Patent · US Expired

Electric drive assembly for bicycles

US5842535A · kind A · utility

40Cited by
11References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 2, 1996
Grant dateDec 1, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 2, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB62M6/75
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An electric drive assembly for driving a bicycle includes an electric power pack containing a battery or batteries, an electric motor, a drive wheel, a control circuit, a recharger and an electric switch in a common housing. A rack is installed about the rear wheel of the bicycle to support the power pack either with an operating orientation or backwards in a non-operating orientation for transportation. When the power pack is supported in its operating orientation, the drive wheel is engaged with the rear tire of the bicycle so that the drive wheel may frictionally drive the rear wheel of the bicycle; and the electric switch is aligned with and engagable by a switch actuator mounted on the rack. A control lever, which is mounted on the handlebar of the bicycle, may be operated to cause a control cable to pivot the switch actuator into engagement with the electric switch to close the circuit between the battery or batteries and the electric motor. A lid on the rack may be pivoted to an open position permitting the power pack to be lowered into the rack and may be pivoted to a closed position to engage the top wall of the power pack housing to retain a power pack in the rack. The po…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.