JPH10273081A - Lighting system for bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To light a headlight by the operation of a selection switch via a bypass path and notify an on coming vehicle of the location of a bicycle when it is light and also when visibility is bad due to a heavy fog. SOLUTION: In a lighting system for bicycle which automatically lights when it becomes darks and turns off when it becomes light by interposing an illuminance detection circuit 19 detecting surrounding brightness between a hub dynamo 6 to be a power source and a headlight 5 incorporated into a light case 1, the illuminance detection circuit 19, a bypass circuit 20 bypassing this circuit 19 and a selection switch 21 are provided with in a switch case 8 which is separated from the light case 1 and is mounted on a handle. Whether the headlight 5 is carried a current via the bypass circuit 20 or the headlight 5 is carried the current via the illuminance detection circuit 19 can be made to be selected by this selection switch 21. The selection switch 21 is convenient because it can be operated at hand.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lighting device for a bicycle, in which the brightness of the surroundings is detected by an optical sensor and the light is automatically turned on when it becomes dark and automatically turned off when it becomes bright.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a bicycle illuminating device which detects the brightness of the surroundings with an optical sensor and turns on automatically when it becomes dark and turns off automatically when it becomes bright is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-23380. As disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-26089, a battery using a dynamo as a power source is known.

[0003] When the surroundings are bright, such as during the daytime, the lighting device cannot be turned on even if the visibility is significantly reduced due to dense fog or the like, and it is impossible to inform the oncoming vehicle or the like of the position of the bicycle. There was a problem of lack of sex.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a highly safe bicycle lighting device which can be lit even when the surroundings are bright when the visibility is reduced due to dense fog or the like by a simple operation. The task is to

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an illuminance detecting circuit interposed between a power supply and a headlight for detecting the surrounding brightness by an optical sensor and conducting between the power supply and the headlight when dark. A bypass path for bypassing the illuminance detection circuit, a selection switch for selecting whether to turn on the headlamp through the bypass path or to turn on the light via the illuminance detection circuit, and setting the selection switch to the headlight. It is designed to be separated from the light case with the built-in lamp so that it can be operated at hand.

With this configuration, when the field of view is reduced due to dense fog or the like, the selection switch can be operated at hand to turn on the headlight via the bypass path regardless of the illuminance detection circuit.

In the present invention, preferably, the selection switch, the illuminance detection circuit, and the bypass are incorporated in a switch case separate from the light case.

[0008] With this configuration, the electric circuit section can be integrated in one place, which is convenient for wiring.

If the switch case can be mounted on the handle, the operation of the selection switch can be facilitated.

Further, according to the present invention, when a hub dynamo built in a bicycle hub is used as the power source, the hub dynamo also serves to detect the running of the bicycle, and the headlight becomes dark and only when the bicycle is running. Can be turned on.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes a lamp case mounted on a mounting piece 3 of a front fork 2 of a bicycle via a bracket 4, and a light bulb serving as a headlight 5 is built therein. Reference numeral 6 denotes a dynamo which is a power source for the headlamp 5 and uses a so-called hub dynamo provided in a hub of a front wheel 7 of the bicycle as the dynamo. Regarding the hub dynamo, see, for example,
It has a structure as seen in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-260, and its description is omitted here.

A switch case 8 is attached to a handle 10 via a bracket 9. The bracket 9
The handle 1 is composed of an upper bracket piece 11 and a lower bracket piece 12, one end of which is rotatably engaged 13 and the other end of which is fastened with a screw 14.
Tighten 0. The switch case 8 is configured by connecting the upper case 15 and the lower case 16 with screws 17.
The upper bracket 11 is fixed to the lower case 16.

The switch case 8 is provided with an optical sensor 18 for detecting the surrounding brightness, and between the headlight 5 and the power supply 6. Illuminance detection circuit 19 for conducting between the lamps 5
Or the bypass path 2 that bypasses the illuminance detection circuit 19
0, and an electric circuit section 22 including a selection switch 21 for selecting whether to turn on the headlight 5 via the bypass path 20 or to turn on the light via the illuminance detection circuit 19, and the like. A window 23 for taking in ambient light into the optical sensor 18 is formed in the lower case 16, and a slide knob 24 for operating the selection switch 21 is provided in the upper case 15. The slide knob 24 slides in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

FIG. 2 shows an electric circuit diagram. An illuminance detection circuit 19, a bypass path 20, and a selection switch 21 are built in the switch case 8, and the switch case 8 and the headlight 5 are connected by a cord 25, and the switch case 8 and the power supply 6 are connected by a cord 26. . The selection switch 21 selects between an “automatic” contact 27 and a “manual” contact 28,
The illuminance detection circuit 19 is connected to the contact 28, and the bypass 20 is connected to the “manual” contact 28.

Therefore, normally, the selection switch 21 is set to "automatic".
If the contact 27 is closed, the illuminance detection circuit 19 operates to conduct electricity when the surroundings become dark, and automatically turns on the headlight 5 and turns off the light when it becomes bright. Since the hub dynamo is used as the power supply 6, the light is turned on only when the bicycle is dark and running, and is turned off when the bicycle is stopped.

If the field of view is reduced due to dense fog or the like even though the surroundings are bright, the selection switch 21 is switched to a “manual” contact 28. Then, the headlight 5 is turned on via the bypass 20. That is, the light is turned on regardless of the illuminance detection circuit 19. Therefore, the position of the bicycle can be notified to the oncoming vehicle, which is excellent in safety.

At this time, since the selection switch 21 is provided on the switch case 8 attached to the handle 10, the operation is simple.

[0018]

According to the present invention, the selection switch for selecting whether to turn on the headlight through the bypass or the light through the illuminance detection circuit is separated from the light case containing the headlight. So that it can be operated at hand,
When the visibility is reduced due to dense fog or the like, the headlights can be turned on by a simple operation even when the surroundings are bright, and the position of the bicycle can be notified to the oncoming vehicle, which is excellent in safety.

If the selection switch, the illuminance detection circuit, and the bypass path are incorporated in a switch case separate from the light case, the electric circuit can be integrated in one place, which is convenient for wiring.

If the switch case containing the selection switch can be mounted on the handle, the operation of the selection switch can be simplified.

If a hub dynamo built in the hub of the bicycle is used as a power source, the hub dynamo also plays a role of detecting the running of the bicycle, and the headlight is turned on only when necessary, that is, when the bicycle is dark and the bicycle is running. Can be turned on.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a bicycle to which a lighting device of the present invention is attached.

FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram of the lighting device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a switch case of the lighting device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state where the switch case is attached to a handle.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view based on the line AA in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 6 Hub dynamo (power supply) 5 Headlight 18 Optical sensor 19 Illuminance detection circuit 20 Bypass path 21 Selection switch 1 Light case 8 Switch case

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A bypass for bypassing an illuminance detection circuit between a power supply and a headlight, wherein an illuminance detection circuit is provided for detecting ambient brightness by an optical sensor and conducting between the power supply and the headlight when darkened. And a selection switch for selecting whether to turn on the headlight through the bypass path or to turn on the light through the illuminance detection circuit, and separating the selection switch from the light case incorporating the headlight. A bicycle lighting device that can be operated at hand. 2. The bicycle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the selection switch, the illuminance detection circuit, and the bypass are incorporated in a switch case separate from the light case. 3. A lighting device for a bicycle according to claim 2, wherein said switch case can be mounted on a steering wheel. 4. The bicycle lighting device according to claim 2, wherein a hub dynamo built in a bicycle hub is used as the power source.