AU2004222763A1 - A device for mounting an auxilliary power source to a wheeled cycle - Google Patents

Description

P001 Section 29 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: A device for mounting an auxiliary power source to a wheeled cycle The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 0 A DEVICE FOR MOUNTING AN AUXILIARY POWER SOURCE TO A WHEELED CYCLE o FIELD OF THE INVENTION 0 The present invention relates to device for mounting an auxiliary power source to a push cycle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for mounting an auxiliary power source to a conventional pedal propelled cycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A conventional pedal propelled cycle, such as a bicycle or tricycle, is propelled by the rider exerting a downwards force on pedals with the force exerted being transferred to rotational movement of the rear wheel (or wheels) via a chain. To alleviate the effort required by the user to propel the cycle, auxiliary power sources are sometimes used. These auxiliary power sources are usually electric motors or petrol engines which transmit the auxiliary power to the rear wheel (or wheels) of the cycle. Predominantly, these devices provide power assistance to bicycles by imparting a rotational force to a rear wheel or tyre. In some instances, the auxiliary power source is mounted to the bicycle by some form of bracket which allows for pivotal movement of the auxiliary power source with respect to the bicycles rear wheel. This enables the auxiliary power source to be selectively engaged with the rear wheel when auxiliary power is required.

A problem with auxiliary power sources is that once they are mounted to a bicycle they are not able to be quickly and easily removed. This means that most riders do not remove the auxiliary power source from their bicycle when the bicycle is being left unattended. As a result their bicycle becomes an attractive target for thieves. In addition, many riders own multiple bicycles for use in differing terrain. However as an auxiliary power source can not be easily and quickly removed and mounted onto a different bicycle the rider is not able to easily maximise their usage of the auxiliary power source on all of their bicycles.

Further still, many auxiliary power sources are not able to be mounted to a wide range of bicycles of varying sizes and types without significant modifications being made to the bracket mounting the auxiliary power source to the bicycle.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to improve and simplify the mounting of auxiliary power sources to wheeled cycles.

O Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this Sspecification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be o taken as an admission that any of the material formed part of the prior art base of 0 the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia or other countries on or before the priority date of the claims herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION IN In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for mounting an auxiliary power source to a wheeled cycle, the auxiliary power source being configured to transmit rotational force to a least one wheel of the cycle, the device including: a first arm for supporting the auxiliary power source, a first bracket for attaching the first arm to the wheeled cycle, a second arm for bracing the first arm and a second bracket for attaching the second arm to the wheeled cycle; the first arm being connected to the first bracket at a first connection point; the second arm being connected to the second bracket at a second connection point and the first arm at a third connection point, wherein the positioning of the connection at each first, second and third connection point is adjustable such that the auxiliary power source can be suitably positioned with respect to the wheeled cycle to enable optimal transmission of rotational force to at least one wheel of the wheeled cycle.

Preferably, the first arm is connected to the first bracket at the first connection point by a first fastening means, the second arm is connected to the second bracket at the second connection point by a second fastening means and the first arm is connected to the second arm at the third connection point by a third fastening means.

The first bracket may include a plurality of openings into which the first fastening means can be selectively positioned to adjust the positioning of the first connection point. Similarly, the second bracket may include a plurality of apertures into which the second fastening means can be selectively positioned to adjust the positioning of the second connection point.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the second arm includes an elongate slot and the third fastening means can be selectively positioned along the slot to adjust the positioning of the third connection point.

O In an alternative embodiment, the first arm includes an elongate slot and Sthe third fastening means can be selectively positioned along the slot to adjust the opositioning of the third connection point.

Preferably, the third fastening means is a semi-permanent fastener that locks the desired orientation of the first arm with respect to the second arm once the auxiliary power source has been suitably positioned for optimal transmission IN of power to the wheeled cycle.

(Preferably the first bracket is configured to attach to a seat pole of the (wheeled cycle and the second bracket is configured to attach to the frame of the wheeled cycle.

The first arm preferably includes a fixed member and a pivot member. The pivot member of the first arm can be pivotally attached to the fixed member and directly attach to the auxiliary power source. The fixed member of the first arm is preferably attached to the first bracket and second arm by the first and third fastening means, respectively. Further, the pivot member is preferably moveable with respect to the fixed member between an upper and lower position. In this regard, the auxiliary power source can engage with a wheel of the cycle when the pivot member is in the lower position and be disengaged with the wheel when the pivot member is in the upper position. To retain the pivot member in the upper position a locking arm is preferably provided which extends between the fix and pivot members.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the positioning of the auxiliary power source in the lower position is such that the weight force of the auxiliary power source acts to urge the rotatable drive member into engagement with a tyre of the wheeled cycle. Further, as a throttle of the auxiliary power source is actuated to apply greater power transfer, the drive member is further urged toward the tyre of the wheeled cycle thus increasing traction between the drive member and the tyre.

The auxiliary power source is preferably detached from the wheeled cycle by removal of the first and second fastening means such that the first and second arms are separated from the first and second brackets, respectively. In this regard, the first and second fastening means are preferably fasteners that can be attached and removed by hand without tools being required. Further, the O orientation of the fixed member of the first arm with respect to the second arm C remains fixed by the semi-permanent third fastener when the auxiliary power source is detached from the wheeled cycle. This advantageously ensures that 0 the auxiliary power source can be quickly and easily removed when desired and suitably re-mounted on the cycle at a later time without needing to be readjusted for optimal transmission of power to the tyre.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The preferred embodiment should not be considered as limiting any of the statements in the previous section. The preferred embodiment will be described with reference to the following Figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an auxiliary power source attached to a bicycle by a device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of an auxiliary power source attached to a bicycle by the device as shown in Figure 1, with the auxiliary power source in engagement with a tyre of the bicycle.

Figure 3 is a side view of an auxiliary power source attached to a bicycle by the device as shown in Figure 1, with the auxiliary power source being disengaged from the tyre of the bicycle.

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of the device shown in Figure 1 detailing the lock-up mechanism of the device according to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following preferred embodiment of the invention relates specifically to a bicycle and as the invention is applicable to a wheeled cycle with any number of wheels, the following description in relation to a bicycle should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention to only two wheeled cycles.

With reference to the accompanying drawings there is shown a device 1 for attaching an auxiliary power source 3 to a bicycle 5. The device 1 includes a first arm 7 for supporting the auxiliary power source 3. The first arm 7 is attached to the seat post 9 of the bicycle 5 by a first bracket. The first arm 7 is connected to the first bracket by a first fastening means at a first connection point 15. A O second arm 17 for bracing the first arm 7 is attached at one end, via a second Sbracket, to the rear forks 21 of the bicycle frame. The second arm 17 is O connected to the second bracket by a second fastening means at a second 0connection point 25. The second arm 17 is further connected to the first arm 7 by a third fastening means at a third connection point 29.

The first bracket is preferably in the form of a seat post mount plate 11 Iwhich has a plurality of openings 31 into which the first fastening means is selectively positioned to adjust the positioning of the first connection point The first fastening means is preferably in the form of a seat post eyebolt 13.

The second bracket is preferably in the form of a rear fork stay bracket 19.

The rear fork stay bracket 19 includes a plurality of apertures 33 into which the second fastening means is selectively positioned to adjust the positioning of the second connection point 25. The second fastening means is preferably in the form of a rear fork stay eyebolt The rear fork stay bracket 19 is semi-permanently connected to the rear forks 21 by a bolt passing through the rear fork stay bracket 19 and into a backing plate 37 located on the underside of the rear forks 21. Alternatively the rear fork stay bracket 19 is secured to the rear forks 21 by passing a bolt through a cross member of the rear forks 21. The seat post mount plate 11 is semi-permanently connected to the bicycle seat post 9 via two clamps that extend around the seat post 9. The two clamps are secured together by a plurality of bolts which can extend through the seat post mount plate 11 and the two clamps.

The first arm 7 of the device 1 includes a fixed member 37 and a pivot member 39 with the pivot member 39 being pivotally attached to the fixed member 37. The fixed member 37 of the first arm 7 is connected to the seat post mount plate by the seat post eyebolt 13. The fixed member 37 is also attached to the second arm 17 via the third fastening means. The second arm 17 includes an elongate slot 41 and the third fastening means is selectively positioned in the elongate slot 41 to adjust the position of the third connection point 29. The third fastening means is preferably in the form of a bolt 42 which extends through the fixed member 37 and the elongate slot 41 of the second arm 17 and engages with a nut. The elongate slot is preferably open at one end to facilitate movement O and/or separation of the second arm 17 with respect to the fixed member 37 once C the bolt 42 is loosened.

o The auxiliary power source 3 is fastened directly to the pivot member 39 by bolts which extend through apertures located in the pivot member 39. The auxiliary power source 3 includes a drive wheel 45 which contacts a tyre 47 of the bicycle wheel to transfer power from the auxiliary power source 3 to the tyre 47.

IDThe drive wheel 45 preferably includes fins which project outwardly to bite into the Ssurface of the tyre 47.

SThe fixed member 37 is preferably formed of two elongate rectangular members with a shorter secondary member inserted between the two rectangular members such that each end of the fixed member 37 has an opening. The seat post mount plate 11 is mounted in one of the openings and fastened by inserting the seat post eye bolt 13 through the fixed member 37 and selected opening 31 in the seat post mount plate 11. At the other opening in the fixed member 37 the pivot member 39 is pivotally mounted.

Extending between the fixed member 37 and pivot member 39 is a lock-up mechanism. The lock-up mechanism holds the pivot member 39 in an upper position wherein the drive wheel 45 of the auxiliary power source 3 is disengaged with the tyre 47. The lock-up mechanism can also be rotated to release the pivot member 39 from the upper position such that the auxiliary power source 3 can freely move downward into a lower position wherein the drive wheel 45 of the auxiliary power source 3 engages with the tyre 47 of the bicycle 5. The lock-up mechanism includes a guiding eyebolt 51 mounted on the side of the fixed member 37 and a locking member 53. The locking member 53 is mounted adjacent to the fixed member 37 and has a stem 52 that extends through the guiding eyebolt 51. The locking member 53 includes a handle 55 and a locking arm 57. The locking arm 57 extends outwardly from the stem 52 of the locking member 53. When the handle 55 of the locking member 53 is rotated the locking arm 57 can either lock the auxiliary power source 3 in the upper position wherein the locking arm 57 catches in a detent 59 on the fixed member 37, or allow the auxiliary power source 3 to freely pivot downwardly to the lower position by rotating the handle 55 such that the locking arm 57 faces rearward thereby making no contact with the detent 59.

O Once the auxiliary power source 3 is in a suitable operating position on the Sbicycle 5 the bolt 42 connecting the fixed member 37 to the second arm 17 is o tightened such that the positioning of the fixed member 37 relative to the second 0 Sarm 17 remains constant and suitably positioned for that particular bicycle. The seat post eyebolt 13 is then securely tightened in one of the plurality of openings 31 and the rear fork stay eyebolt 35 is securely tightened to the rear fork stay D bracket 19. In this regard, prior to the bolt 42 and eyebolts 13, 35 being tightened the fixed member 37 and the second arm 17 are able to pivot about the seat post Seyebolt 13 and the rear fork stay eyebolt 35 respectively. In addition, the bolt 42 can slide along the elongate slot 17 in the second arm 17.

The plurality of openings 31 in the seat post mount plate 11 and the plurality of apertures 33 in the rear fork stay bracket 19 in conjunction with the adjustability of the fixed member 37 with respect to the second arm 17 allows the auxiliary power source 3 to be fitted to a variety of bicycle frame sizes and styles.

The seat post eyebolt 13 and rear fork stay eyebolt 35 are suitably shaped such that they can be tightened and removed by the hand. In addition, the looped shape of the end portions of the eyebolts provides a means by which a chain or similar locking device can be threaded such that the eyebolts cannot be rotated and removed. This ensures that the auxiliary power source cannot be easily stolen.

To remove the auxiliary power source 3 cables extending from the auxiliary power source 3 to a throttle lever and kill switch mounted on the handle bars of the bicycle 5 are disconnected from the auxiliary power source 3. The seat post eyebolt 13 and rear fork stay eyebolt 35 are then rotated and removed by hand such that the second arm 17 and.the fixed member 37, with the attached pivot member 39 and auxiliary power source 3, can be removed from the bicycle 1.

The seat post mount plate 11 and rear fork stay bracket 19 remain attached to the bicycle 1. The procedure to remove the auxiliary power source 3 from the bicycle can be performed within one to two minutes and requires no tools.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiment should not be considered to limit the present invention but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit 8 O and scope of the invention. Various modifications and equivalent arrangements c are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

SFor example, the elongate slot used at the third connection point to Sfacilitate adjustment may also be similarly utilised at the first and second connection points to facilitate adjustment. Similarly, the plurality of openings used at the first connection point to facilitate adjustment may also similarly be utilised Iat the second and third connection ,points to facilitate adjustment.

Claims (10)

1. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first arm is connected to the first bracket at the first connection point by a first fastening means, the second arm is connected to the second bracket at the second connection point by a second fastening means and the first arm is connected to the second arm at the third connection point by a third fastening means.
2. 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first bracket includes a plurality of openings, the first fastening means being selectively positioned in one of the openings to adjust the positioning of the first connection point.
3. 4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the second bracket includes a plurality of apertures, the second fastening means being selectively positioned in one of the apertures to adjust the positioning of the second connection point. A device as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the second arm includes an elongate slot, the third fastening means being selectively positioned along the slot to adjust the positioning of the third connection point. O 6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the positioning of the first arm with C respect to the second arm is locked in placed by the third fastening means. c,
4. 7. A device as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the first arm includes an Selongate slot, the third fastening means being selectively positioned along the slot to adjust the positioning of the third connection point. ICN
5. 8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first c bracket is configured to attach to a seat pole of the wheeled cycle. c 9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second bracket is configured to attach to the frame of the wheeled cycle.
6. 10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first arm includes a fixed member and a pivot member, the pivot member being pivotally attached to the fixed member and configured to attach to the auxiliary power source.
7. 11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the fixed member of the first arm is attached to the first bracket and second arm by the first and third fastening means, respectively.
8. 12. A device as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the pivot member is moveable with respect to the fixed member between an upper and lower position.
9. 13. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the auxiliary power source is engaged with the wheel when the pivot member is in the lower position.
10. 14. A device as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the auxiliary power source is disengaged with the wheel when the pivot member is in the upper position. A device as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the pivot member is retained in the upper position by a locking arm. O 16. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the c accompanying drawings. O DATED this 2 0 t h day of October 2004 I R MOTT PTY LTD NO WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS c 290 BURWOOD ROAD N HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 c 10 AUSTRALIA P23351AUP1: NWM/CAG/SLB