ELECTRIC BICYCLE AND CHARGING STATION KIT

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric cycle (10), comprising a frame (1) and an electrical socket (15) for charging a battery, and an associated charging station (20) for the electric cycle (10), anchored and electrically powered, comprising a plug (31) complementary to the electrical socket (15) of the electric cycle (10), insertable into said electrical socket (15), characterized in that: - the frame (1) has a straight end (11) carrying the socket (15), with straight rails (13) on the lateral faces of the end (11), - the charging station (20) has a housing (27) configured to receive the end (11) of the frame (1), having grooves (29) into which the straight rails (13) of the frame (1) are inserted, and means (19, 35) for locking the end (11) against translation in the charging station (20) when inserted into the housing (27). Figure for the abbreviation: [Fig. 3]

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRIC CYCLE AND CHARGING STATION ASSEMBLY technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electric cycles and their charging stations, particularly in the context of self-service or cycle-sharing and in particular self-service or cycle-sharing bicycles. Previous techniques

[0002] Self-service bicycles are associated with docking stations anchored to the ground or a wall, which recharge and immobilize the bicycles between uses. The bicycles are generally attached to the docking station by their frame at the front, their front wheel, or their handlebars. Electrical contacts are activated when the bicycle docks itself, which then recharges the bicycle's battery while awaiting a user.

[0003] Self-service bicycles are subject to deliberate damage by passers-by who can sometimes demonstrate surprising strength and determination in damaging the bicycles and docking stations. Sometimes, this damage is intended to free the bicycle from the docking station in order to use it without paying, or to throw it into a river, stream, or other body of water.

[0004] The applicant noted, however, that the damage is often gratuitous with the sole aim of destroying the bicycle and the terminal.

[0005] In particular, passers-by sometimes gather in groups and forcefully lift the rear of the bicycle. Since the bicycle is attached to the post at its front end, a lever arm is created which is generally large enough to cause the bicycle to be pulled away from the post, with the electrical contacts being torn out, or to deform or even break the bicycle frame, wheel or handlebars.

[0006] These damages impair the profitability of bike-sharing or cycle-sharing services, and render the destroyed bikes and stations unavailable, whereas the density of their presence determines the efficiency of the bike-sharing service and thus its profitability. Description of the invention

[0007] To address this problem, the invention proposes an electric cycle and charging station assembly, comprising: - an electric bicycle, featuring a frame and an electrical socket for charging a battery, - an electric cycle charging station, anchored and supplied with electric current, having an additional plug to the electrical socket, inserted into said electrical socket when the electric cycle is attached to the charging station. The assembly according to the invention is characterized in that: - the frame has a straight end carrying the plug, with straight rails on the lateral faces of the end parallel to a direction of insertion by translation of the end into the charging station, - the charging station includes a housing configured to accommodate the end of the frame, having grooves into which the straight rails of the frame are inserted, and means for locking the end in translation within the charging station when it is inserted into the housing of the charging station to attach the electric cycle to the charging station.

[0008] The rails and grooves allow the forces exerted by a force applied to the electric cycle to be distributed, notably using said cycle as a lever arm. Indeed, the connection of the cycle to the terminal is where the stresses are concentrated, with the possibility of pull-out, reduced by the particular architecture of the invention.

[0009] The assembly may in particular have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0010] The socket may include a cylinder carrying electrical contacts, and the plug a tubular housing for the cylinder, the cylinder being inserted into the tubular housing when the end of the frame is inserted into the housing of the charging station.

[0011] The cylinder may then include a retraction, and the tubular housing a movable bolt between a locking position in which it engages with the retraction, and a release position in which it is retracted, forming means of blocking in translation of the end in the housing of the charging station.

[0012] Indeed, the applicant has observed that the greatest forces that malicious passersby can exert are never along the longitudinal axis of the bicycle, but rather forces using the length of the bicycle as a lever arm. A simple bolt-and-latch system is therefore sufficient to prevent the bicycle from being released by longitudinal pulling.

[0013] The cylinder, the tubular housing, the grooves and the straight rails can in particular be substantially horizontal when the electric cycle is placed on a flat floor.

[0014] The cycle is then connected to the charging station simply by moving the cycle forward until the end is inserted into its housing, without having to lift it.

[0015] The frame and the charging station may include means for detecting complete insertion of the end of the frame into the housing, and the electrical contacts of the cylinder are then energized only when complete insertion of the end into the housing of the station is detected.

[0016] The risks of electrocution by contact with the live cylinder are then minimized.

[0017] The frame can in particular be made from a single piece of metal by molding.

[0018] The frame is therefore particularly strong because it is one piece and has no welds, unlike frames made of assembled tubing.

[0019] The end of the frame may include a cover closing the upper face of the charging station housing.

[0020] Water infiltration during charging is then minimized, while the housing is kept ventilated in the absence of a cycle attached to the terminal.

[0021] The end of the frame may be rectangular in section, with the projections located on the lateral faces of the rectangular section.

[0022] The grooves may have a flared opening, forming a guide for the insertion of straight rails.

[0023] In combination with the flared openings, the terminal may have a base, which includes a ramp allowing the insertion of straight rails into the grooves even if the cycle has a flat or punctured tire. Brief description of the figures

[0024] Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the accompanying figures, among which:

[0025] [Fig. 1] is a side view of the assembly formed by the electric cycle, here a bicycle, and the charging station,

[0026] [Fig.2] is a side view of the front end of the electric bicycle frame,

[0027] [Fig.3] is a three-quarter front view of the electric bicycle without the charging station,

[0028] [Fig.4] is a three-quarter rear view of the charging station at the level of a connector box with the electric bike,

[0029] [Fig.5] is a three-quarter front view of the electric bicycle connected to the charging station recharge,

[0030] [Fig.6] is a cross-sectional view of the electric bicycle and the terminal at the level of the connection between the two.

[0031] The examples are given for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. Other embodiments of the invention can easily be obtained by variations of the embodiment shown. Detailed description

[0032] Fig. 1 is a side view representation of an electric cycle 10 and a charging station 20 for the electric cycle 10, forming an assembly 100 electric cycle and charging station.

[0033] The electric cycle 10 is here an electric bicycle, comprising a frame 1, carrying wheels 3, a saddle 5, an electrically assisted crankset 7 and a handlebar 9.

[0034] The terminal 20 includes a connector box 21, supported by uprights 23 located on either side of the front wheel 3 of the bicycle 10, and a base 25 anchored to the ground.

[0035] Depending on the variant, the electric cycle 10 can be, as an alternative to the bicycle shown and discussed below, a tricycle, a quadricycle, a tandem, a cargo bike with a load carrier, a scooter, or any other micromobility vehicle. The charging station 20 can have a different design; for example, the connector box 21 can be supported by a crossbar, a single post, or a wall or low wall.

[0036] Fig. 2 is a partial side view of the electric bicycle 10 alone, at the front end 11 of the frame 1. Fig. 3 shows the electric bicycle 10 alone, in a three-quarter front view.

[0037] The end 11 of the frame 1 has a rectangular cross-section, with a substantially horizontal final segment, considering the bicycle 10 on a flat and horizontal surface. At the level of this final segment, the frame 1 has straight rails 13 on its end lateral faces.

[0038] The frame 1 terminates, at the end 11, in a flat surface, carrying a tubular housing 15 forming a socket for a plug-and-plug system.

[0039] Fig. 4 is a three-quarter view from the top of the connector housing 21 of terminal 20.

[0040] The connector housing 21 of the terminal 20 has a housing 27, of complementary shape to the straight segment of the end 11 of the frame 1. The housing 27 has two recessed grooves 29, dimensioned and arranged to accommodate the straight rails 13.

[0041] In particular, the grooves 29 have a flared opening, to aid the insertion of the straight rails 13. The grooves 29 and the straight rails 13 define an insertion direction to which they are parallel, here in particular substantially horizontal.

[0042] The base 25 of the terminal 20 further has a ramp, in which the front wheel 3 rolls when the end 11 of the frame 1 is inserted into the housing of the connector box 21.

[0043] The ramp on the base 25 then lifts the front wheel 3 of the cycle 10 when it is connected. The combination of this ramp on the base 25 and the flared openings of the grooves 29 then allows the cycle 10 to be connected even if it has a flat or punctured tire, without the user having to lift it.

[0044] In the housing 27 is arranged a cylinder 31, parallel to the grooves 29, and inserted into the tubular housing 15 of the end 11 of the frame 1 of the bicycle 10 when it is inserted into the housing 27 of the terminal 20.

[0045] The cylinder 31 thus forms the complementary plug of the socket carried by the end 11 of the frame 1 in the form of a complementary tubular housing 15. The cylinder 31 in particular includes electrical contacts 33, here annular, which are energized once the end 11 of the frame 1 is inserted into the housing 27.

[0046] The end 11 of the frame 1 and the housing 27 advantageously comprise a detector of complete insertion of the end 11 into the housing 27, for example via a magnet in the end of the frame 1 and a magnetic sensor disposed in the housing 27, the energizing of the electrical contacts 33 being conditioned by the detection of a complete insertion in order to avoid electrocution of the user.

[0047] The straight rails 13 and the grooves 29 have a length of several centimeters or even tens of centimeters, typically from 10 to 30 cm. Thus, once the straight rails 13 are inserted into the grooves 29, the forces developed by the lifting of the rear of the electric bike 10 are distributed over the entire length of said straight rails 13 and grooves 29, and transmitted directly to the terminal 20, and in particular to its base 25.

[0048] The removal by lifting of the rear of the bicycle 10 is thus made more difficult or even impossible without a machine, due to a strong connection between the bicycle 10 and the post 20.

[0049] The frame 1 can in particular be made in one piece by molding, in particular by lost-mold sand casting. The frame 1 then has a square or rectangular cross-section and is hollow along its entire length and can house the batteries, motors and the electronics for managing power and charging.

[0050] The bicycle 20 thus obtained has a solid monobloc structure, making its degradation more difficult.

[0051] Fig. 5 is a three-quarter view from the front of the assembly 100 formed by the electric bike 10 and the terminal 20, once the electric bike 10 has been connected to the terminal 20.

[0052] In particular, the end 11 of the frame 1 carries a cover 17, which closes the housing 27 of the terminal 20. By equipping it on its edges with polymer seals, water infiltration is limited, in particular when the insertion of the end 11 of the frame 1 is complete in the housing 27, and when the electrical contacts 33 of the cylinder 31 are energized.

[0053] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the end 11 of the frame 1 and of the connector housing 21 of terminal 20, once the complete insertion has been carried out.

[0054] The cylinder 31 is in particular entirely contained within the tubular housing 15 of the end 11 of the frame 1. Its electrical contacts 33 then supply a charging circuit (not shown) for the battery of the electric bicycle 10.

[0055] To prevent the removal of the electric bike 10 from the terminal 20 without authorization, the cylinder of the translational locking means of the end 11 in the housing 27 of the terminal 20 are provided.

[0056] In particular, the cylinder 31 here has an annular recess 35, and in the tubular housing 15 of the end 11 of the frame 1 is a bolt 19, movable between a locking position, in which it engages with the annular recess 35 of the cylinder 31, and a release position, in which it is retracted.

[0057] The release of the cylinder 31, and therefore of the electric bike 10, is then subject, for example, to the payment of a subscription or to the presentation of a valid badge, card or key.

[0058] The detection of the complete insertion of the end 11 of the frame 1 into the housing 27 then triggers the tilting into the locking position of the bolt 19, and can mark the end of a loan time of the electric bike 10 charged.

[0059] The cylinder 31 and the tubular housing 15 which accommodates it may in particular include logical communication lines between the terminal 20 and the electric bike 10, for example to identify the electric bike 10 and therefore the user, to communicate the battery charge level etc.

[0060] Alternatively, the bike 10 and the terminal 20 may include communication means that are triggered and paired when a complete insertion of the end 11 into the housing 27 is detected.

[0061] Alternative embodiments, not shown, may include two or more cylinders 31 and tubular housings 15, the cylinders 31 each carrying, for example, a single contact, or the cylinder(s) 31 may be integrated into the end 11 of the frame 1.

[0062] The end 11 of the frame 1 inserted into the housing 27 is, in the case of an electric bicycle, the front end. With other types of electric cycles 10, the inserted end 11 of the frame 1 may be the rear end, particularly if it is a cargo bike which has a box or a child seat at the front of the bicycle 10.

[0063] The assembly 100 electric bike 10 and charging station 20 according to the invention thus makes it possible to strongly secure the frame 1 of the electric bike 10 to the charging station 20, and therefore to prevent the destruction of the electric bike 20 by being torn off. The lifespan of the assembly 100 is thus increased, which also increases the profitability of the bike-sharing service, and can therefore allow the spread of this economical and ecological alternative to the car in the city.

Claims

Demands

1. An assembly (100) consisting of an electric cycle (10) and a charging station (20), comprising: - an electric cycle (10), having a frame (1) and an electrical socket (15) for charging a battery, - a charging station (20) for the electric cycle (10), anchored and electrically powered, having a plug (31) complementary to the electrical socket (15) of the electric cycle (10), inserted into said electrical socket (15) when the electric cycle (10) is attached to the charging station (20), characterized in that: - the frame (1) has a straight end (11) carrying the socket (15), with, on lateral faces of the end (11), straight rails (13) parallel to a direction of insertion by translation of the end (11) into the charging station (20), - the charging station (20) has a housing (27) configured to receive the end (11) of the frame (1),featuring grooves (29) into which the straight rails (13) of the frame (1) are inserted, and means for locking the end (11) in the charging station (20) when it is inserted into the housing (27) of the charging station (20) to attach the electric cycle (10) to the charging station (20).

2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the socket comprises a cylinder (31) carrying electrical contacts (33), and the plug a tubular housing (15) for the cylinder (31), the cylinder (31) being inserted into the tubular housing (15) when the end (11) of the frame (1) is inserted into the housing of the charging station (20).

3. Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the cylinder (31) has a recess (35), and the tubular housing (15) has a bolt (19) movable between a locking position in which it engages with the recess (35), and a release position in which it is retracted, forming means of blocking in translation of the end (11) in the housing (27) of the charging terminal (20).

4. Assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the cylinder (31), the tubular housing (15), the grooves (29) and the straight rails (13) are substantially horizontal when the electric cycle (10) is placed on a flat floor.

5. Assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the frame (1) and the charging station (20) have means for detecting complete insertion of the end (11) of the frame (1) into the housing (27), and in that the electrical contacts (33) of the cylinder (31) are energized when complete insertion of the end (11) into the housing (27) of the terminal (20) is detected.

6. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (1) is made of a single piece of metal by casting.

7. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end (11) of the frame (1) has a cover (17) closing the upper face of the housing (27) of the charging station (20).

8. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end (11) of the frame is rectangular in section, the projections being located on the lateral faces of the rectangular section.

9. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grooves (29) have a flared opening, forming a guide for the insertion of the straight rails (13).

10. Assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the terminal (20) further comprises a base (25) having a ramp for the front wheel (3) of the electric cycle (10) allowing the insertion of the end (11) of the frame (1) into the housing (27) even if the electric cycle (10) has a flat or punctured tire.

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