Electrically Powered Cycles and Automatic Storage System for Such Cycles

• US 20160107517A1
• Filed: 10/07/2015
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JCDecaux SA (JCDecaux Group)
• Original Assignee: JCDecaux SA (JCDecaux Group)
• Inventors: Larray, Sylvain, Forrestier, Jean-Marc
• Granted Patent: US 9,676,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0494 with arrangements for sliding
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 2003/005 Supports or holders associated with means for bike rental
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 3/00 Separate supports or holders for parking or storing cycles cycle supports used during maintenance B25H; building aspects E04H
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/20 indicating unauthorised use, e.g. acting on signalling devices alarm locks in general E05B45/00, e.g. alarm cable or chain lock E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/4152 for sensing longitudinal inclination of the cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/225 Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/00 Motorcycles, engine-assisted cycles or motor scooters with one or two wheels fairings or streamlining parts not forming part of the frame B62J; transmission of drive from engines to wheels B62M
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/12 Handlebars; Handlebar stems
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 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

An electrically powered cycle comprising a detachable battery mounted by sliding on two rails of a battery receptacle located on the central portion of the handlebar. The rails are inclined downward and rearward and the battery is inserted into the receptacle by sliding the battery from the upper front end of the rails. The battery is facing the user and visible to the user. The rails also serve to connect the battery electrically.

Claims

1. An electrically powered cycle comprising:

a frame having a saddle,

at least one rear wheel rotatably mounted on the frame,

a front wheel rotatably mounted on a fork integral to a handlebar, the front wheel defining a direction of advancement of the cycle, the handlebar having a central portion hinged to the frame and two lateral arms with handles,

a removable rechargeable battery having a flattened shape and comprising;

first and second main faces defining a thickness of the battery,

two opposing first sides,

two opposing second sides,

a receptacle for receiving said battery and connecting it electrically, the receptacle being on the central portion of the handlebar, the receptacle comprising two parallel lateral flanges facing one another, extending along the direction of advancement of the cycle between a back end and a front end, the receptacle being open at the front end of the lateral flanges, the receptacle being shaped to permit slotting the first sides of the battery by sliding the battery rearward on the lateral flanges of the receptacle from the front end of said lateral flanges, and the receptacle being shaped to limit the rearward sliding of the battery when said battery is engaged in the receptacle, and the receptacle being shaped so that a user seated on the saddle can see at least part of the battery when said battery is engaged in said receptacle,

wherein said front end is raised relative to said back end in the normal usage position of the cycle, the receptacle being open at the back end of the lateral flanges,

and the lateral flanges of the receptacle comprise electrical connectors suitable for engaging with complementary connectors that are part of the battery, in order to connect the battery electrically to an electrical circuit that is part of the cycle, when the battery is engaged in the receptacle.

2. The cycle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is secured to the handlebar so as to impart a predetermined inclination to said receptacle, such that said front end is raised relative to said back end in the normal usage position of the cycle.

3. The cycle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is shaped like a cradle having a bottom connecting the two lateral flanges, said receptacle being open at the top between the two lateral flanges.

4. The cycle according to claim 3, wherein the bottom of the receptacle comprises visual cues to guide the user in inserting the battery into the receptacle.

5. The cycle according to claim 3, wherein the bottom of the receptacle comprises at least one supporting rib parallel to the lateral flanges of the receptacle, the battery resting on said supporting rib when said battery is engaged in the receptacle.

6. The cycle according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connectors of the lateral flanges comprise power circuit connectors and data circuit connectors.

7. The cycle according to claim 1, wherein the lateral flanges of the receptacle and the first sides of the battery comprise retaining means suitable for retaining the battery by snap-fitting when the battery is engaged in the receptacle.

8. The cycle according to claim 1, wherein the lateral flanges of the receptacle each comprise a pair of superposed parallel ribs defining a groove between them in which said electrical connectors of the receptacle are housed, the first sides of the battery each having a groove which receives one of said pairs of ribs, the complementary connectors of the battery being arranged in said grooves facing the electrical connectors of the receptacle.

9. The cycle according to claim 1, wherein the battery comprises an electronic control circuit and an electronic display means controlled by said electronic control circuit, said display means being visible to the user seated on the saddle.

10. The cycle according to claim 9, wherein the display means comprises light-emitting diodes.

11. The cycle according to claim 9, wherein the electronic control circuit is adapted to receive status information for the battery and to display said status information by the display means.

12. The cycle according to claim 9, wherein the electronic control circuit is adapted to communicate with a mobile phone comprising navigation means, the electronic control circuit being adapted to receive navigation information from the mobile phone and to display said navigation information by the display means.

13. The cycle according to claim 1, wherein the handlebar comprises a carrying structure and a casing covering said carrying structure, the receptacle of the battery being integrated with said casing.

14. The cycle according to claim 1, wherein the battery comprises detection means adapted to detect whether the battery is connected to the cycle, and control means adapted to prevent the battery from discharging when the detecting means does not detect that the battery is connected to the cycle.

15. An automatic storage system for cycles, comprising:

a plurality of removable rechargeable batteries, each having a flattened shape and comprising;

first and second main faces defining between them a thickness of the battery,

two opposing first sides,

two opposing second sides,

a plurality of electrically powered cycles each comprising;

a frame having a saddle,

at least one rear wheel rotatably mounted on the frame,

a front wheel rotatably mounted on a fork integral to a handlebar, the front wheel defining a direction of advancement of the cycle, the handlebar having a central portion hinged to the frame and two lateral arms with handles,

a receptacle for receiving one of said batteries and for connecting it electrically to the cycle,

a plurality of fixed locking terminals to which said cycles can be locked,

and at least one external control device adapted for selectively allowing the locking and unlocking of cycles on said locking terminals,

wherein the receptacle is on the central portion of the handlebar,

wherein the receptacle comprises two parallel lateral flanges facing one another, extending along the direction of advancement of the cycle between a back end and a front end, the front end being raised relative to the back end in the normal usage position of the cycle, the receptacle being open at the front and back ends of the lateral flanges, the receptacle being shaped to permit slotting the first sides of the battery by sliding the battery rearward on the lateral flanges of the receptacle from the front end of said lateral flanges, and the receptacle being shaped to limit the rearward sliding of the battery when said battery is engaged in the receptacle,

wherein the lateral flanges of the receptacle comprise electrical connectors suitable for engaging with complementary connectors that are part of the battery, in order to connect the battery electrically to an electrical circuit that is part of the cycle, when the battery is engaged in the receptacle,

and wherein the receptacle is shaped so that a user seated on the saddle can see at least part of the battery when said battery is engaged in said receptacle.