Patent ID: 6123635
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: B62M

Abstract:
Manually powered propulsion apparatus for propelling a cycle having a cycle frame, said propulsion apparatus comprising, in combination:a first pedal;a second pedal;pedal guide means comprising spaced first and second tracks mounted on said frame;mounting means mounting said first and second pedals on said pedal guide means for reciprocating movement of said first and second pedals between retracted and extended pedal positions, said mounting means comprising a first mount attached to and supporting said first pedal and movable along said first track and a second mount attached to and supporting said second pedal and movable along said second track;a first rotatable crank member rotatably mounted on said frame;a second rotatable crank member rotatably mounted on said frame;a rotatable driver member connected to said first and second crank members and rotatably mounted on said frame;transmission means operatively associated with said first and second pedals and said first and second rotatable crank members to transfer power alternatively from said first and second pedals through said first and second crank members to said rotatable driver member for imparting torque to said rotatable driver member responsive to alternate depression of said pedals along said pedal guide means from said retracted positions thereof to said extended positions thereof, said crank members having curved outer surfaces, and said transmission means including a first flexible member forming a first loop extending about said first crank member in engagement with the curved outer surface thereof and a second flexible member forming a second loop extending about said second crank member in engagement with the curved outer surface thereof, said first mount being attached to said first flexible member and said second mount being attached to said second flexible member, movement of said mounts along said tracks causing rotation of said first and second flexible members and said first and second crank member;pedal interconnecting means interconnecting said first and second pedals and operable to move one of said pedals to the retracted position thereof from the extended position thereof when the other of said pedals is depressed by a force applied thereto and moves to the extended position thereof from the retracted position thereof, said pedal interconnecting means comprising a third flexible member, said first and second mounts affixed to said third flexible member at spaced locations on said third flexible member, said third flexible member forming a third loop, said first and second loops disposed in parallel planes and said third loop disposed in a plane perpendicular to said parallel planes; andshock absorber means including biasing means operatively associated with said third flexible member and each of said pedal mounts to exert a bias on said pedal mounts and allow a degree of relative movement between said third flexible member and said pedal mounts.