Electric bicycle and battery lift mechanism and battery carrying device thereof

• US 10,183,591 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2016
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Darad Innovation Corporation
• Original Assignee: Darfon Electronics Company Limited (Darfon Electronics Corporation), Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Shieh, Yu-Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stabley, Michael R
• Application Number:
  US15/380,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20170174095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/40 for attaching accessories, e.g. article carriers, lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/286 the shock absorber being connected to the chain-stay via a linkage mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/30 pivoted on pedal crank shelf B62K25/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/40 Rider propelled cycles with auxiliary electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An electric bicycle and a battery lift mechanism and a battery carrying device thereof are disclosed. The battery lift mechanism includes a bracket, a carrier for carrying a battery, an upward-force device coupling with the carrier, and a locking device selectively in an unlocked state or a locked state. The carrier is movable relative to the bracket along an up-down path; the upward-force device is capable of applying an upward force to the carrier. When the locking device is in the locked state, the locking device interferes with the battery to limit the relative movement between the battery and the bracket. When the locking device is in the unlocked state, the interference between the locking device and the battery is removed, so that the upward-force device drives the carrier carrying the battery to move upward relative to the bracket.

Claims

1. A battery carrying device for carrying a battery, comprising:

a carrier for carrying the battery, the battery movable along an in-out path to be removed from the carrier;

a stopper selectively blocking or unblocking the in-out path;

a lock body selectively in an unlocked state or in a locked state; and

an engaging member movable relative to the lock body in response to the unlocked state or the locked state of the lock body, the engaging member comprising a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion corresponding to the battery and the stopper, respectively;

wherein when the lock body is in the locked state, the first engaging portion interferes with the battery to restrict the battery to move along the in-out path, and the second engaging portion interferes with the stopper, so that stopper maintains blocking the in-out path;

wherein when the lock body is in the unlocked state, the interference of the first engaging portion with the battery and the interference of the second engaging portion with the stopper are released to allow the battery to move along the in-out path.

2. The battery carrying device of claim 1, further comprising a tongue moveably coupling with the lock body, wherein when the lock body is in the locked state, the tongue extends out the lock body in response to the locked state of the lock body to push the engaging member forward, so the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion interfere with the battery and the stopper, respectively;

when the lock body is in the unlocked state, the tongue retracts into the lock body to release the interference of the first engaging portion with the battery and the interference of the second engaging portion with the stopper.

3. The battery carrying device of claim 1, further comprising a cushion disposed on the stopper, wherein when the stopper blocks the in-out path, the cushion is pressed against the battery.

4. An electric bicycle, comprising:

a frame; and

a battery carrying device mounted on the frame, the battery carrying device comprising;

a carrier for carrying a battery, the battery movable along an in-out path to be removed from the carrier;

a stopper movably mounted on the frame to selectively block or unblock the in-out path;

a lock body selectively in an unlocked state or in a locked state; and

an engaging member movable relative to the lock body in response to the unlocked state or the locked state of the lock body, the engaging member comprising a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion corresponding to the battery and the stopper, respectively;

wherein when the lock body is in the locked state, the first engaging portion interferes with the battery to restrict the battery to move along the in-out path, and the second engaging portion interferes with the stopper, so the stopper maintains blocking the in-out path;

wherein when the lock body is in the unlocked state, the interference of the first engaging portion with the battery and the interference of the second engaging portion with the stopper are released to allow the battery to move along the in-out path.

5. The electric bicycle of claim 4, wherein the stopper is a cover;

when the lock body is in the locked state, the cover blocks the in-out path;

when the lock body is in the unlocked state, the cover is rotatable relative to the frame to allow the battery to move in and out the carrier.

6. The electric bicycle of claim 4, further comprising a tongue moveably coupling with the lock body, wherein when the lock body is in the locked state, the tongue extends out the lock body to push the engaging member forward, so the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion interfere with the battery and the stopper, respectively;

when the lock body is in the unlocked state, the tongue retracts into the lock body to release the interference of the first engaging portion with the battery and the interference of the second engaging portion with the stopper.

7. The electric bicycle of claim 4, further comprising a cushion disposed on the stopper, wherein when the stopper blocks the in-out path, the cushion is pressed against the battery.

8. An electric bicycle, comprising:

a frame; and

a battery disposed on the frame, the battery movable along an in-out path to be removed from the frame;

a stopper movably mounted on the frame to selectively block or unblock the in-out path;

a lock body mounted on the frame, the lock body selectively in an unlocked state or in a locked state; and

an engaging member disposed corresponding to the lock body, the engaging member comprising a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion respectively corresponding to the battery and the stopper, the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion movable relative to the lock body in response to the unlocked state or the locked state of the lock body;

wherein when the lock body transfers from the unlocked state to the locked state, the first engaging portion approaches the in-out path to interfere with the battery and restrict the battery to move along the in-out path, and the second engaging portion approaches the stopper to interfere with the stopper, so the stopper maintains blocking the in-out path;

wherein when the lock body transfers from the locked state to the unlocked state, the first engaging portion moves away from the in-out path and the second engaging portion moves away from the stopper, so the interference of the first engaging portion with the battery and the interference of the second engaging portion with the stopper are released to allow the battery to move along the in-out path.

9. The electric bicycle of claim 8, wherein the frame comprises an upper tube and a lower tube;

the upper tube has a front end, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole penetrating the upper tube;

the lower tube is connected to the lower surface of the upper tube;

the lock body is disposed on the front end of the upper tube;

the engaging member moves relative to the lock body in response to the locked state or the unlocked state of the lock body, so the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion approach or leave the through hole.

10. The electric bicycle of claim 9, wherein the battery has a longitudinal axis parallel to the lower tube;

the in-out path is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the battery and passes through the through hole of the upper tube.

11. The electric bicycle of claim 8, wherein the frame comprises a lower tube;

the lower tube has an accommodation trough;

the battery is disposed in the accommodation trough of the lower tube;

the lock body is disposed on the lower tube.

12. The electric bicycle of claim 11, wherein the stopper is a cover;

when the lock body is in the locked state, the cover substantially covers the accommodation trough.

13. The electric bicycle of claim 8, wherein the engaging member and the stopper are disposed on two opposite sides with respect to the in-out path;

when the second engaging portion approaches the stopper, the second engaging portion also approaches the in-out path.

14. The electric bicycle of claim 8, further comprising a carrier for carrying the battery, wherein the battery has a longitudinal axis;

the carrier and the lock body are disposed on two opposite ends with respect to the longitudinal axis of the battery.

15. The electric bicycle of claim 8, further comprising a tongue moveably coupling with the lock body, wherein when the lock body is in the locked state, the tongue extends out the lock body in response to the locked state of the lock body to push the engaging member forward, so the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion interfere with the battery and the stopper, respectively;

when the lock body is in the unlocked state, the tongue retracts into the lock body to release the interference of the first engaging portion with the battery and the interference of the second engaging portion with the stopper.

16. The electric bicycle of claim 8, wherein the engaging member has two protrusions as the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion;

the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are disposed along the in-out path.