Foldable bicycle and storage system for the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11180214-B2
Application number	US-201616073451-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2016
Priority date	Jan 27, 2016
Publication date	Nov 23, 2021
Grant date	Nov 23, 2021

Abstract

A system includes a bicycle and a container including an opening. The bicycle is movable between an unfolded position and a folded position. The system includes a first member supported by the container in the container and positioned to engage the bicycle, and a second member supported by the container in the container and positioned to engage the bicycle spaced from the first member. The first member is movable relative to the second member toward and away from the opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a bicycle movable between an unfolded position and a folded position;
a container including an opening;
a first member supported by the container in the container and positioned to engage the bicycle;
a second member supported by the container in the container and positioned to engage the bicycle spaced from the first member;
the first member being movable relative to the second member toward and away from the opening; and
a processing device programmed to output a signal to move the bicycle from the unfolded position to the folded position when the bicycle is engaged with the first member.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container is sized to receive the bicycle in the folded position.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the container is smaller than the bicycle in the unfolded position.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second member is fixed relative to the container.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first member includes a base fixed to the container and an arm extendable from the base.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the processing device is programmed to move the first member away from the opening and to power a motor of the bicycle when the first member moves away from the opening.

7. The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the bicycle includes a signal interface and one of the first member and the second member includes a signal interface positioned to communicate with the signal interface of the bicycle.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bicycle includes a first segment engageable with the second member, a second segment moveable relative to the first segment between the folded position and the unfolded position, and a cable engaged with the second segment, the first member supporting a retraction motor engageable with the cable.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the signal includes at least a signal to a motor of the bicycle to power the motor.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the container includes a motor coupled to the first member and wherein the signal includes at least a signal to the motor of the container to move the first member relative to the container.

11. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first member supports a retraction motor positioned to engage a cable on the bicycle, and wherein the signal includes at least a signal to the retraction motor to retract the cable.

12. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the container includes a motor coupled to the first member and wherein the signal includes at least a signal to the motor of the container to move the first member relative to the container.

13. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first member includes a signal interface positioned to communicate with a signal interface of the bicycle.

14. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the processing device is programmed to output a signal to charge a battery of the bicycle.

15. A system comprising:
a bicycle movable between an unfolded position and a folded position;
a container including an opening;
a first member supported by the container in the container and positioned to engage the bicycle;
a second member supported by the container in the container and positioned to engage the bicycle spaced from the first member;
the first member being movable relative to the second member toward and away from the opening; and
a processing device programmed to move the first member away from the opening and to power a motor of the bicycle when the first member moves away from the opening.

16. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the bicycle includes a signal interface and one of the first member and the second member includes a signal interface positioned to communicate with the signal interface of the bicycle.

17. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the container is sized to receive the bicycle in the folded position.

18. A system comprising:
a bicycle movable between an unfolded position and a folded position;
a container including an opening;
a first member supported by the container in the container and positioned to engage the bicycle;
a second member supported by the container in the container and positioned to engage the bicycle spaced from the first member;
the first member being movable relative to the second member toward and away from the opening; and
the bicycle including a first segment engageable with the second member, a second segment moveable relative to the first segment between the folded position and the unfolded position, and a cable engaged with the second segment, the first member supporting a retraction motor engageable with the cable.

19. The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the container is sized to receive the bicycle in the folded position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Thompson Thomas Robert George
• Wraith Paul Jonathan Alexander

Classifications

• B62H3/00 Primary

  Separate supports or holders for parking or storing cycles (cycle supports used during maintenance B25H; building aspects E04H) · CPC title

• B62K15/006 Primary

  the frame being foldable · CPC title

• B62M6/55

  power-driven at crank shafts parts · CPC title

• B62J9/24

  on specially adapted racks, e.g. for top or side cases · CPC title

• B62K15/008 Primary

  foldable about 2 or more axes · CPC title