HOLDING DEVICE FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING AN ENERGY STORE ON A FRAME

Abstract

A holding device for releasably holding an energy store, in particular, a bicycle energy store, at a frame, in particular, at a bicycle frame. The holding device includes at least one carrier unit, which includes at least one carrier element, in particular, a guide bar for at least partially receiving and/or guiding the energy store, and including at least one support unit for securing the energy store in a form-fit manner at the carrier unit. The support unit includes at least one support element situated at the carrier element, which secures the energy store at the carrier element in a state in which the energy store is situated at the carrier element at least along a direction extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the carrier element.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A holding device for releasably holding an energy store at a frame, the holding device comprising: at least one carrier unit, which includes at least one carrier element configured to at least partially receive and/or guide the energy store; and at least one support unit configured to secure the energy store in a form-fit manner at the carrier unit; wherein the support unit includes at least one support element, situated at the carrier element, configured to secure the energy store at the carrier element in a state in which the energy store is situated at the carrier element at least along a direction at the carrier element extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the carrier element.

11. The holding device as recited in claim 10, wherein the energy store is a bicycle energy store and the frame is a bicycle frame.

12. The holding device as recited in claim 10, wherein the carrier element is a guide bar.

13. The holding device as recited in claim 10, wherein the support element is one piece with the carrier element.

14. The holding device as recited in claim 10, wherein the support element has a shape tapering toward end areas of the support element as viewed along the longitudinal axis of the carrier element.

15. The holding device as recited in claim 10, wherein the support element includes at least one insert element configured to securely insert the energy store perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the carrier element.

16. The holding device as recited in claim 10, wherein the support element includes at least one slide element.

17. The holding device as recited in claim 10, wherein the support unit includes a plurality of support elements situated at the carrier element, which are situated in a distributed manner along the longitudinal axis of the carrier element.

18. The holding device as recited in claim 10, wherein the support element is configured as an undercut.

19. The holding device as recited in claim 10, wherein the support unit includes at least one security bar element, which includes at least one receiving area for the support element and support areas for the support element situated along its longitudinal axis adjacent to the receiving area.

20. A frame comprising a holding device for releasably holding an energy store at the frame, the holding device including: at least one carrier unit, which includes at least one carrier element configured to at least partially receive and/or guide the energy store; and at least one support unit configured to secure the energy store in a form-fit manner at the carrier unit; wherein the support unit includes at least one support element, situated at the carrier element, configured to secure the energy store at the carrier element in a state in which the energy store is situated at the carrier element at least along a direction at the carrier element extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the carrier element.

21. The frame as recited in claim 20, wherein the frame is a bicycle frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Further advantages result from the description of the figures. Four exemplary embodiments of the present invention are represented in the figures. The figures and the description disclose numerous features in combination. Those skilled in the art will also advantageously consider the features separately and combine them to form meaningful further combinations, in view of the disclosure herein.

[0023] FIG. 1 schematically shows a representation of a bicycle including a frame according to an example embodiment of the present invention, which includes a holding device according to an example embodiment of the present invention, in a side view.

[0024] FIG. 2 schematically shows a representation of the frame according to an example embodiment of the present invention in a side view.

[0025] FIG. 3 schematically shows a representation of a part of the holding device according to an example embodiment of the present invention in an oblique view.

[0026] FIG. 4 schematically shows a representation of a support unit of the holding device according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIGS. 5A and 5B schematically show two representations of a security bar element of the holding device according to an example embodiment of the present invention in a dismounted and a mounted state in an oblique view.

[0028] FIG. 6 schematically shows a representation of a security bar element of a further exemplary embodiment of a holding device according to the present invention in a mounted state in a side view.

[0029] FIG. 7 schematically shows a representation of a support unit of the holding device according to an example embodiment of the present invention from FIG. 6.

[0030] FIG. 8 schematically shows a representation of a further exemplary embodiment of a frame according to the present invention including a holding device according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 9 schematically shows a cross-sectional representation of a support unit of the holding device according to the present invention from FIG. 8.

[0032] FIG. 10 schematically shows a cross-sectional representation of a further exemplary embodiment of a holding device according to the present invention of the frame according to the present invention from FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a bicycle 42a. Bicycle 42a is designed as an electric bicycle. Bicycle 42a includes an energy store 12a. Energy store 12a is designed as a bicycle energy store. Energy store 12a is designed as an accumulator. Bicycle 42a includes a frame 14a, which is represented in greater detail in FIG. 2. Frame 14a is designed as a bicycle frame. Frame 14a includes a recess 44a. Recess 44a is designed as an indentation of frame 14a. Recess 44a is used to receive energy store 12a. Energy store 12a is insertable into recess 44a. Energy store 12a is insertable, pivotable or tiltable into recess 44a.

[0034] Frame 14a includes a holding device 10a, which is represented in greater detail in FIGS. 3 through 5. Holding device 10a is used for releasably holding energy store 12a at frame 14a. Holding device 10a includes a carrier unit 16a. Carrier unit 16a includes a carrier frame 46a, which is represented in greater detail in FIG. 3. Carrier frame 46a is situated within recess 44a. Carrier frame 46a is glued to frame 14a. Carrier unit 16a includes a contacting unit 48a. Contacting unit 48a is fastened at one end of carrier frame 46a. Contacting unit 48a is used for electrically contacting and locking energy store 12a.

[0035] Carrier unit 16a includes a carrier element 18a, which is represented in greater detail in FIG. 4. Carrier element 18a is designed as a guide bar. Carrier element 18a includes a longitudinal axis 24a. Carrier element 18a is glued to carrier frame 46a. Carrier element 18a is used to receive and guide energy store 12a. Holding device 10a includes a support unit 20a. Support unit 20a is used to secure energy store 12a in a form-fit manner at carrier unit 16a.

[0036] Support unit 20a includes a plurality of support elements 22a situated at carrier element 18a. Support elements 22a are situated in a distributed manner along longitudinal axis 24a of carrier element 18a. Support elements 22a are designed identically to one another, hence, only one of support elements 22a is described below. Support element 22a is designed as one piece with carrier element 18a. Support element 22a secures energy store 12a at carrier element 18a in a state of energy store 12a in which it is situated at carrier element 18a along a direction extending transversely to longitudinal axis 24a of carrier element 18a.

[0037] Support element 22a includes a first end area 26a. Support element 22a includes a second end area 28a. End areas 26a, 28a delimit support element 22a with respect to longitudinal axis 24a of carrier element 18a. Support element 22a has a shape tapering toward end areas 26a, 28a as viewed along longitudinal axis 24a of carrier element 18a. Support element 22a has a circular shape as viewed perpendicularly to a main extension plane (not represented) of support element 22a.

[0038] Support element 22a includes an insert element 30a. Insert element 30a is used to securely insert energy store 12a perpendicularly to longitudinal axis 24a of carrier element 18a. Insert element 30a is designed as an end area of support element 22a facing energy store 12a. Insert element 30a is designed to taper toward energy store 12a. Support element 22a is designed as a ball ring.

[0039] Support element 22a includes a slide element 32a. Slide element 32a is used to reduce friction during a guiding of energy store 12a when arranging energy store 12a at carrier element 18a. Slide element 32a is made of Teflon. Support element 22a is formed completely by slide element 32a.

[0040] Support unit 20a includes a security bar element 34a, which is represented in FIG. 5A. Security bar element 34a includes four screw holes 52a. Screw holes 52a are used to screw on security bar element 34a at one end of energy store 12a. FIG. 5B shows security bar element 34a in a state of security bar element 34a screwed on at the end of energy store 12a. Security bar element 34a includes three receiving areas 36a for support element 22a, which are designed functionally identically to one another, hence, only one of receiving areas 36a is described below. Security bar element 34a includes two support areas 40a for support element 22a. Support areas 40a are situated along a longitudinal axis 38a of security bar element 34a adjacent to receiving area 36a. Support areas 40a are designed identically to one another, hence, only one of support areas 40a is described below. Support area 40a defines a receptacle for support element 22a.

[0041] Support element 22a is designed as an undercut. Support element 22a forms a form-fit by receiving support element 22a in the receptacle defined by support area 40a. A formation of the form-fit includes a placing of security bar element 34a onto support element 22a. During placement of security bar element 34a, receiving area 36a receives support element 22a. The placement of security bar element 34a is followed by a relative movement of security bar element 34a along longitudinal axis 38a of security bar element 34a. During the relative movement of security bar element 34a, the receptacle defined by support area 40a receives support element 22a. The form-fit prevents a relative movement of support element 22a and of security bar element 34a to one another perpendicular to longitudinal axis 38a of security bar element 34a.

[0042] A length of the relative movement of security bar element 34a corresponds to a diameter of support element 22a as viewed perpendicularly to the main extension plane of support element 22a. In this way, a maximum encompassing of support element 22a by support area 40a and a minimal play of support element 22a in the receptacle defined by support area 40a may be achieved. Alternatively, a length of the relative movement could also be only a portion of the diameter of support element 22a.

[0043] Three further exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 6 through 10. The following descriptions and the drawings are limited essentially to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, reference may be made with respect to identically identified components, in particular, with reference to components having the same reference numeral, in principle also to the drawings and/or to the description of the other exemplary embodiments, in particular, of FIGS. 1 through 5B. To differentiate between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a is placed after the reference numeral of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 through 5B. In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 6 through 10, the letter a is replaced by the letters b through d.

[0044] A further holding device 10b is represented in FIGS. 6 and 7. Holding device 10b includes a support unit 20b. Support unit 20b includes a security bar element 34b. Security bar element 34b encompasses an end of energy store 12b of a bicycle not represented.

[0045] Support unit 20b includes support elements 22b, which are designed identically to one another, hence, only one of support elements 22b is described in the following. Support element 22a has an oval shape as viewed perpendicularly to a main extension plane (not represented) of support element 22b. The use of an oval shape, as compared to a circular shape, ensures an increased contact surface and an improved guidance of energy store 12b.

[0046] FIG. 8 shows a further frame 14c including a holding device 10c. Frame 14c includes a recess 44c. Recess 44c is designed as a cavity of frame 14c. An energy store 12c of a bicycle not represented is insertable into recess 44a.

[0047] Holding device 10c includes a support unit 20c, which is shown in FIG. 9 in a cross-sectional representation. Support unit 20c includes a support element 22c. Support element 22c is designed as a T-bar.

[0048] FIG. 10 shows a portion of a further frame 14d including a holding device 10d. Frame 14d includes a recess (not represented) which is designed as a cavity. Holding device 10d includes a support unit 20d. Support unit 20d includes a support element 22d. Support element 22d is designed as a T-bar. Holding device 10d includes a carrier unit 16d. Carrier unit 16d includes a carrier element 18d. Carrier element 18d is designed as one piece with frame 14d. In this way, a mounting of carrier element 18d at frame 14d may be dispensed with.