WO2024062352A1

WO2024062352A1 - Foldable diamond frame electric bicycle for implementing a motorized folding process

Info

Publication number: WO2024062352A1
Application number: PCT/IB2023/059169
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nishith Parikh; Rajkumar KEWAT
Original assignee: Hornback E Mobility Private Limited
Priority date: 2022-09-19
Filing date: 2023-09-15
Publication date: 2024-03-28

Abstract

The present disclosure is related to the field of transportation. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to the motorised folding mechanism. The present disclosure describes motorised folding of an electric vehicle using the same electric motor (202) that drives the vehicle reducing its overall size, increase portability and add convenience.

Description

FOLDABLE DIAMOND FRAME ELECTRIC BICYCLE FOR IMPLEMENTING A MOTORIZED FOLDING PROCESS FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present disclosure is related to the field of transportation. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to a foldable diamond frame electric bicycle for implementing a motorized folding process. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Bicycle theft is a huge problem across the world. This problem is particularly magnified when e bicycles come into the picture. Electric bicycles (e-bicycles) are more expensive thus becoming a more attractive proposition to steal. [0003] Last mile commute is still slow and cumbersome especially in India. With folding bicycles, users can quickly fold and unfold their bicycles and incorporate it in their daily public transport commute. This results in offering an effective multi modal transport system. [0004] Most offices and residential communities have multilevel parking system because cars just take too much space (10 times more than a bike). With folding bicycles and e-bicycles users can now park their vehicles in a fraction of a space thus freeing up more space. [0005] The limitation of the prior art is that, over the years, non folding bicycles (NFB) have been made by incorporating a “diamond frame” (DF). This is the two triangle frame structure that most NFB's possess. This structure is light and strong thus offering an excellent strength to weight ratio. However, folding this type of frame is challenging and till now. OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION [0006] The present disclosure of DF folding mechanism offers several objectives: [0007] The main objective of the present disclosure is to reduce the size to less than half of its unfolded size making it easy to park in homes and offices and avoid theft. [0008] Another objective of the present disclosure is that the DF folding mechanism ensures that the frame locks in the folded state. It makes handling the bike in the folded state easy. [0009] Another objective of the present disclosure is that, once the bike is folded, the bike can be rolled like a trolley and doesn’t have to be lifted to move it around. [0010] Yet another objective of the present disclosure is that the compact size helps users to take them into public transport and is also compact enough to squeeze into the boots of most cars. [0011] The present disclosure provides a motorised folding mechanism that offers all the advantages mentioned above but with significantly less effort and an easier learning curve. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0012] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a foldable diamond frame electric bicycle for implementing a motorized folding process. The concepts are further described below in a detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. [0013] Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a foldable diamond frame (DF) electric bicycle for implementing a motorized folding process. The fordable DF electric bicycle comprises a rear frame portion for mounting a rear wheel; and a front frame portion for mounting a front wheel, where the front frame portion being pivotally connecting to the rear frame portion such that the two frame portions are foldable towards each other to achieve a folded state of the bicycle. [0014] The front frame portion having a truncated triangular structure formed by a head tube for mounting the front wheel and a handle bar, a top tube having a head tube joint at front end for establishing a connection with the head tube and an angle joint at rear end for establishing a connection with a top end of the seat tube, and a bottom tube at front end connected to the head tube and at rear end connected to a bottom end of the seat tube. In an aspect, the bottom tube near to its rear end having a bottom tube joint (103), from where the bottom tube is separated into two parts. [0015] The rear frame portion having a triangular structure formed by the seat tube, seat stays, and chain stays, wherein the seat stays and the chain stays are connected to a hub for mounting the rear wheel, where the hub is provided with a hub motor for driving the rear wheel of the bicycle. [0016] In an aspect, when the bottom tube joint is manually released to detach the front frame portion from the rear frame portion for folding of the bicycle, a push to fold button mounted on the handle bar is to be activated along with application of brakes on the front wheel, wherein the push to fold button activates the hub motor to rotate the rear wheel in forward direction for pushing the rear frame portion forward to make the rear wheel parallel to the front wheel to achieve a folded state of the bicycle. [0017] In an aspect, the front frame portion includes a locking system to lock the front frame portion in the folded state of the bicycle. [0018] In an aspect, the rear frame portion includes a battery mounted on a rear carrier of the bicycle. [0019] In an aspect, the foldable DF electric bicycle includes a pair of casters attached at rear end of the rear carrier to facilitate portability in the folded state of the bicycle. [0020] In an aspect, the folded bicycle rests on the casters for making the bicycle stable to stand by itself. [0021] In an aspect, during folding of the bicycle, the front frame portion pivots around the head tube joint and the angle joint of the top tube. [0022] In an aspect, for unfolding the bicycle, an unfold button on the handle bar is operated to activate the hub motor to rotate the rear wheel in rear direction so as to attain an unfolded state. [0023] In an aspect, the angle joint helps in guiding the rear frame portion such that central axes of both the front and rear wheels become concentric. [0024] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components. [0025] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure. [0026] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawing and the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0027] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this present disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0028] Fig. 1 illustrates the lateral view of a bicycle depicting a head tube joint, an angle joint, and a bottom tube joint, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0029] Fig. 2 illustrates another view of the bicycle depicting a "Push to Fold" botton, a hub motor, a battery, and a caster, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0030] Fig. 3 illustrates the bicycle in a detachment mode from the bottom tube joint, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0031] Fig. 4 illustrates that the bicycle is in the "Push to Fold" mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0032] Fig. 5 illustrates the motor rotation and the bicycle rotates around the angle joint, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0033] Fig. 6 illustrates the working of the hub motor and pushing a rear end forward to make it parallel to a front wheel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0034] Fig. 7a illustrates a lateral view of the folded bicycle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and [0035] Fig. 7b illustrates a front view of the folded bicycle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0036] A few inventive aspects of the disclosed embodiments are explained in detail below with reference to the various figures. Embodiments are described to illustrate the disclosed subject matter, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a number of equivalent variations of the various features provided in the description that follows. [0037] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. [0038] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. [0039] Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the "invention" may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the "invention" will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims. [0040] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims. [0041] Various embodiments are further described herein with reference to the accompanying figures. It should be noted that the description and figures relate to exemplary embodiments and should not be construed as a limitation to the subject matter of the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the subject matter of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof. Yet further, for the sake of brevity, operation or working principles pertaining to the technical material that is known in the technical field of the present disclosure have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present disclosure. Overview [0042] The present disclosure is related to the field of transportation. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to the motorised folding mechanism. There are several folding bicycles and folding electric bicycles or e-bicycles in the market. Almost all of them use a single member joint (SMJ) that results in the vehicle folding from the centre. The front frame portion of the bicycle rotates and comes close to the rear frame portion of the bicycle completing the folding process. This process involves lifting the front frame portion of the bicycle to bring it close to the rear frame portion. This is the major problem of the prior art. [0043] The present disclosure solves this problem by offering a mechanism that can fold a diamond frame (DF) bicycle more effectively. With the present motorised folding process, users can now quickly and easily fold the bicycles and reap the advantages that foldability offers. With the DF bicycle folding mechanism, the DF bike performs as a conventional non folding bike. It has the same ergonomics, handling, ride characterises etc. [0044] Thus, the present disclosure relates to a foldable DF bicycle that offers several advantages over conventional SMJ folding bicycles and electric bicycles. [0045] The foldable DF bicycles would work in a way where the user had to hold the front brake and push the bicycle backward. This would result in a folding operation bringing the front wheel and the rear wheel parallel to each other and locking them in place. More clearly, it is stated that the wheel rotation doesn’t lock, but there is a custom locking solution that locks the entire structure in the folded state. [0046] The present disclosure has a folding mechanism or a way to fold the DF bicycle without having to push back the bicycle. Instead, now the rider or user just has to press the front wheel brake and push a button on a handlebar. This button activates a hub motor in a controlled manner slowly rotating it in the forward direction. This results in the rear frame portion of the bicycle moving forward whereas the front wheel and the front frame portion remains stationary. This results in the bicycle completing the folding mechanism and locking to form a rigid structure in a folded state as before. [0047] To unfold the bicycle, an “unfold” button is pressed on the handlebar after releasing the lock. This results in the hub motor rotating the rear wheel in the reverse direction causing the bicycle to unfold. [0048] The flagship feature would be “motorised folding and unfolding a vehicle using the same motor that powers the vehicle itself”. [0049] The best mode and the mechanism of the present disclosure are better explained with the following description of the figures. Exemplary Embodiments [0050] Fig. 1 illustrates a lateral view of the foldable DF bicycle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The foldable DF bicycle includes a rear frame portion and a front frame portion, where the front frame portion being pivotally connecting to the rear frame portion such that the two frame portions are foldable towards each other to achieve a folded state of the bicycle. [0051] The front frame portion has a truncated triangular structure formed by a head tube for mounting a front wheel and a handle bar, a top tube having a head tube joint 101 at front end for establishing a connection with the head tube and an angle joint 102 at rear end for establishing a connection with a top end of the seat tube, and a bottom tube at front end connected to the head tube and at rear end connected to a bottom end of the seat tube. In an aspect, the bottom tube near to its rear end having a bottom tube joint 103, from where the bottom tube is separated into two parts. This bottom tube joint 103 is the point where the bicycle “breaks” or “detaches” to start the folding process. The front frame portion also includes a locking system to lock the front frame portion in the folded state of the bicycle. The locking system includes a set of clamps that lock securely. [0052] The rear frame portion having a triangular structure formed by the seat tube, seat stays, and chain stays, wherein the seat stays and the chain stays are connected to a hub for mounting a rear wheel. [0053] Fig. 2 illustrates another view of the bicycle depicting a "Push to Fold" botton 201, a hub motor 202, a battery 203, and a pair of casters 204. 201: “Push to Fold” button. (The folding process starts when the button 201 is pushed). [0054] In an aspect, the hub is provided with the hub motor 202 for driving the rear wheel of the bicycle. The hub motor 202 moves in “forward” direction to fold and “reverse” direction to unfold. The hub motor 202 is the same hub motor that also drives the bicycle. [0055] Further, the rear frame portion includes the battery 203 mounted on a rear carrier of the bicycle. The battery 203 powers the hub motor 202 that folds and unfolds the bicycle. [0056] The pair of casters 204 is attached at rear end of the rear carrier to facilitate portability in the folded state of the bicycle. The casters 204 are small wheels that are used to facilitate portability in the folded state. The folded bicycle also rests on the casters 204, making it stable to stand by itself. [0057] Fig.3 illustrates the bicycle in the detachment mode from the bottom tube joint 103 and depicts that the user releases the bottom tube joint 103 manually and the bicycle detaches from the same. [0058] Fig. 4 illustrates that the bicycle is in the "Push to Fold" mode and depicts that, once detached, the user presses the “Push to fold” button 201 and the front brake simultaneously on the handlebar to start the folding process. Once the button 201 is used, the hub motor 202 rotates in the forward direction for pushing the rear frame portion forward to make the rear wheel parallel to the front wheel to achieve a folded state of the bicycle. [0059] Fig 5 illustrates the hub motor rotation and the bicycle rotates around the angle joint 102 and depicts that, as the hub motor 202 rotates the rear wheel in the forward direction the rear frame portion of the bicycle rotates around the angle joint 102, which acts as the pivot. [0060] Fig. 6 illustrates the working of the hub motor 202 and pushing the rear frame portion forward to make it parallel to the front wheel and illustrates that, the hub motor 202 keeps pushing the rear frame portion forward until the rear wheel and the front wheel become parallel to each other. The angle joint 102 helps in guiding the rear frame portion such that the central axes of both the front wheel and the rear wheel become concentric (i.e. same). [0061] Fig. 7a is the lateral view of the folded bicycle. Fig. 7b is the front view of the folded bicycle. The locking system locks the bicycle frame in the folded state. This way the bicycle is now rigid and easy to handle in the folded state. [0062] There are many advantages of the DF folding mechanism of the present disclosure over conventional single member folding mechanism. [0063] One embodiment of the present disclosure has an advantage that the frame is lighter than SM frames, as SMJ frames need additional reinforcement. [0064] Other Bicycles using a SMJ generally have smaller wheels. These are not nearly as efficient as full sized wheels that are used in the present disclosure DF folding bicycles. [0065] The present disclosure bicycles look and function exactly like conventional NFB’s. They share a lot of parts and thus this helps in keeping both the purchase and maintenance prices low. [0066] The Folding mechanism of the present disclosure happens without lifting. It is as simple as holding the front brake and pushing the bike back. [0067] The folding completes when the front and rear axles come parallel and lock with each other this offering a rigid form factor in the folded state as well. [0068] Other advantages of the present disclosure are ease of use, quick operation, operation without significant cost addition. Moreover, these are in addition to the advantages our folding mechanism possesses over conventional SMJ folding bicycles. [0069] Thus, the present disclosure DF folding bicycles offer several advantages over conventional SMJ folding bicycles and e bicycles. Equivalents [0070] The above description does not provide specific details of the manufacture or design of the various components. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out, techniques, known, related art, or later developed designs and materials should be employed. Those in the art can choose suitable manufacturing and design details. [0071] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims. [0072] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others. [0073] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A foldable diamond frame (DF) electric bicycle for implementing a motorized folding process, the fordable DF electric bicycle comprises: a front frame portion having a truncated triangular structure formed by a head tube for mounting a front wheel and a handle bar, a top tube having a head tube joint (101) at front end for establishing a connection with the head tube and an angle joint (102) at rear end for establishing a connection with a top end of the seat tube, and a bottom tube at front end connected to the head tube and at rear end connected to a bottom end of the seat tube, wherein the bottom tube near to its rear end having a bottom tube joint (103), from where the bottom tube is separated into two parts; and a rear frame portion having a triangular structure formed by the seat tube, seat stays, and chain stays, wherein the seat stays and the chain stays are connected to a hub for mounting a rear wheel, wherein the hub is provided with a hub motor (202) for driving the rear wheel of the bicycle, wherein when the bottom tube joint (103) is manually released to detach the front frame portion from the rear frame portion for folding of the bicycle, a push to fold button (201) mounted on the handle bar is to be activated along with application of brakes on the front wheel, wherein the push to fold button (201) activates the hub motor (202) to rotate the rear wheel in forward direction for pushing the rear frame portion forward to make the rear wheel parallel to the front wheel to achieve a folded state of the bicycle.

2. The foldable DF electric bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front frame portion includes a locking system to lock the front frame portion in the folded state of the bicycle.

3. The foldable DF bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear frame portion includes a battery (203) mounted on a rear carrier of the bicycle.

4. The foldable DF electric bicycle as claimed in claim 3, comprises a pair of casters (204) attached at rear end of the rear carrier to facilitate portability in the folded state of the bicycle.

5. The foldable DF electric bicycle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the folded bicycle rests on the casters (204) for making the bicycle stable to stand by itself.

6. The foldable DF electric bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein during folding of the bicycle, the front frame portion pivots around the head tube joint (101) and the angle joint (102) of the top tube.

7. The foldable DF electric bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein for unfolding the bicycle, an unfold button on the handle bar is operated to activate the hub motor (202) to rotate the rear wheel in rear direction so as to attain an unfolded state.

8. The foldable DF electric bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the angle joint (102) helps in guiding the rear frame portion such that central axes of both the front and rear wheels become concentric.