Self-Propelled Vehicle Propelled by an Elliptical Drive Train With Improved Stride Length
AssigneePT Motion Works, Inc.
InventorsBrent C. Teal, Bryan L. Pate
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus including a frame with a pivot axis defined thereupon, a crank arm bearing at the pivot axis; a first and a second crank arm coupled to the crank arm bearing; at least two wheels coupled to the frame, at least one of which is a drive wheel; a first and a second foot link, operably coupled to drive wheel to transfer power to said drive wheel so as to propel the apparatus, each foot link including a foot receiving portion for receiving a user's foot, a first end coupled to the frame, and a second end coupled to a respective one of the first and the second crank arms, wherein the foot receiving portion is movable along a generally elliptical path having a stride length greater than 17 inches.
Claims34
An apparatus, comprising:
- a frame with a pivot axis defined thereupon, a crank arm bearing at the pivot axis;
- a first and a second crank arm coupled to the crank arm bearing;
- at least two wheels coupled to the frame, at least one of which is a drive wheel;
- a first and a second foot link, operably coupled to drive wheel to transfer power to said drive wheel so as to propel the apparatus, each foot link including a foot receiving portion for receiving a user's foot, a first end coupled to the frame, and a second end coupled to a respective one of the first and the second crank arms, wherein the foot receiving portion is movable along a generally elliptical path having a stride length greater than 17 inches.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a frame having at least two wheels coupled to the frame, at least one of which is a drive wheel;
- a first pivot axis defined upon the frame, a crank bearing at the pivot axis;
- a first and a second foot link, each having a first end, a second end, and a foot receiving portion defined thereupon;
- a coupler assembly which is in mechanical communication with said crank bearing and with a first end of each of said first and second foot links, said coupler assembly being operative to direct said first ends of said foot links in an arcuate path of travel;
- a foot link guide supported by said frame, said guide being operable to engage a second end of each of said foot links, and to direct said second ends along a reciprocating path of travel;
- a power transfer linkage in mechanical communication with said coupler assembly and with said drive wheel;
- whereby when the first end of one of said foot links travels in said arcuate path and the second end of that foot link travels in said reciprocal path, an operator's foot supported thereupon travels in a generally elliptical path of travel with a stride length greater than 17 inches, and said power transfer linkage transfers power from said coupler assembly to said drive wheel, so as to supply propulsive power thereto.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a frame having at least two wheels coupled to the frame, at least one of which is a drive wheel;
- a first pivot axis defined upon the frame, a bearing at the pivot axis;
- a first and a second foot link, each having a first end, a second end, and a foot receiving portion defined thereupon;
- a coupler assembly which is in mechanical communication with said bearing at said pivot axis and with a first end of each of said first and second foot links, said coupler assembly being operative to direct said first ends of said foot links in an arcuate path of travel;
- a foot link guide track supported by said frame, said foot link guide track being operable to engage a second end of each of said foot links, and to direct said second ends along a reciprocating path of travel;
- a power transfer linkage in mechanical communication with said coupler assembly and with said drive wheel;
- whereby when the first end of one of said foot links travels in said arcuate path and the second end of that foot link travels in said reciprocal path, an operator's foot supported thereupon travels in a generally elliptical path of travel with a stride length greater than 17 inches, and said power transfer linkage transfers power from said coupler assembly to said drive wheel, so as to supply propulsive power thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.