Abstract:
A drive apparatus for the application of substantially linear drive force, wherein the substantially linear drive force is converted to a rotary propulsive force through the use of a substantially linear drive force accepting device, transferring the substantially linear drive force to rotary motion through a power transference device linked to the substantially linear drive force accepting device and transferring the rotary motion to a drive sprocket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application relates generally to a drive apparatus. More specifically, this application discloses a drive apparatus that converts a substantially linear driving force to a rotary propulsive force that may be used in a variety of applications such as to generate the propulsive force in a bicycle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    This application discloses a drive apparatus for converting a substantially linear driving force to a rotary propulsive force. The apparatus is of system of simple construction and can be used in a variety of applications including in standard bicycles, tricycles, reclining bicycles, personal watercraft such as paddle boats, scooters and any other similar transportation apparatus that uses a rotational force as a means to propel the transportation apparatus forward. The drive apparatus can also be uses in stationary exercise devises such at stationary bikes, stair climbers, and any devices that utilize a reciprocating substantially linear force as part of the exercise regimen. 
         [0003]    In particular, this application discloses a drive apparatus for converting a substantially linear driving force to a rotary propulsive force, the drive apparatus comprising a frame; a pivot point located on said frame; a pedal assembly mechanically attached to said pivot point; wherein the pedal assembly includes a first and second pedal bracket wherein each bracket includes a pedal attachment region, a drive chain attachment region, and a pivot attachment region for attachment to said pivot point; a drive assembly located on said frame; wherein the drive assembly includes a drive axle positioned on said frame, a drive sprocket rotationally mounted on said axle, a first and second power sprocket rotationally mounted on said axle wherein said drive sprockets include internally mounted unidirectional clutch means; a power transference chain assembly mechanically connected to said pedal assembly and mechanically coupled to said drive assembly, and for mechanically connecting said pedal assembly to said drive assembly; wherein the power transference chain assembly includes a first and second power transference chain wherein each power transference chain has a pedal attachment end and a flexible cable attachment end and a power sprocket engagement region there between, a flexible cable fixedly attached between said power transference chains at said cable attachment ends, and a pulley fixedly attached to a pulley axle attached to said frame wherein said first power transference chain is fixedly attached to said first pedal bracket at said power transference chain attachment region and wherein said first power transference chain is mechanically coupled to said first power sprocket at said power sprocket engagement region and then fixedly attached to said flexible cable wherein said cable then engages said pulley and wherein said cable continues and is fixedly attached to said second power transference chain and wherein said second power transference chain is then mechanically coupled to said second power sprocket at said sprocket engagement region and then fixedly attached to said second pedal bracket at said power transference chain attachment region. 
         [0004]    This application also discloses the above mentioned drive apparatus, but wherein the apparatus also comprises a reciprocating assembly; wherein the said reciprocating assembly includes a reciprocating cable with pedal a attachment means at each end, a first and second vertical pulley fixedly attached to a pulley axel attached to said frame, and a horizontal pulley fixedly attached to a pulley axle attached to said frame wherein said reciprocating cable is attached to said first pedal bracket at said cable attachment region and then engages said first vertical pulley and then engages said horizontal pulley and then said second vertical pulley and then attaches to said second pedal bracket at said cable attachment region. 
         [0005]    This application also discloses a drive apparatus for converting a substantially linear driving force to a rotary propulsive force, the drive apparatus comprising substantially linear drive force accepting means; means for transferring said substantially linear drive force to rotary motion through a power transference means linked to said substantially linear drive force accepting means; and means for transferring said rotary motion to a drive sprocket. 
         [0006]    Finally, this application discloses a an improved bicycle drive apparatus of the type wherein bicycle pedals are driven by the feet of a rider for rotating a drive sprocket which is coupled to a driven sprocket mounted on a wheel for the rotation thereof and the propulsion of the bicycle in a forward direction, the improvement comprising means for mounting said pedals for reciprocating substantially linear motion; means for transferring said reciprocating substantially linear motion to a unidirectional rotary motion through a power transference means linked to each of said pedals; means for transferring said unidirectional rotary motion to said drive sprocket; and means for coupling said unidirectional motion of said drive sprocket to said driven sprocket for propulsion of said bicycle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is side plan view of a first embodiment of the drive apparatus disclosed herein incorporated on a bicycle; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an opposite side plan view of the bicycle and incorporated drive apparatus in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is side plan view of a first embodiment of the drive apparatus disclosed herein incorporated on a scooter; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the drive apparatus in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the drive apparatus in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the reciprocating assembly of the drive apparatus in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is side plan view of a second embodiment of the drive apparatus disclosed herein incorporated on a reclining bicycle; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an opposite side plan view of the bicycle and incorporated drive apparatus in  FIG. 7 ; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , and specifically  FIGS. 4 and 5 , shown therein and generally designated by the reference character  10  is the drive apparatus  10  constructed in accordance with the following description. The first embodiment of the drive apparatus  10  is shown incorporated in a bicycle or a scooter in  FIGS. 1-5 . A second embodiment of the drive apparatus  10  is shown incorporated in a reclining bicycle in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Regardless of the nature of the transportation device, which are well known in the art and shown for example purposes only, each is generally characterized by having a frame  1  that includes a front forks  2 , rear forks  3 , a seat  4 , handle bars  6 , and front  7  and rear  8  wheels. 
         [0017]    The drive apparatus  10  includes a pivot point  11  located on said frame  1  that runs through the length of the frame for mechanical attachment of a the pedal assembly  20  such that the pedal assembly  20  can pivot about the pivot point  11 . The attachment of the pedal assembly  20  may be mechanically attached to the pivot point  11  by means known in the art, such as a pivot axle. The pedal assembly  20  includes a first  21  and second pedal bracket  22  mechanically attached on opposite sides of the frame  1  and on opposite ends of said pivot axle. Not only can the pivot point for each pedal bracket  21  and  22  share the same pivot point  11  and pivot axle as described above, it is also contemplated that pivot point for each pedal bracket  21  and  22  could be independent of each other such that each pedal bracket  21  and  22  has its own pivot axle and whereby the pivot point  11  of each pedal bracket could be at the same or similar location on the frame  1 . Each pedal bracket  21  and  22  includes a pedal attachment region  23  for attachment of pedals  27  and  28 , a power transference chain attachment region  24 , and a pivot attachment region  26  for attachment to said pivot point. 
         [0018]    The drive apparatus  10  also includes a drive assembly  30  located on said frame  1 . The drive assembly  30  includes a drive axle  31  positioned on the frame  1  that rotates within it. The drive assembly  30  also includes drive sprocket  32  rotationally mounted on the drive axle  31  such that when the drive axle  31  is rotated the drive sprocket  32  rotates. Also included in the drive assembly  30  is a first  33  and second  34  power sprocket rotationally mounted on the drive axle  31 . The drive sprockets are mounted on internal unidirectional clutches  38  and  39  which are in turn mounted on the drive axle  31 . The unidirectional clutches  38  and  39  enable the drive axle  31  to turn when the power sprockets  33  and  34  are rotated in the proper direction (clockwise). See  FIG. 5 . A detailed explanation of the operation of the drive apparatus  10  is presented below. 
         [0019]    The drive apparatus  10  also includes a power transference chain assembly  40  mechanically connected to said pedal assembly  20  and mechanically coupled to said drive assembly  30 , and for mechanically connecting said pedal assembly  20  to said drive assembly  30 . The power transference chain assembly  40  including a first  41  and second  42  power transference chain wherein each power transference chain  41  and  42  has a pedal attachment end  43 , a flexible cable attachment end  44 , and a power sprocket engagement region  45  there between. The power transference chain assembly  40  includes a flexible cable  46  fixedly attached by a clasp or other similar means between said power transference chains  41  and  42  at cable attachment ends  44 . The power transference chain assembly  40  further includes and pulley  47  fixedly attached to a pulley axle  48  attached to said frame  1 . 
         [0020]    The power transference chain assembly  40  is then assembled by fixedly attaching the first power transference chain  41  to the first pedal bracket  21  at the power transference chain attachment region  24 . Then, the first power transference chain  41  is mechanically coupled to the first power sprocket  33  at the power sprocket engagement region  45  and then fixedly attached to the flexible cable  46 . The flexible cable  46  then engages the pulley  47  and continues and is fixedly attached to the second power transference chain  42 . The second power transference chain  42  is then mechanically coupled to the second power sprocket  34  at the sprocket engagement region  45  and then fixedly attached to the second pedal bracket  22  at the power transference chain attachment region  24 . As just described, the drive apparatus  10  forms a first closed loop such that when pedal  27  is pushed downward by the rider, pedal  28  will automatically rise. See  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0021]    During operation of the drive apparatus  10  the following events take place in converting a substantially linear driving force to a rotary propulsive force. Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a first embodiment of the drive apparatus  10  is shown incorporated in a bicycle or scooter where a rider places his or her feet on the pedals  27  and  28  attached respectively to the pedal brackets  21  and  22 . The pedal brackets  21  and  22  act as a lever arms about pivot point  11  such that when the rider pushes down on the pedal  27 , the foot travels downward in a substantially linear direction, in this example, a substantially vertical direction. As the pedals  27  and  28  reciprocate up and down attached to their respective pedal brackets  21  and  22 , the power transference chains  41  and  42  are driven along their loop. The power transference chains  41  and  42  engage the teeth of the power sprockets  33  and  34 . The power sprockets  33  and  34  are mounted on unidirectional clutches  38  and  39 , which, in turn, are mounted upon the drive axle  31 . The unidirectional clutches  38  and  39  enable the drive axle  31  to turn when the power sprockets  33  and  34  are rotated in the proper direction (clockwise) by the power transference chains  41  and  42 . Thus, when the first power transference chain  41  is rotated clockwise, e.g., the first pedal bracket  21  and attached pedal  27  is pushed down, the unidirectional clutch  38  is not engaged and allows the first power sprocket  33  to turn the drive axle  31 . At the same time, the second pedal bracket  22  and attached pedal  28  is pushed up, which causes the second power sprocket  34  to rotate counter-clockwise, thereby engaging the unidirectional clutch  39  which prevents the power sprocket  34  from attempting to rotate the drive axle  31 . Consequently, there is always a rotational force being applied to the drive axle  31  by either one of the power sprockets  33  or  34 . In this way the drive sprocket  34  is turned and causes drive chain  36  to rotate a driven sprocket  37 . The range of upward and downward motion of each pedal bracket can be as much as 180°, however a range of approximately 40° to approximately 60° is preferred, and a range of approximately 45° to approximately 55° is particularly preferred. The downward movement of the pedal brackets  21  and  22  may be terminated by a pair of pedal bracket stops  9  which are mounted on the frame  1 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the drive apparatus  10  may also include a reciprocating assembly  50 . The reciprocating assembly  50  includes a reciprocating cable  51  with pedal attachment means  52  such as a screw at each end. The reciprocating assembly  50  also includes a first  53  and second  54  vertical pulley fixedly attached to a pulley axel  55  which is attached to the frame  1 . The reciprocating assembly  50  also includes a horizontal pulley  56  fixedly attached to a pulley axle  57  attached to the frame  1 . The reciprocating assembly  50  is assembled by attaching the reciprocating cable  51  to the first pedal bracket  21  at the cable attachment region  25 . The flexible cable  51  then engages the first vertical pulley  53  and then continues on to engage the horizontal pulley  56 , the second vertical pulley  54  before attaching to the second pedal bracket  22  at the cable attachment region  25 . The reciprocating assembly  50  may also include a tensioning mechanism  58  mounted to the frame  1  and horizontal pulley  56 , such as a high tension spring  59 , so that the horizontal pulley  56  is forced in direction away from the vertical pulleys  53  and  54  thereby maintaining the desired tension in the reciprocating cable  51 . As just described, the reciprocating assembly  50  forms a second closed loop such that when pedal  27  is pushed downward by the rider, pedal  28  will automatically rise. This second closed loop acts to maintain the tension not only on the reciprocating cable, but also on the on the power transference chains  41  and  42  and the flexible cable  46 . This helps to prevent the power transference chains  41  and  42  from releasing from the power sprockets  33  and  34  and/or the flexible cable  46  from releasing from the pulley  47  when a rider quickly dismounts from the drive apparatus  10  thereby causing a sudden change in the tension applied to such devices which can potentially overcome the first closed loop as described above. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a second embodiment of the drive apparatus  10  is shown incorporated in a reclining bicycle where a rider places his or her feet on the pedals  27  and  28  attached respectively to the pedal brackets  21  and  22 . The drive apparatus  10  acts substantially as described above, however, in this embodiment the pedal brackets  21  and  22  travel in a substantially horizontal direction. 
         [0024]    While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. For example instead of the standard link chain common in the art for engaging the teeth of a sprocket as described above for both the power transference chains  41  and  42  and the drive chain  36 , it should be understood that the disclosure includes the use of timing belts or other cables that would be able to similarly engage the teeth of a sprocket.