The patent has been granted The patent has been granted, Grant of patent is intended, Examination is in progress, Request for examination was made, The application has been published EP Register Verified

AN ELECTRIC BICYCLE HAVING A GEARING SYSTEM

Publication No. EP3483051

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App No. EP18211368

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Filed by FreeFlow Technology Ltd

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Filed on 2013-02-22

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Issued/Published on 2022-12-14

Official EPO Register

Publication No. EP3483051 A1

Application No. EP18211368 Filed: 2013-02-22

Grant Date 2013-02-22 Mention of grant

Active Oppositions 2 Active EPO Oppositions

Patent Abstract / Summary

A gearing system for a vehicle comprises a first rotational input (12), a second rotational input (16) and a rotational output. The first rotational input and second rotational input transmit a rotation to the rotational output, wherein one of the first rotational input and second rotational input is connected to the rotational output through a one way clutch (60), and wherein the other of the first rotational input and second rotational input may be connected to the rotational output through an overrunning clutch (48), wherein said one way clutch and said overrunning clutch are coupled. The one way clutch is housed with a cylindrical housing (52f) of a bracket (52) comprising a first cylindrical section (52a) and a second cylindrical section (52b), wherein the second cylindrical section has a greater diameter than the first cylindrical section. The one way clutch may be a sprag clutch and the overrunning clutch may be a freewheel assembly. The vehicle may be an electric bicycle, but may also be another dual propulsion vehicle such as a hybrid car.

IPC Classifications

B62M6/55, B60K1/00, F16H1/28

Priority Claims

GB 20120003211 Date: 2012-02-24

Designated Contracting States (38 EPC States)

AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

Parties & Representation

Applicants

FreeFlow Technology Ltd

C/o Sheperd and Wedderburn LLP, West Regent Street

Freeflow Technologies Limited

1 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 1RW

Inventors (1)

MacMartin, Neil

Freeflow Technologies Limited, 1 West Regent Street

Representatives / Agents

Higginson, Naomi Rhianna

Withers & Rogers LLP, 2 London Bridge

McWilliams, David John

Withers & Rogers LLP, 2 London Bridge

Wallace, Stuart

S. William Wallace & Company Ltd, Caledonian Suite

Grünecker Patent- und Rechtsanwälte PartG mbB

Leopoldstraße 4, 80802 München

Key Procedural Dates

Proceedings-Resumed 2025-06-02

Proceedings-Interrupted 2024-03-05

Request-For-Examination 2019-11-15

Mention Of Grant Published 2013-02-22

First-Examination-Report-Despatched 2020-08-26

Patent Oppositions

Official opposition proceedings filed against European Patent EP3483051 under EPC Article 99.

2 ACTIVE OPPONENTS

Opponent Company

ZF Friedrichshafen AG

Löwentaler Strasse 20, DE

Representative

—

Filing Date

2023-09-12

Opposition in Progress

Opponent Company

Yamaha Motor eBike Systems GmbH

Sickingenstraße 29-38, DE

Representative

Grünecker Patent- und Rechtsanwälte PartG mbB

Filing Date

2026-04-02

Opposition in Progress

Legal Status & Event History

Official European Patent Office legal and procedural status changes recorded for this file.

82 Events Recorded

Date	Code	Event Description	Auth
2019-05-15	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2019-05-15	AC	DIVISIONAL APPLICATION: REFERENCE TO EARLIER APPLICATION	EP
2019-12-25	17P	REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION FILED	EP
2019-12-25	RBV	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES (CORRECTED)	EP
2020-09-30	17Q	FIRST EXAMINATION REPORT DESPATCHED	EP
2020-08-27	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2019-11-22	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2019-04-12	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2019-04-12	PUAI	PUBLIC REFERENCE MADE UNDER ARTICLE 153(3) EPC TO A PUBLISHED INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION THAT HAS ENTERED THE EUROPEAN PHASE	EP
2022-07-03	GRAP	DESPATCH OF COMMUNICATION OF INTENTION TO GRANT A PATENT	EP
2022-07-03	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2022-08-03	INTG	INTENTION TO GRANT ANNOUNCED	EP
2022-11-07	GRAS	GRANT FEE PAID	EP
2022-11-11	GRAA	(EXPECTED) GRANT	EP
2022-11-11	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2022-12-14	AC	DIVISIONAL APPLICATION: REFERENCE TO EARLIER APPLICATION	EP
2022-12-14	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2022-12-14	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2022-12-15	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2022-12-22	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2023-01-04	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2023-01-15	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2023-01-18	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2013-02-22	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2023-02-17	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2023-02-27	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2023-03-03	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2023-04-11	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2022-12-20	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2023-04-28	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2023-04-28	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2023-05-15	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2023-05-31	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2023-06-28	P01	OPT-OUT OF THE COMPETENCE OF THE UNIFIED PATENT COURT (UPC) REGISTERED	EP
2023-07-31	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2023-08-31	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2023-09-15	PLBI	OPPOSITION FILED	EP
2023-09-12	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2023-09-29	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2023-09-29	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2023-10-18	26	OPPOSITION FILED	EP
2023-10-25	PLAX	NOTICE OF OPPOSITION AND REQUEST TO FILE OBSERVATION + TIME LIMIT SENT	EP
2023-10-31	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2023-10-19	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2023-11-30	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2023-12-20	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2024-01-31	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2024-02-29	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2024-03-01	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2024-07-31	29U	PROCEEDINGS INTERRUPTED AFTER GRANT ACCORDING TO RULE 142 EPC	EP
2024-11-08	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2024-11-29	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-03-14	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2025-03-24	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2025-04-09	P04	WITHDRAWAL OF OPT-OUT OF THE COMPETENCE OF THE UNIFIED PATENT COURT (UPC) REGISTERED	EP
2025-04-16	29W	PROCEEDINGS RESUMED AFTER GRANT [AFTER INTERRUPTION OF PROCEEDINGS ACCORDING TO RULE 142 EPC]	EP
2025-06-07	PLAF	INFORMATION MODIFIED RELATED TO COMMUNICATION OF A NOTICE OF OPPOSITION AND REQUEST TO FILE OBSERVATIONS + TIME LIMIT	EP
2025-06-07	PLBB	REPLY OF PATENT PROPRIETOR TO NOTICE(S) OF OPPOSITION RECEIVED	EP
2025-07-09	RAP4	PARTY DATA CHANGED (PATENT OWNER DATA CHANGED OR RIGHTS OF A PATENT TRANSFERRED)	EP
2025-07-25	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-08-27	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2025-09-10	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2025-09-03	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2025-09-28	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2025-10-03	PLBP	OPPOSITION WITHDRAWN	EP
2025-12-12	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-03-17	PGFP	ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-03-13	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-03-18	PGFP	ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-09	PGFP	ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-13	PGFP	ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-14	PGFP	ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-15	PGFP	ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2025-10-08	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-04-16	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-04-20	PGFP	ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-27	PLAY	EXAMINATION REPORT IN OPPOSITION DESPATCHED + TIME LIMIT	EP
2026-04-23	PGFP	ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-24	PGFP	ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-05-20	RAP4	PARTY DATA CHANGED (PATENT OWNER DATA CHANGED OR RIGHTS OF A PATENT TRANSFERRED)	EP
2026-07-08	PGFP	ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-29	PLBC	REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT IN OPPOSITION RECEIVED	EP

Patent & Non-Patent Citations

Cited documents and prior art referenced in search and examination reports.

27 Citations

Cited Patent Documents

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JP2010274900

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Non-Patent Scientific Literature (NPL)

- CHRIS SIDWELLS: "Bicycle Repair Manual", 1 January 2008, DK, ISBN: 978-0-75663-394-3, article CHRIS SIDWELLS: "Chain, cassette, and crankset", pages: 62 - 69, XP009566399

- PAUL HAYES: "Beginners guide to mountain bike gears", BIKERADAR.COM, FUTURE PUBLISHING LIMITED, UK, UK, pages 1 - 7, XP009566537, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:https://web.archive.org/web/20110816103105/http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/beginners-guide-to-mountain-bike-gears-31303/>

- NEIL SCLATER, NICHOLAS P. CHIRONIS: "MECHANISMS AND MECHANICAL DEVICES SOURCEBOOK; 4th ed.", 1 January 2007, MCGRAW-HILL , US , ISBN: 978-0-07-146761-2, article NEIL SCLATER, NICHOLAS P. CHIRONIS: "Chapter 8: Clutches and Brakes", pages: 203 - 227, XP009566396

Worldwide Patent Family

Related applications and patents in the same INPADOC worldwide family.

34 Family Members

Country	Publication Number	Kind	Publication Date	Action
EP	EP3483051A1	A1	2019-05-15	Espacenet
EP	EP3483051B1	B1	2022-12-14	Espacenet
AU	AU2013223800A1	A1	2014-10-02	Espacenet
AU	AU2013223800B2	B2	2017-06-15	Espacenet
CA	CA2865377A1	A1	2013-08-29	Espacenet
CA	CA2865377C	C	2021-01-26	Espacenet
CN	CN104220326A	A	2014-12-17	Espacenet
CN	CN104220326B	B	2018-06-22	Espacenet
DK	DK2817206T3	T3	2019-04-01	Espacenet
EP	EP2817206A1	A1	2014-12-31	Espacenet
EP	EP2817206B1	B1	2018-12-12	Espacenet
ES	ES2714473T3	T3	2019-05-28	Espacenet
ES	ES2934796T3	T3	2023-02-27	Espacenet
GB	GB201203211D0	D0	2012-04-11	Espacenet
GB	GB201303196D0	D0	2013-04-10	Espacenet
GB	GB2499730A	A	2013-08-28	Espacenet
GB	GB2499730B	B	2017-03-29	Espacenet
HR	HRP20230012T1	T1	2023-02-17	Espacenet
HU	HUE060911T2	T2	2023-04-28	Espacenet
IN	IN7792DEN2014A	A	2015-05-15	Espacenet
JP	JP2015508039A	A	2015-03-16	Espacenet
JP	JP6453079B2	B2	2019-01-16	Espacenet
NZ	NZ700133A	A	2016-08-26	Espacenet
PL	PL2817206T3	T3	2019-06-28	Espacenet
PL	PL3483051T3	T3	2023-03-13	Espacenet
RU	RU2014137674A	A	2016-04-10	Espacenet
RU	RU2666611C2	C2	2018-09-11	Espacenet
TR	TR201902853T4	T4	2019-03-21	Espacenet
TW	TW201350383A	A	2013-12-16	Espacenet
TW	TWI646013B	B	2019-01-01	Espacenet
US	US2015011346A1	A1	2015-01-08	Espacenet
US	US9616969B2	B2	2017-04-11	Espacenet
WO	WO2013124665A1	A1	2013-08-29	Espacenet
ZA	ZA201406873B	B	2016-05-25	Espacenet

Official File Inspection EPC Art. 128 Public Dossier

Complete European Patent Register Dossier (148 Total Documents)

The full inspection file for Application EP18211368 contains 148 total documents, including all notices of opposition, proprietor counter-statements, examination communications, third-party observations, and procedural forms. Below are all major recorded procedural filings and publication specifications.

Open 148-Doc Register Dossier

Dossier Filing

Date: 2026-04-10 Procedure: Examination 0009266

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AN ELECTRIC BICYCLE HAVING A GEARING SYSTEM

Patent Abstract / Summary

IPC Classifications

Priority Claims

Designated Contracting States (38 EPC States)

Parties & Representation

Applicants

Inventors (1)

Representatives / Agents

Key Procedural Dates

Patent Oppositions

ZF Friedrichshafen AG

Yamaha Motor eBike Systems GmbH

Legal Status & Event History

Patent & Non-Patent Citations

Cited Patent Documents

Non-Patent Scientific Literature (NPL)

Worldwide Patent Family

Complete European Patent Register Dossier (148 Total Documents)

Recorded Filings & Patent Specifications

European Patent Specification - Granted Patent (B1)

Official European Patent Register Full Dossier

European Patent Application with Search Report (A1)

New entry: Reply to examination report in opposition

Oral proceedings

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(Expected) grant

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