Manually operated electrical generator apparatus

• US 4,746,806 A
• Filed: 08/17/1987
• Issued: 05/24/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Hopkins, John W., Clohan, Paul S. Jr., Campagnuolo, Carl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ip, Paul
• Application Number:
  US07/087,944
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1 R, 290/1 C, 290/31, 290/37 R, 290/37 A, 290/38 R, 290/38 A, 290/38 B, 290/38 C, 290/48, 310/50, 310/67, 310/80, 310/74, 310/75 D, 310/75 B, 310/82, 310/83, 310/154, 310/156, 310/265, 310/91, 74/640, 74/7 R, 74/7 E, 74/7 A, 74/7 C, 272/192, 272/125, 272/139, 272/71, 272/900, 272/73, 272/123, 272/132, 272/129, 36/54, 36/120, 36/117, 36/119, 36/120, 36/121, 36/116, 403/108, 403/109, 248/676, 248/638, 248/674, 248/505, 248/507, 248/499, 248/680, 248/127, 248/351, 248/354.5
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 5/06 other than of endless-walk type
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1861 driven by animals or vehicles H02K7/1853 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/903 Utilizing electromagnetic force resistance

Abstract

A portable manually cranked electrical generator apparatus has a stirrup separated from the generator by a rigid support member. The support member may be adjusted vertically or angularly to accommodate differences in operator size and height while the stirrup is anchored by the operator'"'"'s foot. A brace or clamp is fastened to an operator for steadying the apparatus for ease of use.

Claims

1. A portable manually cranked electrical generator apparatus comprising:

a manually cranked generator;

a rigid support member having a first end attached to said manually cranked generator and a second end;

a rigid stirrup fixedly attached to the second end of said rigid support member and sized to accommodate an operator'"'"'s foot so that the operator anchors the apparatus by placing his foot through said stirrup while simultaneously operating said manually cranked generator.

2. The portable manually cranked electrical generator apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support member comprises:

a rigid tube having first and second ends.

3. The portable manually cranked electrical generator apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support member comprises:

a first rigid tube having a first end attached to said generator and a second end;

a second rigid tube having a first end slideably insertable with said second end of said first rigid tube and a second end, whereby the length of said support member may be adjusted.

4. A portable manually cranked electrical generator apparatus comprising:

a manually cranked generator;

hinge means;

a rigid stirrup sized to accommodate an operator'"'"'s foot;

a first rigid support member having one end fixedly attached to said generator and the other end fixedly attached to said hinge means;

a second rigid support member having one end fixedly attached to said hinge means and the other end attached to said rigid stirrup;

said hinge means angularly adjustable so that said first rigid support member is angularly adjustable in relation to said second rigid support member;

whereby said rigid stirrup is used to anchor said apparatus while said generator is being operated.

5. The portable manually cranked electrical generator apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

vertical adjusting means connected to said first rigid support member for lengthening the support apparatus.

6. The portable manually cranked electrical generator apparatus of claim 5 wherein said vertical adjusting means comprises;

a third rigid support member having one end slideably insertable into said first support member and a second end fixedly attached to said hinge member.

7. The portable manually cranked electrical generator apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

means demountably attachable to said apparatus for fastening said apparatus to an operator, whereby the operator anchors the apparatus by placing his foot through said stirrup and by placing said fastening means around his leg, thereby providing means of operation of said manually cranked generator.

8. The portable manually cranked electrical generator apparatus of claim 7 wherein said fastening means comprises;

a resilient U-shaped metal clamp.

9. A portable manually cranked electrical generator apparatus comprising:

a manually cranked generator;

a first rigid support member having a first end attached to said generator and a second end;

a second rigid support member having a first end engaged with the second end of said first support member and a second end;

first securing means for adjustably positioning the first end of said second support member with the second end of said first support member;

a third rigid support member having a first end pivotly attached to the second end of said second support member and a second end;

a second securing means for adjustably positioning the first end of said third support member in an angular relation to the second end of said second support member;

a stirrup demountably attachable to the second end of said third support member; and

means connected to said apparatus for fastening said apparatus to an operator, whereby the operator anchors the apparatus by placing his foot through said stirrup and by placing said fastening means around his leg, thereby providing means of operation of said manually cranked generator.

10. The portable manually cranked electrical generator apparatus of claim 9 wherein said fastening means comprises;

a resilient U-shaped metal clamp.

11. The portable manually cranked electrical generator apparatus of claim 9 wherein said fastening means comprises:

a strap.

12. A portable manually cranked electrical generator apparatus comprising:

a manually cranked generator;

a resilient U-shaped metal clamp fixedly attached to said manually cranked generator for clamping around an operator'"'"'s leg, whereby said manually cranked electrical generator apparatus is anchored during operation of the manually cranked generator.