VEHICLE WITH ADVANCED HOOD AND REMOVABLE ELECTRICAL POWER UNIT PROTECTION

Abstract

VEHICLE WITH IMPROVED HOOD FOR REMOVABLE POWER SUPPLY UNIT PROTECTION Vehicle (1) having a receiving compartment (3) shaped to receive and contain a removable power supply unit, with an opening (4) for the passage of the power supply unit, and with a hood (5) hinged on a hinge (6) and forced into a retracted position by a hood return spring, in which: - hood locking means (7), actuable by a user, are arranged to retain and reversibly lock a second end of the hood (5b) to the vehicle (1), - battery locking means (8), actuable by the user, are arranged to retain and reversibly lock a second end of the battery in the receiving compartment (3),- The hood locking means (7) and the battery locking means (8) are connected to each other so as to operate simultaneously under the effect of a single user input, producing the locking and / or unlocking of the hood (5) and the power supply unit. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 1,

Description

Title of the invention: VEHICLE WITH AN IMPROVED HOOD FOR PROTECTING A REMOVABLE ELECTRICAL POWER UNIT TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of on-board electrical power supply for vehicles, in particular for light electrically assisted vehicles such as bicycles, scooters, tricycles, etc.

[0002] In this field, the source of electrical energy for powering the electric assistance motor is an electrical power supply unit on board the chassis of the vehicle and comprising an electric storage battery. The recharging of the electric storage battery is generally ensured by a charger designed to transform the 220 V input alternating current from an external source of electrical energy into lower voltage alternating current which is then rectified to provide a direct current for recharging the storage battery.

[0003] The charger may be on-board, fixed and permanently connected to the electric storage battery, being connectable at will to said external source of electrical energy. Alternatively, the charger is either fixed and permanently connected to the external source of electrical energy, or connectable at will to the electric storage battery and to said external source of electrical energy.

[0004] The recharging of the electric storage battery is normally carried out when the electric power unit is removed from the vehicle, generally to be transported to a monitored room where there is an access connection to the external source of electric power.

[0005] In normal operation to power an electric assistance motor on a vehicle, the on-board electrical power supply unit is housed in a receiving compartment provided for this purpose on the vehicle, and shaped both to secure the electrical power supply unit to the vehicle and to protect it against external aggressions such as impacts and rain runoff.

[0006] To ensure these functions while facilitating the insertion and removal of the power supply unit, the receiving compartment is usually adapted to permanently cover five faces of the power supply unit, with an opening corresponding to the sixth face and closable by a retractable cover.

[0007] In the application to the electric bicycle, a removable cover has already been proposed, with or without locking by a key / barrel system, not integral with the electrical power supply unit, and fitting onto the opening of the receiving compartment for to close it. A major disadvantage of this solution is the risk of losing the cover in the event of an impact or incorrect engagement on the opening, or the risk of forgetting the cover at the end of recharging. In the case of a key-locked cover, another disadvantage is that removing or adapting the cover complicates the maneuver to replace or remove the power supply unit, because one hand is required to hold the cover or place it on the ground before removing a locking key, the other hand being occupied to grasp the power supply unit.

[0008] As an alternative, a cover formed by the power supply unit itself, or permanently secured to it, has already been proposed. A disadvantage of this solution is then the absence of closure of the receiving compartment in the absence of the power supply unit (whether it is removed in order to carry out external recharging or simply to limit the risk of theft), which could encourage malicious acts, and could allow water to enter the connections. Another disadvantage of this solution is that it complicates the shape of the power supply unit.

[0009] In a much more confidential manner, a hood has already been proposed that is permanently attached to the bicycle by a hinge.

[0010] In all cases, means are generally provided for locking and securing the electrical power supply unit in the bottom of the receiving compartment, in order to prevent the theft thereof and the relative vibration movements of the electrical power supply unit with respect to the vehicle during driving. But this complicates the operations necessary for installing or removing the electrical power supply unit: operating the key to lock or unlock, operating the locking means of the electrical power supply unit, handling the electrical power supply unit, and possibly operating the hood and locking or unlocking the hood when the latter is not secured to the electrical power supply unit.

[0011] There is therefore a need to facilitate or reduce the operations necessary for installing or removing the power supply unit.

[0012] At the same time, there is a need to ensure a watertight closure of the receiving compartment, preventing the intrusion of liquids both during the presence of the electrical power supply unit on the vehicle and during its absence.

[0013] Furthermore, in the case of a hood articulated on the vehicle by a hinge, there is a very high risk of damaging the hinge when the hood, of elongated shape, is in the open position and then constitutes a relatively long lever arm capable of causing significant stress in the hinge even in the case of a mild mechanical stress on the hood.

[0014] There is therefore a need to prevent the hinge from being degraded or destroyed during mechanical stresses usually applied to the hood during normal use. Statement of the invention

[0015] A problem proposed by the present invention is to design a closing and protection system for an on-board and removable electrical power supply unit, in which a hinge allows a hood to be permanently secured to a vehicle while allowing the opening and closing of a receiving compartment for the electrical power supply unit, and in which means facilitate and reduce the operations necessary for opening and closing the hood, for locking and unlocking it, and for holding and releasing the electrical power supply unit.

[0016] Another problem proposed by the present invention is to design such a closing and protection system for an on-board electrical power supply unit which, in the closed position, ensures good sealing of the receiving compartment in order to prevent the intrusion of liquids.

[0017] As a possible addition, protective means make it possible to prevent damage or breakage of the hinge during mechanical stresses applied to the hood in the open position.

[0018] To achieve these and other objects, the invention provides a vehicle having a receiving compartment elongated between a first compartment end and a second compartment end and shaped to receive and contain a removable electrical power supply unit itself elongated between a first battery end housed in the first compartment end and a second battery end housed in the second compartment end, the vehicle comprising: - an opening shaped to allow the introduction of the power supply unit into the receiving compartment and its extraction from the receiving compartment, - a cover, movable between a closed position in which it conceals said opening and a retracted position in which it releases said opening to allow the introduction or extraction of the electrical power supply unit through said opening, - a hinge, comprising a fixed hinge part, integral with the vehicle or provided thereon, and a movable hinge part connected to the hood and rotatably mounted around a hood rotation axis integral with the fixed hinge part, the hinge connecting the hood to the vehicle and allowing the movement of said hood by rotation between its closed position and its retracted position; furthermore, according to the invention: - the opening is elongated between a first opening end corresponding to the first compartment end and a second opening end corresponding to the second compartment end, - the hinge connects a first end of the hood to the vehicle according to the first opening end, - hood locking means, operable by a user, are arranged to hold and reversibly lock a second end of the hood to the vehicle according to the second opening end, - battery locking means, operable by the user, are arranged to hold and reversibly lock the second end of the battery in the receiving compartment in the vicinity of the second opening end, - the hood locking means and the battery locking means are connected to each other so as to operate simultaneously under the effect of a single request from the user producing the locking and / or unlocking of the hood and the electrical power supply unit.

[0019] The simultaneous operation of the hood locking means and the battery locking means facilitates and reduces the operations that the user must carry out to extract the electrical power supply unit from the receiving compartment.

[0020] In practice, the simultaneous operation of the hood locking means and the battery locking means can be ensured by providing that the hood locking means and the battery locking means comprise a common locking assembly: - rotatably mounted about a fixed transverse lever axis of the vehicle between a locking position and a release position, - comprising a distal hood attachment beak and a proximal battery attachment beak, - the distal hood latching beak being arranged so as to hold a second end area of ​​the hood pressed against a peripheral rim of a second opening end area when the common locking assembly is in the locking position, - the proximal battery hooking beak being arranged so as to hold a second battery end area pressed into the bottom of the receiving compartment when the common locking assembly is in the holding or locking position.

[0021] The common locking assembly may be operable by the user by means of a key which may be engaged in an eccentric tang rotor engaged in a cam housing and the rotation of which produces the pivoting of the common locking assembly between its locking position and its release position.

[0022] According to a particularly simple embodiment, it is provided that: - the hood comprises a hood protrusion on which the distal hood latching beak rests when the hood is in the closed position and the common locking assembly is in the locked position, - the hood protrusion and the distal hood latching beak are arranged so that the final rotation of the common locking assembly towards its locking position causes a final rotation of the hood to its closing position by pressing a second end zone of the hood against a peripheral rim of a second end zone of the opening.

[0023] This particular arrangement makes it possible to guarantee good sealing of the hood in the second end zone of the receiving compartment.

[0024] Preferably, it can also be provided that: - the power supply unit comprises a battery protrusion on which the proximal battery attachment beak rests when the common locking assembly is in the locking position, - the battery protrusion and the proximal battery latching beak are arranged so that the final rotation of the common locking assembly towards its locking position causes pressure on the power supply unit by pressing a second battery end area into the bottom of the receiving compartment.

[0025] This particular arrangement makes it possible to guarantee good performance of the electrical power supply unit without requiring any additional operation from the user other than simply operating the locking key.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, it is further provided that: - the hood is biased by a hood return spring, arranged on its hood rotation axis, and which is arranged to pivot it to its retracted position in the absence of an obstacle or a retaining force exerted by the user, - the power supply unit is biased by a wedging spring, arranged between the second battery end zone and the bottom of the receiving compartment, and which tends to push the second battery end zone out of the receiving compartment, - so that the rotation of the common locking assembly towards its release position, produced by an operation of the key, causes almost simultaneously the release of the hood which pivots to its retracted position under the action of the hood return spring, and the release of the electrical power supply unit which pivots slightly towards the outside of the receiving compartment under the thrust of the wedging spring to facilitate its gripping by the user.

[0027] This particular arrangement facilitates and considerably reduces the operations that the user must perform to access the electrical power supply unit, since the simple operation of the locking key simultaneously produces the unlocking of the hood, the complete opening of the hood, and the release of the electrical power supply unit which pivots slightly towards the outside of the receiving compartment under the pressure of the wedging spring to facilitate its gripping by the user.

[0028] Preferably, the common locking assembly is permanently biased by a lever return spring which tends to pivot it to its locking position when the power supply unit is absent, or to a holding position when the power supply unit is present.

[0029] In this way, the lever return spring ensures that the holding position (proximal battery hooking beak engaged on the upper part of the battery protrusion) is permanently maintained when this position has been reached by pressing on the power supply unit when the user engages it. This same lever return spring tends to assist the user when turning the key to move from the holding position to the locking position allowing the key to be extracted.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the battery protrusion and the proximal battery hooking beak are arranged so that, upon rotation of the common locking assembly toward its locking position under the action of its lever return spring, while the power supply unit is pivoted slightly outward from the receiving compartment, the proximal battery hooking beak abuts against a closing front face of the battery protrusion, so that the proximal battery hooking beak does not oppose the extraction of the power supply unit from the receiving compartment.

[0031] This further facilitates the extraction of the power supply unit.

[0032] Preferably, it can also be provided that the hood protrusion and the distal beak hood latching elements are arranged with corresponding bearing faces so that, when the power supply unit is absent or engaged in the bottom of the receiving compartment, when the common locking assembly is in its locking position under the action of its lever return spring when the power supply unit is absent, or under the action of the key when the power supply unit is present, and when a push is applied to the hood to pivot it to its closed position, the hood protrusion pushes the distal hood latching beak and the common locking assembly away from its shape or locking position (power supply unit absent) or its holding position (power supply unit present) without however releasing the power supply unit, then allows the locking assembly to return common in its initial form or its locking or holding position under the action of its lever return spring, thus ensuring the locking of the hood while pressing a second end area of ​​the hood against a peripheral edge of a second opening end area. In the presence of the power supply unit, rotating the key to the locking position allows this same pressing of the hood.

[0033] Several steps can occur: - key present, therefore in holding position: closing the hood generates a slight rotation of the common locking assembly; after closing the hood, the user must generate a force on the key to reach the locking / extraction position by pressing a second end zone of the hood against a peripheral edge of a second opening end zone; - key removed: closing the hood generates a deformation of the common locking assembly and allows it to be locked, then allows the common locking assembly to return to its initial shape, thus ensuring the locking of the hood while pressing a second end zone of the hood against a peripheral edge of a second opening end zone.

[0034] This makes the operation of closing the hood easier.

[0035] In order to allow the power supply unit to be inserted into the receiving compartment when the key is present but without the user rotating the key, it is advantageous to provide that the battery protrusion and the proximal battery hooking beak are arranged with corresponding bearing faces so that, when the common locking assembly is in its locking position under the action of its lever return spring, and when a thrust is applied to the power supply unit to pivot it towards its position of complete engagement in the receiving compartment, the battery protrusion pushes the proximal battery hooking beak and the common locking assembly away from its locking position, then allows the common locking assembly to return to its holding position under the action of its lever return spring,the common locking assembly thus ensuring the retention of the electrical power supply unit in the receiving compartment, pending its locking by maintaining the force and simple extraction of the key, or by rotating the key to the locking position and extracting the key.

[0036] This makes the operation of introducing the power supply unit easier.

[0037] According to a first embodiment of the invention, the common locking assembly comprises a single-piece locking lever comprising a first branch carrying the proximal battery attachment beak and a second branch carrying the distal hood attachment beak.

[0038] According to a second embodiment of the invention, the common locking assembly comprises a main locking lever comprising the proximal battery hooking beak, an auxiliary locking lever comprising the proximal hood hooking beak, and a connecting spring tending to bring the auxiliary locking lever towards the main locking lever, the auxiliary locking lever and the main locking lever being rotatably mounted around the same lever axis, the lever return spring applying its return force to the main locking lever to tend to pivot it to its locking or holding position.

[0039] According to one embodiment, it can be provided that: - the movable hinge part is connected to the hood by disengageable mechanical connection means and retaining stop means, - the disengageable mechanical connection means are designed to ensure a fixed connection between the hood and the movable hinge part in the absence of mechanical stresses forcing the hood away from the movable hinge part with an intensity greater than a predetermined trigger threshold, - the disengageable mechanical connection means are shaped to inhibit their effect of retaining the hood with respect to the movable hinge part in the presence of at least one mechanical stress forcing the hood away from the movable hinge part at an intensity greater than said predetermined trigger threshold, - the disengageable mechanical connection means are shaped to allow the hood to be reconnected in a fixed manner to the movable hinge part by manually bringing the hood and the movable hinge part together, - the retaining stop means are shaped to oppose the separation of the hood with respect to the movable hinge part beyond a predetermined separation travel and to allow limited oscillation of the hood with respect to the movable hinge part, after disengagement of the disengageable mechanical connection means.

[0040] This prevents the hinge from deteriorating or breaking when mechanical stresses are applied to the hood in the open position.

[0041] According to a simple and effective embodiment, the disengageable mechanical connection means comprise: - a hinge arm, integral with the movable hinge part, and extending longitudinally between a first proximal end and a second distal end, - a longitudinal groove, provided on an internal face of the cover, and shaped to selectively receive and retain said hinge arm, - a retractable distal stop, shaped to selectively assume a retaining state in which it retains the second end in said longitudinal groove of the hinge arm, and a release state in which it releases the second end of the hinge arm from the longitudinal groove, - a proximal stop, shaped to retain the first end of the hinge arm in said longitudinal groove when the distal stop is in the retained state, and shaped to oppose the separation of the cover with respect to the movable hinge part beyond a predetermined separation stroke and to allow limited oscillation of the cover with respect to the movable hinge part, when the distal stop is in the released state. SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments, made in relation to the attached figures, among which:

[0043] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a side view of a bicycle having a device according to the invention, the hood being in the retracted position;

[0044] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a sectional side view of a section of frame beam of bicycle incorporating a receiving compartment containing an electrical power supply unit, with a hinged cover, and with locking means according to one embodiment of the invention, the assembly being in the closed and locked position;

[0045] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a sectional side view illustrating the entire [Fig.2] when the hood is in the retracted, non-disengaged position;

[0046] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a sectional side view illustrating the entire [Fig.2] when the hood is in the retracted and disengaged position;

[0047] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a partial side sectional view illustrating in more detail the hood locking means and battery locking means according to a first embodiment, in the locking position;

[0048] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a partial perspective view illustrating the means of ver hood lock and battery locking means, in the position of [Fig.5];

[0049] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a partial side view in section illustrating the means of worm hood lock and battery locking means, the locking lever being in the hood release position, the key being in the locking position;

[0050] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a partial side sectional view illustrating the means of worm hood locking and battery locking means, the locking lever being in the intermediate position, hood retracted, power supply unit released;

[0051] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] is a partial side view in section illustrating the means of worm hood rust and battery locking means, at the start of closing the hood, power supply unit missing, key in lock position;

[0052] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] is a partial side view in section illustrating the hood locking means and the battery locking means, at the end of the hood closing, electrical power supply unit absent;

[0053] [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] is a partial side view in section illustrating the hood locking means and the battery locking means, at the start of the introduction of the power supply unit;

[0054] [Fig. 12] [Fig. 12] is a partial side view in section illustrating the hood locking means and the battery locking means, at the end of the introduction of the power supply unit;

[0055] [Fig. 13] [Fig. 13] is a partial side view in section illustrating the hood locking means and the battery locking means, after release of the power supply unit; and

[0056] [Fig. 14] [Fig. 14] is a partial side view in section illustrating the hood locking means and the battery locking means according to a second embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0057] When identical reference numerals are used in several figures, embodiments or variants of the invention, these reference numerals designate identical or similar elements in each of the figures, embodiments or variants.

[0058] We first consider [Fig.l], which illustrates a vehicle according to the present invention, in a bicycle-type embodiment.

[0059] In this embodiment, the bicycle 1 comprises a frame with an ascending oblique central beam 2 in which a receiving compartment 3 is arranged having an opening 4 located on the upper face of said beam 2. The opening 4 is shaped to allow the introduction of an electrical power supply unit into the receiving compartment 3 and its extraction from the receiving compartment 3.

[0060] A cover 5 makes it possible to conceal the opening 4 in a closed position, and makes it possible to provide access to the opening 4 in a retracted position as illustrated in [Fig.l]. For this, the cover 5 is articulated on the beam 2 by a hinge 6 at one end of the opening 4.

[0061] In its closed position, the cover 5 is folded down onto the upper face of the beam 2, and cover locking means 7 are arranged at another end of the opening 4 to hold and reversibly lock the free end 5b of the cover 5.

[0062] We now consider Figures 2 to 4, which illustrate in more detail, in a general side view in section, the beam section 2. The beam section 2 comprises the receiving compartment 3, itself elongated between a first compartment end 3a and a second compartment end 3b. The upper opening 4 is itself elongated between a first opening end 4a corresponding to the first compartment end 3a and a second opening end 4b corresponding to the second compartment end 3b. The cover 5 is articulated along a first cover end 5a by the hinge 6, and its second end 5b can be retained in the closed position and reversibly locked by the cover locking means 7. The cover 5 is biased by a cover return spring 16, arranged on a cover rotation axis 9a, and which is arranged to pivot it to its retracted position in the absence of an obstacle or a retaining bias exerted by the user.

[0063] In these figures, there is shown an electrical power supply unit 17, housed in the receiving compartment 3, and itself elongated between a first battery end 17a which is housed in the first compartment end 3a and a second battery end 17b which is housed in the second compartment end 3b.

[0064] In [Fig. 2], the cover 5 is in the closed position, pressed tightly around the perimeter of the opening 4 by the cover locking means 7, while the electrical power supply unit 17 is pressed into the bottom of the receiving compartment 3 by battery locking means 8. In [Fig. 3], the cover 5 is in the retracted position, allowing access to the receiving compartment 3 and to the electrical power supply unit 17 through the upper opening 4.

[0065] The hinge 6 comprises on the one hand a fixed hinge part 9, integral with the vehicle, that is to say in this case integral with the beam 2, and comprising the hood rotation axis 9a. The hinge 6 also comprises a movable hinge part 10 connected to the hood 5 and rotatably mounted around the hood rotation axis 9a integral with the fixed hinge part 9. The hinge 6 is shaped so as to allow the hood 5 to move by rotation between its closed position illustrated in [Fig. 2] and its retracted position illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

[0066] The movable hinge part 10 is connected to the cover 5 by disengageable mechanical connection means 11. In their state illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the disengageable mechanical connection means 11 are not disengaged, and provide a fixed mechanical connection between the cover 5 and the movable hinge part 10. This non-disengaged state is maintained as long as a mechanical stress forcing the cover 5 away from the movable hinge part 10 remains below a predetermined triggering threshold.

[0067] In the detail of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, the disengageable mechanical connection means 11 comprise a hinge arm 12, integral with the movable hinge part 10, and extending longitudinally between a first proximal end 12a and a second distal end 12b of the hinge arm. A longitudinal groove 13 is provided on an internal face of the cover 5, and is shaped to selectively receive and retain said hinge arm 12.

[0068] To retain the hinge arm 12 in the longitudinal groove 13 of the cover 5, a proximal stop 14 is provided, shaped to retain the first end 12a of the hinge arm 12 in said longitudinal groove 13, and a retractable distal stop 15 is provided, shaped to selectively assume a retaining state in which it retains the second end 12b of the hinge arm in said longitudinal groove 13, and a release state in which it releases the second end 12b of the hinge arm 12 with respect to the longitudinal groove 13.

[0069] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, the retractable distal stop 15 comprises a head-shaped protrusion, projecting axially inward from the end of the longitudinal groove 13, and a retaining housing provided on the front face of the second end 12b of the hinge arm 12. The retaining housing is a cavity in the form of a spherical cap with a flared peripheral edge into which the head, of hemispherical shape, penetrates to a depth less than its radius by being pushed by elastic means. In this way, a transverse force applied to the cover 5 can cause the head to come out of the retaining housing, thus disengaging the disengageable mechanical connection 11, when this transverse force is sufficient to counter the retaining force exerted by the elastic means.

[0070] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, the proximal stop 14 comprises a rod secured to the cover 5, which enters a housing secured to the hinge arm 12 and which ends with a head loosely trapped in said housing. A possible movement of the head in the housing allows relative translations and rotations of the cover 5 with respect to the hinge arm 12, while limiting said translations and rotations.

[0071] In [Fig. 3], the cover 5 is in the retracted position, leaving access to the receiving compartment 3 through the upper opening 4, the cover 5 remaining rigidly fixed to the movable hinge part 10 by the fact that the distal stop 15 is not unlocked.

[0072] In [Fig. 4], the cover 5 is in the retracted position, but the mechanical connection 11 is disengaged, the distal stop 15 being in the released position, the second end 12b of the hinge arm 12 being released with respect to the cover 5. In this position, the cover 5 remains retained with respect to the movable hinge part 10 by the proximal stop 14, which allows limited translational and rotational movements of the cover 5 with respect to the movable hinge part 10.

[0073] In these same figures 2 to 4, we now consider more specifically the hood locking means 7 and the battery locking means 8. The means of hood locking means 7 are arranged to hold and reversibly lock the second end 5b of the hood 5 on the beam 2 along the second end 4b of the opening 4. Similarly, the battery locking means 8 are arranged to reversibly press and lock the second end of the battery 17b in the second end 3b of the receiving compartment 3.

[0074] According to the invention, the hood locking means 7 and the battery locking means 8 are arranged in the form of a common locking assembly 100, rotatably mounted around a fixed transverse lever axis 20 of the beam 2 between a locking position illustrated in [Fig. 2] and a release position illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

[0075] The common locking assembly 100 comprises a distal hood hooking beak 21. In the locking position of the common locking assembly 100, the distal hood hooking beak 21 cooperates with a hood protrusion 22, when the hood 5 is in the closed position, to hold the second end 5b of the hood 5 pressed in a sealed manner against a peripheral rim of the opening 4. In the release position of the common locking assembly 100, the distal hood hooking beak 21 remains away from the hood protrusion 22, allowing the free pivoting of the hood 5, which pivots towards its retracted position under the action of the hood return spring 16.

[0076] The common locking assembly 100 comprises a proximal battery hooking beak 23. In the locking position of the common locking assembly 100, the proximal battery hooking beak 23 cooperates with a battery protrusion 24, when the power supply unit 17 is engaged in the bottom of the receiving compartment 3, to hold the power supply unit 17 pressed against the bottom of the receiving compartment 3. In the release position of the common locking assembly 100, the proximal battery hooking beak 23 remains away from the battery protrusion 24, allowing the power supply unit 17 to be manipulated through the opening 4 for its insertion or removal. Upon rotation of the common locking assembly 100 to its release position, the power supply unit 17 is slightly pushed outward by a wedging spring 25, making it easier to grip.

[0077] The common locking assembly 100 is rotatable by a user, for locking and unlocking. It is understood that, according to the invention, the hood locking means 7 and the battery locking means 8 are connected to each other by the common locking assembly 100 so as to operate simultaneously under the effect of a single user action producing, by the rotation of the common locking assembly 100, the locking and / or unlocking of the hood 5 and the power supply unit 17. In addition, the common locking assembly 100 is permanently biased by a lever return spring 19a which tends to pivot it to its locking position (power supply unit absent) or holding position (power supply unit present).

[0078] In the first embodiment illustrated in these figures 2 to 4, the common locking assembly 100 comprises a single-piece locking lever 19 with two branches, a first shorter branch 19b having at its free end the proximal battery attachment beak 23, a second longer branch 19c having at its free end the distal hood attachment beak 21.

[0079] We now consider Figures 5 and 6, which illustrate on a larger scale, in side view respectively in section and in perspective, the hood locking means 7 and the battery locking means 8 according to this first embodiment. In these figures, we find the main members already described in relation to Figures 2 to 4, the single-piece locking lever 19 being in the locking position.

[0080] In these figures 5 and 6, we can also distinguish: - on the hood protrusion 22, an inclined upper locking facet 22a, an inclined front closing facet 22b, - on the battery protrusion 24, a horizontal upper locking facet 24a, an inclined front closing facet 24b, - in the intermediate part or connection zone of the two branches of the single-piece locking lever 19, key lock engagement means 18 for the rotational operation of the single-piece locking lever 19 by the user using a key 18a.

[0081] In this case, the key lock engagement means 18 comprise a lock cylinder formed by a stator 18b fixed on the beam 2 and in which is rotatably mounted a rotor 18c receiving the key 18a and extended by an eccentric tenon 18d with oblong cross-section, which tenon 18d is engaged in a cam-type housing 18e of the one-piece locking lever 19.

[0082] In the locking position illustrated in [Fig. 5], the proximal battery hooking beak 23 rests on the horizontal upper locking facet 24a, and the distal cover hooking beak 21 rests on the inclined upper locking facet 22a. The tenon 18d, fixed with the rotor 18c locked in the locked position without the key 18a, forms a stop against which the cam 18f bears to prevent rotation of the locking lever 19. By the effect of the inclination of the upper locking facet 22a, the rotational force of the locking lever 19 produced by the lever return spring 19a, and the blocking by the key lock engagement means 18, the second end 5b of the cover 5 is pressed tightly against a peripheral rim of the opening 4. In other words, the final rotation of the locking lever 19 locking 19 to its locking position causes a final rotation of the hood 5 to its closing position by pressing a second end zone of the hood 5b against a peripheral rim of a second end zone of the opening 4b.

[0083] Starting from the locking position illustrated in [Fig. 5], to open the cover 5 and remove the power supply unit 17, the key 18a is inserted into the rotor 18c, as illustrated in [Fig. 6]. By rotating the key 18a, the tenon 18d is pivoted, which then bears against the cam 18g ([Fig. 8]) by pushing the locking lever 19 against the return force exerted by the lever return spring 19a until it is brought into its release position as illustrated in [Fig. 7]. Moving towards this position, first the cover protrusion 22 escapes from the distal cover hooking beak 21, and secondly the battery protrusion 24 escapes from the proximal battery hooking beak 23.From then on, the cover 5 is released and pivots to its retracted position under the action of the cover return spring 16, while the electrical power supply unit 17 is also released and pivots slightly towards the outside of the receiving compartment 3 by the effect of the thrust of the wedging spring 25. The opening of the cover 5 is thus facilitated, and the gripping of the electrical power supply unit 17 is also facilitated.

[0084] From the release position illustrated in [Fig.7], if the user releases the key 18a, a slight return of the locking lever 19, to an intermediate position illustrated in [Fig.8], causes the proximal battery hooking beak 23 to bear against the front closing facet 24b. In this way, it is understood that the battery protrusion 24 and the proximal battery hooking beak 23 are arranged so that, during a rotation of the locking lever 19 towards its locking position under the action of its lever return spring 19a, while the power supply unit 17 is pivoted slightly towards the outside of the receiving compartment 3, the proximal battery hooking beak 23 abuts against the front face 24b of the battery protrusion 24 and does not oppose the extraction of the power supply unit 17 from the receiving compartment 3.In this position, the user can pull on a handle 17c of the power supply unit 17 to extract it easily.

[0085] Alternatively, the user can choose to push the power supply unit 17 back into the bottom of the receiving compartment 3 in order to compress the wedging spring 25, making it possible to lock the power supply unit 17 again because the locking lever 19 acted upon by the lever return spring 19a pivots towards its holding position and the proximal battery attachment beak 23 comes to bear again on the upper locking facet 24a.

[0086] From a position in which the cover 5 is in the retracted position, and in which the receiving compartment 3 does not contain the power supply unit 17, the user can close and lock the hood 5 by simply manually pushing the hood 5 to fold it against the beam 2. Indeed, as can be seen in [Fig. 9], when the second end of the hood 5b comes close to the beam 2, the front closing facet 22b comes to bear against the distal hood hooking beak 21 and pushes the locking lever 19 towards its release position, allowing the hood 5 to continue pivoting towards its closed position. The distal hood hooking beak 21 then returns to the hood locking position, bearing against the upper locking facet 22a as illustrated in [Fig. 10]. The hood 5 is then pressed tightly against the beam 2.

[0087] From a position in which the cover 5 is in the retracted position, and in which the receiving compartment 3 does not contain the electrical power supply unit 17, the user can introduce the electrical power supply unit 17 into the receiving compartment 3 by simply manually pushing the electrical power supply unit 17 towards the bottom of the receiving compartment 3. Indeed, when the second battery end 17b enters the receiving compartment 3, as illustrated in [Fig. 11], the front facet 24b comes to bear against the proximal battery attachment beak 23 and pushes the locking lever 19 towards its release position, allowing the second battery end 17b to continue penetrating towards the bottom of the receiving compartment 3 under the action of the push exerted by the user.The proximal battery attachment beak 23 then returns to the battery holding position, bearing against the upper locking facet 24a, ensuring partial holding of the electrical power supply unit 17 in the receiving compartment 3.

[0088] Then, the user can naturally continue the pushing movement of the power supply unit 17 towards the bottom of the receiving compartment 3, as illustrated in [Fig. 12], compressing the wedging spring 25. The key 18a is then in the locking position and can be extracted. When the user releases the power supply unit 17, it is pushed back by the wedging spring 25 and retained by the proximal battery hooking beak 23 bearing on the upper locking facet 24a, as illustrated in [Fig. 13]. In other words, the battery protrusion 24 and the proximal battery hooking beak 23 are arranged so that the final rotation of the locking lever 19 towards its locking position causes pressure on the power supply unit 17 by pressing a second battery end zone 17b into the bottom of the receiving compartment 3.

[0089] Alternatively, the user can stop the pushing movement of the power supply unit 17 towards the bottom of the receiving compartment 3, and the further movement of the power supply unit 17 towards the bottom will be then carried out by rotating the key 18a towards the locking / extraction position. In this sequence, we are in the locking position and the key is removed.

[0090] From this battery locking position illustrated in [Fig. 13], the user may wish to fold down the cover 5 to reach the position illustrated in [Fig. 5]. In this movement, the locking lever 19 is blocked by the fixed tenon 18d. The cover protrusion 22 pushes back the distal cover latching beak 21 by elastically deforming the second branch 19c of the locking lever 19 without, however, releasing the power supply unit 17 because the proximal battery latching beak 23 is arranged so as to then remain in abutment on the upper locking facet 24a.

[0091] After a further rotation of the hood 5 towards its closed position, the hood protrusion 22 allows the second branch 19c of the locking lever 19 to return to its initial shape, thus ensuring the locking of the hood 5 while pressing a second hood end zone 5b against a peripheral edge of a second opening end zone 4b.

[0092] The different functional modes of the lock / cam / lever system of this first embodiment are as follows: - key 18a missing and locking lever 19 in locked position: rotation of the latter is made impossible by the cam 18f pressing on the front part of the tenon 18d; - key 18a inserted without user action on the key: tenon 18d is then free to rotate and is: either controlled by the locking lever 19 on its front face when it is tilted in the opening direction, either controlled by the locking lever 19 on its back face when it is tilted in the closing direction; in the absence of the power supply unit 17, the locking lever 19 (under the action of the lever spring 19a) is returned to the locking position, in the presence of the power supply unit 17, the locking lever 19 (under the action of the lever spring 19a) is returned to a holding position determined by its support on the battery protrusion 24; - key 18a inserted with user action on the key: the tenon 18d is rotated by the key and drives: the locking lever 19 with its dorsal face to ensure the tilting of the locking lever 19 towards its release position, the locking lever 19 with its front face to ensure the tilting of the locking lever 19 towards its locking or holding position.

[0093] It will be understood, however, that, in this first embodiment of the invention, it may prove difficult to control the support force of the hood 5 by relying solely on the elasticity of the second branch 19c of the locking lever 19. For this purpose, a second embodiment with two separate but integral levers may be preferred, as illustrated in [Fig. 14].

[0094] In this second embodiment, the common locking assembly 100 comprises a main locking lever 19d comprising the proximal battery latching beak 23, and an auxiliary locking lever 19e comprising the proximal hood latching beak 21. The auxiliary locking lever 19e and the main locking lever 19d are rotatably mounted around the same lever axis 20. A connecting spring 19f, engaged between the two levers, tends to bring the auxiliary locking lever 19e closer to the main locking lever 19d, while allowing the auxiliary locking lever 19e to move apart. The lever return spring 19a applies its return force to the main locking lever 19d to tend to pivot it to its locking or holding position. The cam housing 18e is formed in the main locking lever 19d, which is thus biased by the key lock engagement means 18.

[0095] When the power supply unit 17 is inserted and locked (by extracting the key) the cover 5 can be folded down. Its cover protrusion 22 comes into contact with the proximal cover latching beak 21 and tends to move the auxiliary locking lever 19e away from the main locking lever 19d against the retaining force exerted by the connecting spring 19f. The connecting spring 19f between the two levers generates the force for pressing the cover 5 onto the bicycle frame. The pressing force is well controlled.

[0096] The lever is no longer unique, but the action remains unique. A rotation of the key 18a in closing allows the immediate locking / wedging of the power supply unit 17, and the locking / placing of the cover 5 as soon as it is folded down. The rotation of the key 18a in opening releases the power supply unit 17 and the cover 5 immediately. The different functional modes are similar to those of the first embodiment.

[0097] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variations and generalizations contained within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. Claims Vehicle (1) having a receiving compartment (3) elongated between a first compartment end (3a) and a second compartment end (3b) and shaped to receive and contain a removable electrical power supply unit (17) itself elongated between a first battery end (17a) housed in the first compartment end (3a) and a second battery end (17b) housed in the second compartment end (3b), the vehicle (1) comprising: - an opening (4) shaped to allow the introduction of the electrical power supply unit (17) into the receiving compartment (3) and its extraction from the receiving compartment (3), - a hood (5), movable between a closed position in which it conceals said opening (4) and a retracted position in which it releases said opening (4) to allow the introduction or extraction of the electrical power supply unit (17) through said opening (4), - a hinge (6), comprising a fixed hinge part (9), integral with the vehicle (1) or provided thereon, and a movable hinge part (10) connected to the hood (5) and rotatably mounted about a hood rotation axis (9a) integral with the fixed hinge part (9), the hinge (6) connecting the hood (5) to the vehicle (1) and allowing the movement of said hood (5) by rotation between its closed position and its retracted position, characterized in that: - the opening (4) is elongated between a first opening end (4a) corresponding to the first compartment end (3a) and a second opening end (4b) corresponding to the second compartment end (3b), - the hinge (6) connects a first end of the hood (5a) to the vehicle (1) according to the first opening end (4a), - hood locking means (7), actuable by a user, are arranged to hold and reversibly lock a second end of the hood (5b) to the vehicle (1) along the second opening end (4b), - battery locking means (8), operable by the user, are arranged to hold and reversibly lock the second battery end (17b) in the battery compartment reception (3) in the vicinity of the second opening end (4b), - the hood locking means (7) and the battery locking means (8) are connected to each other so as to operate simultaneously under the effect of a single request from the user producing the locking and / or unlocking of the hood (5) and of the electrical power supply unit (17).

2. Vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the hood locking means (7) and the battery locking means (8) comprise a common locking assembly (100): - rotatably mounted about a fixed transverse lever axis (20) of the vehicle (1) between a locking position and a release position, - comprising a distal hood latching beak (21) and a proximal battery latching beak (23), - the distal hood latching beak (21) being arranged so as to hold a second end area of ​​the hood (5b) pressed against a peripheral edge of an area of ​​the second opening end (4b) when the common locking assembly (100) is in the locking position,- the proximal battery attachment beak (23) being arranged so as to hold a second battery end zone (17b) pressed into the bottom of the receiving compartment (3) when the common locking assembly (100) is in the locking or holding position.,

3. Vehicle (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the common locking assembly (100) can be actuated by the user by means of a key (18a) which can be engaged in a rotor (18c) with an eccentric tenon (18d) engaged in a cam housing (18e) and the rotation of which produces the pivoting of the common locking assembly (100) between its locking position and its release position.

4. Vehicle (1) according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that: - the hood (5) comprises a hood protrusion (22) on which the distal hood hooking beak (21) bears when the hood (5) is in the closed position and the common locking assembly (100) is in the locked position, - the hood protrusion (22) and the distal hood hooking beak (21) are arranged so that the final rotation of the common locking assembly (100) towards its locked position causes a final rotation of the hood (5) to its closed position by pressing a second end zone of the hood (5b) against a peripheral edge of a second end zone of the opening (4b).

5. Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: - the electrical power supply unit (17) comprises a battery protrusion (24) on which the proximal battery attachment beak (23) bears when the common locking assembly (100) is in the locking position, - the battery protrusion (24) and the proximal battery attachment beak (23) are arranged so that the final rotation of the common locking assembly (100) towards its locking position causes pressure on the electrical power supply unit (17) by pressing a second battery end zone (17b) into the bottom of the receiving compartment (3).

6. Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that: - the hood (5) is biased by a hood return spring (16), arranged on its hood rotation axis (9a), and which is arranged to pivot it to its retracted position in the absence of an obstacle or a retaining force exerted by the user, - the electrical power supply unit (17) is biased by a wedging spring (25), arranged between the second battery end zone (17b) and the bottom of the receiving compartment (3), and which tends to push the second battery end zone (17b) out of the receiving compartment (3), - so that the rotation of the common locking assembly (100) towards its release position, produced by an operation of the key (18a), causes almost simultaneously the release of the hood (5) which pivots to its retracted position under the action of the hood return spring (16),and the release of the power supply unit (17) which pivots slightly outwards from the receiving compartment (3) under the pressure of the wedging spring (25) to facilitate its gripping by the user.

7. Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the common locking assembly (100) is permanently biased by a lever return spring (19a) which tends to pivot it to its locking position (unit power supply absent) or maintenance (power supply unit present).

8. Vehicle (1) according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the battery protrusion (24) and the proximal battery hooking beak (23) are arranged so that, upon rotation of the common locking assembly (100) towards its locking position under the action of its lever return spring (19a), while the power supply unit (17) is pivoted slightly outwards from the receiving compartment (3), the proximal battery hooking beak (23) abuts against a front closing facet (24b) of the battery protrusion (24), so that the proximal battery hooking beak (23) does not oppose the extraction of the power supply unit (17) from the receiving compartment (3).

9. Vehicle (1) according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the hood protrusion (22) and the distal hood latching beak (21) are arranged with corresponding bearing faces (22a) so that, when the electrical power supply unit (17) is absent or engaged in the bottom of the receiving compartment (3), when the common locking assembly (100) is in its locking position under the action of its lever return spring (19a), and when a thrust is applied to the hood (5) to pivot it towards its closed position, the hood protrusion (22) pushes the distal hood latching beak (21) without however releasing the electrical power supply unit (17), and - key (18a) present, therefore in the holding position: closing the cover (5) generates a slight rotation of the common locking assembly (100); after closing the cover (5), the user must generate a force on the key (18a) to reach the locking / extraction position by pressing a second end zone of the cover (5b) against a peripheral edge of a second opening end zone (4b); - key (18a) removed: closing the hood (5) generates a deformation of the common locking assembly (100) and allows it to be locked, then allows the common locking assembly (100) to return to its initial shape, thus ensuring the locking of the hood (5) while pressing a second end zone of the hood (5b) against a peripheral edge of a second opening end zone (4b).

10. Vehicle (1) according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the battery protrusion (24) and the proximal battery hooking beak (23) are arranged with corresponding bearing faces (24a, 24b) so that, during an insertion maneuver of the power supply unit (17) into the receiving compartment (3) with the key (18a) present, when the common locking assembly (100) is in its locking position under the action of its lever return spring (19a), and when a thrust is applied to the power supply unit (17) to pivot it towards its position of complete engagement in the receiving compartment (3), the battery protrusion (24) pushes the proximal battery hooking beak (23) and the common locking assembly (100) away from its locking position,then allows the common locking assembly (100) to return to its holding position under the action of its lever return spring (19a), the common locking assembly (100) thus ensuring the retention of the electrical power supply unit (17) in the receiving compartment (3) while awaiting locking (maintaining the force and simple extraction of the key (18a), or stopping the force and locking / extraction by rotation of the key (18a) by the user).

11. Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the common locking assembly (100) comprises a single-piece locking lever (19) comprising a first branch (19b) carrying the proximal battery attachment beak (23) and a second branch (19c) carrying the distal hood attachment beak (21).

12. Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the common locking assembly (100) comprises a main locking lever (19d) comprising the proximal battery hooking beak (23), an auxiliary locking lever (19e) comprising the proximal hood hooking beak (21), and a connecting spring (19f) tending to bring the auxiliary locking lever (19e) towards the main locking lever (19d), the auxiliary locking lever (19e) and the main locking lever (19d) being rotatably mounted around the same lever axis (20), the lever return spring (19a) applying its return force to the main locking lever (19d) to tend to pivot it to its locking or holding position.

13. Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, ca- characterized in that: - the movable hinge part (10) is connected to the cover (5) by disengageable mechanical connection means (11) and retaining stop means (14), - the disengageable mechanical connection means (11) are shaped to ensure a fixed connection between the cover (5) and the movable hinge part (10) in the absence of mechanical stresses forcing the cover (5) away from the movable hinge part (10) with an intensity greater than a predetermined triggering threshold, - the disengageable mechanical connection means (11) are shaped to inhibit their effect of retaining the hood (5) with respect to the movable hinge part (10) in the presence of at least one mechanical stress forcing the hood (5) away from the movable hinge part (10) with an intensity greater than said predetermined triggering threshold, - the disengageable mechanical connection means (11) are shaped to allow the hood (5) to be reconnected in a fixed manner to the movable hinge part (10) by manually bringing the hood (5) and the movable hinge part (10) together, - the retaining stop means (14) are shaped to oppose the separation of the hood (5) with respect to the movable hinge part (10) beyond a predetermined separation stroke and to allow limited oscillation of the hood (5) with respect to the movable hinge part (10), after a disengagement of the disengageable mechanical connection means (H).

14. Vehicle (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the disengageable mechanical connection means (11) comprise: - a hinge arm (12), integral with the movable hinge part (10), and extending longitudinally between a first proximal end (12a) and a second distal end (12b), - a longitudinal groove (13), provided on an internal face of the cover (5), and shaped to selectively receive and retain said hinge arm (12), - a retractable distal stop (15), shaped to selectively take a retaining state in which it retains in said longitudinal groove (13) the second end of the hinge arm (12b), and a release state in which it releases the second end of the hinge arm (12b) with respect to the longitudinal groove (13), - a proximal stop (14), shaped to retain the first end of the hinge arm (12a) in said longitudinal groove (13) when the distal stop (15) is in the retained state, and shaped to oppose the separation of the cover (5) with respect to the movable hinge part (10) beyond a predetermined separation stroke and to allow limited oscillation of the cover (5) with respect to the movable hinge part (10), when the distal stop (15) is in the released state.

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