Related applications

[0001] This application claims priority of US provisional application 63/309,526 filed on February 12, 2022 the contents of which is hereby introduced in its entirety.

Technical Field

[0002] The invention pertains to a bicycle with an assistance electrical motor, commonly known as an ebike.

[0003] More particularly, the invention pertains to an ebike that may be easily converted to a conventional bicycle also designated as a “push-bike”.

[0004] In more detail, the invention is about an ebike comprising a device for an easy wheel change, enabling to change from a motor integrated wheel to a conventional wheel and reverse, the bicycle of the invention comprising a universal wheel attachment either for the front wheel, the rear wheel of both.

Background

[0005] Most of ebikes are nowadays powered by a so-called “mid-drive” i.e. an electrical motor set at the bottom of the frame in the crank set area.

[0006] Mid drives have proven to be very effective for ebikes. However, when the drive of such an ebike wears out, unless it is replaced, the bike becomes useless. The motor is actually a part of the power train from the cranks to the wheel and for aesthetic reasons is usually well integrated in the frame, specifically in high end ebikes, therefore, simply removing the motor will result in an ugly bicycle with poor performance.

[0007] Abetter solution is to integrate the motor into the wheel hub, whether in the front wheel, in the rear wheel or both. Some hub-drives even carry their own batteries. Thus, such a bicycle may be configured as an ebike or as a push-bike by simply changing the wheel (s) between a wheel with a hub drive and a conventional wheel.

[0008] Document US 2016/075226 Al discloses such a wheel comprising a hub-drive including a battery.

[0009] However, if this solution seems attractive it is not that straightforward because the way wheels are attached to the frame are different, specifically if the wheel comprises a disc brake, depending on whether the wheel is a conventional wheel or a wheel with a hubdrive.

[0010] Awheel with a hub-drive is usually set in the frame through a dropout that stops the hubdrive in rotation when the latter engaged with it, and a nut or quick release that maintain the wheel by friction.

[0011] Modern wheels and more specifically conventional wheels with a disc brake, are attached to the frame with a thru-axle, the wheel spinning around said thru-axle. Although it is possible to attach a wheel featuring a disc brake using the drop out and quick release configuration, such a solution is not really satisfactorily since the stiffness of such an attachment is usually too low to prevent the disc brakes from squalling when the cyclist delivers high torque and stands up on the pedals. Additionally, the solution using a thru-axle proves to be more robust than the conventional dropout and quick release set, notably for mountain bikes, so that the conventional dropout and quick release solution is now superseded by the thru-axle solution even in absence of disc brakes.

[0012] Therefore, an ebike does not allow an easy change of the wheel from a wheel with a hubdrive to a modern conventional wheel, since the attachments used by those two wheels are different.

[0013] The latter does not support sustainable development goals, since such an ebike may become obsolete once the motor is worn out.

[0014] As a matter of fact, the lifetime of an ebike is comprised between three to five years on an average. After this the performance of both the battery and the motor start to decline. Although the lifetime of the motor may be improved with proper maintenance that time period shall be compared with a lifetime of a push-bike which, if not used in competition or extreme conditions lasts for decades.

[0015] Transforming an ebike in a push-bike is actually a costly operation, even more costly when the battery an/ore the motor are integrated with the frame. Therefore, once the battery or the motor loose their efficiency the ebike is generally discarded and changed for a new one which is not in line with sustainability and circular economy.

Disclosure of the invention

[0016] It is the aim of the invention to propose an ebike that fulfils the requirement of sustainable development and circular economy by making it out of recyclable resources, repairable and with a potential use going beyond the lifetime of the electronic components.

[0017] To this end the invention pertains to an ebike that is made of recycled and recyclable material, that is lightweight and durable, and as effective as an ebike and as a push-bike.

[0018] To this end the invention pertains to a bicycle comprising two wheels, a frame comprising connecting ends to connect the wheels to the frame, a fork, wherein at least one of the wheels comprises a hub with a hub-drive motor and wherein the connecting ends receiving the wheel with the hub-drive motor comprise a wheel-to-frame attachment set on each connecting end comprising: an insert comprising a positioning surface and fixed to the connecting end a dropout plate comprising a plurality of threaded holes to attach it to the insert by screws, comprising an oblong slot with an opening, the opening pointing downward when the dropout plate is attached to the insert; a washer comprising a central hole; wherein the wheel with the hub-drive motor comprises a fix hollow axle with a run-thru reaming, the fix axle protruding as threaded lugs at the right and the left ends of the hub, the threaded lugs being adapted to slip into the open slot of the dropout plates; the bicycle further comprising a fixture for securing the wheel in the wheel-to-frame attachments by slipping-on the central holes of the washers on each threading end portion of the fix axle and tightening each washer against the dropout plate with a fixture. [0019] Thus, the connecting ends of the bicycle of the invention are easily adapted to any type of wheel, and the bicycle can be changed from a ebike to a push bike and reverse.

[0020] The invention is implemented according to the embodiments disclosed hereunder, in no way limiting, that may be contemplated individually or according to any technically operative combination.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the wheel -to-frame attachment is set on the frame stays connecting ends. This embodiment is notably adapted to an ebike having a hub-drive set in the rear wheel.

[0022] According to another embodiment, the wheel-to-frame attachment is set on the fork connecting ends. The latter embodiment is notably adapted to an ebike having a hub-drive set in the front wheel.

[0023] The person skilled in the art understands that these two embodiments may be combined.

[0024] According to variants, the fixture may be a lock nut adapted to screw on the threaded end portion of the axle, or a quick release running through the reaming of the hollow axle.

[0025] Advantageously, the fix hollow axle comprises a flat land at one of its threaded end portions and the washer comprises a protruding square lug adapted to slip into the slot of the dropout plate and the flat land of the axle of the hub contacts said square lug when the wheel is mounted into the bicycle frame, thus providing a stop in rotation of the hub axle.

[0026] Advantageously, the washer comprises a plurality of threaded hole to attach it to the insert in lieu of the dropout plate. Thus, the washers provide additional wheel mounting configuration by using them alone or in combination with the dropout plates.

[0027] Taking advantage of the above, according to an embodiment the bicycle comprises a thru- axle of a given diameter with a threaded end to attach a wheel to the connecting ends and the central hole of one of the washers is of a diameter enabling a snug slip in of the thru- axle and wherein the central hole of the other washer is threaded to enable the screw in of the threaded end of the thru-axle. This configuration allows to shift the ebike in a pushbike using thru-axle mounted wheels, more particularly when these push-bike wheels are including disc brakes.

[0028] Depending on the configuration, the dropout plate comprises a threaded hole adapted to attach a derailleur hanger to said dropout plate, or one the washers comprise such a hole to attach the derailleur hanger.

[0029] Advantageously, the frame is made of composite tubes comprising a biosourced fiber reinforcement in a biosourced polymer matrix and wherein the insert is made of a metal selected among recycled steel, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys and magnesium alloys.

[0030] Thus, the bike is lightweight though very responsive whether as an ebike or a push bike and is made using sustainable resources.

Brief description of the drawings

[0031] The invention is described below in its preferred embodiments, that are in no way limiting, with reference to [Fig.1] and [Fig.2], wherein:

[0032] [Fig.l] shows in a perspective partial exploded view, an exemplary embodiment of a dropout for attaching a rear wheel with a hub-drive to the bicycle of the invention [0033] [Fig.2] shows according to the same view as [Fig.1 ] the configuration for receiving a conventional wheel attached with a thru-axle.

Modes of carrying the invention

[0034] [Fig.1] shows a wheel to frame attachment at the rear connecting ends of the left and right chain and seat stays of a bicycle frame, according to an embodiment of the bicycle of the invention.

[0035] Those skilled in the art understand that the same principles exposed hereunder for the rear connecting ends may be adapted to the front connecting ends of the bicycle, where the front wheel is attached to the fork.

[0036] According to an exemplary embodiment the frame, the seat stay (101) and the chain stay (102) are made of tubular fiber reinforced composite materials, comprising preferably biosourced or recycled fibers in a biosourced or recycled polymer matrix.

[0037] Nonlimiting examples of biosourced fibers are flax, jute, hemp, sisal, bamboo, harakeke and wharariki. Nonlimiting example of biosourced polymers are poly lactic acid, the poly L lactide, polyhydroxybuturate, polyhydroxyalkalonates (PHAs), polyamide, polypropylene (PP) obtained from biobased ethylene obtained by converting ethanol, polyethylene terephthalate and all other thermoplastic materials. There are also other biobased resins partially obtained (polyurethanes with biobased dyols and bio based epoxy epichlorohy- drine from glycerol) that are thermosetting.

[0038] Each connecting end, left and right, comprises a metallic insert (110) connected to the composite stays (101, 102) upon the manufacturing of the bicycle frame. Unless indicated to the contrary the left and the right sides connecting ends are similar and include the sane components.

[0039] According to this embodiment the part of the insert (110) protruding from the stays (101, 102) is of a flat hook shape, comprising a flat bearing surface (111) on the outward side of the insert (110), said bearing surface being perpendicular to the wheel rotation axis (100).

[0040] According to this embodiment the insert (110) further comprises a retaining shoulder (112) on the bearing surface side, perpendicular to the bearing surface (111).

[0041] The retaining shoulder and the bearing surface are positioning surfaces enabling to precisely locate other components with regard to the bicycle frame.

[0042] The insert (110) also comprises 3 thru-holes (113) adapted to receive thru-screws (190).

[0043] A dropout plate (120) is adapted to be fastened by the thru-screws (190) in 3 threaded holes (122), against the bearing surface (111) and positioned by the retaining shoulder (112). The dropout plate (120) comprises an open oblong slot (121).

[0044] Once set up against the bearing surface (111) of the insert the opening of the oblong slot (121) points downward thus constituting a dropout at the connecting ends of the bicycle frame, enabling a wheel to be slipped in.

[0045] In this exemplary embodiment, the wheel comprises a protruding fixed hollow threaded axle at each of the right end and of the left end sides of the hub and attaching the wheel to the connecting ends is performed by sliding these protruding ends into the slots of the dropouts and securing with a lock nut tightened on the threaded portion of the axle against the wheel to frame attachment or with a quick release running through the hub axle reaming.

[0046] Therefore, once the wheel is slipped in the dropouts, it is maintained by lock nuts (1 0) or by a quick release.

[0047] Advantageously a washer (130i, 1302) is set between the lock nut (140) and the dropout plate and urged against said dropout plate (120) when the lock nuts are tightened.

[0048] This configuration is adapted to attach a wheel, whether a conventional wheel, e.g. with a quick release, or a wheel with a hub-drive motor. In the latter configuration, the fix axle of the hub comprises a flat land at least at one of the right or the left end protruding portions of the axle. In order to improve the stability of the axle with regard to the spinning torque, at least one of the washers (1302) comprises a square lug (131) adapted to slip into the oblong slot of its corresponding dropout plate, said square lug (131) provides a reinforced stop in rotation of the hub axle, the flat land contacting the square lug when the wheel is mounted to the frame of the bicycle.

[0049] The washer advantageously comprises threaded holes adapted to receive a thru-screw (190) however those holes (132) are not used in the above configuration.

[0050] A derailleur hanger (150) may be attached to the dropout plate (120) by a thru-screw.

[0051] The inserts (110), the dropout plates (120), the washers (130i, 1302) and the derailleur hanger (150) are preferably made of metal alloys, like steel, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys or magnesium alloys these alloys being preferably from a recycling channel.

[0052] [Fig.2] shows how a conventional wheel may be attached to the same seat and chain stays by a thru-axle (200).

[0053] To this end the dropout plates are no longer used. According to this embodiment, at least one of the washers ( 13 Or) used in the above-described configuration is used on one side, i.e. on the left side according to this embodiment and another washer (230) comprising a central threaded hole (233) is used of the other side. The central threaded hole (233) is adapted to receive the threaded end of the thru-axle (200).

[0054] Both washers (1301, 230) are fastened against the bearing surfaces (111) of the inserts (110) at the connecting ends by the thru-screws (190) and positioned by the retaining shoulder (112), as were the dropout plates in the exemplary assembly of figure 1.

[0055] The above description and the exemplary embodiments show that the invention reaches its aim of providing an ebike designed according to sustainable development and circular economy principles, while being effective both as an ebike and a push-bike.