Abstract:
A bicycle with a driving train has a continuous chain connecting the spindle connected front sprocket to the rear one way engaging other way ratcheting sprocket situated at the rear wheel hub. Two long fulcrum lever pedal bars are pivoted about two-thirds away from its front end to a bicycle frame. A connecting rod is connected pivotally to the rear end of each fulcrum lever pedal bars. The other end of each connecting rods are connected pivotally to their sides spindle arms, which are connected opposite to each other to the spindle. A pedal is fitted at the front end of both fulcrum lever pedal bars. Whereby, when the pedal is at its top position the rider&#39;s foot presses the pedal, thus the drive train is in motion. The other pedal is making its way to the top position. Pressing the pedal alternatively keeps the bicycle in continuous motion.

Description:
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to bicycles, specifically to an improved pedaling mechanism for bicycles. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Originally, when John Kemp Starley in 1885 (England) invented the conventional bicycle, the pedal was fitted to the crank arm. The limitation of the length of the crank arm was subjected to what distance a person&#39;s foot could push a pedal from TDC to BDC. This made the size of the crank arm to be not longer than eight inches, which is sixteen inches from TDC to BDC. What he invented must have satisfied his expectation. 
     The bicycle rider has to pedal hard either with a six, seven or a eight inches pedal. It was not thought and explored well enough in providing a better pedaling system and concept at that time. 
     There have been many inventors that have made their designs and concepts, trying to meet this need to achieve more output force from using less input force when pedaling. Glenn H. Coment, U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,119, May 4, 1999, invented a bicycle crank assembly with an angle pedal arm. Not much was benefited as the limitation of the pedal arm&#39;s length. Franciscus A. Vereyken, U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,571, May 31, 1977, had done work trying to improve the invention of France Patent Number: 432,826, Oct. 19, 1911, and Netherlands&#39;s Patent Number 43,737, March 1938. 
     These three inventions have a pedaling arm that is connected to the rear end of the bicycle with a new design of the frame. These designs eliminated the main sprocket and due to that, derailleur gears cannot be used. Franciscus A. Vereyken, U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,879, 1986, invented another design of a pedaling system with a sliding arm arrangement to go from pedal arm to the rear wheel axle fastening. None of them were able to provide much of a satisfying improvement for use. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, there are several objects and advantages of the fulcrum lever pedal bar for bicycles described in my above patent. Several objects and advantages of the present inventions are:
         (a) To provide more torque with less effort required by the rider, as my design of the fulcrum lever pedal bar is longer in comparison with eight-inch pedal crank arm, used by a conventional bicycle.   (b) To provide easy pedaling to the rider in pushing the pedals down by each foot at a time. This eliminates extra effort of feet continuously rotating the pedals that of a conventional bicycle.   (c) To provide a pedaling system without any dead power spot compared to a conventional bicycle which has dead power spots at ninety degrees when one pedal arm at TDC the other one is at BDC.   (d) To provide hill climbing to be easier, with a pedaling system with no dead power spots, to benefit the bicycle rider with easier pedaling.   (e) To provide a pedaling system that could readily use a derailleur gear system to gain extra benefit if it&#39;s needed.   (f) To provide a pedaling system of simplicity that makes it desirable to a manufacturer.   (g) Further, objects and advantages are to provide a bicycle pedaling system with very few parts that are easy to make, service, and repair. Mass production will further bring production costs down and much more affordable to buy and use. Still, further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.       

     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present invention, a pedaling system with a concept of fulcrum lever pedal bars, which are pivoted at about two-thirds away from its front end, where the pedals are fitted. Each rear end of the said fulcrum lever pedal bars are fitted with pivot pin, which is joint to it solidly and then is connected pivotally to the top end of a connecting rod. Both the connecting rods on the other end are fitted pivotally to a distal end of two spindle arms at its pivot pin, one on each side to a spindle arm, the pivot pin is joint solidly to the spindle arm. The drive train side of the spindle arm is attached at its center to a sprocket wheel and through their center hole connected securely to the spindle, which is housed rotatably in the bicycle frame. The said sprocket wheel has a continuos chain that goes over it; and the other end of the chain is connecting to a one way engaging and other way ratcheting or free wheeling sprocket wheel, which is connected to the rear wheel hub and axle of the bicycle. The chain is adjusted to be in tension to avoid slipping. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
       In the drawings of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , they have the same numerals except  FIG. 1  has an additional numeral  28 , and all other figures have different numbers. 
         FIG. 1  shows the bicycle with a new frame, to facilitate the housing for the fulcrum pivoting shaft of the novel design of the fulcrum lever pedal bar mechanism, and the location of various parts assembled and fitted on it. This figure is the drawing of the preferred embodiment using straight fulcrum-lever pedal bars. 
         FIG. 2  shows a bicycle frame and the location of the various parts fitted on it. This figure is the drawing of the alternative embodiment using angle fulcrum-lever pedal bars. 
         FIG. 3  shows the fulcrum pivot shaft and its assembly that fits into its housing on the bicycle frame, and the fulcrum lever pedal bar and its assembly fitted to the fulcrum pivot shaft. The drawing shows one side of the fulcrum lever pedal bar. The other side bearings and the hardware are also assembled and fitted in the same manner to the fulcrum lever pedal bar and to the fulcrum pivot shaft. 
         FIG. 4  shows the connecting rod and how the split flange bronze bearing bushed into the steel tubing which is inserted and welded at the edge of the connecting rods. 
     
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2   
     
         
         
           
               12  frame 
               13  top tube 
               14  head tube 
               15  fork 
               16  nut 
               17  front wheel 
               18  pedal, left 
               19   a  fulcrum lever pedal bar, left front 
               19   b  fulcrum lever pedal bar, left rear 
               20  down tube 
               21  fulcrum pivot shaft and assembly 
               22  pedal, right 
               23  seat post 
               24  seat 
               25  seat tube 
               26   a  fulcrum lever pedal bar, right front 
               26   b  fulcrum lever pedal bar, right rear 
               27  pivot pin assembly 
               29  spindle arm, left 
               30  front sprocket wheel 
               31  connecting rod, right 
               32  chain stay 
               33  pivot pin assembly 
               34  connecting rod, left 
               35  pivot pin assembly 
               36  spindle and assembly 
               37  chain 
               38  rear stay 
               39  rear wheel 
               40  nut 
               41  rear fork dropout 
               42  rear sprocket wheel 
               43  front fork dropout 
               44  handle bar 
               45  rear axle 
               46  spindle arm, right 
               47  front axle 
               48   a  gusset, left 
               48   b  gusset, right 
               49  pivot pin assembly 
               50   a  frame tube 
               50   b  frame tube 
               50   c  frame tube 
               50   d  frame tube 
               50   e  frame tube 
               50   f  frame tube 
               50   g  frame tube 
               51  bottom bracket shell 
               52  fulcrum pivot shaft housing 
               28  gusset (applies only to  FIG. 1 )
 
 FIG. 3 
 
               61  fulcrum pivot shaft 
               52  fulcrum pivot housing 
               62  inner steel tubing 
               63  retainer lock ring 
               64  washer 
               26  fulcrum lever pedal bar 
               65  nut 
               66  pivot pin ( 27  and  35  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) 
               67 A split flange bronze bearing, outer 
               67 B split flange bronze bearing, inner 
               68  steel tubing
 
 FIG. 4 
 
               70  connecting rod ( 31  and  34  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) 
               71  split flange bronze bearing 
               72  steel tubing 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG.  1   
     Preferred Embodiment 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention of the bicycle fulcrum lever pedal bar is illustrated in  FIG. 1  (left side view). This shows the embodiment of the parts on a bicycle frame  12 , which is longer compared to a conventional bicycle frame; and it has a pivot shaft housing and shaft for pivoting purpose. This embodiment shows a straight fulcrum lever pedal bar. 
     The bicycle frame is fabricated with steel tubes, a top tube  13 , and a down tube  20 , and a head tube  14 , and chain stay  32 , and rear stay  38 , and in between connecting tubes  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d ,  50   e ,  50   f ,  50   g , and gussets right side  48   a  and left side  48   b  and fulcrum pivot shaft housing gusset  28 . All the tubing will be joined together by couplers and by welding. The bicycle frame has two housings made in it, the bottom bracket shell  51  and fulcrum pivot shaft housing  52 . 
     A front wheel  17  with the front axle  47  mounted on the fork  15  on its front fork dropout  43  and fastened to both the sides of the front axle  47  with nuts  16 , the fork  15  is fitted movably to the head tube  14  of the frame  12 , and a rear wheel  39  mounted on the rear fork dropout  41  of the frame  12  and fastened to both the sides of rear axle  45  with nuts  40 , the rear axle  45  has a rear sprocket wheel  42 , and over it a continuos chain  37  connecting it to the front sprocket wheel  30 , and at its center is connected together with the left spindle arm  29  and at the hole at their center they are entered into the spindle of the spindle and assembly  36  and fastened, the spindle is rotatably assembled in the bottom bracket shell  51  of the frame, and other side of the spindle is connected with a right spindle arm  46 , and both the spindle arms are connected on their other end to a connecting rod, left spindle arm  29  to connecting rod  34  at its pivot pin assembly  33  and right spindle arm  46  to connecting rod  31  at its pivot pin assembly  49 , which are on the other end connected pivotally to the pivoting pin which is solidly fitted to the rear end of both the fulcrum lever pedal bars. The fulcrum lever pedal bar  19   b  by pivot pin assembly  35  and fulcrum lever pedal bar  26   b  by pivot pin assembly  27  to their respective sides and at the front end of the fulcrum lever pedal bars  19   a  and  26   b , each are fitted with a pedal, pedal  18  and  22 . 
     The fulcrum lever pedal bars are fitted pivotally to the frame at the fulcrum pivot shaft assembly  21  in the fulcrum pivot housing  52  to the fulcrum pivot shaft  61  of  FIG. 3 , the frame  12  is fitted with a seat  24  which is fitted on the seat post  23  and positioned in seat tube  25 , and a handle bar  44  is attached to fork  15  through head tube  14  to steer the front wheel  17 . 
     Pivoting pin  27  and  35  are shown as  66  in  FIG. 3  and showing how they are solidly fitted to The rear of the fulcrum lever pedal bars. 
     The preferred embodiments parts, materials, shapes, dimensions, and sizes “I presently prefer” are:
         The fulcrum lever pedal bars are made of 3½ inches by 1½ inches rectangular 14 gauge steel tubing. The front side of the fulcrum lever pedal bar extends 18 inches from the pivoting point, and the rear side of the fulcrum lever pedal bar extends about 10 inches from the pivoting point. An additional inch is to be added for pivoting point area space. Overall length of the fulcrum lever pedal bars are 29 inches. Holes must be drilled to the 3½ inch side of the fulcrum lever pedal bars at the fulcrum point, and round steel tubing  68  of  FIG. 3  has to be inserted at the drilled holes. Then the tubing and fulcrum level pedal bars must be welded on both sides of the edges to join both together. The tubing is used for a pair of split flange bronze bearings  67   a  and  67   b  of  FIG. 3 , that are to be bushed in from the ends of the tubing, and to be inserted into the fulcrum pivot shaft, which is attached to the bicycle frame by fulcrum pivot shaft housing  52 .       

     The connecting rod  31  and  34  and shown as  70  of  FIG. 4  are made of 3½ inches by 1½ inches, rectangular 14 gauge steel tubing, with the length of about 10 inches. Holes must be drilled to the 3½ inch side of the connecting rods of about ¾ inch away from the edges of the rectangular tubing at both their ends and round steel tubing  72  as shown in  FIG. 4  has to be inserted and welded at their edges. This is done to accommodate the insertion of the split flange bronze bearing  71  as shown in  FIG. 4  for pivoting purposes. 
     The connecting rod side of the spindle arm at its end a pivoting pin is fitted solidly to it for pivoting it to the connecting rod; a pair split flange bronze bearing is to be bushed in from both sides of the hole to pivot it to the connecting rod. 
     Spindle arm  36  is to extend about 1½ inches beyond the outer diameter of the 6 inches sprocket wheel  30 . 
     The fulcrum pivot shaft housing  52  is about 5½ inches vertically up from the bottom bracket shell  51  of the frame, and 7½ inches away horizontally from the spindle and assembly  36 . The fulcrum pivot shaft of fulcrum pivot shaft assembly  21  has an inner steel tubing  62  as shown in  FIG. 3  and it has to be welded together with the fulcrum pivot shaft  61  of  FIG. 3  also this shaft has a groove in it and a retainer lock ring  63  as shown in  FIG. 3  to be snapped in to keep the fulcrum lever pedal bars  19  and  26  in position. Two washers  64  of  FIG. 3  are used at both sides of the split flange bronze bearing  71  of  FIG. 4  and a nut  65  to be fastened at the end of the fulcrum pivot shaft of the fulcrum pivot shaft and assembly  21 . 
     Adjusting the distance between the fulcrum point and the spindle will enable to arrive at the various pedal traveling distance. When manufacturing, this has to be taken into consideration to cater the needs of the right pedal traveling distance for people of all heights: tall, average, or short. This up and down pedaling distance will be shorter by increasing the distance between the fulcrum point and the spindle. By decreasing the distance between both will give a longer up and down pedaling distance. 
     Operation— FIG. 1   
     The drive train front sprocket wheel  30 , chain  37 , rear Sprocket wheel  42 , the rear hub and their functions remain the same as of a conventional bicycle. The spindle arms  29  and  46  is connected rotatably to connecting rods  34  and  31  each to their sides; and the other end of the connecting rods are connected to the fulcrum lever pedal bars  19   b  and  26   b  on their respective sides. The fulcrum lever pedal bars are pivoted movably to the bicycle frame  12  and the front end of the fulcrum lever pedal bar  19   a  and  26   a  is fitted with pedals  18  and  22 . 
     When the pedal  18 , along with front side of the fulcrum lever pedal bar is at its top position, the left spindle arm  29  is at BDC position, and the connecting rod  34  is connected to the fulcrum lever pedal bar at about an one o&#39;clock position, or at an angle of about 30 degrees towards the rear. When the pedal is depressed the rear part of the fulcrum lever pedal bar is also getting lifted upwards and drawing the spindle arm towards the TDC position. This action has caused the sprocket wheel to turn and make the rest of the drive train to be in motion in turning the rear wheel, which is in friction to the ground and causes the bicycle to move in a forward motion. This action is continued by depressing the left pedal and right pedal alternatively. 
     The fulcrum lever pedal bars moves on a up and down vertical path while pedaling and it does not rotate like a conventional bicycle pedaling, which works on a circular path. 
     DESCRIPTION 
     Alternative Embodiment 
     FIG.  2   
     This alternative embodiment shows an angle fulcrum lever pedal bar. Its efficiency is less compared to the preferred embodiment. This figure shows the embodiment of parts on bicycle frame  12 , which is longer compared to a conventional bicycle frame. The drawing shows fulcrum lever pedal bar with an angle of about 130 degrees. The fulcrum lever pedal bars could be made with angles between 90 degrees to 179 degrees. 
     The bicycle frame is fabricated with steel tubes and they are a top tube  13 , and a down tube  20 , and a head tube  14 , and chain stay  32 , and rear stay  38 , and in between connecting tubes  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d ,  50   e ,  50   f ,  50   g , and gussets right side  48   a  and left side  48   b . All the tubing will be joined together by couplers and by welding. The bicycle frame has two housings made in it, the bottom bracket shell  51  and fulcrum pivot housing  52 . 
     A front wheel  17  with the front axle  47  mounted on the fork  15  on its front fork dropout  43  and fastened to both the sides of the front axle  47  with nuts  16 , the fork  15  is fitted movably to the head tube  14  of the frame  12 , and a rear wheel  39  mounted on the rear fork dropout  41  of the frame  12  and fastened to both the sides of rear axle  45  with nuts  40 , the rear axle  45  has a rear sprocket wheel  42 , and over it a continuos chain  37  connecting it to the front sprocket wheel  30 , and at its center is connected together with the left spindle arm  29  and at the hole at their center they are entered into the spindle of the spindle and assembly  36  and fastened, the spindle is rotatably assembled in the bottom bracket shell  51  of the frame, and other side of the spindle is connected with a right spindle arm  46 , and both the spindle arms are connected on their other end to a connecting rod, left spindle arm  29  to connecting rod  34  at its pivot pin assembly  33  and right spindle arm  46  to connecting rod  31  at its pivot pin assembly  49 , which are on the other end connected pivotally to the pivoting pin which is solidly fitted to the rear end of both the fulcrum lever pedal bars. The fulcrum lever pedal bar  19   b  by pivot pin assembly  35  and fulcrum lever pedal bar  26   b  by pivot pin assembly  27  to their respective sides and at the front end of the fulcrum lever pedal bars  19   a  and  26   b , each are fitted with a pedal, pedal  18  and  22 . 
     The fulcrum lever pedal bars are fitted pivotally to the frame at the fulcrum pivot shaft assembly  21  in the fulcrum pivot housing  52  to the fulcrum pivot shaft  61  of  FIG. 3 , the frame  12  is fitted with a seat  24  which is fitted on the seat post  23  and positioned in seat tube  25 , and a handle bar  44  is attached to fork  15  through head tube  14  to steer the front wheel  17   
     Pivoting pin  27  and  35  are shown as  66  in  FIG. 3  and showing how they are solidly fitted to The rear of the fulcrum lever pedal bars. 
     The preferred embodiments parts, materials, shapes, dimensions, and sizes “I presently prefer” are:
         The fulcrum lever pedal bars are made of 3½ inches by 1½ inches rectangular 14 gauge steel tubing. The front side of the fulcrum lever pedal bar extends 18 inches from the pivoting point, and the rear side of the fulcrum lever pedal bar extends about 10 inches from the pivoting point. An additional inch is to be added for pivoting point area space. Overall length of the fulcrum lever pedal bars are 29 inches. Holes must be drilled to the 1½ inch side of the fulcrum lever pedal bars at the fulcrum point, and round steel tubing  68  of  FIG. 3  has to be inserted at the drilled holes. Then the tubing and fulcrum level pedal bars must be welded on both sides of the edges to join both together. The tubing is used for a pair of split flange bronze bearings  67   a  and  67   b  of  FIG. 3 , that are to be bushed in from the ends of the tubing, and to be inserted into the fulcrum pivot shaft, which is attached to the bicycle frame by fulcrum pivot shaft housing  52 .       

     The connecting rod  31  and  34  and shown as  70  of  FIG. 4  are made of 3½ inches by 1½ inches, rectangular 14 gauge steel tubing, with the length of about 10 inches. Holes must be drilled to the 3½ inch side of the connecting rods and about ¾ inches away from the edges of the rectangular tubing at their ends and round steel tubing  72  as shown in  FIG. 4  has to be inserted and welded at their edges. This is done to accommodate the insertion of the split flange bronze bearing  71  as shown in  FIG. 4  for pivoting purposes. 
     The connecting rod side of the spindle arm at its end a pivoting pin is fitted solidly to it for pivoting it to the connecting rod; a pair split flange bronze bearing is to be bushed in from both sides of the hole to pivot it to the connecting rod. 
     Spindle arm  36  is to extend about 1½ inches beyond the outer diameter of the 6 inches sprocket wheel  30 . 
     The fulcrum pivot shaft housing  52  is about 5½ inches vertically up from the bottom bracket shell  51  of the frame, and 7½ inches away horizontally from the spindle and assembly  36 . The fulcrum pivot shaft of fulcrum pivot shaft assembly  21  has an inner steel tubing  62  as shown in  FIG. 3  and it has to be welded together with the fulcrum pivot shaft  61  of  FIG. 3  also this shaft has a groove in it and a retainer lock ring  63  as shown in  FIG. 3  to be snapped in to keep the fulcrum lever pedal bars  19  and  26  in position. Two washers  64  of  FIG. 3  are used at both sides of the split flange bronze bearing  71  of  FIG. 4  and a nut  65  to be fastened at the end of the fulcrum pivot shaft of the fulcrum pivot shaft and assembly  21 . 
     Adjusting the distance between the fulcrum point and the spindle will enable to arrive at the various pedal traveling distance. When manufacturing, this has to be taken into consideration to cater the needs of the right pedal traveling distance for people of all heights: tall, average, or short. This up and down pedaling distance will be shorter by increasing the distance between the fulcrum point and the spindle. By decreasing the distance between both will give a longer up and down pedaling distance. 
     Operation— FIG. 2   
     The drive train&#39;s front sprocket wheel  30 , chain  37 , rear sprocket wheel  42 , the rear hub and their functions remain the same as of a conventional bicycle. The spindle arms  29  and  46  is connected rotatably to connecting rods  34  and  31  each to their sides; and the other end of the connecting rods are connected to the fulcrum lever pedal bars  19   b  and  26   b  on their respective sides. The fulcrum lever pedal bars are pivoted movably to the bicycle frame  12  and the front end of the fulcrum lever pedal bar  19   a  and  26   a  is fitted with pedals  18  and  22 . 
     When the pedal  18 , along with front side of the fulcrum lever pedal bar is at its top position the left spindle arm  29  is at BDC position, and the connecting rod  34  is connected to the fulcrum lever pedal bar at about an one o&#39;clock position, or at an angle of about 30 degrees to the rear. When the pedal is depressed the rear part of the fulcrum lever pedal bar is also getting lifted upwards and drawing the spindle arm towards the TDC position. This action has caused the sprocket wheel to turn and make the rest of the drive train to be in motion and turning the rear wheel, which is in friction to the ground and causes the bicycle to move in a forward motion. This action is continued by depressing the pedals left and right alternatively. 
     The fulcrum lever pedal bars moves up and down while pedaling on a vertical path, and it Does not rotate like in a conventional bicycle pedaling, which works on a circular path. 
     CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATION, AND SCOPE 
     Accordingly, the reader will see that the pedaling mechanism of this invention provides a better, efficient, and faster bicycle. This allows the rider to be more comfortable while riding, as it gives more output for the effort applied in pedaling as compared to a conventional bicycle; while benefiting the rider to get to his destination much quicker. I believe that this invention will once again put bicycles as a good mode of transportation, because it goes along with the present day desire of faster vehicles.
         It permits more torque with less effort required by the rider, as this design of the fulcrum pedal bar is longer in comparison with the eight-inch pedal crank arm, used by a conventional bicycle.   It provides easy pedaling for the rider, pushing the pedals down by each foot at a time. This eliminates extra effort of a rider&#39;s feet continuously rotating the pedal as of a conventional bicycle.   It provides a pedaling mechanism without any dead power spots compared to a conventional bicycle, which has dead spots at ninety degrees when a pedal bar is at TDC and the other at BDC.   It provides an easier hill climb, with a pedaling system without any dead power spots, which is beneficial for a rider&#39;s need for easier pedaling.   It provides a pedaling system that could readily use a derailleur gear system to gain extra benefit, if needed.   It provides a pedaling system of simplicity that makes it very desirable to manufacture.   It permits easy service and repair by it being a simple design.   Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the preferred embodiments of this invention. For example:   The places where split bronze bearings are used ball bearing could also be used in their place. The rider&#39;s seat could be brought more towards the rear of the bicycle; and the handle bar can be extended towards the rear. The front part of the fulcrum lever pedal bar could be made adjustable by having an outer sliding tube. The outer sliding tube has the pedal on its front end, and this tube is telescopic over the fulcrum lever pedal bar so a rider could adjust to shorten it or extend it.   Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.