Transmission system for tandem bicycles

A transmission system for tandem bicycle having a frame on which are mounted a front steerable ground engaging wheel, and a rear, driven, ground engaging wheel, and having front and rear pedal systems each of which includes a shaft rotatably mounted in a hub carried by the frame, each shaft having axial ends to which pedal cranks are connected for rotating the shaft in response to pedal rotation of said cranks, said system comprising:

• a) first means for coupling the shaft of said front pedal system to said rear wheel so that pedal rotation of the cranks connected to the last mentioned shaft imparts rotation to said driven wheel;
• b) second means for coupling the shaft of said rear pedal system to said rear wheel so that pedal rotation of the cranks connected to the last mentioned shaft imparts rotation to said driven wheel;
• c) said first and second means being constructed and arranged so that pedal rotation of the cranks connected to one of the shafts imparts rotation to said driven wheel without imparting rotation to the other of the shafts;
• d) said first means including a first sprocket wheel rigidly connected to the shaft of said front pedal system, a first free-wheel cluster mechanism operatively associated with one side of said driven wheel, and sprocket chain means operatively connecting said first sprocket wheel to said first free-wheel cluster mechanism;
• and
• e) said second means including a second sprocket wheel rigidly connected to said shaft of said rear pedal system, a second free-wheel cluster mechanism operatively associated with the other side of said driven wheel, and second sprocket chain means operatively connecting said second sprocket wheel to said second free-wheel cluster.