Abstract:
A bicycle which is made up of a frame, a front and rear wheel, an electric DC motor, a multiple mode selection switch, a torque selection switch, and a rear wheel stand which can either raise the wheel off of a surface or allow the wheel to touch the surface, is described. The multi-purpose bicycle can be used in standard mode, electric mode, stationary gym mode, or mobile gym mode.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a bicycle with an electric motor, and more specifically to an electrically powered bicycle which has multiple uses, including use as a manual bicycle, an electric bicycle that provides torque in the direction the user is pedaling, an electric bicycle that provides torque in the opposite direction the user is pedaling, and as a standalone exercise machine. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Since its invention in the 1860&#39;s, the bicycle has been a popular way for people to exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Over the years there have been many different modifications made to the traditional bicycle, as well as many new ways to use it. Some variations, besides the traditional manually pedaled bike, include the electric bicycle and the exercise bicycle. 
         [0003]    An electric bicycle is a bicycle with an attached electric motor, which typically assists, to varying degrees, the bicyclist in pedaling his/her bicycle. Vehicles such as mopeds rely almost entirely on the motor, and only require pedaling in an emergency or if the motor dies. On the other hand, pedal-assist bicycles require the use of the pedals as the main form of power. The electric motor is in place to give an extra burst of speed when it is needed, such as when the bicycle is being pedaled uphill. Most electric bicycle motors are powered by NiMH, Nickel-Cadmium, or Lithium-Ion batteries, but some older bicycles have or are still run by lead acid batteries. 
         [0004]    Traditionally, the exercise bicycle is a machine with a seat, pedals, and handlebars, which looks just like a bicycle, but without wheels. The main focus of these bicycles is of course for physical exercise, instead of transportation. Usually the exercise bicycle provides some form of resistance to pedaling, in order to increase the work that the user has to do. Forms of resistance include fans, magnets and friction devices. In recent years there has been an increase in the use of mini exercise bikes. These are made up of only pedals and a resistance mechanism. They allow the user to exercise while sitting on a chair or other piece of furniture, and can be moved around the house when needed. Also, competitive bicyclists have been known to place a traditional manual bicycle on rollers, in order to transform the bicycle into a non-moving exercise machine. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,991 to Sellers describes a stationary exercise bicycle, in which a motor rotates the pedal crank assembly, as well as the handle bars, in order to assist a physically challenged person in using the bicycle. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,357,209 to Kyosuke et al. describes as aerobic exercise machine, which, through the use of a motor, either assists a user in pedaling, or provides rotational resistance to challenge a user in pedaling. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No 5,662,187 to McGovern describes a pedaled bicycle, which combines the torque provided by a motor with the rider&#39;s pedal torque, in order to assist the rider in pedaling his/her bicycle. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No 7261,175 to Fahrner describes a manually powered bicycle with the left pedal crank arm replaced by a motor driven sprocket and a left pedal assembly, so that the user can, at will, be assisted in pedaling his/her bicycle 
         [0009]    Commercial Exercise Machine: http://www.massager-machines-and-more.com/e-z-cycle.htm—The E-Z Cycle Motorized Exercise Bike is a machine that allows for the user to exercise his/her legs or arms by pedaling the machine&#39;s pedals with varying degrees of motorized assistance. 
         [0010]    Rear Wheel Driven Electric Bike: http://www.greenspeed.us/bionx motor bike kit.htm—The Bionx Electric Bike Motor Conversion Kit allows the user to transform their manually pedaled bike into a rear wheel driven electric bike. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    An object of the invention is to provide a multi-use bicycle, able to be used in different modes of operation. The different modes of operation include use as a standard bicycle, an electric bicycle with power resistance, a standalone exercise machine, or a standalone exercise machine with power resistance. 
         [0012]    Another object of the invention is to provide one mode of operation, in which the bicycle is pedaled like a standard bicycle. 
         [0013]    A still further object of the invention is to provide another mode of operation, in which an electric motor is turned on and the bicycle is transformed into an electric bicycle, which either assists the bicyclist in pedaling, or creates resistance to the bicyclists pedaling, operating as a “Gym on the go”, simulating the effect of climbing a slope while pedaling on a flat surface. 
         [0014]    Another object of the invention is to provide a third mode of operation, in which the bicycles back wheel is lifted off the ground and the bicycle is used as a standalone exercise gym. In addition to being used for exercise, the pedaling performed on the standalone exercise gym recharges the battery in the electric motor. 
         [0015]    A last object of the invention is to provide a final mode of operation, in which the bicycles back wheel is lifted off the ground, in addition to the motor being turned on. Thus the bicycle can be used as a standalone exercise gym, which either assists the user in pedaling, or creates resistance to the user&#39;s pedaling. The above and other objects of the present invention may be accomplished in the following manner. 
         [0016]    These objects are achieved by a bicycle which is made up of a frame, a front and rear wheel, an electric DC motor, and a rear wheel stand which can either raise the wheel off of a surface or allow the wheel to touch the surface. 
         [0017]    The objects are also achieved by a multi-purpose bicycle, which is made up of a frame, a front and rear wheel, an electric DC motor, a multiple mode selection switch, and a torque selection switch. 
         [0018]    The objects are further achieved by a method of using a multi-purpose bicycle which is made up of a frame, a front and rear wheel, an electric DC motor, a multiple mode selection switch, and a torque selection switch. The multi-purpose bicycle can be used in standard mode, electric mode, stationary gym mode, or mobile gym mode. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate similar or corresponding elements, regions and portions and in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  shows the bicycle of the invention with a rear wheel stand in which pedaling creates forward movement, and for which there can be an opposing torque on the rear wheel. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of the mode selection and torque selection switches of the invention, and how they work together with the electric motor, charging unit and battery. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of the 4 different ways of using the multi-purpose bicycle of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the invention includes a lightweight bicycle  10 , with a rear wheel  14  and a rear wheel stand  18 , which can be used in four different modes of operation. Each mode involves a pedaling forward movement  12  by a user, and possibly a rear wheel opposing torque  16 , which is created by a direct contact electric motor  17 , which is preferably mounted to the rear wheel of the bicycle  10 . Optionally, electric motor  17  can also be positioned next to the pedals of the bicycle  10 . In addition to use of the direct contact electric motor  17 , a chain driven, or rubber belt driven motor can also be used. It is primarily for maintenance and cost reasons that motor mounting inside the rear wheel is preferred, to eliminate need for mechanical transmission and/or friction components. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram of the invention is shown. A mode selection switch  60  is used to switch between standard bicycle mode, electric bicycle mode, stationary gym mode, and mobile gym mode. Torque selection switch  62  is utilized to switch between forward torque and backward torque in the two modes in which the electric motor  68  is running. The torque selection switch module will also contain an intensity control switch, which controls how much aid to pedaling or resistance to pedaling the electric motor  17  provides. Torque selection switch  62  and mode selection switch  60  are preferably mounted on the bicycle handlebars. Both selection switches, as well as the intensity control switch, send signals to power control unit  66 , which in turn runs electric motor  68  either forward or backward, and at varying intensities. The power control unit  66  also is used to turn a light  64 —preferably mounted on a front, or optionally on the back, of the bicycle of the invention—on or off. During stationary gym/mobile gym modes, electricity is optionally generated  70  and charging unit  74  charges battery  72 , based on a battery charge condition monitored by power control unit  66 . Battery  72  preferably provides power through power control unit  66  in order to power electric motor  68  and light  64 . 
         [0024]    The electric motor  68  that is used is preferably a brushless Direct Current (DC) motor, but, optionally any other type of DC or Alternative Current (AC) motor can be used. The electric motor  17  is turned on by the main power switch and controlled by the intensity control switch. Battery  72  is rechargeable and may be any of the available rechargeable battery chemistries, including nickel-cadmium, lithium ion, lead acid, lithium polymer, lithium ferrite phosphate, lithium metal phosphate, or nickel metal hydride. 
         [0025]    When the mode selection switch  60  is in manual cycle mode, the motor  68  is off and the bicycle  10  can be used as a standard pedaled bicycle. Pedaling forward movement  12  produces all the force that propels the bicycle  10  forward. 
         [0026]    When the mode selection switch  60  is placed in electric bicycle mode, the motor  68  is turned on and there are two ways that the bicycle  10  can be used. If the torque selection switch  62  is switched to forward, then the bicycle  10  functions as a normal electric bicycle, in which the motor  68  assists the user in pedaling forward movement  12 . On the other hand, if the torque selection switch  62  is switched to backward, the motor  68  provides an opposing torque  16  against movement of the rear wheel  14 . This will force the user of the bicycle  10  to put more energy into pedaling forward movement  12 , and will create the effect of climbing a hill or mountain. 
         [0027]    When the mode selection switch  60  is placed into stationary gym mode, the motor  68  is off and the bicycle  10  functions as a standalone exercise gym. In this mode, a back wheel stand  18  is utilized to lift the back wheel  16 , allowing movement of the back wheel  16  without causing the bicycle  10  to move forward. Now, the bicycle  10  can undergo pedaled forward movement  12  like a normal exercise bike, with just the back wheel  16  spinning in the air. An additional feature of this mode is to harness the energy from spinning the back wheel  16  in order to generate electricity  70 , to charge the battery  72  in the electric motor  68 . When the back wheel  16  is spun, generated electricity  70  passes through charging unit  74 , which in turn charges the battery  72 . 
         [0028]    Finally, when the mode selection switch  60  is placed into mobile gym mode, the motor  68  is on again, and the bicycle  10  once again functions as an exercise bike. The difference in this mode, in addition to the motor  68  being turned on, is found in the orientation of the torque selection switch  62 . If the torque selection switch  62  is switched to forward, the motor  68  assists the user in pedaling forward movement  12 . If the torque selection switch  62  is switched to backward, the electric motor  68  provides opposing torque  16  against movement of the rear wheel  14  in order to create resistance to pedaling forward movement  12 . This gives the user a more strenuous workout. It is also a feature of this mode to harness the energy from spinning the back wheel  16  in order to generate electricity  70 , to charge the battery  72  in the electric motor  68 . Once again, when the back wheel  16  is spun, generated electricity  70  passes through charging unit  74 , which in turn charges the battery  72 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 2  there is a mode selection switch  60  and a torque selection switch  62 , which are run into power control unit  66 , which in turn switches between the different modes that the bicycle  10  can be used in. The power control unit  66  also preferably controls whether light  64  is on or off. 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , a method of using the multi-purpose bicycle  102  of the invention involves four separate modes of operation. The four separate modes include standard mode  104 , electric mode  106 , stationary gym mode  108 , and mobile gym mode  110 , as previously described. 
       ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0031]    The bicycle of the invention combines bicycle riding, transportation, and gym exercise in a single apparatus, and thus is advantageous as it allows use in any or all of the provided modes without having to purchase a separate piece of equipment for each. The user can go bicycle riding for pleasure or exercise. He/she can also use the electric mode on the bicycle for transportation, without the need to purchase and burn gasoline and thus save both expense and prevent carbon emissions. And instead of paying a monthly fee to be a member of an exercise facility the user can use the bicycle as a standalone exercise bicycle. 
         [0032]    A second important advantage of the bicycle is use of the motor to produce backward torque to create resistance while the user is pedaling the bicycle, either in mobile gym mode or during regular moving use. This is advantageous because it gives the user a greater workout in a short amount of time. 
         [0033]    A last advantage of the bicycle is the easy mobility of the bicycle. Most gym equipment is rather large and bulky and is thus very difficult to move around. Since the invention is only a bicycle it is very easy to move the bicycle and use its gym option in any location, e.g., in a residence or outdoors. 
         [0034]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention, except as defined by the following claims.