DE20003822U1 - Remote controlled brake for children's bicycles - Google Patents

Description

Description

Remote controlled brake for children's bikes

State of the art:

A) Braking technology on bicycles:

Various types of brakes for bicycles have been introduced and approved for use on the road, the majority of these types are hand-operated and are operated by cable. Such brakes can be used by the new invention.

B) Remote control:

There are many different types of remote controls for different ranges and complexity. The new invention can use relatively simple types.

C) Safety features on children’s bicycles:

Various passive support systems are known that are intended to make it easier for children to learn to ride a bike - such as training wheels.

However, active intervention options from outside, such as those available to a driving instructor in a car, are unknown.

Problem:

As soon as a child can ride a bicycle alone, the influence of accompanying persons is very limited; for example, they can ride ahead of the child on their own bicycle and thus protect the child from accidents.

Otherwise, all that remains is calling contact and the hope that the child responds correctly when called.

A retrofitting option for children's bicycles should therefore be created that allows accompanying persons to brake the child's bicycle at the push of a button if there is a danger to the child.

The device should

- not be type-bound,

- can be provided as standard equipment or retrofitted with DIY capabilities.

Solution:

The entire device consists of:

Transmitter-receiver combination for short ranges corresponding to the field of vision of accompanying persons. The transmission and detection of a single pulse is sufficient; however, signal coding is required so that several such devices do not influence each other.

A timing logic that converts the pulse into a control with an adjustable time duration (realized e.g. by a monoflop).

A driver stage that provides the required electrical power.

An actuator that converts the electrical signal into a mechanical movement.

A mounting plate or frame with which the control is to be attached to the bicycle frame.

A mechanical transmission device between the actuator and the brake.

The brake itself - which can be retrofitted or may be present on the bike.

The power supply is usually provided by a battery pack

Benefits achieved:

The moving child's bike can be braked by an accompanying person using the button.

Further design:

According to protection claim 2

- the simplest and most convenient implementation is through a gear motor; alternatively, electromagnetic actuation appears possible;

- a simple wire rope serves as a transmission device

- certain comfort features seem useful:

- an accompanying acoustic signal warns the child both of the onset of braking and of the danger that caused the braking;

- if the applied brake can only be released by operating the electronic housing on the bicycle, the educational effect is most noticeable, and incorrect operation of the remote control with an exclusive braking function is also ruled out.

_,_- Control unit for monitoring the status of the power supply and charging options are useful additional options

Description of implementation examples:

The use of the cantilever brake type proved to be particularly advantageous. The transmitter-receiver device should operate in a common range, e.g. 433MHz

Particularly suitable as drive devices are small DC geared motors with high stopping torque and low power consumption, which are widely used in mechanical engineering (e.g. from Faulhaber, Escap, etc.)

The traction cable is wound up by a pulley on the transmission shaft.

Claims (2)

1. Remote controlled brake for children’s bicycles, consisting of - a housing with radio receiver, timer and switching electronics - a mechanical actuating device controlled by a cable and mounted on the bicycle frame - a commercially available and approved bicycle brake operated by it - as well as a hand-held transmitter coordinated with the radio receiver, and characterized by the following features: - almost any commercially available bicycle brake type designed for manual operation can be used - a short impulse from the handheld transmitter starts a complete braking function for the bike - the electronic housing integrates all required logic (+batteries) - the timing of the brake action can be preselected using the timer - to adapt to the specifics of the brake type and operation. - the applied brake can be released again by an independent action. 2. Remote-controlled brake for children’s bicycles according to 1, characterized by one or more of the following features: - the mechanical actuation consists of an electric motor with gearbox, which causes the progressive actuation of the brake via a brake cable that can be wound up - the brake application is accompanied by an acoustic signal (purpose: warning for the child on the bike) - the applied brake is released by pressing a button on the electronics, - additional electronics checks and signals the charge level of the batteries - a battery charger can be connected to the electronics (while standing or driving).