Description:TITLE OF THE INVENTION: A BULWARKING APPARATUS FOR A LOCOMOTORY DEVICE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure is generally related to locomotory devices. Particularly, the present disclosure is related apparatuses, in respect of locomotory devices (apparatuses, for locomotory devices). More particularly, the present disclosure is related to: a bulwarking apparatus, in respect of a locomotory device (a bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bulwarking apparatuses, in respect of locomotory devices, are known in the art. However, such apparatuses suffer from various drawbacks, including, but not limited to: complex construction, as a result of which, they are expensive; environmental factors (water, dust, and/or the like) affecting efficiency; and/or the like.
As per a report, from the Guide Dogs Association, accidents involving pedestrians with sight loss are about 40% more likely, in case of quiet hybrid cars or electric cars (as compared, with other types of vehicles). Further, between 2012 and 2013, pedestrian injuries, in accidents involving quiet hybrid cars or electric cars, increased, by about 54%.
Though the above data pertains to four wheelers, it goes without saying that the same is applicable to two wheelers, as well.
There is, therefore, a need in the art, for: bulwarking apparatus, in respect of a locomotory device, which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and shortcomings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device, is disclosed. Said apparatus is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) a locomotory device, for example, at a front portion of said locomotory device (for example, adjacent to a speedometer, in proximity to a speedometer, and/or the like).
Said apparatus broadly comprises: an unveiling member; a plurality of user selectable members; a connecting member; a chimes generating member; an update facilitating member; an at least a chimes presenting member; a chimes presenting member controlling member; and an at least a gripping member.
Information is displayed, to a rider of said locomotory device (or a user of said locomotory device, or a user of said apparatus), through (or with) said unveiling member, which functions as a user interface. Said user may interact with said apparatus, through (or with) said unveiling member. Said user configures said apparatus, through (or with) said plurality of user selectable members, with communication being established, through (or with) said connecting member.
Through (or with) said connecting member, said apparatus may communicate with other components of said locomotory device. Thus, data (speed, vehicle mode, throttle position, and/or the like) may be collected.
Chimes are generated, by said apparatus, through (or with) said chimes generating member. For example, said chimes generating member broadly comprises a plurality of pre-recorded chimes.
Said pre-recorded chimes are updated and/or modified, through (or with) said update facilitating member. Alternatively, or in addition, said user may add additional chimes, through (or with) said update facilitating member.
Said generated chimes are presented, by said apparatus, through (or with) said at least one chimes presenting member. Disposition of said at least one chimes presenting member ensures stability and minimises vibrations. Further, said disposition of said at least one chimes presenting member helps avoid interferences (in respect of said locomotory device’s other components).
Said at least one chimes presenting member is controlled, by said chimes presenting member controlling member.
Said at least one gripping member is configured to monitor and control said apparatus’s operations. Said at least one gripping member is communicatively associated with at least: said plurality of user selectable members; said unveiling member; said connecting member; said at least one chimes presenting member; said chimes generating member; and/or said chimes presenting member controlling member. Said at least one gripping member may also be communicatively associated with other components of said apparatus and/or said locomotory device.
Said at least one gripping member controls said apparatus, based on said locomotory device’s speed. Through (or with) said plurality of user selectable members, said user may configure speed ranges, for different modes of said locomotory device (if available), and corresponding chimes.
The disclosed apparatus offers at least the following advantages: allows pedestrians to quickly determine an approaching state of said locomotory device; is simple in construction; provides for an immersive experience; does not affect said locomotory device’s aesthetic; and/or may be configured to be retrofitted (onto existing locomotory devices).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates one view, of a bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates another view, of a bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates an at least a gripping member, of a bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 4 illustrates associations of an at least a gripping member, of a bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Throughout this specification, the use of the words “comprise” and “include”, and variations, such as “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, and “including”, may imply the inclusion of an element (or elements) not specifically recited. Further, the disclosed embodiments may be embodied, in various other forms, as well.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “apparatus” is to be construed as: “a set of technical components (also referred to as “members”) that are communicatively and/or operably associated with each other, and function together, as part of a mechanism, to achieve a desired technical result”.
Throughout this specification, the use of the words “communication”, “couple”, and their variations (such as communicatively), is to be construed as being inclusive of: one-way communication (or coupling); and two-way communication (or coupling), as the case may be, irrespective of the directions of arrows, in the drawings.
Throughout this specification, where applicable, the use of the phrase “at least” is to be construed in association with the suffix “one” i.e. it is to be read along with the suffix “one”, as “at least one”, which is used in the meaning of “one or more”. A person skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that the phrase “at least one” is a standard term that is used, in Patent Specifications, to denote any component of a disclosure, which may be present (or disposed) in a single quantity, or more than a single quantity.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “plurality” is to be construed as being inclusive of: “at least one”.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “bulwarking”, and its variations, is to be construed as: “safety; shielding; guarding; protecting; safeguarding; and/or the like” The bulwarking may be, for example, with respect to persons onboard a locomotory device that is being driven. Alternatively, or in addition, the bulwarking may be with respect to pedestrians.
Throughout this specification, the use of the phrase “locomotory device”, and its variations, is to be construed as: “electric vehicles; hybrid vehicles; and/or the like” For example, the electric vehicle is a two wheeled electric vehicle, for example, an electric motorcycle.
Throughout this specification, the use of the phrase “bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device” is to be construed as: “safety apparatus, for a locomotory device; protecting apparatus, for a locomotory device; safeguarding apparatus, for a locomotory device; and/or the like”.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “gripping”, and its variations, is to be construed as: “monitoring; controlling; and/or the like, by a bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device”.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “unveiling”, and its variations, is to be construed as: “displaying; and/or the like”.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “chimes”, and its variations, is to be construed as: “sound; sounds; audio; and/or the like”.
Throughout this specification, the words “the” and “said” are used interchangeably.
Throughout this specification, the phrases “at least a”, “at least an”, and “at least one” are used interchangeably.
Throughout this specification, the disclosure of a range is to be construed as being inclusive of: the lower limit of the range; and the upper limit of the range.
Also, it is to be noted that embodiments may be described as a method. Although the operations, in a method, are described as a sequential process, many of the operations may be performed in parallel, concurrently, or simultaneously. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A method may be terminated, when its operations are completed, but may also have additional steps.
A bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device (also referred to as “apparatus”), is disclosed. The apparatus is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) a locomotory device, for example, at a front portion of the locomotory device (for example, adjacent to a speedometer, in proximity to a speedometer, and/or the like).
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated, in Figure 1 and Figure 2, said apparatus broadly comprises an unveiling member (4; for example, a TFT LCD display, with a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits). The unveiling member (4) functions as a user interface, and displays information, to a rider of said locomotory device (or a user of the locomotory device, or a user of the apparatus).
The unveiling member (4) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) the apparatus, for example, at a front central portion of the apparatus. The user may interact with the apparatus, through (or with) the unveiling member (4).
For example, the information may pertain to user selections, which are performed, through (or with) a plurality of user selectable members (3; for example, buttons). The plurality of user selectable members (3) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) the apparatus, for example, at a front bottom portion of the apparatus, below the unveiling member (4).
Input communication, output communication, and CAN (controller area network) communication (and/or the like) are achieved, through (or with) a connecting member (5; for example, a 14 pin I/O male connector). The connecting member (5) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) the apparatus, for example, at a top rear portion of the apparatus.
Through (or with) the CAN communication of the connecting member (5), the apparatus may communicate with other components of the locomotory device, which have CAN communication capabilities. Thus, data (speed, vehicle mode, throttle position, and/or the like) may be collected. A person skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that several components of modern-day locomotory devices are equipped with CAN communication or similar capabilities.
Chimes are generated, by the apparatus, through (or with) a chimes generating member (7). For example, the chimes generating member (7) broadly comprises a plurality of pre-recorded chimes. The chimes generating member (7) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) the apparatus, for example, below the connecting member (5), at a right hand side rear portion of the apparatus.
The pre-recorded chimes are updated and/or modified, for example, through (or with) an update facilitating member (10; for example, a 4G/5G LTE system, which facilitates over-the-air updates). The update facilitating member (10) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) the apparatus, for example, adjacent to (or in proximity to) the chimes generating member (7).
Alternatively, or in addition, the user may add additional chimes, through (or with) the update facilitating member (10).
The generated chimes are presented, by the apparatus, through (or with) an at least a chimes presenting member (6; for example, a speaker). The at least one chimes presenting member (6) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) the apparatus, for example, below the connecting member (5), at a left hand side rear portion of the apparatus. This disposition of the at least one chimes presenting member (6) ensures stability and minimises vibrations.
Further, this disposition of the at least one chimes presenting member (6) helps avoid interferences (in respect of the locomotory device’s other components). The at least one chimes presenting member (6) is controlled, for example, by a chimes presenting member controlling member (8; for example, a speaker controlling member), which may be of any suitable type known in the art, and increases volume of the generated chimes that are presented, by the at least one chimes presenting member (6).
The chimes presenting member controlling member (8) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) the apparatus, for example, below the connecting member (5), at a rear central portion of the apparatus. A person skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that wiring connections may be appropriately routed and concealed, maintaining a clean and organised appearance.
As illustrated, in Figure 3 and Figure 4, an at least a gripping member (9; for example, a microcontroller) is configured to monitor and control the apparatus’s operations. The at least one gripping member (9) is communicatively associated with at least: the plurality of user selectable members (3); the unveiling member (4); the connecting member (5); the at least one chimes presenting member (6); the chimes generating member (7); and/or the chimes presenting member controlling member (8).
The at least one gripping member (9) may also be communicatively associated with other components of the apparatus and/or the locomotory device (for example, the vehicle control unit). In Figure 4, Reference Numeral 11 denotes Bluetooth.
The at least one gripping member (9) receives inputs, from at least: the plurality of user selectable members (3); and/or the connecting member (5).
Based on the received inputs, the at least one gripping member (9) transmits instructions (signals), to at least: the unveiling member (4); the at least one chimes presenting member (6); the chimes generating member (7); and/or the chimes presenting member controlling member (8).
The at least one gripping member (9) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) the apparatus, for example, below the chimes generating member (7) and/or the chimes presenting member controlling member (8), at a right hand side rear portion of the apparatus.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one chimes presenting member (6) and the chimes generating member (7) are disposed on the at least one gripping member (9).
The apparatus may receive power, from (or through) a power supplying member. For example, the power supplying member is the locomotory device’s rechargeable battery. Alternatively, the power supplying member is another rechargeable battery.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one gripping member (9) controls the apparatus, based on the locomotory device’s speed, as taken, by (or through) the connecting member (5). Through (or with) the plurality of user selectable members (3), the user may configure speed ranges, for different modes of the locomotory device (if available), and corresponding chimes.
For example, a user-configured setting (that is set through (or with) the plurality of user selectable members (3)) or a default setting may be as follows:
If the at least one gripping member (9) detects that the locomotory device’s speed is above about 30 km/h, the at least one gripping member (9) transmits instructions, to the chimes generating member (7), to generate the chimes, based on the user selections or the default selections.
The generated chimes are presented, by the apparatus, through (or with) the at least one chimes presenting member (6). When the speed ranges between about 30 km/h and about 100 km/h, the at least one gripping member (9) transmits instructions, to the apparatus, to increase the decibel levels, by about 0.5 dB, for every speed increase of about 0.5 km/h.
At the speed of about 30 km/h, the decibel levels are about 30 dB. On the other hand, at the speed of about 100 km/h, the decibel levels are about 100 dB.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, as the speed increases, the generated chimes may transition, from a low growl to a high-pitched whine.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the apparatus comprises a plurality of indicators (1 and 2). For example, one indicator (1), among the plurality of indicators (1 and 2), pertains to battery-level indications (for example, overheating). Said one indicator (1) is disposed on a left hand side front portion of the apparatus (or is disposed at a left hand side front portion of the apparatus or is associated with a left hand side front portion of the apparatus).
Likewise, for example, another indicator (2), among the plurality of indicators (1 and 2), pertains to charge-level indications. Said another indicator (2) is disposed on a right hand side front portion of the apparatus (or is disposed at a right hand side front portion of the apparatus or is associated with a right hand side front portion of the apparatus).
The disclosed apparatus offers at least the following advantages: allows pedestrians to quickly determine an approaching state of said locomotory device; is simple in construction; provides for an immersive experience; does not affect said locomotory device’s aesthetic; and/or may be configured to be retrofitted (onto existing locomotory devices).
A person skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that the apparatus, and its various components, may be made of any suitable materials known in the art. Likewise, a person skilled in the art will also appreciate the fact that the configurations of the apparatus, and its various components, may be varied, based on requirements.
The above description pertains to an electric motorcycle. However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that the apparatus may be adapted to (or may be configured for) other types of electric vehicles, as well.
Implementation of the disclosure can involve performing or completing selected tasks manually, automatically, or a combination thereof. Further, according to actual instrumentation of the disclosure, several selected tasks could be implemented, by hardware, by software, by firmware, or by a combination thereof, using an operating system. For example, as software, selected tasks according to the disclosure could be implemented, as a plurality of software instructions being executed, by a computing device, using any suitable operating system.
In yet another embodiment of the disclosure, one or more tasks, according to embodiments of the disclosure, is (or are) performed, by a data processor, such as a computing platform, for executing a plurality of instructions. Further, the data processor includes a processor, and/or non-transitory computer-readable medium, for storing instructions and/or data, and/or a non-volatile storage, for storing instructions and/or data. A network connection, a display, and/or a user input device, such as a keyboard (or mouse), are also provided.
It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the above description is for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting. Various modifications, additions, alterations, and improvements, without deviating from the spirit and the scope of the disclosure, may be made, by a person skilled in the art. Such modifications, additions, alterations, and improvements, should be construed as being within the scope of this disclosure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
1 and 2 - Plurality of Indicators
1 - One Indicator
2 - Another Indicator
3 - Plurality of User Selectable Members
4 - Unveiling Member
5 - Connecting Member
6 - At Least One Chimes Presenting Member
7 - Chimes Generating Member
8 - Chimes Presenting Member Controlling Member
9 - At Least One Gripping Member
10 - Update Facilitating Member
11 - Bluetooth
, Claims:1. A bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device, said apparatus comprising:
an unveiling member (4), with information being displayed, to a user, through said unveiling member (4);
a plurality of user selectable members (3), with said user configuring said apparatus, through said plurality of user selectable members (3);
a connecting member (5), with communication being established, through said connecting member (5);
a chimes generating member (7) that comprises a plurality of pre-recorded chimes;
an update facilitating member (10), with said pre-recorded chimes being updated, through said update facilitating member (10);
an at least a chimes presenting member (6) that presents chimes that are generated, by said chimes generating member (7), said chimes being generated, based on instructions that are transmitted, by an at least a gripping member (9);
a chimes presenting member controlling member (8) that controls said at least one chimes presenting member (6); and
said at least one gripping member (9) that is configured to monitor and control said apparatus’s operations, based on: a locomotory device’s speed; and a user-configured setting or a default setting.
2. The bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said communication is controller area network communication.
3. The bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said unveiling member (4) is a TFT LCD display, with a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits.
4. The bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said user adds additional chimes, through said update facilitating member (10).
5. The bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said at least one gripping member (9) is a microcontroller.
6. The bulwarking apparatus, for a locomotory device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said locomotory device is an electric motorcycle.