WO1991007308A1

WO1991007308A1 - Exercise bicycle

Info

Publication number: WO1991007308A1
Application number: PCT/US1990/006681
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ben Lindsey
Original assignee: Rock N'roll, Inc.
Priority date: 1989-11-15
Filing date: 1990-11-15
Publication date: 1991-05-30
Also published as: AU6971491A; EP0487654A1; EP0487654A4; JPH04505143A; US5282640A

Abstract

An O-ring (52) is mounted to the wheel (116) of a manually powered bicycle (110). A TEFLON ?R washer (50) is mounted on the wheel sprocket (126) contacting the O-ring (52). The friction between the O-ring (52) and the TEFLON ?R washer (50) are sufficient to move the crank sprocket (132) away from dead center on a mechanism wherein the crank sprocket (132) is rotated by manually oscillating the handle bars (124) of the bicycle (110).

Description

EXERCISE BICYCLE

B. CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION:

None.

C. RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS UNDER FEDERAL RESEARCH:

There was no federally sponsored research and develo ment concerning this invention.

D. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

(1) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to exercise bicycle and m particularly to bicycles at least partially powered by man movement of the handle bars.

(2) Description of the Related Art

Manually powered bicycles as opposed to pedal powe bicycles are old and have been well known for many years.

The term bicycle is used in this application in broadest term, i.e., any two-wheeled vehicle. However, in t application the term will be used for those two-wheeled vehic which are powered by the physical exertions of at least person. It will be seen by this definition that a scooter wo fit within this definition as well as the vehicle more commo referred to as a bicycle.

A particular type of manual powered bicycles is A having the handle bars oscillating at the top of the fork. T handle bars then drive a crank sprocket through a pitman. T crank sprocket is mounted to the fork and steering post of t bicyςle so that it retains the same relationship to the fro ⁵ wheel and to the handle bars.

The front wheel is driven through a one-way clut attached to a wheel sprocket co-axiel with the front wheel. T development of the one-way clutches are such that they ha extremely low friction and therefore the wheel does not drive t ^D sprockets when it is in the "free-wheeling mode". This desirable.

A common problem of such bicycles is that the dri sprocket gets locked in a dead-center position. I.e., the pitm from the oscillating handle bars is aligned with the cra ⁵ extending from the axle of the sprocket to the crank pin on t sprocket. In dead-center position, the handle bars can not moved or manipulated to cause rotation of the sprocket a therefore, no motive power can be transmitted to the vehicle.

My previous two patents, 4,147,370 issued April 3, 19 D and 4,189,166 issued February 19, 1980, solved this problem having a spring which moved the crank sprocket away from de center.

5 A E. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

(1) Progressive Contribution to the Art

I have found and devised an improved solution for th problem. I have found that by placing a small friction devi s between the front wheel and the wheel sprocket that th additional friction will be enough to turn the wheel sprocket a thus the crank sprocket through the drive chain enough to bri the crank sprocket off dead center. It is desirable to have little friction as possible in this drive transmission unit. ια have found that a preferred solution is to have a Teflon wash mounted upon the sprocket and a rubber O-ring mounted upon t wheel. The pressure between the Teflon washer and the rubb ring can be adjusted readily, therefore it is possible to have adjustable frictional drive so that the friction is great enou is to rotate the crank sprocket off dead center but not great enou to otherwise impair the smooth efficient operation of t vehicle.

(2) Objects of this Invention

An object of this invention is to provide a manua o powered bicycle.

Another object is to provide a manually powered bicy which does not lock down because the crank sprocket is on de center.

5 A Further objects are to achieve the above with devices that are sturdy, compact, durable, lightweight, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, ecologically compatible, energy conserving, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, attach, s adjust, operate and maintain.

Other objects are to achieve the above with a method that is rapid, versatile, ecologically compatible, energy conserving, efficient, and inexpensive, and does not require skilled people to attach, adjust, operate, and maintain. ID The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, the different views of which are not scale drawings.

is F. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of this invention mounted upon a scooter type bicycle.

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the drive including the drive sprocket and wheel sprocket. ⁰ Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line

3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the invention mounted upon a bicycle having pedal power as well as manua power. 5 _A As an aid to correlating the terms of the claims to exemplary drawing, the following catalog of elements and steps provided:

10. Person powered scooter

₅ 12. Frame

13. Pedals

14. Rear wheel 16. Front wheel 18. Fork

ID 20. Steering post

22. Support column

24. Handle bar

26. Wheel sprocket

28. One-way free wheeling clutch is 30. Hub

32. Crank sprocket

33. Connecting chain

34. Forward subfra e 36. Top strut

2D 38. Bottom strut

40. Crank pin

42. Pitman

44. Axle

46. Nuts

25 50. Teflon washer

52. Rubber O-ring - 5

A G. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring to the drawing, there may be seen two typica person powered vehicles.

Fig. 1 illustrates person powered scooter 10 havin s frame 12. Rear wheel 14 and front wheel 16 are journaled to th frame 12. Fork 18 journaled by steering post 20 into suppor column 22 is considered to be a portion of the frame. Handle b

24 is oscillatingly mounted upon the top of the steering post 20

Wheel sprocket 26 is journaled to the fork 18, a porti ⁰ of the frame 12, co-axially with the front wheel 16. A one-w free wheeling clutch 28 is mounted within housing or hub 30 the s[rpclet 26. As is well known, the one-way free wheeli clutch will drive the front wheel 16 from the wheel sprocket 2 in a forward direction. However, it is free wheeling by which s meant, that the front wheel 16 will not drive the wheel sprock

26.

Crank sprocket 32 is journaled to forward subframe 3 The forward subframe includes a top strut 36 extending from t top of the steer ing post 20 . The forward subf rame 34 al ⁰ .includes a bottom strut 38 extending from the fork 18 to t crank sprocket 32. The crank sprocket 32 is journaled to t subframe 34 at the connection of the top strut 36 to the bott strut 38. Crank pin 40 is attached to the crank sprocket 32.

5 A Connecting rod or pitman 42 inner-connects the crank pin 40 a the handle bar 24. Chain 33 connects sprockets 26 and 32 so th rotate in unison.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawing, it may be se

5 illustrated person powered bicycle 110. Likewise, it will have frame 112 with rear wheel 114 journaled thereto. In the case the bicycle 110 the rear wheel will be driven from pedals 1 journaled to the frame. This of course is well known in t bicycle arts. Front wheel 116 is journaled within fork 1

ID connected to steering post 120. The steering post is journal within the support socket 122. Oscillating handle bars 124 a oscillated to steering post. Wheel sprocket 126 is journal co-axially to the frame in the form of the fork 118 with t front wheel 116. The wheel sprocket and front wheel a is connected by the one-way clutch 128 located within hub 13 Crank sprocket 132 is supported by the forward sub frame 1 including the top strut 136 and bottom strut 138. The cra sprocket 132 carries a crank pin 140. Pitman 142 inner-conne the crank pin 140 and the handle bars 124.

2o Those having ordinary skill in the art will underst that oscillating the handle bars 24 or 124 will drive the vehi 10 or 110 forward. Of course in the case of the bicycle t will be an addition to what forward drive there may be obtai

25 _A through the pedals 113.

The front wheel 16 is journaled to the fork 18 by axle

44 extending throuth the hub 30 and attached to the fork by nuts

46. The axle 44 is threaded on each end. s Both the front wheel 16 and the wheel sprocket 26 independently journaled about the axle 44.

The structure to this point is well known in the art and more specifically shown in my prior-to patents 4,147.370 and

4,189,166 discussed above.

ID Teflon washer 50 is attached to the wheel sprocket 26.

The Teflon washer 50 is co-axial with the wheel and the sprocke and the axle 44.

Rubber O-ring 52 is attached to the front wheel 1 co-axially with the Teflon washer 50, wheel sprocket 26 and th s axle 44. The Teflon washer 50 is pressed against the rubbe

O-ring 52 by the proper adjustment of the nuts 46.

It will be understood that Teflon is considered to be a

"anti-friction" material. By this it is meant that there is ver small or very little friction between the Teflon washer 50 an D the rubber O-ring 52, however there is some. There are other lo frictional materials; however, Teflon is a preferred material a being readily available on the market at a reasonable cost. The purpose of the slight friction between these two i

5 A to cause sufficient rotation of the wheel sprocket 26 to dri the crank sprocket 32 by the connecting chain 33. The purpose this drive is to pull the crank sprocket 32 off dead center. discussed above there is a problem with the pitman 42 becommi

5 aligned with the axis of the crank sprocket 32 and the crank p 40 so that oscillation of the handle bars 24 is blocked by bei "on dead center". It is desirable that there be sufficie friction to move the crank sprocket "off dead center". Howeve it is also desired that only the minimum friction be applie

ID because otherwise the friction between the front wheel 16 and t wheel sprocket 26 will reduce the free wheeling of the vehic 10.

Those having ordinary skill in the art will understa that the adjustments of the nuts 46 are such as to press or bi is the Teflon washer 50 against the rubber O-ring 52 to achieve th relationship. The nuts 46 form a portion of tension means f pressing the Teflon washer and the rubber O-ring together.

Also it will be understood that the Teflon washer 50 O-ring 52 form a portion of a frictional unit inner-connect

2D the front wheel to the wheel sprocket to frictionally drive t wheel sprocket from the front wheel.

It will be understood that the Teflon washer and O-r would be connected to the wheel sprocket 126 and the front wh

25 A 116 of the vehicle 110 in the same manner as it was connected the vehicle 10.

It may be seen that I have provided an improved meth of preventing the vehicle from "locking down" because of t 5 crank pin being on dead center.

The embodiment shown and described above is on exemplary. I do not claim to have invented all the part elements or steps described. Various modifications can be ma in the construction, material, arrangement, and operation, a o still be within the scope of my invention.

The restrictive description and drawing of the specif examples above do not point out what an infringement of th patent would be, but are to enable one skilled in the art to ma and use the invention. The limits of the invention and the boun s of the patent protection are measured by and defined in t following claims.

D

5

Claims

H. SUBJECT MATTER CLAIMED FOR PROTECTION:

I claim as my invention:

-1- On a person powered vehicle having a. a frame, b. at least two wheels journaled on the frame including, c. a front wheel, d. an oscillating handle bar on the frame, e. a wheel sprocket journaled to the frame, f. a one-way free wheeling clutch on the front wheel drivingl inner connecting the wheel sprocket and front wheel so that forward directional movement of the sprocket will drive th wheel but the wheel cannot drive the sprocket through th clutch, g. a crank sprocket journaled on the frame having, h. a crank pin thereon, j . a pitman extending from the oscillating handle bar to t crank pin, and h. a chain drivingly inner connecting the wheel sprocket and t crank sprocket; 1. an improved structure for moving the crank sprocket off de center comprising in combination with the above: . a frictional unit inner connecting the front wheel to th wheel sprocket to frictionally drive the wheel sprocket fro the front wheel.

-2- The invention as defined in Claim 1 further comprising: n. said front wheel is co-axial with wheel sprocket, o. said frictional unit including, i. a Teflon washer co-axially attached to the wheel sprocket, ii. a rubber O-ring co-axially attached to the front wheel, and iii. tension means for pressing the Teflon washer and rubbe O-ring together.

-3- In the process of operating a person powered vehicle having a. a frame, b. at least two wheels journaled on the frame including, c. a front wheel, d. an oscillating handle bar on the frame, e. a wheel sprocket journaled to the frame, f. a one-way free wheeling clutch on the front wheel drivingl inner connecting the wheel sprocket and front wheel so tha forward directional movement of the sprocket will drive wheel but the wheel cannot drive the sprocket through clutch, g. a crank sprocket journaled on the frame having, h. a crank pin thereon, j . a pitman extending from the oscillating handle bar to crank pin, and k. a chain drivingly inner connecting the wheel sprocket and crank sprocket; 1. an improved method for moving the crank sprocket off de center comprising: m. frictionally driving the wheel sprocket from the front whe

-4- The invention as defined in Claim 3 wherein n. said front wheel is co-axial with the wheel sprocket, and further comprising: o. pressing a co-axial rubber O-ring on the front wheel agai a co-axial Teflon washer on the wheel sprocket.