WO2007032629A1

WO2007032629A1 - Hands and legs drive folding cycle

Info

Publication number: WO2007032629A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/003616
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jin Man Choi
Original assignee: Jin Man Choi
Priority date: 2005-09-12
Filing date: 2006-09-12
Publication date: 2007-03-22
Also published as: KR100893274B1; KR20070029872A

Abstract

Disclosed is a hands and feet operated folding bicycle which is easily convertible into a hand bike suitable to be used by persons who have serious handicap in the lower body. The steering of the bicycle is accomplished as a rider moves the center of his/her body toward a desired traveling course. Also, considering the folding of the hands and feet operated folding bicycle, if a saddle backrest is laid down forward, a pair of axles, which are installed foldably at opposite sides of a rear wheel frame housing, are pulled forward by axle drive rods coupled to axle drive rod end hooks of a saddle backrest frame, whereby a pair of rear wheels, which are coupled to knuckle arms at opposite ends of both the axles, are pulled and gathered forward to thereby complete the folding of the bicycle. In this case, since the knuckle arms are connected to a pair of tie rods, and in turn, the tie rods are connected to opposite sides of a steering bar by means of a pair of tie rod ends, the tie rods can serve to steer the bicycle on the basis of the tilt of the rider's body during traveling. Also, in the course of folding the bicycle, the tie rods can serve to allow the knuckle arms to be kept parallel to each other while facilitating the forward displacement of the knuckle arms. Thereby, the pair of rear wheels, which are rotatably coupled to outer sides of both the knuckle arms, respectively, can be displaced forward while being kept parallel to each other. Also, since a second fork for supporting a front wheel is connected to a rear wheel frame by means of foldable hinges, if the second fork is released by use of a second fork fixing handle having an eccentric cam, a front wheel mechanism can be folded downward. The second fork is also hingedly coupled, at a front end thereof, to a front end of a first fork that constitutes the front wheel mechanism along with the second fork. In turn, a first fork fixing bush, which is hingedly coupled to a control bush supporting bar coupling bracket, is inserted into the first fork in such a manner that it is movable to be secured at a desired position. With this configuration, if a first fork control bush fixing handle is released, the first fork can be folded.

Description

HANDS AND LEGS DRIVE FOLDING CYCLE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to hands and feet operated folding bicycles, and more particularly, to an improved automatic steering type hands and feet operated bicycle having a folding function, which is easily convertible into a hand bike suitable to be used by persons who have a serious handicap in the lower body.

[2]

Background Art

[3] Generally, in use of hands and feet operated bicycles, a rider is able to use both hands and both feet simultaneously and the change of a traveling course is accomplished as the rider moves the center of the body leftward or rightward. One example of the hands and feet operated bicycles is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0023426, which was filed by the applicant of the present invention and entitled "Automatic steering type hands and feet operated bicycle". The filed conventional hands and feet operated folding bicycle, however, has a problem of an excessively large volume thereof and is unsuitable to be used by the physically handicapped persons because it adopts a lever drive manner requiring the use of both feet. Therefore, there exists a serious need for providing the hands and feet operated bicycle with a folding function while allowing the bicycle to be easily converted into a hand bike of crank arm rotating type. It is known that the crank arm rotating type is more advantageous than the lever drive manner and guarantees persons, having a handicap in the lower body, to conveniently operate the bicycle by use of only their hands.

[4]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[5] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a bicycle, which has an automatic steering function to change a traveling course of the bicycle as a rider moves the center of his/her body toward a desired traveling course (similar to the conventional automatic steering type hands and feet operated bicycle disclosed in the above mentioned Patent Application No. 10-2005-0023426), and can be operated by use of hands and/or feet while achieving a folding function, and which can be easily converted into a hand bike of opposite directional crank arm rotating type capable of guaranteeing more smooth and highly efficient operation than a conventional lever drive type or one-directional crank arm drive type, so as to allow persons who have a serious handicap in the lower body to conveniently operate the bicycle by use of only both hands.

[6]

Technical Solution

[7] To accomplish the above described object, in a hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to the present invention, the steering of the bicycle can be accomplished as a rider moves the center of his/her body toward a desired traveling course, similar to the above described conventional automatic steering type hands and feet operated bicycle. Also, considering the folding of the hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to the present invention, if a saddle backrest is laid down forward, a pair of axles, which are installed foldably at opposite sides of a rear wheel frame housing, are pulled forward by axle drive rods coupled to axle drive rod end hooks of a saddle backrest frame, whereby a pair of rear wheels, which are coupled to knuckle arms at opposite ends of both the axles, are pulled and gathered forward to thereby complete the folding of the bicycle.

[8] In this case, since the knuckle arms are connected to a pair of tie rods, and in turn, the tie rods are connected to opposite sides of a steering bar by means of a pair of tie rod ends, the tie rods can serve to steer the bicycle on the basis of the tilt of the rider's body during traveling. Also, in the course of folding the bicycle, the tie rods can serve to allow the knuckle arms to be kept parallel to each other while facilitating the forward displacement of the knuckle arms. Thereby, the pair of rear wheels, which are rotatably coupled to outer sides of both the knuckle arms, respectively, can be displaced forward while being kept parallel to each other.

[9] Also, since a second fork for supporting a front wheel is connected to a rear wheel frame by means of foldable hinges, if the second fork is released by use of a second fork fixing handle having an eccentric cam, a front wheel mechanism can be folded downward. The second fork is also hingedly coupled, at a front end thereof, to a front end of a first fork that constitutes the front wheel mechanism along with the second fork. In turn, a first fork fixing bush, which is hingedly coupled to a control bush supporting bar coupling bracket, is inserted into the first fork in such a manner that it is movable to be secured at a desired position. With this configuration, if a first fork control bush fixing handle is released, the first fork can be folded.

[10] Now, considering a method for operating the above described hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to the present invention, if a rider works pedals that are installed to penetrate through the front wheel, a first handle crank gear is rotated under operation of a connection chain connected to a pedal crank gear. As the rotating force of the first handle crank gear is added up with a rotating force of a second handle crank gear connected to a handle, a free gear connected to a drive chain can be rotated by the total force, thus allowing the front wheel to be rotated and displaced forward.

[11] In the present invention, a pedal crank mechanism can be replaced by footstool shafts, which are installed at opposite sides of the front wheel and have footstools for simply supporting the rider's feet thereon, whereby the bicycle can be converted into a hand bike.

[12]

Advantageous Effects

[13] As described above, a hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to the present invention is designed to achieve a forward movement force by using the rider's hands as well as the riders' feet, thus guaranteeing efficient traveling of the bicycle. Such a hands and feet operated folding bicycle enables unskilled riders and physically handicapped persons to ride bicycles easily. In particular, the hands and feet operated folding bicycle of the present invention can be converted into a hand bike suitable for persons having a handicap in their lower body. When being used as the hand bike, the steering of the hand bike can be accomplished automatically without requiring both the rider's hands. Also, according to the present invention, a pair of handle crank arms are installed to operate in opposite directions from each other, so as to guarantee more smooth operation than conventional one-directional handle crank arms while enabling the balanced development of the rider's body. Furthermore, the hands and feet operated bicycle of the present invention can be folded if necessary, resulting in an ease in the carrying or storage thereof.

[14]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[15] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[16] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[17] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of a front wheel mechanism of the hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[18] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of a rear wheel mechanism of the hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[19] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating a pedal crank mechanism of the hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the right portion of the drawing being shown in sectional view taken along the line A-A of the left portion of the drawing;

[20] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a folded state of the hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and

[21] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a front wheel mechanism constituting a hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to a second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state wherein the bicycle is converted into a hand bike for the physically handicapped persons.

[22]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[23] Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, to allow those skilled in the art to easily carry out the present invention.

[24] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of a front wheel mechanism of the hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of a rear wheel mechanism of the hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating a pedal crank mechanism of the hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the right portion of the drawing being shown in sectional view taken along the line A-A of the left portion of the drawing, FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a folded state of the hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a front wheel mechanism constituting a hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to a second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state wherein the bicycle is converted into a hand bike for the physically handicapped persons.

[25] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the hands and feet operated folding bicycle is basically divided into a front wheel mechanism and a rear wheel mechanism. The front wheel mechanism, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a front wheel 101 or 201, a pedal crank mechanism, a connection chain 106, a handle crank mechanism, a drive chain 113 or 213, a first fork 108 or 208, a handle crank bottom bracket 107 or 207, a first fork control bush 109, a control bush supporting bar 114, and a second fork 116 or 216. The rear wheel mechanism, as shown in FIG. 3, includes a rear wheel frame 122, a saddle 125, a pair of rear wheels 127, a pair of knuckle arms 129, a pair of tie rods 131, a steering bush 134, a pair of axles 137, a pair of axle drive rods 140, a saddle backrest frame 143, a rear wheel frame housing 145, and a pair of springs 148.

[26] The front wheel 101 or 201 is rotatably installed to a pedal crank shaft housing 151 by use of bearings (not shown) received in hub bearing nut bearing grooves 156 formed, respectively, in a pair of hub bearing nuts 155 that are inserted onto bolt portions defined at both ends of the pedal crank shaft housing 151. To a side of the front wheel 101 or 201 is attached a free gear 102 that is adapted to rotate in only one direction.

[27] The pedal crank mechanism, as shown in FIG. 4, includes a pedal crank shaft 150 that is rotatably inserted into the pedal crank shaft housing 151 by use of bearings (not shown) received in bearing grooves 153 of pedal crank shaft bearing nuts 152. Here, the pedal crank shaft housing 151 is coupled to the second fork 116 or 216 as a pair of fork coupling nuts 154 are tightened into an elongated groove of the second fork 116 or 216. To allow a rider to manually tighten the fork coupling nuts 154, the fork coupling nuts 154 are provided with grip portions, respectively. The pedal crank mechanism further includes a pedal crank gear 105 attached to a side of the pedal crank shaft 150, and a pair of pedals 104 rotatably assembled to opposite ends of the pedal crank shaft 150. To assemble the pedals 104, each of a pair of pedal crank arms 103 is attached, at one end thereof, to an associated one of both ends of the pedal crank shaft 150, respectively. To the other end of each pedal crank arm 103 is externally attached a pedal shaft 149 so that the pedal shaft 149 extends perpendicular to the pedal crank arm 103.

[28] The connection chain 106 and the drive chain 113 or 213 are preferably selected from conventionally used ones, and may be replaced by timing belts, and the like.

[29] The handle crank mechanism includes a pair of handle crank arms 120 or 220 and first handle crank gears 111 and 112 or a second handle crank gear 212 coupled inside the handle crank arms 120 or 220, similar to a conventional bicycle's crank mechanism. In the present invention, however, handles 121 or 221 are used instead of pedals, differently from conventional bicycles.

[30] The first fork 108 or 208 is hingedly coupled, at a front end, to a front end of the second fork 116 or 216 by use of fork coupling bolts 119 so that an angle between the first fork 108 or 208 and the second fork 116 or 216 is adjustable. The first fork control bush 109 is inserted into an upper portion of the first fork 108 or 208 so that it is secured to a first fork control bush fixing handle 110 by an appropriate angle. Here, to the first fork control bush fixing handle 110 is also secured an upper end of the control bush supporting bar 114. A connecting member (not shown) of the handle crank bottom bracket 107 or 207 is inserted into an upper end of the first fork control bush 109 and coupled thereto by means of bolts (not shown), etc., so as to have an appropriate length.

[31] The not shown connecting member of the handle crank bottom bracket 107 or 207 is integrally coupled to the center of the bottom bracket 107 or 207, so as to extend perpendicular to the bottom bracket 107 or 207, similar to a conventional bicycle' bottom bracket.

[32] The first fork control bush 109, which has a cylindrical shape, is partially cut away to have an opening so that a control bush supporting bar coupling bracket 115 is integrally inserted into the first fork control bush 109 through the opening. Thereby, one end of the control bush supporting bar 114 is able to be coupled to the first fork control bush 109 by means of the control bush supporting bar coupling bracket 115. The first fork control bush 109 is also secured to the first fork 108 or 208 at an appropriate position of the first fork 108 or 208 by means of the first fork control bush fixing handle 110.

[33] The control bush supporting bar 114 is a member for maintaining an angle between the first fork 108 or 208 and the second fork 116 or 216. The control bush supporting bar 114 has an upper end hingedly coupled to the control bush supporting bar coupling bracket 115 of the first fork control bush 109, and a lower end of the control bush supporting bar 114 is hingedly coupled to the control bush supporting bar coupling bracket 115 of the second fork 116 or 216.

[34] The second fork 116 or 216 is formed, at a front end thereof, with an elongated groove to allow the front wheel 101 or 201 to be coupled to the second fork 116 or 216 via forward and rearward movements. The front upper end of the second fork 116 or 216 is hingedly coupled to opposite ends of the first fork 108 or 208. A rear end of the second fork 116 or 216 is formed, at a lower position thereof, with a second fork folding hinge 117 and at an upper position thereof with a second fork fixing handle 118, so that the second fork 116 or 216 is connected to a lower side of the rear wheel frame 122 in a foldable manner by use of the second fork folding hinge 117 and the second fork fixing handle 118.

[35] The second fork fixing handle 118 is caught by a rear wheel frame fixing groove

124 formed at a front end of the rear wheel frame 122 as the second fork folding hinge 117 is connected to a rear wheel frame hinge 123 that is also formed at the front end of the rear wheel frame 122. The saddle 125 is attached onto the rear wheel frame 122 by use of bolts, etc. A rear end of the rear wheel frame 122 is integrally coupled, at an upper position thereof, to a saddle backrest frame coupling bracket 144 and at a lower position thereof to a steering bar 135. The rear end of the rear wheel frame 122 is inserted into the rear wheel frame housing 145 and rotatably coupled therein. [36] The saddle 125 is coupled to an upper position of the rear wheel frame 122 by use of bolts, etc.

[37] The pair of rear wheels 127 are conventional wheels.

[38] Each of the pair of knuckle arms 129 has one end pivotally hinged to one end of an associated one of the pair of axles 137 by use of one of a pair of king pins 128. A pair of wheel shafts 136 are integrally coupled to the pair of knuckle arms 129, respectively, so that each wheel shaft 136 is coupled to an outer side of the associated knuckle arm 129 so as to be directed perpendicular to the associated knuckle arm 129. The knuckle arms 129 are rotatably coupled to tie rod ends 131, provided at the pair of tie rods 131, by use of tie rod end coupling bolts 133, respectively.

[39] Each of the pair of tie rods 131 is coupled, at opposite ends thereof, with the tie rod ends 132 having opposite screw threads from each other.

[40] The steering bush 134 is inserted onto the steering bar 135 of the rear wheel frame

122 and coupled thereto by use of bolts, etc. The steering bush 134 has the pair of tie rod end coupling bolts 133 provided at opposite sides thereof so that the pair of tie rod ends 132 are pivotally hinged thereto.

[41] Each of the pair of axles 137 has one end hingedly coupled to the associated knuckle arm 129 and the other end hingedly coupled to a side of the rear end of the rear wheel frame 122 by use of an axle folding pin 146.

[42] Each of the pair of axle drive rods 140 is provided, at opposite ends thereof, with axle drive rod ends 139 having opposite screw threads from each other.

[43] A saddle backrest 142 is attached to a front side of the saddle backrest frame 143 by use of bolts, etc. A pair of spring hooks 147 are formed at upper positions of opposite sides of the saddle backrest 142, and an axle drive rod end hook 141 is attached to a rear position of a lower end of the saddle backrest 142. A lower end of the axle drive rod end hook 141 is inserted into a saddle backrest frame coupling bracket 144 of the rear wheel frame housing 145 and rotatably coupled therein.

[44] The rear wheel frame 122 is inserted into a front end of the rear wheel frame housing 145 and rotatably coupled therein. A rear end of the rear wheel frame housing 145 is integrally formed with a pair of members perpendicular thereto so that one end of each of the axles 137 is hingedly coupled to an associated one of the members. The saddle backrest frame coupling bracket 144 is integrally coupled to a rear upper position of the rear wheel frame housing 145. A pair of spring holders are provided at a rear end of the rear wheel frame housing 145 so that one end of each of the pair of springs 148 is caught by an associated one of the spring holders. Each of the spring holders is configured to have a front extension serving as an auxiliary handle 126.

[45] Each of the pair of springs 148 is caught, at one end thereof, by an associated one of the spring holders that are provided at opposite sides of the rear wheel frame housing 145 and at the other end thereof by the spring hooks 147 provided at opposite sides of the saddle backrest frame 143. With this installation, the pair of springs 148 serve to maintain the saddle 125 perpendicular to a forward or rearward direction thereof.

[46] In use of the hands and feet operated bicycle according to the first embodiment of the present invention having the above described configuration, a rider is able to change a bicycle's traveling course by moving his/her body leftward or rightward and can operate the bicycle by use of both the hands and both the feet simultaneously. The operation of the hands and feet operated traveling appliance is clearly described in the earlier application of the present invention No. 10-2005-0023426 (that is entitled "Automatic steering type hands and feet operated bicycle", as mentioned in the introduction of the specification) and thus, the detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

[47] The hands and feet operated bicycle of the present invention is foldable if necessary. Considering the folding of the bicycle according to the present invention, if the saddle backrest 142 is laid down forward, the pair of axles 137, which are installed foldably at opposite sides of the rear wheel frame 145, are pulled forward by the axle drive rods 140 coupled to the axle drive rod end hooks 141 of the saddle backrest frame 143. As the axles 137 are pulled forward, consequently, the pair of rear wheels 127, which are coupled to the knuckle arms 129 at opposite ends of both the axles 137, are pulled and gathered forward, to enable the folding of the bicycle.

[48] In this case, since the knuckle arms 129 are connected to the pair of tie rods 131, and in turn, the tie rods 131 are connected to opposite sides of the steering bar 135 by means of the pair of tie rod ends 132, the tie rods 131 serve to steer the bicycle on the basis of the tilt of the rider's body during traveling. Also, in the course of folding the bicycle, the tie rods 131 serve to allow the knuckle arms 129 to be kept parallel to each other while facilitating the forward displacement of the knuckle arms 129. Thereby, the pair of rear wheels 127, which are rotatably coupled to the outer sides of both the knuckle arms 129, respectively, can be displaced forward while being kept parallel to each other.

[49] Also, since the second fork 116 or 216 for supporting the front wheel 101 or 201 is connected to the rear wheel frame 122 by means of the foldable hinges 117 and 123, if the second fork fixing handle 118 having an eccentric cam is released, the front wheel unit can be folded downward. Then, the first fork fixing bush 109 hingedly coupled to the control bush supporting bar coupling bracket 115 is inserted into the first fork 108 or 208 in a state wherein the first fork 108 or 208 and the second fork 116 or 216 of the front wheel mechanism are hingedly coupled to each other at their front ends. Also, as the first fork control bush fixing handle 110 is released and again fastened after being moved to a desired position, the first fork 108 or 208 can be folded. The unfolding of the first fork 108 or 208 can be accomplished by performing the above described procedure in reverse.

[50] In a second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the pedal crank mechanism, the connection chain 106, and the first handle crank gear 111 may be removed, and the pedal crank shaft 150 may be replaced by a pair of footstool shafts 203 installed with footstools 204 that are designed to simply allow the rider to put his/ her feet thereon. With this configuration, the bicycle according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a feature in that it is usable as a hand bike. The configuration and operation of the hand bike are well known and the description thereof will be omitted herein.

[51] In the present invention, to the handles 121 or 221 and the auxiliary handles 126 are attached levers, and the front and rear wheels 101 or 201 and 127 are provided with brakes. Accordingly, by connecting the levers and the brakes to one another by means of cables, the bicycle of the present invention further comprises a brake device and a parking brake device. The configuration and operation of these brake devices are well known and the description thereof will be omitted herein.

[52] Also, the bicycle of the present invention further comprises a known transmission provided at the second handle crank gear 112 or 212 and the front wheel 101 and 201. Similarly, the configuration and operation of the transmission is well known and the description thereof will be omitted herein.

[53]

Mode for the Invention

[54] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hands and feet operated folding bicycle comprising: a front wheel having a free gear attached thereto; a pedal crank mechanism; a connection chain and a drive chain; a handle crank mechanism having a pair of handle crank arms, first and second handle crank gears coupled inside the respective handle crank arms, and handles connected to the first and second handle crank gears, respectively; a first fork having hinge holes perforated in a first end thereof at opposite positions of the first end and an insertion groove formed in a second end thereof; a handle crank bottom bracket having a connecting member integrated perpendicularly to a center position thereof; a first fork control bush configured to be inserted into the first fork, the first fork control bush being movable and secured at a desired position; a control bush supporting bar for supporting the first fork to maintain an angle between the first fork and a second fork; the second fork having an elongated groove formed in a first end thereof to allow the front wheel to be coupled thereinto via a positional displacement thereof in the elongated groove, the second fork being attached, at a second end thereof, with a second fork folding hinge and a second fork fixing handle; a rear wheel frame having a rear wheel frame hinge provided at a first end thereof, a saddle backrest coupling bracket integrally formed at an upper rear position thereof, and a steering bar integrally formed at a lower rear position thereof, a second end of the rear wheel frame being rotatably inserted into a rear wheel frame housing; a saddle attached to an upper portion of the rear wheel frame; a pair of rear wheels; a pair of knuckle arms, each having a first end pivotally hinged to a first end of an associated one of axles by use of a king pin, a pair of wheel shaft being integrally coupled to outer sides of the knuckle arms, respectively, so as to be directed perpendicular to the respective knuckle arms, the knuckle arms also being rotatably coupled to tie rod ends, provided at the pair of tie rods, by use of tie rod end coupling bolts, respectively; the pair of tie rods each having the pair of tie rod ends coupled at both ends thereof; a steering bush inserted onto the steering bar of the rear wheel frame to enable a change in a fixing position thereof, the steering bush containing the pair of tie rod end coupling bolts provided at opposite sides thereof to allow the pair of tie rod ends to be pivotally hinged to the steering bush; the pair of axles each having a first end hingedly coupled to an associated one of the knuckle arms and a second end hingedly coupled to a side of the rear wheel frame; a pair of axle drive rods each having a pair of axle drive rod ends at both ends thereof; a saddle backrest frame having a saddle backrest installed at a front surface thereof, a pair of spring hooks provided at opposite side of an upper portion thereof, and an axle drive rod end hook provided at a lower rear position thereof, the saddle backrest frame being inserted into and rotatably coupled to the saddle backrest coupling bracket; a rear wheel frame housing having a first end, through which the rear wheel frame is inserted into and rotatably coupled in the rear wheel frame housing, and a second end integrated perpendicularly with a pair of members each having a hinge hole to allow the saddle backrest coupling bracket to be integrally coupled to the rear wheel frame housing, the rear wheel frame being provided, at opposite sides thereof, with a pair of spring holders each having a forwardly extended portion serving as an auxiliary handle; and a pair of springs, wherein the bicycle is designed to allow a rider to change a bicycle's traveling course by moving the center of his/her body while traveling the bicycle, and to fold the hands and feet operated folding bicycle, if a saddle backrest is laid down forward, the pair of axles, which are installed at opposite sides of the rear wheel frame housing, are pulled forward by the axle drive rods coupled to the axle drive rod end hook that is, in turn, mounted to the saddle backrest frame, whereby the pair of rear wheels, which are coupled to the knuckle arms at opposite ends of both the axles, can be folded forward, and then, the front wheel is folded downward as the second fork fixing handle is released, and the first fork is folded as the first fork control bush fixing handle is released.

[55] Preferably, the pedal crank mechanism comprises: a pedal crank shaft housing coupled into the elongated groove of the second fork by use of a pair of fork coupling nuts; a pedal crank shaft rotatably coupled in the pedal crank shaft housing by use of bearings coupled in bearing grooves of pedal crank shaft bearing nuts; a pedal crank gear attached to a side of a pedal crank shaft; a pair of pedal crank arms each attached to one end thereof to an associated one of both ends of the pedal crank shaft; and a pair of pedals rotatably assembled to the other ends of the pedal crank arms to extend perpendicular to the pedal crank arms.

[56] Preferably, the hands and feet operated folding bicycle further comprises a brake device and a parking brake device comprised of brake levers attached to the handles and the auxiliary handles, brakes mounted to the wheels, and cables for connecting the levers and the brakes to one another.

[57] Preferably, the hands and feet operated folding bicycle further comprises a transmission coupled to the second handle crank gear and the front wheel.

[58] Preferably, the pedal crank mechanism, the connection chain, and the first handle crank gear are removed and the pedal crank shaft is replaced by footstool shafts installed at opposite ends thereof with footstools for simply supporting the rider's feet thereon, whereby the bicycle is converted into a hand bike.

[59] Considering a method for operating the above described hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to the present invention, if a rider works pedals penetrated through the front wheel, the first handle crank gear is rotated by the connection chain connected to the pedal crank gear. As the rotating force of the first handle crank gear is added up with a rotating force of the second handle crank gear connected to the handle, the free gear connected to the connection chain can be rotated, thus allowing the front wheel to be rotated, so as to advance the bicycle forward.

[60] On the other hand, in the case where the pedal crank mechanism, the connection chain, and the first handle crank gear are removed and the pedal crank shaft is replaced by the footstool shafts installed with the footstools for simply supporting the rider's feet thereon, the bicycle is operable like as a hand bike.

[61]

Industrial Applicability

[62] As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a hands and feet operated bicycle with a folding function, to allow the bicycle to be freely folded and unfolded as occasion demands.

[63] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modi- fications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. [64]

Claims

[1] A hands and feet operated folding bicycle comprising: a front wheel having a free gear attached thereto; a pedal crank mechanism; a connection chain and a drive chain; a handle crank mechanism having a pair of handle crank arms, first and second handle crank gears coupled inside the respective handle crank arms, and handles connected to the first and second handle crank gears, respectively; a first fork having hinge holes perforated in a first end thereof at opposite positions of the first end and an insertion groove formed in a second end thereof; a handle crank bottom bracket having a connecting member integrated perpendicularly to a center position thereof; a first fork control bush configured to be inserted into the first fork, the first fork control bush being movable and secured at a desired position; a control bush supporting bar for supporting the first fork to maintain an angle between the first fork and a second fork; the second fork having an elongated groove formed in a first end thereof to allow the front wheel to be coupled thereinto via a positional displacement thereof in the elongated groove, the second fork being attached, at a second end thereof, with a second fork folding hinge and a second fork fixing handle; a rear wheel frame having a rear wheel frame hinge provided at a first end thereof, a saddle backrest coupling bracket integrally formed at an upper rear position thereof, and a steering bar integrally formed at a lower rear position thereof, a second end of the rear wheel frame being rotatably inserted into a rear wheel frame housing; a saddle attached to an upper portion of the rear wheel frame; a pair of rear wheels; a pair of knuckle arms, each having a first end pivotally hinged to a first end of an associated one of axles by use of a king pin, a pair of wheel shaft being integrally coupled to outer sides of the knuckle arms, respectively, so as to be directed perpendicular to the respective knuckle arms, the knuckle arms also being rotatably coupled to tie rod ends, provided at the pair of tie rods, by use of tie rod end coupling bolts, respectively; the pair of tie rods each having the pair of tie rod ends coupled at both ends thereof; a steering bush inserted onto the steering bar of the rear wheel frame to enable a change in a fixing position thereof, the steering bush containing the pair of tie rod end coupling bolts provided at opposite sides thereof to allow the pair of tie rod ends to be pivotally hinged to the steering bush; the pair of axles each having a first end hingedly coupled to an associated one of the knuckle arms and a second end hingedly coupled to a side of the rear wheel frame; a pair of axle drive rods each having a pair of axle drive rod ends at both ends thereof; a saddle backrest frame having a saddle backrest installed at a front surface thereof, a pair of spring hooks provided at opposite side of an upper portion thereof, and an axle drive rod end hook provided at a lower rear position thereof, the saddle backrest frame being inserted into and rotatably coupled to the saddle backrest coupling bracket; a rear wheel frame housing having a first end, through which the rear wheel frame is inserted into and rotatably coupled in the rear wheel frame housing, and a second end integrated perpendicularly with a pair of members each having a hinge hole to allow the saddle backrest coupling bracket to be integrally coupled to the rear wheel frame housing, the rear wheel frame being provided, at opposite sides thereof, with a pair of spring holders each having a forwardly extended portion serving as an auxiliary handle; and a pair of springs, wherein the bicycle is designed to allow a rider to change a bicycle s traveling course by moving the center of his/her body while traveling the bicycle, and wherein, to fold the hands and feet operated folding bicycle, if a saddle backrest is laid down forward, the pair of axles, which are installed at opposite sides of the rear wheel frame housing, are pulled forward by the axle drive rods coupled to the axle drive rod end hook that is, in turn, mounted to the saddle backrest frame, whereby the pair of rear wheels, which are coupled to the knuckle arms at opposite ends of both the axles, can be folded forward, and then, the front wheel is folded downward as the second fork fixing handle is released, and the first fork is folded as the first fork control bush fixing handle is released.

[2] The hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the pedal crank mechanism comprises: a pedal crank shaft housing coupled into the elongated groove of the second fork by use of a pair of fork coupling nuts; a pedal crank shaft rotatably coupled in the pedal crank shaft housing by use of bearings coupled in bearing grooves of pedal crank shaft bearing nuts; a pedal crank gear attached to a side of a pedal crank shaft; a pair of pedal crank arms each attached to one end thereof to an associated one of both ends of the pedal crank shaft; and a pair of pedals rotatably assembled to the other ends of the pedal crank arms to extend perpendicular to the pedal crank arms. [3] The hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to claim 1, further comprising: a brake device and a parking brake device comprised of brake levers attached to the handles and the auxiliary handles, brakes mounted to the wheels, and cables for connecting the levers and the brakes to one another. [4] The hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission coupled to the second handle crank gear and the front wheel. [5] The hands and feet operated folding bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the pedal crank mechanism, the connection chain, and the first handle crank gear are removed and the pedal crank shaft is replaced by footstool shafts installed at opposite ends thereof with footstools for simply supporting the rider's feet thereon, whereby the bicycle is converted into a hand bike.