# US 12,015,435 B2 · Bike lock as communication hub for an electric bicycle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,435 B2 - Document ID: US12015435B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/217,901 - Filed: 2021-03-30 - Published: 2022-09-29 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-29 - Assignees: Rad Power Bikes Inc. - Applicants: Rad Power Bikes Inc. - Inventors: Dave Miller; Jake Silsby; Bryan Ford; Redwood Stephens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015435B2 ## CPC - H04B 1/3822: specially adapted for use in vehicles (H04B1/3827 takes precedence) - B60R 25/04: operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor - B60R 25/102: a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner - B60R 25/24: using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user - B60R 25/33: of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates - B62H 5/08: preventing the drive (by acting on powered drive B62M) - B62H 5/14: preventing wheel rotation {(B62H5/003 takes precedence)} - B62J 1/28: Other additional equipment, e.g. back-rests for children - B62J 7/04: arranged above or behind the rear wheel - B62J 11/00: Supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening specific devices to cycles, e.g. supports for attaching maps - B62J 43/13: on rider-propelled cycles with additional electric propulsion - B62J 45/00: Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for - B62J 45/20: Cycle computers as cycle accessories - B62J 50/20: Information-providing devices - B62J 50/22: electronic, e.g. displays - B62K 11/00: Motorcycles, engine-assisted cycles or motor scooters with one or two wheels (fairings or streamlining parts not forming part of the frame B62J; transmission of drive from engines to wheels B62M) - B62K 19/36: for attaching saddle pillars, e.g. adjustable during ride - B62K 19/40: for attaching accessories, e.g. article carriers, lamps - B62K 21/12: Handlebars; Handlebar stems - B62M 6/45: Control or actuating devices therefor - G07F 17/0057: {for the hiring or rent of vehicles, e.g. cars, bicycles or wheelchairs (car rental G07B15/00)} - H04W 4/40: for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P] - H04W 4/44: for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H] - H04W 4/48: for in-vehicle communication - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - B60R 2025/1016: {Remote signals alerting owner or authorities, e.g. radio signals} - B60R 2325/105: Radio frequency identification data [RFID] - B62H 5/003: {using chains or cables (chain or cable locks per se E05B67/003; with alarm E05B45/005)} - B62H 5/147: {by means of circular bolts (padlocks E05B67/28)} - B62H 5/20: indicating unauthorised use, e.g. acting on signalling devices {(alarm locks in general E05B45/00, e.g. alarm cable or chain lock E05B45/005)} - B62J 45/41: characterised by the type of sensor - B62J 50/225: {Mounting arrangements therefor} - B62K 19/46: Luggage carriers forming part of frame (luggage carriers per se B62J7/00) - B62K 2204/00: Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor - B62M 6/90: Batteries - E05B 71/00: Locks specially adapted for bicycles, other than padlocks ({locks integral with holders for parking or storing bicycles B62H3/00;} locks integral with cycles B62H5/00) - E05B 73/0005: {using chains, cables or the like (chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006)} - G16Y 10/40: Transportation - G16Y 10/75: Information technology; Communication - G16Y 40/50: Safety; Security of things, users, data or systems - H04W 84/005: {Moving wireless networks} - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04B: TRANSMISSION - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B62H: CYCLE STANDS; SUPPORTS OR HOLDERS FOR PARKING OR STORING CYCLES; APPLIANCES PREVENTING OR INDICATING UNAUTHORIZED USE OR THEFT OF CYCLES; LOCKS INTEGRAL WITH CYCLES; DEVICES FOR LEARNING TO RIDE CYCLES - B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - G16Y: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE INTERNET OF THINGS [IoT] ## Abstract Various embodiments provide for a bike-supported communication network that manages and facilitates communications between components of an electric bicycle and a wireless network. In some embodiments, the systems and methods provide a bike-supported communication device that is integrated into a bike lock, lock, or lock assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electric bicycle, comprising: a frame having a head tube, down tube, top tube, and seat tube; a front wheel attached to the frame via a fork connected to the head tube; a rear wheel attached to the frame via a dropout assembly of the frame; an electric motor mounted to the rear wheel that causes the rear wheel to rotate; a battery pack mounted to the frame of the electric bicycle that provides power to the electric motor; a controller that controls operations of the battery pack of the electric bicycle and the electric motor of the electric bicycle; and a lock assembly that is configured to lock the rear wheel of the electric bicycle, wherein the lock assembly includes: a communication device that communicates with a wireless network via one or more wireless communication protocols, wherein the communication device is configured to manage communications between the wireless network and the controller of the electric bicycle; and a fleet module, separate from the communication device, that communicates directly with a fleet management server, wherein the fleet management server is associated with a fleet of electric bicycles that includes the electric bicycle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electric bicycle of claim 1, wherein the lock assembly further comprises: a lock component that includes a mechanically-actuated shackle lock that prevents the rear wheel of the electric bicycle from rotating. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electric bicycle of claim 1, wherein the lock assembly further comprises: a lock component that includes an electronically-actuated shackle lock that prevents the rear wheel of the electric bicycle from rotating. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electric bicycle of claim 1, wherein the lock assembly further comprises: a lock component that includes an integrated cable lock that is configured to fix the electric bicycle to a fixture at a geographical location that includes the electric bicycle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electric bicycle of claim 1, wherein the lock assembly further comprises: a lock component that includes an electronic locking module that causes the electric motor, the battery park, or the controller to operate in a locked mode of operation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electric bicycle of claim 1, wherein the lock assembly further comprises: a housing that secures the lock assembly to the seat tube of the frame of the electric bicycle and contains the communication device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electric bicycle of claim 1, further comprising: a display device that is mounted to handlebars of the electric bicycle; wherein the communication device is configured to manage communications between the wireless network and the display device of the electric bicycle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electric bicycle of claim 1, wherein the communication device includes a transmitter configured to perform cellular communications over the wireless network. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electric bicycle of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to represent the electric bicycle as an Internet of Things (IOT) device on the wireless network. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electric bicycle of claim 1, wherein the communication device is adapted to communicate over the wireless network via an antenna integrated into one or more frame components of the electric bicycle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electric bicycle of claim 1, wherein the communication device includes: a Bluetooth component that facilitates Bluetooth protocol communications between the communication device and the controller, battery pack, and electric motor; and a wireless component that facilitates WiFi protocol communications between the communication device and the wireless network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electric bicycle of claim 1, wherein the communication device includes: a Bluetooth component that facilitates Bluetooth protocol communications between the communication device and the controller, battery pack, and electric motor; and a cellular component that facilitates cellular protocol communications between the communication device and the wireless network. ### Claim 13 A lock assembly for an electric bicycle, the lock assembly comprising: a lock component that is configured to; lock a rear wheel of the electric bicycle, and cause an electric motor, a battery park, or a controller of the electric bicycle to operate in a locked mode of operation; and a communication device that communicates with a wireless network via one or more wireless communication protocols, wherein the communication device is configured to manage communications between the wireless network and the controller of the electric bicycle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lock assembly of claim 13, wherein the lock component includes a mechanically-actuated shackle lock that prevents the rear wheel of the electric bicycle from rotating. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The lock assembly of claim 13, wherein the lock component includes an electronically-actuated shackle lock that prevents the rear wheel of the electric bicycle from rotating. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The lock assembly of claim 13, wherein the lock component includes an integrated cable lock that is configured to fix the electric bicycle to a fixture at a geographical location that includes the electric bicycle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The lock assembly of claim 13, wherein the lock component includes an electronic locking module that causes the electric motor, the battery park, or the controller to operate in the locked mode of operation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The lock assembly of claim 13, wherein the lock assembly further comprises: a housing that secures the lock assembly to a seat tube of a frame of the electric bicycle and contains the communication device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The lock assembly of claim 13, wherein the communication device includes: a bicycle communications component that facilitates communications between the communication device and a controller, a battery pack, and an electric motor of the electric bicycle; and a network communications component that facilitates communications between the electric bicycle and the wireless network. ### Claim 20 A method, comprising: receiving, via a communications device contained within a lock assembly of an electric bicycle, information associated with a current operation of a component of the electric bicycle over a Bluetooth communication protocol that manages communications between the communications device and the component of the electric bicycle, wherein the current operation of the component of the electric bicycle includes a current operation of a battery pack or electric motor of the electric bicycle; and transmitting, via the communication device contained within the lock assembly of the electric bicycle, a message to a bicycle management server that is remote from the electric bicycle over a wireless network, wherein the message includes the information associated with the current operation of the component of the electric bicycle.