Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-01
2004-08-10
Morris, Lesley D. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
active
06773022
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to manually propelled bicycles, and more specifically to exercise, recreation, and transport bicycles that include a pedal and chain mechanism having a teardrop motion that allows for stair-stepping type exercise propulsion during transport of the bicycle.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of bicycles for exercise, recreation, and transport and other activities such as racing is well known in the prior art. On a conventional bicycle the operator traditionally sits on a seat and the pedal motion is essential circular. The use of chain, multiple gears and clutch mechanisms in conjunction with the pedal and sprocket are well known to provide for different gear ratios between the pedal sprocket and the rear wheel and a clutch mechanism that allows the bicycle to continue to coast forward when the pedals are stopped at any position.
One of the problems with a conventional bicycle from an ergonomic standpoint is that the operator is in a seated position, performing mechanical work in a relatively stressful position—bent forward at the waist, relying predominantly upon his/her quadricep muscles for propulsion and exercise. By placing the body in an upright position, the most efficient body position is achieved, utilizing a full complement of lower extremity muscles.
Stair-stepping type exercise is also known in the art. The objective is to decrease stress on the spine, joints, and lower extremities and to simulate walking upstairs for increased aerobic value. It is the intent of this invention to effectively combine the stair-stepping activity with recreational riding and transport by a bicycle.
There are devices shown in the prior art that attempt to provide a minimum form of exercise using pedals in an up and down motion. U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,089 issued Mar. 9, 1993, to Taylor shows a pedal operated scooter that includes cables, pulleys, and tension devices. The device is complex having a propulsion unit including multiple opposing sprockets and cables. The pedal mechanism is pivotal centrally.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,321, issued Nov. 29, 1994 to Berman et al., shows a dual footboard low profile exercise cycle. This device employs a chain and sprocket mechanism that is overly complex, expensive and does not provide a teardrop motion. It is believed that the teardrop motion provides better exercise results as a more natural movement for a person in the upright stair-step action. No related art presents a coupled oscillating teardrop motion.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,401, issued May 28, 1996 to Mohseni, shows a step drive cycle, having a conventional bicycle type configuration with a very complex proportioned system utilizing a plurality of belts and pulleys not in the present invention.
The present invention overcomes the problems in the prior art by providing a bicycle frame profile specially suited to a teardrop and stair-stepping type motion with a noncomplex propulsion system having conventional sprockets, multi-gear and clutch mechanism configured to provide for safe, stable, and efficient stair-stepping motion. The frame configuration insures that each pedal achieves a horizontal position upon a complete and full downstroke of each foot pedal. The invention also includes a spring-loaded, cable-controlled bike stand encased within the protective housing which allows the unit to be stationary in an upright position when not in use.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A bicycle for providing stair-stepping exercise motion, recreation, and mode of transport comprising a frame that includes a unique triangular rear portion, a pair of wheels, one for the front, one for the back, a chain driven, teardrop-shaped propulsion system, left and right pedals having multiple positions between a horizontal and angular vertical upon which the operator rides, adjustable handle bars for steering, and a safety housing for covering the propulsion and wheel sprockets, chain, braking mechanism, and bike stand.
The frame is constructed of a tubular, light weight, strong material such as steel or aluminum, and includes a unibody designed center portion with front and rear stabilizing frame supports, a triangular rear frame portion which consists of a center vertical strut, two upper rear frame connectors, and two lower rear frame connectors which connect the rear wheel and the propulsion sprocket to the frame, and a forward angled frame portion that includes dual columns for retaining and attaching the front wheel of the bicycle.
The forward frame portion also includes a slightly angled yet substantially vertical tubular section to receive an adjustable height handlebar for steering. This forward frame portion may be hinged to provide for adjustable angular settings to accommodate various size operators. The steering mechanism is substantially conventional, as on a conventional bicycle in which the handlebars are connected to a pivotal fork that allows turning of the front wheel while the frame remain rigid. The forward vertical tubular section of the bicycle frame is angled upwardly to connect to or receive the handlebar support.
The rear portion of the frame includes on each side a left and right upper and lower rear frame connector that joins the rear wheel to the frame, essentially supporting the rear wheel in a fork to a main vertical strut elevated from the base of the frame. Specifically, the upper rear frame connector is superiorly angulated approximately 30-35 degrees from the center of the rear wheel, while the lower rear frame connector is inferiorly angulated from the center of the rear wheel to meet the posterior aspect of the intersection of the main vertical strut and center portion of the unibody frame. A superior sprocket is mounted on the superior aspect of the vertical strut at the intersection of the upper rear frame connector and the vertical strut and is connected by a conventional bicycle chain to an inferior sprocket on the rear wheel which can contain multiple gears, a clutch mechanism and a conventional bicycle propulsion unit at the rear wheel. The lower rear frame connector is angled such that the entire frame, especially through its middle portion, is completely horizontal to the riding surface and is about 6 to 8 inches off the ground. Preferably the rear wheel will be larger in diameter than the front wheel to allow adequate ground clearance of the most inferior aspect of the chain mechanism and protective housing cover, to allow adequate ground clearance of the down stroke foot pedal especially at the rear of each foot pedal, with its lowest position being horizontal to the earth and parallel to the unibody frame, to lessen the amount of work and effort required of the operator to achieve the desired speed and performance, to maintain a fairly modest standard length of the bicycle frame, thereby providing a shallower pitch and angulation of the foot pedals, thus ensuring stability and safer operation. The preferred ratio of rear to front wheel diameters is about 2:1. There appears to be no mechanical or structural advantage achieved by utilizing equal wheel dimensions, however, a step-cycle would function using equal wheel dimensions.
A pair of elongated left and right pedals are pivotally and moveably attached at the front ends to projections extending laterally from the frame on each side. The forward connection of each pedal includes an elliptical slot that securely fits the frame projections and permits front and backward motions and pivotal motion of the pedal at the front portion of the pedal.
In an alternate embodiment of the invention, each pedal that is, the left pedal and the right pedal, includes an inner member and an outer rigid member that are elongated structures, preferably metal, wherein the inner rigid member fits telescopically within a hollow passage in the outer rigid member to provide reciprocal telescopic motion between the inner member which is pivotally attached to the bicycle frame at one end, and the outer member which is rotatably attached to the actuating sprocket at
Luby Matt
Malin Haley & DiMaggio, P.A.
Morris Lesley D.
LandOfFree
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