E-Bike Frame

Abstract

An e-bike frame includes a top tube, a downtube and a seat tube. Further, a bottom bracket is arranged in a housing which may be a bottom bracket receptacle element. An electric motor is also provided in the housing. A battery is connected with the downtube. A channel element is arranged laterally beside the battery. The same serves to receive wires, shift cables, brake cables and/or hydraulic lines.

Claims

1. An e-bike frame comprising a downtube, a seat tube connected with the downtube, and a battery connected with the downtube, wherein a channel element arranged laterally beside the battery is provided for receiving at least one of the following: electric wires, shift cables, brake cables, and hydraulic lines.

2. The e-bike frame of claim 1, wherein a bottom bracket is arranged in a bottom bracket receptacle and is connected with an electric motor.

3. The e-bike frame of claim 2, wherein the bottom bracket is part of a motor assembly comprising the electric motor.

4. The e-bike frame of claim 3, wherein the motor assembly is connected with the downtube, the seat tube, or the downtube and seat tube via a motor receptacle.

5. The e-bike frame of claim 1, wherein the downtube is connected with a head tube, the head tube being connected with a top tube, the top tube being connected with the seat tube.

6. The e-bike frame of claim 1, wherein the channel element is fixedly connected or formed integrally with the downtube to reinforce the bicycle frame.

7. The e-bike frame of claim 1, wherein the channel element has a closed cross section.

8. The e-bike frame of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing element arranged opposite the channel element, which reinforcing element is fixedly connected or formed integrally with the downtube.

9. The e-bike frame of claim 1, wherein a plurality of at least one of the following: wires, lines, and Bowden cables are arranged vertically one above the other in the channel element.

10. The e-bike frame of claim 1, wherein a conductor path element is arranged in the channel element for the electric connections.

11. The e-bike frame of claim 1, wherein a centerline of the downtube extends at a vertical distance of at least 5 cm.

12. The e-bike frame of claim 1, wherein the channel element is connected with the bottom bracket receptacle element.

13. The e-bike frame of claim 4, wherein the channel element is connected with the motor receptacle.

14. The e-bike frame of claim 1, wherein the bicycle frame has a swivel-mounted rear frame structure.

15. The e-bike frame of claim 1, wherein at least one of the following: wires, lines, and Bowden cables leading to the rear frame structure are arranged close to a main link bearing of the rear frame structure, the main link bearing being connected with the bottom bracket receptacle element, the seat tube, or the bottom bracket receptacle element and the seat tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The disclosure will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to a preferred aspect and to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] In the Figures:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an aspect of an e-bike frame according to the present disclosure,

[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view along line II-II in FIG. 1, and

[0024] FIGS. 3a and b are schematic sectional views of alternative aspects, corresponding to the sectional view shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The e-bike frame illustrated includes a top tube 10, a downtube 14 connected with the top tube 10 via a head tube 12, as well as a seat tube 16. The seat tube 16 is connected with the top tube 10 via a connecting element 18. Further, the seat tube 16 is connected with a housing 20. In the aspect illustrated, the housing 20 serves both as a bottom bracket receptacle element receiving a bottom bracket 22 and as a housing for an electric motor 24. In the particularly preferred aspect illustrated, the housing 20 is thus formed as a common housing for the motor assembly which in particular includes the bottom bracket 22 and the electric motor 24, as well as an interposed transmission, gears and the like, if provided.

[0026] Further, the seat tube 16 is connected with a rear frame structure 26. Since the bicycle frame illustrated is in particular a mountain bike frame connected with a sprung rear frame structure 26, the chainstays 28 of the rear frame structure 26 are connected with the seat tube 16, as well as with the housing 20 via a main link bearing 30.

[0027] Further, the seat stays 32 of the rear frame structure 26 are connected with a damper element 38 via further hinges 34 36, as well as a corresponding rocker, the damper element being arranged at the top tube in the aspect illustrated. Of course, conventional other arrangements of the damper element and other designs of the rear frame structure are possible.

[0028] A battery 40 is connected witch an upper side of the downtube 14. This is typically realized by means of a battery receptacle, so that the battery can be removed in particular for charging.

[0029] The downtube 14, which is preferably indirectly or directly connected with the housing 20 in particular in a fixed manner, has an open end in the aspect illustrated, i.e. other than conventionally often the case, the downtube 14 is not connected with the seat tube 16. Rather, a connection between the downtube 14 and the seat tube 16 is effected exclusively via the housing 20, as well, if so provided, also via the channel element 42 arranged above the housing 20.

[0030] A channel element 42 is arranged laterally beside the battery 40. The channel element 42 is fixedly connected with the downtube 14 or formed integrally with the same. Further, in the aspect illustrated, the channel element 42 extends over more than two thirds of the downtube length. Further, in the embodiment illustrated, the channel element 42 extends above the housing 20, i.e. above the bottom bracket receptacle element, as well as above the motor housing. Moreover, the channel element 42 is fixedly connected with an upper side of the housing 20. Besides, the channel element 42 is possibly also connected with the seat tube 16 in the region of the main link bearing 30.

[0031] Electric lines, hydraulic lines and/or Bowden cables 44 are provided inside the channel element 42, in particular in a vertically stacked arrangement (FIG. 2). In FIG. 1, one of the lines 44 is illustrated as a black line. The line 44 extends in the channel element 42 and can thus be arranged in particular above the housing 20. Further, the line 44 or the like extends near the main link bearing so that correspondingly slight bends act on the line and the like. The lines, which in particular extend towards the rear frame structure 26, are e.g. hydraulic brake lines, Bowden cables for a brake or a gear shift, as well as electric lines for a gear shift or a lighting or the like.

[0032] In the aspect illustrated in FIG. 2, the channel element 42 is formed substantially by an element 46 open to the battery 40. The same is fixedly connected with the downtube 14. The individual wires, hydraulic lines 44 etc. can be fixed in the element 46 of the channel element 42 using corresponding holder elements.

[0033] Further, the downtube 14 is arranged such that a centerline 15 of the downtube extends below the bottom bracket 22. Specifically, the centerline 15 extends below the housing 20 accommodating the bottom bracket 22. The vertical distance is preferably greater than 5 cm, in particular greater than 10 cm and particularly preferred greater than 15 cm.

[0034] As schematically illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the channel element 42 may also have a cross section that is closed in itself, in particular substantially rectangular. The same may be connected with the downtube 14 likewise having a closed cross section (FIG. 3a) or may be formed integrally with the same.

[0035] A reinforcing element. preferably designed corresponding to the channel element 42, could be provided in addition on the left side in FIG. 3a or 3b. In this case, the battery would possibly be somewhat narrower.

[0036] While several examples of an e-bike frame were shown in the accompanying figures and described in detail hereinabove, other examples will be apparent to, and readily made by, those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive. The apparatus of the present disclosure described hereinabove is defined by the appended claims and all changes to the disclosed apparatus that fall within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.