Battery carrier for electric assisted vehicle

• US 6,016,882 A
• Filed: 07/30/1997
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/902,814
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 180/205, 180/206, 180/207, 180/220, 180/68.5, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 206/703, 429/164, 429/100, 429/177, 429/176
• US Class Current: 180/207.3
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/46 Luggage carriers forming part of frame luggage carriers per se B62J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/55 power-driven at crank shafts parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 Batteries

Abstract

A battery box and locking assembly for an electric power assisted vehicle, such as a bicycle. The battery box comprises a base portion having a cup shape and a guide portion and is adapted to detachably receive a battery carrier. The battery carrier and the guide portion have interengaging parts for locating and assisting in the insertion and removal of the battery carrier from the base portion

Claims

1. An electrically powered vehicle having a frame assembly and associated detachable battery assembly comprising a generally cupped-shape base portion adapted to receive one end of an elongated battery carrier and fixed relative to said frame assembly in an accessible position, and a guide member extending upwardly from one side of said base portion and inwardly from the sides thereof, said battery carrier and said guide member having interengaging portions comprised of a first part defining a channel and a second part received and restrained in said channel against transverse movement relative thereto for directing the movement of said battery carrier in a predetermined path defined by said channel and into registry with said base portion.

2. The electrically powered vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the guide member forms the first part and has a first portion providing a detachable connection to the base portion and a second portion extending upwardly along one side thereof in cantilevered fashion from said base portion.

3. The electrically powered vehicle as in claim 2, wherein the upwardly extending portion of the guide member is formed from a resilient material having a curvilinear shape for asserting a biasing force on the battery carrier in a direction normal to the length of the channel.

4. The electrically powered vehicle as in claim 1, further including interengaging locking means carried by the base portion and the battery carrier for detachably locking the battery carrier in the base portion.

5. The electrically powered vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a bicycle having a seat post as a portion of said frame assembly, said seat post being adapted to receive a bicycle seat, and said bicycle further comprising a rear fender disposed to the rear of said seat post, said base portion being positioned between said seat post and said rear fender.

6. The electrically powered vehicle as in claim 5, wherein the guide portion is detachably affixed to the rear fender.

7. The electrically powered vehicle as in claim 6, further including a snubber member carried by the seat post at the upper end thereof for locating the battery carrier between the seat post and the guide member.

8. The electrically powered vehicle as in claim 7, wherein the guide member has a first portion providing a detachable connection to the base portion and a second portion extending upwardly along one side thereof.

9. The electrically powered vehicle as in claim 8, wherein the upwardly extending portion of the guide member is formed from a resilient material having a curvilinear shape for asserting a biasing force on the battery carrier urging it toward the snubber.

10. The electrically powered vehicle as in claim 9, wherein the battery carrier has guide portions on its forward extremity that engage the snubber to further guide the motion of the battery carrier.

11. The electrically powered vehicle as in claim 10, further including interengaging locking means carried by the base portion and the battery carrier for detachably locking the battery carrier in the base portion.