Electric Bicycle User Interface Adapter for Flexible Frame Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric bicycles face challenges in mounting user interfaces with different geometries on the frame without requiring special geometric adaptations, leading to inefficiencies in space utilization and design flexibility.

Innovation Solution

An adapter system is introduced that fits precisely into the frame opening of an electric bicycle, allowing for the attachment of user interfaces and smartphone holders with varying geometries, providing a simple, cost-effective, and robust mounting solution that compensates for tolerance variations and seals against fluid ingress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If user interfaces with different geometries are mounted directly on the bicycle frame, then the frame opening geometry must be specially adapted for each user interface, but this increases manufacturing complexity and costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with different user interface geometriesVSAvoidframe opening geometry adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an adapter as an intermediary component between the frame opening and the user interface. The adapter has a standardized mounting interface that fits into the frame opening and provides a receptacle with adjustable geometry to accommodate different user interface shapes and sizes. This mediator eliminates the need to modify the frame opening for each user interface type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter is designed as a universal mounting solution that can accommodate multiple types of user interfaces with different geometries. The receptacle of the adapter can be adjusted or configured to fit various user interface shapes, making a single frame opening design compatible with multiple user interface types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Area of stationary object

If the user interface is tightly integrated into the frame opening, then space is optimized, but this reduces flexibility in changing or upgrading user interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveframe opening space utilizationVSAvoidflexibility in user interface changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting system is segmented into three separate components: the frame opening, the adapter, and the user interface. This segmentation allows the user interface to be independently changed or upgraded by simply replacing the user interface component while keeping the adapter and frame opening intact, thus maintaining space efficiency while improving flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter incorporates a receptacle with adjustable or configurable geometry that can adapt to different user interface requirements. This dynamic capability allows the same adapter to work with various user interface types, enabling easy changes and upgrades without compromising the integrated appearance or space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If standard frame opening geometries are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but this requires geometric adaptation of the frame opening for different user interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveframe opening standardizationVSAvoidgeometric coordination between frame and user interface
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter serves as a geometric translator between the standardized frame opening and the various user interface geometries. The adapter's mounting interface matches the standard frame opening geometry, while its receptacle can be configured to match different user interface shapes, thereby eliminating the need for geometric adaptation of the frame opening itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter's receptacle geometry can be changed or adjusted to accommodate different user interface parameters (shape, size, mounting hole positions). This parameter flexibility allows a single standardized frame opening design to work with multiple user interface variations without requiring precision geometric coordination for each specific user interface type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4588767A1User interface assembly of an electric bicycle
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP4588767A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4588767A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4588767A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a user interface arrangement of an electric bicycle (100), comprising an adapter (1) which is designed for precise mounting in a frame opening (11) of a bicycle frame (10) of an electric bicycle (100), wherein the adapter (1) has a receptacle (2) which is designed to hold a user interface (3) and/or to hold a smartphone holder (35).