Control device for an electric bicycle as well as electric bicycle with the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an operating device (1) for an electric bicycle (2) comprising a housing (3) with a plug-in part (4) and a cover part (6) adjoining the plug-in part (4), which projects beyond the plug-in part (4) to form a support shoulder (7). The housing (3) can be inserted into a frame recess (9) of a bicycle frame part (10) of a bicycle frame (11) of the electric bicycle (2) in the direction of an insertion direction (8), with the plug-in part (4) leading the way, such that the support shoulder (7) is supported on an outer frame surface (12) of the bicycle frame part (10) facing an environment (5), and the plug-in part (4) is arranged in the frame recess (9). A key feature of the invention is that the operating device (1) has a clamping jaw device (13) for releasably clamping the operating device (1) to the bicycle frame part (10). The invention relates in particular to an electric bicycle (2), in particular a pedelec, with at least one such control device (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control device for an electric bicycle according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention particularly relates to an electric bicycle with such a control device.

[0002] Operating devices of the type mentioned above are described, for example, in EP 3 851 365 A1, DE 92 04 615 U1, US 2019 002 053 A1, EP 3 828 071 A1 and EP 4 095 024 A1.

[0003] To attach the known control devices to a bicycle frame part, screw or spring connections are currently used. In this case, the respective control device is either screwed directly to the bicycle frame part or clamped to it using spring elements. However, this requires drilling and threaded holes, or spring elements, on the control device and the bicycle frame part. This makes the mechanical production of the control devices and the bicycle frame relatively complex, so that today's control devices and bicycle frame parts are relatively expensive. Furthermore, the number of rejects generated during production increases significantly, particularly due to the drilling and threaded holes that must be created.

[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved or at least a different embodiment of a control device. In particular, an electric bicycle with such a control device is to be specified.

[0005] In the present invention, this object is achieved in particular by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims and the description.

[0006] The basic idea of ​​the invention is to releasably clamp an operating device for an electric bicycle to a bicycle frame part of a bicycle frame of the electric bicycle by means of a clamping jaw device.

[0007] For this purpose, the operating device, in particular a human-machine interface (HMI), for an electric bicycle, in particular for a pedelec, is provided with a housing with a plug-in part and a cover part that is in particular integrally connected to the same and, for example, is visible from the surroundings. The cover part is designed such that it projects beyond the plug-in part, forming a (unilateral or circumferential, in particular completely circumferential) supporting shoulder. The operating device is configured such that it can be inserted in the direction of an insertion direction with the plug-in part first into a frame recess of a bicycle frame part of a bicycle frame of the electric bicycle, wherein the supporting shoulder is supported on an outer surface of the bicycle frame part facing the surroundings and the plug-in part is in particular arranged completely in the frame recess.It is essential that the operating device has a clamping jaw device for releasably clamping the operating device to the bicycle frame part. It is expedient for the clamping jaw device to be designed to be rotatably actuated. In particular, the clamping jaw device can be provided with a first, immovable clamping jaw formed by the supporting shoulder and a second clamping jaw that can be arranged in the frame recess and is linearly adjustable relative to the first clamping jaw. This provides an innovative clamping jaw device for an operating device that can be selectively clamped to the bicycle frame part, i.e., fixed in position relative to the bicycle frame part, or released from the same by rotating the clamping jaw device.The first clamping jaw, formed by the supporting shoulder of the cover part of the operating device, forms a stationary clamping jaw, as it is fixed relative to the housing of the operating device and, when the operating device is mounted on the bicycle frame part, relative to the bicycle frame part. The second clamping jaw is a linearly adjustable clamping jaw, as it is linearly adjustable relative to the housing, the first clamping jaw, and, when the operating device is mounted on the bicycle frame part, relative to the bicycle frame part. Clamping the bicycle frame part is advantageously achieved by sandwiching the bicycle frame part between the two clamping jaws, as will be described below.Due to the clamping connection realized by the clamping jaw device, the screw or spring connections previously used to attach the control device to the bicycle frame part can be dispensed with. These connections are relatively costly due to the holes and threaded holes or springs required on the control device and the bicycle frame part, for example, and are undesirable with regard to maximizing the initial yield in the production of corresponding electric bicycles. Furthermore, the proposed control device is relatively quick and easy to operate thanks to the rotary actuation of the clamping jaw device, especially compared to the aforementioned screw or spring connections previously known.

[0008] The proposed clamping jaw device is expediently configured to provide a combined force-locking and positive clamping action. It is at least conceivable for the clamping jaw device to provide only positive clamping action.

[0009] The said bicycle frame part is expediently a top tube of the bicycle frame facing the rider of the electric bicycle. However, the bicycle frame part could also be a down tube of the bicycle frame facing a surface on which the electric bicycle is supported, or a seat tube of the bicycle frame.

[0010] The said bicycle frame part of the bicycle frame is expediently designed as a hollow cylinder and further expediently defines a clear volume inside. The latter can form the said frame recess. It can, in particular, have a round, oval, elliptical, or angular, in particular polygonal, cross-section.

[0011] The said bicycle frame part of the bicycle frame or the bicycle frame as a whole may be made of an aluminum material, a carbon fiber material or a composite material.

[0012] In order to function optimally as a human-machine interface (HMI), for example, the cover part of the control device can have a display for showing human-machine interaction-related information and / or control surfaces or control buttons that can be operated by the rider of the electric bicycle on an outer side of the control device facing the environment.

[0013] The control device can further comprise one or more connecting cables for connecting the control device to a computing device of the electric bicycle and / or a power device of the electric bicycle, so that the control device can be supplied with information and / or power. The one or more connecting cables can expediently be routed through a cable feedthrough arranged on the plug-in part and, for example, be installed inside the bicycle frame.

[0014] Furthermore, the clamping jaw device can be provided with a rotary-actuated helical gear for adjusting the second clamping jaw and a multi-part guide slot, by means of which the second clamping jaw is positively guided linearly along a movement path. Through the interaction of the helical gear with the multi-part guide slot, the second clamping jaw is positively guided for linear adjustment along the movement path. Advantageously, a rotary motion initiated at the helical gear for rotary actuation is first converted by the helical gear into a linear intermediate motion, which is then converted by the guide slot into a positively guided, linear movement of the second clamping jaw along said movement path.

[0015] It can be expediently provided that the movement path is tilted at an angle relative to the insertion direction, or that an angle in the range of 10° to 80°, preferably 25° to 65°, and more preferably 35° to 55°, is spanned between the movement path and the insertion direction. This ensures that the second clamping jaw is linearly adjustable, so to speak, at an angle relative to the insertion direction. As explained below, this allows the second clamping jaw to be linearly adjusted back and forth between a clamping position and a release position, and the control device can be releasably clamped or released accordingly on the bicycle frame part.

[0016] Furthermore, it is expediently provided that the second clamping jaw is linearly adjustable back and forth by rotating the screw gear along the movement path between a clamping position, in which the second clamping jaw is supported on an inner frame surface opposite the outer frame surface and facing the frame recess, and the bicycle frame part is clamped between the first clamping jaw and the second clamping jaw, so that the control device is immovably secured with respect to the bicycle frame part, and a release position, in which the second clamping jaw is spaced from the inner frame surface and the control device can be removed from the bicycle frame part. This allows the control device to be either releasably secured to the bicycle frame part or released for removal.

[0017] It is expediently provided that in the release position the clamping jaw device and in particular the second clamping jaw is aligned in the direction of the insertion direction with a surrounding opening of the frame recess covered by the supporting shoulder, such that the operating device can be pulled out of the frame recess in the direction of the insertion direction or substantially in the direction of the insertion direction. Furthermore, it is expediently provided that in the clamping position the second clamping jaw is offset in the direction of a transverse direction that is angular or perpendicular to the insertion direction with respect to the said surrounding opening such that, viewed in the direction of the insertion direction, it overlaps at least partially with the inner surface of the frame. As a result, the operating device can be relatively easily removed from the bicycle frame part in the release position and can be fixedly secured to the bicycle frame part in the clamping position.

[0018] Furthermore, it can be advantageously provided that the screw gear can be actuated by rotation through an actuating opening in the cover part, and thus, in particular, from the surrounding area. This allows the screw gear to be actuated from the surrounding area with relatively little effort. This has the advantage that the clamping jaw device can be actuated quickly and easily.

[0019] It is expedient for the helical gear to have a spindle rod with an external thread, which is mounted in the housing for rotation about a spindle axis of rotation, and a spindle nut movably arranged on the spindle rod, wherein the spindle nut is received in a rotationally fixed and linearly displaceable manner in an undercut, groove-like guide recess of the second clamping jaw, which guide recess is formed as a component of the guide slot. The spindle nut is thus configured such that, when the spindle rod is rotated about the spindle axis of rotation, it moves longitudinally along the spindle rod in the direction of the axis of rotation, while at the same time preventing any concomitant rotation of the spindle nut by the guide recess of the second clamping jaw, which guide slot is formed as a component of the guide slot, in a movement referred to as the spindle nut movement.

[0020] It is expediently provided that the spindle rod has a tool feature at one end for engagement with a rotary actuating tool, wherein the spindle rod with its said rod end penetrates at least partially or completely through the cover part in the region of an actuating opening of the cover part that is open to the environment, so that the tool feature is accessible from the environment. The spindle rotation axis of the spindle rod can preferably be aligned parallel with respect to the insertion direction. However, an angular alignment of the spindle rotation axis with respect to the insertion direction is also possible. In this way, the spindle rod can be conveniently rotated from the environment to actuate the clamping jaw device using a rotary actuating tool suitable for the respective tool feature designed.The rotary actuating tool can be guided either in the direction of the insertion direction or at an angle to the operating device and placed on the tool feature.

[0021] It is further expediently provided that the guide slot comprises as components an undercut, groove-like guide recess formed on the second clamping jaw for the rotationally fixed, linearly displaceable reception of a spindle nut of the helical gear, a guide ramp arrangement formed on the second clamping jaw with at least one guide projection tilted at an angle with respect to the insertion direction and a jaw receiving pocket arranged on the plug-in part and / or on the cover part and open at least on one side for receiving and guiding the second clamping jaw, wherein the jaw receiving pocket has a counter-guide ramp arrangement for guiding the guide ramp arrangement with at least one guide receptacle tilted at an angle with respect to the insertion direction for the at least one guide projection.As a result, the spindle nut movement of the spindle nut can be converted into a positively guided, linear movement of the second clamping jaw along the said movement path, which is in particular angularly tilted with respect to the insertion direction and / or the spindle rotation axis. Specifically, the spindle nut moves along the spindle rod or along the spindle rotation axis as a result of a rotational actuation of the spindle rod as part of the spindle nut movement described above, wherein the second clamping jaw actuated by the spindle nut slides in a positively guided manner along the guide receptacle of the counter-guide ramp arrangement by means of its at least one guide projection of the guide ramp arrangement, which is angularly tilted with respect to the insertion direction and / or the spindle rotation axis, so that the movement along the spindle rod orthe movement of the spindle nut guided along the spindle rotation axis is converted into a movement of the second clamping jaw which is angularly tilted with respect to the insertion direction and / or the spindle rotation axis.

[0022] The second clamping jaw expediently has a substantially cuboid-shaped jaw body extending in a main clamping jaw direction, through which the undercut, groove-like guide recess extends longitudinally to the main clamping jaw direction.

[0023] It is expediently provided that the housing of the operating device extends along a longitudinal axis, orthogonally thereto in the direction of a transverse axis, and orthogonally to the longitudinal axis and orthogonally to the transverse axis in the direction of a vertical axis, wherein the housing has two narrow housing ends oriented oppositely with respect to the longitudinal axis and two large housing ends oriented oppositely with respect to the transverse axis. It is essential that the clamping jaw device is arranged on one or the other narrow housing end. Accordingly, the proposed clamping jaw device is arranged either on one narrow housing end or the other narrow housing end of the housing.Preferably, it can be provided that a first narrow housing end face of said narrow housing end faces, when the control device is mounted on the bicycle frame part, faces a handlebar of the electric bicycle, and a second narrow housing end face of said narrow housing end faces, when the control device is mounted on the bicycle frame part, faces away from the handlebar, in particular, toward a bicycle seat of the electric bicycle. In this case, it is preferred if the clamping jaw device is arranged on the second narrow housing end face, i.e., the side facing away from the handlebar, in particular, toward the bicycle seat.

[0024] It is further expediently provided that the housing of the operating device extends along a longitudinal axis, orthogonal thereto in the direction of a transverse axis and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and orthogonal to the transverse axis in the direction of a vertical axis. A plane is spanned by the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, which plane separates the plug-in part and the cover part from one another. It is further provided that the supporting shoulder projects beyond the plug-in part (on one side or all the way around, in particular all the way around) in the direction of the transverse axis and that the clamping jaw device has a first, immovable clamping jaw formed by the supporting shoulder and a second clamping jaw which can be arranged in the frame recess and is linearly adjustable relative to the first clamping jaw, wherein the first clamping jaw is arranged on the side of the plane containing the cover part and the second clamping jaw is arranged on the side of the plane containing the plug-in part.This provides an advantageous arrangement of the two clamping jaws.

[0025] According to a further basic idea of ​​the invention, an electric bicycle, in particular a pedelec, is provided which has at least one operating device which is implemented according to one of the preceding description features.

[0026] In summary, the present invention preferably relates to an operating device for an electric bicycle, comprising a housing with a plug-in part and a cover part adjoining the same, which cover part projects beyond the plug-in part to form a supporting shoulder, wherein the housing can be inserted in the direction of an insertion direction with the plug-in part first into a frame recess of a bicycle frame part of a bicycle frame of the electric bicycle, such that the supporting shoulder is supported on an outer surface of the bicycle frame part facing the surroundings and the plug-in part is arranged in the frame recess. It is essential for the invention that the operating device has a clamping jaw device for releasably clamping the operating device to the bicycle frame part. The invention particularly relates to an electric bicycle, in particular a pedelec, having at least one such operating device.

[0027] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0028] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0029] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0030] They show, schematically Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an operating device according to the invention, wherein the focus is on a clamping jaw device of the operating device and the operating device is otherwise hidden, Fig. 2 in a side view the control unit Fig. 1 in the direction of an arrow II shown there, with the control device now shown in full and mounted on a bicycle frame part of a bicycle frame which is only partially illustrated, Fig. 3 in a front view the control unit Fig. 1 in the direction of an arrow III shown there, whereby clamping jaws of the clamping jaw device are adjusted to a release position and the operating device is therefore in the direction of a Fig. 3 can be moved relative to the bicycle frame part illustrated only in sections, Fig. 4 in another front view the control unit Fig. 1 in the direction of an arrow IV shown there, whereby the clamping jaws are now adjusted to a clamping position and the control device is therefore releasably clamped to the bicycle frame part, which is only partially illustrated, and finally Fig. 5 in a perspective view the clamping jaw device of the control unit Fig. 1 in the direction of an arrow V shown there in an enlarged view, in addition, a second clamping jaw of the clamping jaw device is shown transparently so that the functioning of the clamping jaw device is easier to understand.

[0031] The Fig. 1 to 5 show a single, preferred embodiment of an operating device, designated overall by the reference numeral 1, which can be embodied, for example, as a human-machine interface (HMI) and mounted on a bicycle frame part 10 of a bicycle frame 11 of an electric bicycle 2, in particular a pedelec, in an area that is easily visible and accessible to a rider of the electric bicycle 2. The operating device 1 has, for example, on a side facing an environment 5, control buttons, by means of which, for example, a drive of the electric bicycle 2 can be operated, and / or a display 55 for displaying information related to human-machine interaction. Furthermore, it can provide control surfaces or the like for the rider of the electric bicycle 2.

[0032] The Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show, as explained above, in a perspective and a side view according to arrow II from Fig. 1 shows the operating device 1, with the focus being on a clamping jaw device 13 for releasably clamping the operating device 1 to the bicycle frame part 10. Before this explanation, the other features and components of the operating device 1 and the bicycle frame part 10 are first presented below. The illustrated operating device 1 has a one-piece housing 3 assembled from several components, which extends along a longitudinal axis 47, orthogonally thereto in the direction of a transverse axis 48, as well as orthogonally to the longitudinal axis 47 and orthogonally to the transverse axis 48 in the direction of a vertical axis 49. The extension of the housing 3 is here greater in the direction of the longitudinal axis 47 than that in the direction of the transverse axis 48 and greater than that in the direction of the vertical axis 49, which gives the operating device 1 an overall approximately cuboid-like shape.The housing 3 has a plug-in part designated 4 and a cover part 6 which is integrally connected thereto and which, in particular, has an outer side 54 visible from the surroundings 5 ​​of the control device 1. Furthermore, it can be seen that the cover part 6 projects beyond the plug-in part 4 transversely to the vertical axis 49, forming a completely circumferential support shoulder 7. The cover part 6 has, on its visible outer side 54, for example, the aforementioned display 55 for displaying information related to human-machine interaction and / or control surfaces operable by the rider of the electric bicycle 2. The plug-in part 4 and the cover part 6 are separated by a plane 53 which lies parallel to a reference plane 58 spanned by the longitudinal axis 47 and the transverse axis 48.

[0033] The housing 3 further has two narrow housing end faces 50, 51 opposite in the direction of the longitudinal axis 47 and two large housing end faces 52 opposite in the direction of the transverse axis 48. A first narrow housing end face 50 of said narrow housing end faces 50, 51 faces a handlebar of the electric bicycle 2 when the control device 1 is mounted on the bicycle frame part 10. A second narrow housing end face 51 of said narrow housing end faces 50, 51 faces away from the handlebar when the control device 1 is mounted on the bicycle frame part 10 and, in particular, faces a bicycle seat of the electric bicycle 2.

[0034] The operating device 1 or the housing 3 further comprises, by way of example, a plurality of connecting lines 56, here combined into a single cable, for connecting the operating device 1 to a computing device (not illustrated) of the electric bicycle 2 and / or a power device (likewise not illustrated) of the electric bicycle 2, so that the operating device 1 can be supplied with information and / or power when mounted on the bicycle frame part 10. In this case, the connecting lines 56 are routed outward through the housing 3 via a cable duct 57 arranged on the second narrow end face 51 of the housing and are laid, for example, inside the bicycle frame part 10, cf. Fig. 2.

[0035] In Fig. 2 to 4 show the operating device 1 and, in addition, a section of the bicycle frame part 10 of the bicycle frame 11. In this case, the bicycle frame part 10 is a hollow-cylindrical top tube 17 of the bicycle frame 11 with, for example, a round tube cross-section. The bicycle frame part 10 defines a frame recess 9 on the inside, which is open to the environment 5 via an environmental opening 30. The bicycle frame part 10 also has a so-called frame outer surface 12 on its outer side facing the environment 5 and an inner frame surface 28 on the inner side facing the frame recess 9, i.e., opposite the frame outer surface 12. The bicycle frame 11 or the said bicycle frame part 10 is made of an aluminum, carbon fiber, or composite material, so that the bicycle frame 11 or the bicycle frame part 10 is relatively lightweight.

[0036] In Fig. 2 to 4 it can also be seen that the operating device 1, the surrounding opening 30 and the frame recess 9 are coordinated with one another in such a way that the operating device 1 or the housing 3 can be inserted into the frame recess 9 with the plug-in part 4 first in the direction of an insertion direction 8 oriented parallel to the vertical axis 49. The operating device 1 is guided parallel with respect to the insertion direction 8 during insertion. However, it can also be inserted into the frame recess 9 by a combined parallel and pivoting movement. In any case, the plug-in part 4 in the present case is inserted completely, or alternatively only in sections, into the frame recess 9, so that it is arranged completely in the frame recess 9. The supporting shoulder 7 is supported all around and in contact with the outer frame surface 12 of the bicycle frame part 10 facing the surroundings 5.It is conceivable, although not illustrated, that the support shoulder 7 carries a sealing means, for example a sealing cord, a sealing lip, or a rubber coating, on a shoulder surface section of the support shoulder 7 facing the outer frame surface 12, by means of which the frame recess 9 can be sealed fluid-tight against the environment 5. As a result, the operating device 1 is loosely inserted into the bicycle frame part 10 and can be removed from the frame recess 9 opposite to the insertion direction 8. This is referred to here as the state 16 of the operating device 1 mounted on the bicycle frame part 10.

[0037] In order to fix the operating device 1 to the bicycle frame part 10, ie to fix it in a fixed position relative to the bicycle frame part 10, the operating device 1 is equipped with a clamping jaw device 13, arranged in particular exclusively on the first narrow end face 50 of the housing, designed to be rotatably actuated, for releasably clamping the operating device 1 to the bicycle frame part 10. The clamping jaw device 13 has, as shown in particular in Fig. 3 to 5, a first, immovable clamping jaw 14 formed by the supporting shoulder 7 and a second clamping jaw 15 which is linearly adjustable relative to the first clamping jaw 14. The two clamping jaws 14, 15 are placed at a mutual distance on the housing 3 so that they define a clamping receptacle 59 between them. In addition, the first clamping jaw 14 lies on the side of the plane 53 which has the cover part 6 and the second clamping jaw 15 lies on the side of the plane 53 which has the plug-in part 4. The operating device 1 and the bicycle frame part 10 are coordinated with one another such that when the operating device 1 is inserted into the frame recess 9 in the manner described above, a section of the bicycle frame part 10 engages in the said clamping receptacle 59. The clamping orClamping connection with the bicycle frame part 10 is achieved in that the bicycle frame part 10 arranged sandwich-like between the two clamping jaws 14, 15 is clamped by means of the two clamping jaws 14, 15 upon corresponding rotation of the clamping jaw device 13, see in particular. Fig. 4. The clamping or clamping connection can be force-locking and / or form-locking. This provides an innovative clamping jaw device 13 that can be clamped to the bicycle frame part 10 by rotating it, i.e., fixed in position relative to the bicycle frame part 10, or released from the same.

[0038] It is understood that the clamping jaw device 13 could alternatively be arranged on the second narrow housing end face 51. Furthermore, in addition to the clamping jaw device 13 on the first narrow housing end face 50, a further clamping jaw device 13 could be arranged on the second narrow housing end face 51, so that clamping jaw devices 13 are arranged exclusively on the two narrow housing end faces 50, 51. In principle, it would also be conceivable for a clamping jaw device 13 to be arranged on at least one large housing end face 52 or for a clamping jaw device 13 to be arranged on each of the two large housing end faces 52 of the housing 3.

[0039] In the Fig. 1 to 5 it is further apparent that the clamping jaw device 13 comprises, in addition to the two clamping jaws 14, 15, a rotary-actuated screw gear 23 for adjusting the second clamping jaw 15 and a multi-part guide slot 24, by means of which the second clamping jaw 15 can be moved along a Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the movement path 25 indicated by a dot-dash line is linearly positively guided. In this case, an angle of approximately 60° is set between the movement path 25 and the insertion direction 8 or the vertical axis 49, whereby the second clamping jaw 15 is, so to speak, linearly positively guided at an angle relative to the insertion direction 8 or the vertical axis 49.

[0040] The screw gear 23 in turn has a spindle rotation axis 33 in the housing 3 which is parallel to the insertion direction 8 or the vertical axis 49 and which is Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 is shown by a dotted line, a rotatably mounted spindle rod 34 with an external thread 35 and a spindle nut 36 arranged on the spindle rod 34 so as to be movable in the direction of the spindle rotation axis 33. The spindle rod 34 has a tool feature 39a, 39b at a rod end 38 pointing away from the bicycle frame part 10 for engagement with a rotary actuating tool (not shown). Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, two different tool features 39a, 39b are indicated, wherein the first tool feature 39a represents a special tool feature for a special rotary operating tool and the second tool feature 39b represents a conventional screw tool feature for a commercially available rotary operating tool. The spindle rod 34, with its said rod end 38, partially penetrates the cover part 6 in the area of ​​an actuation opening 32 of the cover part 6 that is open to the surroundings 5, so that the tool feature 39a, 39b is accessible from the surroundings 5 ​​and the screw gear 23 or the clamping jaw device 13 can be easily actuated.

[0041] The multi-part guide backdrop 24, see in particular Fig. 5, comprises as components an undercut, groove-like guide recess 37 formed on the second clamping jaw 15 for the rotationally fixed, linearly displaceable reception of the spindle nut 36, a guide ramp arrangement 40 formed on the second clamping jaw 15, and a jaw receiving pocket 42 arranged here on the plug-in part 4 and on the cover part 6, which is open on at least one side, for receiving and guiding the second clamping jaw 15. The second clamping jaw 15 has a substantially cuboid-shaped jaw body 46 extending in a clamping jaw main extension direction 45, through which the guide recess 37 extends longitudinally to the clamping jaw main extension direction 45. The guide recess 37 has, viewed in the direction of the clamping jaw main extension direction 45, a T-shaped or cross-shaped, undercut-forming cross-section in which the spindle nut 36 can be received.The guide recess 37 is particularly designed to accommodate the spindle nut 36 in a rotationally fixed manner along the clamping jaw main extension direction 45 with respect to rotation about the spindle rotation axis 33, as well as adjustable with respect to the clamping jaw main extension direction 45. The guide ramp arrangement 40 of the second clamping jaw 15 is equipped with a guide projection 41, which is angularly tilted with respect to the insertion direction 8 and arranged on an outer side of the second clamping jaw 15 and has two opposing, parallel guide surfaces 60a, 60b. The jaw receiving pocket 42 is formed integrally with the housing 3 and has a receptacle 61 open at least on one side for receiving and guiding the second clamping jaw 15 in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to rotation about the spindle rotation axis 33.For this purpose, the jaw receiving pocket 42 has walls 62 for the rotationally fixed guidance of the second clamping jaw 15 and a counter-guide ramp arrangement 43 formed on at least one wall 62 of these walls 62 for guiding the second clamping jaw 15 using its guide ramp arrangement 40. The counter-guide ramp arrangement 43 has a guide receptacle 44 tilted at an angle with respect to the insertion direction 8 and having two guide tracks 63a / 63b along which the guide surfaces 60a, 60b of the guide projection 41 are positively guided.

[0042] As a result, the clamping jaw device 13 is configured as a whole such that a rotary movement 26 of the spindle rod 34, initiated by a rotary actuating tool via the tool feature 39a, 39b on the spindle rod 34 of the helical gear 23, is initially converted into a movement of the spindle nut 36 that is parallel to the spindle rotation axis 33 and non-rotatable with respect to the spindle rotation axis 33. The spindle nut 36, in turn, adjusts the second clamping jaw 15 linearly in the direction of the movement path 25 by converting the movement of the spindle nut 36 by means of the guide slot 24 as a result of the positively guided sliding of the guide surfaces 60a, 60b of the guide projection 41 of the second clamping jaw 15 along the guide tracks 63a / 63b of the jaw receiving pocket 42. This means that the second clamping jaw 15 is positively guided in a linearly adjustable manner along the movement path 25 by an interaction of the screw gear 23 with the multi-part guide slot 24.

[0043] As a result, the second clamping jaw 15 can be adjusted into a clamping position 27 along the movement path 25 by a rotary actuation 26 of the screw gear 23, cf. Fig. 4. In this position, the second clamping jaw 15 is supported on the inner frame surface 28 opposite the outer frame surface 12 and facing the frame recess 9, and the bicycle frame part 10 is clamped between the first clamping jaw 14 and the second clamping jaw 15, so that the operating device 1 is immovably fixed with respect to the bicycle frame part 10. Furthermore, the second clamping jaw 15 can be adjusted from the clamping position 27 into a release position 29 by a correspondingly opposite rotation of the screw gear 23 along the movement path 25, cf. Fig. 3. The second clamping jaw 15 is spaced from the frame inner surface 28 so that the disassembly of the operating device 1 from the bicycle frame part 10 is possible.

[0044] In the release position 29, it is provided in particular that the second clamping jaw 15 is aligned in the direction of the insertion direction 8 with the surrounding opening 30 of the frame recess 9 covered by the supporting shoulder 7, so that the operating device 1 can be pulled out of the frame recess 9 in the direction of the insertion direction 8 or substantially in the direction of the insertion direction 8. In contrast, in the clamping position 27, the second clamping jaw 15 is offset in the direction of a transverse direction 31 that is angular or perpendicular to the insertion direction 8 with respect to the said surrounding opening 30 such that, viewed in the direction of the insertion direction 8, it overlaps at least partially with the inner frame surface 28. As a result, the operating device 1 can be relatively easily removed from the bicycle frame part 10 in the release position 29 and is clamped firmly to the bicycle frame part 10 in the clamping position 27. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 3 851 365 A1

[0002] DE 92 04 615 U1

[0002] US 2019 002 053 A1

[0002] EP 3 828 071 A1

[0002] EP 4 095 024 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Operating device (1), in particular human-machine interface (HMI), for an electric bicycle (2), in particular for a pedelec, comprising - a housing (3) with a plug-in part (4) and a cover part (6) adjoining the same, which projects beyond the plug-in part (4) to form a supporting shoulder (7), - wherein the operating device (1) can be inserted in the direction of an insertion direction (8) with the plug-in part (4) first into a frame recess (9) of a bicycle frame part (10) of a bicycle frame (11) of the electric bicycle (2), so that the carrying shoulder (7) is supported on an outer frame surface (12) of the bicycle frame part (10) facing an environment (5) and the plug-in part (4) is arranged in the frame recess (9), characterized by , that - the operating device (1) has a clamping jaw device (13) for releasably clamping the operating device (1) to the bicycle frame part (10). [2] Operating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that - the clamping jaw device (13) is designed to be rotatably actuated. [3] Operating device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that - the clamping jaw device (13) has a first immovable clamping jaw (14) formed by the supporting shoulder (7) and a second clamping jaw (15) which can be arranged in the frame recess (9) and is linearly adjustable relative to the first clamping jaw (14). [4] Operating device (1) according to claim 3, characterized by , that - the clamping jaw device (13) has a rotary-actuated screw gear (23) for adjusting the second clamping jaw (15) and a multi-part guide slot (24) by means of which the second clamping jaw (15) is linearly guided along a movement path (25). [5] Operating device (1) according to claim 4, characterized by , that - the movement path (25) is tilted at an angle with respect to the insertion direction (8), or - that an angle in the range between 10° to 80°, preferably 25° to 65°, and more preferably 35° to 55°, is spanned between the movement path (25) and the insertion direction (8). [6] Operating device (1) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized by , that - the second clamping jaw (15) is linearly adjustable back and forth by rotating the screw gear (23) along the movement path (25) between a clamping position (27), in which the second clamping jaw (15) is supported on an inner frame surface (28) opposite the outer frame surface (12) and facing the frame recess (9), and the bicycle frame part (10) is clamped between the first clamping jaw (14) and the second clamping jaw (15), so that the operating device (1) is immovably fixed with respect to the bicycle frame part (10), and a release position (29), in which the second clamping jaw (15) is spaced from the inner frame surface (28) and the disassembly of the operating device (1) from the bicycle frame part (10) is possible. [7] Operating device (1) according to claim 6, characterized by , that - in the release position (29), the clamping jaw device (13) and the second clamping jaw (15) are aligned in the direction of the insertion direction (8) with an opening (30) in the frame recess (9) covered by the carrying shoulder (7), so that the operating device (1) can be pulled out of the frame recess (9) in the direction of the insertion direction (8) or substantially in the direction of the insertion direction (8), and - in the clamping position (27), the second clamping jaw (15) is offset in the direction of a transverse direction (31) which is angular or perpendicular to the insertion direction (8) with respect to the said surrounding opening (30) in such a way that, viewed in the direction of the insertion direction (8), it overlaps at least in sections with the frame inner surface (28). [8] Operating device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized by , that - the screw gear (23) can be rotated through an actuating opening (32) passing through the cover part (6). [9] Operating device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized by , that - the screw gear (23) has a spindle rod (34) with an external thread (35) which is mounted in the housing (3) for rotation about a spindle axis (33) and a spindle nut (36) which is movably arranged on the spindle rod (34), - wherein the spindle nut (36) is received in a rotationally fixed and linearly displaceable manner in an undercut, groove-like guide recess (37) of the second clamping jaw (15) formed as a component of the guide slot (24). [10] Operating device (1) according to claim 9, characterized by , that - the spindle rod (34) has a tool feature (39a, 39b) at one rod end (38) for engagement with a rotary actuating tool, - wherein the spindle rod (34) with its said rod end (38) passes through the cover part (6) at least partially or completely in the region of an actuating opening (32) of the cover part (6) open to the environment (5), so that the tool feature (39a, 39b) is accessible from the environment (5). [11] Operating device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized by , that - the guide slot (24) comprises, as components, an undercut, groove-like guide recess (37) formed on the second clamping jaw (15) for the rotationally fixed, linearly displaceable reception of a spindle nut (36) of the helical gear (23), a guide ramp arrangement (40) formed on the second clamping jaw (15) with at least one guide projection (41) tilted at an angle with respect to the insertion direction (8), and a jaw receiving pocket (42) arranged on the plug-in part (4) and / or on the cover part (6) and open at least on one side for receiving and guiding the second clamping jaw (15), wherein the jaw receiving pocket (42) has a counter-guide ramp arrangement (43) for guiding the guide ramp arrangement (40) with at least one guide receptacle (44) tilted at an angle with respect to the insertion direction (8) for the at least one guide projection (41). [12] Operating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the housing (3) of the operating device (1) extends along a longitudinal axis (47), orthogonally thereto in the direction of a transverse axis (48) and orthogonally to the longitudinal axis (47) and orthogonally to the transverse axis (48) in the direction of a vertical axis (49), - wherein the housing (3) has two narrow housing end faces (50, 51) oriented oppositely with respect to the longitudinal axis (47) and two large housing end faces (52) oriented oppositely with respect to the transverse axis (48), - wherein the clamping jaw device (13) is arranged on one narrow end face (50) of the housing or the other narrow end face (51) of the housing. [13] Operating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the housing (3) of the operating device (1) extends along a longitudinal axis (47), orthogonally thereto in the direction of a transverse axis (48) and orthogonally to the longitudinal axis (47) and orthogonally to the transverse axis (48) in the direction of a vertical axis (49), - wherein a plane (53) is spanned by the longitudinal axis (47) and the transverse axis (48) which separates the plug-in part (4) and the cover part (6) from each other, - wherein the carrying shoulder (7) projects beyond the plug-in part (4) transversely to the vertical axis (49), - wherein the clamping jaw device (13) has a first immovable clamping jaw (13) formed by the support shoulder (7) and a second clamping jaw (15) which can be arranged in the frame recess (9) and is linearly adjustable relative to the first clamping jaw (14), - wherein the first clamping jaw (14) is arranged on the side of the plane (53) having the cover part (6), - wherein the second clamping jaw (15) is arranged on the side of the plane (53) having the plug-in part (4). [14] Electric bicycle (2), in particular a pedelec, comprising at least one operating device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

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