Electricity: measuring and testing – Electrical speed measuring – Including speed-related frequency generator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-23
2001-12-18
Snow, Walter (Department: 2862)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Electrical speed measuring
Including speed-related frequency generator
C301S104000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06331771
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a magnetic device for a bicycle monitoring device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a magnet holder of the monitoring device that can be easily installed on a spoke.
2. Background Information
It is an advantage for modem cyclists to know how fast they are going. This is true in both non-competitive and competitive cycling. To that end, speedometer devices for bicycles have become commercially popular. Early forms of these devices had various mechanical disadvantages. One source of difficulty was the means by which the speedometer device sensed that the wheel had rotated. Many speedometers attached a counting device that protruded from the spoke, and would advance a gear or a counter every time the wheel rotated. But these devices were not reliable and subject to breakdown, bending, stiffening, and shifting loose from the appropriate position. This led to inductive-type sensors, which did away with the requirement of actual contact between spoke-attachment and sensor. But these were not always reliable either, due to magnets weakening, slippage on the spoke, tools required for installation, inability to sustain a satisfactory level of tightness, and other reasons.
In view of the above, there exists a need for a magnetic device which overcomes the above mentioned problems in the prior art. This invention addresses this need in the prior art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic device that is relatively easy to install on a spoke such that the magnetic device does not rotate or move longitudinally along the axis of the spoke.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic device that is inexpensive to manufacture.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic device that can be installed in one step.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic device that requires no tools for installation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic device that can be used with a non-circular cross-section.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bracket assembly for mounting on a spoke having at least one flat portion, comprising a housing having a flat spoke-receiving recess with non-circular cross section and at least one detent extending from the housing into the flat spoke-receiving recess to secure the at least one flat portion of the spoke within the spoke-receiving recess via a snap-fit.
The foregoing objects basically can be obtained by providing a magnetic device that mounts on a flat portion of a spoke of a wheel. This magnetic device basically comprises a housing with magnetic material fixedly coupled to the housing. The housing can have a spoke-receiving recess with a non-circular cross section, and at least one detent. The detent extends from the housing into the spoke-receiving recess to secure a flat spoke within the spoke-receiving recess via a snap-fit.
The foregoing objects can also basically be obtained by providing a magnetic device that mounts on a flat spoke of a wheel, as described above. The magnetic device communicates with a sensing device, which is adapted to be coupled to a portion of the bicycle that is adjacent to a wheel of the bicycle. A display unit, adapted to be mounted on handlebars of the bicycle, displays the speed information obtained from the sensing device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring device for mounting on a spoke having at least one flat portion, comprising a housing having a spoke-receiving recess with a pair of opposed side walls spaced apart by a first predetermined distance and defining a non-circular cross section to receive the at least one flat portion of the spoke therebetween, the side walls being constructed of an elastic material to elastically retain the at least one flat portion of the spoke therebetween, the first predetermined distance being slightly smaller than a predetermined width of the flat portion of the spoke to elastically deform the side walls.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic device for mounting on a spoke having at least one flat portion, comprising a housing having a spoke-receiving recess with a pair of opposed side walls spaced apart by a first predetermined distance and defining a non-circular cross section to receive the at least one flat portion of the spoke therebetween, the side walls being constructed of an elastic material to elastically retain the at least one flat portion of the spoke therebetween, the first predetermined distance being slightly smaller than a predetermined width of the flat portion of the spoke to elastically deform said the walls; and a magnetic material fixedly coupled to the housing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring device for a bicycle, comprising a sensing device; adapted to be coupled to a portion of the bicycle that is adjacent a wheel of the bicycle; a display unit adapted to be mounted on handlebars of the bicycle; and a magnetic device adapted to be mounted on wheel spokes having a flat portion, the magnetic device including a housing and magnetic material fixedly coupled to the housing, the housing having a spoke-receiving recess with a pair of opposed side walls spaced apart by a first predetermined distance and defining a non-circular cross section to receive the at least one flat portion of the spoke therebetween, the side walls being constructed of an elastic material to elastically retain the at least one flat portion of the spoke therebetween, the first predetermined distance being slightly smaller than a predetermined width of the flat portion of the spoke to elastically deform the side walls.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bracket assembly for mounting on a spoke having at least one flat portion, comprising a housing having a spoke-receiving recess with a pair of opposed side walls spaced apart by a first predetermined distance to retain the spoke therebetween, and a projection extending from the spoke-receiving recess to engage the concavity of the spoke within the spoke-receiving recess.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic device for mounting on a spoke with a concavity, comprising a housing having a spoke-receiving recess with a pair of opposed side walls spaced apart by a first predetermined distance to retain the spoke therebetween, and a projection extending from the spoke-receiving recess to engage the concavity of the spoke within the spoke-receiving recess; and a magnetic material fixedly coupled to the housing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring device for a bicycle, comprising a sensing device; adapted to be coupled to a portion of the bicycle that is adjacent a wheel of the bicycle; a display unit adapted to be mounted on handlebars of the bicycle; and a magnetic device adapted to be mounted on wheel spokes having a flat portion, the magnetic device including a housing and magnetic material fixedly coupled to the housing, the housing having a spoke-receiving recess with a pair of opposed side walls spaced apart by a first predetermined distance to retain the spoke therebetween, and a projection extending from the spoke-receiving recess to engage the concavity of the spoke within the spoke-receiving recess.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3781082 (1973-12-01), Linder
patent: 3854777 (1974-12-01), Kennedy
patent: 3898563 (1975-08-01), Erisman
patent: 4331918 (1982-05-01), Dunch
patent: 4352063 (1982-09-01), Jones et al.
patent: 5089775 (1992-02-01), Takeda
pate
Kitagawa Kozo
Muraoka Tsutomu
Wada Kazuo
Shimano Inc.
Shinjyu Global IP Conselors, LLP
Snow Walter
LandOfFree
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