Mechanism to convert the front idle wheels of bicycles in general into drive wheels

In a bicycle having a frame including a sleeve, a steering column having an upper segment journalled in said sleeve and a lower segment with a downwardly directed fork, and a handle bar and an idle front wheel connected to said steering column at opposite ends for rotation relative to said frame about the axis of said steering column, the improvement comprising

• hinge means mounted on said steering column,
• lever means connected to said hinge means for rotation relative to said steering column, said handle bar being mounted on said lever means,
• a catch mounted on said lever means, said catch having a slidable tooth and actuating means for moving said tooth between an extended position and a retracted position,
• a first stop mounted on said steering column for limiting rotation of said lever means relative to said steering column, said first stop being engageable with said tooth when said tooth is in said extended position but not when said tooth is in said retracted position,
• a first free wheel mounted coaxially and in driving engagement with said front wheel,
• a first chain means in engagement with said free wheel and having one end connected to said steering column and another end connected to said lever means for imparting rotational motion to said first free wheel for driving said front wheel when said lever means is rotated relative to said steering column, and
• said first stop comprising latching means mounted on said steering column for snugly receiving said tooth when in the extended position to prevent movement of said lever means relative to said steering column when said front wheel is not to be driven.