Combined accessory holder and electronic control system for a bicycle

The present invention concerns an electronic control system for a bicycle, and in particular a fastening device between the containment units inside which the electronic devices and the power supply devices making up such a system are housed.

Such a control system is associated, for example, with a powered gearshift device, which allows the assisted gearshifting of the chain between crowns and sprockets of different diameters.

Such types of system usually provide a containment unit for an electronic control device, such as integrated electronic boards, with which a containment unit for a power supply device, such as for example a battery, is associated.

A known device of this type is described in the American patent application published under number US-2001-0042767 to the same Applicant. The solution described in such an application provides for an electronic control system fastened to the bicycle in the same anchoring zone as the bottle-cage group comprising a container for an electronic board and an auxiliary container for housing a power supply battery for the electronic board. The auxiliary container for the battery is electrically connected to the electronic control board through an electric cable provided with a connector. The mechanical connection between the auxiliary container and the containment unit for the electronic board is accomplished through two pairs of open elastic branches which are formed in two respective separate plates, one associated with the containment unit for the electronic board and one fastened to the bicycle frame, spaced from the first, through screws.

A drawback of such a solution consists in that the fastening through open elastic branches of the auxiliary container to the container for the electronic board is not secure. Especially in particular racing conditions when the bicycle is subject to stresses and vibrations, or else following accidental collisions, the fastening can be insufficient and lead to the releasing of the auxiliary containment unit from the containment unit for the electronic board, with the likelihood of breakage or loss of the auxiliary container in a race and the consequent blocking of the functions carried out by the electronic system.

Another drawback of such a solution lies in the complexity of construction and assembly of the device, with two separate plates being provided for the connection of the two pairs of open elastic branches to the frame at as many separate locations.

The object of the present invention is to overcome said drawbacks.

A first object of the invention is to create an electronic system for a bicycle which is more secure and reliable with respect to devices of a known type.

Another object of the invention is to create an electronic system which allows the operations of assembling the containment units making it up to the frame of the bicycle to be simplified.

Such objects are accomplished through an electronic control system for a bicycle comprising a first containment unit for an electronic device or for a power supply device and a second containment unit for a power supply device or for an electronic device, characterised in that said units are mechanically removably connected to each other through snap fastening means provided with an actuation button.

Advantageously, the two units making up the system of the invention are mechanically connected to each other in a secure manner when they are assembled and can easily be disconnected through the actuation of the button to release the second containment unit from the first containment unit and to allow, for example, the replacement or recharging of the power supply device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the system of the invention constitutes the anchoring part of a support element for bicycle accessories and more specifically for a bottle-cage. In such a case, a retaining part of the accessory part is associated with the anchoring part.

Still according to the preferred embodiment, the first containment unit is shaped with substantially longitudinal layout and is fastened to the bicycle frame whereas the box-like shaped second containment unit extends perpendicularly cantilevered with respect to the first containment unit.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention shall appear from the following description with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely as a non-limiting example, wherein: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="dash"><li>fig. 1 represents, in an isometric view, the electronic system of the invention associated with a bottle-cage;</li><li>fig. 2 represents an exploded isometric view of the system of fig. 1;</li><li>fig. 3 represents a side view of the system of fig. 1 with a bottle inserted in the bottle-cage;</li><li>fig. 4 represents a partial section along axis I°-I° of fig. 1 in a first operating position;</li><li>fig. 5 represents a partial section along axis I°-I° of fig. 1 in a second operating position;</li><li>fig. 6 represents, in a partial exploded isometric view, a variant embodiment of the invention.</li></ul>

The electronic control system of the invention is represented in figures 1 to 3 where it is globally indicated with 40.

The system of the invention 40 constitutes the anchoring part 43 of a bottle-cage, globally indicated with 1.

In fig. 3, the bottle-cage 1 is represented mounted to the frame 2 of a bicycle and essentially consists of an anchoring part 43 for fastening to the frame 2 of the bicycle and a retaining part 44 associated with the anchoring part 43. The retaining part 44 defines a seat 5 with a substantially circular section, matching the body of a bottle 20. Such a section can be chosen according to different configurations should it be foreseen that the accessory to be inserted has a different shape.

The anchoring part 43 and the retaining part 44 are connected to each other through a gluing substance. In different embodiments, instead of the gluing substance equivalent known connection means can be used, like for example rivets or screw coupling means.

The retaining part 44 is preferably made of a structural composite material and in particular of long structural carbon fibres incorporated in a matrix of thermo-setting plastic material, such a composite material being commonly referred to as "carbon fibre". The anchoring part 43 is made of a plastic material and in particular of a thermoplastic material reinforced with glass grains. The use of such materials allows particular characteristics of structural strength to be granted to the retaining part 44 and to the anchoring part 43 and at the same time allows the weight of the support element 1 to be kept very low. It should be understood, however, that in other embodiments different combinations of materials can be provided for parts 43 and 44. For example both parts 43, 44 can be made of structural composite material, or both of reinforced or non-reinforced plastic material or also the retaining part 44 can be made of plastic material and the anchoring part 43 of composite material.

Furthermore, the long structural fibres of composite material can alternatively be chosen from glass fibres, aramidic fibres, ceramic fibres, boron fibres or any combination thereof. At the same time, the non-structural elements of the reinforced plastic material can be chosen from short carbon fibres, short glass fibres, minerals or any combination thereof.

The aforementioned materials used to make the parts making up the support element of the invention advantageously have specific weights lower than 2.5 Kg/dm³.

The retaining part 43 is comprised of a first containment unit 45 inside which an electronic device and/or a power supply device therefor are arranged, not represented for the sake of simplicity in the figures. Such devices are advantageously mounted on board to the bicycle to carry out particular functions, such as for example the management of a control system for an electronic gearshift or the management of an acquisition and display device of the functions of the bicycle, commonly known as bicycle computer.

As can be seen more clearly in figures 2 and 3, the first containment unit 45 extends along the main direction 8 of insertion of the bottle 20 and comprises a lower portion 47 which extends perpendicularly with respect to the direction 8 for the support of the bottom of the bottle 20 when it is inserted in the bottle-cage 1.

A box-shaped second containment unit 49, which also extends perpendicularly with respect to the direction 8, for a power supply device for the electronic device, typically a rechargeable battery, is mechanically connected to the lower portion 47. The second containment unit 49 is closed at the bottom by a cover 54.

The second containment unit 49 and the lower portion 47 are mechanically removably connected to each other through an undercut edge 49a formed on top of the second containment unit 49, which receives for coupling a shaped edge 47a formed peripherally in the lower portion 47 and having a shape matching the undercut edge 49a. To allow a more secure connection between the second containment unit 49 and the lower portion 47, snap fastening means are provided, globally indicated with 60. Such snap fastening means 60 comprises a pin 61 and a button 62 arranged in a cylindrical seat 66, formed in the lower portion 47, which receives the aforementioned pin 61 in a first through hole 62a. The pin 61 passes through a second through hole 70 formed in the lower portion 47, as can be seen more clearly in figures 4 and 5, and engages with its end 61a in a recessed zone 50 formed in the second containment unit 49. A helical spring 63 is arranged below the button 62 inside the cylindrical seat 66. Such a spring 63 applies a normal force upwards onto the button 62 and the pin 61 inserted in the through hole 70. In different embodiments, instead of the spring 63 any equivalent elastic element of a known type can be used.

When the second containment unit 49 is connected to the lower portion 47, like in the configuration shown in fig. 4, the end 61a of the pin 61 is kept in abutment inside the recessed zone 50 thanks to the aforementioned upward biasing force of the spring 63 against the button 62 which, in turn, biases the pin 61 upwards. To accomplish the detachment of the second containment unit 49, as can be seen in fig. 5, the button 62 is biased downwards compressing the spring 63, the pin 61 is in turn biased downwards moving inside the second hole 70. In such a way, the end 61a of the pin 61 comes out from the bottom of the recessed zone 50 allowing the removal of the second containment unit 49 through its sideways translation with respect to the lower portion 47 (with reference to figure 3, moving the second containment unit 49 in a direction towards the observer).

It is clear that in variant embodiments, the snap fastening means could be made in a different and equivalent way, for example providing a button associated with the second containment unit 49 which elastically moves a counter acting element that engages in a corresponding recessed zone 50 present in said lower portion 47 or directly in the first containment unit 45.

In this case it is not strictly necessary for the lower portion 47 to extend with respect to the main axis 8. The mechanical connection with the second containment unit 49 could also be obtained, indeed, by forming an undercut edge in the lower portion of the first containment unit 45, which receives for coupling a shaped edge formed in the second containment unit and having a shape matching the undercut edge of the lower portion. It is clear that in such a variant, the support function of the bottle is carried out by the second containment unit 49.

Moreover, the lower portion 47 can extend inwards with respect to the main axis but be smaller in size. In such a case, it can be foreseen that the support function of the bottle be advantageously carried out, as in the previous case, by the second containment unit 49.

The electrical connection between the power supply device arranged inside the second containment unit 49 and the electronic device arranged inside the first containment unit 45, is accomplished through a polar connector 51 which is electrically connected through the cable 52 to the electronic device. The connector 51 is also removably associated with the second containment unit 49 through engagement into a suitable connection socket 53. A removable covering element 65 further allows the protection of the electrical connections from external agents, in particular water.

In the first containment unit 45, and in an upper position, there is an elastically deformable holding tongue 55 which extends towards the seat 5 for receiving the bottle 20. The tongue 55 contributes to improving the holding in position of the bottle 20 by resting against its outer surface, as can be seen in fig. 3.

The rear side of the first containment unit 45 facing towards the frame is advantageously hermetically closed through a closing element (not shown in figures 1 to 5) which allows the protection of the electronic device from external agents like rain, mud and dust.

The anchoring part 43 is made integral with the frame 2 through screw fastening means consisting of two screws 46a arranged passing through respective through holes 46 formed in the first containment unit 45.

Such screws 46, engaging in corresponding threaded holes present in the frame 2, not shown in the figures, allow the fastening at two points of the support element 1 to the bicycle. It is clear that the screw fastening means could, in different solutions, be replaced by different but equivalent means, like for example a clamp.

Finally, in the containment unit 45 there is an upper opening 56 which allows the passage of electrical cables 57 towards the outside, as can be seen in figures 1 to 3, and which are connected inside the electronic device.

The positioning of the bottle 20 in the support element 1 takes place substantially through its insertion in the seat 5. During such insertion, the walls of the bottle 20 come into contact with the inner wall of the annular retaining part 44, whereas the bottom of the bottle 20 slides along the second containment unit 45 until it abuts against the lower portion 47. The bottle 20 is kept in the inserted position thanks to the force of the annular part 44 applied on the bottle 20. The deformable tongue 55 then, as stated, improves the holding in position of the bottle 20, resting against its outer surface.

Fig. 6 represents a variant of the system described with reference to figures 1 to 5 and differs therefrom in the configuration of the retaining element 64. Indeed, it has an appendix 64a which protrudes downwards and along the main direction 8 which acts, advantageously, as a hermetic closing element of the first containment unit 45 in its portion facing towards the bicycle frame, with reference to the bottle-cage in mounted configuration.

In another variant, the power supply device could be arranged inside the first containment unit 45 and the electronic device could be arranged inside the second containment unit 49.