US 11,794,855 B2
Electric power assist device and bicycle
Kenji Tsukamoto, Saitama (JP)
Assigned to HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Appl. No. 17/436,763
Filed by HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., Tokyo (JP)
PCT Filed Mar. 6, 2020, PCT No. PCT/JP2020/009825
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 7, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/184472, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 17, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-045501 (JP), filed on Mar. 13, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0177072 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. B62M 6/55 (2010.01)
CPC B62M 6/55 (2013.01) 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric power assist device configured to be attached to a frame structure of a bicycle, comprising:
a housing;
an electric motor supported by the housing; and
an annular rotational output member configured to be connected to a crankshaft for a pedal of the bicycle or a crankarm attached to the crankshaft so as to be rotatively driven by the electric motor coaxially with respect to the crankshaft,
wherein the housing is supported on the frame structure via a support part provided with an adjustment mechanism to allow a position of the housing along an axial direction of the crankshaft to be varied,
the electric power assist device further comprising a connecting structure configured to connect the rotational output member to the crankarm of the bicycle in a torque transmitting relationship,
wherein the connecting structure comprises
a connecting main member having an opposing surface configured to oppose one of front or rear surfaces of the crankarm of the bicycle with respect to a rotational direction thereof and fixed to the rotational output member,
a wedge member configured to be interposed between the one of the front or rear surfaces of the crankarm and the opposing surface of the connecting main member, and
a screw member configured to move the wedge member toward and away from the connecting main member.