.

[0045] A further aspect according to the present invention relates to a bicycle with bicycle display, the bicycle comprising: [0046] a tube assembly comprising a frame with mutually fixed tube elements with a tube wall and movable tube elements, such as a steering pin and a handlebar, [0047] a light generation subsystem comprising a number in a grid pattern arranged, independently controllable, light sources for generation of light, [0048] a light control for controlling of the lights generation subsystem for providing of at least one light effect, [0049] a light guiding subsystem for guiding of light over a part of the path between the at least one light source and the surroundings of the bicycle, [0050] wherein the at least one light source is arranged in at least one of the at least one tube element, [0051] at least one opening in at least one tube element for passing through of the light through the tube wall, and [0052] wherein the light guiding subsystem provides a guiding from the inside of the respective at least one tube element to the outside of the at least one tube element of the frame for realizing of a graphical and/or text representation by the light sources within the grid pattern.

[0053] The present invention is described in the foregoing on the basis of preferred embodiments. Different aspects of different embodiments are expressly considered disclosed in combination with each other and in all combinations that on the basis of this document, when read by a skilled person of the area of skill, fall within the scope of the invention or are deemed to be read with the disclosure of this document. These preferred embodiments are not limitative for the scope of protection of this document. The rights sought are defined in the appended claims.