US3905442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrically driven assist unit for rider propelled vehicles
Assignee: GENERAL ENGINES CO Inc
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Filing: 1974-08-21
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Granted: 1975-09-16
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Expires: 1994-08-21
Abstract
Abstract An electrically driven assist unit for rider propelled vehicles, such as bicycles and tricycles, including a friction wheel driven by an electric motor and which propels the vehicle by frictional engagement with the front wheel tire. A control unit, which is manually actuated by a gripping force applied to a lever, initially moves the electric motor downwardly to engage the friction wheel with the tread surface of the tire and thereafter closes an electric circuit to the electric motor for driving the friction wheel and, at the same time, for moving the friction wheel into tighter engagement with the tire. A return spring raises the friction wheel out of engagement with the tire when the gripping pressure is released from the hand lever, and a second spring displaces a movable switch contact out of engagement with a stationary contact for interrupting the electric circuit to the motor.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Joseph P O'neill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:31
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M6/00; B62M6/40; B62M6/75; B62M13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
An electrically driven assist unit for bicycles and tricycles comprising a supporting frame adapted to be secured to and supported by a front wheel fork, a motor support, means mounting said motor support on the frame for up and down movement, an electric motor secured to and supported by said motor support, a friction wheel secured to the shaft of said motor and disposed over the front wheel tire, a spring means normally retaining said motor support, motor and friction wheel in raised positions with said friction wheel out of engagement with the tire, a switch housing, means supporting the switch housing on said frame above the motor support for up and down movement, an electric switch contained in said switch housing and interposed in an electric circuit of the motor, yieldable means connected to a movable contact of said switch, said yieldable means being carried by the switch housing and bearing on the motor support for normally holding the switch housing in a raised position with said movable contact out of engagement with a stationary contact of the switch, and manually actuated means connected to the switch housing for moving the switch housing downwardly to cause said yieldable means to displace the motor support downwardly for engaging the friction wheel with the tire and for thereafter moving the movable contact into engagement with the stationary contact for closing the electric circuit to the motor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
An electrically driven assist unit for bicycles and tricycles comprising a supporting frame adapted to be secured to and supported by a front wheel fork, a motor support, means mounting said motor support on the frame for up and down movement, an electric motor secured to and supported by said motor support, a friction wheel secured to the shaft of said motor and disposed over the front wheel tire, a spring means normally retaining said motor support, motor and friction wheel in raised positions with said friction wheel out of engagement with the tire, a switch housing, means supporting the switch housing on said frame above the motor support for up and down movement, an electric switch contained in said switch housing and interposed in an electric circuit of the motor, yieldable means connected to a movable contact of said switch, said yieldable means being carried by the switch housing and bearing on the motor support for normally holding the switch housing in a raised position with said movable contact out of engagement with a stationary contact of the switch, and manually actuated means connected to the switch housing for moving the switch housing downwardly to cause said yieldable means to displace the motor support downwardly for engaging the friction wheel with the tire and for thereafter moving the movable contact into engagement with the stationary contact for closing the electric circuit to the motor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An assist unit as in claim 1, said means mounting the motor support and said means supporting the switch housing providing swingable mountings for said motor support and switch housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
An assist unit as in claim 2, said manually actuated means comprising a pulley rotatably mounted on a lower part of said frame, a cable trained under said pulley and having one end secured to the switch housing, a bracket adapted to be secured to a handgrip portion of the cycle handlebar, a lever swingably supported by said bracket and connected to the other end of said cable for exerting a pulling force on the last mentioned cable end when the lever is swung toward the handgrip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assist unit as in claim 3, and a flexible tubing having one end secured to said bracket and an opposite end secured to and supported by a part of the frame and through which a portion of said cable slidably extends.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
An assist unit as in claim 3, said yieldable means being of sufficient strength to initially move the switch housing upwardly relative to the motor support, when a pulling force on the cable is released, for opening the switch before the friction wheel is raised out of engagement with the tire by said spring means. 6. An assist unit as in claim 1, clamp means engaging a lower portion of the frame and extending through the fork and bearing against rear portions of the fork arm for securing the frame to the fork.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An assist unit as in claim 1, said motor support comprising a plate against an outer side of which the motor is secured, said plate having a top flange projecting from an inner side thereof and disposed beneath and engaged by said yieldable means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An assist unit as in claim 1, said yieldable means being of sufficient strength to cause the friction wheel to move downwardly and into engagement with the tire before said movable contact engages the stationary contact.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An assist unit as in claim 1, said frame being substantially T-shaped, and a cover detachably connected to said frame and disposed over a substantial part of the unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |