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US 6,554,309 B2Granted
Bicycle pedaling power unit with leverage shifting
OwnerPeter Thirinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for powering vehicles such as bicycles using leverage type pedals each connected to a freewheeling sprocket and then connected to a common drive shaft in the rear of the vehicle. A keyed shaft connects all free wheeling sprockets and provides for each sprocket to drive the keyed shaft in one rotational direction. A hand powering unit operates through a separate free wheeling sprocket and is also arranged like a lever in similar manner to the pedals. Lowered seating for horizontal movement of legs is preferred arrangement.
Claims23
A vehicle propulsion system for maximizing power output, comprising:
- a first pedal arm and a second pedal arm each having a sleeve and a pedal, said pedal arms being arranged for substantially horizontal motion;
- a power transmission line connected to each of said sleeves at one end and in contact with a transmission system at another end;
- a power output adjustment mechanism arranged to move said sleeves along said pedal arms thereby changing the length of said transmission lines from said sleeves to said transmission system;
- a movable drive assembly comprising a main power unit movable between upper and lower positions in a vertical direction;
- and
- a pedal return cable system, separate from said power transmission lines, adapted to move a pedal that is not utilized in a power stroke a distance substantially equivalent to a distance that another pedal is moving during a power stroke.
3 more elements
A system for supplying power to a cycle comprising:
- at least one pedal arm having a pedal for receiving a force input from a user's foot, said foot pedal arm arranged for substantially horizontal motion;
- a hand power lever having a surface for receiving a force input from hands of said user;
- force transmission lines attached to said at least one foot pedal and said hand power lever on one end and in contact with a transmission system on another end, said force transmission lines having length control devices that function to increase or decrease lengths of said force transmission lines in response to system requirements;
- a power output adjustment mechanism arranged to move sleeves along said at least one pedal arm thereby changing the length of said transmission lines from said sleeves to said transmission system;
- and
- a movable drive assembly comprising a main power unit movable between upper and lower positions in a vertical direction.
3 more elements
A drive assembly comprising:
- a first pedal arm and a second pedal arm each having a sleeve and a pedal, said pedal arms being arranged for substantially horizontal motion;
- a power transmission line connected to each of said sleeves at one end and in contact with a transmission system at another end;
- a power output adjustment mechanism;
- a pedal return cable system, separate from said power transmission lines, adapted to move a pedal that is not utilized in a power stroke a distance substantially equivalent to a distance that another pedal is moved during a power stroke;
- and
- a movable drive assembly comprising a main power unit movable between upper and lower positions in a vertical direction.
3 more elements
A drive assembly comprising:
- a seat to accommodate a user;
- a first pedal arm and a second pedal arm each having a sleeve and a pedal, said pedal arms being arranged for substantially horizontal motion, wherein said pedal arms are slidable to control the distance between said pedal arms and said seat;
- a power transmission line connected to each of said sleeves at one end and in contact with a transmission system mounted to a frame member at another end, wherein said transmission system is moveable along said frame member;
- a power output adjustment mechanism;
- a movable drive assembly comprising a main power unit movable between upper and lower positions in a vertical direction;
- and
- a pedal return cable system, separate from said power transmission line, adapted to move a pedal that is not utilized in a power stroke a distance substantially equivalent to a distance that another pedal is moved during a power stroke.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.