Brakes – Vehicle – Velocipede
Patent
1997-11-13
2000-02-29
Schwartz, Christopher P.
Brakes
Vehicle
Velocipede
B62L 300
Patent
active
060297808
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an improved brake mechanism for a bicycle and/or other chain driven device.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
At present most bicycles have brakes which are operated by hand. The hand brakes include levers on the handle bars of the bicycle. The levers are connected by cables to brake callipers situated in association with front and rear wheels of the bicycle. When using the brakes, a cyclist often has to apply a large amount of hand pressure to achieve effective braking and he or she relies solely on adjusting hand pressure to control the front and rear brake callipers. This makes the application of bicycle brakes difficult in some cases, particularly over long down hill runs and over rough terrain where loss of control can occur. Continuous pressure results in soreness to the finger and hand joints and muscles which is further aggravated by airflow over the hands. This creates difficulty in sensing the relative hand pressures required to achieve smooth progressive braking.
A further problem with known braking mechanisms is that, for more complex braking arrangements, variations in the construction at the manufacturing stage are usually required. The use of custom manufactured brake components and associated constructional requirements, limits the situations in which this type of brake mechanism can be used to new bicycles or bicycles requiring major structural modifications.
An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for progressive braking wherein the primary pressure which activates the brakes of either or both front and rear wheels is achieved by a cyclists legs, thereby reducing the need for hand strength and allowing the hands greater freedom of movement for steering control.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a brake mechanism which does not require major structural and/or mechanical modifications, and which can be fitted to an existing bicycle with relatively minor modifications.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a modified brake mechanism for chain driven mechanisms such as a bicycle, in which said mechanism can selectively provide progressive braking where, in a cycle, the primary pressure which activates the brakes of the front and/or rear wheels is produced by a cyclists legs. This reduces the need for hand strength and allows the hands greater freedom of movement for steering control.
A further object of this invention is to provide a consumer with a useful alternative choice.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a crank assembly for a chain driven mechanism such as a bicycle, the crank assembly having at one end of a crank arm a journal adapted for engagement with an axle, the axle having at its other end a connection, the one end of the crank arm has mounted thereon a housing via a sprag clutch, the housing having an extension to which, in use, a brake activation means is or are attached, the arrangement being such that during normal forward rotation the axle and crank arm move normally and the housing is stationary while during back or reverse movement of the crank arm the housing moves to activate the activation means.
In an alternative embodiment, the reverse movement of the crank arm may be selected so as to actuate the activation means.
The axle is preferably a standard bottom bracket axle of a bicycle.
The connection may have attached thereto a pedal shaft of a cycle pedal.
The activation means may be a cable or cables connected to a bicycles' front and rear hand brakes.
The crank assembly may be frictionally engaged in known manner to the bottom bracket axle of the bicycle.
The sprag clutch may be formed in the housing by providing an annular sleeve secured to and located between the one end of the crank arm and the housing, the sleeve being spaced from the housing by a series of roller bearings, an inner face of the housing in contact with the roller bearings having arc-shaped cam surfaces on which the roller bearings can mo
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patent: 3888334 (1975-06-01), Mack
patent: 4030774 (1977-06-01), Foster
patent: 4057127 (1977-11-01), Woodring
patent: 4109769 (1978-08-01), Darden
patent: 4199046 (1980-04-01), Boyd
patent: 4582178 (1986-04-01), Huneault
patent: 5337861 (1994-08-01), Romano
Sarun Holdings Limited
Schwartz Christopher P.
Talavera Melanie
LandOfFree
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