Patent ID: 7607370
Filing Date: 2009-10-27
Classification: B62M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A crank assembly comprising: a hub; a crank arm having an inner end portion and an axis of rotation with respect to the hub; a unidirectional clutch disposed drivingly between the crank arm and the hub; and a coupler, at least a part of which is located between the hub and the crank arm, said coupler being mounted on said inner end portion and disposed for movement parallel with said axis of rotation, between a first, coupled, position engaged with the hub and interconnecting the crank arm with the hub and preventing rotation of the crank arm with respect to the hub, and a second, uncoupled, position disengaged from the hub, in which rotation of the crank arm about the axis of rotation with respect to the hub is controlled by the unidirectional clutch, said crank arm inner end portion including a clutch housing, and wherein said coupler includes a carrier engaged with said inner end portion adjacent said clutch housing so that said coupler is guided thereby and is required thereby to move parallel with said axis of rotation between said coupled position and said uncoupled position.