Modular bicycle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9381973-B2
Application number	US-201514637634-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2015
Priority date	Jul 17, 2014
Publication date	Jul 5, 2016
Grant date	Jul 5, 2016

Abstract

An e-bike center module includes a substantially straight first center module connecting surface that is releasably connectable to a substantially straight front module connecting surface. A substantially straight second center module connecting surface is releasably connectable to a substantially straight rear module connecting surface. the center module is part of a bicycle frame when the first center module connecting surface is connected to the front module connecting surface and the second center module connecting surface is connected to the rear module connecting surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising an e-bike center module, wherein the center module includes:
at least two center module connecting surfaces including first and second center module connecting surfaces, each of the at least two center module connecting surfaces defining respective connecting surface lines, wherein all connecting surface lines of the center module are in a same plane;
wherein the first center module connecting surface is releasably connectable to a substantially straight front module connecting surface, and the second center module connecting surface is releasably connectable to a substantially straight rear module connecting surface; and
further wherein the center module is part of a bicycle frame when the first center module connecting surface is connected to the front module connecting surface and the second center module connecting surface is connected to the rear module connecting surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a front module that includes the front module connecting surface and a rear module that includes the rear module connecting surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a second front module having a substantially straight second front module connecting surface, whereby the front module and the second front module are interchangeable for connection to the center module.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a second rear module having a substantially straight second rear module connecting surface, whereby the rear module and the second rear module are interchangeable for connection to the center module.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the front module includes a quick-release and locking mechanism for securing and releasing the front module with respect to the center module.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the rear module includes a quick-release and locking mechanism for securing and releasing the rear module with respect to the center module.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a connector to link the front module and the rear module, whereby the apparatus may be configured in a towable mode.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the connecting surfaces includes an electrical connection.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the front module includes at least one first wheel and the rear module includes at least one second wheel.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a quick-release connector for connecting the first wheel and the second wheel.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the center module includes a removable battery.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the battery includes an opening to accommodate a security mechanism.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the center module includes a seat configured to rotate upon an axis for removal and insertion of the battery.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first center module connecting surface is slidably connectable to the front module connecting surface, and the second center module connecting surface is slidably connectable to the rear module connecting surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the center module includes an electric motor connected to a driveshaft.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the driveshaft is linked to a first gear via at least one first one-way clutch, and pedal crank arms are connect to a second gear via at least one second one-way clutch.

17. An apparatus, comprising an e-bike center module, wherein the center module includes:
a substantially straight first center module connecting surface that is releasably connectable to a substantially straight front module connecting surface; and
a substantially straight second center module connecting surface that is releasably connectable to a substantially straight rear module connecting surface;
wherein the center module is part of a bicycle frame when the first center module connecting surface is connected to the front module connecting surface and the second center module connecting surface is connected to the rear module connecting surface; and
further wherein the center module includes an electric motor.

18. An apparatus, comprising an e-bike center module, wherein the center module includes:
a substantially straight first center module connecting surface that is releasably connectable to a substantially straight front module connecting surface; and
a substantially straight second center module connecting surface that is releasably connectable to a substantially straight rear module connecting surface;
wherein the center module is part of a bicycle frame when the first center module connecting surface is connected to the front module connecting surface and the second center module connecting surface is connected to the rear module connecting surface; and
further wherein the center module includes a removable battery.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Williams Bruce Preston

Classifications

• B62K15/006

  the frame being foldable · CPC title

• B62K19/16

  the material being wholly or mainly of plastics · CPC title

• B62K19/04

  the material being wholly or mainly metallic, e.g. of high elasticity · CPC title

• B62M6/90

  Batteries · CPC title

• B62K3/04

  having a substantially horizontal top bar · CPC title