GB2370021A

GB2370021A - Apparatus with foot supports driving a rotary member

Info

Publication number: GB2370021A
Application number: GB0030430A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kuen Shan Hsu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-10-20
Filing date: 2000-12-14
Publication date: 2002-06-19
Also published as: DE20018020U1; GB0030430D0

Abstract

The foot supports 22 are pivoted on a frame and are coupled to respective cranks 3 coupled to the rotary member, e.g. a chain wheel for a bicycle, via unidirectional means so that angular reciprocation of the supports causes rotation of the member. The supports 22 have elongate slots 221 engaged by respective pins 32 at the ends of the respective cranks 3. To support the supports 22 to ensure their motions are in opposite phase, a centrally pivoted cross-lever 12, optionally with recesses, engages the supports.

Description

DEVICE FOR STEPPING AND DRIVING A WHEELED APPARATUS The invention relates to a driving device for stepping and driving a wheeled apparatus. a cycle. a cycling apparatus or the like.

Typical wheeled vehicles, cycles, cycling exercises, comprise a pair of cranks coupled to the wheel device with a sprocket-and-chain or a pulley-andbelt coupling mechanism. Two foot pedals are secured to the cranks for driving the cranks in a cycling action.

The cranks may not be driven with a stepping action.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a device for driving a wheeled apparatus, a cycle, a cycling apparatus or the like in a stepping action.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus comprising: a) a frame, b) a rotary member rotatably secured on the frame with a spindle and rotatable about the spindle, c) a pair of cranks each including a first end secured to the spindle and rotatable about the spindle for driving the rotary member in a cycling action, and each including a second end, d) a pair of foot supports each including a first end pivotally secured to the frame with a pivot axle for allowing the foot supports to be rotated about the pivot axles respectively in a stepping action, and each

including a second end. and e) means for coupling the foot supports to the second ends of the cranks to transfer the stepping action of the foot supports to the cycling action of the cranks, such that the apparatus may be driven by the stepping action of the foot supports.

The coupling means includes an oblong hole formed in the second end of each of the foot supports, and a pin extended from the second end of each of the cranks and slidably received in the oblong holes of the foot supports respectively.

The coupling means includes a lever having a middle portion pivotally secured on the frame with a pivot shaft, the lever includes two ends engaged with the foot supports for supporting the foot supports. The ends of the lever each includes a recess formed therein for stably retaining the foot supports on the lever.

The foot supports each includes a foot pedal disposed on the second end for supporting users'feet.

At least one wheel is rotatably secured on the frame, and means for coupling the wheel to the rotary member and to be driven by the rotary member. The rotary member is a sprocket, the coupling means includes a sprocket-and-chain mechanism coupling the at least one wheel to the sprocket and to be driven by the sprocket.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plane view of an apparatus, such as a bicycle, having a driving device; FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the driving device; FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view similar to FIG. 2, in which one of the foot supports of the driving device is cut for showing the structure of the driving device ; FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the driving device; FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating the other application of a lever of the driving device; FIG. 6 is a partial plane view illustrating the operation of the driving device; and FIG. 7 is an end view illustrating the operation of the driving device.

Referring to FIGS. 1, a driving device may be provided for driving an apparatus, such as a wheeled apparatus, a cycling apparatus 40, a cycling exerciser, etc. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the apparatus 40 comprises a rotary member, such as a pulley or a sprocket 41 rotatably secured in a frame 43, such as a stay of the frame, with a spindle 44 such that the rotary member 41 is rotatable relative to the frame 43 about the spindle 44. The apparatus 40 may further include one or more wheels 46 and may include a coupling device 47, such as a pulley-and-belt or a sprocket-and-chain coupling device 47, for coupling the sprocket 41 to one or more

of the wheels 46 and for driving the wheels 46 when the sprocket 41 is rotated by the users. A pair of cranks 3 each includes one end secured to the spindle 44 with a unidirectional bearing 31 or the like, and each includes the other end having a pin 32 laterally extended outward therefrom.

As shown in FIGS. 2-7, a seat 11 is secured on the frame 43, and a lever 12 has a middle portion pivotally secured on the seat 11 with a pivot shaft 13. A pair of brackets 21 are also secured on the frame 43. A pair of foot supports 22 each includes one end pivotally secured to the brackets 21 with a pivot axle 27 respectively and each includes the other end having a foot pedal 23 secured thereon for supporting the feet of the users who may actuate the foot supports 22 to rotate about the pivot axles 27 respectively with a stepping action. The other ends of the foot supports 22 each includes an oblong hole 221 formed therein for slidably receiving the pins 32 of the cranks 3 respectively. The foot supports 22 each includes a middle portion engaged over or straddled over the respective ends of the lever 12 for coupling the foot supports 22 together.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4 and 7, the lever 12 may include a straight configuration having the foot supports 22 engaged on the ends thereof respectively. As best shown in FIG. 5, the lever 12 may include two

sockets or recesses 14 formed in the ends thereof respectively for stably receiving and retaining the foot supports 22 on the ends thereof.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 6, the pins 32 of the cranks 3 may be caused to move along the oblong holes 221 of the foot supports 22 in a reciprocating action when the foot supports 22 are caused to or are stepped to move and to rotate about the pivot axles 27 in a stepping and reciprocating action. The reciprocating action of the pins 32 along the oblong holes 221 of the foot supports 22 may be transferred to or may cause the cranks 3 and thus the sprocket 41 to rotate about the spindle 44 in a cycling action in order to drive the wheels 46. As best shown in FIG. 7, when one of the foot supports 22 is stepped downward by the users, one end (such as the left end) of the lever 12 will be moved downward by the foot support, the other foot support 22 will thus be elevated by the other end (the right end) of the lever 12. On the contrary, as shown in the dotted lines in FIG. 7, when the right foot support 22 is stepped downward by the users, the right end of the lever 12 will be moved downward by the right foot support 22, the left foot support 22 will thus be elevated by the left end of the lever 12. The stepping action of the foot supports 22 may thus be used to drive the cranks 3 and the sprocket 41 to rotate in the cycling action.

Claims

CLAIMS :1. An apparatus comprising : a) a frame, b) a rotary member rotatably secured on the frame with a spindle and rotatable about the spindle, c) a pair of cranks each including a first end secured to the spindle and rotatable about the spindle for driving the rotary member in a cycling action, and each including a second end, d) a pair of foot supports each including a first end pivotally secured to the frame with a pivot axle for allowing the foot supports to be rotated about the pivot axles respectively in a stepping action, and each including a second end, and e) means for coupling the foot supports to the second ends of the cranks to transfer the stepping action of the foot supports to the cycling action of the cranks.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling means includes an oblong hole formed in the second end of each of the foot supports, and a pin extended from the second end of each of the cranks and slidably received in the oblong holes of the foot supports respectively.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling means includes a lever having a middle portion pivotally secured on the frame with a pivot shaft, the

lever includes two ends engaged with the foot supports for supporting the foot supports.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ends of the lever each includes a recess formed therein for stably retaining the foot supports on the lever.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foot supports each includes a foot pedal disposed on the second end thereof for supporting users'feet.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one wheel rotatably secured on the frame, and means for coupling the wheel to the rotary member and to be driven by the rotary member.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rotary member is a sprocket, the coupling means includes a sprocket-and-chain mechanism coupling the at least one wheel to the sprocket and to be driven by the sprocket.
8. An apparatus substantially as herein described

with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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