Patent ID: 6394477
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: B62M,Y10T

Abstract:
In a pedal driven wheeled vehicle having a frame and a driven wheel with a driven hub, the driven wheel for engagement with the frame, a drive system comprising:a first pedal crank arm and a second pedal crank arm; a first pedal and a second pedal, the first pedal located at a removed end of the first pedal crank arm and the second pedal located at a removed end of the second pedal crank arm; a pedal driven shaft, the pedal driven shaft having a longitudinal axis and a first end and a second end, the pedal driven shaft being rotatably mounted to the frame of the pedal driven shaft and the second pedal crank arm attached to the second end of the pedal driven shaft, the pedal driven shaft having a first gear mounted thereto such that the first gear rotates in a first plane, said first plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pedal driven shaft; a hub engagement gear for engagement with the driven wheel hub of the driven wheel; a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first end worm gear for engagement with the first gear of the pedal driven shaft, the second end having a second end worm gear for engagement with the hub engagement gear such that when the pedal crank arms are rotated the rear wheel rotates; a first housing for engaging the frame and the drive shaft to maintain the first end worm gear adjacent to and in meshing engagement with the first gear of the pedal driven shaft; and thrust bearings and roller bearings that mount in the first housing and engage the drive shaft.