Patent US3865366A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3865366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable motion pedal assembly for a foot-powered vehicle
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-01-28
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Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1995-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A pedal of an exercise bicycle or other foot-powered vehicle is coupled to the crank of its drive sprocket through a motionchanging assembly that substitutes a complex curvilinear pedal path for the normal orbiting motion. The assembly includes a housing with a plurality of gear-coupled shafts that are independently supported for rotation. A pair of the shafts are fixed to the crank and pedal, respectively. The rotation of the pedal shaft about its axis proportationately rotates the plane of symmetry of the curvilinear pedal path when the vehicle is driven with the pedal shaft angle held fixed at its new position.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles T Stantial
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:42
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B22/00; A63B22/06; A63B22/0605; A63B2022/0611; A63B2022/0617; A63B22/0046; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20888; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2164; Y10T74/2167
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
In a pedal-driven vehicle having a rotatable main drive axle and a crank secured on one end to the main axle: a housing; first and second shafts rotatably mounted in the housing in parallel spaced relation and having respective first ends projecting through the housing; means disposed in the housing for rotatably coupling the first and second shafts; means for securing the projecting first end of the first shaft to the opposite end of the crank; and means for securing the pedal to the projecting first end of the second shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a pedal-driven vehicle having a rotatable main drive axle and a crank secured on one end to the main axle: a housing; first and second shafts rotatably mounted in the housing in parallel spaced relation and having respective first ends projecting through the housing; means disposed in the housing for rotatably coupling the first and second shafts; means for securing the projecting first end of the first shaft to the opposite end of the crank; and means for securing the pedal to the projecting first end of the second shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for coupling a pedal to a crank secured at one end to a rotatable main drive axle of a foot-powered vehicle, which comprises: a housing; first and second shafts rotatably mounted in the housing in parallel spaced relation and having respective first ends projecting through the housing; a first externally toothed gear coaxially secured to the first shaft within the housing; a second externally toothed gear coaxially secured to the second shaft within the housing; means disposed within the housing for coupling the first and second gears in driving relation; means for securing the projecting first end of the first shaft to the opposite end of the crank; and means for securing the pedal to the projecting first end of the second shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for coupling a pedal to a crank secured at one end to a rotatable main drive axle of a foot-powered vehicle, which comprises: a housing; first and second shafts rotatably mounted in the housing in parallel spaced relation and having respective first ends projecting through the housing; a first externally toothed gear coaxially secured to the first shaft within the housing; a second externally toothed gear coaxially secured to the second shaft within the housing; means disposed within the housing for coupling the first and second gears in driving relation; means for securing the projecting first end of the first shaft to the opposite end of the crank; and means for securing the pedal to the projecting first end of the second shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which the coupling means comprises means for directly meshing the teeth of the first and second gears.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, in which the gear ratio of the first and second gears is 1 : 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, in which the gear ratio of the first and second gears is 2 : 1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which the teeth of the first and second gears are spaced from each other, and in which the coupling means comprises, in combination, a third shaft rotatably mounted in the housing in parallel spaced relation with the first and second shafts; a third gear having an externally toothed periphery and coaxially secured to the third shaft; and means for individually and directly meshing the teeth of the first and second gears with spaced portions of the toothed periphery of the third gear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, in which the ratio of the first and second gears is 2 : 1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, in which the ratio of the first and second gears is 1 : 2.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which the respective first ends of the first and second shafts project in respectively opposite directions through the housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which the teeth of the first and second gears are spaced from each other, and in which the coupling means comprises, in combination, an annular third gear rotatably mounted in the housing in surrounding relation with the first and second shafts and having a toothed inner periphery, the third gear being positioned such that the teeth of the first and second gears individually mesh with spaced portions of the toothed periphery of the third gear.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
157 words
In an exercise bicycle, a motion-changing mechanism for connecting a pedal with a crank secured at one end to a rotatable main drive axle of the bicycle, which comprises: a housing; first and second shafts rotatably mounted in the housing in parallel spaced relation and having respective first ends projecting through the housing; means for securing the opposite end of the crank to the projecting first end of the first shaft; means for securing the pedal to the projecting first end of the second shaft; a first externally toothed gear coaxially secured to the first shaft within the housing; a second externally toothed gear coaxially secured to the second shaft within the housing; and means disposed in the housing for coupling the first and second gears in driving relation, whereby the pedal is movable in a complex curvilinear path having a prescribed plane of symmetry that is variable by rotating the second shaft about its own axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
157 words
In an exercise bicycle, a motion-changing mechanism for connecting a pedal with a crank secured at one end to a rotatable main drive axle of the bicycle, which comprises: a housing; first and second shafts rotatably mounted in the housing in parallel spaced relation and having respective first ends projecting through the housing; means for securing the opposite end of the crank to the projecting first end of the first shaft; means for securing the pedal to the projecting first end of the second shaft; a first externally toothed gear coaxially secured to the first shaft within the housing; a second externally toothed gear coaxially secured to the second shaft within the housing; and means disposed in the housing for coupling the first and second gears in driving relation, whereby the pedal is movable in a complex curvilinear path having a prescribed plane of symmetry that is variable by rotating the second shaft about its own axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US571753A
Cited
US2184049A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |