Lever driven bicycle
US5988662A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/18832
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
This invention relates to an improved lever driven bicycle including a shifting mechanism for controlling a drive ratio between the oscillating lever and the drive wheel. The drive lever arrangement may be located about the front or rear wheels of the bicycle and, when about the rear wheel, may include a sole lever or dual levers. The drive lever arrangement includes a drive lever, a force applicator, a shifting mechanism, and a force converter which together transform the oscillating displacement of the lever to a rotation of the drive wheel. The shifting mechanism includes a slide block located about the lever which engages with the drive lever upon downward motion of the drive lever and controllably slides along the drive lever upon upward motion of the drive lever. The position of the slide block corresponds to a drive ratio between the drive lever and the drive wheel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.