DUAL POWERED PROPULSION SYSTEM

• US 20150298761A1
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas S. Felker
• Original Assignee: Thomas S. Felker
• Inventors: Felker, Thomas S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,580,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/125 Extensions; Auxiliary handlebars
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 1/12 operated by both hand and foot power
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2009/005 Details of transmission chains specially adapted for bicycles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rider'"'"'s simultaneous use of his forearms/hands and legs to provide dual power into a propulsion system for riding a cycle vehicle, including a bicycle and a tricycle, or other vehicles. The invention permits the rider to have complete control turning the cycle vehicle, at will, right or left, while at the same time pumping a set of forearm/hand bars in an up power stroke and a down power stroke. In addition, even though the pumping action is lineally moving a telescoping rod and a push/pull cable back and forth, it is also simultaneously rotating a flywheel, upper and lower sprockets, and the crank axle to drive the bicycle wheel forward over the riding surface. Thus, the rider can provide maximum power into rotating the rear tire by simultaneously using both his arms and legs, while contemporaneously controlling his direction of travel.

Claims

1. An arm powered propulsion system for use with a cycle vehicle, the system comprising:

forearm/hand bars pivotally coupled to a cycle vehicle, wherein the forearm/hand bars are pivotal in up and down power strokes; and

a push/pull cable operatively coupled between the forearm/hand bars and a crank axle of the cycle vehicle, wherein the push/pull cable drives the crank axle of the cycle vehicle in response to movement of the forearm/hand bars in each the up power stroke and the down power stroke.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the push/pull cable is operatively coupled to the crank axle by one of a gear or a sprocket and chain.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a flywheel operatively coupled between the push/pull cable and one of the gear or the sprocket.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a cam and a cam follower to push the flywheel through a top dead center position of the flywheel during rotation.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising an upper drive system comprising an upper telescoping rod moveable within a stationary upper telescoping rod support sleeve, wherein the upper telescoping rod is coupled to the forearm/hand bars and the upper telescoping rod moves in response to movement of the forearm/hand bars in the rotational up and down power strokes.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a lower drive system comprising a lower telescoping rod moveable within a stationary lower telescoping rod support sleeve, wherein the lower telescoping rod is coupled to the gear or the sprocket.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the push/pull cable is connected between the upper telescoping rod and the lower telescoping rod, wherein the push/pull cable moves the lower telescoping rod back and forth in response to movement of the upper telescoping rod up and down.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the upper telescoping rod is coupled to the forearm/hand bars using two racks and a pinion gear, wherein one rack is coupled to the forearm/hand bars, the other rack is coupled to the upper telescoping rod and the pinion gear is operationally coupled to each rack.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the upper telescoping rod extends and retracts in a linear direction with respect to the stationary upper rod support sleeve in response to operation of the two racks and the pinion gear.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the lower telescoping rod is coupled to the gear or sprocket using a connecting bridge rod coupled on a front end to each the lower telescoping rod and a sliding support bracket and on a back end to the gear or sprocket, wherein movement of the lower telescoping rod back and forth moves the connecting bridge rod back and forth to rotate the gear or the sprocket.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sliding support bracket comprises a linear path of travel for the lower telescoping rod as it extends and retracts with respect to the stationary lower telescoping rod support sleeve.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the lower telescoping rod is coupled to the gear or sprocket using a connecting bridge rod coupled on a front end to each the lower telescoping rod and a sliding support bracket and on a back end to the gear or sprocket, wherein movement of the lower telescoping rod back and forth moves the connecting bridge rod back and forth to rotate the gear or sprocket.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the sliding support bracket comprises a linear path of travel for the lower telescoping rod as it extends and retracts with respect to the stationary lower telescoping rod support sleeve.

28. The system of claim 1, further comprising an arm powered lockout mechanism, wherein the lockout mechanism prevents movement of the forearm/hand bars in the up and down power strokes.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein each forearm/hand bar comprises an exterior forearm/hand rod moveable in a telescoping manner over an interior forearm rod to adjust the location of the hand grips either toward or away from the rider, wherein moving the exterior forearm/hand rod toward the rider results in a more upright position relative the riding surface and moving the exterior forearm/hand rod toward a front of the cycle vehicle results in a leaning forward position.

30. The system of claim 11, wherein the front end of the connecting bridge rod travel in the linear path and the back end of the connecting bridge rod travels in a circular path.

31. The system of claim 13, wherein the front end of the connecting bridge rod travels in the linear path and the back end of the connecting bridge rod travels in a circular path.

14. A dual powered propulsion system for use with a bicycle, the system comprising:

a foot powered propulsion system; and

a supplemental arm powered propulsion system comprising;

forearm/hand bars pivotally coupled to the bicycle, wherein the forearm/hand bars are pivotal in up and down power strokes; and

a push/pull cable coupled between the forearm/hand bars and the foot powered propulsion system of the bicycle, wherein the push/pull cable drives the foot powered propulsion system of the bicycle in response to movement of the forearm/hand bars in each the up power stroke and the down power stroke.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the push/pull cable is operatively coupled to a crank axle of the foot powered propulsion system by one of a gear or a sprocket and chain.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a flywheel operatively coupled between the push/pull cable and one of the gear or the sprocket.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a cam and a cam follower to push the flywheel through a top dead center position of the flywheel during rotation.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising an upper drive system comprising an upper telescoping rod moveable within a stationary upper telescoping rod support sleeve, wherein the upper telescoping rod is coupled to the forearm/hand bars and the upper telescoping rod moves in response to movement of the forearm/hand bars in the up and down power strokes.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a lower drive system comprising an lower telescoping rod moveable within a stationary lower telescoping rod support sleeve, wherein the lower telescoping rod is coupled to the gear or sprocket.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the push/pull cable is connected between the upper telescoping rod and the lower telescoping rod, wherein the push/pull cable moves the lower telescoping rod back and forth in response to movement of the upper telescoping rod up and down.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the upper telescoping rod is coupled to the forearm/hand bars using two racks and a pinion gear, wherein one rack is coupled to the forearm/hand bars, the other rack is coupled to the upper telescoping rod and the pinion gear is operationally coupled to each rack.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the upper telescoping rod extends and retracts in a linear direction with respect to the stationary upper rod support sleeve in response to operation of the two racks and the pinion gear.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the lower telescoping rod is coupled to the gear or sprocket using a connecting bridge rod coupled on a front end to each the lower telescoping rod and a sliding support bracket and on a back end to the gear or sprocket, wherein movement of the lower telescoping rod back and forth moves the connecting bridge rod back and forth to rotate the gear or sprocket.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the sliding support bracket comprises a linear path of travel for the lower telescoping rod as it extends and retracts with respect to the stationary lower telescoping rod support sleeve.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the lower telescoping rod is coupled to the gear or sprocket using a connecting bridge rod coupled on a front end to each the lower telescoping rod and a sliding support bracket and on a back end to the gear or sprocket, wherein movement of the lower telescoping rod back and forth moves the connecting bridge rod back and forth to rotate the gear or sprocket.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the sliding support bracket comprises a linear path of travel for the lower telescoping rod as it extends and retracts with respect to the stationary lower telescoping rod support sleeve.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein the front end of the connecting bridge rod travels in the linear path and the back end of the connecting bridge rod travels in a circular path.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the front end of the connecting bridge rod travels in the linear path and the back end of the connecting bridge rod travels in a circular path.

27. A holding device for use with forearm/hand bars, the holding device:

forearm/elbow supports coupled at ends of pivotal forearm/hand bars; and

forearm/elbow holders releasably coupled to the forearm/elbow, wherein;

the forearm/elbow holders retain elbows of a user in contact with the forearm/elbow supports to provide leverage to apply force in both directions of pivotal movement of the forearm/hand bars.