HK1118036B - Sensor device - Google Patents

Description

Sensor device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sensor device, and more particularly, to a sensor device for measuring a parameter such as a running speed of a bicycle.

Background

Measuring devices for measuring the running speed of a bicycle are conventional.

For example, japanese patent laid-open No.2005-067354 discloses a measuring device having a measuring main body portion installed at a position where a rear wheel and a transmission crank of a bicycle are disposed, and a display portion installed at a position within a visual field of a rider for displaying predetermined information based on a signal transmitted from the measuring main body portion.

The measuring body part has a first sensor part for detecting movement of a predetermined portion of the driving crank to determine a pace of movement of the pedals, a second sensor part for detecting movement of a predetermined portion of the rear wheel to determine a traveling speed of the bicycle, and a transmission part electrically connected to the first and second sensor parts for wirelessly transmitting signals detected by the first and second sensor parts to the display part.

When a sensor part for detecting the movement of a predetermined part of a bicycle is fixed to a front fork or a chain stay of the bicycle, it is necessary to adjust the distance between the fixed sensor part and the predetermined part. In order to facilitate fixing of the sensor part and adjustment of the distance, a member for rotatably holding the sensor part is required.

On the other hand, there may be an insufficient space for attaching the sensor device to the bicycle (e.g., when the sensor portion is fixed to the front fork). Therefore, there is a need to reduce the size of the bicycle sensor device.

Moreover, in another aspect, it is also desirable to reduce the number of components, thereby reducing the size of the sensor device.

Disclosure of Invention

One object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle sensor device with a reduced number of parts and a reduced size.

The sensor device according to the present invention is a sensor device fixed to a frame or a front fork constituting a bicycle using a band, comprising a sensor body having a sensor portion for detecting a movement of a predetermined portion of the bicycle and a base member fixed to the frame or the front fork and rotatably holding the sensor body so as to change a distance between the predetermined portion and the sensor portion.

According to the above structure, since the base member is fixed to the frame or the front fork and rotatably holds the sensor body, it is not necessary to provide another member between the base member and the sensor body. Therefore, the number of parts of the sensor device can be reduced, and the size of the sensor device can be reduced.

Preferably, in the sensor device described above, the base member has a first recess for rotatably accommodating the sensor body and a second recess for accommodating the frame or the front fork.

According to the above structure, since the sensor body is fitted to the first recess, the sensor body can be stably held by the base member. Also, since the frame or the front fork is fitted to the second recess, the base member and the sensor body can be more firmly fixed to the frame or the front fork.

Preferably, in the sensor device described above, the strip is fixed so as to press the sensor body against the first recess.

With this structure, the sensor body can be pressed against the base member simultaneously when the belt is fixed. Thus, the sensor body can be more firmly fixed.

Preferably, in the sensor device described above, the second recess is deformable to match the shape of the frame or the front fork.

With this structure, the sensor body can be firmly fixed to the frame or the front fork with the base member inserted thereinto regardless of the shape of the frame or the front fork.

In the above sensor device, the frame is, by way of example, a chain stay or a down tube of a bicycle.

In one aspect, in the sensor device described above, the predetermined portion includes a wheel of the bicycle, and the sensor portion detects a running speed of the bicycle based on the number of revolutions of the wheel.

Also, in another aspect, in the sensor device described above, the predetermined portion includes a transmission crank of the bicycle, and the sensor portion detects the pitch of the pedals in motion based on the number of revolutions of the transmission crank.

Preferably, in the above sensor device, the sensor body has a transmission portion electrically connected to the sensor portion for transmitting a signal detected by the sensor portion to the outside of the sensor body.

With this structure, the result detected by the sensor portion can be transmitted to the outside of the sensor main body, and the rider can check the result detected by the sensor portion while riding the bicycle.

As described above, according to the present invention, the bicycle sensor device can be reduced in size. Further, since the number of parts of the sensor device is reduced, the manufacturing cost of the sensor device can also be reduced.

The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a bicycle to which a sensor device of a sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected.

Fig. 2 is a top view of a sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a view of the sensor device as seen from the direction of arrow DR 3.

Fig. 4 is a view of the sensor device shown in fig. 2 and 3, seen from the direction of arrow DR 4.

Fig. 5 is a view of the sensor device shown in fig. 2-4, as seen from the direction of arrow DR 5.

Fig. 6 is a view of the sensor device shown in fig. 2-5, as seen from the direction of arrow DR 6.

Fig. 7 is a view of the internal structure of the sensor device shown in fig. 2 to 6.

Fig. 8 is a view of an assembled state of the sensor device shown in fig. 2 to 7.

Fig. 9 is a view showing a state where the sensor device shown in fig. 2 to 8 is fixed to the front fork of the bicycle.

Fig. 10 to 12 are views showing a deformed state of a rubber pad in a sensor device fixed to a front fork of a bicycle.

Fig. 13 is a view showing a state in which a sensor device according to an example of the conventional art is fixed to a front fork of a bicycle.

Detailed Description

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described. It should be noted that the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the same description will not be repeated.

When an amount, a physical quantity, or the like is mentioned in the following examples, the scope of the present invention is not necessarily limited to the mentioned amount, physical quantity, or the like unless otherwise specified. Moreover, in the following embodiments, each component is not necessarily essential to the present invention unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, when there are a plurality of embodiments below, it is intended from the outset to incorporate features of the embodiments as appropriate, unless specified otherwise.

Fig. 1 shows a bicycle to which a sensor device according to one embodiment of the present invention is connected. Referring to fig. 1, a bicycle 1 includes a front wheel 2, a rear wheel 3, a front fork 4, a chain stay 5, a display portion 6 displaying a detection result of a speed sensor described below, and a driving crank 7 rotating with pedals.

Fig. 2 to 6 show the speed sensor 10 according to the present embodiment. Among them, fig. 3, 4 and 6 show the speed sensor 10 viewed from the directions indicated by arrows DR3, DR4 and DR6 in fig. 2, respectively, and fig. 5 shows the speed sensor 10 viewed from the direction indicated by arrow DR5 in fig. 4. The speed sensor 10 according to the present embodiment detects the running speed of the bicycle 1 based on the number of revolutions of the front wheel 2, and includes a sensor body 100 and a rubber pad 200. As shown in fig. 6, rubber pad 200 has recesses 210 and 220. The sensor body 100 is fitted to the recess 210. By fitting into the recess 210, the sensor body 100 can be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow DR 100. The recess 220 accommodates the front fork 4.

The internal structure of the sensor body 100 is described below with reference to fig. 7. The magnets are attached to the spokes of the front wheel 2 shown in fig. 1. The sensor body 100 has a reed switch 110 for detecting passage of a magnet attached to a spoke of the front wheel 2, and a transmission coil 120 (transmission section) electrically connected to the reed switch 110 for transmitting a signal detected by the reed switch 110 to the display section 6. With this structure, the result detected by the speed sensor 10 can be transmitted to the display portion 6, and the rider of the bicycle 1 can check the running speed of the bicycle 1 while riding the bicycle 1.

Next, the contents of the sensor body 100 fixed to the front fork 4 will be described with reference to fig. 8 and 9. Referring to fig. 8 and 9, sensor body 100 is fitted into concave portion 210 of rubber pad 200 from the direction of the arrow shown in fig. 8. Then, front fork 4 is fitted to concave portion 220 of rubber pad 200. Thereafter, two cable ties 20(20A, 20B) such as tyrap (r) and insulok (r) are inserted into two hole portions 101 in the sensor body 100 to fix the sensor body 100 and the rubber pad 200 to the front fork 4 with the cable ties 20A and 20B. At the same time, sensor body 100 held by rubber pad 200 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow DR100 (see fig. 6) so as to adjust the distance between sensor body 100 and the magnet attached to the spoke of front wheel 2. Through these steps, the sensor body 100 is fixed to the front fork 4, and the speed sensor 10 is in a standby state.

Fig. 10 to 12 show deformed state views of the rubber pad 200 in the sensor device fixed to the front fork 4. As shown in fig. 10 to 12, concave portion 220 of rubber pad 200 is deformed to fit the shape of front fork 4. Thus, in the present embodiment, the sensor body 100 can be firmly fixed to the front fork 4 having various shapes.

Fig. 13 shows a view of a state where a speed sensor according to the conventional art is fixed to the front fork 4 of the bicycle 1, compared to the speed sensor of the present embodiment. In the example of the conventional technique shown in fig. 13, a mounting bracket 300A is provided between a sensor body 100A and a rubber pad 200A that is fixedly attached to front fork 4. An angle adjusting screw 400A is provided for rotating the sensor body 100A coupled to the mounting bracket 300A. When the speed sensor according to the example of the conventional art is fixed to front fork 4, first, rubber pad 200A and mount 300A holding sensor body 100A are fixed to front fork 4 with cable ties 20(20A, 20B). Thus, the sensor body 100A is fixed to the front fork 4. After that, the sensor body 100A is rotated by the angle adjusting screw 400A so as to adjust the distance between the sensor body 100A and the magnet attached to the spoke of the front wheel 2. Through these steps, the speed sensor is in a standby state.

With speed sensor 10 according to the present embodiment, since rubber pad 200 fixed to front fork 4 rotatably holds sensor body 100 as described above, it is not necessary to provide another member between rubber pad 200 and sensor body 100. Therefore, for example, the mounting bracket 300A and the angle adjusting screw 400A in the conventional art example shown in fig. 13 can be omitted. Therefore, according to the speed sensor 10 of the present embodiment, the number of parts of the speed sensor 10 is reduced, and the size of the speed sensor 10 is reduced.

Also, since the sensor body 100 is fitted into the concave portion 210, the rubber pad 200 can stably hold the sensor body 100. Also, since front fork 4 is fitted into recess 220, rubber pad 200 and sensor body 100 can be more firmly fixed to front fork 4.

Also, since cable turn 20 is fixed so as to press sensor body 100 against recess 210, sensor body 100 can be simultaneously pressed against rubber pad 200 when cable turn 20 is fixed. Thus, the sensor body 100 can be more firmly fixed.

The above description is summarized as follows. The speed sensor 10 as the "sensor device" according to the present embodiment is fixed to the front fork 4 constituting the bicycle using the cable turns 20 as "ribbon", and includes a sensor body 100 having a reed switch 110 as a "sensor portion" for detecting the movement of the front wheel 2 as a "predetermined portion" of the bicycle, and a rubber pad 200 as a "base member" which is fixed to the front fork 4 and rotatably holds the sensor body 100 so as to change the distance between the front wheel 2 and the reed switch 110.

More specifically, in speed sensor 10, rubber pad 200 has recess 210 as a "first recess" for rotatably accommodating sensor body 100, and recess 220 as a "second recess" for accommodating front fork 4.

Although the above description is directed to an example in which the speed sensor 10 is fixed to the front fork 4, the speed sensor 10 may be fixed to the chain stay 5. In this case, the speed sensor 10 detects the bicycle running speed based on the number of revolutions of the rear wheel 3. Also, the "sensor device" is not limited to the speed sensor 10, but may be, for example, a sensor that detects the pace of the pedal movement based on the number of revolutions of the drive crank 7. In this case, the "sensor device" is fixed to the chain stay 5 or the down frame tube 8. Moreover, the bicycle to which the sensor device according to the present embodiment is attached is not limited to the bicycle 1 shown in fig. 1, and may be, for example, a tricycle.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the features of the appended claims.

Claims (6)

1. Sensor device to be fixed with a strap (20) to a frame (5, 8) or front fork (4) constituting a bicycle (1), comprising:

a sensor body (100), wherein the sensor body has a sensor portion (110) for detecting a movement of a predetermined part (2, 3, 7) of the bicycle (1); and

a base member (200) which is fixed to the frame (5, 8) or the front fork (4) and rotatably holds the sensor body (100) so as to change a distance between the predetermined portion (2, 3, 7) and the sensor portion (110), the base member (200) having a first recess (210) for rotatably receiving the sensor body (100) and a second recess (220) for receiving the frame (5, 8) or the front fork (4) from a direction opposite to a direction in which the first recess receives the sensor body,

the band (20) is fixed so as to press the sensor body (100) against the first recess (210).

2. Sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the second recess (220) is deformable to match the shape of the frame (5, 8) or the front fork (4).

3. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the frame (5, 8) is a chain stay (5) or a down tube (8) of the bicycle (1).

4. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein

The predetermined portion (2, 3, 7) comprises a wheel (2, 3) of the bicycle (1), and

the sensor portion (110) detects a running speed of the bicycle (1) based on the number of revolutions of the wheel (2, 3).

5. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein

The predetermined portion (2, 3, 7) comprises a driving crank (7) of the bicycle (1), and

the sensor portion (110) detects the cadence of the pedal in motion based on the number of revolutions of the transmission crank (7).

6. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor body (100) has a transmission portion (120) electrically connected to the sensor portion (110) for transmitting a signal detected by the sensor portion (110) to the outside of the sensor body (100).