The present invention relates to an assembly for electric-powered motion that can be associated with the frame of a muscle-powered bicycle.

Conventional bikes or bicycles are usually constituted by a frame composed of various tubular elements so as to obtain a structure that is substantially composed by a substantially horizontal tubular assembly which, at one end, is radiused to a head tube for the steering system and to an oblique tubular body, and at the other end is radiused to a substantially vertical tubular body with which a seat post is associated.

At the connection of the seat post, and/or of the substantially horizontal tubular body and/or of the substantially vertical tubular body, oblique chainstays are usually connected, while at the connection of the substantially horizontal tubular body and of the substantially vertical tubular body, horizontal chainstays are connected, at the ends of such horizontal and oblique chainstays there being a seat for an axle of a wheel.

Conventional muscle-powered bicycle frames, whether made of aluminum or of carbon, usually have on the lower part, at the junction between the substantially vertical tubular body, the oblique tubular body and the horizontal chainstays, a transverse cylindrical seat, circular in plan, for a bottom bracket which is associated with a toothed wheel and pedal cranks for pedals which can be pushed by the user.

In electric bicycles, a battery pack is instead provided, which is variously associated with the frame, and the electric motor is arranged for example on the rear wheel.

Electric bicycles are also known in which the motor is enclosed at adapted flanges, which define a closed body that forms part of the frame and which therefore cannot be removed, with which plastic components and/or coverings can be associated.

Alternatively, there are also other conventional frames in which a partially open flange is provided, but first the motor is fixed to it and then plastic components and coverings can be connected to it.

One drawback that is found in the known art illustrated above consists in that modifying a muscle-powered bicycle to an electric bicycle would involve a lengthy and complex series of operations to remove, substitute, adapt and modify many components which, effectively, are outside the capabilities of a normal user and would in any case require a technician with specialist knowledge of many fields, would require a great deal of time, would be very costly and would entail high costs.

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks in the cited known art, by providing an assembly that enables a user of a muscle-powered bicycle to convert it in a rapid and simple manner to an electric-powered bicycle.

Within the above aim, an object of the invention is to provide an assembly that enables a user to effect the conversion to the type of bicycle to be used without the need for special tools or specific mechanical expertise.

Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly that enables a user to effect the conversion of the bicycle from muscle-powered to electric-powered motion even though the user may not have specific manual skills.

Not least an object is to devise an assembly that enables a user to effect the conversion of the bicycle from muscle-powered motion to electric-powered motion at low cost.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an assembly electric-powered motion that can be associated with a frame of a preexisting muscle-powered bicycle provided with a flange, with which a bottom bracket is associated which is provided with a first crankset and is connected to said frame by means of first screws, characterized in that it comprises a bash guard, a first, front support and a second, rear support, for containing an electric motor, all of which can be associated with said frame by way of said first screws, said frame accommodating connectors for electrical connection to a battery and commands for activating said electric-powered motion.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of a particular, but not exclusive, embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a first side view of a frame of a muscle-powered bicycle;

Figure 2 is a second side view of a frame of a muscle-powered bicycle;

Figure 3 is a perspective side view of a frame of a muscle-powered bicycle;

Figure 4 shows the frame of a muscle-powered bicycle with the components for its motion extracted;

Figure 5 is a partial exploded view of the components for motion of the muscle-powered bicycle;

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the bottom bracket;

Figure 7 is a first view of the frame of the muscle-powered bicycle and an exploded view of the assembly for electric-powered motion of that bicycle;

Figure 8 is a second view of the frame of the muscle-powered bicycle and an exploded view of the assembly for electric-powered motion of that bicycle;

Figure 9 shows the bicycle, initially muscle-powered, converted to an electric bicycle;

Figure 10 is a second view of the bicycle, initially muscle-powered, converted to an electric bicycle.

In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments. With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 refers to a bicycle frame that comprises a head tube 2, inside which seats for bearings are located for connecting a steering system or a handlebar and which is connected in a lower region to a front fork 3, a first, substantially horizontal tubular body 4, functionally connected at its ends to the head tube 2 and to an inlet 5 for mounting a saddle, a second, oblique tubular body 6 functionally connected in an upper region to the head tube 2, a third, substantially vertical tubular body 7 connected at its upper end to the first, substantially horizontal tubular body 4 at the inlet 5 and at its lower end to the second, oblique tubular body 6.

A rear stay 8 is associated at the rear with the third, substantially vertical tubular body 7 and comprises a pair of horizontal chainstays 9a, 9b and a pair of oblique chainstays 10a, 10b consisting of tubular bodies at the ends of which it is possible to rotatably associate a wheel 11 and a gearbox assembly 12.

The frame 1 is associated, internally or externally, with adapted means for using an electric motor 13 such as various electrical components comprising substantially a remote control, a central unit with associated display, a charging port, a range extender (supplementary battery), a battery, a speed sensor, a first connector which starts from the electric motor 13 and connects to a second three-way connector, a third connector which starts from the first three-way connector and connects to the battery.

At the connector between the second, oblique tubular body 6 and the substantially vertical tubular body 7, a first seat 14 is provided for the removable connection, by means of first screws 15 acting on first holes 16 provided on the frame 1, of an assembly 50 for muscle-powered motion which is composed of a splined flange 17 provided with a pair of shoulders 18a, 18b, which are parallel to each other and protrude above a subframe 19 which is provided, at the front and transversely beyond the pair of shoulders 18a, 18b, with a second seat 20 for interconnection to the frame 1 by means of one of the first screws 15.

The subframe 19 has, to the rear of the pair of shoulders 18a, 18b, first tabs 21a, 21b, mutually parallel, proximate to the ends of which adapted second holes 22a, 22b are provided for interconnection, by means of one of the first screws 15, to the frame 1.

Each one of the pair of shoulders 18a, 18b has a third, axial seat 23 within which it is possible to removably arrange a bottom bracket having a first crankset 24 comprising a first chain ring 25 connected to a sleeve 26 which can be accommodated within the third, axial seat 23.

A shaft 28 can be arranged, with the interposition of a bearing 27, within the sleeve 26, and pedal cranks 29a, 29b are connected to the ends of the shaft.

The splined flange 17 that constitutes the assembly 16 therefore can be removably associated, by means of the first screws 15, with the first seat 14.

A chain 30 is connected to the first chain ring 25 and with the gearbox

12.

The foregoing describes a muscle-powered bicycle.

The reference numeral 31 designates an assembly for electric- powered motion which can be arranged at the first seat 14 provided in the connecting region between the second, oblique tubular body 6 and the substantially vertical tubular body 7 and which can be associated with the frame 1 by means of the first screws 15 acting on the first holes 16.

The assembly 31 for electric-powered motion is composed of a bash guard 32, a first, front support 34, a second, rear support 35 and the motor

13.

The electric motor 13 is contained within the first, front support 34 and the second, rear support 35.

The first, front support 34 has a C-like shape in which the ends of the first wings 36a, 36b can be arranged at the first holes 16, said first wings having third holes 37a, 37b which accommodate one of the first screws 15 so as to allow the connection to the frame 1.

Second tabs 39a, 39b protrude from the first base 38 of the rear support 34, starting from the same side and on slightly inclined planes, said second tabs being perforated for the insertion of the second screws 33 which, with the interposition of adapted first silent blocks (vibration damping elements) 40a, 40b, fix the bash guard 32 to the first, front support 34.

The second, rear support 35 has a C-like shape on the second base 41 of which adapted fourth holes 42a, 42b are provided for interconnection, by means of adapted third screws 43a, 43b that pass through fifth holes 44a, 44b provided at the rear of the bash guard 32, to said bash guard 32, second silent blocks (vibration damping elements) 45a, 45b being interposed between the bash guard 32 and the second base 41.

Mutually parallel L-shaped third tabs 46a, 46b protrude upward from the lateral ends of the second base 41, their second end wings 47a, 47b having, proximate to the terminal end, adapted sixth holes 48a, 48b for interconnection, by means of the first screws 15, of the assembly 31 to the frame 1.

The first assembly 31 is provided with a second crankset 49 comprising a second chain ring 51, with which the chain 30 can be associated, and a pair of pedal cranks 29a, 29b, which are fixed in a known manner to the electric motor 13.

The second chain ring 51 can be fixed to the electric motor 13 by means of an adapted connector 52.

Thus it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, an assembly having been obtained that enables a user of a muscle-powered bicycle to convert it in a rapid and simple manner to an electric-powered bicycle, without the need for special tools or specific mechanical expertise. Furthermore, the assembly according to the invention enables a user to effect the conversion of the bicycle from muscle-powered to electric- powered motion even though the user may not have specific manual skills, and at low cost. Naturally the materials used as well as the dimensions of the individual components of the invention may be more relevant according to specific requirements.

The characteristics indicated above as advantageous, convenient or the like, may also be missing or be substituted by equivalent characteristics. The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. 202022000004371 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.