With Gearing Patents (Class 280/257)
  • Patent number: 5104137
    Abstract: An apparatus, more particularly a bicycle, which includes a device or assembly for providing rotary power. The device or assembly comprises a frame; a shaft rotatably mounted to the frame; and a first and second pawl member connected to the shaft. A first sprocket is coupled to the first pawl member for ratcheting therewith and for rotating the shaft in a predetermined direction; and a second sprocket is coupled to the second pawl for also ratcheting therewith and for rotating the shaft in the predetermined direction. A first and second idler sprocket is rotatably supported by the frame such that a first and second endless chain respectively is entrained over the first and second idler sprockets and the first and second sprockets. A drive sprocket is connected to the shaft. An endless drive chain in entrained to the drive sprocket and is coupled to a rear wheel of a bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Inventor: Gary R. Kilts
  • Patent number: 4915403
    Abstract: A skateboard has a frame (1) on which a petal (7b) is pivotably mounted. When the pedal (7b) is pressed down its movement is converted via a push rod (16), a crank (26) and a toothed segment (29) into a rotational movement which is transmitted to a gear train (2). The output pinion of the gear train (2) is fixedly connected to the shaft of the two drive rollers (4). The push rod (16), in each case via a ball-and-socket joint (19a, 19b), is connected to both the pedal (7b) and the toothed segment (29) so that the transmission of the drive force is ensured even during tilting of the pedal (7b) caused when riding around curves. This mechanically driveable skateboard has the same height as a conventional skateboard and enables relatively high speeds to be reached while retaining the diverse possibilities such as ease in negotiating curves and maneuverability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Inventors: Charles Wild, Antoine Bregger
  • Patent number: 4872695
    Abstract: A torque-multiplying kinematic device for use on a traditional rear wheel chain driven bicycle includes a pair of rods, each rod consisting of a foremost portion inclined from a rearmost portion, a pair of pivot connectors and a pair of guiding supports. Each of the rods is connected at the elbow formed by the two portions to a pedal mount on the bicycle cranks by a pivot connector. The foremost portion of each rod is holded in the end opposite the elbow to mount a bicycle pedal while the rearmost portion extends rearward to connect in a reciprocating sliding relationship with a corresponding guiding support mounted on the back fork of the bicycle, the guiding supports rotatable co-axially with the rotational axis of the wheel held between the arms of the back forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Brai Systems SRL
    Inventors: Tomba Silvano, Giuseppe Tomba
  • Patent number: 4726600
    Abstract: A dual system bicycle for hand and foot propelling operations including a handle device with a front link mechanism operatively installed on top of a front fork member fixed on a front wheel of a bicycle, and a lever device with a rear link mechanism movably connected between the front link and a pedal system installed in a lower portion of a frame structure and in the rear wheel through a chain wheel arrangement of the bicycle; thereby, the rider can use both hands and feet for propelling the bicycle, improving his bodily fitness and increasing the moving speed of the bicycle. Alternatively, the dual system bicycle can be easily changed into an ordinary bicycle mode for foot propulsion only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Inventor: Ying-Hao Wu
  • Patent number: 4666173
    Abstract: A bicycle having pedal bars pivoted on the frame near the rear wheel, with a pedal sprocket positioned above the rear wheel. A connection member couples the rear end of each of the pedal bars to the pedal sprocket and further includes conversion mechanism whereby up and down movement of the push bars induces rotative movement of the pedal sprocket. Foot pedals are mounted on the front end of the pedal bars. Downward pressure by a rider on the foot pedals (alternately applied) forces upper movement of the connection members and corresponding rotation of the pedal sprocket for driving the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Inventor: Garnard E. Graham
  • Patent number: 4584889
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for bicycles and other devices, comprising a rotary crank shaft having radial crank arms, oscillatory guides or ways spaced from the axis of the crank shaft, crossheads shiftable in the guides, and connecting rods connected between respective crossheads and crank arms, so that crosshead movement is transmitted to the crank shaft, which may power a vehicle or other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Inventor: Anthony F. Patroni, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4561668
    Abstract: An operator-responsive drive system is capable of rotating a drive wheel in either a velocipede, such as a bicycle, or a stationary exerciser. In a first mode of operation, drive linkage connects a pair of coupled pedals and a seat pivotally coupled to a frame to a drive sprocket which is rotationally mounted to the frame. Downward displacement of the seat such as in response to the weight of the operator positioned thereupon causes both pedals to be displaced upward in imparting rotation to the drive sprocket which, in turn, rotates a drive wheel coupled thereto. Transfer of the operator's weight to the pedals resulting in the downward displacement of the pedals causes further rotation of the sprocket in the same direction and upward displacement of the seat. The operator may thus propel the vehicle by alternately shifting his weight between the seat and the pedals in effecting reciprocating displacement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Inventor: King L. Klopfenstein
  • Patent number: 4560182
    Abstract: A torque generating mechanism for a chain drive system of a bicycle which comprises a main shaft fixed with a chain wheel and a first gear, an auxiliary shaft arranged parallel to the main shaft, a second gear fixed to the auxiliary shaft so as to mesh with the first gear, a first lever fixed to the auxiliary shaft, a first crank lever pivotally connected to the free end of the first lever and formed with a guide slot which is engaged with a protruding pin formed eccentrically of the chain wheel, an auxiliary lever fixed to the other end of the main shaft and provided with a protruding pin at the top end thereof, a second lever fixed to the other end of the auxiliary shaft, a second crank lever pivotally connected to the second lever and provided with a guide slot which is engaged with the protruding pin, and a pair of pedals pivotally connected to the free end of each crank lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 4456276
    Abstract: A bicycle having a frame, a driven wheel rotatably supported on the frame, a drive sprocket rotatably mounted on the frame, a driven sprocket fixed to said wheel, a chain extending between the sprockets; a pair of levers pivotally attached to the frame, and a pair of links extending between the drive sprocket and levers, a pedal fixed to the extremity of each lever, and wherein said drive sprocket is rotated by the reciprocation of said pedals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Inventor: Peter Bortolin
  • Patent number: 4084836
    Abstract: A pedal car having a body with a seat and a steering wheel and rear wheels supported on an axle. Ring gear sectors are supported on the car and connected to two pedals which the rider can oscillate. Two spaced pinions on the axle engage the ring gear at diametrically opposite parts and two one-way clutches connect the axle to the pinions so that the ring gear drives the axle forward when it is oscillated in one direction by pedals and drives the axle forward again. When the ring gear is oscillated in the opposite direction by the other pedal, the axle is rotated again in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1978
    Inventor: Raymond J. Lohr
  • Patent number: 4053173
    Abstract: A bicycle of the type comprising a frame and a front and rear wheel rotatably mounted to the frame is provided with improved means for rotatably driving the rear wheel. The driving means comprises a right and left foot lever pivotally connected at one end to the frame and adapted to be alternately depressed by the feet of the bicyclist. Each foot lever is coupled by a link to a pivot rod pivotally connected to the frame so that the alternate depression of the foot levers rotates the pivot rod between a first and a second rotational position. A radial torque lever is secured to the pivot rod and coupled by a third link member to a radial torque lever on the rear wheel driving means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1977
    Inventor: Douglas Chase, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4029334
    Abstract: A drive assembly for a physically propelled vehicle such as a bicycle having a crank arm operatively connected to a drive member for rotating the drive member, and a power arm rotatively mounted for relative angular movement between the power arm and crank arm. A control mechanism interconnects the power arm and the crank arm for rotating the crank arm and drive member, and for accelerating the power arm ahead of the crank arm during one portion of the crank arm cycle and decelerating the power arm behind the crank arm during another portion of the crank arm cycle. More particularly, the control mechanism includes a cam surface provided on either the crank arm or power arm, and a cam element having a shaft rotatively mounted on the other of the arms and having a spaced cam follower engaging the cam surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1977
    Assignee: Cycle-Drive Corporation
    Inventor: Earl M. Trammell, Jr.