Patent US3903980A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3903980A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Removable engine unit arrangement for motorcycles
Assignee: INT DE VENTE POUR L AUTOMOBILE
•
Filing: 1974-01-15
•
Granted: 1975-09-09
•
Expires: 1994-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A bicycle has an engine unit provided with a driving roller adapted to be moved into frictional engagement with the tire of the front wheel. The engine is connected to the front fork by a readily releasable lock. All engine controls are connected to a rotatable handgrip mechanism which can be locked either in the steering handlebars or to a tubular support on the engine. The engine may then be handled using the handgrip.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Darras
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:59
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M13/00; B62M6/00; B62M6/10; B62M6/35
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A bicycle having an engine unit provided with a roller for driving frictional engagement with the peripheral surface of a wheel of the bicycle, means for securing the engine to a fork carrying said wheel in a position such that the roller can be moved into engagement with said wheel, manually releasable means for locking the engine unit in its secured position on said fork, operator actuatable means for controlling the engine, and releasable means for securing said operator actuatable means to steering handlebars of said bicycle, said engine having means for receiving said operator actuable means, said releasable means being adapted to cooperate with both the handlebars to retain the operator actuable means in its operative position and with the receiving means to retain the operator actuable means in a position in which it can be used to handle the engine unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A bicycle having an engine unit provided with a roller for driving frictional engagement with the peripheral surface of a wheel of the bicycle, means for securing the engine to a fork carrying said wheel in a position such that the roller can be moved into engagement with said wheel, manually releasable means for locking the engine unit in its secured position on said fork, operator actuatable means for controlling the engine, and releasable means for securing said operator actuatable means to steering handlebars of said bicycle, said engine having means for receiving said operator actuable means, said releasable means being adapted to cooperate with both the handlebars to retain the operator actuable means in its operative position and with the receiving means to retain the operator actuable means in a position in which it can be used to handle the engine unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cycle according to claim 1 wherein the operator actuatable means comprises a rotating grip device and said receiving means comprises a tube section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cycle according to claim 2 wherein said tube section is carried by a plate secured to the engine unit cylinder head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
A bicycle having an engine unit for direct frictional drive of a wheel, an operator actuatable rotating grip device for controlling said engine unit, means for retaining said rotating grip device on steering handlebars of the bicycle, and readily releasable means for locking the engine unit on a fork of said bicycle carrying said wheel, wherein said control grip device has connecting means constructed and arranged to co-operate either with the handlebars part adapted to receive such device or with a support mechanism disposed on the engine unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
A bicycle having an engine unit for direct frictional drive of a wheel, an operator actuatable rotating grip device for controlling said engine unit, means for retaining said rotating grip device on steering handlebars of the bicycle, and readily releasable means for locking the engine unit on a fork of said bicycle carrying said wheel, wherein said control grip device has connecting means constructed and arranged to co-operate either with the handlebars part adapted to receive such device or with a support mechanism disposed on the engine unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cycle according to claim 4, wherein all engine controls, such as a carburettor throttle valve and decompressor, are connected to the rotating grip device by flexible transmissions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cycle according to claim 4, wherein the engine unit is borne by the front fork of said bicycle and has a roller bearing on the running surfaces of the front wheel for driving said front wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A cycle according to claim 6, wherein the handlebars are secured to a steering tube by means so constructed that the handlebars can be secured both in their normal position or in an inverted position and at a 90* offset from the normal position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
A cycle according to claim 4, wherein the saddle is borne by uprights articulated to the rear forks of the cycle and adapted to be locked in a normal position by a rod extending through elongated apertures and slots, some of which are in the uprights and the others of which are in the rear forks, said rod being releasable from the slots so that the saddle can be tilted forwards when the cycle is being collapsed for storage and the engine unit removed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
A cycle according to claim 4, wherein the means for locking the engine unit to the Fork comprise a caliper secured to the engine unit and formed with downwardly extending pairs of slots adapted to engage on cross-pins borne by the fork, a bolt extending through a cross-piece of the forks, and a return spring for urging said bolt to a position in which it engages in the caliper to prevent the engine unit from being lifted in the direction of disengagement from the slots.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
A cycle according to claim 9, wherein the engine unit is rigidly secured to the caliper by a pin enabling it to rotate around an axis parallel to the axis of wheel rotation, the weight of the engine unit returning the engine unit into an angular position in which a drive roller of the engine is in engagement with the wheel; and a manual control element is provided so that the engine unit can be tilted in a direction tending to disengage the roller from the wheel and to lock it temporarily in such latter position.
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) | 1978-09-08 | 1979-03-10 | 1979-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-08 | 1983-03-10 | 1983-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-08 | 1987-03-10 | 1987-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |