Patent ID: 8286981

Claim:
A propulsion assembly for a bicycle having a frame with a top, a bottom opposite the top, a front with a front wheel rotatably connected thereto at the bottom, and a rear opposite the front with a rear wheel rotatably connected thereto at the bottom, the assembly comprising: a rearwardly extending support member extending from the frame along the top of the frame, the support member extending to a distal end of the support member, the distal end being spaced-apart from the rear wheel; a first drive mechanism rotatably mounted on the frame and being mechanically connected to the rear wheel for transmitting motion thereto; a second drive mechanism rotatably mounted near the distal end of the support member, the second drive mechanism having an axis of rotation; a coupling member coupling the first drive mechanism to the second drive mechanism; a pair of ratchet mechanisms operatively connecting to the second drive mechanism and with the axis of rotation of the second drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism being between the pair of ratchet mechanisms; a first elongate member and a second elongate member, each said elongate member being operatively connected to the second drive mechanism by means of a respective one of the pair of ratchet mechanisms and extending therefrom, the elongate members being telescopic; a pedal arm axle rotatably mounted to the frame near the bottom thereof between the front and the rear of the frame; a first pedal arm and a second pedal arm angularly spaced-apart from the first pedal arm, the pedal arms extending from opposite ends of the pedal arm axle; and a first pedal and a second pedal rotatably connected to the first pedal arm and the second pedal arm, respectively, for pedaling the bicycle, the first elongate member and the second elongate member extending towards and operatively connecting with the first pedal and the second pedal, respectively, the pedals being rotatably movable for transmitting rotational power through the elongate members and to the second drive mechanism for pedalling the bicycle.