Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-05-01
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S260000, C280S288000, C280S279000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224080
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to bicycle devices and more specifically it relates to a spokeless bicycle system for providing a bicycle that does not have spokes within the wheels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Bicycles have been in use for years. Typically, a bicycle is comprised of a frame, handle bars, a pair of wheels rotatably attached to the frame, and a chain connected between the rear wheel and the drive system of the bicycle. The wheels of a conventional bicycle typically have a plurality of spokes that extend from a central hub to the interior surface of the rim of the wheel.
Conventional bicycles with wheels that have spokes is that the user constantly has to maintain the tension upon the spokes especially during rough riding conditions. If the user does not maintain the tension upon the spokes the wheel will not provide the desired performance for the user. Bicycles that utilize wheels with spokes are also dangerous in the respect that clothing and feet often times are caught within the spokes sometimes leading to injury of the rider.
Examples of attempted solutions to conventional bicycles include U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,354 to Elliot; U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,327 to Bell; U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,560 to Warrick et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,635 to Lu which are all illustrative of such prior art.
Elliot (U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,354) discloses a bicycle transmission. Elliott specifically teaches a continuously variable friction drive transmission by driving the rear bicycle wheel by frictional engagement with a rotating rim driver.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for providing a bicycle that does not have spokes within the wheels. Conventional bicycle devices require the utilization of wheels with a plurality of spokes which are undesirable.
In these respects, the spokeless bicycle system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a bicycle that does not have spokes within the wheels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of bicycle devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new spokeless bicycle system construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing a bicycle that does not have spokes within the wheels.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new spokeless bicycle system that has many of the advantages of the bicycle devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new spokeless bicycle system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art bicycle devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a frame having a seat structure and handle bars, a rear bracket having rear bearings within that rotatably engages a rear wheel, a front bracket having front bearings within that rotatably engages a front wheel, and a drive train that engages the rear wheel for driving the rear wheel. The rear rim of the rear wheel includes a rear groove that receives the plurality of rear bearings. The rear rim of the rear wheel includes a rear gear that is engaged by a drive sprocket from the drive train. The front rim of the front wheel includes a front groove that receives the plurality of front bearings.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a spokeless bicycle system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
Another object is to provide a spokeless bicycle system that does not utilize wheels with a plurality of spokes.
An additional object is to provide a spokeless bicycle system that does not utilize a chain drive system.
A further object is to provide a spokeless bicycle system that utilizes a bearing tracking system instead of traditional center pivoting bearing designs to rotatably support the frame upon the wheels.
Another object is to provide a spokeless bicycle system that reduces the chance of injury to the rider.
A further object is to provide a spokeless bicycle system that increases the appearance of the bicycle.
An additional object is to provide a spokeless bicycle system that is low maintenance and has an increased useful life.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 858489 (1907-07-01), Vaughn
patent: 3329444 (1967-07-01), Lidov
patent: 4045096 (1977-08-01), Lidov
patent: 5248019 (1993-09-01), Sbarro
patent: 5419619 (1995-05-01), Lew
patent: 5669619 (1997-09-01), Kim
patent: 6050584 (2000-04-01), Sibson
patent: 4104720 (1992-08-01), None
Johnson Brian L.
Lerner Avraham H.
Neustel Michael S.
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