GB2609384A

GB2609384A - Tricycle powered by legs and arms

Info

Publication number: GB2609384A
Application number: GB2105955.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Topham Anthony
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-04-27
Filing date: 2021-04-27
Publication date: 2023-02-08
Also published as: GB202105955D0

Abstract

A tricycle powered by the arms and legs whereby the legs comprises a crank set 3, chain 14 and pedals 1 which are connected to drive leavers 16 for the rider’s arms to move backwards and forwards, via pivots 19 and connecting rods 17. The chain 14 drives a single front wheel 5 which is fixed, while steering is achieved by moving either one of two levers 11 connected independently to rear wheels 6, pivoting in respective head tubes 21. Therefore, to steer to the right the user moves the left leaver to the left and to steer to the left they move the right leaver to the right.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION OF

ANTHONY TOPHAM

FOR

TRICYCLE POWERED BY LEGS AND ARMS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tricycle which is powered using the legs and arms.

Background

The use of arm and leg propulsion of cycles or tricycles is known and provides an alternative to the standard mode of transport in this category.

Alternatives include frontal and rear steering using arms and legs with feet as well as propulsion variations. Advantages to this type of tricycle include it having three wheels which makes it inherently more stable on ice or in wet weather and has a comfortable recumbent style seat.

Examples of prior art can be found as follows:

This is shown in patent US611764 (ARNOLD) which discloses a hand and chain operated tricycle, the combination, construction and arrangement of the following instrumentalities: a supporting-frame R consisting of a main or rear portion formed of a pair of opposite, parallel sides c c, a transverse tie-piece d which unites their rear ends, a pair of curved pieces e e which are secured to the front of said sides, and 'approach at their forward ends, a pair of centrally arranged, parallel' longitudinal stringers h a separated from each other, and to which the forward ends of the sides c care secured, a front portion of the frame consisting of a curved brace Z secured to the front of the stringers 7L 7L, a pilot-wheel G whose shaft turns in the forward end of said brace, a pair of driving-wheels A A, a centrally located sprocket-wheel P. and their common axle d which is located above the rear portion of the frame, a major sprocket-wheel, a minor sprocket-wheel E and their common shaft i, the wheels P, D, E rotating in the space between the stringers h h, a main sprocket-wheel R located above; in front of, and substantially in the V same vertical plane as the minor.sprocket-wheel E, a pair of ratchet-wheels s s, between which the wheel R is interposed, the shaft to which they are secured, a pair of hand-levers TI with their pawls u u, and endless chains for turning the sprocket-wheels, all operating substantially as described.

Patent 1JS825784 (HADZICKI, HADZICKI) discloses a vehicle with front and rear steering is disclosed. The vehicle can be a cycle. The cycle includes a front wheel steered by a front hand-steering mechanism, and two back wheels steered by a back hand-steering mechanism. The back wheels are dual inclined casters with full rotational movement. A drive train forward of the front wheel drives the front wheel, while a rider is inclined in a seat in a recumbent orientation. The front and rear steering provides unlimited manoeuvrability and turning capabilities.

Patent LIS6264224 (PHILLIPS) discloses a compact, covered front wheel drive assembly that replaces the handlebars on an existing bicycle frame. It drives the front wheel while standard bicycle foot pedals and drive train drive the rear wheel. However, it can also be operated independently of the foot pedals, or locked for use of the foot pedals alone. It has drive ratios and shifting that are independent of the rear drive train, and are configured for selectable, comfortable hand cranking rates, including normal bicycle cruising speed. Shift levers are mounted within reach of a rider's thumbs, without removing a hand from the cranks. A brake lever on each handle holds the brake cables forward at all times, eliminating interference both with the hand cranks and with obstacles brushing beside the bicycle.

Patent US6105985 (COSGRAVE) discloses a hand and foot powered bicycle has an elongated frame supported by a front and rear wheel. A handle bar lever is mounted to the frame adjacent to the steering column such that the handle bar lever may be raised and lowered by moving the attached handle bar up and forward and down and rearward. The handle bar lever is connected to a front sprocket wheel by lever arm linkage attached to sprocket wheel crank arms. This front sprocket wheel is linked to the rear wheel dears by two chain loops and a mid sprocket wheel assembly. With this linkage, as the handle bar is raised and lowered, this motion is translated to rotate the rear wheels. The hand and foot powered bicycle is steered by the handle bar connected to the front wheel forks through a pair of steering cables which are crossed between their abutments to give a correct turn for a turn of the handle bar. Pedals with cranks may be attached to the sprocket wheels as in the conventional manner to provide the combination of hand and foot power for the bicycle.

Patent US4152005 (VANORE) discloses a tricycle having both front and rear wheel drives, for hand and foot motion respectively, includes a front wheel drive assembly that is adjustable with respect to the frame of the tricycle to position a hand crank in the optimum position for almost any user. A seat assembly is also adjustable with respect to the frame, and a rear wheel drive assembly is also adjustable with respect to the frame to make the tricycle adaptable to any handicapped child or individual to give him the maximum use of his limbs: to exercise his limbs in the best therapeutic manner; and to allow for growth and changes and improvements in this muscular coordination.

Patent U84109927 discloses a wheeled vehicle is arranged to be corripietely hand powered and controlled. Since primaiy utility is for parapleoics, the vehicle is preferably configured as a tricycle using wheeis specifically dimensioned as for use with bicycles. A column is pivoted around the front of the main frame of the vehicle with a front wheel attached at one end and a hand crank assembly attached at the other end in a manually accessible position relative to the vehicle seat. The crank assembly is coupled to drive the front wheel and includes rotatable sleeves on the grip with control mechanisms attached to these rotatable sleeves. By including brake actuating levers on the sleeve, the vehicle can be motivated, braked and/or steered by hand. Shifting mechanisms for speed control can be included either in proximity to the seat on the main frame or on the grip sleeves through suitable adaptations. A mechanism can be included to permit repositioning the grip cranks into any of a plurality of relative radial orientations.

Patent U53910599 (THOMAS) discloses an operator powered vehicle with a drive system utilizing arm and leg power, jointly or separately, to drive a jackshaft which drives a sprocket equipped hub of a driving wheel. The hub and wheel are journal:ea for independent rotation on a live axle which also serves to mount pedal arms and a sprocket in driving connection with the jackshaft. A hand crankshaft is in like connection with the jackshaft. Clutch means permit selective idling of either the foot pedals or hand cranks or joint driving engagement of both with the jacKshaft. Arm and leg powered components are offset oppositely from an upright steering axis to minimize undesired residual torque acting about said axis.

The present invention aims to provide an improved tricycle powered by legs and arms providing a more advanced method of drive and steering through ease of use and the further presented features.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a tricycle powered by the arms and legs creating exercise for all limbs during use, which can be steered and powered using them to work together to propel the tricycle. Having three wheels it is inherently more stable on ice or wet weather and has a comfortable recumbent style seat. The tricycle has a traditional rotating motion powering the front wheel via a crank set, chain and pedals; which are connected to drive leavers for the arms to move via pivots and connecting rods so the arms do not rotate a crank set as can be found in other designs but move backwards and forwards (similar to those in Cross Trainers). The tricycle is powered by the legs and arms in accordance with the design and can be steered by moving either one of the two leavers that are connected independently to the rear wheels. Therefore, to steer to the right the cyclist would move the left leaver to the left and to steer to the left the cyclist would move the right leaver to the right and because it is a tricycle there is no requirement for both rear wheels to move together for steering.

The tricycle has a delta design defined as one wheel at the front and two at the back in the known way. The user is seated in a low position in the seat and extend their legs forward to drive the front wheel with a traditional rotating motion via traditional pedals, rotatably adjoined to crank arms and a crank set having a chain ring and chain to the front wheel, while the user's arms operate long drive leavers backwards and forwards which are connected to the pedals via pivots and connecting rods thereto.

The steering is achieved by moving either one of two horizontally presented leavers movably positioned from vertical head tubes; extending above the rear forks and wheels, into which said leavers are transversely inserted. Braking is achieved by standard calliper brakes, one which is located to the front of the tricycle being hand operated by a further leaver located to the extremity of the long vertical right hand drive leaver and two to the rear which go through a splitter to enable operational synchronicity and are operated by the left-hand leaver to the extremity of the left-hand driver leaver.

Movement of both left and right drive leavers is provided by said pivots.

The front wheel incorporates a hub gear operated by leavers located adjacent to the front brake leaver and hand grips to the drive leavers ends. These are positioned suitably for operation by the user when seated and are presented at the correct height to ensure comfortable long term use.

The tricycle is also suitable for a disabled person that may not full strength in one or both arms and not full strength in one or both legs.

The seat can be adjusted along seat tubes which are horizontally presented with an oblique angle to the front meeting the crank set centrally to its pivot point, this seating position is typical of those found on recumbent cycles and is positioned higher than in recumbent cycles to aid visibility but lower than that found on traditional cycles which optimises stability.

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 description and should riot be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are noi familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved tricycle powered by arms and legs which has all the advantages of the prior art tricycles and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new tricycle powered by arms and legs which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved tricycle powered by arms and legs which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved tricycle powered by arms and legs which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved tricycle powered by arms and legs which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Figure 1 shows a frontal elevation view of the tricycle powered by arms and legs. Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the tricycle powered by arms and legs.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the multipartite tricycle powered by arms and legs is shown in Figure 1, it comprises the tricycle which is of a delta design defined as one wheel at the front 5 and two at the back 6. The user's legs are used to drive the front wheel with a traditional rotating motion via traditional pedals 2, crank arms 1, crank set 3, chain ring 4, chain 14 and chain stays 20 to the front wheel 5 located with front tubes 23. The arms operate drive leavers 16, moving them backwards and forwards which are connected to the pedals via pivots 19 and connecting rods 17.

The steering is achieved by moving either one of the two horizontal leavers 11 with handle grips 12; which are both movably positioned from vertical head tubes 21 into which said leavers 11 are transversely inserted. Said vertical head tubes 21 being adjoined through a horizontally opposed rear tube 22, all extending above the slightly obtuse rear forks 13 and wheels 6.

Braking is achieved by standard calliper brakes, one to the front 24 operated by leaver 26 and two to the rear 25 which go through a splitter and are operated by one leaver 27.

The front wheel incorporates a hub gear operated by gear change leaver 8 located to the extremity of right drive leaver 16, which is diametrically opposed to a left-hand lever 16, adjacent to front brake leaver 26 and hand grip 18. The rear brake leaver 27 is located to the opposing left drive leaver 27 thereof, with left hand grip 18. Left and right drive leavers 16 pivot to either side of horizontally presented seat tubes 15 via horizontal through pivot 19. The tricycle has a seat 7 which can be adjusted along seat tubes 15 which are horizontally presented with an oblique angle to the front meeting the crank set 3 centrally to its pivot point.

In Figure 2 the frontal view of the tricycle is shown with the one wheel at the front 5 and two at the back 6. Traditional pedals 2 are shown in arrangement with crank arms Ito crank set 3 with the chain ring 4 adjacent, chain 14 and chain stays 20 are shown to the front wheel 5 with front tubes 23 and hub front 9. Drive leavers 16 vertically extend to be moved backwards and forwards connected to the pedals via pivots 19 and connecting rods 17. Two horizontal leavers 11 with handle grips 12 provide steering means and are both movably positioned from vertical head tubes 21 into which said leavers 11 are transversely inserted as aforementioned. Said vertical head tubes 21 adjoined through a horizontally opposed rear tube 22, all extending above the rear forks 13 and wheels 6 thereof, located centrally to hub rear 10.

The components for braking are shown using standard calliper brakes, one to the front 24 operated by leaver 26 and two to the rear 25 which go through a splitter and are operated by one leaver 27. The front wheel incorporates the hub gear being operated by gear change leaver 8 shown located to the extremity of right drive leaver 16 thereto adjacent to front brake leaver 26 and hand grip 18. The rear brake leaver 27 is located to the opposing left drive leaver 27 with left hand grip 18. As aforementioned; we see the longitudinally presented left and right drive leavers 16 which pivot to either side of horizontally presented seat tubes 15 via horizontal through pivot 19. The tricycle has a seat 7 which can be adjusted along seat tubes 15 which are horizontally presented with an oblique angle to the front meeting the crank set 3 centrally to its pivot point.

Claims

Claims 1) A tricycle powered by arms and legs corn prising; a seat and front wheel propelled via a crank set linked to a chain and pedals which are connected to two vertically opposed left and right drive leavers with gear and brake controls for the arms to move via pivots and connecting rods, the legs are used to drive the front wheel with a traditional rotating motion via traditional pedals, crank arms, a chain ring and chain stays located to the wheel area thereof, with further front tubes, steering of the two rear wheels being provided by two horizontal leavers movably positioned from vertical head tubes and required braking provided by lever operated callipers.
2) A tricycle powered by arms and legs according to claim 1 wherein the front wheel incorporates a hub gear operated by said gear control in the form of a change leaver located on a handle grip on the extremity of right drive leaver.
3) A tricycle powered by arms and legs according to claim 1 wherein horizontal steering leavers are transversely inserted into vertical head tubes, being adjoined through a horizontally opposed rear tube, above the rear wheels.
4) A tricycle powered by arms and legs according to claim 1 and 3 wherein said tricycle can be steered by moving either one of the two leavers that are connected independently to the rear wheels.
5) A tricycle powered by arms and legs according to claim 4 wherein to steer to the right the user moves the left leaver to the left and to steer to the left they move the right leaver to the right.
6) A tricycle powered by arms and legs according to claim 1 wherein said calliper brakes to the front and rear are operated by brake leavers also mounted on the longitudinally presented left and right drive leavers adjacent to the handle grips.
7) A tricycle powered by arms and legs according to claim 1 and 6 wherein said two rear brake callipers are both operated using one aforementioned brake leaver through a splitter.
8) A tricycle powered by arms and legs according to claim 1 wherein said seat can be adjusted along seat tubes which are horizontally presented with an oblique angle to the front meeting the said crank set centrally to its pivot point.
9) A tricycle powered by arms and legs wherein as a tricycle both rear wheels do not move together for steering.