Human powered vehicle

• US 4,976,451 A
• Filed: 08/24/1988
• Issued: 12/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kamen G. Kamenov
• Original Assignee: Kamen G. Kamenov
• Inventors: Kamenov, Kamen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/235,470
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 280/231, 280/233, 280/230, 280/221, 280/223, 280/288.1, 280/226.1, 280/232, 280/234, 474/134, 474/137
• US Class Current: 280/226.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 1/12 operated by both hand and foot power

Abstract

A human-powered vehicle related to bicycles and rowing machines consisting of three or more wheels attached to a horizontal frame. For the purpose of a better understanding we will use a three-wheeled vehicle. There is no substantial difference between the front part of this invention and the front part of a regular bicycle. The rear wheels are attached to the frame and are driven by chains attached to their one-way sprocket freewheels. The chains are directly attached to a bar on which the pedals are mounted. There is a sliding board located on the front part of the framework which moves freely forwards and backwards on the frame. The board is covered with a soft foam-type material. The operator of this vehicle lies horizontally on the vehicle facing the ground and places the sliding board under his stomach while holding the handlebars and inserting his feet into the pedals. When the operator pushes on the handlebars his body slides backwards with the sliding board. At the same time, he pushes on the pedals with his feet. Notice that the operator does not turn the pedals. Both pedals move simultaneously backwards while pulling the chains with them, thus turning the rear wheels in the direction that moves the vehicle forward. Then, the operator pulls back with his arms and legs and returns to the starting position. When the operator pulls back, the pedals either move the chains freely in the other direction, due to one-way sprocket freewheels to which the chains are attached, or they continue moving the chains in the same direction as the wheels, due to a mechanism which locks the pedals bar to the upper part of the chains instead of the lower part as before, and thus turning them in the same direction. With few or no changes, this invention is convertible into a rowing machine. By sitting upright on the sliding board and by inserting his feet into front pedals the operator can steer the vehicle. By pushing and pulling on the front pedals and the rear handlebars with his hands and feet, he can create a forward motion of the vehicle. A second operator can be seated on an additional sliding board located at the rear of the framework. By pushing on the rear handlebars he can aid the first operator, who would be positioned horizontally, in the propulsion of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A human-powered vehicle comprising a frame, a front steerable wheel mounted to a forward portion of said frame, at least one drivable rear wheel mounted to a rearward portion of said frame,

an operator board attached to an upper portion of said frame,

a first one-way freewheel operatively attached to said rear wheel,

a first two-way freewheel attached to said frame,

a continuous chain connecting and encircling said first one-way freewheel and said first two-way freewheel, forming a upper and a lower portion,

a pedal assembly comprising pedals and a bar holding said pedals,

a second one-way freewheel connecting said bar to said upper chain portion,

a third one-way freewheel connecting said bar to said lower chain portion,

wherein a forward motion of said pedal assembly propels the upper portion of the chain forward through said second one-way freewheel thereby driving the rear wheel

and a rearward motion of said pedal assembly propels the lower portion of said chain rearward through said third one-way freewheel thereby driving the rear wheel.