Patent US3910599A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3910599A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hand and foot powered drive system for a vehicle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-11-15
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Granted: 1975-10-07
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Expires: 1994-11-15
Abstract
Abstract An operator powered vehicle with a drive system utilizing arm and leg power, jointly or separately, to drive a jackshaft which drives a sprocket equipped hub of a driving wheel. The hub and wheel are journalled for independent rotation on a live axle which also serves to mount pedal arms and a sprocket in driving connection with the jackshaft. A hand crankshaft is in like connection with the jackshaft. Clutch means permit selective idling of either the foot pedals or hand cranks or joint driving engagement of both with the jackshaft. Arm and leg powered components are offset oppositely from an upright steering axis to minimize undesired residual torque acting about said axis.
Inventors
- 👤 John C Thomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:06
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M1/00; B62M1/12; B62K; B62K3/00; B62K3/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A drive system for a vehicle enabling use of an operator''s arms and legs to provide a source of motive power jointly or separately to a powered vehicle wheel, said system comprising, a live axle and sprocket combination adapted for rotation by the operator''s legs, a hub and wheel rotatably journalled on said axle, a jackshaft assembly including a jackshaft with mutliple sprockets thereon, a hand crankshaft and sprocket combination adapted for rotation by the operator''s arms, unidirectional clutch means associated with at least some of said sprockets and having clutch components engageable during rotation in one direction and operable to impart powered rotation to said jackshaft and to at least one of said jackshaft sprockets while permitting overrunning of clutch components in an opposite direction of rotation, and power transmission means interconnecting said one of said jackshaft sprockets and said axle journalled hub and wheel to impart rotation to same.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A drive system for a vehicle enabling use of an operator''s arms and legs to provide a source of motive power jointly or separately to a powered vehicle wheel, said system comprising, a live axle and sprocket combination adapted for rotation by the operator''s legs, a hub and wheel rotatably journalled on said axle, a jackshaft assembly including a jackshaft with mutliple sprockets thereon, a hand crankshaft and sprocket combination adapted for rotation by the operator''s arms, unidirectional clutch means associated with at least some of said sprockets and having clutch components engageable during rotation in one direction and operable to impart powered rotation to said jackshaft and to at least one of said jackshaft sprockets while permitting overrunning of clutch components in an opposite direction of rotation, and power transmission means interconnecting said one of said jackshaft sprockets and said axle journalled hub and wheel to impart rotation to same.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said live axle constitutes the front wheel axle of a bicycle having a fork forwardly offset from an upright steering axis, and said crankshaft and sprocket combination are offset rearwardly from said steering axis for purposes of neutralizing residual torque imparted to the fork about said axis by the operator''s arms and legs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein said power transmission means includes speed changing means to vary the rotational speed of said hub relative to jackshaft speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1 additionally including a caliper brake cable actuating member, clutch means intermediate said brake member and said live axle, said clutch means operable to engage said actuating member with the axle upon rotation of the axle in a directiion opposite to normal rotation whereby rotational movement is imparted to said actuating member to tension the brake cable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention as claimed in claim 4 additionally including a second brake actuating member, clutch means intermediate said second brake actuating member and said hand crankshaft, said clutch means operable to engage the last mentioned brake member with the crankshaft upon rotation of the hand crankshaft opposite to the normal rotation whereby rotational movement is imparted to said second actuating member to tension the brake cable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2390719A
Cited
US3193305A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-04-07 | 1979-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-06 | 1983-04-07 | 1983-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-06 | 1987-04-07 | 1987-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |