Unicycle

• US 4,786,069 A
• Filed: 02/09/1987
• Issued: 11/22/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chun-Yi Tang
• Original Assignee: Chun-Yi Tang
• Inventors: Tang, Chun-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Love, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HILL, MITCHELL
• Application Number:
  US07/012,722
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 280/205, 280/221, 280/11.115, 74/594.1, 74/594.4, 272/73, 272/114
• US Class Current: 280/221
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 1/00 Unicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 17/00 Cycles not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2164 Cranks and pedals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2168 Pedals

Abstract

Tubular spacers (28) are positioned between the wheels (10, 12) of a unicycle. Inboard portions of tie bolts (34) extend through the spacers (28). A threaded end portion (38) of the tie bolt (34) screws into a T-nut (40) provided within an opening (26) in a wheel (12). The shaft of the tie bolt (34) projects through an opening (24) in the other wheel (10) and projects outwardly beyond the wheel (10). A second tubular spacer (50) closely surrounds the outboard portion of the tie bolt (34). At one end (52) this spacer bears against an abutment (46). At its opposite end (54) it abuts against the inner surface of the tie bolt head (36). When the tie bolt (34) is tightly screwed into the T-nut (46), it is put into tension and the tubular spacers (28, 50) are put into compression. A pedal element (56) is mounted for rotation about the outboard tubular spacer (50).

Claims

1. A unicycle comprising a pair of axially spaced apart disk wheels and a pair of pedal assemblies spaced apart diametrically which also serves to secure the two wheels together and make the unicycle a unitary structure, each said pedal assembly comprising:

an elongated one piece tie bolt having a head at one end, a threaded portion at its opposite end,

a pair of aligned bolt receiving openings in the wheels, with the opening in a first of the wheels being sized to snugly receive a midportion of the tie bolt and with the opening in the second wheel being internally threaded to mate with the threads at the end of the tie bolt,

a first tubular spacer between the wheels, surrounding the tie bolt, said first tubular spacer comprising an annular wall with inside and outside diameter which are both substantially larger than the tie bolt diameter, said annular wall presenting an edge at each of its ends, said annular wall having a thickness dimension that is smaller than the tie bolt diameter,

abutment means axially outwardly of the first wheel surrounding the bolt receiving opening in said wheel, said abutment means including an opening in which the tie bolt is slidably received,

said bolt head being spaced axially outwardly from said abutment means,

a second tubular spaced closely surrounding the tie bolt between the bolt head and the abutment means, said second tubular spacer extending axially between the bolt head and the abutment means,

a pedal separate from said second tubular spacer surrounding said second tubular spacer, said pedal being freely rotatable about said second tubular spacer, and

wherein the threads at the end of the bolt are of sufficient length that when the tie bolt is tightened the tie bolt is put into tension, the first tubular spacer is put into compression between the two wheels, and the annular edges at the ends of the first spacer dig into the wheels, and the second tubular spacer is put into compression between the abutment means and the bolt head, and wherein the compression of the two tubular spacers is of such a magnitude that the two wheels are secured together and the position of each to the other is fixed, by the two pedal assemblies.

2. A unicycle according to claim 1, wherein the wheels are circular disks made from a wood product board.

3. A unicycle according to claim 2, wherein the first tubular spacer is a length of plastic pipe.

4. A unicycle according to claim 1, wherein the first tubular spacer is a length of plastic pipe.

5. A unicycle according to claim 1, wherein the pedal is a one piece block and includes a center passageway sized to receive the second spacer, said pedal also extending between the first wheel and the head of the bolt but being shorter than the second tubular spacer so that it is free to rotate.

6. A unicycle according to claim 1, wherein the abutment means comprises a thin annular washer closely surrounding the bolt, said washer making contact with the first wheel and said second tubular spacer making compressive load transferring contact with said washer.

7. A unicycle according to claim 1, comprising at least one additional tie bolt spaced from the pedal assemblies, and a said first tubular spacer surrounding each said additional tie bolt, each said additional tie bolt extending through aligned openings in the wheels and having a head which bears against one of the wheels, a threaded portion at its opposite end, and wherein a nut is carried by the other wheel and to which the threaded end portion of the tie bolt is connected, said additional tie bolt being in tension and putting the said first tubular spacer in compression.

8. The unicycle comprising a pair of axially spaced apart disk wheels and a pair of pedal assemblies spaced apart diametrically which also serve to secure the two wheels together and make the unicycle a unitary structure, each said pedal assembly comprising:

an elongated one-piece tie bolt having a head at one end and a threaded portion at its opposite end,

a pair of aligned bolt receiving openings in the wheels, with the opening in the first wheel being sized to snugly receive a mid portion of a tie bolt and with the opening in the second wheel being internally threaded to mate with the threads at the end of the tie bolt;

a tubular first inner spacer between the wheels, surrounding the tie bolt, said tubular first spacer being substantially larger in diameter than the tie bolt and presenting an edge at each of its ends;

a second larger diameter tubular outer spacer surrounding the first tubular spacer and presenting an edge at each of its ends;

said first and second tubular spacers being of such a length that when the tie bolt is tightened and put into tension, the tubular first spacer digs into the inner surfaces of the wheels a greater amount than the ends of the outer tubular spacer.

9. A unicycle comprising a pair of axially spaced apart disk wheels and a pair of pedal assemblies spaced apart diametrically which also serve to secure the two wheels together and make the unicycle a unitary structure, each said pedal assembly comprising:

an elongated one piece tie bolt having a head at one end, a threaded portion at its opposite end,

a pair of aligned bolt receiving openings in the wheels, with the opening in a first of the wheels being sized to snugly receive a midportion of the tie bolt and with the opening in the second wheel being internally threaded to mate with the threads at the end of the tie bolt,

a first spacer between the wheels having means at its ends sized and shaped to dig into the wheels when the tie bolt is in tension,

abutment means axially outwardly of the first wheel surrounding the bolt receiving opening in said wheel, said abutment means including an opening in which the tie bolt is slidably received,

said bolt head being spaced axially outwardly from said abutment means,

a tubular second spacer closely surrounding the tie bolt between the bolt head and the abutment means, said second tubular spacer extending axially between the bolt head and the abutment means,

a pedal separate from said second tubular spacer surrounding said tubular second spacer, said pedal being freely rotatable about said second tubular spacer, and

wherein the threads at the end of the bolt are of sufficient length that when the tie bolt is tightened the tie bolt is put into tension, the first spacer is put into compression between the two wheels, and the said means at the ends of the first spacer dig into the wheels, and the tubular second spacer is put into compression between the abutment menas and the bolt head, and wherein the compression of the two tubular spacers is of such a magnitude that the two wheels are secured together and the position of each to the other is fixed, by the two pedal assemblies.