Human-powered ride-on vehicle

• US 20040188977A1
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jones, Michael D., Giddings, Jason M., Forsyth, Thomas E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,932,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/282
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/005 Recumbent-type bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/05 characterised by a single rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/06 Frames for tricycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 1/16 by means of a to-and-fro movable handlebar

Abstract

A human-powered, ride-on vehicle, includes a main longitudinal frame member having a steering/drive mechanism mounted thereon for oscillating movement; a driven rear wheel having an axle, a rear sprocket operatively fixed to the rear wheel for coastable engagement therewith; a pair of spaced apart, steerable front wheel located adjacent the other end of the main longitudinal frame member and operatively connected to the steering/drive mechanism; wherein, the steering/drive mechanism include: a teeter arm mounted to the main longitudinal frame member intermediate the ends thereof for pivoting movement in a fore direction and an aft direction; a drive mechanism including first and second drive linkages, wherein the first drive linkage provides a motive force to the driven rear wheel during a first power stroke and the second drive linkage provides a motive force to the driven rear wheel during a second power stroke, and wherein, for equal movement of the teeter arm in the for and aft directions, the motive force of the first powers strokes is between about one to three times that of the second power stroke.

Claims

1. A human-powered, ride-on vehicle, comprising:

a main longitudinal frame member having a steering/drive mechanism mounted thereon for oscillating movement;

a rear wheel receiver located adjacent one end of said main longitudinal frame member;

a driven rear wheel having an axle, wherein said axle is received in said rear wheel receiver;

a rear sprocket operatively fixed to said rear wheel for coastable engagement therewith;

a pair of spaced apart, steerable front wheel located adjacent the other end of said main longitudinal frame member and operatively connected to said steering/drive mechanism;

wherein, said steering/drive mechanism includes;

a teeter arm mounted on a teeter arm mount to said main longitudinal frame member intermediate the ends thereof for pivoting movement in a fore direction and an aft direction;

a handle bar located atop said teeter arm for use by a rider to impart a motive force to the vehicle;

a drive mechanism including first and second drive linkages, wherein said first drive linkage provides a motive force to said driven rear wheel during a first power stroke and said second drive linkage provides a motive force to said driven rear wheel during a second power stroke, and wherein said drive linkages are connected to said teeter arm so that, for equal movement of said teeter arm in said for and aft directions, the motive force of said first power stroke is between about one to three times that of said second power stroke.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 which further includes a transverse frame member located adjacent the front end of said main longitudinal frame member for supporting said front wheels, and which further includes, for each wheel, a king pin steerably mounted to said transverse frame member for receiving thereon a front wheel, and a steering mechanism located intermediate said steering drive mechanism and said front wheels.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein said steering mechanism includes said handle bar located atop said teeter arm;

steering shafts extending through said teeter arm for oscillating movement therewith and rotatable movement therein, having said handle bar fixed to the upper terminus thereof;

a steering torque tube connected to the lower terminus of said steering shafts and extending through the forward end of said main longitudinal frame member;

a removable crank fixed to the forward end of said steering torque tube; and

, for each front wheel;

an adjustable length first steering arm having one end thereof attached to said removable crank;

a bell crank attached to the other end of said first steering arm;

an adjustable length second steering arm attached at one end thereof to said bell crank and attached at the other end thereof to said king pin.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein said transverse frame member is removable from said vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 which includes a brake rotor mounted on each of said front wheels, a brake caliper for each rotor, and a hand lever and brake cable to operate the brake calipers in unison.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 which further include an oscillating longitudinal frame member received for oscillating movement in a channel in said main longitudinal frame member, wherein said oscillating longitudinal frame member is pivotally connected to said teeter arm for providing motive force to the vehicle, and wherein said oscillating longitudinal frame member has foot pedal located thereon.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said drive linkages each include a connection point on said teeter arm, a drive chain connected at one end thereof to said connection point, and a drive sprocket driven by said drive chain;

and which includes a drive axle extending through and operable with said drive sprockets to drive a front sprocket, which is connected to said rear sprocket by a main chain.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein said first drive linkage is connected to a lower connection point located below said teeter arm mount on said teeter arm and provides power during a first power stroke, and wherein said second drive linkage is connected to an upper connection point located below said teeter arm mount and provides power during a second power stroke.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 which includes an idler pulley having an idler spring trained therethrough, and wherein the ends of said idler spring are connected to the free ends of said drive chains.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 which includes a seat mounted on said main longitudinal frame, wherein said main longitudinal frame includes an adjustable seat mount for providing fore and aft movement of said seat, and which further includes an adjustable seat back support for adjusting the incline of said seat back.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said rear sprocket includes plural, ganged sprockets, and which further include a derailleur and shifter for moving a main drive chain to a selected one of said ganged sprockets.

12. A human-powered, ride-on vehicle, comprising:

a main longitudinal frame member having a steering/drive mechanism mounted thereon for oscillating movement;

a rear wheel receiver located adjacent one end of said main longitudinal frame member;

a driven rear wheel having an axle, wherein said axle is received in said rear wheel receiver;

a rear sprocket operatively fixed to said rear wheel for coastable engagement therewith;

a pair of spaced apart, steerable front wheel located adjacent the other end of said main longitudinal frame member and operatively connected to said steering/drive mechanism;

wherein, said steering/drive mechanism includes;

a teeter arm mounted on a teeter arm mount to said main longitudinal frame member intermediate the ends thereof for pivoting movement in a fore direction and an aft direction;

a handle bar located atop said teeter arm for use by a rider to impart a motive force to the vehicle;

an oscillating longitudinal frame member received for oscillating movement in a channel in said main longitudinal frame member, wherein said oscillating longitudinal frame member is pivotally connected to said teeter arm for providing motive force to the vehicle, and wherein said oscillating longitudinal frame member has foot pedals located thereon;

a drive mechanism including first and second drive linkages, wherein said first drive linkage provides a motive force to said driven rear wheel during a first power stroke and said second drive linkage provides a motive force to said driven rear wheel during a second power stroke;

wherein said drive linkages each include a connection point to said teeter arm, a drive chain connected to said connection point, and a drive sprocket driven by said drive chain; and

which includes a drive axle extending through and operable with said drive sprockets to drive a front sprocket, which is connected to said rear sprocket by a main chain, and which further includes an idler pulley having an idler spring trained therethrough, and wherein the ends of said idler spring are connected to the free ends of said drive chains.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 which further includes a transverse frame member located adjacent the front end of said main longitudinal frame member for supporting said front wheels, and which further includes, for each wheel, a king pin steerably mounted to said transverse frame member for receiving thereon a front wheel, and a steering mechanism located intermediate said steering drive mechanism and said front wheels;

wherein said steering mechanism includes a handle bar located atop said teeter arm;

steering shafts extending through said teeter arm for oscillating movement therewith and rotatable movement therein, having said handle bar fixed to the upper terminus thereof;

a steering torque tube connected to the lower terminus of said steering shafts and extending through the forward end of said main longitudinal frame member;

a removable crank fixed to the forward end of said steering torque tube; and

, for each front wheel;

an adjustable length first steering arm having one end thereof attached to said removable crank;

a bell crank attached to the other end of said first steering arm;

an adjustable length second steering arm attached at one end thereof to said bell crank and attached at the other end thereof to said king pin.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said transverse frame member is removable from said vehicle.

15. The vehicle of claim 12 which includes a brake rotor mounted on each of said front wheels, a brake caliper for each rotor, and a hand lever and brake cable to operate the brake calipers in unison.

16. The vehicle of claim 12 which includes a seat mounted on said main longitudinal frame, wherein said main longitudinal frame includes an adjustable seat mount for providing fore and aft movement of said seat, and which further includes an adjustable seat back support for adjusting the incline of said seat back.

17. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein said rear sprocket includes plural, ganged sprockets, and which further include a derailleur and shifter for moving a main drive chain to a selected one of said ganged sprockets.

18. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein said first drive linkage is connected to a lower connection point located below said teeter arm mount on said teeter arm and provides power during a first power stroke, and-wherein said second drive linkage is connected to an upper connection point located below said teeter arm mount and provides power during a second power stroke, and wherein, for equal movement of said teeter arm in said for and aft directions, the motive force of said first power stroke is between about one to three times that of said second power stroke.

19. The vehicle of claim 12 which includes a power-assisted motor and a battery therefore which engages said rear wheel to provide an auxiliary motive force.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 which further includes a vital signs and ride profile monitor, wherein said vital signs and ride profile monitor has a maximum heart rate set mechanism for setting a maximum allowable heart rate, and wherein said power-assist motor is activated by said vital signs and ride profile monitor when a rider'"'"'s heart rate approaches said maximum allowable heart rate.

21. The vehicle of claim 19 which further includes an adjustable dynamometer coupleable to said rear wheel, and a vital signs and ride profile monitor having a memory therein, and which further include computer-compatible I/O ports, and which further includes a stroke rate sensor, a speed sensor and a torque sensor, which sensors provide stroke rate, speed and torque information comprising a ride profile to said vital signs and ride profile monitor, wherein said ride profile is stored in said memory during a ride, and wherein said ride profile may be downloaded to program a dynamometer to simulate the stored ride profile.

22. A human-powered, ride-on vehicle, comprising:

a main longitudinal frame member having a steering/drive mechanism mounted thereon for oscillating movement;

a rear wheel receiver located adjacent one end of said main longitudinal frame member;

a driven rear wheel having an axle, wherein said axle is received in said rear wheel receiver;

a rear sprocket operatively fixed to said rear wheel for coastable engagement therewith;

a transverse frame member located adjacent the front end of said main longitudinal frame member for supporting a pair of spaced apart, steerable front wheels, operatively connected to said steering/drive mechanism, wherein said transverse frame member is removable from said vehicle, wherein said transverse frame member includes, for each wheel, a king pin steerably mounted to said transverse frame member for receiving thereon a front wheel, and a steering mechanism located intermediate said steering drive mechanism and said front wheels;

wherein, said steering/drive mechanism includes;

a teeter arm mounted on a teeter arm mount to said main longitudinal frame member intermediate the ends thereof for pivoting movement in a fore direction and an aft direction;

wherein said steering mechanism includes a handle bar located atop said teeter arm for use by a rider to impart a motive force to the vehicle;

steering shafts extending through said teeter arm for oscillating movement therewith and rotatable movement therein, having said handle bar fixed to the upper terminus thereof;

a steering torque tube connected to the lower terminus of said steering shafts and extending through the forward end of said main longitudinal frame member;

a removable crank fixed to the forward end of said steering torque tube; and

, for each front wheel;

an adjustable length first steering arm having one end thereof attached to said removable crank;

a bell crank attached to the other end of said first steering arm;

an adjustable length second steering arm attached at one end thereof to said bell crank and attached at the other end thereof to said king pin; and

a drive mechanism for imparting said motive force to said rear wheel.

23. The vehicle of claim 22 wherein said drive mechanism includes first and second drive linkages, wherein said first drive linkage provides a motive force to said driven rear wheel during a first power stroke and said second drive linkage provides a motive force to said driven rear wheel during a second power stroke, and wherein said drive linkages are connected to said teeter arm;

wherein said drive linkages each include a connection point on said teeter arm, a drive chain connected at one end thereof to said connection point, and a drive sprocket driven by said drive chain; and

which includes a drive axle extending through and operable with said drive sprockets to drive a front sprocket, which is connected to said rear sprocket by a main chain, wherein said first drive linkage is connected to a lower connection point located below said teeter arm mount on said teeter arm and provides power during a first power stroke, and wherein said second drive linkage is connected to an upper connection point located below said teeter arm mount and provides power during a second power stroke, which includes an idler pulley having an idler spring trained therethrough, and wherein the ends of said idler spring are connected to the free ends of said drive chains; and

which further include an oscillating longitudinal frame member received for oscillating movement in a channel in said main longitudinal frame member, wherein said oscillating longitudinal frame member is pivotally connected to said teeter arm for providing motive force to the vehicle, and wherein said oscillating longitudinal frame member has foot pedal located thereon.

24. The vehicle of claim 22 which includes a power-assisted motor and a battery therefore which engages said rear wheel to provide an auxiliary motive force.

25. The vehicle of claim 24 which further includes a vital signs and ride profile monitor, wherein said vital signs and ride profile monitor has a maximum heart rate set mechanism for setting a maximum allowable heart rate, and wherein said power-assist motor is activated by said vital signs and ride profile monitor when a rider'"'"'s heart rate approaches said maximum allowable heart rate.

26. The vehicle of claim 24 which further includes an adjustable dynamometer coupleable to said rear wheel, and a vital signs and ride profile monitor having a memory therein, and which further include computer-compatible I/O ports, and which further includes a stroke rate sensor, a speed sensor and a torque sensor, which sensors provide stroke rate, speed and torque information comprising a ride profile to said vital signs and ride profile monitor, wherein said ride profile is stored in said memory during a ride, and wherein said ride profile may be downloaded to program a dynamometer to simulate the stored ride profile.