Abstract:
An electric bicycle includes at least two internal storage compartments accessible by moving a seat to an open position. The storage compartments are arrange side-by-side and separated by a dead space (e.g., a wall). The electric bicycle includes a lock mechanism disposed in the dead space for selectively locking the seat in a closed position. As so arranged, the lock mechanism does not reduce the size of the two internal storage compartments and is less likely to be tapered with in comparison to lock mechanisms that are located around the perimeter of the storage compartments.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-201476, filed on Jul. 11, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to an electric bicycle having a pedal portion and electric motor that both generate a driving force.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Known electric bicycles have an electric motor for generating a driving force and a pedal portion for a rider to input additional driving force. The bicycle may store a helmet and battery in storage compartments located below the seat of the bicycle. The seat may be movable relative to the body so as to permit access to the helmet and battery.  
         [0006]     The seat is securely fixed to the bicycle except when the rider accesses the storage compartments. To open and close the storage compartments, one end of the seat is hinged to the body of the bicycle. A lock is used at the other end of the seat to secure the seat in the closed position. Exemplary lock mechanisms include a clamp-type fastening member mounted outside the storage compartments and exposed to the outside environment. Alternatively, the locking mechanism may be protected from the environment and located within one of the storage compartments. A key may be used to unlock the seat from the body of the bicycle.  
         [0007]     However, external locking mechanisms may be tampered with while internal locking mechanisms reduce the size of the storage compartments.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In view of the foregoing, a need exists for an electric bicycle having a more reliable locking mechanism without appreciably reducing the size of the storage compartments.  
         [0009]     An aspect of the invention is directed to an electric bicycle that comprises a body having a longitudinal axis, a pedal portion, an electric motor, a battery for driving the electric motor, and a battery storage compartment disposed within the body and along the longitudinal axis. The electric bicycle further comprises an article storage compartment disposed within the body and along the longitudinal axis with the battery storage compartment and the article storage compartment being separated by a member. A seat is hinged to the body so as to move between an open position and closed position, the battery storage compartment and the article storage compartment are accessible when the seat is in the open position and inaccessible when the seat is in the closed position. A lock system disposed on the member and the seat so as to selectively lock the seat to the body.  
         [0010]     Another aspect of the invention is directed to a bicycle having a longitudinal axis. The bicycle has a first storage compartment disposed within the bicycle and a second storage compartment disposed within the bicycle. The first and second storage compartments are arranged along the longitudinal axis and are separated by a member. The bicycle further includes a seat that moves between an open position and a closed position. The first and second storage compartments are accessible when the seat is in the open position and inaccessible when the seat is in the closed position. A lock is disposed on the member so as to selectively lock the seat in the closed position.  
         [0011]     The systems and methods of the invention have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the invention as expressed by the claims, its more prominent features have been discussed briefly above. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments,” one will understand how the features of the system and methods provide several advantages over conventional electric bicycles. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will now be described in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, in reference to the accompanying drawings. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention. The following are brief descriptions of the drawings.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side view showing an electric bicycle configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a partial front plan view of an upper portion of the electric bicycle of  FIG. 1  showing a handlebar assembly thereof.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a frame portion of the electric bicycle of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a rear portion of the electric bicycle of  FIG. 1  with a seat and rear cover member removed to show a battery located within a battery storage compartment.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the electric bicycle shown in  FIG. 4  with the battery removed.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the portion of electric bicycle shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the electric bicycle shown in  FIG. 6  with the battery in the process of being inserted into the frame portion.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the electric bicycle shown in  FIG. 7  with the battery inserted into the frame portion.  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the rear portion of the electric bicycle of  FIG. 1  with the seat lifted up to expose the battery and an article storage compartment.  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the rear portion of the electric bicycle of  FIG. 9  with the seat lifted.  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the rear portion of the electric bicycle of  FIG. 10  with the seat in a partially lowered position.  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the rear portion of the electric bicycle shown in  FIG. 6  with the seat locked to the body.  
         [0025]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the rear portion of the electric bicycle shown in  FIG. 12  with the seat unlocked from the body.  
         [0026]      FIG. 14  is a side view of a lock mechanism of the electrical bicycle shown in  FIG. 13 , shown in an unlocked state.  
         [0027]      FIG. 15  is a side view of the lock mechanism of  FIG. 14  in a locked state.  
         [0028]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the electric bicycle of  FIG. 1  with the seat lifted to attach a connection cord to a charging connector. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     The following detailed description is now directed to certain specific embodiments of the invention. In this description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout the description and the drawings.  
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a side view showing an electric bicycle  10  configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a front view of an upper portion of the electric bicycle  10  of  FIG. 1 . The electric bicycle  10  may include a body  10   a  and wheels mounted to the body  10   a . The wheels may include a front wheel  11  and a rear wheel  12 .  
         [0031]     The body  10   a  may include a handlebar  14 , a front cover member  13 , a connection cover member  23 , and a rear cover member  16 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a light  15  is located near the center of the front cover member  13 . The rear cover member  16  has a seat  17  formed on an upper surface. A lower portion of the body  10   a  includes a pedal portion  18 . A rider may input driving force to the pedal portion  18 .  
         [0032]     The body  10   a  may further include a front fork  19  which supports the front wheel  11  and a head pipe  21 . A center shaft  11   a  of the front wheel  11  is rotatably attached to the lower end portions of the front fork  19  to allow the front wheel  11  to rotate about the center shaft  11   a . As most clearly shown in  FIG. 3 , the head pipe  21  connects to a down tube  22  of the body  10   a . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the down tube  22  is located inside the connection cover member  23 .  
         [0033]     A steering shaft (not shown) connects to the front fork  19  and is mounted inside the head pipe  21 . An upper portion of the steering shaft extends from an upper end portion of the head pipe  21  to connect with the handlebar  14 . Turning the handlebar  14  axially rotates the steering shaft so as to change the direction of the front wheel  11 .  
         [0034]     As most clearly shown in  FIG. 2 , left and right grips  24   a ,  24   b  are disposed at the ends of the handlebar  14 . The grip  24   a  is axially rotatable and controls the rotational speed of an electric motor  54 . A potentiometer  26  detects the amount of rotation of the grip  24   a . Brake levers  25   a ,  25   b  are disposed near the grips  24   a  and  24   b , respectively. The brake levers  25   a  and  25   b  are spaced from the grips  24   a ,  24   b , and when pulled towards the grips  24   a ,  24   b  serve to suppress the rotation of the front wheel  11  or rear wheel  12 , respectively. Brake switches  27   a  and  27   b  connected to the brake levers  25   a  and  25   b  detect when the brake levers  25   a  and  25   b  are pulled towards the grips  24   a ,  24   b.    
         [0035]     As most clearly shown in  FIG. 1 , the front cover member  13  may have a rear surface cover portion  13   a  forming the rear surface and a front surface cover portion  13   b  forming the front surface. The rear surface cover portion  13   a  and the front surface cover portion  13   b  may be fixed in place with a plurality of screws with a space being formed inside the inner portion of the front cover member  13 . The space may house the head pipe  21 , the down tube  22 , the steering shaft, a controller for electrically controlling a drive system, and a power supply switch (not shown).  
         [0036]     As most clearly shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , The down tube  22  extends in a rearward and diagonally downward direction from the head pipe  21  and then curves so as to extend horizontally in a rearward direction. A pair of rear frames  31   a  and  31   b  extends diagonally upward within the rear cover member  16 . The rear frames  31   a ,  31   b  connect to the rear side of the down tube  22  via a horizontal support bar  22   a . A plate-like connecting member  31   c  connects the rear end portions of the rear frames  31   a  and  31   b  together.  
         [0037]     Pipe-like suspension members  32   a ,  32   b  having different lengths are connected to the respective upper surfaces of the rear frames  31   a  and  31   b  while maintaining a predetermined spacing therebetween. The heights of the upper end portions of the suspension members  32   a  and  32   b  are set to be substantially the same. A seat rail  33  is connected to the upper end portions. The seat rail  33  may have a U-shape as shown in  FIG. 4  and connects to the upper end portion of each of the suspension members  32   a  and  32   b  so that the curved portion of the U-shaped seat rail  33  is located on the front side of the electric bicycle  10 .  
         [0038]     An auxiliary seat rail  33   a  connects via connecting members  34   a ,  34   b  to both rear end portions of the seat rail  33 . The seat rail  33  and the auxiliary seat rail  33   a  define a frame portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame portion has a longitudinally elongated, substantially elliptical shape.  
         [0039]     As most clearly shown in  FIG. 3 , the electric bicycle  10  further includes a rear arm  52  connected to a rear portion of the down tube  22  via a connecting member  51 . The rear arm  52  includes a pair of parallel arm members connected at their front end portions. As most clearly shown in  FIG. 1 , the arm members of the rear arm  52  support a center shaft  12   a  about which the rear wheel  12  rotates. A rear cushion or shock absorber  53  connects between an upper portion of each arm member and a corresponding rear frame  31   a ,  31   b . The rear arm  52  can swing up and down due to the expansion and contraction of the rear cushion  53 .  
         [0040]     The electric bicycle  10  further includes a transmission case  12   b  located at a central region of the rear wheel  12 . The transmission case  12   b  may house an electric motor  54  and a reduction gear. The electric motor  54  generates driving force in the rear wheel  12 . A drum brake (not shown) may be mounted to the left side of the transmission case  12   b . The front wheel  11  also has a brake (not shown). The front and rear brakes are activated by operation of their respective brake levers  25   a ,  25   b . A rotary stand (not shown) may keep the electric bicycle  10  upright when the bicycle is stationary.  
         [0041]     A controller controls the electric motor  54  based on how much the rider rotates the grip  24   a . When the brake levers  25   a  and  25   b  are operated, the controller stops the electric motor  54 .  
         [0042]     The electric bicycle  10  further includes a chain  55  suspended between gears of the pedal portion  18  and the rear wheel  12 . As the rider&#39;s feet rotate pedals  18   a ,  18   b , a human generated driving force is transmitted from the pedal portion  18  to the rear wheel  12  via the chain  55 .  
         [0043]     The body  10   a  may further include a guide member  37  for supporting a battery  36  mounted within the body  10   a . The guide member  37  may be L-shaped. The guide member  37  may be mounted between the rear frames  31   a ,  31   b  and angled so that a bottom portion of the guide member  37  is located near the front side of the rear frames  31   a ,  31   b.    
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the electric bicycle  10  shown in  FIG. 4  with the battery  36  removed. The guide member  37  may have a wall surface portion  37   a , a rail portion  37   b , and a bottom surface portion  37   c . A front surface of the wall surface portion  37   a  is inclined relative to horizontal so that the lower portion of the wall surface portion  37   a  is located forward of the top portion of the wall surface portion  37   a . A plurality of vertically extending protrusions  37   d  may be formed in the wall surface portion  37   a . The rail portion  37   b  may include a resin-formed member that extends downwardly from the lower portion of the wall surface portion  37   a  and parallel to the wall surface portion  37   a . The bottom surface portion  37   c  may have a box shape.  
         [0045]     A T-shaped support member  38  is bridged over the front end-side portion of the seat rail  33 . A regulating member  38   a  is mounted to the lower end portion of the support member  38 . The regulating member  38   a  contacts an upper portion of the front surface of the battery  36  and inhibits longitudinal rocking of the battery  36  together with the wall surface portion  37   a.    
         [0046]     Support plates  39   a ,  39   b  are mounted to the seat rail  33  and extend in a downward direction on either side of the battery storage compartment. The guide member  37 , the rear frames  31   a  and  31   b , the regulating member  38   a , and the support plates  39   a  and  39   b  form the battery storage compartment.  
         [0047]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the electric bicycle  10  shown in  FIG. 4  with the battery  36  removed.  FIG. 7  is a side view of the electric bicycle  10  shown in  FIG. 6  with the battery  36  in the process of being mounted to the frame portion. The battery  36  is installed in the battery storage compartment by sliding the battery  36  diagonally downward along the guide member  37 .  FIG. 8  is a side view of the electric bicycle shown in  FIG. 7  with the battery mounted to the frame portion.  
         [0048]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the electric bicycle  10  of  FIG. 1  with a seat  17  and rear cover member removed to show a battery  36  located within a battery storage compartment. The battery  36  preferably has a handle  36   a  on an upper surface. The handle  36   a  may be rotated between a low profile position where the handle  36   a  is folded against the upper rear edge of the battery  36  and a position where the handle  36   a  is spaced from the battery  36  so as to be grasped. When spaced from the battery  36 , the rider grasps the handle  36   a  to move the battery  36 . When the battery  36  is installed within the battery storage compartment, the lower portion of the battery  36  is inserted into the bottom surface portion  37   c , thereby inhibiting longitudinal and lateral movements of the battery  36 . The wall surface portion  37   a  and the regulating member  38   a  inhibit longitudinal movement of the upper portion of the battery  36 . The support plates  39   a ,  39   b  inhibit lateral movement of the battery  36 .  
         [0049]     The electric bicycle  10  further comprises a storage container  41  fixed to the rear end portions of the rear frames  31   a ,  31   b  via fixing members  42   a ,  42   b , respectively. The storage container  41  defines an article storage compartment for, for example, a helmet. To maximize the volume of the article storage compartment, the sides of the storage container  41  may closely follow the contours of the rear frames  31   a ,  31   b . For example, a lower portion  41   a  of the storage container  41  which is located below the upper surface of the rear frames  31   a ,  31   b , may be narrower than an upper portion  41   b  of the storage container  41 . That is, the lower portion  41   a  may have a box shape and extend down between the rear frames  31   a ,  31   b . The upper portion  41   b  of the storage container  41  located above the upper surface of the rear frames  31   a ,  31   b  may have a greater width than the lower portion  41   a . Thus, the lower portion  41   a  is smaller in width than the upper portion  41   b.    
         [0050]     The upper portion  41   b  sits on the top surfaces of the rear frames  31   a ,  31   b  and extends in an upward direction. Accordingly, the upper portion  41   b  is larger in width than the portion between the rear frames  31   a  and  31   b . The lengths of the upper and lower portions of the storage container  41  illustrated in  FIG. 5  are approximately the same. The illustrated embodiment increases the volume of the storage container  41  as a whole while the rear frames  31   a ,  31   b  protect the lower portion  41   a  of the storage container  41 .  
         [0051]     Of course the invention is not so limited. The storage container  41  could have any number of different dimensions measured in the lateral, longitudinal, or transverse directions depending on the dimensions of the electric bicycle  10  and the desired size of the storage container  41 . Moreover, the storage container could have three or more portions, each having a different shape or dimension than another portion.  
         [0052]     The wall surface portion  37   a  separates the storage container  41  from the battery storage compartment. Preferably, the perimeters of the battery storage compartment and article storage compartment, the rear frames  31   a  and  31   b , and the seat rail  33  are covered by the rear cover member  16 . The openings into the storage and battery compartments are accessible when the seat  17  is in the open position.  
         [0053]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the electric bicycle  10  of  FIG. 1  with the seat  17  lifted up to expose the battery  36  and the rear storage container  41 .  FIG. 10  is a side view of the electric bicycle  10  of  FIG. 9  with the seat  17  lifted up. A connecting member or hinge  35  allows the seat  17  to rotate or pivot relative to the seat rail  33 . A mounting member  35   b  is fixed to the seat  17  and rotatably coupled to the seat rail  33  via rotary shaft member  35   a . The seat  17  rotates about the rotary shaft member  35   a  as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 .  
         [0054]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the electric bicycle  10  shown in  FIG. 6  with the seat  17  locked to the body.  FIG. 13  is a side view of the electric bicycle  10  shown in  FIG. 12  with the seat  17  unlocked from the body. A charging connector  48  is mounted to a bracket  48   b . As most clearly shown in  FIG. 5 , the bracket  48   b  is attached to the seat rail  33  and the support plate  39   a . The connector  48  is disposed so that an end of the connector  48  may be connected to the battery  36  in the battery storage compartment. Through an opening in the support plate  39   a , another end of the connector  48  may be connected to a charging terminal (not shown) to charge the battery  36 .  
         [0055]     When the seat  17  is lifted up to open the battery storage compartment, the charging terminal of the connector  48  is exposed. When the seat  17  is lowered to close the battery storage compartment, the charging terminal is hidden under the seat  17 . Accordingly, the connector  48  may be disposed in a compact manner within the rear cover member  16  and the seat  17 . Since the connector  48  is hidden by the seat  17  when the seat  17  is lowered, the charging apparatus is protected against tampering or the like. The battery  36  may be charged with the seat  17  in the closed position with the connector  48  connected to the power source by the connection cord  48   a.    
         [0056]      FIG. 14  is a side view of a lock mechanism  43  used to latch and lock the seat to the frame when closed.  FIG. 15  is a side view of the lock mechanism  43  from  FIG. 14  in a locked state. The lock mechanism  43  includes an engaged portion or latch  44  (see  FIG. 9 ) and an engaging portion or keeper  45 . The engaging portion  45  detachably engages with the engaged portion  44 . The engaged portion  44  is fixed to a lower surface of the seat  17  at a location above the upper central portion of the wall surface portion  37   a  when the seat  17  is in the closed position. The engaged portion  44  includes a fixing member  44   a  fixed onto the lower surface of the seat  17  and an engaged member  44   b . The engaged member  44   b  may have a U-shape. The engaged portion  44   b  is attached to the fixing member  44   a  with its bent portion facing downward.  
         [0057]     The engaging portion  45  is located in the wall surface portion  37   a  so as align with the engaged portion  44  when the seat  17  is in the closed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the engaging portion  45  is disposed along the longitudinal axis of the electric bicycle  10  and near the middle of the upper surface of the wall surface portion  37   a . The positions of the engaging portion  45  and the engaged portion  44  may be reversed so that the engaging portion  45  is disposed on the lower surface of the seat  17  while the engaged portion  44  is disposed on the wall surface portion  37   a.    
         [0058]     The engaging portion  45  may include an engaging member  46  and a disengaging member  47 . The engaging member  46  and disengaging member  47  are generally C-shaped and face each other.  
         [0059]     The engaging member  46  may have a central portion and two projections  46   a ,  46   b  with the central portion being rotatably supported on a shaft portion  46   c . The engaging member  46  is biased by a spring member (not shown) so that the projection  46   a  preferably points in a vertical direction. The engaging member  46  rotates when the projection  46   b  is pushed downward by the engaged member  44   b  as the seat  17  is lowered onto the rear cover member  16 .  
         [0060]     The disengaging member  47  may have a central portion and two projections  47   a ,  47   b  with the central portion being rotatably supported on a shaft portion  47   c . The projection  46   b  of the engaging member  46  is located between the projections  47   a  and  47   b  of the disengaging member  47  so that when the engaging member  46  rotates the disengaging member  47  rotates in the direction opposite to the engaging member  46 .  
         [0061]     Once rotated to the locked position as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , a fixing mechanism (not shown) prevents the disengaging member  47  from rotating back to the unlocked position illustrated in  FIG. 14 . The rider may release the locked fixing mechanism by inserting a key through a side of the rear cover member  16 . When released, the spring member rotates the engaging member  46  so that the projection  46   a  is oriented in the vertical direction and releases the engaged member  44   b.    
         [0062]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the electric bicycle  10  of  FIG. 1  with the seat  17  lifted to allow a rider to attach a connection cord  48   a  to the charging connector  48 . The rider may connect the connection cord  48   a  to an external power source (not shown) to charge the battery  36 . The seat  17  may be closed during the charging process.  
         [0063]     To operate the electric bicycle  10 , the rider sits on the seat  17  and turns the power switch on. The rider may rest his/her feet on the pedals  18   a ,  18   b . The rider controls the speed of the electric bicycle  10  by rotating the grip  24   a  clockwise and counter-clockwise. The electric motor  54  generates a driving force to the rear wheel  12  to propel the electric bicycle  10 .  
         [0064]     The rider may or may not add an additional driving force to the driving force generated by the electric motor  54 . For example, the rider may rest his/her feet on the pedals  18   a ,  18   b  and not rotate the pedals  18   a ,  18   b . In this state, a one-way clutch on the rear wheel  12  isolates the chain  55  and pedals  18   a ,  18   b  from the driving force being provided by the electric motor  54 . In this way, the pedals  18   a ,  18   b  are not rotated by the electric motor  54 . In another state, the rider may rotate the pedals  18   a ,  18   b  with his/her feet to add an additional driving force to the driving force being generated by the electric motor  54 . In this state, the one-way clutch on the rear wheel  12  allows the chain  55  to engage with the rear wheel  12  to transmit the rider derived driving force to the rear wheel  12 .  
         [0065]     The electric bicycle  10  may also be operated as bicycle without the electric motor  54 . For example, a rider may operate the electric bicycle  10  as a bicycle when running on a level or downhill road. In this state, the rider rotates the pedals  18   a ,  18   b  to generate the driving force in the rear wheel  12 .  
         [0066]     The brake levers  25   a ,  25   b  operate the front and rear brakes to lower the running speed of the electric bicycle  10 . The rate at which the speed of the electric bicycle  10  drops is based on the degree which the brake levers  25   a ,  25   b  are pulled towards the grips  24   a ,  24   b . For example, the initial movement of the brake levers  25   a ,  25   b  may stop the electric motor  54 . Further movement of the brake levers  25   a ,  25   b  towards the grips  24   a ,  24   b  activates the front and rear brakes. When the electric bicycle  10  is stopped, the rider turns off the power switch and rotates the stand down to the ground so that the electric bicycle  10  stays upright on its own.  
         [0067]     To recharge the battery  36 , the rider connects the charging connection cord  48   a  to the connector  48 . To access the connector  48 , the rider unlocks the lock mechanism  43  using the key and rotates the unlocked seat  17  to the open position shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The connector of the connection cord  48   a  is connected to the connector  48 . During charging, the seat  17  may be lowered to cover the upper surface of the rear cover member  16 . With the seat  17  closed, the connection cord  48   a  extends through a gap between the rear cover member  16  and the seat  17 .  
         [0068]     To remove the battery  36 , the rider pulls the battery  36  in an upward and rearward direction along the inclined surface of the guide member  37 . To install the battery  36 , the rider lowers the battery  36  along the inclined surface of the guide member  37 . When installed, the lower end of the battery  36  is positioned within the bottom surface portion  37   c  with the back surface of the battery  36  supported by the wall surface portion  37   a . Rocking motion of the front of battery  36  is inhibited by the regulating member  38   a.    
         [0069]     In this way, the battery  36  may be smoothly removed from or installed into the electric bicycle  10 . The battery  36  mounts within the electric bicycle  10  without rattling. The structural rigidity of the battery storage compartment is improved by locating the rear frames  31   a ,  31   b  and the seat rail  33  on both sides of the battery storage compartment. Various articles, such as a helmet, can be stored in the storage container  41  located rearward of the battery storage compartment.  
         [0070]     The lock mechanism  43  is preferably located in the “dead space” between the battery storage compartment and the storage container  41  or article storage compartment. The lock mechanism  43  may located on a wall portion, a frame portion, or the like that separates the battery storage compartment from the article storage compartment. Portions of the lock mechanism  43  are attached in the region separating the compartments and to a portion of the lower surface of the seat  17 . In this manner, the dead space between the compartments is effectively utilized by the lock mechanism  43 . Accordingly, for example, there is no particular need to provide a space for the lock mechanism  43  that is located around the outer perimeter of the storage compartments. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock mechanism  43  is attached to an upper surface of the wall surface portion  37   a  and to the lower surface of the seat  17 .  
         [0071]     The lock mechanism  43  is arranged inside the body and the seat  17  and is not exposed to the outside. The lock mechanism  43  is protected against tampering or the like. Advantageously, the locking mechanism  43  does not reduce the space available for the battery storage compartment or the article storage compartment.  
         [0072]     The guide member  37  guides the installation and removal of the battery  36  and also provides a surface for attaching the lock mechanism  43  so that the locking mechanism  43  is less likely to be tampered with and does not take up space in the battery or article compartments.  
         [0073]     Advantageously, the seat rail  33  and the rear frames  31   a ,  31   b  surround the battery  36 . The seat  17  is securely supported while the battery storage portion is securely protected by the rear frames  31   a  and  31   b  and the seat rail  33 .  
         [0074]     Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of a certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while a number of variations of the invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of this invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or subcombinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combine with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims.