Search

CN-122029098-A - Lighting and/or steering indicating device for equipping a vehicle handle

CN122029098ACN 122029098 ACN122029098 ACN 122029098ACN-122029098-A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lighting device and/or a turn indicator (10) for fitting to a handlebar (20) of a vehicle, such as a bicycle. According to a preferred embodiment, the device is arranged to allow separate removal of a battery powering the light source of the device. According to another embodiment, the device is configured to equip an electric vehicle and is arranged to be connected to a battery providing power for propulsion of the vehicle.

Inventors

  • Arthur Clarkson
  • Luca Francis Romano

Assignees

  • 克莱斯责任有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20240822
Priority Date
20231016

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A lighting and/or steering indicator device (10, 300) for equipping a handlebar (20) of a vehicle, such as a bicycle or scooter, the device comprising: -an external device (50) arranged to be fixed to the handle in an extension of one of its two lateral ends, the external device comprising a support (60) on which one or more light sources (61-66) are arranged; -a connection device (30, 30') connected to the external device (50) and arranged to house and/or to connect the external device to a power source (41), the connection device being arranged to be positioned at least partially inside the tubular portion (23) of the handle; Characterized in that the support (60) is arranged in the external device leaving a channel (70) connecting the connection device (30) to an opening (80) external to the lighting device and/or turn indicator (10).
  2. 2. The device (10, 300) according to claim 1, wherein the channel is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the handle, in particular the channel is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the handle at a lateral end and/or a free end of the handle, preferably the device is housed in the end.
  3. 3. The device (10, 300) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the opening (80) is an external side opening, preferably arranged on a face substantially perpendicular and/or substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle.
  4. 4. The device (10, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (60, 160) is formed by one or more components arranged around the channel (70) and/or close to an inner wall of a housing (55, 155) of the external device so as not to obstruct a central portion of the external device in which the channel (70) is arranged.
  5. 5. The device (10, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external device comprises a housing (55, 155) forming at least part of an outer wall and/or a boundary of the external device and a substantially tubular member (56, 156) forming an inner wall at least partially defining the dimensions of the channel (70), preferably the support (60, 160) is arranged in a space between the housing and the tubular member.
  6. 6. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (60) comprises an inner face (71) facing the channel (70) and an outer face (72) facing outwards, the one or more light sources (61-66) being arranged on the outer face.
  7. 7. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (60) comprises a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) (68), preferably the printed circuit board is a flexible and/or bendable PCB.
  8. 8. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, the device (10) comprising an annular diffuser and/or a light guide (58) arranged to guide light emitted by one or more of the light sources (61-66), such as light sources (62, 63), to one or more external annular surfaces (82).
  9. 9. The device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, the device (10) comprising a battery (41) and/or a component (40) containing the battery, the battery and/or the component being arranged to be inserted into the device through the opening (80) and/or to be removed from the device separately.
  10. 10. The device (10) according to claim 9, wherein the assembly comprises: -a hollow longitudinal housing (42) for housing said battery (41), and -An electrical connector (43, 46) arranged to allow electrical connection between the battery and/or the assembly and the one or more light sources (61-66).
  11. 11. The device (10) according to any one of claims 9 to 10, wherein the assembly (40) is separable from the device (10) for the purpose of charging the battery or replacing the battery, the assembly being devoid of a light source serving as an illumination and/or steering indicator of the vehicle.
  12. 12. The device (10) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the component (40) has an external shape arranged to allow insertion of the component into the device (10) in only one orientation and/or to allow insertion of the component into the connection device (30) in only one orientation.
  13. 13. Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, the device (10) comprising a closing and/or locking mechanism (81, 86, 87) for closing the opening (80), said mechanism being arranged to be opened manually or by means of a tool or coin, in order to allow a user to remove a battery (41) and/or the assembly (40) containing the battery from the device (10) through the opening (80).
  14. 14. A lighting device and/or turn indicator (10) for equipping a handlebar (20) of a vehicle, such as a bicycle or scooter, the device comprising: -an external device (50) arranged to be mounted on the handle as an extension of one of the two lateral ends of the handle, the external device comprising a support (60) on which one or more light sources (61-66) are arranged; -a connection device (30, 30') connected to the support device (50) and arranged to be able to house an electric power source (41) and/or to connect the external device to an electric power source, the connection device being arranged to be positioned at least partially inside the tubular part (23) of the handle; Characterized in that the device is arranged to allow removal and/or insertion of a battery (41) and/or an assembly (40) containing the battery for the purpose of charging the battery (41) or replacing the battery (41), the one or more light sources (61-66) remaining connected to the lighting device and/or turn indicator (10) when the battery and/or the assembly is removed from the device (10).
  15. 15. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and 13, wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle comprising a battery providing electric power for propulsion of the vehicle, the device (10) comprising an electrical connection arranged to connect the device (10) to the battery providing electric power for propulsion of the vehicle.

Description

Lighting and/or steering indicating device for equipping a vehicle handle Technical Field The present invention relates to a lighting device and/or a turn indicator for a vehicle handle, such as a bicycle, scooter or motorcycle. The invention also relates to a device for a vehicle comprising a removable component. Background All vehicles must be equipped with luminaires to allow riders to illuminate their path and to be seen when external lighting, such as daylight or street lamps, is insufficient, in particular at night. For all vehicles, it is generally desirable that the vehicle be visible from all directions (360 ° visibility). In addition, it is also necessary to indicate a change in direction, for example, by using a turn indicator. However, many handlebar-equipped vehicles, such as bicycles, tricycles, and scooters, are not by default equipped with a lighting system, and may require separate installation of such a system. In some cases, there is a luminaire, but the vehicle does not have a turn indicator. In the prior art, lighting systems are provided that are intended to be mounted on or in the lateral ends of the handle. This is the case, for example, with commercially available "WINGLIGHTS 360" illuminators. Many of these solutions are bulky. They have drawbacks, in particular in terms of the need to replace the batteries they contain and in terms of the high risk of theft. Documents WO2020173959, RO201500041U1, US2004207520 A1 and DE102014006837 disclose telescopic lighting systems or turn indicators, wherein a light source can be inserted into the handle when not in use. In these systems, a specific solution is needed to replace the battery. Furthermore, in these solutions, 360 ° visibility is not provided or is not possible to achieve. There are also separable solutions, for example in documents KR20170004801 and KR101406282B 1. The separable components are relatively bulky and contain electronics, a light source (typically an LED), and a battery. If a user has to separate such components, the risk of damaging the fragile components of the system increases. To replace and/or recharge the battery, the separable components need to be disassembled to remove the battery. In these solutions, there are also problems of accidental fall-off and/or theft. The present invention aims to solve the drawbacks of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide a luminaire and/or turn indicator system enabling easy charging and/or replacement of the system battery. It is a further object of the invention to improve the illumination and/or to provide 360 ° visibility, especially in the absence of external illumination. It is a further object of the invention to provide improved visibility independent of the lighting system and/or the turn indicator system. It is another object of the present invention to provide a system based on a universal construction scheme that provides multiple options for a luminaire, for example, possibly with only turn indicators, only front/rear illuminators, or both. This would enable a user to be provided with a range of products associated with the luminaire or turn indicator based on a limited number of different components. Disclosure of Invention According to one aspect, the invention relates to a lighting device and/or a direction indicating device for equipping a vehicle, such as a bicycle, the device comprising an external device arranged to be fixed to the handle as an extension of one of its two lateral ends, the external device comprising a support on which one or more light sources are arranged, and a connection device connected to the external device and configured to receive and/or connect the external device to a power source, the connection device being arranged to be positioned at least partially within a tubular part of the handle. In a preferred embodiment, the support comprises a central opening providing a passage connecting said connection means to an opening leading to the outside of said lighting means and/or turn indicator. In a preferred embodiment, the device of the invention is arranged to allow removal and/or insertion of a battery and/or an assembly containing the battery for charging or replacement of the battery. Preferably, the one or more light sources remain connected to the lighting device and/or turn indicator when the battery and/or battery-containing assembly is removed from the device. Preferably, the one or more light sources and/or the electronics for controlling the one or more light sources are not part of the assembly and/or the removable component and/or are not arranged to be detachable from the device of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the support comprises an inner face directed towards the channel and an outer face directed towards the outside, the one or more light sources being arranged on the outer face. In a preferred embodiment, the support comprises a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), preferably a flexib