Abstract: The rider powered vehicle has two steerable front wheels, each with a turning arm, and a single rear drive wheel. Power transmission means is provided between the rear wheel and a single push-pull and steerable handlebar mounted in a column assembly supported to oscillate about a lateral pivot axis. The handlebar is connected to a steering arm, and two steering links are connected at respective inboard and outboard pivotal connections between the steering arm and the two turning arms. Handlebar rotation causes the inboard pivotal connections to trace an arcuate path, and the lateral pivot axis is located to intersect the arcuate path generally at two spaced locations. This geometry provides a propulsion and steering mechanism that has substantially no interaction between the push-pull power strokes of the handlebar, for vehicular propulsion, and the handlebar rotation, for vehicular steering.

Abstract: A bicycle auxiliary power unit is provided wherein hand powered levers provide a mechanical means for transposing the natural power strokes of the rider to the mechanism propelling the vehicle. The auxiliary power unit provides a means for permitting a street bicycle to be utilized for exercising the upper and lower extremities.

Abstract: A retrofitable attachment for easily and quickly converting most conventional wheelchairs into self-propelled, steerable wheelchairs. The invention includes a drive arrangement easily attachable to one of the rear wheels of the wheelchair, an elongated arm unit easily attachable adjacent one of the front casters of the wheelchair, and a connecting member extending between the arm and rear drive arrangement. The elongated arm unit has an outer drive arm portion and an inner steering arm portion, both of which are mounted for pivotal movement together about a first axis to activate the drive arrangement. Additionally, the occupant of the wheelchair can twist or rotate the inner steering arm position about a second axis to steer the front caster of the wheelchair. The steering arrangement further includes a unique gearing system that eliminates dead spots in the steering and allows for easy and uniform manipulation of the steering arm and front caster.

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 wheeled vehicle of the row bar-type for propelling a rider on the vehicle in response to upper body exercise of the rider producing a rowing motion on the row bar includes a frame for supporting the weight of the rider, a front wheel mounted at a front portion of the frame, a pair of rear wheels mounted on opposite sides of the frame, and steering bars extending from opposite sides of the front wheel so the rider can steer the vehicle solely with the feet while propelling the vehicle by pulling on the row bar. The lower portion of the row bar is coupled to a drive mechanism which includes a drive chain extending from the lower portion of the row bar to a drive sprocket mounted on the frame behind the row bar. The drive chain extends from the bottom of the row bar around the drive sprocket and then extends in a forward direction where its end is affixed to a tension cable which, in turn, extends in a forward direction and is wrapped around a stationary pulley affixed to the frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for propelling a wheeled vehicle which has a hand-manipulated lever that is connected to a clutch assembly. The clutch assembly has a drum that is rotatably connected to the vehicle and brake bands that are pivotably connected to the lower end of the lever. An actuator rod connected to the lever causes inward movement of the bands to engage the clutch. Once engaged the vehicle can be propelled in which ever direction the lever is being rotated.

Abstract: A wheelchair propelled by rowing action includes a wheelchair frame with a pair of large main rear wheels connected by an axle, a rowing lever pivotally connected to the frame, a steering shaft with a handlebar grip mounted coaxially within the rowing lever and connected by a universal joint to a steering linkage connected to caster brackets mounting small front wheels, a pair of ratcheted sprockets mounted on the axle, a pair of sprocket chain segments connected by cables through pulleys to the rowing lever such that pulling and pushing of the rowing lever alternately causes driving engagement of one of the ratchets with the axles for propulsion and causes the other to slip. The leverage exerted by the rowing lever on the ratcheted sprockets is adjustable.

Abstract: An exercising, recreational and utilitarian apparatus, particularly useful for persons handicapped as to use of their lower limbs or having cardio-pulmonary or ancillary physical problems, comprising a mobile chassis having forward and rearward ends referenced to the normal direction of its motion and mounting a forwardly and upwardly inclined adjustable support having thereon a body rest for mid and upper portions of the body of a user and immediately to the rear thereof an upwardly projecting vertically inclined forwardly facing seat which backs the buttocks of the user and induces the forward inclination of the mid and upper portions of the user's body. Immediately forward of said support, within easy and comfortable reach by the user's hands, is a transversely extending rod-shaped control bar which commonly mounts the controls for driving, steering and braking said apparatus in the course of its travel.

Abstract: A chain-propelled vehicle is driven forward by pulling a spring-biased lever to which the chain is attached. The vehicle is steered by feet of an operator and has a steering-box geometry which imparts camber to a rear wheel when the vehicle negotiates a turn.

Abstract: A wheelchair having a propulsion and speed change mechanism, the mechanism has a clutch with a cam clutch (21) and a cylindrical fly wheel (23) installed on a hub (24) of the shaft (25) of the main wheel of the chair. The clutch includes roller bearings (14), plate springs (22) and forward and backward regulating device (15). A matched union gear (20) is formed at the center of the cam clutch (21) and matched with a union gear (19) formed on a propulsion and speed change bar (12) so that the cam clutch (21) and the propulsion and speed change bar move as one body. The cam clutch (21) and the bar (12) are installed with a bearing (17) on the axle of the frame (13) of the wheelchair. A connecting rod (2) has one end connected to one of a plurality of holes (10) on the propulsion and speed change bar (12) with a fixing pin. The other end of the rod is connected to the hole (7) of the propulsion and speed change bar with a moveable pin (6).

Abstract: A wheelchair is propelled by movement of a pair of normally horizontal handles which are pivotally mounted on either side of the chair. Up and down movement of the levers drives a clutch which in turn is connected to the driven wheels for propulsion. The up and down motion of the levers allows the occupant to use their weight to assist propulsion as well as partially and intermittently relieving the ischial tuberosities of weight bearing.

Abstract: A human powered vehicle comprises a chassis supported on a pair of front wheels and a rear wheel; a front seat for supporting a front occupant in a supine position at the front end of the chassis facing the front wheels; a rear seat for supporting a rear occupant in a supine position behind the front seat and also facing the front wheels; and a drive for propelling the vehicle, the drive including foot pedals operated by the front occupant, foot pedals operated by the rear occupant, and hand levers operated by the rear occupant.

Abstract: A manually operated vehicle propelled by motion simulating rowing, the vehicle having a frame with drive wheels and a steering wheel and with a seat mounted between the drive wheels on a rail that rotates around its long axis and is connected to the steering wheel so that rotation of the rail causes steering movements of the steering wheel. The handle assemblies are moved to affect rowing motion and they have adjustable length to provide either greater torque or greater speed from the same rowing motion.

Abstract: A wheelchair hand propelled by the occupant. Levers on the sides in juxtaposition with the main wheels of the wheelchair are rotatable in the forward-backward direction about the main wheel axle as a fulcrum. A plurality of concentric ratchet rings affixed to each of the main wheels provides engagement for a discrete one of a plurality of pawls associated with each of the levers. The plurality of pawls is distributed progressively circumferentially about a shaft associated with each of the levers, and means are included to rotate the shaft to bring a discrete one of the pawls into operative relationship with a selected one of the concentric ratchet rings, thereby providing a selectable propulsion ratio. The ratchet teeth are oriented such that the pawls slide over them when the levers are pulled backward, but engage firmly when the levers are thrust forward.

Abstract: A hand-powered toy vehicle with a pair of levers coupled to independent rear wheels. The levers can be operated together to accelerate forward movement of the vehicle, as well as to brake it. The levers also can be used to rotate one of rear wheels faster forwardly than the other in order to turn the vehicle. Each lever is connected to one of the wheels through disengagable drive and driven gears with a saw-tooth configuration which permits forward rotation of the drive gear to be transmitted to the driven gear and the wheel to accelerate forward rotation of the wheel. To brake forward rotation of the wheels, the levers can be used to rotate the drive gears rearwardly and force the drive and driven gears to mesh and lock.

Abstract: Apparatus for manually propelling wheelchairs includes a drive wheel which is mountable to a wheelchair in a manner which allows frictional rolling contact with a wheelchair propulsion wheel; a two-armed hand lever which is pivotally mountable to the wheelchair so as to be manually accessible to the wheelchair occupant; and a drive mechanism, preferably including a reversible-drive ratchet, which is operably connected to the hand lever and operably attached to the drive wheel so that a wheelchair occupant may propel the wheelchair by reciprocally pivoting the hand lever. The apparatus can be supplied in kit form, and the hand lever and the drive wheel may be mounted directly to a side panel so that the apparatus may be substantially installed by securing the side panel to the wheelchair. A method for retrofitting wheelchairs in this manner is also disclosed.

Abstract: A wheeled land vehicle propelled by a rowing or sculling motion of a rowing member pivotally extending from the frame thereof which is in operative connection with the rear drive wheel. Front wheels are journalled from each side of the frame and are steeringly connected to each other and operatively connected to foot pedals mounted on the frame.

Abstract: A machine for utilizing muscular energy is disclosed which can be driven, through separate operating means, by movement of a user's legs and by upper body (i.e. arms and torso) movement. The movement of the legs and the upper body movement need not be synchronized, and each part of the user's body can work at the rate most suited to it.A bicycle with a driven rear wheel is a typical example of such a machine. Both of the separate operating means can be arranged to drive a common spindle so that the power applied to the spindle is greater than would be the case in a conventional bicycle where only leg power is applied in driving the machine.

Abstract: A transmission for muscle-operated vehicles or appliances for converting forward and backward movements into rotational movement having a constant direction of rotation by means of two freewheeling devices which are driven alternately in opposite directions and act on a shaft in identical directions, wherein at least one additional freewheeling device is driven at the same time, though it operates in the opposite direction, a clutch mechanism either permitting the freewheeling devices to act in the same direction on the shaft for forward motion, or permitting the freewheeling devices to act in opposite directions on the shaft for reverse motion, or permitting none of the freewheeling devices to act on the shaft during idling.

Abstract: This is an accessory for a two wheeled trailer composed basically of three parts for each wheel: a wheelpiece that fastens to the outside of the wheel and that contains in its center a hexrod; a long-handled ratchet that fits in place over the hexrod of the wheelpiece and that contains a long wooden handle which can be taken in hand to rotate the wheel, tied to the trailer frame, or left on the ground to prevent backwards rotation of the wheel in relation to the ground or the trailer frame; and, a mechanical brake that also fits in place over the hexrod of the wheelpiece to control motion and to use in conjunction with the long-handled ratchet for leverage. This invention enables a single individual to easily move a heavily loaded two wheeled trailer over difficult terrain, such as a two wheeled boat trailer on a beach, if one or several techniques are used for leverage and control.

Abstract: A 3-wheeled velociman having individual power transmission units 40 to each of the co-axial rear wheels 11, 12. Power to the units is supplied by a pair of hand activated levers 50, 51 each of which connects with an input shaft 41 to the respective unit via a ratchet mechanism 55 and transmits the power to the input shaft 41 in the desired forward or reverse rotational direction depending on the position of a pawl engagable with the ratchet.A gear change switch 60 controls the forward, reverse or neutral position of the pawl and consequently the rotational direction of the input shaft. The switch 60 is adjacent the hand grip of each lever 50, 51, and so is easily operated by the user. The input shaft drives an output shaft 42 on which the corresponding rear wheel is mounted.The hand levers are fulcrummed to the input shaft below and to the rear of the seat 18 and lie at an acute angle to the horizontal making operation of the levers by the user less tiring on the user's arms than on upright levers.

Abstract: A noiseless ratchet drive mechanism consisting of a driven outer member including a sprocket wheel pivoting about the drive shaft and with a ring band forming a shell fixed on each side of the sprocket wheel concentrate to the drive shaft. On each side contiguous to this outer member disposed an inner member, one fixed to and the other pivoted about the drive shaft. Along the perimeter of each inner member disposed a number of ratchet drive mechanism friction engaging the shell, and with lever arms attached to each inner member so that pedaled oscillationwise the outer member is actuated rotating in one direction.