Portable safety, entertainment and communication device for bicycles and control method

• US 7,976,048 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Good For You Good For The Planet, S.L.
• Original Assignee: Good For You Good For The Planet, S.L.
• Inventors: Zabalegui Labarta, José´ Angel, Bartolomé Garcia, Jesús
• Primary Examiner(s): Winner; Tony H.
• Application Number:
  US11/916,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 280/288.4, 224/409, 224/412
• US Class Current: 280/288.4
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 11/00 Supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening specific devices to cycles, e.g. supports for attaching maps
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/10 Arrangement of audio equipment; Supports therefor

Abstract

A portable safety, entertainment and communication device for a bicycle is provided. The device brings together a plurality of functions in a single device that can be fixed to the handlebar of a bicycle. The device is configured to automatically detect whether a casing is connected to a support and change the functionality of various elements of the device if so. In one aspect, the device changes the functionality of a digital music player so that a user may listen to music through speakers when the casing is connected to the support and listen to music through headphones connected to an audio output port when the casing is not connected to the support. Various other modules providing functionality may also be included in the device, such as a video camera and/or digital camera and a light source.

Claims

1. A portable safety, entertainment and communication device for a bicycle the device comprising:

a support (2), wherein the support (2) is configured to attach a casing (1) to a handlebar of the bicycle; and

wherein the casing (1) comprises;

lighting means (17),

digital music playing means (7),

horn means,

digital intercommunication means, and

automatic detection means, (18)

wherein the automatic detection means (18) is configured to detect whether the casing (1) is connected to the support (2), and

wherein the device is configured to change functionality of at least one of the lighting means (17), the digital music playing means (7), the horn means, and the digital intercommunication means when the casing (1) is connected to the support (2).

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a hands-free system.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising digital video and photograph capture means.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the support (2) is reinforced by a multifunctional elastic band (3).

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the digital intercommunication means comprises radio-frequency technology.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the digital intercommunication means comprises Bluetooth technology.

7. The device according to claim 2, further comprising:

an antenna (4),

a microphone (6),

a graphic display (9) for displaying information,

an internal button assembly (10) for accessing the different functionalities and for browsing,

a speaker (11),

a power module (12) for feeding the device,

an external memory port (13),

a communications port (14),

an input port (15) for an external microphone,

an audio output port (16),

a brightness detector associated to the lighting means (17), and

a voice recognition module for activating functionalities of the device.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the device is configured to deactivate the audio output port (16) and activate the hands-free system when the automatic detection means (18) detects that the casing (1) is connected to the support (2).

9. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a protected area (21) that provides access to the external memory port (13), the communications port (14), the input port (15) for the external microphone, and the audio output port (16).

10. A control method for controlling the device of claim 1, the control method comprising:

determining by means of a safety protocol (37) whether the casing (1) is connected to the support (2); and

detecting by means of a detection protocol (29) whether a homologous device is present in a coverage area,

wherein the safety protocol (37) and the detection protocol (29) are automatically and independently executed after starting up (36) the device.

11. The control method according to claim 10, wherein the safety protocol (37):

activates a jack connector (16) that allows listening to music through stereophonic earphones when the casing (1) is not connected to the support (2); and

deactivates the jack connector (16) and plays music through one or more speakers (26) when the casing (1) is connected to the support (2).

12. The control method according to claim 10, wherein the detection protocol (39):

emits and/or receives a radio-frequency signal;

processes the radio-frequency signal to detect homologous devices in the coverage area;

identifies unique identifying markers of said homologous devices;

prepares a list of aliases corresponding to the unique identifying markers; and

displays the list of aliases on a graphic display (9).

13. The control method according to claim 12, wherein the detection protocol (39) is periodically updating the list of aliases.