# US 2014/0197616 A1 · Sand-rideable bicycle with positive traction gear assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197616 A1 - Document ID: US20140197616A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/216,374 - Filed: 2014-03-17 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-17 - Assignees: All Terrain Bike Inc. - Inventors: William J. Raike, III; Gene Langmesser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197616A1 ## CPC - B62K 17/00: Cycles not otherwise provided for - B60C 11/00: Tyre tread bands; Tread patterns; Anti-skid inserts - B60C 11/0311: {Patterns comprising tread lugs arranged parallel or oblique to the axis of rotation} - B62K 3/02: Frames (tandem frames B62K3/14) - B62K 3/04: having a substantially horizontal top bar - B62K 3/06: of open type - B62M 9/02: of unchangeable ratio - B62M 29/00: Ground engaging propulsion devices for cycles, sledges, or rider-propelled wheeled vehicles, not otherwise provided for {(non-motorized scooters with skis or runners B62K3/002)} - F16D 11/00: Clutches in which the members have interengaging parts (arrangements for synchronisation F16D23/02) - F16D 11/04: with clutching members movable only axially - B60C 2200/14: for off-road use - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract An unmotorized sand-rideable bicycle utilizes oversized balloon tires that have an enlarged footprint to permit the bicycle to ride up over even loose sand to provide ease of pedaling, as well as enhanced steering and stability over that associated with standard bicycles. A positive traction gear assembly may be employed to switch between single and dual rear wheel drive. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bicycle comprising: a front wheel; a plurality of rear wheels coupled to a rear axle driven by pedal power; and a positive traction gear assembly coupled to a particular rear wheel of the plurality of rear wheels, wherein the positive traction gear assembly is configured to facilitate selective activation of single rear wheel drive or multiple rear wheel drive for the bicycle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the bicycle is non-motorized. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bicycle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of rear wheels is permanently rotationally locked with the rear axle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the positive traction gear assembly includes a wheel hub for the particular rear wheel configured to selectively lock or unlock to rotation of the rear axle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The bicycle of claim 4, wherein the positive traction gear assembly further includes a drive plate that is keyed to the rear axle, and when the multiple rear wheel drive is activated, the wheel hub is configured to lock with the drive plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bicycle of claim 5, wherein the wheel hub includes a plurality of drive pins extending outwardly from the wheel hub and toward the drive plate, the drive plate includes a plurality of drive holes shaped to accommodate the plurality of drive pins, wherein the plurality of drive pins are captured by the plurality of drive holes in order to lock rotation of the wheel hub to rotation of the drive plate when the multiple rear wheel drive is activated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The bicycle of claim 5, wherein the drive plate is configured to move toward the wheel hub upon activation of multiple rear wheel drive, and the drive plate is configured to move away from the wheel hub upon activation of single rear wheel drive. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The bicycle of claim 5, wherein the positive traction gear assembly further includes a pivot arm coupled to a bearing, the drive plate is coupled to the pivot arm by way of the bearing, wherein pivoting by the pivot arm in a first direction is configured to move the drive plate toward the wheel hub, and pivoting by the pivot arm in a second direction is configured to move the drive plate away from the wheel hub. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bicycle of claim 8, wherein the positive traction gear assembly further includes a cable and spring assembly configured to selectively actuate pivoting of the pivot arm in the first direction or the second direction. ### Claim 10 A bicycle, comprising: a front wheel; a plurality of rear wheels coupled to a rear axle driven by pedal power; and means for selectively activating single rear wheel drive or multiple rear wheel drive for the bicycle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bicycle of claim 10, wherein the bicycle is non-motorized. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The bicycle of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of rear wheels is permanently rotationally locked to the rear axle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The bicycle of claim 10, further comprising means for enabling the bicycle to be driven up and over loose sand, such that the bicycle can be started with minimal effort by a rider and such that forward motion of the bicycle on the loose sand is not impeded by a minimal penetration of a plurality of tires of the bicycle into the loose sand. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The bicycle of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of rear wheels comprises a balloon tire. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The bicycle of claim 14, wherein the balloon tire has a certain width and is inflated to a pressure to ride up and over loose sand, such that the bicycle can be started with minimal effort by a rider and such that forward motion of the bicycle on the loose sand is not impeded by a minimal penetration of the balloon tire into the loose sand. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The bicycle of claim 14, wherein each balloon tire of the plurality of rear wheels includes a plurality of transverse exterior ribs disposed about a circumference of each said balloon tire, and further including a plurality of annular ribs disposed around a periphery of each said balloon tire that extends radially above the plurality of transverse exterior ribs so that the plurality of transverse ribs do not touch a hard surface when the bicycle is driven over the hard surface, such that the bicycle may be ridden vibration-free over the hard surface with the plurality of annular ribs preventing the plurality of transverse exterior ribs from touching the hard surface; and wherein the plurality of transverse exterior ribs extend between each said annular rib of each said balloon tire and further extend outwardly toward each sidewall of each said balloon tire so as to extend the plurality of transverse ribs outwardly beyond each outer-most said annular rib of each said balloon tire. ### Claim 17 A method for using a positive traction gear assembly on a bicycle, comprising: activating a means for pulling a cable on the bicycle, the bicycle having a plurality of rear wheels coupled to a pedal-powered rear axle, whereupon pulling the cable is configured to cause a first one of the plurality of rear wheels to become rotationally locked with the pedal-powered rear axle; and activating a means for releasing tension on the cable, whereupon releasing tension on the cable is configured to cause the first one of the plurality of rear wheels to become unlocked from the pedal-powered rear axle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising pivoting a pivot arm of the positive traction gear assembly about a pivot point, whereupon the pivot arm is configured to push against a drive plate keyed to the pedal-powered rear axle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the pivoting causes the pivot arm to push the drive plate toward a wheel hub of the first one of the plurality of rear wheels. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the pivoting causes the pivot arm to pull the drive plate away from a wheel hub of the first one of the plurality of rear wheels.