Bicycle system

• US 10,093,379 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2014
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konnectronix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Konnectronix Incorporated
• Inventors: Hines, George, Fragassi, Steven, Cavada, Gilberto, O'Connor, Tom, Page, Richard, Kulkarni, Sharwari, Guffey, George J, Capellaro, Will, Carrier, Michael, Carlson, David, Daus, Corry, Kunvichet, Lee, Lingle, Stephen, Last, Andrew, Dmitriyev, Stanislav, Ammons, Reginald K. S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stabley, Michael R
• Application Number:
  US14/899,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20160221627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/00 Appliances preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of cycles; Locks integral with cycles fittings for preventing or indicating use or theft of vehicles in general B60R; general features of locks E05B
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/10 acting on a pedal crank
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/20 indicating unauthorised use, e.g. acting on signalling devices alarm locks in general E05B45/00, e.g. alarm cable or chain lock E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 3/10 Electrical devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/20 characterised by the mounting
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/30 for providing power to equipment other than for propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/414 Acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/21 intended to provide information to rider or passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/056 characterised by control means
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/16 Arrangement of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/12 Handlebars; Handlebar stems
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/02 hand actuated arrangements of controls on handle-bars of engine-driven cycles B62K11/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075

Abstract

The field of the invention relates to bicycle systems, especially to bicycle systems adapted for use with smartphones, to smartphones configured for use with bicycle systems, and to methods and to computer software for use with such bicycle systems or smartphones, and to servers configured to communicate with such bicycle systems or smartphones. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a bicycle system including a bicycle, the bicycle system including a processor integral to the bicycle, the bicycle system further including a battery integral to the bicycle, wherein the processor is powerable by the battery, the bicycle system including a smartphone holder configurable to receive a smartphone and to connect the smartphone to the processor, wherein in use the smartphone holder is attachable to, and detachable from, the smartphone. Advantages include that the smartphone can be charged by the battery, the smartphone can communicate with the processor so as to receive various information such as maintenance-related information of the bicycle system, the bicycle system can investigate the smartphone identity to check for unauthorized use of the bicycle system, the smartphone is held during bicycle system travel which reduces the risk of damage to the smartphone, and the bicycle system shape is more aerodynamic than that of a bicycle to which a processor and/or a battery has merely been bolted-on.

Claims

1. A bicycle system including a bicycle, the bicycle system including a processor integral to the bicycle, the bicycle system further including a battery integral to the bicycle, wherein the processor is powerable by the battery, the bicycle system including a smartphone holder configurable to receive a smartphone and to connect the smartphone to the processor, wherein in use the smartphone holder is attachable to, and detachable from, the smartphone, wherein the bicycle system is arranged to provide a haptic vibration in a handlebar grip corresponding to a direction of a turn in response to a navigation instruction generated by the smartphone, wherein the bicycle system further includes an integrated locking system configurable to prevent the bicycle system from traveling, and wherein the locking system includes a bolt lock integrated in a bottom bracket of the bicycle.

2. Bicycle system of claim 1, wherein the bicycle system includes software executable on the processor.

3. Bicycle system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to identify a smartphone in connection with the processor.

4. Bicycle system of claim 1, wherein the smartphone holder includes a transparent lid that is openable for the holder to receive the smartphone, and wherein the lid is closable to protect the smartphone during use of the bicycle system.

5. Bicycle system of claim 1, including handlebars, wherein the smartphone holder is a handlebars-integrated docking system.

6. Bicycle system of claim 5, wherein the handlebars-integrated docking system position is adjustable.

7. Bicycle system of claim 1, including handlebars, wherein the handlebars comprise right and left switches to control right and left turn signals.

8. Bicycle system of claim 1, wherein the bicycle system includes a left handlebar and a right handlebar, and a left haptic generator in the left handle bar and a right haptic generator in the right handlebar.

9. Bicycle system of claim 1, wherein unauthorized deactivation of the bolt lock detected by the processor generates an alarm.

10. A bicycle system including a bicycle, the bicycle system including a processor integral to the bicycle, the bicycle system further including a battery integral to the bicycle, wherein the processor is powerable by the battery, the bicycle system including a smartphone holder configurable to receive a smartphone and to connect the smartphone to the processor, wherein in use the smartphone holder is attachable to, and detachable from, the smartphone, wherein the bicycle system further includes an integrated locking system configurable to prevent the bicycle system from traveling, the locking system being controllable by the processor, and the locking system further being deactivated in response to receiving a smart phone recognized by the processor and activated in response to removal of the smartphone recognized by the processor from the smartphone holder.

11. Bicycle system of claim 10, wherein upon activation of the locking system, the bicycle system establishes the bicycle system'"'"'s geo-position, after which, if a moved distance exceeds a threshold, the bicycle system alerts a registered user via a notification transmitted to the registered user'"'"'s smartphone.

12. Bicycle system claim 10, wherein the locking system includes a frame-integrated, retractable cable operable to loop around an immovable object so as to secure the bicycle system to the immovable object.

13. Bicycle system of claim 12, wherein a cutting of the cable, detected by the processor, generates an alarm.

14. Bicycle system of claim 10, wherein the bicycle system is configured to output an alarm if an unauthorized device is received in the smartphone holder of the bicycle system.

15. Bicycle system of claim 10, wherein the bicycle system is configured to transmit its position to a smartphone in response to the generation of an alarm at the bicycle system.