Bicycle wheel drive

• US 4,169,609 A
• Filed: 01/26/1978
• Issued: 10/02/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George P. Zampedro
• Original Assignee: George P. Zampedro
• Inventors: Zampedro, George P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siemens, Terrance L.
• Application Number:
  US05/872,725
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 280/241, 280/252, 280/251
• US Class Current: 280/241
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 1/28 characterised by the use of flexible drive members, e.g. chains

Abstract

A bicycle wheel drive has a pair of pedals arranged for reciprocal motion at a slight angle from vertical beneath and forwardly of the seat of a bicycle. Sprockets on the bicycle at the opposite ends of the paths of the reciprocable pedals receive bicycle chains, at least one of which is also engaged on a sprocket on a wheel of the bicycle to be driven. Carriages movable in the reciprocable path of the pedals mount the pedals and one-way ratchets incorporating sprockets mounted on the carriages engage the bicycle chains so that alternate up and down movement of the pedals by a bicycle rider imparts a continuous rotary motion to the sprocket on the driven wheel of the bicycle. A flexible cable interconnects the carriages carrying the pedals and is trained over an idler pulley near the upper end of the reciprocal path of the pedals so that downward motion of one of the pedals imparts upward motion to the other pedal.

Claims

1. A wheel drive for a bicycle having a frame rotatably supporting the axles of front and rear bicycle wheels including dual track means secured to the opposite sides of said frame and arranged at an angle from vertical, a carriage arranged for longitudinal movement in each of said track means and a pedal on each of said carriages in oppositely disposed outwardly extending relation, a pair of sprockets journaled on said frame above said track means and a second pair of sprockets journaled on said frame adjacent the lower ends of said track means, a rear wheel sprocket on said rear wheel and a first bicycle chain trained over said rear wheel sprocket over one of said sprockets on the upper portion of said frame and over one of said sprockets adjacent the lower ends of said track means with a section of said first bicycle chain being positioned in parallel relation to one of said track means, a one-way ratchet having a sprocket configuration mounted on one of said carriages, said sprocket engaged in said parallel section of said first bicycle chain, said ratchet and sprocket arranged to lock to said carriage when rotated in one direction and to rotate freely when rotated in the opposite direction, a second bicycle chain trained over the other one of said sprockets on the upper portion of said frame and over the other one of said sprockets adjacent the lower ends of said track means, a section of said second bicycle chain being positioned in parallel relation to a second carriage in the other one of said track means on the other side of said frame and a second one-way ratchet and sprocket on said second carriage with said sprocket engaging said second bicycle chain, whereby alternate reciprocal motion imparted said pedals will move said first and second bicycle chains so as to rotate said rear wheel sprocket and the rear wheel.

2. The wheel drive for a bicycle set forth in claim 1 and wherein each of said pairs of sprockets are joined to a common rotatable shaft so that motion imparted to one of said sprockets of each pair is transferred to the other sprocket of said pair.

3. The wheel drive for a bicycle set forth in claim 1 and wherein a pulley is positioned on said frame above said track means and a flexible connecting member is secured at its ends to each of said carriages and trained over said pulley.

4. The wheel drive for a bicycle set forth in claim 2 and wherein said track means comprises two spaced parallel longitudinally extending members.

5. The wheel drive for a bicycle set forth in claim 4 and wherein each of said carriages has wheels engaging said spaced parallel longitudinally extending members.

6. The wheel drive for a bicycle set forth in claim 1 and wherein said parallel sections of said first and second bicycle chains are positioned for registry with said sprockets of said ratchets and portions of said carriages form guides on the opposite sides of said chains with respect to said ratchets so as to prevent deflection of said chains with respect to said sprockets.