Chainless bicycle with dual drive shafts and floating drive train suspension system
US5316327A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 15, 1993 |
| Grant date | May 31, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 15, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62M17/00
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A chainless bicycle has a frame with a top bar, steering tube, front forks, front wheel, handlebar assembly, seat assembly, seat tube, and front downtube. The seat tube and front downtube extend angularly downwardly and are connected at their lower ends to a special crank hanger which pivotally supports a pedal gear box containing drive gears connected to the pedal arms. A pair of hollow support tubes connected to the pedal gear box extend rearwardly to a rear wheel gear box at each side of the rear wheel. A drive shaft is rotatably carried in each support tube and each has a bevel gear at the front end selectively engaged with the drive gears in the pedal gear box and a bevel gear at the rear end inside the rear wheel gear box. The hub of the rear wheel has a drive and braking mechanism which is connected to bevel gears at each side. The gears of the rear wheel hub are received in toothed engagement with the bevel gears in the rear wheel gear boxes. A pair of fluid shock absorbers are mounted between the rear wheel gear boxes and the seat tube. Thus, the chainless bicycle has a "floating" drive train and rear wheel suspension system to isolate the gear drive train from jarring, vi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.