Braking signalling system for bicycles, motorcycles and cars, equipped with hydraulic braking

• US 10,343,597 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2015
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Francesco Pavoni
• Original Assignee: Francesco Pavoni
• Inventors: Pavoni, Francesco
• Primary Examiner(s): Fan, Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US15/531,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20180304803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/444 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/10 Retrofit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/41 characterised by the type of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/045 indicating braking
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/165 Wireless switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/06 Levers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bicycle equipped with a hydraulic brake system and a braking signalling system. The braking signalling system includes detection equipment (2; 3; 4), which include the first radio communication equipment (19) based on Bluetooth Low Energy and a pressure sensor (21) coupled to the hydraulic braking system to detect any pressure changes in the hydraulic braking system. In addition, this brake signalling system also includes a beacon (6) designed to emit a light signal in response to any pressure change detected by the pressure sensor (21).

Claims

1. A bicycle equipped with a hydraulic brake system and a braking signalling system including detection means (2;

3;

4), which comprises

first radio communication means (19) based on Bluetooth Low Energy technology, and a light indicator (6) characterized in that

a pressure sensor (21) is coupled with the hydraulic braking system to detect variations in pressure within said hydraulic braking system; and

the light indicator (6) is designed to produce a light signal in response to a variation in pressure detected by the pressure sensor (21);

wherein the light indicator (6) is equipped with second radio communication means (32) based on Bluetooth Low Energy technology, to transmit and receive data; and

designed to turn on, adjust intensity of the produced light signal and turn off in response to, and on the basis of, data received by the second radio communication means (32) and indicative of a variation in pressure detected by the pressure sensor (21); and

wherein the system further includes a control device equipped with third radio communication means based on Bluetooth technology, wherein said third radio communication means are designed to exchange data with the first (19) and second (32) radio communication means; and

programmed to communicate, by means of the third radio communication means, with the detection means (2;

3;

4) and the light indicator (6) so as to recognize and identify said detection means (2;

3;

4) and said light indicator (6) on the basis of univocal identification codes, and turn the light indicator (6) on and off, and adjust intensity of the light signal produced by said light indicator (6) in response to, and on the basis of, data received from the detection means (2;

3;

4) and indicative of a variation in pressure detected by the pressure sensor (21).

2. The bicycle of claim 1 wherein the hydraulic braking system includes:

a brake lever group (3), which comprises

a cylinder (15) that houses a braking fluid (14) and includes a compression chamber,

a piston (16) movable within the compression chamber to compress the braking fluid (14), and a brake lever that is installed on handlebars of said bicycle/motorcycle and is hand operable to compress the braking fluid (14) within the compression chamber by means of the piston (16); and

a brake clamp group (4), that is

coupled with a front or rear wheel of said bicycle,

connected to the brake lever group (3) through a braking fluid conduit (17), and

configured to brake said front/rear wheel in response to an activation of the brake lever;

and wherein the pressure sensor (21) is a pressure sensor coupled with the hydraulic brake system in one of its components chosen among the cylinder (15), the compression chamber, the brake clamp group (4), the braking fluid conduit (17).

3. The bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the first radio communication means (19) is designed to transmit and receive data and to transmit data indicative of a variation in pressure detected by the pressure sensor (21).

4. The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the first radio communication means (19) and the pressure sensor (21) are integrated into one and the same electronic device.