Abstract: A human powered mechanism for propelling a wheeled land vehicle, a water vehicle (a boat or hydroplane) using either a water screw or a jet of water or an ultra-light aircraft with an air screw. The mechanism can utilize either arm or leg muscles or preferably, both arms and legs extending and retracting in a manner similar to walking or running as performed from a semi-recumbent position. Steering or other critical control is accomplished through another mechanism which is guided by the appropriate movement of the operator's head. The operators feet are placed on pedals which are attached to swinging members which pivot in a bearing at the upper end. The operator's hands grasp leverage arms which are cantilevered, the distal ends of which are attached to the same push-pull connecting rods as the above mentioned swinging members with foot pedals attached.

Abstract: The invention is a device for providing an upper body workout while riding a bicycle. The device comprises a base member which is secured to the bicycle. A lever is pivotally attached to the base member and drives a sprocket. The sprocket, in turn, drives a chain which drives a conventional bicycle crank shaft, thus aiding in propulsion of the bicycle. The rider uses one hand on the lever and the other hand grips the handlebars in a conventional manner. The lever has a handle which can be pivoted to either a left or a right side so as to provide a work out for the rider's left or right arm.

Abstract: Drive for muscle-powered vehicles and/or equipment, in particular bicycles, whereby hand-powered drive is accomplished by reciprocating rods whereas foot-powered drive is accomplished by pedals which are moved back and forth and their movement is transmitted to a cable or chain pull and, from the latter, via a freewheel system to the drive shaft, whereby steering is realized via the drive elements which are moved back and forth characterized by a) a seat drive comprising a seat (3) which may be moved back and forth on a track (3.12) extending in longitudinal direction of the bicycle, b) a seat backrest drive, in which the rocking motion of the backrest (3.1) is transformed, by means of a gear (3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.9), into a linear back and forth movement and which is superimposed by the drive motion resulting from the seat movement, c) a shoulder drive with a back rest (3.13) which may be swiveled around a shaft (3.

Abstract: A dual drive bicycle includes an arm powered drive assembly including a drive mechanism mountable on one of the bicycle wheels or on the foot powered crank mechanism. The drive assembly includes a sprocket and a ratchet assembly for pivotal engagement with the sprocket wheel, a drive line coupled to the ratchet assembly for driving the ratchet assembly and the drive sprocket, and a free wheeling mechanism for coupling the ratchet assembly and the drive sprocket wheel. Movement of the handlebar moves the drive line which engages the ratchet assembly for driving the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A user-propelled vehicle has a wheelchair embodiment and a three-wheeled skateboard embodiment. In the wheelchair embodiment, a foldable frame has a seat for supporting the user and a propulsor movably attached to the frame for allowing the user to pump the propulsor. The propulsor is engaged with both rear wheels of the wheelchair through independent ratchet-clutch mechanisms for permitting torque to be transferred to one or both wheels when the propulsor is pumped to propel and steer the wheelchair. In the three-wheeled skateboard embodiment, a frame has two wheels mounted in tandem near the front of the frame and a third wheel mounted on the centerline of the frame behind the front wheels. Two pedals are hingedly mounted side-by-side on the frame and are ratchetably engaged with the rear wheel. Each pedal is movable between a thrust position, wherein the front portion of the pedal is raised from the frame, and a rest position, wherein the pedal is flush with the frame.

Abstract: A wheelchair having two driving wheels (4, 19) with two corresponding hand levers (7, 20), and two transmission mechanisms (16) which convert the swinging motion of their levers (7, 20) into rotary movement of the driving wheels (4, 19). Each transmission mechanism (16) has a guide (34) accommodating, a rod (36) with a rack (38), a gear (40) interacting with the rack (38) and with the overrunning clutch (7) of its driving wheel (4), and a coupling (42). The driven wheel (3) is self-aligned.

Abstract: An O-ring is mounted to the wheel of a manually powered bicycle. A Teflon washer is mounted on the wheel sprocket contacting the O-ring. The friction between the O-ring and the Teflon washer are sufficient to move the crank sprocket away from dead center on a mechanism wherein the crank sprocket is rotated by manually oscillating the handle bars of the bicycle.

Abstract: Leg-powered, foot-steerable devices for attachment to a wheelchair are disclosed that include a longitudinal pole unit, attachment clamps for releasably mounting the pole unit upon the frame of the wheelchair and a wheel assembly that includes a bearing unit carried by the pole unit, a pillar assembly carried by the bearing unit for limited rotation about a steering axis, an axle supported by the pillar assembly, at least one drive wheel carried by the axle for free rotation thereon and for limited rotation with the pillar assembly about the steering axis, and a pair of peddles fixed by opposed crank arms on opposite sides of the drive wheel for simultaneous rotation thereof by the feet of the wheelchair user about the steering axis and the axle.

Abstract: An auxiliary driving mechanism associated with the front wheel of a bicycle is equipped with a pair of pneumatically actuated cylinders secured in place by a pair of spaced triangular fixing brackets and connected to the handlebar of the bicycle pivotally operated up and down by a rider's hands so as to actuate the cylinders in driving connection to the shaft of the front wheel thereof by way of sprockets and transmission devices. The pivotal handlebar of the bicycle is also coupled to the front fork by way of a head tube and a handlebar stem so that the rider can also steer the bicycle with ease and safety. Moreover, the pneumatic cylinders can also be used as pumps for inlation of the tires when necessary with the help of extension tubes.

Abstract: A four limb exercising attachment for wheelchairs which will permit the occupant of the wheelchair to exercise all four limbs simultaneously, thereby affording proper bilateral movement of the arms and legs. The exercising attachment will also propel the wheelchair when operated in a suitable manner. The attachment may be used with most standard wheelchairs of the type having right and left front and rear wheels. The attachment includes right and left mounting assemblies, each mounting assembly being securable to the frame of a standard 4 wheel wheelchair at three or more spaced apart locations. A common input shaft will extend between the left and right mounting assemblies after they are mounted upon the wheelchair.

Abstract: The hand assisted propulsion for a bicycle embodies special foot pedals which have their shafts extended. The shaft extension is engaged in a roller bearing at one end of a hand crank. At the other end of the hand crank is a handle used by the cyclist to augment the operation of the foot pedal. This provides hand and arm exercise to the cyclist as well as increasing the power driving the bicycle's rear wheel.

Abstract: A human-powered vehicle related to bicycles and rowing machines consisting of three or more wheels attached to a horizontal frame. For the purpose of a better understanding we will use a three-wheeled vehicle. There is no substantial difference between the front part of this invention and the front part of a regular bicycle. The rear wheels are attached to the frame and are driven by chains attached to their one-way sprocket freewheels. The chains are directly attached to a bar on which the pedals are mounted. There is a sliding board located on the front part of the framework which moves freely forwards and backwards on the frame. The board is covered with a soft foam-type material. The operator of this vehicle lies horizontally on the vehicle facing the ground and places the sliding board under his stomach while holding the handlebars and inserting his feet into the pedals. When the operator pushes on the handlebars his body slides backwards with the sliding board.

Abstract: The vehicle and drive mechanism includes a vehicle frame having at least one steerable wheel carried thereon, an axle mounted on the frame and at least one driven wheel mounted on the axle. First and second ratcheted gears drivingly disposed on the axle to produce rotary motion of the axle when each gear is rotated in a first direction and coast relative to the axle when rotated in a second, opposite direction; an oscillating handle/footrest assembly operable to provide a driving force for the driven wheel and to provide braking action on a wheel.

Abstract: An alternative drive device for a bicycle comprising a drive wheel assembly having two drive shafts and a drive wheel with dual rachet assemblies therein; vertical frame for mounting the drive wheel assembly in frictional engagement with the bicycle front tire and connected to a first horizontal bar; vertical frame extension connected to said first horizontal bar and a second horizontal bar, and attachable to a bicycle's handle bars; a pair of handles slidably mounted on the second horizontal bar, attached to a cable and pulley system that engages the drive wheel assembly, and capable of driving the device by reciprocal motion along the second horizontal bar wherein the motion of the handles causes the drive wheel, and hence the bicycle's front tire, to rotate.

Abstract: A bicycle has both manual drive and pedal drive assemblies which may be operated simultaneously or independently. The manual drive assembly is connected to the front wheel and the pedal drive assembly is connected to the rear wheel. Both the manual and pedal drive assemblies incorporate chain drive mechanisms as well as crank assemblies. The manual crank assembly is mounted at the top of the front fork journal and also serves as a handlebar assembly for steering the bicycle. In order to provide sufficient clearance between the chain which extends alongside the front forks and the frame, the frame is bent laterally (just behind the steering sleeve) to accommodate the chain during steering movements. In a first embodiment, the frame member extends generally downwardly and rearwardly from the steering sleeve to a sufficient degree to provide sufficient clearance between the crank assembly to allow the bicycle to be steered while the front wheel is being manually driven.

Abstract: A velocipede, for example a bicycle, having a front wheel drive is disclosed. The front wheel has a gear axially mounted thereon. In place of regular handlebars is a drive gear rotatably mounted on the upper front of a frame. The drive gear has coextensive handle means for rotating the drive gear. A first drive chain connects the drive gear to a plurality of different sized gears. A second drive chain connects the plurality of different sized gears to the gear axially mounted on the front wheel, whereby rotation of the hand means causes rotation of the front wheel. A derailleur is provided to change the position of the second chain on the plurality of different sized gears. Independently rotatable coextensive handles with cables extending to the outside allow for brake levers and derailleur levers to be mounted on the handles without becoming entangled during 360 degree rotation of the drive gear. The gear wheel is lockable to provide fixed handlebars.

Abstract: A traction control system is provided variable wheel slippage sensing level depending upon the vehicle speed. Adjustment of the wheel slippage sensing level by varying wheel slippage detecting threshold to be compared with preselected traction control parameter, such as, wheel speed, wheel acceleration and so forth. In practical control, wheel slippage sensability is lowered when the vehicle speed is lower than a given vehicle high speed criterion so as to provide better vehicle stating-up characteristics, and is rised when the vehicle speed is higher than the vehicle high speed criterion so as to provide higher driving stability.

Abstract: A bicycle having conventional foot pedals with driving rotating cranks connected to a load is improved with arm pedals. Preferably, each foot pedal forms the point of attachment of a line under tension. The line from each pedal passes upwardly from the pedal to a seat sheave in the vicinity of the seat. Thereafter, the line from the pedal goes forwardly to a forward sheave mounted on the front of the bicycle frame. From the forward sheave the line runs rearward to a second seat sheave and dead ends at a point of attachment on the opposite pedal. Hand pedals are connected to the line from each pedal in that portion of the line between the seat sheave and the forward sheave. Operation of the hand pedals is synchronized with the traditional foot cycling motion of the foot pedals. Upward stroke of the foot pedals is assisted with tension in the connected running rigging from both hand pedals.

Abstract: An exercise vehicle is provided where foot actuated pedals caused the vehicle to move forward by means of a one-way clutch and hand operated pulling motions may be utilized likewise by means of a one-way clutch to move the vehicle forward, the hand operated mechanism being part of an extensible steering column so that as the operator leans forward and moves back and extends or retracts his arms the steering column will lengthen or shorten as required. Irrespective of the position of the hand operated bar the front wheels may be rotated by rotating the hand operating bar.

Abstract: A manual drive for a bicycle, or other usage, wherein a rotary crank is connected in driving relation with a bicycle wheel or other driven device, and a slotted block or yoke rides on a guide or pin by manual actuation, a connecting rod being connected between the yoke and crank to rotate the latter upon the yoke movement and thereby rotate the driven device.

Abstract: An apparatus which serves as a physical exerciser and as a means of locomotion is built up of a chassis and at least two, but preferably three wheels, one of which is positively driven. The rider occupies a seat and actuates a linearly reciprocable drive member, the motion of which is transmitted to the driven wheel via a link, the linear movement being transformed into rotatory movement.