Bicycle battery holder assembly

• US 8,220,679 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2006
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Yoshida, Fumiaki, Fujii, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Newhouse, Nathan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): HELVEY, PETER N.
• Application Number:
  US11/545,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20080088108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,106 Days
• Field of Search: 429/96, 429/97, 429/98, 429/99, 248/309.2, 248/220.22, 180/68.5
• US Class Current: 224/425
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/04 Arrangement of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/20 characterised by the mounting
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/30 for providing power to equipment other than for propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/015 using electrical power not supplied by the cycle motor generator, e.g. using batteries or piezo elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A bicycle battery holder assembly includes a terminal support portion and a pair of seal members. The terminal support portion has a pair of electrical terminals extending therefrom. The pair of electrical terminals are configured to extend into corresponding terminal receiving portions of a battery. The seal members extend around respective ones of the electrical terminals.

Claims

1. A bicycle battery holder assembly, comprising:

a terminal support portion having a pair of electric terminals extending therefrom, the pair of electric terminals extending in a direction parallel to one another and configured to extend into corresponding terminal receiving portions of a battery;

a battery securing section configured and arranged to releasably secure the battery to the terminal support portion, the battery securing section including a fastening portion that extends through the terminal support portion with a part of the fastening portion extending out from the terminal support portion in a direction generally parallel to the electric terminals, spaced apart from the electric terminals and between the electric terminals; and

a pair of seal members extending around respective ones of the electric terminals such that the part of the fastening portion is not in contact with the electric terminals.

2. The bicycle battery holder assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein

each of the seal members has an annular ring-like shape.

3. The bicycle battery holder assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one battery positioning portion configured and arranged to align the battery relative to the terminal support portion and the electric terminal.

4. The bicycle battery holder assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a bicycle frame mounting portion configured to attach to a bicycle frame.

5. The bicycle battery holder assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the battery securing section is configured and arranged to urge the battery and the terminal support portion toward one another thereby compressing the seal members about respective ones of the electric terminals.

6. The bicycle battery holder assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein

each of the seal members has an annular ring-like shape and are disposed around respective ones of the electric terminals adjacent to the terminal support portion.

7. A bicycle battery holder assembly, comprising:

a terminal support portion having a pair of electric terminals extending therefrom and in directions parallel to one another, and a battery securing section configured and arranged to secure the battery to the terminal support portion, the battery securing section including a fastener having a fastening portion that extends through the terminal support portion with a part of the fastening portion extending out from the terminal support portion in a direction generally parallel to the electric terminals, spaced apart from the electric terminals and between the electric terminals;

a pair of seal members extending around respective ones of the electric terminals such that the part of the fastening portion of the fastener is not in contact with the electric terminals; and

a battery having a pair of terminal receiving portions configured to receive the pair of electric terminals such that each of the seal members seals between a respective one of the terminal receiving portions and a respective one of the electric terminals, the battery also including a fastener receiving portion located between the terminal receiving portions.

8. The bicycle battery holder assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein

each of the seal members has an annular ring-like shape.

9. The bicycle battery holder assembly as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:

at least one battery positioning portion configured and arranged to orient the battery relative to the terminal support portion.

10. The bicycle battery holder assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein

the battery includes at least one positioning portion configured and arranged to engage the battery positioning portion to orient the battery relative to the terminal support portion.

11. The bicycle battery holder assembly as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:

a bicycle frame mounting portion configured to attach to a bicycle frame.

12. The bicycle battery holder assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein

the battery securing section is configured and arranged to urge the battery and the terminal support portion toward one another thereby compressing the seal members about respective ones of the electric terminals.