Ergonomic drive for bicycles and other human powered machines

Claim 2

A machine for converting human powered reciprocating leg or arm motion to rotary motion comprising: a. a frame; b. a rotatable member mounted for rotation on said frame; c. a flexible stranded elongated member having a thickness substantially less than its width and having an end connected to said rotatable member and spirally wound upon itself on said rotatable member; d. a plurality of non-compressible members of increasing thickness arranged in side by side non-connected relationship and each individually attached to said elongated member along a portion of its length forming a segmented portion of tapering thickness which increase in thickness in proportion to the distance from the end connected to said rotatable member; e. foot or hand receiving means engaging said elongated member; and f. means connected to said frame and said rotatable member for rewinding said elongated member upon said rotatable member.

Claim 3

A machine as described in claim 1 comprising: a. said non-compressible members consist of hard beads having single arcuate curved outer faces generally conforming to said spiral and are connected to said flexible member and a width so that the member can be spirally wound upon itself so that a substantial portion of the face of the bead rests upon the adjoining stranded elongated member.

Claim 4

said arm engaging said elongated member for drawing off a portion of said elongated member from with each reciprocating cycle of said arm and permitting said means to wind said member back on said rotatable member with each cycle.

Claim 5

said arm engaging said elongated member for drawing off a portion of said elongated member from with each reciprocating cycle of said arm and permitting said means to wind said member back on said rotatable member with each cycle.

Claim 6

an elongated cable member attached to said control member for winding receipt thereon and connected to said control ring for winding thereon.

Claim 7

an elongated cable member attached to said control member for winding receipt thereon and connected to said control ring for winding thereon.

Claim 8

a clutch spring mounted in surrounding frictional releasable sliding grip with said take-up post; having a first and second end;

Claim 9

a clutch spring mounted in surrounding frictional releasable sliding grip with said take-up post; having a first and second end;

Claim 10

a spring engaging control ring having slotted openings for engaging the ends of said spring; and

Claim 11

a spring engaging control ring having slotted openings for engaging the ends of said spring; and

Claim 12

A machine as described in claim 2 comprising: a. said elongated member consists of a metal cable.

Claim 13

A machine as described in claim 2 comprising: a. said elongated member consists of a woven material.

Claim 14

said storage ring being mounted on said control ring.

Claim 15

said storage ring being mounted on said control ring.

Claim 16

A machine as described in claim 1 comprising: a. a drive member mounted for rotation with said rotatable member; b. a driven member having a diameter relatively greater than the diameter of said drive member mounted for rotation on said frame and disposed from said drive member; c. a flexible endless member coupling said drive and driven members; and d. means operatively connected to said drive and driven members providing unidirectional rotation of said driven member.

Claim 17

A machine as described in claim 5 comprising: a. said drive member and said driven member having first and second chain sprockets mounted thereon for rotation therewith; and b. said endless member consisting of a chain.

Claim 18

A machine as described in claim 1 comprising: a. means for changing the mechanical advantage connected to the end of said elongated member for drawing a portion of said eleongated member from said rotatable member and storing the end portion of said elongated member.

Claim 19

A machine as described in claim 7 comprising: a. said means for changing the mechanical advantage consists of a storage ring mounted for rotation on said frame for storing varying amounts of said elongated member.

Claim 20

A machine as described in claim 8 comprising: a. said means for changing the mechanical advantage includes;

Claim 21

A machine as described in claim 9 comprising: a. control means for varying the amount of said elongated member stored on said storage ring including:

Claim 22

A machine as described in claim 1 comprising: a. said non-compressible members are attached to substantially the entire length of said elongated member thereby forming a segmented belt which tapers substantially its entire length.

Claim 23

A machine as described in claim 1 comprising: a. said segmented portion of said elongated member having a tapering thickness is located adjacent the distal end of said elongated member; and b. a substantial portion of said elongated member located adjacent the end connected to said rotatable member is free of said non-compressible members of varying thickness.

Claim 24

A machine having a frame and output member comprising: a. a rotatable member mounted for oscillating rotation on said frame; b. a flexible elongated member having a portion of tapered thickness connected to said rotatable member and spirally wound upon itself thereon; c. foot adaptable means engaging said elongated member for drawing said member from said rotatable member; d. means to rewind said elongated member on said rotatable member; e. a storage ring mounted on said frame connected to and for receiving the free end of said elongated member; f. control means connected to said storage ring for rotating said storage ring and storing varying lengths of said elongated member; g. driven power train means connected to said rotatable member and including a driven member; and h. means interposed between said driven member and said rotatable member for transmitting uni-directional rotation only to said driven member.

Claim 25

A machine having a frame and output member comprising: a. a rotatable member mounted for oscillating rotation on said frame; b. a flexible elongated member having a portion of tapered thickness connected to said rotatable member and spirally wound upon itself thereon; c. foot adaptable means engaging said elongated member for drawing said member from said rotatable member; d. means to rewind said elongated member on said rotatable member; e. a storage ring mounted on said frame connected to and for receiving the free end of said elongated member; f. control means connected to said storage ring for rotating said storage ring and storing varying lengths of said elongated member; g. driven power train means connected to said rotatable member and including a driven member; and h. means interposed between said driven member and said rotatable member for transmitting uni-directional rotation only to said driven member.

Claim 26

A machine as described in claim 13 comprising: a. said foot means including:

Claim 27

A machine as described in claim 14 comprising: a. said arm being tubular for receiving said elongated member through a portion thereof; b. said output member including a ground engaging wheel connected to said driven member; and c. said driven power train including an endless flexible member connected to said rotatable member and to said driven member.

Claim 28

A machine as described in claim 13 comprising: a. said frame being divided into A and B sections and being pivotally connected together for a first rigid driving position and a second folded stored position; b. said members described in claim 11, all being mounted on said A section of said frame; c. a rear ground engaging wheel mounted for rotation on said A section of said frame and operatively connected to said drive member; d. a seat mounted on said A frame section; e. a front ground engaging wheel mounted for rotation on said B frame section and mounted for pivotal steering movement; f. steering means connected to said front ground engaging wheel mounted on said B frame section for pivotal movement; and g. manually engaging locking means connected to said A and B frame sections for locking and releasing said frame members permitting the rigid driving position and the folded storage position.

Claim 29

A machine as described in claim 13 comprising: a. said frame being divided into A, B and C sections and being pivotally connected together for a first rigid driving position and a second folded stored position; b. said members described in claim 11, all being mounted on said A section of said frame; c. a rear ground engaging wheel being mounted on said A section; d. a seat and seat tube being mounted on said B section; and e. the handle bars, fork and front wheel beiNg mounted on said C section.

Claim 30

A machine as described in claim 13 comprising: a. said foot adaptable means consisting of a pedal arm pivotally connected to the frame of said machine; b. a pair of spaced bearings mounted on the pivot end of said arm; c. a pair of bearing housings mounted on said frame consisting of approximately half circles for receiving said spaced bearings; d. a pair of spring clamps enclosing said bearing housing and said bearings; e. a spacer member mounted on each of said spring clamps enclosing said bearings in annular registration with said bearing housings; and f. guide members mounted on said frame for guiding said flexible elongated member through the approximate center of said pedal arm pivot point.