Patent ID: 7021270

Claim:
An engine assembly, comprising: a block having at least one cylinder; a crankshaft, rotatably coupled with said block, having a main that extends along a centerline of said crankshaft and at least one crankarm extending radially from said crankshaft; at least one piston slidably disposed within said at least one cylinder; and at least one connecting rod having a first end portion that is operatively pivotably coupled with said piston, a second end portion that is operatively pivotably coupled with a distal end portion of said crankarm, and an elongated body portion that extends between said first and second end portions; said body portion of said connecting rod having at least one bend along its length so that a centerline of said body is angularly and laterally spaced from an axis, extending through said first and second end portions, at a point adjacent an apex of the bend; said bend in said body portion defining a base leg of said body portion that extends from said second end portion of said body portion and a main leg of said body portion that extends from said first end portion of said body portion; said base leg and said main leg being rigidly adjoined to one another at an approximate apex of said bend; said connecting rod and said crankshaft being shaped and coupled with one another so that said piston is cycled through a piston stroke having a predefined distance, as said crankshaft is rotated; said crankarm having a length that approximates half the distance of said piston stroke.