US3873128A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drive transmission for a bicycle or the like
Assignee: TRANS WORLD PRODUCTS Inc
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Filing: 1973-05-29
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A drive transmission for a bicycle or the like including a housing having a pair of spaced right circular cones oppositely mounted and journaled for rotation within the housing. A sprocket is fixedly secured to one end of both of the cones and a first chain operatively engages the pedal sprocket of the bicycle and one of the cone sprockets and a second chain operatively engages the rear wheel sprocket and the other cone sprocket. Means are provided for transmitting rotation of one of the cones to the other. Means may also be provided for changing the position of the aforementioned means with respect to the tapered surfaces of the cones to decrease the ratio between the cones automatically in response to the revolution of the rear wheel of the bicycle. In this manner, the pedal pressure remains uniform and constant regardless of the terrain encountered by the cyclist.
Inventors
- 👤 David Dunder
- 👤 Sheldon Wiley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:32
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M11/00; B62M11/04; B62M11/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
420 words
In a bicycle having at least a frame, a rear driving wheel having a rear wheel sprocket mounted for rotation on said frame, a front wheel freely rotatable on said frame, and a pedal sprocket journaled for rotation in said frame, said bicycle including: a housing mounted on said frame; a pair of generally right circular cones journaled for rotation in said housing, said cones being spaced from one another and rotatable about their longitudinal axes, one of said cones being tapered in a direction opposite the tapering of the other of said cones with their longitudinal axes being generally parallel to each other; cone rotation transmission means associated with said housing operatively engaging both of said cones for transmitting rotation of one of said cones to the other of said cones; cone ratio varying means associated with said housing operatively engaging said cone rotation transmission means for varying the engagement thereof along the outer surfaces of said cones in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axes of said cones and thus varying the ratio of revolution between said cones; each of said cones having a sprocket fixed for rotation therewith, the axes of rotation of said sprockets being generally coincident with the axis of rotation of each of said cones, the outer surfaces of each of said cones being textured and said cone rotation transmission means including an endless belt extending about the outer surface of both of said cones in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal axes of said cones; and said cone ratio varying means including a lever having one end engaging said belt for selectively varying the engagement of said belt with said cones, and said cone ratio varying means further including motion generating means operatively engaging the rear wheel of said bicycle for converting rotation of said rear wheel to said lever. 2. In the bicycle of claim 1 wherein said motion generating means includes a motion generator in rotatable driving engagement with said rear wheel, a shaft extending from said motion generator, a pair of levers fixedly connected at one end to said motion generator shaft and at the other end to a like pair of levers, said last-mentioned levers fixedly connected at their free ends to an elongated member pivotally connected to said levers, and a plurality of weighted elements operatively connected to at least two of said levers, the separation of said hinged levers resulting in movement of said elongated member in an axial direction to thereby pivot said levers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
291 words
In a bicycle having at least a frame, a rear driving wheel having a rear wheel sprocket mounted for rotation on said frame, a front wheel freely rotatable on said frame, and a pedal sprocket journaled for rotation in said frame, said bicycle including: a housing mounted on said frame; a pair of generally right circular cones journaled for rotation in said housing, said cones being spaced from one another and rotatable about their longitudinal axes, one of said cones being tapered in a direction opposite the tapering of the other of said cones with their longitudinal axes being generally parallel to each other; cone rotation transmission means associated with said housing operatively engaging both of said cones for transmitting rotation of one of said cones to the other of said cones; cone ratio varying means associated with said housing operatively engaging said cone rotation transmission means for varying the engagement thereof along the outer surfaces of said cones in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axes of said cones and thus varying the ratio of revolution between said cones; and each of said cones having a sprocket fixed for rotation therewith, the axes of rotation of said sprockets being generally coincident with the axis of rotation of each of said cones, the outer surface of said cones including a plurality of spaced depressions therein, and said cone rotation transmission means being a wheel having a plurality of spaced protuberances on its outer periphery extending in a direction toward the surfaces of said cones, each of said protuberances having an outer configuration generally the same as the inner configuration of each of said depressions and the spacing between adjacent protuberances being generally the same as the spacing between adjacent depressions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
291 words
In a bicycle having at least a frame, a rear driving wheel having a rear wheel sprocket mounted for rotation on said frame, a front wheel freely rotatable on said frame, and a pedal sprocket journaled for rotation in said frame, said bicycle including: a housing mounted on said frame; a pair of generally right circular cones journaled for rotation in said housing, said cones being spaced from one another and rotatable about their longitudinal axes, one of said cones being tapered in a direction opposite the tapering of the other of said cones with their longitudinal axes being generally parallel to each other; cone rotation transmission means associated with said housing operatively engaging both of said cones for transmitting rotation of one of said cones to the other of said cones; cone ratio varying means associated with said housing operatively engaging said cone rotation transmission means for varying the engagement thereof along the outer surfaces of said cones in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axes of said cones and thus varying the ratio of revolution between said cones; and each of said cones having a sprocket fixed for rotation therewith, the axes of rotation of said sprockets being generally coincident with the axis of rotation of each of said cones, the outer surface of said cones including a plurality of spaced depressions therein, and said cone rotation transmission means being a wheel having a plurality of spaced protuberances on its outer periphery extending in a direction toward the surfaces of said cones, each of said protuberances having an outer configuration generally the same as the inner configuration of each of said depressions and the spacing between adjacent protuberances being generally the same as the spacing between adjacent depressions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
In the bicycle of claim 1 wherein said depressions are aligned in a plurality of spaced rows extending in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal axes of said cones and said protuberances lie in a plane generally normal to the longitudinal axes of said cones.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
In the bicycle of claim 4 wherein said wheel includes a hub slidably and rotatably mounted on a shaft, said cone ratio varying means operatively engaging said hub, and one of said cones including shaft disengaging means thereon operatively engaging said shaft for permitting rotation of said last-mentioned cone in one direction in driving engagement with said wheel and non-rotation of said last-mentioned cone in the opposite direction to disengage said wheel from engagement with both of said cones.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |