US 4,502,705 A · Semirecumbent tandem bicycle

Abstract

Separate pedal cranks are provided for the front and rear riders of a tandem bicycle having a front wheel of substantially smaller diameter than the rear wheel. Such front wheel is carried by a front fork journaled in a steering head directly below the front seat. The front pedal crank is carried at the end of a support arm extending generally horizontally forward from the steering head so that the front rider pedals in a sitting position with his or her legs extending forward. The front fork is connected to a steering shaft journaled in an upright steering post located behind the front seat. A rear seat substantially higher than the front seat is supported on an upright saddle post spaced rearward from the steering post but sufficiently close thereto for steering control of the bicycle by the rear rider. The bottom end portions of the two upright posts are connected by a long and straight bottom crossbar inclined upward and forward from the bottom end portion of the saddle post and extending beyond the steering post to the steering head. The front and rear pedal cranks are interconnected by two endless chains through an intermediate hub allowing the front rider to freewheel while the rear rider is pedaling and also allowing the speed of rotation of the front pedal crank to be adjusted relative to the speed of rotation of the rear pedal crank.

Claims9

Dependent claims

In a bicycle for carrying a front rider and a rear rider, the improvement comprising the combination of:

a rear wheel;
a front wheel of substantially smaller diameter than said rear wheel;
a frame including rear fork means for carrying said rear wheel, front fork means for carrying said front wheel, a steering head above said front wheel and rotatably mounting said front fork means for steering control of the bicycle and post and crossbar means for connecting said rear fork means and said steering head;
a rear seat for the rear rider, carried by said frame adjacent to said rear wheel and having a generally horizontal seat portion;
a front seat for the front rider, carried by said frame, overlying said steering head and including a generally horizontal seat portion disposed at a height substantially lower than the height of said seat portion of said rear seat;
and
drive train means for transferring power to said rear wheel and including a front pedal crank for the front rider, a rear pedal crank for the rear rider and means operatively connecting one of said wheels and said front and rear pedal cranks.

4 more elements

In a bicycle for carrying a front rider and a rear rider, the improvement comprising the combination of:

a rear wheel;
a front wheel of substantially smaller diameter than said rear wheel;
a frame including an upright saddle post, rear fork means extending rearward from said saddle post for carrying said rear wheel, an upright steering post spaced forward from said saddle post, a long and straight bottom crossbar connecting the bottom end portions of said saddle post and said steering post, said bottom crossbar being inclined upward and forward from the bottom end portion of said saddle post and extending linearly therefrom to a location a substantial distance forward beyond the bottom end portion of said steering post, a steering head carried at the forward end portion of said bottom crossbar in front of said steering post, front fork means for carrying said front wheel and rotatably mounted in said steering head and a front pedal crank support arm cantilevered and extending forward from said steering head;
a rear seat for the rear rider supported above said saddle post;
a front seat for the front rider carried by said frame in front of said steering post and at a level substantially below the level of said rear seat;
steering means including a first upright steering shaft turnable by the rear rider and journaled in said steering post, a second upright steering shaft journaled in said steering head and carrying said front fork means and means for coordinating rotation of said steering shafts for steering control of the bicycle by the rear rider;
and
drive train means for transferring power to said rear wheel and including a rear pedal crank for the rear rider, a front pedal crank carried at the forward end portion of said front pedal crank support arm and means operatively connecting said front and rear pedal cranks and one of said wheels.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Semirecumbent tandem bicycle

Life of this patent

Semirecumbent tandem bicycle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9