JPH1134730A - Headlamp switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To provide a headlamp switch device capable of forcibly lighting a headlamp without increasing cost and weight due to an increase in the number of parts and wiring. In a headlamp switch device for automatically turning on and off a headlamp by an illuminance sensor for detecting ambient brightness, an opening window formed in a lamp housing for guiding light to the illuminance sensor. Is opened and closed by the opening / closing lid 31. According to the present invention, when it is desired to light the bicycle or the like in order to enhance the visibility of the bicycle or the like at dusk or when the visibility is poor due to fog, etc., when the illuminance sensor 29 does not turn on the headlamp 8, the lamp housing If the opening window formed in the body 27 is covered with the opening / closing lid 31 and shielded from light, the illuminance becomes low and the illuminance sensor 29 turns on the headlamp 8, so that the same function as an electric switch is performed. This eliminates the need to increase the number of parts and wiring, thereby preventing cost and weight increases.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a headlamp switch device for automatically turning on and off a headlamp by an illuminance sensor for detecting ambient brightness.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, as a bicycle headlamp, a lamp in which ambient brightness is detected by an illuminance sensor and turned on or off automatically in order to reduce a burden on a rider has been widely put to practical use. .

However, in the above headlamp,
Even if you want to turn on the bicycle to improve visibility when it is dusk or when the visibility is poor due to fog, you have to run with the light turned off contrary to the intention of the rider, causing great inconvenience. May be forced.

Therefore, it is recommended that such a headlamp be provided with a switch for forcibly lighting the headlamp.

[0005]

However, when the above-mentioned switch is realized by opening and closing an electric circuit, there is a problem that an increase in the number of parts and an increase in wiring due to an increase in wiring are unavoidable. Further, if the electric switch is built in or separately provided from the lamp body, there is a problem that the weight is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to forcibly turn on a headlamp without incurring an increase in cost and weight due to an increase in the number of parts and wiring. It is an object of the present invention to provide a headlamp switch device that can perform the following.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a headlamp switch device for automatically turning on and off a headlamp by an illuminance sensor for detecting ambient brightness. An opening window formed in the lamp housing for guiding light to the sensor is opened and closed by an opening / closing lid.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the opening / closing lid is slid or rotated to hold a light receiving position for opening the opening window or a light shielding position for closing the opening window. It is characterized by the following.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a headlamp switch device for automatically turning on and off a headlamp by an illuminance sensor for detecting ambient brightness, wherein the illuminance sensor is movable and is set at a light receiving position or a light blocking position. It is characterized by holding it.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the illuminance sensor is rotatably supported in a lamp housing, and the illuminance sensor faces a path of light incident on the lamp housing. It is characterized in that it is held at a light receiving position or a light blocking position where it is retracted from the path of light.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in order to increase the visibility of the bicycle at dusk or when the visibility is poor due to fog or the like, the illuminance sensor does not turn on the headlamp. If you want to turn on the light, cover the opening window formed in the lamp housing with an open / close lid and shield it from light, the illuminance will be low, and the illuminance sensor will turn on the headlamp. This eliminates the need for an electric switch, thereby preventing an increase in cost and weight due to an increase in the number of parts and wiring.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the opening / closing lid in the first aspect becomes unnecessary, so that the number of parts is further reduced to further reduce the number of parts. Cost reduction and weight reduction can be achieved.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First invention] An embodiment of the first invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Embodiment 1> FIG. 1 is a side view of an electric bicycle 1 provided with a headlamp switch device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a head pipe located at an upper front part of a vehicle body. A handle stem 3 is rotatably inserted through the pipe 2. A handle 4 is attached to an upper end of the handle stem 3, and a front fork 5 is attached to a lower end of the handle stem 3. A front wheel 6 is rotatably mounted on a lower end of the front fork 5. Supported. A headlamp 8 is attached to a stay 7 which is fastened to the front fork 5 at an intermediate height position.

A part of the front wheel 6 is covered by a front fender 9. A front basket 10 is supported in front of the head pipe 2.

On the other hand, a main pipe 11 extends obliquely downward from the head pipe 2 toward the rear of the vehicle (to the right in FIG. 1), and extends from the rear end of the main pipe 11 to the rear of the vehicle. An auxiliary power unit 13 is attached to a connection portion with the seat tube 12 erected obliquely upward. The auxiliary power unit 13 is provided with a drive system using human power and a drive system using an electric motor 14. A crank shaft 15 is rotatably supported on the auxiliary power unit 13. , And a pedal 17 is pivotally supported at an end of each crank 16. The auxiliary power unit 13 includes a controller (not shown) in addition to the electric motor 14, and an upper half thereof is covered with a cover 18 made of resin.

A seat post 19 is fitted and held in the seat tube 12 so as to be vertically movable.
A seat (saddle) 20 is provided at the upper end of the seat post 19.
Is supported. A battery 21 that is attached to and detached from the auxiliary power unit 13 is provided obliquely upright along the seat tube 12 behind the seat tube 12.

On the other hand, a pair of left and right chain stays 22 extend substantially horizontally toward the rear of the vehicle body from the auxiliary power unit 13, and the rear end of the chain stay 22 is provided by a pair of left and right seat stays 23. The stays 22 and 23 are connected to the upper end of the seat tube 12.
A rear wheel 24 is rotatably supported at the connecting portion of the motor.
A part of the rear wheel 24 is covered by a rear fender 25, and the rear carrier 2 is located above the rear fender 25.
6 are provided.

Here, the configuration of the headlamp switch device 30 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
2 is a side view of the headlamp 8, FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the headlamp 8, FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion A in FIG. 3, and FIG. .

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the headlamp 8 is formed by covering a front opening of a lamp housing 27 with a lens 28, and a power supply is provided in a prism 27a of the lamp housing 27. A certain battery (not shown) is housed therein, and a lamp (bulb) and a reflector (not shown) are housed in a cylindrical portion 27b of the lamp housing 27.

By the way, the headlamp 8 according to the present embodiment is automatically turned on and off according to the surrounding brightness detected by the illuminance sensor 29 incorporated in the lamp housing 27. Specifically, when the surroundings are dark and the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 29 is equal to or less than a predetermined set value, the battery and the lamp are electrically connected, and the lamp is automatically turned on. Becomes brighter and the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 29 exceeds a set value, the electrical connection between the battery and the lamp is cut off, and the lamp is automatically turned off.

In the present embodiment, a headlamp switch device 30 capable of forcibly turning on or off the headlamp 8 according to a user's intention is provided. Oval opening window 27c formed on the bottom surface of lamp housing 27
It is configured to include a rectangular plate-shaped opening / closing lid 31 that opens and closes. The opening window 27c is connected to the illuminance sensor 29.
Although this is for guiding outside light to the
The illuminance sensor 29 is fitted into the opening window 27c, and the bottom surface of the illuminance sensor 29 forms the same plane as the bottom surface of the prismatic portion 27a of the lamp housing 27.

The opening / closing lid 31 slides the bottom surface of the lamp housing 27 in the front-rear direction (the direction of the arrow in FIGS. 4 and 5) to open and close the opening window 27c. It is housed in a thin rectangular box-shaped housing portion 32 provided on the bottom surface, and a handle 31a is integrally provided at a free end thereof so as to protrude downward.

When the opening / closing lid 31 is stored in the storage section 32, the opening window 27c and the illuminance sensor 29 are in an open state, and the illuminance sensor 29 detects the surrounding brightness, and Thus, the head lamp 8 is automatically turned on or off.

When the ambient illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 29 is equal to or less than the set value,
The headlamp switch according to the present invention is used when it is desired to turn on the headlamp 8 in order to enhance the visibility of the running electric bicycle 1 at dusk or when the visibility is poor due to fog, etc. The head lamp 8 can be forcibly turned on by the device 30.

That is, the user grips the handle 31a of the opening / closing lid 31 housed in the housing part 32 and pulls it forward, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 5, if the opening window 27c formed on the bottom surface of the lamp housing 27 is covered with this opening / closing lid 31 to shield light, the inside of the lamp housing 27 has a low illuminance. The illuminance sensor 29 turns on the headlamp 8 although it is higher than the value for turning on the headlamp 8. As a result, the headlamp switch device 30 according to the present invention performs the same function as the electric switch, so that the electric switch becomes unnecessary, the number of parts and wiring are reduced, and the cost and weight are reduced.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the first invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a cutaway side view of the headlamp 8 including the headlamp switch device 30 according to the second embodiment of the first invention, and FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the headlamp 8; The same elements as those shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted below.

In this embodiment, the headlamp switch device 30 includes a rotary opening / closing lid 33 that rotates horizontally in the lamp housing 27 to open and close the opening window 27c. The opening / closing lid 33 is connected to an upper end of the shaft 34 supported by the lamp housing 27 and facing the inside of the lamp housing 27. A lever 35 is provided at a lower end of the shaft 34 extending outside the lamp housing 27. It is bound horizontally. And lever 35
A columnar projection 35a protrudes from the upper surface of the end of
90 ° angle about axis 34 on the bottom of lamp housing 27
The engagement holes 27d and 27e for the projection 35a to selectively engage with are formed at the positions where.

When the lever 35 is at the position indicated by the solid line in the drawing and the protrusion 35a protruding therefrom is engaged with one of the engagement holes 27d formed in the lamp housing 27,
The opening / closing lid 33 is located at the light receiving position and is retracted from the opening window 27c. Therefore, in this state, the opening window 27c is opened, and the illuminance sensor 29 detects the surrounding brightness and turns on the headlamp 8 automatically. Or turn off.

Even if the surrounding illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 29 does not lead to the lighting of the headlamp 8, if necessary, the headlamp switch device 30 according to the present invention provides the headlamp switch 30. 8 can be forcibly turned on.

That is, the lever 35 at the position indicated by the solid line in the figure is rotated about the shaft 34 by an angle of 90 ° counterclockwise in FIG.
6 and 7, the opening / closing lid 33 moves to the light-shielding position and closes the opening window 27c to shield the light, as shown by the chain line in FIGS. ,
As in the first embodiment, the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 29 indicates a low value, and the illuminance sensor 29 turns on the headlamp 8. As a result, the headlamp switch device 30 according to the present embodiment also performs the same function as the electric switch, and the electric switch is not required.
As in the first embodiment, the number of parts and the number of wirings are reduced, so that cost reduction and weight reduction are achieved. [Second Invention] Next, an embodiment of the second invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a cutaway side view of the headlamp 8 including the headlamp switch device 30 according to the second invention. In this figure, the same elements as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Hereinafter, the description thereof will be omitted.

The headlamp switch device 3 according to the present invention
0 is different from the first invention in that the illuminance sensor 29 is movable and is held at a light receiving position or a light blocking position.

That is, in this embodiment, the head lamp 8
A shaft 36 is horizontally supported on the side of the lamp housing 27, and an illuminance sensor 29 is provided at one end of the shaft 36 facing the inside of the lamp housing 27.
A lever 37 is attached to the other end of the shaft 36 extending outside the lamp housing 27 in a direction perpendicular to the shaft.

Thus, the lever 37 is located at the position indicated by the solid line (light receiving position) in the figure, and the illuminance sensor 29 supported by the shaft 36 faces the opening window 27c and enters the lamp housing 27 through the opening window 27c. Illuminance sensor 2 on the traveling path L (light path)
In a state where 9 is located, the surrounding illuminance is detected by the illuminance sensor 29, and the headlamp 8 is automatically turned on or off based on the detected illuminance.

Even if the surrounding illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 29 does not lead to the lighting of the headlamp 8, if necessary, the headlamp switch device 30 according to the present invention provides the headlamp switch device 30. 8 can be forcibly turned on.

That is, the lever 37 at the position indicated by the solid line in the figure is rotated clockwise in FIG. 8 by an angle of 90 ° about the shaft 36, and the illuminance sensor 29 supported on the shaft 36 is opened.
The light sensor 29 is held at a light-shielding position where it is retracted from the path L of light entering the lamp housing 37 from the illuminance sensor 29.
The illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 2 indicates a low value, and the illuminance sensor 2
9 turns on the headlamp 8. As a result, the headlamp switch device 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention also performs the same function as the electric switch and does not require an electric switch, so that the number of parts and wiring are reduced as in the first invention. In addition to cost reduction and weight reduction, the opening and closing lids 31 and 33 used in the first invention are not required, so that the number of parts can be further reduced, and further cost reduction and weight reduction can be achieved.

The above description has been given of the case where the present invention is applied to a battery-type lamp switch that lights up using a battery built in itself. However, the present invention relates to a drive unit for an auxiliary power unit mounted on an electric bicycle. It can also be applied to a battery-type headlamp that is turned on using a battery for power supply. In this case, the illuminance sensor 29 and the headlamp switch device do not need to be installed in the lamp housing 27, but are installed in a main switch box 40 installed on the main pipe 11 of the electric bicycle 1 as shown in FIG. Alternatively, it may be installed near the upper part of the handle stem 3. This improves the operability of the switch.

The present invention can of course be similarly applied to a dynamo type headlamp provided in a normal bicycle other than the electric bicycle.

[0039]

As is apparent from the above description, claim 1
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the illuminance sensor does not turn on the headlamp at dawn or when the visibility is poor due to fog, etc. If the opening window formed in the lamp housing is covered with an open / close lid and shielded from light, the illuminance will be in a low state and the illuminance sensor will turn on the headlamp. As a result, an increase in cost and weight due to an increase in the number of parts and wiring is prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the opening / closing lid in the first aspect is not required, so that the number of parts is further reduced to further reduce the number of parts. Cost reduction and weight reduction can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an electric bicycle including a headlamp switch device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a headlamp provided with the headlamp switch device according to Embodiment 1 of the first invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the headlamp provided with the headlamp switch device according to Embodiment 1 of the first invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cutaway side view of a headlamp provided with a headlamp switch device according to Embodiment 2 of the first invention.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a headlamp provided with a headlamp switch device according to Embodiment 2 of the first invention.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway side view of a headlamp provided with the headlamp switch device according to the second invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an electric bicycle showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 8 headlamp 27 lamp housing 27c opening window 29 illuminance sensor 30 headlamp switch device 31, 33 opening / closing lid L light path (optical path)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A headlamp switch device for automatically turning on and off a headlamp by an illuminance sensor for detecting ambient brightness, wherein an opening window formed in a lamp housing is opened and closed to guide light to the illuminance sensor. A headlamp switch device characterized in that the headlamp switch device is configured to be opened and closed by a switch. 2. The headlamp switch device according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing lid is slid or rotated to hold a light receiving position for opening the opening window or a light blocking position for closing the opening window. . 3. A headlamp switch device for automatically turning on and off a headlamp by an illuminance sensor for detecting ambient brightness, wherein the illuminance sensor is movable and held at a light receiving position or a light blocking position. A headlamp switch device characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. The illuminance sensor is rotatably supported in a lamp housing, and the illuminance sensor is held at a light receiving position facing a path of light incident on the lamp housing or a light shielding position retracting from the path of light. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein
The headlamp switch device according to the above.