Pedalling machines including scooters and driving mechanisms therefor
OwnerGeorge Hon-Cheung Hunginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to a drive mechanism for a scooter or similar vehicle. A pair of opposed rotatable crank arms are mounted to a drive gear on the frame. Each crank arm is attached to a footboard that is itself rotatably mounted to the frame. The footboard is mounted further from the axis of the crank arms than the distance from the axis of the crank arms to the point at which they contact the footboards. Reciprocating downward pressure on each footboard drives rotation of the crank arms which in turn drive a wheel of the vehicle.
Claims20
A pedalling machine including:—
- a main housing,
- a pair of co-axially rotable crank members, each of said crank members including a first arm portion extending generally radially from the axis of rotation of said crank members (“said Axis of Rotation”) and a second arm portion extending substantially parallel to said Axis of Rotation from the distal end of said first arm portion, wherein said first arm portions of said crank members being disposed oppositely and diametrically about said Axis of Rotation, and
- a pair of pivotally movable footboards both extending from the same side of said Axis of Rotation towards said crank members, each distal end of said footboard being in driving engagement relationship with said second arm portion of the corresponding crank member so that each downward pivotal angular movement of said footboard will bring about movement of said correspond crank member in the same angular direction.
A machine of claim 10, wherein the divergent angle between said pair of footboards is about extend 36°.
A drive mechanism for a vehicle having at least one front and one rear wheel comprising:
- a pair of co-axle opposed rotatable craned-arms to directly or indirectly drive a wheel of said vehicle;
- a pair of rotatably mounted footboards mounted on said vehicle and wherein said footboards are engaged at or adjacent an outer end of said craned-arms such that downward pressure on one footboard may cause downward rotation of the connected craned-arm;
- and
- wherein the distance between the axles of rotation of the footboards and the axles of rotation of the craned-arms is substantially greater than the distance from the centre of rotation of the craned-arms to the point of connection with said footboards.
A vehicle including:
- A pair of wheels interconnected by a frame.
- A drive wheel located intermediate between the axles of said pair of wheels, said drive wheel includes a pair of crank members radially extending from said axle of said drive wheel, each said crank member includes a connecting arm at its distal end which is substantially parallel to said axle of said drive wheel, said pair of crank members being separated by the plane of rotation of said drive wheel.
- A transmission link connecting said drive wheel to drive at least one of said pair of wheels.
- A pair of footboards separated by the plane of rotation of said drive wheel, each said footboard being pivotable about an axle substantially parallel to the axle of said drive wheel, said connecting arm of said crank member being slidable along at least a portion of the footboard on the same side of said drive wheel, said footboard and said connecting arm being disposed so that downward pivotal movements of said footboard cause sliding and rotation of said connecting arm in a direction to drive said vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.