Patents by Inventor James P. Foster, Jr.

James P. Foster, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9073602
    Abstract: A gear assembly having a shaft, a clutch assembly mounted to the shaft and moveable between forward and reverse positions, forward and reverse drive gears that rotate independently of the shaft, and a transfer gear assembly. When in the forward position, the clutch assembly engages the forward drive gear so that the forward drive gear rotates in the same direction as the shaft. When in the reverse position, the clutch assembly engages the reverse drive gear, which engages the transfer gear assembly to rotate the forward drive gear in the opposite direction as the shaft. The gear assembly may be used on a bicycle to allow a rider to propel the bicycle forward by either pedaling forward or backward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Inventors: James P. Foster, Jr., Jeff Swain
  • Patent number: 5435583
    Abstract: A clutch operated, bi-directional bicycle gear box assembly for forward and rearward peddling to still move the bicycle forward, comprised of: a gear box housing, the housing attached to the bicycle frame; a pair of foot pedals; a pair of crank arms; a bottom bracket spindle; a sprocket; a sprocket drive gear; a clutch subassembly, the subassembly consisting of a pair of clutch disks attached to a spacer, each clutch disk having a pair of pins; a reversing drive gear; a transfer gear, and; a shifting lever. The housing provides attachment of the components. The crank arms, attached to each pedal and to the bottom bracket spindle, transfer the pedaling motion to the bottom bracket spindle. Once the gear is in the first position, the rider can pedal forward (clockwise) in order to induce forward motion in the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Inventor: James P. Foster, Jr.