Charging device on a vehicle to charge an electric bicycle

• US 6,037,746 A
• Filed: 04/02/1999
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Bicycle Industry R&D Center
• Original Assignee: Taiwan Bicycle Industry R&D Center
• Inventors: Liu, Pao Pao, Sheng, Wu Hung, Chi, Wu Meng
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/285,837
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/104, 180/205, 180/65.2
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A charging device for charging an electric bicycle includes a charger which is received in the trunk of a vehicle and electrically connected to the battery of the vehicle by a conductive wire. A wire extends from the charger and is detachably connected to the rechargeable battery of the electric bicycle which can be received in the trunk or carried on the vehicle by a bicycle carrier attached to the vehicle. The conductive wire has the first end connected to the charger and the second end having an adapter which is received in the cigarette lighter receptacle hole of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A charging device for charging an electric bicycle, comprising:

a motor vehicle having a battery located adjacent a front end thereof and a trunk adjacent a rear end of the motor vehicle, the electric bicycle being secured in close proximity to said trunk;

a charger positioned within said trunk of said vehicle and adapted to be electrically connected to said battery of said vehicle for charging a rechargeable battery carried by the electric bicycle during operation of said vehicle,

a conductive wire extending through a chassis portion of said vehicle and electrically coupling said battery of said vehicle and said charger, and

at least one auxiliary wire extending from said charger, said at least one auxiliary wire being adapted to be electrically and detachably connected to the rechargeable battery of the electric bicycle.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductive wire has a first end thereof connected to said charger and a second end thereof adapted to be connected to said battery of said vehicle.

3. A charging device for charging an electric bicycle, comprising:

a motor vehicle having a battery located adjacent a front end thereof, a cigarette lighter receptacle electrically coupled to said battery, and a trunk adjacent a rear end of the motor vehicle, the electric bicycle being secured in close proximity to said trunk;

a charger positioned within said trunk of said vehicle and having at least one auxiliary wire extending therefrom, said at least one auxiliary wire being adapted for electrical and detachable connection to a rechargeable battery carried by the electric bicycle, and

a conductive wire passing through a chassis portion of the vehicle, said conductive wire having a first end thereof connected to said charger and a second end thereof adapted to be connected to said cigarette lighter receptacle for charging the rechargeable battery during operation of the vehicle.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising an adapter connected to said second end of said conductive wire, said adapter being received in said cigarette lighter receptacle of said vehicle.