Patent ID: 8353228

Claim:
A lockable or releasable, bi-directional input/one-way output device for a bicycle: a human input device ( 11 ) for converting forward, reverse, or reciprocating movements input by a human to an input terminal into a forward or reverse direction rotational output through an output terminal; a lockable or releasable transmission ( 13 ) having a bidirectional input to receive the forward or reverse direction rotational output from the output terminal of the human input device and convert the bidirectional input into a one-way output, thereby allowing a rider to achieve forward movement of the bicycle while selectively pedaling in either the forward direction or the rearward direction; and a lockable or releasable mechanism ( 90 ) arranged to release said one-way output of the lockable or releasable transmission ( 13 ) when a backward movement caused by an external force occurs at the one-way output of the lockable or releasable transmission ( 13 ), thereby allowing the bicycle to be moved without locking in a direction opposite the direction of the one-way output of the lockable or releasable transmission ( 13 ), wherein the lockable or releasable transmission ( 13 ) includes at least one gear train between the bi-directional input and the output of the lockable or releasable transmission ( 13 ), and wherein the lockable or releasable mechanism ( 90 ) is installed between a fixed machine body ( 600 ) and one of a shell ( 500 ) of the lockable or releasable transmission ( 13 ) and a shaft ( 201 , 400 , or 401 ) of a rotatable part ( 103 or 403 ) of the at least one gear train, or between the shell ( 500 ) and the shaft ( 201 or 401 ) of the rotatable part ( 103 or 403 ) of the at least one gear train, such that said lockable or releasable mechanism ( 90 ) fixes the shell or an axis of the rotatable part to enable transmission of power by said at least gear train from said bi-directional input to said one-way output, and releases said rotatable shell or respective axes of said rotatable parts to enable said backward movement at the output to be transmitted back to the rotatable shell or rotating parts without locking said lockable or releasable transmission ( 13 ).