Patent Description:
With the introduction of electric or hybrid rideable saddle vehicles, the need has arisen to accommodate at least one rechargeable battery onboard such vehicles. Such a rechargeable battery provides the electrical power required to supply the traction motor so that it delivers a drive torque. Generally, the rechargeable battery is required to be easily removable from a respective housing seat so that a user may easily remove the rechargeable battery from the vehicle to replace it and/or recharge it.

As is known, some types of rideable saddle vehicles, such as motorcycles, for example, in particular but not only motor scooters with two or more wheels, comprise a storage container integrated in the body of the vehicle and arranged below the rideable saddle thereof. Here, the rideable saddle is a closing element of the storage container and may selectively take an opening configuration for allowing access to the housing seat and a closing configuration for preventing access to the housing seat. In some types of rideable saddle vehicles of the above-described type, the rechargeable battery is extractable and accommodated in a housing seat defined inside the storage container.

As is known, in order to ensure satisfactory autonomy or power, the rechargeable battery of an electric or hybrid rideable saddle vehicle usually is cumbersome and has a large mass. Therefore, there is a need for the rechargeable battery to be kept in a stable position inside the housing seat thereof in order to prevent possible vibrations, noise, and jolts of the rechargeable battery when using, for example when driving, the vehicle. For this reason, locking systems of the rechargeable battery comprising, for example, one or more locking belts or locking hooks or brackets are provided onboard the aforesaid vehicles.

The locking systems of the known art have several drawbacks. In some cases, indeed, they are complex and costly, in other cases they do not allow an easy and quick removal of the rechargeable battery, or in other cases again, they do not ensure keeping the rechargeable battery in a stable position when using the vehicle.

An example of battery locking system of the prior art is provided by document <CIT>, which describes a locking device of the battery, in particular of the handle thereof. This locking system does not allow closing the saddle if the locking device is not in the locking position of the battery, rather forces the vehicle user to apply force for positioning the locking device in the locking position of the battery.

A further known solution example is provided by document <CIT>, which describes a motorcycle provided with a door for closing the battery compartment provided with a closing system. The motorcycle saddle then independently rests on this door provided with a locking system.

It is a general object of the present description to provide an electric or hybrid rideable saddle vehicle with removable rechargeable battery which is capable of completely or at least partially overcoming the drawbacks of the above-described vehicles of the known art.

Such an object is achieved by a rideable saddle vehicle, as generally defined in claim <NUM>. Preferred and advantageous embodiments of the aforesaid vehicle are defined in the appended dependent claims.

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of particular embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings briefly described in the following paragraph.

The same or similar elements are indicated by the same reference signs in the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of an electric or hybrid rideable saddle vehicle <NUM> which is embodied, in the particular example shown and without however introducing any limitation, by a two-wheeled motorcycle, and in particular by a two-wheeled scooter, having a front wheel <NUM> and a rear wheel <NUM>.

Hereinafter, in the present description, without however introducing any limitation, reference will be made to a general motorcycle <NUM>, meaning that the following description can be generally applied to any type of electric or hybrid rideable saddle vehicle comprising:.

In the particular example shown in <FIG>, the rideable saddle vehicle <NUM> is an electric vehicle and comprises, without however introducing any limitation, an electric motor <NUM> integrated in at least one of the two wheels <NUM>, <NUM>, in the example integrated in the rear wheel <NUM>. In other words, in this example, the electric motor <NUM> is a hub motor. The assembly consisting of the rear wheel <NUM>, and in particular of the wheel hub and the electric motor <NUM>, is a drive wheel <NUM>, <NUM>.

The main body <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of motorcycle <NUM> has a front part <NUM>, a tail part <NUM>, and a middle part <NUM> interposed between the front part <NUM> and the tail part <NUM>.

The middle part <NUM> comprises a footboard <NUM>, for example, on which a rider can place his/her feet.

In the example, the front part <NUM> comprises a front shield <NUM>, a steering handlebar <NUM>, the front wheel <NUM>, a front suspension <NUM>.

In the example, the tail part <NUM> comprises a rideable saddle <NUM>, the drive wheel <NUM>, <NUM>, a support arm or fork <NUM> of the drive wheel <NUM>, <NUM>, a rear suspension <NUM>.

The motorcycle <NUM> further comprises a storage container <NUM> integrated in the main body <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, preferably in the tail part <NUM> of motorcycle <NUM>.

The storage container <NUM> is arranged below the rideable saddle <NUM>. The rideable saddle <NUM> can be moved between a closing configuration, in which the rideable saddle <NUM> prevents access to the storage container <NUM>, and an opening configuration, in which the rideable saddle <NUM> allows access to the storage container <NUM>. Therefore, in such an embodiment, the rideable saddle <NUM> is a closing element of the storage container <NUM>. The rideable saddle <NUM>, in particular in the closing configuration, reversibly obstructs an upper access opening <NUM> of the storage container <NUM>. The rideable saddle <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG> is shown in the closing configuration, while it is shown in the opening configuration in <FIG> and <FIG>. The rideable saddle <NUM> was instead omitted in <FIG>.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the rideable saddle <NUM> is hinged to the main body <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of motorcycle <NUM> to be rotated about a first rotation axis Y1 (<FIG> and <FIG>), between two positions angularly spaced apart from each other, corresponding to the closing configuration and to the opening configuration, respectively. In the example depicted in the drawings, motorcycle <NUM> comprises a first cylindrical hinge <NUM> (<FIG>) adapted and configured to rotatably hinge an end portion of the rideable saddle <NUM> to the tail portion <NUM> of motorcycle <NUM> so that the rideable saddle <NUM> is rotatable about the first rotation axis Y1, which thus represents the hinge axis. Said end portion preferably is a front end portion of the rideable saddle <NUM>, i.e., an end portion facing the front part <NUM> of the main body <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of motorcycle <NUM>.

Motorcycle <NUM> preferably comprises a locking system <NUM>, <NUM> of the rideable saddle <NUM> (<FIG>) which can be operated to take a locking configuration for locking the rideable saddle <NUM> in the closing configuration, and a releasing configuration to allow the rideable saddle <NUM> to be brought from the closing configuration to the opening configuration. The locking system <NUM>, <NUM> of the rideable saddle <NUM> comprises, for example, a lock <NUM> having a movable catch <NUM> and an engagement element <NUM> with which the movable catch <NUM> is engaged when the locking system <NUM>, <NUM> is in the locking configuration. For example, lock <NUM> can be operated by means of a key and/or by means of a mechanical or electromechanical button and/or by means of an electrical control signal. In the particular embodiment shown for example in <FIG>, the engagement element <NUM> is provided on the rideable saddle <NUM> and lock <NUM> is provided on the main body <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of motorcycle <NUM>, in particular on the tail part <NUM>. In a constructional variant, the positions of the aforesaid elements of the locking system <NUM>, <NUM> could be inverted with one another.

The motorcycle <NUM> further comprises at least one extractable rechargeable battery <NUM>, as better shown in <FIG>, <FIG>. A user may thus remove the rechargeable battery <NUM> to be recharged and replace it with a charged rechargeable battery <NUM>, for example.

The rechargeable battery <NUM> is operatively connected, for example by means of an electric wire <NUM> (<FIG>), to motor <NUM> to supply it so that it can deliver a drive torque. The rechargeable battery <NUM> preferably comprises an electrical connector <NUM> adapted to be engaged, for example by coupling, with a complementary electrical connector <NUM> provided at a free end of the electric wire <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the rechargeable battery <NUM> extends between a bottom portion <NUM> and a head portion <NUM>. For example, the rechargeable battery <NUM> comprises a containment body made of an electrically insulating material which accommodates a plurality of rechargeable cells therein. The bottom portion <NUM> is a first end portion of the containment body and the head portion <NUM> is a second end portion of the containment body, opposite to the first end portion. For example, the containment body of the rechargeable battery <NUM> is prism-shaped, e.g., it has a general polygonal shape, in particular is parallelepiped-shaped, for example a straight parallelepiped. Rubber tips or feet <NUM> for damping any impacts to battery <NUM> can be arranged below the bottom portion <NUM>. These rubber tips or feet <NUM> can alternatively be arranged on motorcycle <NUM>.

The rechargeable battery <NUM> preferably comprises a gripping handle <NUM>, preferably included in, or fixed to, the head portion <NUM>. The gripping handle <NUM> preferably protrudes from the head portion <NUM>, and more preferably is C-shaped, with two side support arms and a middle gripping part, for example for ergonomic gripping, interposed between the two side arms. For example, the two side arms are mutually inclined and the middle part is cylindrical in shape, for example.

The storage container <NUM> comprises a first housing seat S1 which at least partially houses the rechargeable battery <NUM> so that the rechargeable battery <NUM> can be inserted into, and extracted from, the first housing seat S1. Preferably, the rechargeable battery <NUM> is slidably insertable into, and slidably extractable from, the first housing seat S1 by translation along a sliding axis Z. In particular, the housing seat S1, with the rechargeable battery <NUM>, substantially defines a shape coupling.

The first housing seat S1 is preferably delimited by a tubular side wall <NUM> and a bottom wall <NUM> joined to the tubular side wall <NUM>. The first housing seat S1 preferably comprises guiding means, e.g., guides which allow directing the insertion/removal of the rechargeable battery <NUM> into/from the first housing seat S1. The user is thus facilitated in placing the battery <NUM> in a correct position in the first housing seat S1. In detail, the first housing seat S1 and/or the rechargeable battery <NUM> are shaped so as to avoid the rechargeable battery <NUM> from being mounted in a wrong position or with a wrong orientation. In particular, the first housing seat S1 and the rechargeable battery <NUM> mutually form a shape coupling which defines a unique position between the first housing seat S1 and the rechargeable battery <NUM>.

Preferably, the storage container <NUM> further comprises a second housing seat S2A, S2B, adapted and configured to house at least one helmet <NUM>, preferably a jet-type helmet, i.e., a helmet without a fixed chin guard.

The storage container <NUM> can comprise a shell <NUM> shaped to delimit and define the lower portion of the compartment in which the first housing seat S1 and the second housing seat S2A, S2B are obtained. The compartment is then closed at the top by a support base <NUM> of saddle <NUM>.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the second housing seat S2A, S2B has a first housing portion S2A and a second housing portion S2B, which are adjacent to each other. When the rechargeable battery <NUM> is inserted into the first housing seat S1, the first housing portion S2A at least partially extends over the head portion <NUM> of the rechargeable battery <NUM> and the second housing portion S2B at least partially extends laterally with respect to the head portion <NUM> of the rechargeable battery <NUM>. The volume in the storage container <NUM> reserved for housing the rechargeable battery <NUM> thus forms a step close to which a front portion of helmet <NUM> can rest, e.g., an open front portion <NUM> of a jet helmet <NUM>. Thereby, both a rechargeable battery <NUM> and a helmet <NUM> can be simultaneously housed in the storage container <NUM> even when the space onboard the motorcycle <NUM> reserved for the storage container <NUM> is relatively small.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the head portion <NUM> of the rechargeable battery <NUM> at least partially protrudes into the second housing seat S2A, S2B, in particular into the first housing portion S2A. For example, if the head portion <NUM> of the rechargeable battery <NUM> comprises the gripping handle <NUM>, when the rechargeable battery <NUM> is inserted into the first housing seat S1, the gripping handle <NUM> at least partially protrudes into the second housing seat S2A, S2B, in particular into the first housing portion S2A. The depth of the first housing seat S1, i.e., of the housing seat reserved for the rechargeable battery <NUM>, can thus be reduced because, for housing the head portion <NUM> and/or the gripping handle <NUM> of the rechargeable battery <NUM>, a relatively limited part of the housing volume of the second housing seat S2A, S2B can be utilized by utilizing the remaining part of the latter to house helmet <NUM>.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the first housing seat S1 and the second housing seat S2A, S2B communicate with each other. For example, the first housing seat S1 comprises an access opening <NUM> which is crossable by the bottom portion <NUM> of the rechargeable battery <NUM> to insert the latter into the first housing seat S1. The first housing seat S1 and the second housing seat S2A, S2B communicate with each other through the access opening <NUM>. For example, the access opening <NUM> is an opening arranged on the opposite side with respect to the bottom wall <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the storage container <NUM> is adapted and configured to house a jet helmet <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the jet helmet <NUM> comprises a shell having a front open portion <NUM>, two opposite side portions <NUM>, a rear portion <NUM>, and an upper portion <NUM>. The front open portion <NUM> of the shell is joined to the rear portion <NUM> of the shell by means of the side portions <NUM>, while the upper portion <NUM> of the shell is above the front open portion <NUM>, the side portions <NUM>, and the rear portion <NUM>.

Advantageously, the first portion S2A of the second housing seat S2A, S2B is adapted and configured to house the front open portion <NUM> of the shell. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the jet helmet <NUM> comprises at least one visor <NUM> (shown only in <FIG>), and the first portion S2A of the second housing seat S2A, S2B is also adapted and configured to house the visor <NUM>. As known per se, visor <NUM> is a transparent or semitransparent shield rotatably constrained to the shell and can be rotated from the outside of the shell to obstruct at least partially the front open portion <NUM> of the shell in a removable manner.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the second portion S2B of the second housing seat S2A, S2B is adapted and configured to house at least partially the side portions <NUM> of the shell of the jet helmet <NUM>.

According to an advantageous embodiment which allows increasing the useful space inside the storage container <NUM>, the rideable saddle <NUM> comprises (<FIG>) a support base <NUM> and a padding <NUM>, and the support base <NUM> comprises a recess <NUM> adapted and configured to receive part of the upper portion <NUM> of the shell of helmet <NUM> when the storage container <NUM> accommodates a helmet <NUM> therein. Thereby, the first portion S2A of the second housing seat S2A, S2B advantageously partially extends into saddle <NUM>. The aforesaid recess <NUM> preferably extends into the thickness of padding <NUM>. For example, the support base <NUM> is a frame made of hard plastics and/or metal, and the padding is made of a yielding material, such as a spongy synthetic material. As known per se, padding <NUM> is covered with a waterproof coating, e.g., made of natural or synthetic leather. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the aforesaid recess <NUM> is a rounded and/or curved recess.

The motorcycle <NUM> further comprises a locking device <NUM> (shown in greater detail in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>) adapted to lock the rechargeable battery <NUM> in the first housing seat S1. The locking device <NUM> is adapted and configured to be moved in order to take an operating locking position and an operating releasing position. The locking device <NUM> is retained in the operating locking position by means of a thrust force applied by the rideable saddle <NUM> to the locking device <NUM> when the rideable saddle <NUM> takes the closing configuration. In the operating locking position shown for example in <FIG> and <FIG>, the locking device <NUM> prevents the rechargeable battery <NUM> from being removed from the first housing seat S1. Instead, in the operating releasing position shown in <FIG>, the locking device <NUM> allows the removal, in particular the extraction, of the rechargeable battery <NUM> from the first housing seat S1, and thus from the storage container <NUM>.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the locking device <NUM> is accommodated in the storage container <NUM> and has a first end portion <NUM> rotatably hinged, by means of a hinge, to a wall of the storage container <NUM>, and a second end portion <NUM>, opposite to the first end portion <NUM>, which is a free end portion when in the operating releasing position. The first end portion <NUM> is rotatable about a second rotation axis Y2 (<FIG>), which is preferably parallel to the first rotation axis Y1, i.e., to the rotation axis of the rideable saddle <NUM>. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, of the first end portion <NUM> and the second end portion <NUM> of the locking device <NUM>, the first end portion <NUM> is the furthest from the first rotation axis Y1 when the locking device <NUM> is in the operating locking position.

The vehicle <NUM> may comprise, at the hinge of the first end portion <NUM>, an elastic return means (not shown in the drawings) adapted to push the locking device <NUM> towards the operating locking position. Preferably, the elastic return means can be a torsional spring connected to the locking device <NUM> and to the shell <NUM> of the storage container <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the operating locking position of the locking device <NUM>, the rideable saddle <NUM> abuts against the second end portion <NUM> and applies a pressure force to the latter, for example by means of at least one thrust element <NUM>. For example, the thrust element <NUM> is integrated in, or fastened to, the support base <NUM> of the rideable saddle <NUM>. Conveniently, the thrust element <NUM> protrudes from the rideable saddle <NUM>, in particular from the support base <NUM>, towards the storage container <NUM>, preferably so as to cross the upper access opening <NUM>.

The locking device <NUM> is kept in the operating locking position thereof, which prevents the removal of battery <NUM>, only by means of the thrust applied by the rideable saddle <NUM> when the rideable saddle abuts with the locking device <NUM>. This allows making vehicle <NUM> more affordable because battery <NUM> remains firmly connected to vehicle <NUM> by means of the locking device <NUM> alone, without needing further locking systems of the locking device <NUM>. Moreover, this solution allows locking battery <NUM> without any effort by the user of vehicle <NUM> because the locking device <NUM> is autonomously and automatically released by simply bringing saddle <NUM> to the closing position.

The locking device <NUM> is shaped so as to remain pinched between the bottom of the rideable saddle <NUM>, in particular the support base <NUM> thereof, and the storage container <NUM>, in particular the shell <NUM> thereof. The support base <NUM> of the rideable saddle <NUM> thus rests on the shell <NUM> of the storage container <NUM> by means of the locking device <NUM>, thus improving the discharge of the rider's and passenger's weight onto the remainder of the motorcycle and ensuring a firm anchoring of the locking device <NUM>, and therefore of battery <NUM>.

In the particular non-limiting embodiment shown in the drawings, the rideable saddle <NUM> comprises two thrust elements <NUM> spaced apart from each other. In the closing configuration of the rideable saddle <NUM>, the two thrust elements <NUM> abut against the second end portion <NUM> of the locking device <NUM>, applying a pressure force to the latter in two contact points p1, p2 spaced apart from each other.

The locking device <NUM> preferably comprises at least one locking arm <NUM> which extends between the first end portion <NUM> and the second end portion <NUM>. In the operating locking position, the at least one locking arm <NUM> applies a thrust force to the rechargeable battery <NUM>, in particular to the head portion <NUM>. The rechargeable battery <NUM> is thus kept in a stable position inside the first housing seat S1 and possible vibrations, noise, and jolts of the rechargeable battery <NUM> when using, for example when driving, the motorcycle <NUM> are eliminated.

Referring now to <FIG>, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the first end portion <NUM> and the second end portion <NUM> of the locking device <NUM> projects towards sides which are arranged to be mutually opposite with respect to the locking arm <NUM>, so that the locking device <NUM> has an overall S- or step-shaped lateral profile.

According to an advantageous and non-limiting embodiment, the locking device <NUM> comprises two locking arms <NUM> which are joined to each other on one side by the first end portion <NUM> and on another side by the second end portion <NUM>.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the locking device <NUM> comprises at least one recess or a through opening <NUM> (<FIG>) which accommodates, or is crossed by, a protruding part of the rechargeable battery <NUM> in the operating locking position of the locking device <NUM>. Such a protruding part preferably is the gripping handle <NUM>. For example, the aforesaid recess or through opening <NUM> extends into the locking arm <NUM> or between the locking arms <NUM>.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, when the locking device <NUM> takes the operating locking position, at least one elastically yielding element <NUM> (<FIG>), for example a yielding block <NUM>, is interposed and sandwiched between the locking device <NUM> and the rechargeable battery <NUM>. For example, the yielding block <NUM> is made of an elastically deformable material, such as rubber, latex, or silicone, for example.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the at least one elastically yielding element <NUM> is fastened to the locking device <NUM>. In a constructional variant, the elastically yielding element <NUM> is fastened to the rechargeable battery <NUM>, for example in the head portion <NUM> thereof. In a further variant, such an elastically yielding element <NUM> is a free element, for example a yielding pad, which can be interposed between the rechargeable battery <NUM> and the locking device <NUM>. For the purposes of the present description, the feature of the elastic yielding nature associated with element <NUM> implies that such an element has a greater elasticity and yielding nature than that of a remaining part of the locking device <NUM>. For example, the locking device <NUM> is made of a metal material or hard plastics (e.g., ABS), while the elastically yielding element <NUM> is made of rubber or silicone.

Providing at least one elastically yielding element <NUM> allows an elastic recovery of any clearance and/or damping of vibrations. In the particular example shown in <FIG>, two elastically yielding elements <NUM> are provided, each fastened or coupled to a respective arm <NUM> of the locking device <NUM>.

Similarly to the above description, at least one elastically yielding element (not shown in the drawings) can also be provided, which is interposed between the rideable saddle <NUM> and the locking device <NUM>, for example between the rideable saddle <NUM> and the second end portion <NUM> of the locking device <NUM>, when the locking device <NUM> is in the operating locking position. For example, elastically yielding elements can be arranged at the contact point or points p1, p2, or on the locking device <NUM> or the thrust element <NUM> (or on the thrust elements <NUM>).

With reference to <FIG>, according to an advantageous embodiment, a through hole <NUM>, such as a slot-shaped hole, is defined in the second end portion <NUM> of the locking device <NUM>. The storage container <NUM> preferably comprises a protruding arm <NUM> fastened inside the container <NUM>, for example fastened to an inner wall of container <NUM>, which crosses the through hole <NUM> when in the locking position. Thereby, by providing a hole in the protruding arm <NUM> and using a security lock (not shown in the drawings), for example, it is optionally possible for a user to prevent the locking device <NUM> from being brought to the releasing position. The security is thus increased, making the unauthorized removal of the rechargeable battery <NUM> more complex, for example by third parties intending to unlawfully remove it when the rideable saddle vehicle <NUM> is in a parking state, for example.

Claim 1:
An electric or hybrid rideable saddle vehicle (<NUM>), comprising:
- a rechargeable battery (<NUM>);
- an electric or hybrid traction motor (<NUM>) which can be supplied by the rechargeable battery (<NUM>) to deliver a drive torque;
- a storage container (<NUM>) comprising a first housing seat (S1) which at least partially houses the rechargeable battery (<NUM>), wherein the rechargeable battery (<NUM>) is removably housed in the first housing seat (S1) so that the rechargeable battery (<NUM>) can be inserted into, and extracted from, the first housing seat (S1), the storage container (<NUM>) further comprising a locking device (<NUM>) adapted to lock the rechargeable battery (<NUM>) in the first housing seat (S1);
- a rideable saddle (<NUM>) which can be moved between a closing configuration, in which the rideable saddle (<NUM>) prevents access to the storage container (<NUM>), and an opening configuration, in which the rideable saddle (<NUM>) allows access to the storage container (<NUM>), the storage container (<NUM>) being arranged below the rideable saddle (<NUM>);
- the locking device (<NUM>) is adapted and configured to be moved to take an operating locking position and an operating releasing position; characterized in that :
- the locking device (<NUM>) is retained in the operating locking position only by means of a thrust force applied by the rideable saddle (<NUM>) when the rideable saddle (<NUM>) takes the closing configuration.