Mobility unit, motor vehicle, carrier, and small vehicle

• US 10,315,584 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2017
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Kuhlbach, Kai Sebastian
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyer, Jacob B
• Application Number:
  US15/722,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20180093617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/06 at vehicle front or rear rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/10 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

There is provided a carrier that fits on a motor vehicle and receives a small vehicle. The carrier includes a console on which the small vehicle can be arranged. According to the disclosure, the carrier also includes a carrier coupling component that is constructed to be connected in a positive-locking manner to a small vehicle coupling component of the small vehicle, above the console. The motor vehicle having the carrier and the small vehicle forms a mobility unit according to the disclosure.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle carrier, comprising:

a console that arranges a small vehicle;

first and second coupling components of the carrier and the small vehicle, respectively, that are constructed to be connected in a positive-locking manner above the console;

a ramp, positioned alternately between rest and use positions, that is at least partially surrounded by the console in the rest position and forms an inclined member in the use position; and

a fixing device that is configured to connect the first and second coupling components in a fixing state, wherein the fixing device includes a drive to place the fixing device in the fixing state.

2. The motor vehicle carrier as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one contact element disposed on the first coupling component, and configured to produce an electrical connection between the motor vehicle and the small vehicle.

3. The motor vehicle carrier as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an actuation device to switch the fixing device from the fixing state.

4. The motor vehicle carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ramp is electrically driven.

5. The motor vehicle carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the console defines at least one recess that receives a wheel of the small vehicle.

6. A vehicle comprising:

a carrier configured to secure a small vehicle to a console using first and second coupling components of the carrier and the small vehicle, respectively, that are constructed to be connected in a positive-locking manner above the console, wherein a ramp, positioned alternately between rest and use positions, forms an inclined member in the use position such that a recess defined in the console receives a wheel of the small vehicle, wherein the carrier includes a fixing device that is configured to connect the first and second coupling components in a fixing state and an actuation device to switch the fixing device from the fixing state.

7. The vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the ramp is a bumper that is at least partially surrounded by the carrier in the rest position.

8. The vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second coupling component is arranged on a frame between a front wheel and a rear wheel of a bicycle.

9. The vehicle as claimed in claim 6 further comprising an on-board electrical system that is electrically connected to the carrier and includes an accumulator.

10. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the carrier includes at least one contact element disposed on the first coupling component, and configured to produce an electrical connection between the on-board electrical system and the carrier.

11. The vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fixing device includes a drive to place the fixing device in the fixing state.

12. A mobility unit, comprising:

an electric motor configured to at least alternatively drive a small vehicle and a small vehicle accumulator;

a small vehicle coupling component that is connected to a carrier coupling component of a carrier for a vehicle in a positive-locking manner above a console for the carrier that defines a recess to receive a wheel of the small vehicle, wherein the carrier includes a fixing device that is configured to connect the small vehicle coupling component and carrier coupling component in a fixing state and an actuation device to switch the fixing device from the fixing state; and

a ramp, positioned alternately between rest and use positions, that forms an inclined member in the use position between the console and the wheel.

13. The mobility unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the small vehicle coupling component is arranged on a frame between a front wheel and a rear wheel of a bicycle.

14. The mobility unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the carrier coupling component includes at least one contact element configured to produce an electrical connection between the vehicle and the small vehicle.

15. The mobility unit as claimed in claim 12 further comprising at least one locking device that locks components of the small vehicle in a locking state.

16. The mobility unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the locking device includes a drive to actuate the locking device in the locking state.

17. The mobility unit as claimed as claim 16 further comprising a motor to actuate the locking device into the locking state.

18. The mobility unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fixing device includes a drive to place the fixing device in the fixing state.