Multi-vehicle type device having battery packs

• US 10,384,556 B1
• Filed: 03/12/2018
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2018
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miyata, Hiroki, Renner, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clemmons, Steve
• Application Number:
  US15/918,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20190275896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/015 with wheels arranged in two pairs
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/12 with driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/26 with special auxiliary arrangements, e.g. illuminating, marking, or push-off devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/06 enabling conversion into another device
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/12 Electrically powered or heated
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/24 Personal mobility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/00 Saddles or other seats for cycles; Arrangement thereof; Component parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/13 on rider-propelled cycles with additional electric propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/00 Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/02 Frames motorcycles or cycles with auxiliary engines characterised by position of engine B62M
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 13/06 to a quadricycle, e.g. by coupling together two bicycles side by side
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 13/08 Frames
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/006 the frame being foldable
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/40 for attaching accessories, e.g. article carriers, lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/12 Handlebars; Handlebar stems
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/002 : without a seat, i.e. the rider operating the vehicle in a standing position, e.g. non-motorized scooters; non-motorized scooters with skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/10 : of single-beam type, i.e. connecting steering head to rear axle
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 1/04 : the tyre surfaces being engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 : Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 : Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 : Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 : Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 : specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 : characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 : characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• 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

Abstract

A universal electric vehicle frame configured to be exchangeably coupled to a plurality of different types of sets of wheel assemblies to selectively form a plurality of different types of electric vehicles including an electric scooter, an electric skateboard, and an electric bicycle. The universal electric vehicle frame includes an encasement for housing one or more batteries to power the electric vehicles. At least one of the wheel assemblies includes an electric motor powered by the batteries, and configured to turn a wheel of the wheel assemblies.

Claims

1. A universal electric vehicle frame configured to be exchangeably coupled to a plurality of different types of sets of wheel assemblies including at least two of a set of scooter wheel assemblies, a set of skateboard wheel assemblies, and a set of bicycle wheel assemblies, so as to selectively form a plurality of different types of electric vehicles including at least two of an electric scooter, an electric skateboard, and an electric bicycle, respectively, the universal electric vehicle frame comprising:

an encasement including

an opening through which a battery to power the electric vehicles can be inserted into an interior of the encasement,

a first electrical connector in the interior for making an electrical connection with the battery,

a first recess at a first end of the encasement and a second recess at a second end of the encasement, and

a second electrical connector configured to make an electrical connection with an electric motor of the electric vehicles, and electrically connected to the first electrical connector for providing power from the battery to the electric motor,

first and second wheel assembly fasteners arranged at the first end of the encasement, and

third and fourth wheel assembly fasteners arranged at the second end of the encasement,

wherein the first and second wheel assembly fasteners are configured to make a mechanical attachment to a first wheel assembly of the electric vehicles when a first body of the first wheel assembly is arranged in the first recess,

wherein the third and fourth wheel assembly fasteners are configured to make a mechanical attachment to a second wheel assembly of the electric vehicles when a second body of the second wheel assembly is arranged in the second recess.

2. The universal electric vehicle frame according to claim 1, further including the battery electrically connected to the first electrical connector.

3. The universal electric vehicle frame according to claim 2, wherein the battery is housed completely within the interior of the encasement when electrically connected to the first electrical connector.

4. The universal electric vehicle frame according to claim 2, wherein the battery includes a plurality of identical modular batteries.

5. The universal electric vehicle frame according to claim 4, wherein the batteries are rechargeable batteries that can be recharged when arranged in the interior of the encasement and electrically connected to the first electrical connector, or when arranged outside the encasement and disconnected from the first electrical connector.

6. The universal electric vehicle frame according to claim 1, wherein:

the encasement includes first, second, third, and fourth arms,

the first and second arms each extend from the first end of the encasement and are spaced apart to thereby define the first recess,

the third and fourth arms each extend from the second end of the encasement and are spaced apart to thereby define the second recess.

7. The universal electric vehicle frame according to claim 6, wherein:

the first wheel assembly fastener is arranged on the first arm,

the second wheel assembly fastener is arranged on the second arm,

the third wheel assembly fastener is arranged on the third arm, and

the fourth wheel assembly fastener is arranged on the fourth arm.

8. The universal electric vehicle frame according to claim 1, wherein:

the first recess is identical to the second recess, and

the first and second fasteners are identical to the third and fourth fasteners.

9. An electric vehicle comprising a universal electric vehicle frame and a set of wheel assemblies including a set of scooter wheel assemblies, a set of skateboard wheel assemblies, and a set of bicycle wheel assemblies,

the frame comprising

an encasement including

an opening through which a plurality of batteries for powering the electric vehicle can be inserted into an interior of the encasement,

a first electrical connector in the interior for making an electrical connection with the batteries, and

a second electrical connector electrically connected to the first electrical connector,

first and second wheel assembly fasteners arranged at a first end of the encasement,

third and fourth wheel assembly fasteners arranged at a second end of the encasement,

the set of wheel assemblies including

a first wheel assembly fastened to the frame via the first and second wheel assembly fasteners,

a second wheel assembly fastened to the frame via the third and fourth wheel assembly fasteners,

an electric motor connected to the second electrical connector, and configured to turn at least one wheel of at least one of the first and second wheel assemblies when supplied with power from the batteries,

wherein the frame is configured to be exchangeably coupled to the set of scooter wheel assemblies to form an electric scooter, the set of skateboard wheel assemblies to form an electric skateboard, and the set of bicycle wheel assemblies to form an electric bicycle.

10. The electric vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising a plurality of modular batteries configured to be electrically connected to the first electrical connector for providing power to the electric motor.

11. The electric vehicle according to claim 10, wherein:

when the batteries are electrically connected to the first electrical connector the batteries are arranged entirely within the interior of the encasement, and

the opening in the encasement is sized, such that

a) each of the batteries are accessible from an exterior of the encasement without moving any of the other batteries that may be in the interior of the encasement,

b) each of the batteries can be separately inserted in, or removed from, the interior of the encasement without moving any of the other batteries that may be in the interior of the encasement, and

c) the batteries can be simultaneously inserted in, or removed from, the interior of the encasement.

12. The electric vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the batteries are rechargeable batteries that can be recharged when arranged in the interior of the encasement and electrically connected to the first electrical connector, or when arranged outside the encasement and disconnected from the first electrical connector.

13. The electric vehicle according to claim 12, further including a wireless induction charging pad, wherein the rechargeable batteries are configured to be wirelessly recharged when in proximity to the induction charging pad.

14. The electric vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the batteries each include a USB port.

15. The electric vehicle according to claim 9, wherein:

a first recess is arranged at the first end of the encasement and a second recess is arranged at the second end of the encasement,

the first wheel assembly includes at least one first wheel, and a first body that is arranged at least partially within the first recess and removably connected to the frame via the first and second wheel assembly fasteners,

the second wheel assembly includes at least one second wheel, and a second body that is arranged at least partially within the second recess and removably connected to the frame via the third and fourth wheel assembly fasteners.

16. The electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein:

the electric vehicle is the electric scooter,

the set of wheel assemblies is the set of scooter wheel assemblies,

the first wheel assembly is a front scooter wheel assembly,

the at least one first wheel includes a front scooter wheel,

the front scooter wheel assembly further including a scooter steering stem rotatably connected to the first body and including a scooter fork attached to the scooter steering stem and to the front scooter wheel, and a scooter steering handle attached to the scooter steering stem,

the second wheel assembly is a rear scooter wheel assembly,

the at least one second wheel includes a rear scooter wheel, and

the rear scooter wheel assembly further including one or more rods connecting the rear scooter wheel to the second body, and a brake for applying a braking friction to the rear scooter wheel.

17. The electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein:

the electric vehicle is the electric skateboard,

the set of wheel assemblies is the set of skateboard wheel assemblies,

the first wheel assembly is a front skateboard wheel assembly,

the at least one first wheel is a set of front skateboard wheels,

the front skateboard wheel assembly further including one or more front legs connecting the front skateboard wheels to the first body,

the second wheel assembly is a rear skateboard wheel assembly,

the at least one second wheel is a set of rear skateboard wheels, and

the rear skateboard wheel assembly further including one or more rear legs connecting the rear skateboard wheels to the second body.

18. The electric vehicle according to claim 17, further including two extension platforms arranged on either side of the frame.

19. The electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein:

the electric vehicle is the electric bicycle,

the set of wheel assemblies is the set of bicycle wheel assemblies,

the first wheel assembly is a front bicycle wheel assembly,

the at least one first wheel is a front bicycle wheel,

the front bicycle wheel assembly further including a bicycle steering stem rotatably connected to the first body, and including a bicycle fork attached to the bicycle steering stem and to the front bicycle wheel and a bicycle steering handle attached to the bicycle steering stem,

the second wheel assembly is a rear bicycle wheel assembly,

the at least one second wheel is a set of rear bicycle wheel, and

the rear bicycle wheel assembly further including a rear frame connected to the second body and having the rear bicycle wheel rotatably mounted thereon, a seat connected to the rear frame, and a foot rest connected to the rear frame.

20. The electric vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the rear frame is rotatably mounted to the second body and the electric bicycle is configured to be selectively moved between an open configuration and a folded configuration.