Patent ID: 6113510
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
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 the pedal guide means from the retracted positions thereof to the extended positions thereof; andpedal interconnecting means movably mounted on said frame 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 the pedals is depressed by a force applied thereto and moves to the extended position thereof from the retracted position thereof, said transmission means including crank member engagement means attached to said pedal interconnecting means and in engagement with said crank members for rotating said crank members during movement of the pedal interconnecting means, each of the crank members including spaced first drive elements, said crank member engagement means comprising spaced second drive element attached to said pedal interconnecting means for engaging said first drive elements.