Rider Propulsion With Additional Source Of Power, E.g., Combustion Engine Or Electric Motor(ipc) Patents (Class 180/205.1)
  • Patent number: 11807207
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control unit disposed at a suitable place of a bicycle is provided. A braking system including such a hydraulic pressure control unit is also provided. A bicycle including such a braking system is also provided. A hydraulic pressure control unit (110) of a braking system (100) mounted on a bicycle (200) and capable of executing an antilock braking control includes: an inlet valve (131) and an outlet valve (132) which are opened and closed when the antilock braking control is executed; and a base body (120) to which the inlet valve (131) and the outlet valve (132) are attached, wherein a mount part of the hydraulic pressure control unit (110) for mounting the hydraulic pressure control unit (110) to the bicycle (200) is joined to a front fork (15) of the bicycle (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hiroaki Atsushi, Kazuki Chiba
  • Patent number: 11724774
    Abstract: The invention discloses an automatic downshifting and variable speed transmission bicycle, comprising a bicycle stand, wherein the bicycle stand is installed with a bottom bracket; the bottom bracket is installed with a bottom bracket sprocket set, and the bottom bracket sprocket set is composed of three chain discs of different sizes; a rear axle of the bicycle is provided with a tower footing, and the tower footing is fixedly installed with a sun gear; one side of the sun gear is provided with a planet carrier, and the planet carrier is installed with planetary twin gears. The invention is easy to start, can run at high speed, has multiple functions, and is reliable in operation, with convenient maintenance and low cost, and is energy saving and environmental-friendly; it has a good market prospect and brings great convenience to cyclists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventor: Shoujin Li
  • Patent number: 11459050
    Abstract: A connected component platform (CCP) is disclosed. The CCP receives information about at least one connected component on a vehicle and sensor derived performance information for the vehicle. The CCP develops a suspension setup recommendation for the vehicle based on the information about the at least one connected component and the sensor derived performance information. The suspension setup recommendation for the vehicle is presented on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley E. Allinger, Paul W. Stecher
  • Patent number: 11427102
    Abstract: A method of autonomously charging an electric vehicle having a charge port is provided. The method comprises providing an electric charge system having a first controller and a second controller. The first controller is in communication with an electric charger and a movable charge arm. The movable charge arm is connected to the electric charger extends to an arm end comprising a charge plug and a camera. The movable charge arm has an idle position defining a charging zone and is movable via a predetermined number of degrees of freedom to connect the charge plug with the charge port for electrically charging the electric vehicle. The second controller disposed in the vehicle and in communication with the first controller. The method further comprises aligning the charge port with the charging zone by vehicle movement and aligning the charge plug with the charge port by the charge arm movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Xiang Zhao, Ningjian Huang
  • Patent number: 11208170
    Abstract: A modular electric bicycle with the classic diamond frame design which has been designed to accommodate a d-c rechargeable battery pack within its top, down and seat tube and conceal all electrical wiring inside the frame. The modular electric bicycle has been designed in order to ease the maintenance of electronic components and replace obsolete electronics just as easily as conventional bicycles can have mechanical components replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Matteo Giuseppe Matsuura Frontini
  • Patent number: 10906610
    Abstract: An ebike comprises a front wheel, a rear wheel, a frame structure supported on the front wheel and the rear wheel, a crank assembly, and a battery assembly. The frame structure includes a down tube defining a down tube axis and being open at its lower end. The crank assembly is rotatable about a crank axis that is spaced rearward from the down tube axis. The battery assembly is slidable into the down tube from the lower end of the down tube along the down tube axis. The battery assembly includes a battery housing protruding from the lower end of the down tube, and a battery cover secured to a lower end of the battery housing and substantially enclosing the lower end of the battery housing. At least a portion of the battery housing may extend below a horizontal plane defined by the crank axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Jan Talavasek, Vincent Patureau, Marco Werner Sonderegger, Marc Pallure
  • Patent number: 10556634
    Abstract: A bicycle control system is basically provided with an electronic controller. The electronic controller is configured to control at least one of an electric indicator and an electric actuator of a height adjustable seatpost in accordance with a condition of a battery to supply electricity to the electric actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Komatsu, Shingo Sakurai, Yuta Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 10137954
    Abstract: An integrated high-performance and light-weight electric drive system for a bicycle is disclosed comprising an integrated unitary motor-controller-drive system that can be inserted into and removed from a first tube portion of a bicycle frame through an open bottom bracket shell portion of the bicycle frame. A longitudinally-extending battery pack configured to be electrically connected with and to provide electrical power to the electric motor and the controller may be configured to be inserted into and removed from a second tube portion of the bicycle frame through the open bottom bracket shell portion of the bicycle frame. Some or all of the electrical components may not be visible from the exterior of the bicycle. A unique digital torque sensing and control system is described along with regenerative braking and other unique features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Hendey, Stephen Moore, John Waters
  • Patent number: 9796444
    Abstract: A foldable structure of an electric vehicle is disclosed. In the foldable structure, a frame defines a stowing space, and includes a connection base and a rotatable seat. The connection base has a chute and the seat includes a link rod. The wheel part includes two wheel casings, a tire and a driving device, and a containing space is formed between the wheel casings for containing the tire and the driving device. The wheel casings has a rotator cap protruded at tops thereof, and the rotator cap has an axle hole longitudinally cut therethrough, and the rotator cap is pivotally connected with the rotatable seat by the axle hole, whereby the link rod can be slid into the chute, and the two wheel casings and the tire can be laterally rotated into the stowing space, such that the electric vehicle can just occupy smaller space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: Global Win Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Jen Lin, Kuan Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 9616964
    Abstract: A bicycle wireless control system is basically provided with a first bicycle electric component and a second bicycle electric component. The first bicycle electric component includes at least one operating member and a first wireless communication unit that wirelessly transmits a control signal in response to an operation of the at least one operating member. The second bicycle electric component includes a second wireless communication unit that is configured to wirelessly receive the control signal from the first wireless communication unit and to wirelessly transmit an acknowledgement signal to the first wireless communication unit upon receiving the control signal from the first wireless communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kasai
  • Patent number: 9573654
    Abstract: A bicycle motor control system is provided. The bicycle motor control system may be configured to control a drive motor that configured to output a driving force. The controller may be configured to receive a first user input and increase the driving force based on the first user input so as to set a boost ratio, and automatically reduce the driving force based on a factor other than the first user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Satoshi Shahana, Yoshinori Iino, Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa
  • Patent number: 9377326
    Abstract: A power-assisted bicycle having a sensor with multiple magnet positions and magnetic fluxes unevenly distributed in a shell includes a sensor which includes a sensing element, a power assistance model processor, a digital-to-analog converter and an operational amplifier which are connected successively. The sensing element includes a rotary wheel, a static wheel, permanent magnets and a Hall component which are embedded within a hollow internal of the rotary wheel and said static wheel. On the rotary wheel, magnetic poles of the neighboring permanent magnets are opposite; the permanent magnets are spaced differently and have different magnetic fluxes. The Hall component on the static wheel is provided in proximity to the permanent magnets. The sensor is sleeved onto a middle shaft; the OPA is connected to a motor controller. Relative positions between the permanent magnets and the Hall component are fixed; the Hall component obtains a rectangular wave signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignees: CHENGDU KUANHE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qiang Huang
  • Patent number: 9359043
    Abstract: A power-assistance bicycle using a sensor having multiple magnet blocks evenly distributed in a housing, related to electric power-assistance bicycles that provide a power-assistance signal with multipoint magnetic induction. The sensor comprises: a sensing element, a power-assisted model processor, a digital-to-analog converter and an operational amplifier. The sensing element comprises a rotating disk and an annular-groove fixing disk fitted with each other, and a permanent magnetic block and the Hall element are provided in a cavity of the rotating disk and the annular-groove fixing disk. A plurality of permanent magnetic blocks that are opposite in adjacent magnetic polarities are fixedly provided on the rotating disk. The Hall element is provided on the fixing disk and in proximity to the permanent magnetic blocks. The sensor is sleeved on an exterior of a medial axis. The operational amplifier is connected with the motor controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignees: CHENGDU KUANHE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qiang Huang
  • Patent number: 9278727
    Abstract: A bicycle includes at least one pedal and a flywheel. The flywheel rotates in accordance with movement of the pedal. A motor is configured to rotate a wheel. A battery powers the motor, and a throttle controls how much power is provided from the battery to the motor. Power from the battery is only provided to the motor while the flywheel is rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald L. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20150136507
    Abstract: The present invention is a piston-actuated bicycle pedal assist system mounted to a bicycle for intermittent assistance with pedaling. This system includes a pedal rotatably attached to a pedal arm. The pedal arm fixedly attaches to a crankshaft such that rotation of the pedal arm and continuous movement of a piston head actuate the crankshaft. A propellant bottle provides propellant flow through propellant tubing. A propellant actuator controls propellant flow into at least one manifold connected to at least one propellant motor cylinder. This manifold includes a check valve that permits one-way propellant flow into the propellant motor cylinder. The check valve alternately opens by the piston head and seals automatically. The piston head includes a piston flap seal reversibly forming a seal that creates a pressure differential within a propellant motor cylinder chamber. This pressure differential controls downward movement of the piston head and an attached piston shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Alex Baldwin
  • Patent number: 8997910
    Abstract: An electric bicycle configured to generate electricity by pedals thereof, the electric bicycle includes a front frame provided with a front wheel and a handle; a center frame provided with pedals and a saddle, a rear frame provided with a rear wheel; a pedal housing provided at the a front frame provided with a front wheel and a handle, a center frame provided with pedals and a saddle, a rear frame provided with a rear wheel, a pedal housing provided at the center frame, a pedal shaft provided with the pedals at both end portions thereof while passing through the pedal housing, an accelerating unit allowing the pedal shaft to pass therethrough and provided with an input side directly connected to the pedal shaft to increase rotational speed, and a generating unit allowing the pedal shaft to pass therethrough and directly connected to an output side of the accelerating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Il Yong Kim, Chang Bok Ko
  • Patent number: 8985254
    Abstract: A pedal driven apparatus for a hybrid bicycle can be manually propelled, but also includes a motor unit for forward propulsion of the bicycle. The apparatus comprises manually operable pedals fixed for rotation with a pedal spindle for receiving a manually provided driving force, and a motor having a shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force. A first torque transmission path transfers the manually provided driving force to a sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus, and a second torque transmission path transfers the motor provided driving force to the sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus. A first one way drive means is provided in the first torque transmission path and second one way drive means is provided in the second torque transmission path. The manual driving force and motor driving force may be used separately or combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Foster Assets Corporation
    Inventor: Yet Chan
  • Patent number: 8983704
    Abstract: The disclosure herein provides systems for a versatile electric bicycle that is configured to be easily adapted to accommodate various needs and requirements. In certain embodiments, the foregoing may provide features and/or models that are configured to be easily adapted to accommodate parts of varying dimensions, different seating configurations, and/or particular laws and regulations of different jurisdictions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Civilized Cycles Incorporated
    Inventor: Zachary Schieffelin
  • Patent number: 8972086
    Abstract: A bicycle drive apparatus includes a bicycle crankset, a bicycle transmission, a drive assistance electric motor and a microcomputer. The microcomputer includes an output control section. The output control section has a first control and a second control that makes an output of the drive assistance electric motor smaller than an output of the drive assistance electric motor occurring during the first control only upon determining a crank arm of the bicycle crankset is positioned within a prescribed range of at least one of a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position of the bicycle crankset. The output control section is configured to vary the output of the drive assistance electric motor according to a pedaling force. The output control section switches from the first control to the second control upon receiving a shift command to shift the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Atsushi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 8950531
    Abstract: An internal motorized bicycle hub includes a hub axle, a motor, a first bearing, a second bearing, a spacer and a movement restricting section. The motor has a rotor and a stator. The first and second bearings rotatably support the rotor on the hub axle. The second bearing is axially spaced apart from the first bearing. Each of the first and second bearings includes an inner race attached to the hub axle, an outer race attached to the rotor, and a rolling element arranged between the inner and outer races. The spacer is arranged between the inner races. The movement restricting section restricts movement of the inner race of the first bearing in a direction of separating from the bearing of the second bearing. The spacer presses the bearing of the first bearing towards the movement restricting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Urabe
  • Patent number: 8949010
    Abstract: An inverted pendulum type vehicle capable of making mounting and dismounting of an occupant smooth. A control device of an inverted pendulum type vehicle includes a control gain adjustment unit. The control gain adjustment unit changes the magnitude of the control gain used for motion control of an actuator device according to the tilting state of an occupant riding section in a situation where the stepping on of an occupant to the occupant riding section is executed or in a situation where the stepping off of the occupant from the occupant riding section is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Hasegawa, Shinichiro Kobashi, Shinya Shirokura, Hideo Murakami
  • Patent number: 8794368
    Abstract: A motor-assisted rotating wheel mechanism includes a rotating wheel, a rotating axle and an auxiliary motor. The rotating axle is rotationally disposed on a frame body and has two cranks with force-receiving members disposed at the two ends thereof, for allowing the force received by the force-receiving members to provide a rotational force to drive the rotating wheel to rotate and thus facilitate the auxiliary motor to output power, wherein the auxiliary motor is disposed between the two cranks disposed at the two ends of the rotating axle, and wherein the auxiliary motor includes a magnetic field having the same axle center as or parallel to the axle center, thereby facilitating the auxiliary motor to output power in cooperation with the rotating power provided by the rotating axle to synchronically drive the rotating wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Huan-Lung Gu, Yee-Pien Yang
  • Patent number: 8738212
    Abstract: The disclosure herein provides systems for a versatile electric bicycle that is configured to be easily adapted to accommodate various needs and requirements. In certain embodiments, the foregoing may provide features and/or models that are configured to be easily adapted to accommodate parts of varying dimensions, different seating configurations, and/or particular laws and regulations of different jurisdictions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Civilized Cycles Incorporated
    Inventor: Zachary Schieffelin
  • Patent number: 8738259
    Abstract: A movable body according to the present invention detects an operation state including attitude information of the movable body by using an operation state detector, generates a drive velocity command based on the detected attitude information and an attitude information command to be input, generates a torque command of the drive device based on the generated drive velocity command and a drive velocity detected by a drive velocity detector, and drives the drive device in accordance with the torque command generated by a velocity controller, to thereby move. In the movable body, the velocity controller performs velocity control so that the drive velocity detected by the drive velocity detector follows the drive velocity command generated by an attitude controller, and the attitude controller performs attitude control so that the attitude information detected by the operation state detector follows the attitude information command to be input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Kosaka
  • Patent number: 8721481
    Abstract: A motor unit includes a motor shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force and an auxiliary shaft for receiving an externally provided driving force. A first torque transmission path transfers the externally provided driving force to a drive mechanism and a second torque transmission path transfers the motor provided driving force also to the drive mechanism. A first one way drive is provided in the first torque transmission path between the auxiliary shaft and the drive mechanism such that when the drive mechanism is being driven by the motor provided driving force through the second torque transmission path, the auxiliary shaft is able to freewheel. The motor unit can drive any apparatus where the externally provided driving force is provided by manually operable pedals fixed for rotation with the auxiliary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventor: Yet Chan
  • Publication number: 20140116795
    Abstract: The invention relates to circumferential movement field, including all circumferential movement devices such as transport vehicle, toy vehicle, space vehicle, blender etc, especially for energy-saving vehicles utilizing force of gravity. The energy-saving vehicle utilizes force of gravity as driving force, the vehicle body connects with the wheel by swing structure method or eccentric swing structure to utilize force of gravity more efficiently. The invention also provides solutions about two-wheel gravitational vehicle and multi-wheel vehicle and train connected by integrated vehicles or two-wheel vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Wuhan Runlin Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wenlin REN
  • Patent number: 8708084
    Abstract: A power-assisted bicycle with an auxiliary power unit that improves positional stability of a torque sensor and inhibits the position of the sensor from being misaligned, wherein the power-assisted bicycle includes an annular hollow member inserted over an outer periphery of a crankshaft and a one-way clutch disposed on the hollow member for transmitting, when a pedaling torque in a direction in which the power-assisted bicycle traveling in a forward direction, is applied to the crankshaft, and wherein a magnetic film is formed in a recess disposed in an outer periphery of the hollow member, and a magnetostrictive torque sensor is positioned and fixed by a support member for rotatably supporting the magnetostrictive torque sensor relative to the annular hollow member at both ends of the recess, such that the magnetostrictive torque sensor faces the magnetic film in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kuroki, Kentaro Ikegami
  • Patent number: 8684122
    Abstract: A center motor power-assisted bicycle includes an internal transmission and has a regenerative function. A transmission comprises, in a drive wheel hub, a planetary gear, a one-way clutch for reverse input, a clutch switching device, and, a sun gear and transmits driving force from a sprocket to the drive wheel. A transmission control mechanism selectively rotationally fixes the sun gear to the axle to change speed when driving force is applied. The clutch is disposed between the sun gear and the axle, and selectively rotationally fixes the sun gear to the axle by the operation of the clutch switching device when reverse input is applied. While the bicycle is driven, the clutch switching device moves the clutch to the rotatable state, to transmit driving force. While the bicycle is traveling without being driven, the clutch is locked, so that reverse input is transmitted to the sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Maeno, Kiyohiro Ito
  • Patent number: 8651212
    Abstract: The invention relates to a battery holder which is configured to be inserted into the tube opening in the seat tube of the frame of an electric bicycle and to be pulled out. The bicycle saddle is connected to the battery holder via a saddle pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fairly Bike Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Droux Vincenz
  • Patent number: 8640805
    Abstract: A bicycle includes an auxiliary power unit for regenerating electric energy even with no braking operations. A power-assisted bicycle includes a controller for detecting a torque value of a pedaling torque applied to a crankshaft for controlling an output of a brushless motor according to the torque value detected. A power transmitting member outputs the pedaling torque applied to the crankshaft to a rear wheel with a clutch unit for permitting an output of a driving force of the brushless motor to the rear wheel, but not an output of power from the rear wheel to the brushless motor. A selector selects whether or not to permit transmission of power from the rear wheel to the brushless motor. The clutch unit includes a lock-up ratchet for selectively permitting an output of power from the rear wheel WR to the brushless motor according to an operation of the selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Masahiro Kuroki
  • Patent number: 8602148
    Abstract: A portable removable apparatus for powering a bicycle driven by a chain is disclosed. The apparatus includes a portable and removable drive unit for propelling the bicycle. The drive unit includes an electric motor and a shaft rotatable by the motor, with a sprocket coaxially affixed to the shaft and adapted to engage to a portion of the chain. The apparatus also includes a bracket adapted to be fixed to a frame of the bicycle and to be in bearing contact with the shaft for supporting the shaft. The apparatus further includes at least one additional support for supporting the drive unit on the bicycle frame so that lateral torque on the drive unit when engaged with the chain and operating is substantially eliminated. Another embodiment is disclosed in which the drive unit includes a flexible belt looped around a drive pulley connected to the motor and an idler pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventor: Shaul Shwartz
  • Patent number: 8590655
    Abstract: A hybrid bicycle is provided which can be manually propelled, but which includes a motor unit for also causing forward propulsion of the bicycle. The bicycle comprises manually operable pedals fixed for rotation with a pedal spindle for receiving a manually provided driving force and a motor having a shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force. A first torque transmission path is provided for transferring the manually provided driving force to a sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus and a second torque transmission path is provided for transferring the motor provided driving force to said sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus. A first one way drive means is also provided. This is provided in the first torque transmission path between the pedal spindle and the sprocket such that when the sprocket is being driven by the motor provided driving force through the second torque transmission path, the pedal spindle is able to freewheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Foster Assets Corporation
    Inventor: Yet Chan
  • Patent number: 8534405
    Abstract: A cargo scooter is described having at least one front riding wheel, at least one rear riding wheel, a deck, and a cargo box. The cargo box has a floor that is located between the steering column and the at least one riding wheel. All of the riding wheels are aligned with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: DioMede Equity LLC
    Inventors: John Kim, Dave Zermeno, Andrew Naminga
  • Patent number: 8534408
    Abstract: An electrically-operated two wheeled vehicle provided with a swing unit which pivotally supports a drive wheel WR. The swing unit includes: a first rotary electric machine having a first rotor; a second rotary electric machine having a second rotor; and a planetary gear mechanism which combines a rotational drive force of the first and second rotors to each other and transmits a product of rotational drive forces to a drive wheel WR in a state where a rotational speed is increased. The first and second rotary electric machines are arranged parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle such that an axis Ax2 of the second rotor is positioned in front of an axis Ax1 of the first rotor along the vehicle body. This arrangement prevents a height position of a lower surface of a swing unit from becoming excessively low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Kajihara, Dai Kataoka, Jun Adachi, Junya Ono, Asuka Ito
  • Patent number: 8474564
    Abstract: A wheel with a self-contained drive mechanism is provided to propel (or assist in propulsion of) bicycles, tricycles, and similar vehicles. The wheel preferably takes the form of a detachable wheel, which is readily received within the dropouts of a bicycle frame or fork. Thus, the wheel may be added to (or removed from) preexisting standard bicycles and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Radtke
  • Patent number: 8467922
    Abstract: A control device of an inverted pendulum type vehicle comprising: a drive unit driving a vehicle movable on a floor surface in all directions comprising a first direction and a second direction, the first direction being orthogonal to the second direction; a base body comprising a payload supporting part receiving a load of the drive unit and a passenger; and a control unit controlling the drive unit so that an inverted pendulum control is performed with respect to a vehicle system center-of-gravity point, wherein the inverted pendulum type vehicle comprises a periodic moving unit being comprised in the base body and receiving a predetermined periodic movement by the passenger, and a periodic detector detecting a period of the periodic moving unit; and the control unit controls the drive unit according to the period of the periodic moving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Takenaka
  • Publication number: 20130020142
    Abstract: A cargo scooter is described having at least one front riding wheel, at least one rear riding wheel, a deck, and a cargo box. The cargo box has a floor that is located between the steering column and the at least one riding wheel. All of the riding wheels are aligned with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: DIOMEDE EQUITY LLC
    Inventors: John Kim, David Zermeno, Andrew Naminga
  • Publication number: 20120318595
    Abstract: Modular human powered recumbent vehicle has a variable configuration and size. It comprises a group of standardized modules—fast attachable parts connected together by set of cross tubes (4) of variable length. It has three basic modules: middle (1), left (2) and right (3); each module has several modifications. One or more additional modules, like child seat (17), shopping basket (18), additional pedal (15) or electric (16) drive, also can be attached for performing a specific task. Vehicle can be transformed to a powered or unpowered trailer of variable configuration. It can be folded for storage and disassembled for transportation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Alexandre Belenkov, Eugene Belenkov, Anna Belenkova
  • Patent number: 8251389
    Abstract: A bicycle is equipped with an auxiliary power system to provide extra power for driving the bicycle forward. The auxiliary power system includes a base fixed to a frame of the bicycle, a power storage device connected to the base, and a ratchet device connecting the power storage device and a main transmission system of the bicycle. When pedals of the bicycle are turned in a forward direction, it may drive the bicycle forward but not the power storage device through the ratchet device. When the pedals are turned in a rearward direction, it may drive the power storage device through the ratchet device to store extra power in the power storage device. A rider may release the power stored in the power storage device to drive the bicycle forward through the ratchet device and the main transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Yongmart Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih-Chen Juan
  • Patent number: 8169186
    Abstract: A system and method for charging an electric vehicle includes identifying vehicle information corresponding to the electric vehicle based on an electronic image of the electric vehicle, retrieving from an electronically stored local database a location of a charging port on the electric vehicle based on the vehicle information, robotically moving a charging connector according to the retrieved location to engage the charging port of the electric vehicle, querying the local database to determine whether a current time corresponds to an energy efficient usage time based on energy efficient usage data received from a power grid, and initiating a charging process upon determining that the current time corresponds to the energy efficient usage time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Interim Designs Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Haddad, Daniel B. Lysak
  • Patent number: 8091674
    Abstract: A torque detecting system for a bottom bracket axle of a power-assisted bicycle includes a torque sensor for being mounted on the bottom bracket axle of the bicycle, a wireless signal transmitter arranged stationarily relative to the bottom bracket axle, and a wireless signal receiver for being arranged at a location of a bicycle frame of the bicycle in proximity to the bottom bracket axle. The wireless signal transmitter is adapted for receiving a detected signal, which is outputted from the torque sensor, and then transmitting the detected signal to the wireless signal receiver wirelessly. In this way, the signal attenuation and the possibility of signal loss of the detected signal can be minimized during the signal transmission, such that the torque applied on the bottom bracket axle by the bicyclist can be detected precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: J. D. Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bin Zhang, Yuan-Fang Hsu
  • Publication number: 20110186372
    Abstract: A bicycle is equipped with an auxiliary power system to provide extra power for driving the bicycle moving forward. The auxiliary power system includes a base fixed to a frame of the bicycle, a power storage device connected to the base, and a ratchet device connecting the power storage device and a main transmission system of the bicycle. When paddles of the bicycle are turned in a forward direction, it may drive the bicycle moving forward but not the power storage device through the ratchet device. When the paddles are turned in a rearward direction, it may drive the power storage device through the ratchet device to store extra power in the power storage device. Rider may release the power stored in the power storage device to drive the bicycle moving forward through the ratchet device and the main transmission system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: YONGMART MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chih-Chen Juan
  • Publication number: 20110168471
    Abstract: An auxiliary, removable, modular power drive unit has a pivot point that can be attached to any bicycle or vehicle by way of a quick release clamp system. The power for the drive system may be derived from an internal combustion engine or electric motor. The power developed by the engine or motor is delivered to the rear wheel of a bicycle by a friction drive wheel that presses directly onto the tire of the bicycle. The power unit may utilize a clamp joined to an integrated fuel cell by a pivot point, causing the fuel cell to act as a swing arm and a motor mount. This enables the fuel cell to move up and down to compensate for different tire sizes, variations in road conditions, or movement of a suspension system of the bicycle due to imperfections in terrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Dale Duignan