Combination of bicycle frame and battery

• US 7,393,125 B1
• Filed: 04/09/2007
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ideal Bike Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ideal Bike Corporation
• Inventors: Lai, Chih-Hsiung
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawhney; Hargobind S
• Application Number:
  US11/783,308
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 280/281.1, 280/284, 280/288.4, 362/473
• US Class Current: 362/473
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/30 Frame parts shaped to receive other cycle parts or accessories axle suspensions B62K25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/40 for attaching accessories, e.g. article carriers, lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/80 Accessories, e.g. power sources; Arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 Batteries

Abstract

A recess is defined in one of the top tube, the down tube and the seat tube of a bicycle frame and a power supply unit is engaged with the recess. The power supply unit includes an engaging frame engaged with the recess and a battery is removably engaged with a main space defined in the engaging frame. The engaging frame includes a chamber defined in an end thereof and a control box is received in the chamber so as to be electrically connected with the control box. The top surface of the battery is in flush with the one of the top tube, the down tube and the seat tube. An ON/OFF switch is installed on a top of the engaging frame and an indication bulb is installed on a top of the battery for convenience of observation by the user.

Claims

1. A bicycle frame comprising:

(a) a head tube attached to a proximal end of a top tube, said top tube having an opening, and said top tube having a recess;

(b) said recess defined by two sidewalls of the top tube, a down tube, and a seat tube;

(c) said top tube sidewalls so configured to define a top sidewall edge including a low-cut top edge so as to form two inclined upward edges at or near the proximal and distal ends of the top tube;

(d) said down tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and is further attached at the proximal end to the head tube;

(e) said seat tube having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the seat tube is connected to the distal end of top tube and the distal end of the down tube;

(f) power supply unit comprising an engaging frame having a proximal end and a distal end and so configured to cooperatively engage the top tube opening, wherein said opening provides access to the recess in the top tube, further, said engaging frame possess a plurality of engaging frame sidewalls, wherein said engaging frame side walls define a main space;

(g) the main space further includes an end plate extending from the distal end of the engaging frame, and a U-shaped portion, extending from the proximal end of the engaging frame, each of the end plates and the U-shaped portions include an inclined lower edge which is matched with and supported by the inclined upward edge of the top tube sidewall edge defining the recess;

(h) the engaging frame includes a chamber defined in said proximal end or said distal end thereof and a control box received in the chamber;

(i) a battery is removably engaged with said main space defined in the engaging frame, further, the battery is electrically connected with the control box.

2. The bicycle frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein a separation board is connected between the two sidewalls of the engaging frame so as to define the chamber in the engaging frame.

3. The bicycle frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein a switch is installed on a top surface of the U-shaped portion.

4. The bicycle frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein a release button is installed on one of the two sides of the U-shaped portion so as to release the battery from the main space.

5. The bicycle frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein a battery cap is mounted on a top of the battery and two sides of the battery cap protrude from two sides of the battery, two sides of the battery cap have two respective inclined lower edges which are respectively matched with and supported by an inclined end formed at an end of the U-shaped portion and an inclined surface of the end plate, such that a top surface of the battery cap is in flush with a top surface of the U-shaped portion.

6. The bicycle frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein the top surface of the battery cap includes an indication bulb to show status of operation of the battery.

7. The bicycle frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein a groove is defined in each of two sides of the battery cap.

8. The bicycle frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein a ridge extends upward from an inner end of the recess so as to define gaps between the ridge, the inner end of the recess and a bottom of the battery.