Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-16
2004-02-10
Hurley, Kevin (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S234000, C280S244000, C280S247000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06688623
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drive and steering mechanism for a human powered vehicle. In particular, the invention is well suited for human powered vehicles that allow a rider to drive forward by transferring power from upper and lower body muscle groups using a smooth natural motion similar to running.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Human powered vehicles, such as bicycles or boats and other water vehicles, are known in the art and are generally comprised of a frame for supporting the rider, a drive means for providing thrust, a steering means, and a power linkage with which the rider can transfer muscle-generated power to the drive means. The power may be generated by movement of the arm, the legs or both arms and legs.
Bicycles, for example, are normally constructed of a frame, a drive means comprised of a leg powered, pedal-driven rotatable sprocket that is connected by a continuous chain to a second sprocket communicating with the rear bicycle wheel, and handlebars that are attached to a fork supporting a steerable front wheel. It is also known to supplement the power of the rider's legs by providing a linkage from the handlebars to the drive means or to the front wheel of the bicycle, so that movement of the handlebars by the rider's arms creates an additional propelling force. The following list of U. S. patents disclose various drive mechanisms for converting handlebar motion, other than steering motion into forward motion of a bicycle or tricycle.
377,610
Goodsell
384,150
Goodsell
585,421
Bemis
616,021
Schaibly
690,180
Pierson
2,207,305
Souhart
2,416,092
Genin
2,510,013
Edgar
5,328,195
Sommer et al.
5,542,689
Chalfant
Of particular interest is U.S. Pat. No. 377,610 to Goodsell, which discloses an oscillating drive mechanism for a velocipede. A rod linkage transmits forces from the velocipede's handlebars to a ratchet coaxially fixed to a foot pedal crank. The disclosed ratchet drive only transfers power on a down stroke of one side of the handlebars. A down stroke of the other side of the handlebars is a resting stroke.
Another patent to Goodsell, U.S. Pat. No. 384,150 replaces the ratchet drive with a friction clutch. However, the friction clutch does not increase the efficiency of power transfer because like Goodsell's previous ratchet design, only a down stroke of one side of the handlebars transfers power. Furthermore, both patents disclose mechanisms that are asynchronous relative to the motion between the handlebars and foot pedals.
Yet another patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 2,510,013 to Edgar that discloses a bicycle having a linkage connecting a crank and pedal to a complex steering apparatus having a pair of handlebar levers that function as steering inputs as well as rockers for converting a bobbing motion of a rider's upper body into rotary motion driving the rear wheel of a bicycle. The bobbing motion of the rider's upper body forces both handlebar levers up and down in unison. The pedal movements are synchronized to the movements of the handlebar levers by the linkage connecting the crank and pedal to the steering apparatus.
The following patents are representative of prior art human powered drive mechanisms used to propel boats:
6,267,631
Anderson
5,830,020
Snyder
5,547,406
White
5,522,741
Yun
5,415,574
Siviero
5,387,140
Cunningham
4,493,657
Zeitler
621,465
Storms
547,422
Dean
However, in spite of the numerous human powered drive mechanisms described in the prior art, there is still a need of a drive mechanism that enables the rider to apply continuous leg and arm forces to a drive means through the entire thrust cycle, with the foot and arm movements being synchronized so that the two movements supplement each other instead of counteracting each other. There is a further need for a drive mechanism that that will not interfere with steering of the vehicle during use. In addition, there is a need for a drive mechanism that includes an arm powered section that can be readily disengaged when the supplemental power is not desired, and later reengaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses these needs by providing a unique drive and steering mechanism for human powered vehicles, such as a bicycle or a human powered boat. The mechanism enables the operator to efficiently apply both arm and leg power for motive force while maintaining the ability to steer using the arms. The mechanism couples the arm and leg motion in a harmonious union similar to a running motion but can be easily uncoupled should the operator prefer to power the vehicle only with leg power. The mechanism enables motive power to be applied with both the up and down stroke of both arms. The mechanism is mechanically simple and is well suited to be applied to new vehicle designs as well as added on in kit form to existing vehicles, such as standard bicycles. The mechanism maintains the time tested spatial relationship between the seat, handlebars, and drive pedals of a standard bicycle, as well as the time tested and simple rotatable handlebar steering of a standard bicycle.
It should be noted that this invention allows arm forces to be applied to the handlebars without unintentionally applying substantial turning forces to the handlebars, then, through the use of a unique linkage mechanism that maintains the above-mentioned spatial relationship, couples these forces with those applied by leg power to the foot pedals. It should also be noted that although the invention is shown applied to a standard bicycle, the mechanism could be used to power and steer human powered vehicles having a recumbent position. Existing technology such as chain, gears and universal joints can be relatively easily arranged to accommodate the different relative locations of steering elements, such as front wheels and rudders, and drive elements, such as rear wheels and propellers. In general, the invention can be used with any type of human powered vehicle having a drive that includes a rotatable front sprocket or shaft used to transmit torque to wheel(s) or propeller(s) or in anyone of several established manners, such as gears, belts or chains.
In general, the drive mechanism of the invention is comprised of foot-powered section; an arm-powered section, which is also used for steering; a linkage joining the arm and foot sections; and a thrust component operatively connected to the foot-powered section. The specific construction of each of the drive mechanism elements will depend upon the type of vehicle being driven and its design. For example, the thrust component of a bicycle may be comprised of a chain-driven rear wheel operatively connected to the foot-powered section by a chain drive, while the thrust section of a boat may be comprised of a propeller connected to the foot-powered section by a rotatable shaft. Also for steering input, the arm-powered section may be connected to the front wheel of a bicycle, or to the rudder of a boat.
The foot-powercd section is broadly comprised of a generally horizontal, rotatable axle that is operatively connectable to the thrust component, with left and right foot-powered pedals being connected to the axle, e.g., at opposite ends of the axle, by oppositely extending crank handles. The pedals are 180° out of phase and travel in circular paths so that the right pedal is at its lowermost position when the left pedal is in its uppermost position, and vice versa. A sprocket or a gear can be attached around the axle to connect the axle to the thrust component.
The arm-powered section is broadly comprised of handlebars having integral left and right outer sections. The handlebars are pivotally connectable to a steering post so that the bars can oscillate on the post with each outer section being moveable between raised and lowered positions. Since the sections are integral, the right bar section will be in its lowermost position when the left bar section is in its uppermost position, and vice versa.
The foot-powered and arm-powered sections are connected so that the
,MacCord Mason PLLC
Hurley Kevin
Lum L.
LandOfFree
Human powered vehicle drive mechanism does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Human powered vehicle drive mechanism, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Human powered vehicle drive mechanism will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3284078