Abstract:
A human-powered-system utilizing an arm lever assembly and/or a pedal assembly to be adapted to or incorporated into other mechanisms including, but not limited to, wheelchairs and vehicles. The arm lever assembly includes an arm lever that is reciprocated to provide power and rotated left or right to provide steering control. Both assemblies are operatively connected to a converter, utilizing gears and one-way clutches that receives the reciprocal movements of the arm lever and converts them into a unidirectional output, to be utilized in combination or independently. The arm lever is further telescoping and when utilizing a slide mechanism operatively connected to the converter representing a first class lever offers a range of various leverages by correspondingly changing the length of the force and load end when extended and retracted.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/861,355 filed on Apr. 11, 2013, and Ser. No. 13/860,619, filed on Apr. 11, 2013, the contents of each aforementioned application are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to human powered systems that can be operated by arms and or legs of an operator to provide powering and controlling mechanisms including exercise equipment, rehabilitation equipment, wheelchairs, vehicles and the like. 
     A variety of converter systems have been developed in the past for bicycles, tricycles and hand-cycles in various designs including recumbent style human powered vehicles, etc. While current systems employ a traditional pedal crank drive commonly found on bicycles, there are some systems that employ levers to be reciprocated fore and aft with ratchet systems to propel the vehicle in one direction of the lever movement. Others arm lever systems propel a vehicle forward in both fore and aft reciprocal movements through ratchet mechanisms and one-way clutch and gear systems. Other vehicles are propelled by both hand and foot operation. 
     Liebert in U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,675 combines hand and foot operation in a versatile system that can be incorporated into different embodiments to allow an operator to propel the system on land, water and air. The system relies on reciprocating movements of both hand and foot that are connected together and helmet to be worn that is linked to a steering mechanism that activates by the movement of the operators head. The arm and leg levers are linked together and do not allow the operator to use one or the other separately without removing his arms or legs from the corresponding levers. Further, the head activated steering does not allow the operator to be able to look around without altering the path of the vehicle. 
     Bean in U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,129 combines hand and foot operation in a single embodiment that employs a conventional pedal assembly linked to the two arm lever assemblies by a spring loaded length of chain that wraps around a ratcheting freewheel sprocket axially supported by the pedal assembly which only adds power on the reverse stroke of hand levers, which has limited efficiency. Further, although the pedal assembly can be utilized separate of the arm levers to propel the vehicle the same cannot be said for the arm levers which activates the pedal assembly when be utilized to propel the vehicle. 
     Bayne in U.S. Pat. No. 7,584,976 is a single lever operated trike design that propels a vehicle forward with both fore and aft reciprocal movements of the arm lever. Further, the lever activates the steering through a cable system. The converter system utilizes a plurality of chains and hubs supporting gears. Although unique in design, it lacks in simplicity of design and versatility to be employed into other mechanisms and the ability to incorporate the use of an operator&#39;s legs. 
     SUMMARY 
     A human-powered-system is disclosed with versatility that can be used by many different individuals, each of whom can have different needs and capabilities and can be incorporated for both utilitarian and recreational purposes. It can be operatively utilized by or incorporated into many different mechanisms including, but not limited to, rehabilitation apparatuses, exercise equipment, wheelchairs and human powered vehicles. 
     In one embodiment, the human-powered-system comprises of a telescoping, “T” shaped, arm lever assembly that includes an arm lever and reciprocating member. The arm lever assembly can be reciprocated and pivoted counterclockwise and clockwise by an operator. The arm lever assembly is reciprocated for propulsion and is operatively connected to a drive output that receives input force from the arm lever assembly. In one embodiment, the drive output is a converter that receives the reciprocating movements and converts then into a unidirectional rotation of an output wheel to be operatively linked to propel the other mechanisms. 
     The arm lever assembly is capable of controlling multiple elements by corresponding pivoting clockwise and counterclockwise movements of the arm lever assembly to provide the operator with control of a function of another mechanism such as steering. 
     The arm lever assembly can be directly connected at a fulcrum point to the converter, wherein the telescoping movements can offer a lesser range of leverages by increasing and decreasing the length of the arm lever. When the arm lever assembly is fitted with a slide mechanism, it is operatively linked to the converter by a rack link that pivotally connects to the slide mechanism below the fulcrum point, providing the operator with a greater range of leverages by correspondingly changing the distance of the load and force end from the fulcrum point in respects to a first class lever. For example, when the arm lever is extended, the force end becomes longer and the load end becomes shorter and, when the arm lever is retracted, the force end becomes shorter and the load end becomes longer. 
     The arm lever assembly is also pivotally supported to a steering control and the converter. In one example, a support bracket is used and can be mounted to a frame of a vehicle. 
     Further, an optional foot pedal assembly can be rigidly attached to a front of a support frame and operatively linked to the converter. This embodiment offers the operator the ability to add leg power to the vehicle system. 
     Additional objects, advantages, and other novel features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description that follows with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or will be learned with the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appending claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a single lever drive system. 
         FIG. 1A  is an isometric view of the drive system of  FIG. 1  that illustrates telescoping movements. 
         FIG. 1B  is an isometric view of the drive system of  FIG. 1  that illustrates rotational movements. 
         FIG. 1C  is an isometric view of the drive system of  FIG. 1  that illustrates pivoting movements. 
         FIG. 2A  is an exploded isometric view of an arm lever. 
         FIG. 2B  is an isometric end view of a guide collar used in the arm lever of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded isometric view of a reciprocating member coupleable with the arm lever of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 4A  is an isometric view of a u-joint controller. 
         FIG. 4B  is an exploded isometric view of the u-joint controller of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4C  is an isometric view of a cable controller. 
         FIG. 4D  is an exploded view of the cable controller of  FIG. 4C . 
         FIG. 5A  is an isometric view of a converter. 
         FIG. 5B  is an exploded isometric view of the converter of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 6A  is an isometric view of a rack link. 
         FIG. 6B  is an exploded isometric view of the rack link of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 7A  is an isometric view of a slide mechanism. 
         FIG. 7B  is an exploded isometric view of the slide mechanism of  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 8A  is an isometric view of a support bracket coupled with the u-joint controller of  FIG. 4A  and the converter of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 8B  is an exploded isometric view of the support bracket of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are isometric views of the slide mechanism that illustrates movements with respect to the arm lever assembly. 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a vehicle that utilizes the drive assembly of  FIG. 1  and a pedal crank assembly. 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a frame supporting a pedal crank assembly of the vehicle in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a wheelchair that utilizes the drive assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  is an isometric view of a converter and a reverse gearbox. 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  are isometric views of the reverse gear box illustrated in  FIG. 13  in first and second positions, respectively. 
         FIGS. 15A-15C  are isometric views of components in the reverse gear box illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated one possible arrangement of a drive assembly  1 . Details of various components of the drive assembly  1  are provided below. In general, the drive assembly  1  includes an arm level assembly comprised of an arm lever  2  and a reciprocating member  3 , a u-joint controller  4 , a drive output embodied as a converter  5 , a rack link  6 , a sliding mechanism  7  and a support bracket  8 . The arm lever  2  is coupled to the reciprocating member  3  in a telescoping manner such that the arm lever  2  can move with respect to reciprocating member  3  along a central axis  10  (see telescoping movements in  FIG. 1A ). Additionally, the arm lever  2  is coupled with u-joint controller  4  for rotation about central axis  10  of the arm lever  2  (see rotational movements in  FIG. 1B ) as well as pivoting about a horizontal or pivot axis  11  (see pivoting movements in  FIG. 1C ). 
     The arm lever  2  is further coupled to slide mechanism  7  to move rack link  6  with respect to converter  5 . In particular, pivoting movement of arm lever  2  about pivot axis  11  drives converter  5  through slide mechanism  7  and rack link  6 . Rack link  6  couples the converter  5  to the slide mechanism  7  such that fore and aft movements of arm lever  2  are transferred through the rack link  6  to the converter  5 . Support bracket  8  is fixed to both the reciprocating member  3  and the converter  5 . In sliding the arm lever  2  with respect to the reciprocating member  3 , mechanical advantage of the drive assembly  1  can be altered, for example by changing leverage in a first class lever. For example, a length of slide mechanism  7  above pivot axis  11  can be lengthened or shortened by moving the arm lever  2  along axis  10  so as to alter forces applied to the converter  5  by rack link  6 . In this configuration, a connection point of arm lever  2  to the u-joint controller  4  for steering control is spaced apart in both longitudinal and lateral directions with respect to a connection point between rack link  6  and slide mechanism  7 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2A , arm lever  2  is telescoping and includes an upper section  21 , a guide collar  22  and a lower section  23 . An end view of guide collar  22  is shown in  FIG. 2B . The upper section  21  is “T” shaped and graspable by the operator and defines a slot  21   a  along an outer diameter to cooperate with the guide collar  22 . The lower section  23  is slightly larger in diameter than upper section  21  and slip fits around the outer diameter of the upper section  21 . In particular, the guide collar  22  is fixed to the top of the lower section  23  and has a protrusion  22   a  ( FIG. 2B ) that cooperates with the slot  21   a , allowing the two sections  21 ,  23  to be telescopically free while maintaining rotational unity. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the reciprocating member  3  includes two vertical plates  24  fixed with a top plate  25  and a cross member  26 . Each of the top plate  25  and cross member  26  include corresponding apertures ( 25   a  and  26   a , respectively) through their centers, to rigidly support a rotary tube  27  near both ends. Rotary tube  27  is fitted with a bearing  28  at a top end and a bearing  29  at a bottom end. The bearing  29  is coupled with the lower section  23  of the arm lever  2  to allow rotational movements of the arm lever  2  about central axis  10 . 
     Each of the vertical plates  24  defines fulcrum points  30  at a lower portion of the plates  24 . The fulcrum points  30  are each fitted with pivot bearings  37  to allow the arm lever  2  to pivot about horizontal axis  11 . Top plate  25  and the cross member  26  each have a slot  25   b  and  26   b , respectively, to receive the slide mechanism  7 , discussed below. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the u-joint controller  4  includes an upper half  40  pivotally coupled with a lower half  41 . The upper half  40  of the u-joint controller  4  includes an end  40   a  that is fixed to the lower section  23  of the arm lever  2 . The lower half  41  of the universal joint is fitted with a stub shaft  42  defining a square cut end  42   a . A pitman arm  43 , having a square bore  43   a , is coupled to square cut end  42   a  of the stub shaft  42 . Tie rod  44  includes opposed pivot joints  44   a ,  44   b  at each end. Pivot joint  44   a  is attached to the pitman arm  43  by a fastener  45 . Pivot joint  44   b , in one embodiment, is coupled to an axis for rotation of a wheel coupled thereto. 
       FIGS. 4C and 4D  illustrate an alternative controller to U-joint controller  4 . In particular, the alternative controller comprises a cable controller  46  coupled with lower section  23  and rotary tube  27  as illustrated. A cable support  47  is assembled to an outer diameter of the rotary tube  27  and cable tension adjusters  48   a  are positioned in holes  48   b  on the cable support  47 . A rotary member  49   a  includes notches  49   b  that receive cable barrel ends  49   c  that are coupled with corresponding cables  49   d . Rotation of the lower section  23  is transferred to the cables  49   d  in order to control a remove device, for example a wheel coupled to a remote end of cables  49   d.    
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , there is illustrated two views wherein  FIG. 5A  shows the converter  5  fully assembled and  FIG. 5B  shows an exploded view (common shaft  50  is shown lengthened) for further explanation of components of the converter  5 . The converter  5  includes the common shaft  50  (that includes ends  50   a  and  50   b ) and opposed one-way clutches (i.e., ratchet mechanisms)  51   a  and  51   b  that translate rotational power from one end (e.g., end  50   a ) to another end (e.g., end  50   b ) of the common shaft  50 . 
     Positioned next to each of the one-way clutches  51   a  and  51   b  are two outer gears  52  and  53 . Each of the outer gears  52  and  53  has an extended hub  52   a  and  53   a  with a “D” cut, wherein an outer diameter of each hub axially supports at least one bearing  54   a  and  54   b  capable of both radial and thrust loads. Further, each of the outer gears  52  and  53  have a bored center that is operatively fitted with at least one one-way clutch  51   a  and  51   b  coaxially supported by the common shaft  50 . An idler gear  55  that is backed by a thrust bearing  56  and axially supported by a stub shaft  57  is further arranged orthogonally to and intermeshed between outer gears  52  and  53 . The stub shaft  57  is fixed to the inside of a middle housing section  59  and opposed housing end caps  58   a  and  58   b  axially support an outer diameter of opposed bearings  54   a  and  54   b.    
     In one embodiment, one of the one-way clutches (e.g., clutch  51   a ) is operatively fitted such that each of the outer gears  52  and  53  engage in opposite rotations of the common shaft  50  and at least one of the extended hubs (e.g., hub  53   a ) of the outer gears (e.g., gear  53 ) is utilized as an output end. In this arrangement, the common shaft  50  receives reciprocating movements from rack link  6 , wherein forward rotational direction of the common shaft  50  engages one of the outer gears (e.g., gear  52 ) and the reverse rotation of the common shaft  50  engages the opposite of the outer gears (e.g., gear  53 ) due to connection of the idler gear  55  with gears  52  and  53  to maintain an opposite unidirectional rotation. 
     The common shaft  50  can alternatively be utilized as an output where both one-way clutches  51   a  and  51   b  are operatively fitted by each of the outer gears  52  and  53  to engage the shaft  50  in the same rotational direction. In this arrangement, at least one of the outer gears  52  and  53  receives reciprocating movements. Since gears  52  and  53  are intermeshed by the idler gear  55 , each gear  52  and  53  takes turns engaging the common shaft  50  in unidirectional rotation. In alternative embodiments, converter  5  can be replaced with other alternative drive output mechanisms as desired that receive force from the arm lever  2  and transfer the force to another mechanism. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the rack link  6  is illustrated and includes a guide assembly  60  and a pivot joint  61  fastened at one end of a rack gear  62  that is operatively connected to the arm lever  2 . A cog wheel  69   a  is axially fixed to the common shaft  50  of the converter  5  and the guide assembly  60  maintains proper contact with rack gear  62  and the cog wheel  69   a  during reciprocation of the rack gear  62 . 
     In particular, the guide  60  includes an upper guide support  63  fastened to the converter  5  by fasteners  68   a , a lower guide support  64  fitted with a bearing  67  and a pin  69  that is fixed to upper guide support  63  to axially support the bearing  67 . 
     Two guides  65  are fitted with bearings  65   a  in each end and are rotationally supported on pins  66  that are retained in the upper guide support  63  by pin clips  66   a . Upon assembly of rack link  6  with converter  5 , pin  69  is coaxial with shaft  50 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , there is illustrated two drawings one of the slide mechanism  7  assembled ( FIG. 7A ) and one exploded view ( FIG. 7B ). The slide mechanism  7  includes a slide  70  that is fixed to a rotary collar  73  by a fastener  74 . Rotary collar  73  is fitted with bearings  71   a  and  71   b  at opposed ends and supported on an outer diameter of upper section  21  of the arm lever  2 . Two lock collars  72   a  and  72   b  are supported and fastened on the outer diameter of arm lever  2  at the ends of the bearings  71   a  and  71   b  to restrict linear movement of the rotary collar  73 . Slide  70  includes an elongated slot  75  and a bore  76 . The elongated slot  75  is coupled with the support bracket  8  and provides a limit of range for increasing and decreasing a distance between the fulcrum point  30  and the bore  76 , thus altering mechanical advantage of the arm lever  2 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , there is illustrated two views of the support bracket  8 , one view ( FIG. 8A ) of the support bracket  8  supporting the converter  5  at one end and the reciprocating member  3  and u-joint controller  4  at an opposite end. The second view ( FIG. 8B ) is an exploded view of the support bracket  8 , which includes a pivot support  81  that pivotally supports the reciprocating member  3  by pivot pins  82  that have two sections wherein a first section is the treaded section  82   a  that threads into threaded holes  83 , and a second section  82   b  supports the bearings  37  and is positioned within the bearings  37  at fulcrum points  30  of vertical plates  24 . A lower bearing  84  is fitted into a corresponding bore  84   a  in the pivot support  81  and pivotally supports the stub shaft  42  of the u-joint controller  4 . A support post  85  is attached to the pivot support  81  and supports a slide bracket  86  retained in position by one or more set screws  89 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , there is illustrated corresponding movements of the slide mechanism  7  with the upper section  21  of the arm lever  2 .  FIG. 9A  illustrates when the upper section  21  is in an extended position relative to the reciprocating member  3  and the slide mechanism  7  defines a distance D 1  (i.e., the load end) between the fulcrum point  30  and the bore  76 . A distance D 2  (i.e., the force end) above fulcrum point  30  to a top of upper section  21  together with distance D 1  defines a lever distance L 1 .  FIG. 9B  illustrates when the upper section  21  is in a retracted position relative to the reciprocating member  3  and the slide mechanism  7  defines a distance D 3  greater than distance D 1  between the fulcrum point  30  and the bore  76 . A distance D 4  above fulcrum point  30  to a top of upper section  21  together with distance D 3  defines a lever distance L 2  equal to L 1  in  FIG. 9A . As a result, mechanical advantage of the arm lever  2  with respect to the converter  5  is altered from the position of arm lever  2  illustrated in  FIG. 9A  to the position of arm lever  2  in  FIG. 9B . As such, an operator, during operation of the arm lever  2 , can easily alter the mechanical advantage of the arm lever  2  in a continuous manner by simply sliding the assembly up and down along axis  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , there is illustrated a vehicle  100  that incorporates the drive assembly  1 . Vehicle  100 , in one embodiment, includes a drive wheel  101  and front wheels  102  fitted with disc brakes activated by a corresponding hand brake lever  103 . The drive assembly  1  is operably coupled to drive wheel  101 . Optionally, a pedal crank assembly  104  is coupled to drive wheel  101 . A frame  105  supports the drive assembly  1 , the wheels  101 ,  102 , the pedal crank assembly  104  and coupling mechanisms therebetween. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates the frame  105 . The arm lever  2  is fitted with the slide mechanism  7  and the u-joint controller  4 . The converter  5  is linked to the arm lever  2  by the rack link  6 . A chain  106  operatively connects a drive gear  107  to a drive gear  108  coupled with drive wheel  101 . Pedal crank assembly  104  is linked to the output of the converter  5  through a chain  109  and fixed to a cross member  110  of frame  105 . 
     The frame  105  pivotally supports the arm lever  2  at the fulcrum point  30  and also pivotally supports the stub shaft  42  (hidden from view) of the u-joint controller  4 . Each front wheel  102  is rotationally supported by an axle  111  that is fixed to an inclined kingpin  112  fixed with a steering arm  114  that is pivotally connected to the u-joint controller  4  through tie rods  44 . The kingpin  112  is pivotally supported by the frame  105 . The pedal crank set assembly  104  is fixed to the front of the cross member  110 . 
     Drive assembly  1  can be coupled to other vehicles, outputs and the like as desired. One example vehicle is a wheelchair  200 , illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The wheelchair  200  includes front drive wheels  202  positioned on either side of a frame  204 . Similar to the arrangement for vehicle  100 , drive assembly  1  is coupled to drive wheels  202  to translate fore and aft movements of arm lever  2  into movement of the drive wheels  202 . Drive assembly  1  is further coupled to a pair of steering wheels  206  through U-joint controller  4  to control steering of the vehicle  200 . 
     In further embodiments, converter  5  can be coupled with a suitable reverse gearbox such as reverse gearbox  220  illustrated in  FIG. 13 . The reverse gearbox  220  can change a direction for the output of the converter  5 . In particular, a shift fork  222  can be positioned to change a direction of rotation for output shaft  224 . The reverse gearbox  220  includes a housing formed of a first housing portion  226 , a second housing portion  228  and a third housing portion  230 . 
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  illustrate reverse gearbox  220  in a first and second position, respectively. As illustrated, the gearbox  220  includes an input gear  229  (which is coupled to the output of the converter  5 ) coupled with a gear assembly  231  including an output gear  232  and a reverse gear  234 . In the first position shown in  FIG. 14A , input gear  229  is directly coupled to output gear  232  such that input gear  229  and output gear  232  rotate in opposite directions, providing a direction of rotation for output shaft  224 . In the first position of  FIG. 14A , the shift fork  222  is in a retracted position relative to the housing portion  228 . Conversely, in the second position of  FIG. 14B , input gear  229  directly engages the reverse gear  234 . The reverse gear  234  then operates to rotate output gear  232  in the same direction as input gear  229 . Consequently, output shaft  224  operates in an opposite direction to that when the gearbox  220  is in the position illustrated in  FIG. 14A . In  FIG. 14B , shift fork  222  is in an extended position with respect to housing portion  228 , shifting reverse gear  234  into engagement with input gear  229 . 
       FIG. 15A  illustrates an exploded view of the reverse gearbox  220 , including the first housing portion  226 , second housing portion  228  and third housing portion  230 . Housing portion  226  includes an aperture  240  to receive a shaft connected to the input gear  229  as well as bearing slots  242  to accommodate gear assembly  231 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 15B , gear assembly  231  is illustrated including the output gear  232 , reverse gear  234  and output shaft  224 . Positioned on either side of the gears  232  and  234  are a set of bearings  246  that allow rotation of the gears  232  and  234 . A pair of bearing retainers  248  accommodate the bearings  246 . Shift fork  250  is coupled to bearing retainers  248  through a pair of pins  252  and positioned within elongated slots  253  in the retainers  248 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15C , housing portion  230  includes a plurality of bearing slots  254  to accommodate the bearing retainers  248 . Additionally, a slot  256  is provided to accommodate output shaft  224  in both the first and second positions of the gearbox  220 . 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.