Bicycle drive assembly

Claim 2

A drive assembly for a physically-propelled vehicle, comprising: a. a drive rotatively mounted on a drive axis, b. a crank arm mounted for rotation about the drive axis and operatively connected to the drive member for rotating the drive member, c. an advance-crank arm, d. a connector pivotally connected to the advance-crank arm, e. pedal means operatively connected to the connector for moving the connector with an alternating motion of less than 360* in a predetermined path, and f. means, during application of pedal force, for automatically shifting the pedal force from the crank arm to the advancecrank arm, and for later reversing this action during the rotation of the crank arm and advance-crank arm about the drive axis.

Claim 3

A drive assembly for a physically-propelled vehicle, comprising: a. a drive member rotatively mounted on a drive axis, b. a crank arm operatively connected to the drive member for rotating the drive member, c. a crank arm pin carried by the crank arm, d. an advance-crank arm, e. clutch means associated with the crank arm pin connecting the advance-crank arm to the crank arm for relative pivotal movement in only one direction, f. a connector, g. pivot means pivotally connecting the connector to the advance-crank arm, h. pedal means operatively connected to the connector for moving a portion of the connector with an alternating motion of less than 360* in a predetermined path, i. resilient means interconnecting the connector and the advance-crank arm, and j. the connector transferring the turning force from the crank arm pin to the pivot means upon application of sufficient pedal force to overcome the loading of the resilient means.

Claim 4

A drive assembly for a physically-propelled vehicle, comprising: a. a drive member rotatively mounted on a drive axis, b. a crank arm operatively connected to the drive member for rotating the drive member, c. a crank arm pin carried by the crank arm, d. an advance-crank arm, e. clutch means associated with the crank arm pin connecting the advance-crank arm to the crank arm for relative pivotal movement in only one direction, f. a connector, g. pivot means pivotally connecting the connector to the advance-crank arm, h. pedal means operatively connected to the connector for moving a portion of the connector with an alternating motion of less than 360* in a predetermined path, i. resilient means interconnecting the connector and the advance-crank arm, and j. the connector transferring the turning force from the crank arm pin to the pivot means upon application of sufficient pedal force to overcome the loading of the resilient means.

Claim 5

means connecting the said connector to the pedal arm to actuate the connector upon movement of the pedal arm, and

Claim 6

means connecting the said connector to the pedal arm to actuate the connector upon movement of the pedal arm, and

Claim 7

a pedal carried by the pedal arm for actuating the pedal arm, and

Claim 8

a pedal carried by the pedal arm for actuating the pedal arm, and

Claim 9

means connecting the connector to the pedal arm for actuating the connector.

Claim 10

means connecting the connector to the pedal arm for actuating the connector.

Claim 11

a pedal carried by the pedal arm for actuating the pedal arm.

Claim 12

a pedal carried by the pedal arm for actuating the pedal arm.

Claim 13

a drive assembly as defined in claim 2, in which: k. the crank arm pin is located in spaced relation to the drive axis, l. the pivot means is in spaced relation to the crank arm pin, and m. all turning force is transferred from the crank arm pin and transmitted by the connector to the pivot means upon application of sufficient pedal force to overcome the loading of the resilient means and enable a change in the angle between the connector and advance-crank arm.

Claim 14

A drive assembly as defined in claim 2, in which: k. the pedal means includes:

Claim 15

A drive assembly as defined in claim 4, in which: l. a pedal frame carries the pedal and is mounted on the pedal arm for selective movement to locations at different distances from the fixed axis to change the torque arm.

Claim 16

A drive assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: n. the clutch means precludes rotation of the advance-crank arm relative to the crank arm in the same direction as the crank arm rotation about the drive axis.

Claim 17

A drive assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: n. the pedal means is mounted for substantially alternating motion of less that 360*.

Claim 18

A drive assembly as defined in claim 6, in which: o. the pedal means moves the said connector portion in the predetermined path that is located offset forwardly in the direction of drive member rotation from a line interconnecting the drive axis and top center of the crank arm pin.

Claim 19

A drive assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: n. the pivot means is disposed forwardly in the direction of drive member rotation relative to the crank arm pin when the crank arm pin is located substantially at its top center position, whereby the effective crank arm position is automatically advanced from the crank arm pin to the said pivot means when the loading of the resilient means is overcome by the application of sufficient pedal force.

Claim 20

A drive assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: n. the clutch means precludes relative rotation of the crank arm and advance-crank arm in the same direction as the crank arm rotation about the drive axis, o. the pedal is mounted for alternating motion of less than 360*, and p. the pivot means is disposed forwardly in the direction of drive member rotation relative to the crank arm pin when the crank arm pin is located substantially at its top center position, whereby the effective crank arm position is automatically advanced from the crank arm pin to the said pivot means when the loading of the resilient means is overcome by the application of sufficient pedal force.

Claim 21

A drive assembly as defined in claim 10, in which: g. the pedal means includes:

Claim 22

A drive assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: n. the resilient means provides a predetermined loading that maintains the angle between the connector and the advance-crank arm until sufficient pedal force is applied through the connector to overcome the predetermined loading of the resilient means and thereby enable the change of the angle and an automatic transfer of the effective crank arm position from the crank arm pin to the pivot means.

Claim 23

A drive assembly as defined in claim 12, in which: o. the resilient means is under predetermined tension loading that tends to maintain the included angle between the connector and the advance-crank arm.

Claim 24

A drive assembly as defined in claim 12, in which: o. the connector includes an extended portion located on the opposite side of the pivot means from that portion of the connector movable in the predetermined path, p. the advance-crank arm includes an extended portion located on the opposite side of the crank arm pin from the said pivot means, and q. the resilient means operatively extends between and interconnects the said extended portions of the connector and advance-crank arm.

Claim 25

A drive assembly as defined in claim 14, in which: r. the resilient means is a tension spring, and s. screws threadedly engage the ends of the spring and connect the spring to the extended portions, the screws being adjustable to predetermine the effective tensional loading of the spring.

Claim 26

A drive assembly as defined in claim 14, in which: r. the pivot means is disposed forwardly in the direction of drive member rotation relative to the crank arm pin when the crank arm pin is located substantially at its top center position, whereby the effective crank arm is automatically advanced from the crank arm pin to the said pivot means when the loading of the resilient means is overcome by the application of sufficient pedal force.

Claim 27

A drive assembly for a physically-propelled vehicle, comprising: a. a drive member rotatively mounted on a drive axis, b. a crank arm mounted for rotation about the drive axis and operatively connected to the drive member for rotating the drive member, c. a crank arm pin carried by the crank arm, d. an advance-crank arm, e. a one-way clutch associated with the crank arm pin and connecting the advance-crank arm to the crank arm in spaced relation to the drive axis for permitting pivotal movement of the advance-crank arm about the crank arm pin and relative to the crank arm in only one direction, f. a connector, g. a pivot means between the connector and the advance-crank arm in spaced relation to the crank arm pin, h. a lever pivotally mounted on a fixed axis and pivotally connected to the connector for moving a portion of the connector in a predetermined path offset in the direction of drive member rotation from a line interconnecting the drive axis and crank arm pin when the crank arm pin is located in its top center position, i. a pedal arm pivotally mounted for substantially alternating motion of less than 360* on the same fixed axis as the lever, the pedal arm being attached to the lever to move the lever upon movement of the pedal arm, j. a pedal carried by the pedal arm for actuating the pedal arm, k. the connector including an extended portion located on the opposite side of the pivot means from that portion of the connector movable in the predetermined path, l. the advance-crank arm including an extended portion located on the opposite side of the crank arm pin from the said pivot means, m. a resilient means under a predetermined tension loading extending between and interconnecting the said extended portions of the connector and the advance-crank arm, the resilient means tending to maintain the included angle between the connector and the advance-crank arm, and n. the connector transmitting all of the turning force to the pivot means upon application of sufficient force to the pedal to overcome the predetermined tension loading and increase the tension loading of the resilient means and enable a change in the included angle between the connector and the advance-crank arm, all of the turning force being automatically shifted from the crank arm pin to the pivot means, and being automatically shifted back to the crank arm pin during further rotation of the crank arm and advance-crank arm about the drive axis as the loading of the resilient means is substantially balanced by the pedal force.

Claim 28

A drive assembly for a physically-propelled vehicle, comprising: a. a drive member rotatively mounted on a drive axis, b. a crank arm mounted for rotation about the drive axis and operatively connected to the drive member for rotating the drive member, c. a crank arm pin carried by the crank arm, d. an advance-crank arm, e. a one-way clutch associated with the crank arm pin and connecting the advance-crank arm to the crank arm in spaced relation to the drive axis for permitting pivotal movement of the advance-crank arm about the crank arm pin and relative to the crank arm in only one direction, f. a connector, g. a pivot means between the connector and the advance-crank arm in spaced relation to the crank arm pin, h. a lever pivotally mounted on a fixed axis and pivotally connected to the connector for moving a portion of the connector in a predetermined path offset in the direction of drive member rotation from a line interconnecting the drive axis and crank arm pin when the crank arm pin is located in its top center position, i. a pedal arm pivotally mounted for substantially alternating motion of less than 360* on the same fixed axis as the lever, the pedal arm being attached to the lever to move the lever upon movement of the pedal arm, j. a pedal carried by the pedal arm for actuating the pedal arm, k. the connector including an extended portion located on the opposite side of the pivot means from that portion of the connector movable in the predetermined path, l. the advance-crank arm including an extended portion located on the opposite side of the crank arm pin from the said pivot means, m. a resilient means under a predetermined tension loading extending between and interconnecting the said extended portions of the connector and the advance-crank arm, the resilient means tending to maintain the included angle between the connector and the advance-crank arm, and n. the connector transmitting all of the turning force to the pivot means upon application of sufficient force to the pedal to overcome the predetermined tension loading and increase the tension loading of the resilient means and enable a change in the included angle between the connector and the advance-crank arm, all of the turning force being automatically shifted from the crank arm pin to the pivot means, and being automatically shifted back to the crank arm pin during further rotation of the crank arm and advance-crank arm about the drive axis as the loading of the resilient means is substantially balanced by the pedal force.