Patent ID: 7234710
Filing Date: 2007-06-26
Classification: B62B

Abstract:
1. A spring powered drive apparatus for a vehicle having at least one wheel on an axle, the apparatus comprised of a braking assembly for selectively preventing rotational movement of the wheel and allowing the wheel to rotate freely, a crank, wherein an external rotational force is applied to turn the crank; a freewheel sprocket coaxially mounted on the axle, the freewheel sprocket freely rotating about the axle in a first direction without communicating rotational force to the wheel and fixedly rotating with the axle in a second direction to provide torque to the wheel; a storage assembly for storing and releasing torque, the storage assembly comprising a helical torsion spring with a first spring end, a second spring end, and a central axis, the storage assembly further comprising a first hub disposed to restrain the first spring end from rotational movement; a torquing assembly receiving rotational force from the crank and applying the rotational force to the second spring end, wherein the spring stores the rotational energy; a releasing assembly comprising: wherein the wheel is held immobile while rotational energy is stored in the spring, and the wheel is allowed to rotate with the assistance of the rotational energy communicated by the power releasing assembly.