Apparatus to propel bicycle

Abstract

The invention pertains to an apparatus which converts the user's body expansion and contraction into propulsion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In conventional bicycles, alternating force is applied to the pedals which is converted into torque by the crank and which is transmitted by a chain or belt to the rear tire. In this apparatus only certain muscles are involved in the conversion of movement into propulsion.

The problem to increase the amount of muscles being involved in converting movement into propulsion was tackled previously by many other inventions which lack in regards to maneuverability, lightweight design, ease of maintenance and appearance.

Hence there is need for apparatus to propel bicycles which involves more muscle in the conversion of movement into propulsion and which competes with a conventional bicycle in regards to maneuverability, weight, ease of maintenance and appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 Apparatus with independent gear ratios between expansion and contraction;

FIG. 2 Rear axle arrangement of the embodiment shown in FIG.;

FIG. 3 Apparatus with dependent gear ratios between expansion and contraction; and

FIG. 4 Rear axle arrangement of the embodiment shown in FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The arrangement in FIG. shows an exemplary arrangement of a preferred embodiment. In FIG., one sees a structure [2] connected to a frame [1] in such a way to allow movement around a rotational axis [3]. The rear axle [4] is attached to the structure [2] distant from the rotational axis [3]. The height of the rotational axis [3] over the ground depends on the position of the structure [2]. The equilibrium position is in which the rear axle [4] sits above the rotational axis [3]. There's a force acting on the structure [2] towards the equilibrium position when the structure [2] is moved out of the equilibrium position making the embodiment a swinging system which helps the user to propel the bicycle. An internal gear [6], which is one example for a retainer, and an external gear [5], which is one example for a second retainer, are attached to the frame [1] and a freewheel [8], which is one example for a catching wheel, and a second freewheel [7], which is one example for a second catching wheel, are connected to the rear axle [4]. A pair of pedals [17] is attached to the structure [2] distant from the rotational axis [3]. The seat [13] is attached on one end of a support [14] which is supported by a primary bearing [15] and a secondary bearing [16]. The primary bearing [15] is attached to the other end of the support [14] and the primary bearing [15] supports the support [14] against the frame [1]. The Secondary bearing [16] is attached to the frame [1] and the secondary bearing [16] supports the support [14] between the seat [13] and the primary bearing [15]. This arrangement allows the linear movement between the frame [1] and the seat [13]. In this embodiment the user sits on the seat [13], holds the handle bar [18] and his feet are tied to the pedals [17].

The arrangement in FIG. shows an exemplary arrangement of a rear axle configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. The rear axle [4] is connected to the structure [2]. The input shaft [19] is connected on the rear axle [4] allowing the input shaft [19] to rotate around the rear axle [4]. The freewheel [8] and the second freewheel are connected to the input shaft [19]. The rear hub [20] which drives the rear tire, is installed on the rear axle [4] allowing the rear hub [20] to rotate around the rear axle [4]. There is a transmission inside the rear hub [20] which connects the input shaft [19] to the rear hub [20] allowing to adjust the gear ratio between the input shaft [19] and the rear hub [20]. When the user expands his body, the structure [2] moves in the first direction and the seat [13] moves in the fourth direction. As the structure [2] moves in the first direction, the gear surface of the freewheel [8] spins on the internal gear [6] in the third direction. As the spinning speed of the gear into of the freewheel [8] engaging with the internal gear [6] reaches the spinning speed of the input shaft [19], the one-way clutch in the freewheel [8] closes and torque is transmitted from the freewheel [8] to the rear hub [20]. When the user contracts his body, the structure [2] moves in the second direction and the seat [13] moves in the fifth direction. As the structure [2] moves in the second direction, the gear interface of the second freewheel [7] spins on the external gear [5] in the third direction. As the spinning speed of the gear interface of the second freewheel [7] engaged with the external gear [5] reaches the spinning speed of the input shaft [19], the one-way clutch in the second freewheel [7] closes and torque is transmitted from the second freewheel [7] to the rear hub [20]. The bicycle is propelled by the user's alternating body expansion and contraction.

The arrangement in FIG. shows an exemplary arrangement of another preferred embodiment. An internal ratchet [12], which is another example for a retainer, and an external ratchet [1], which is another example for a second retainer, are attached to the frame [1] and an inner race [9], which is another example for a catching wheel, housing a plurality of catching elements [10] is connected to the rear axle [4].

The arrangement in FIG. shows an exemplary arrangement of a rear axle configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. The rear axle [4] is connected to the structure [2]. The input shaft [19] is connected to the rear axle [4] allowing the input shaft [19] to rotate around the rear axle [4]. The inner race [9] is connected to the input shaft [19]. The rear hub [20] is installed on the rear axle [4] allowing the rear hub [20] to rotate around the rear axle [4]. There is a transmission inside the rear hub [20] which connects the input shaft [19] to the rear hub [20] allowing to adjust the gear ratio between the input shaft [19] and the rear hub [20]. As the structure [2] moves in the first direction and the angular velocity of the contact point between the catching elements [10] and the internal ratchet [12] around the rear axle [4] reaches the spinning speed of the inner race [9], the catching elements [10] engage with the internal ratchet [12] and torque is transmitted from the internal ratchet [12] to the rear hub [20]. As the structure [2] moves in the second direction and the angular velocity of the contact point between the catching elements [10] and the external ratchet [11] around the rear axle [4] reaches the spinning speed of the inner race [9], the catching elements [10] engage with the external ratchet [11] and torque is transmitted from the external ratchet [11] to the rear hub [20].

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, because certain changes may be made in carrying out the above method and in the construction(s) set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Claims

1. An apparatus to propel bicycles comprising: A frame [1]; a structure [2] attached to the frame [1] in such a way to allow rotational movement around a rotational axis [3]; a rear hub [20] attached to the structure [2] distant from the rotational axis [3], a retainer connected to the frame [1]; and a catching wheel connected to the rear hub [20] in such a way that only positive torque in the third direction is transmitted from the engagement between the catching wheel and the retainer to the rear hub [20] whereby the catching wheel travels along the retainer while the structure [2] moves in the first direction.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a second retainer connected to the frame [1] whereby the catching wheel travels along the second retainer while the structure [2] moves in the second direction.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a second retainer connected to the frame [1]; and a second catching wheel connected to the rear hub [20] in such a way that only positive torque in the third direction is transmitted from the engagement between the second catching wheel and the second retainer to the rear hub [20] whereby the second catching wheel travels along the second retainer while the structure [2] moves in the second direction.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the catching wheel is a free-wheel [8] comprising an integrated one-way clutch and a gear interface.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the retainer is an internal gear [6].

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the catching wheel comprises an inner race [9] and a plurality of catching elements [10].

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the catching elements [10] are spring loaded.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the retainer is an internal ratchet [12].

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the second retainer is an external ratchet [11].

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the second catching wheel is a second freewheel [7] comprising an integrated one-way clutch and a gear interface.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the second retainer is an external gear [5].

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: one or more pedals [17] attached to the structure [2] distant from the rotational axis [3].

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the pedal [17] transmit push and pull forces between the pedal and the user's foot.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: one or more transmissions being installed between the catching wheel and the rear hub [20].

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a seat [13] connected to the frame [1] in such a way to allow a linear movement between the frame [1] and the seat [13].

16. An apparatus allowing linear movement between a seat [13] and a frame [1] comprising: a support [14] wherein the seat [13] is connected to one end of the support [14]; one or more primary bearings [15] attached to the other end of the support [14]; and one or more secondary bearings [16] attached to the frame [1] wherein the primary bearing [15] supports the frame [1] and the secondary bearing [16] supports the support [14] between the primary bearing [15] and the seat [13].

17. A method for propelling bi-axle land vehicles, the method comprising: moving the structure [2] in the first direction by extending the legs; while the Structure [2] moves in the first direction the catching wheel travels along the retainer; torque in the 3rd direction is transmitted from the catching wheel to the rear hub [20]; moving the structure [2] in the second direction by bending the legs;

18. The method as defined in claim 17 further comprising: sliding on the seat [13] in the fourth direction while moving the structure [2] in the first direction; and sliding on the seat [13] in the fifth direction while moving the structure [2] in the second direction

19. The method as defined in claim 17 further comprising: while the structure [2] moves in the second direction the catching wheel travels along the second retainer; torque in the 3rd direction is transmitted from the catching wheel to the rear hub [20];

20. The method as defined in claim 17 further comprising; while the structure [2] moves in the second direction the second catching wheel travels along the second retainer; torque in the 3rd direction is transmitted from the second catching wheel to the rear hub [20];