Patent Publication Number: US-2011049830-A1

Title: Cycle propelling mechanism

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a cycle propelling mechanism, and more particularly to a cycle propelling mechanism including a simplified structure for allowing the cycles to be easily and effectively operated or driven or propelled by the user and for effectively exercising the more or bigger muscle groups of the user, and for applying bigger power to the cycle propelling mechanism. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Typical cycle propelling mechanisms comprise a pair of foot pedals rotatably coupled to a main drive shaft or a cycle device, such as a unicycle, bicycle, tricycle or the like with cranks for allowing the main drive shaft and the wheels of the cycle device to be rotated or driven by the foot pedals. 
     However, the foot pedals are rotated or driven cyclically by the user, and only about one quarter of the cyclically moving stroke of the foot pedals may be effectively operated or driven or propelled by the user such that the user may not effectively operate or drive or propel the foot pedals. 
     The other typical cycle devices may comprise different driving or propelling devices for operating or driving or propelling the foot pedals. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 594,980 to Booth &amp; Scott discloses one of the typical cycle propelling mechanisms comprising two pedal levers pivotally coupled to the cycle frame and slidably engaged with the cranks that are coupled to the main drive shaft. 
     However, the foot pedals and the pedal levers may only be stepped up and down by the user, and the user may not effectively exercise his muscle groups. In addition, the pedal levers have an increased horizontal stroke which is perpendicular to the active force and which is useless and which may not do work and which includes a decreased efficiency, such that the typical cycle propelling mechanisms may not be merchandized. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,648 to Seul discloses another typical bicycle propulsion and speed change means comprising two pedal levers pivotally coupled to the cycle frame and coupled to the rear wheel axle with a complicated coupling mechanism. 
     However, the complicated coupling mechanism may not be easily manufactured and assembled and may greatly increase the manufacturing cost for the typical bicycle propulsion and speed change means. In addition, the stepping operation to the foot pedals may not be continuously operated such that the wheels may not be rotated in a great speed, and the muscle groups of the rider may easily fatigue. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,173 to Graham discloses a further typical foot pedal drive for bicycles and comprising two elongated pedal bars pivotally coupled to the cycle frame and coupled to the rear wheel axle with a complicated coupling mechanism. 
     However, the complicated coupling mechanism may not be easily manufactured and assembled and may greatly increase the manufacturing cost and processes for the typical foot pedal drives for the bicycles. In addition, the stepping operation to the foot pedals may not be continuously operated such that the wheels may not be rotated in a great speed, and the muscle groups of the rider may easily fatigue. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,695 to Silvano et al. discloses a still further typical kinematic device for bicycles and comprising two elongated pedal bars pivotally or slidably coupled to the cycle frame and pivotally coupled to the main drive shaft with the cranks. 
     However, the pedal bars or the foot pedals may only be stepped up and down by the user, and the user may not effectively exercise his muscle groups. In addition, the stepping operation to the foot pedals may not be continuously operated such that the wheels may not be rotated in a great speed, and the muscle groups of the rider may easily fatigue. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional cycle propelling mechanisms. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a cycle propelling mechanism including a simplified structure for allowing the cycles to be easily and effectively operated or driven or propelled by the user and for effectively exercising the more or bigger muscle groups of the user, and for applying bigger power to the cycle propelling mechanism. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a cycle propelling mechanism comprising a cycle frame including a rail provided on the cycle frame, and including a main drive shaft, two cranks rotatably coupled to the main drive shaft of the cycle frame for allowing the cranks to be rotated and driven cyclically relative to the cycle frame, two levers each including a first end pivotally coupled to a free end of the crank, and a second end slidably coupled to the rail for allowing the levers to be moved cyclically relative to the cycle frame, and two foot pedals pivotally attached to the levers respectively for being stepped by user&#39;s feet and for allowing the cranks and the lever to be rotated relative to the cycle frame in an elliptical moving stroke and for allowing the foot pedals to be stepped and moved for a longer stepping or moving stroke by the user, and for effectively exercising the more or bigger muscle groups of the user. 
     The second ends of the levers are slidably coupled to the rail with a coupling device, for example, the coupling device may be slidably attached onto the rail and includes at least one roller attached to the coupling device for engaging with the rail and for allowing the second ends of the levers to be smoothly moved along the rail. 
     The foot pedals are pivotally and adjustably attached to the levers respectively. The levers each include at least one aperture formed therein for adjustably attaching and mounting the foot pedals and for adjusting the foot pedals relative to the cranks and the rail, and for adjusting the moving stroke of the foot pedals relative to the cycle frame. 
     Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side plan schematic view of a cycle propelling mechanism in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial exploded view of the cycle propelling mechanism; 
         FIG. 3  is another side plan schematic view similar to  FIG. 1  illustrating the operation of the cycle propelling mechanism; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial side plan schematic view illustrating the operation of the cycle propelling mechanism; 
         FIG. 5  is a further side plan schematic view similar to  FIGS. 1 and 3  illustrating the other arrangement of the cycle propelling mechanism; and 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial side plan schematic view illustrating the operation of the cycle propelling mechanism as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a cycle propelling mechanism in accordance with the present invention comprises a cycle frame  10  including a track or rail  11  attached or mounted or provided or secured onto the cycle frame  10  and arranged up and down relative to the cycle frame  10  and disposed or arranged slightly inclined relative to the cycle frame  10 , one or more (such as two) wheels  12  are attached or mounted or secured onto the cycle frame  10  for forming a unicycle, a bicycle, a tricycle or the like, and one or more (such as two) cranks  20  are pivotally or rotatably coupled to the cycle frame  10  with a main drive shaft  21  or coupled to the main drive shaft  21  of the cycle frame  10  for allowing the cranks  20  to be rotated or driven cyclically relative to the cycle frame  10 . 
     One or more (such as two) links or levers  30  each include one end or lower end  31  pivotally or rotatably coupled to the respective free end  22  of the crank  20 , and another end or upper end  32  pivotally and slidably coupled to the rail  11  with a coupling device  33  which is slidably attached or mounted onto the rail  11  and which includes one or more wheels or rollers  34  for engaging with the rail  11  and for allowing the other ends or upper ends  32  of the levers  30  to be smoothly slid or moved along the rail  11  and for allowing the levers  30  to be rotated or moved cyclically relative to the cycle frame  10 . The coupling devices  33  are pivotally or rotatably coupled to the other ends or upper ends  32  of the levers  30  for allowing the other ends or upper ends  32  of the levers  30  to be pivoted or rotated relative to the coupling device  33  and the cycle frame  10 . 
     A foot support or foot pedal  35  is pivotally or rotatably attached or mounted or coupled to the middle or lower portion of each of the levers  30  for being engaged with and stepped by the feet of the user, and for allowing the cranks  20  and the lever  30  to be stepped and rotated or driven or propelled cyclically by the user. In operation, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , due to the pivotal coupling of the foot pedals  35  to the levers  30  and the coupling of the levers  30  between the cranks  20  and the rail  11 , the foot pedals  35  may be stepped and caused to rotate relative to the cycle frame  10  in an elliptical moving stroke, best shown in  FIG. 4 , and the foot pedals  35  may be stepped and moved for a longer stepping or moving stroke by the user, and for effectively exercising the more or bigger muscle groups of the user. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the levers  30  each include one or more apertures  36  formed therein for adjustably attaching or mounting or engaging with the foot pedals  35 , and for adjusting the foot pedals  35  relative to the cranks  20  and the rail  11 , and for adjusting the stepping or moving stroke of the foot pedals  35 , and thus for adjusting the stepping force of the user applied to the foot pedals  35 , and thus for adjusting the exercising operation to the more or bigger muscle groups of the user. It is to be noted that the lever  30  and the foot pedals  35  may be easily coupled between the cranks  20  and the rail  11  of the cycle frame  10  to have the foot pedals  35  stepped and moved for an elliptical moving stroke. 
     It is further to be noted that the foot pedals  35  may be stepped and moved in an elliptical moving stroke and may be stepped and rotated in a great speed, the effective moving stroke of the foot pedals  35  may be suitably increased and the effective acting component may be increased such that much more muscle groups of the user may be operated or exercised. The cycle propelling mechanism in accordance with the present invention is suitable for being stepped and operated by the user with a sitting status on the cycle saddle. The longitudinal axis of the elliptical moving stroke is equal to two times the length of the cranks  20 , such that the length of the cranks  20  is greater than the length of the cranks for the typical cycle propelling mechanisms. 
     Accordingly, the cycle propelling mechanism in accordance with the present invention includes a simplified structure for allowing the cycles to be easily and effectively operated or driven or propelled by the user and for effectively exercising the more or bigger muscle groups of the user, and for applying bigger power to the cycle propelling mechanism. 
     Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.