Patent ID: 6199884
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: A61G,B62K,B62M,Y10T

Abstract:
A bicycle comprising:a. a front wheel,b. a rear wheel, where the rear wheel includes a dual input hub, comprising:a bicycle wheel hub,a first crown gear coaxially rotatably mounted to one end of the hub,a second crown gear coaxially rotatably mounted to the other end of the hub,internal gears, anda chain extending into a metal sleeve coaxial with the hub, adapted to shift the gears inside the hub,c. a seat,d. a steering mechanism,e. a braking mechanism,f. a frame attached to the wheels, the seat, and the steering mechanism, where the frame comprises:a front fork attachment mechanism,a seat attachment mechanism,a rectilinear power assembly attachment mechanism,a rear wheel attachment mechanism,a structural member attached to the front fork attachment mechanism, the seat attachment mechanism, the rectilinear power assembly attachment mechanism, and the rear wheel attachment mechanism,the structural member has a rear fork connected to the rear wheel attachment mechanism, andthe power assembly attachment mechanism is located on each side of the rear fork mostly below and behind the seat, requiring an arc-like posture, and is adapted to orient the rectilinear power assembly on each side of the rear fork to be in contact with both sides of and turn a rear wheel attached to the frame by the rear wheel attachment mechanism,g. a rectilinear power assembly attached to the rear end of the frame, and connected to the rear wheel, and adapted to rotate the rear wheel, with a first helical member attached to a first side of the frame, and a second helical member attached to a second side of the frame, where the power assembly further comprises:the first helical member has a first end and second end,a first slider, slidably attached to the first helical member,a first free-wheel mechanism, attached to the first end of the helical member,a first pinion gear, attached to the first free-wheel mechanism,such that, when the first slider slides along the first helical member towards the first end, the first helical member rotates in a first direction, and engages the first free-wheel mechanism, and rotates the first pinion gear in the first direction,such that, when the first slider slides along the first helical member towards the second end, the first helical member rotates in a second direction, and the first free-wheel mechanism free wheels, and does not rotate the first pinion gear in the second direction,the second helical member has a first end and a second end,a second slider, slidably attached to the second helical member,a second free-wheel mechanism, attached to the first end of the second helical member,a second pinion gear, attached to the second free-wheel mechanism,such that, when the second slider slides along the second helical member towards the first end, the second helical member rotates in the direction and engages the second free-wheel mechanism, and rotates the second pinion gear in the second direction,such that, when the second slider slides along the second helical member towards the second end, the second helical member rotates in the first direction, and the second free-wheel mechanism free wheels, and does not rotate the second pinion gear in the first direction,a first synchronization gear, coaxially attached to the second end of the first helical member,a second synchronization gear, coaxially attached to the second end of the second helical member,a timing gear, meshable with the synchronization gears,such that, when the timing gear is not meshed with the synchronization gears, then the sliders move independently,when the timing gear is meshed with the synchronization gears, the sliders move reciprocally in opposite directions from each other,a first pedal is attached to the first slider, and is movable parallel to the first helical member,a first housing enclosing the first helical member and the first slider, with an axial slot in the first housing permitting the first pedal to remain outside the first housing, and preventing the first slider from rotating as the first slider slides along the first helical member,a second pedal is attached to the second slider, and is movable parallel to the second helical member,a second housing enclosing the second helical member and the second slider, with an axial slot in the second housing permitting the second pedal to remain outside the second housing, and preventing the second slider from rotating as the second slider slides along the second helical member,the first and second helical members are each a twisted bar, with a rectangular cross-section, andthe first and second sliders each have a rectangular hole centered in the slider through which the first and second helical members respectively pass, andh. the first pinion gear of the power assembly meshes with and rotates the first crown gear of the hub, and the second pinion gear of the power assembly meshes with and rotates the second crown gear of the hub.