Bicycle transmission and the method of utilizing the same

In a bicycle having a frame, a pedal assembly rotatably coupled to said frame, and a bicycle wheel, an improved bicycle transmission comprising:

• a driver plate coupled and rotated by said pedal assembly;
• a rim driver rotatably coupled to and rotatable with said bicycle wheel;
• and
• a selectively positionable shifting means rotatably coupled to said driver plate and rim driver, said shifting means providing a continuously variable transmission ratio between said driver plate and said rim driver and automatically disengaging from said rim driver when said driver plate ceases to rotate while said rim driver continues to rotate with said bicycle wheel,
• wherein said shifting means frictionally couples said driver plate to said rim driver;
• wherein said rim driver and driver plate are frictionally coupled through said shifting means by selectively positioning a transmission driver wheel in contact with said driver plate and rim driver when force is exerted through said pedal assembly to said bicycle wheel;
• and
• wherein said driver plate and rim driver each has a conical surface with a line defined on each of their respective conical surfaces being parallel and opposing each other and lying in a predetermined single plane, said shifting means has a transmission driver wheel making frictional contact with said driver plate and rim driver at said parallel lines when disposed in a force transmitting relationship between said driver plate and rim driver, said shifting means maintaining said transmission driver wheel in contact with said conical surface of said driver plate at all times,
• whereby a continuously variable free-wheeling bicycle transmission is provided.

In a bicycle having a frame, a pedal assembly and a bicycle wheel, an improved bicycle transmission comprising:

• a drive shaft;
• a driver plate coupled to and rotatable with said drive shaft, said driver plate further being coupled and rotated by said pedal assembly, said driver plate having a conical surface with a predetermined taper;
• a shifting arm rotatably coupled to said drive shaft, said shifting arm having a longitudinal length and being disposed to retain a parallel direction at all times with said conical surface of said driver plate;
• a transmission driver wheel rotatably coupled to said shifting arm and selectively disposable along said longitudinal length of said shifting arm;
• a rotatable rim driver coupled to said bicycle wheel for rotating said bicycle wheel with said rim driver, said rim driver having a conical surface with a taper substantially matching said predetermined taper of said driver plate, said transmission driver wheel being selectively disposable between said conical surface of said rim driver and said conical surface of said driver plate to transmit rotary force between said driver plate and rim driver when said pedal assembly rotates said driver plate, said transmission driver wheel automatically moving out of contact with said rim driver after said driver plate ceases to transmit rotary force between said pedal assembly and said bicycle wheel,
• whereby a continuously variable frictionally driven transmission is provided for said bicycle which also permits free wheeling of said bicycle wheel.

A method of providing continuously variable transmission of speed between a pedal assembly and a bicycle wheel in a bicycle comprising the steps of:

• converting pedaling motion through said pedal assembly into rotary motion of a driver plate, said driver plate having a conical surface with a predetermined taper;
• maintaining a transmission driver wheel rotatable about a shifting arm in contact with said conical surface of said driver plate;
• moving said transmission driver wheel on said shifting arm into simultaneous contact between said driver plate and a rim driver having a conical surface in contact with said transmission driver wheel, said conical surface of said rim driver having a predetermined taper substantially equal to said predetermined taper of said driver plate;
• and
• transmitting rotary force from said pedal assembly through a driver plate and said transmission driver wheel into said rim driver and bicycle wheel to rotate said bicycle wheel,
• whereby a frictional transmission which is continuously variable is provided between said pedal assembly and said bicycle wheel.