The present invention relates to an assembly for muscle-powered motion that can be associated with the frame of a preexisting electric 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 body 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 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 also 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 located at the bottom bracket, making it possible to have fully closed flanges that form part of the frame, and which therefore cannot be removed, and which make it possible to fix the motor to the frame separately later and, also later, to attach plastic components and coverings to it. 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 an electric bicycle is created as such, and it cannot be changed in a simple and rapid manner to a solely muscle-powered version in view of the need to remove various individual components, assuming it is possible to do so.

For example, for electric bicycles having the motor on the bottom bracket and flanges integral with the frame, it is not possible for the user to remove the flange and the motor.

For electric bicycles having a motor and a frame associated with a partially open flange, it is first necessary to remove the flange from the frame, then remove the plastic components and the coverings, and then the motor.

But even after this disassembly, only the open frame is available, with which no bottom bracket of any known muscle-powered bicycle can be directly associated.

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 to convert, in a rapid and simple manner, an electric-powered bicycle to a muscle-powered bicycle.

Within the above aim, an object of the invention is to provide an assembly that makes it possible to obtain the above cited conversion without the aid of special equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly that makes it possible to obtain the conversion without particular technical knowledge or skills.

Another object is to provide an assembly that is structurally simple and of low cost and which can be made in the usual conventional plants. This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an assembly for muscle-powered motion that can be associated, by means of first screws, with the frame of a preexisting electric bicycle provided with a bash guard, with which an electric motor is associated which is provided with a first crankset, characterized in that it is constituted by a splined flange with which a bottom bracket is associated which is provided with a second crankset, it being possible to associate said flange with said frame by means of said first screws.

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 perspective side view of an embodiment of frame for electric bicycles;

Figure 2 is a second perspective side view similar to the preceding view;

Figure 3 is a first perspective side view of the frame of an electric bicycle with the components for its motion shown in an exploded view;

Figure 4 is a second perspective side view of the frame of an electric bicycle with the components for its motion shown in an exploded view;

Figure 5 is a third perspective side view of the frame with the assembly for muscle-powered motion extracted;

Figure 6 is a first side view of the components of the assembly for muscle-powered motion in a partial exploded view;

Figure 7 is a partial exploded view of some components of the assembly for muscle-powered motion;

Figure 8 is a side view of the frame of a bicycle with the assembly for muscle-powered motion associated therewith.

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 are located the seats for bearings 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.

At a connection between the second, oblique tubular body 6 and the substantially vertical tubular body 7, a first seat 13 for the removable connection is provided, by means of first screws 14 acting on first holes 15 provided on the frame 1 , of a first assembly 16 for electric-powered motion which is composed of a bash guard 17, a first, front support 20, a second, rear support 21 and an electric motor 19 powered by a battery.

The electric motor 19 is contained within the first, front support 20 and the second, rear support 21.

The frame 1 accommodates connectors and links for electrical connection to a battery and to commands for activating the electric-powered motion.

The first, front support 20 has a C-like shape in which the ends of the first wings 20a, 20b can be arranged at the first holes 15, the first wings having second holes 34a, 34b which accommodate one of the first screws 14 so as to allow the connection to the frame 1.

First tabs 24a, 24b protrude from the first base 23 of the first, front support 20, starting from the same side and on slightly inclined planes, said first tabs being perforated for the insertion of second screws 18 which, with the interposition of adapted silent blocks (vibration damping elements) 25a, 25b, fix the bash guard 17 to the first, front support 20.

The second support 21 has a C-like shape on the second base 26 of which adapted first holes 27a, 27b are provided for interconnection, by means of adapted third screws 28a, 28b that pass through third holes 29a, 29b provided at the rear of the bash guard 17, to said bash guard 17, second silent blocks (vibration damping elements) 30a, 30b being interposed between the bash guard 17 and the second base 26.

Mutually parallel L-shaped second tabs 31a, 31b protrude upward from the lateral ends of the second base 26, their second end wings 32a, 32b having, proximate to the terminal end, adapted fourth holes 33a, 33b for interconnection, by means of the first screws 14, of the assembly 16 for electric-powered motion to the frame 1.

The assembly 16 is provided with a first crankset 35 comprising a first chain ring 36, with which the chain 22 can be associated, and a pair of pedal cranks 37a, 37b, which are fixed in a known manner to the electric motor 19.

The first chain ring 36 can be fixed to the electric motor 19 by means of an adapted connector 38.

The foregoing describes an electric-powered bicycle.

The reference numeral 39 designates an assembly for muscle-powered motion which is constituted by a splined flange 40 provided with a pair of shoulders 41a, 41b, which are parallel to each other and protrude above a subframe 42 which is provided, at the front and transversely beyond the pair of shoulders 41a, 41b, with a second seat 43 for interconnection to the frame 1 by means of one of the first screws 14.

The subframe 42 has, to the rear of the pair of shoulders 41a, 41b, third tabs 44a, 44b, mutually parallel, proximate to the ends of which adapted fifth holes 45a, 45b are provided for interconnection, by means of one of the first screws 14, to the frame 1.

Each one of the pair of shoulders 41a, 41b has a third, axial seat 46 within which it is possible to removably arrange a bottom bracket having a second crankset 47 comprising a second chain ring 48 connected to a sleeve 49 which can be accommodated within the third, axial seat 46.

A shaft 51 can be arranged, with the interposition of a bearing 50, within the sleeve 49, and pedal cranks 37a, 37b are connected to the ends of said shaft.

The splined flange 40 that constitutes the assembly 39 therefore can be removably associated, by means of the first screws 14, with the first seat 13.

So if the user of an electric bicycle wanted to convert it to a muscle- powered bicycle, all he or she needs to do is remove the chain 22, disconnect the various electrical components of the motor 19 and unscrew the first screws 14, thus removing the assembly 16 for electric-powered motion from the frame 1.

With this done, all the user need then do is position the assembly 39 at the first seat 13 and position the first screws 14 in the first holes 15, thus screwing the second body single 39 to the frame 1.

Once the chain 22 is put back, the user will have a muscle-powered bicycle.

Thus it has been found that the assembly according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, it being made possible for a user to convert, in a rapid and simple manner, an electric-powered bicycle to a muscle-powered bicycle without the aid of special tools.

This conversion, furthermore, can be effected without special technical expertise or skills.

Finally, assembly according to the the invention is structurally simple and of low cost.

Naturally the materials used as well as the dimensions of the individual components of the assembly according to 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. 202022000004365 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.