US3913944A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Supplemental pedalling mechanism for bicycles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-06-18
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Granted: 1975-10-21
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Expires: 1994-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A supplemental pedalling mechanism for bicycles comprises, in one embodiment, a connecting rod joining the outer end of the main crank arm to the outer end of a supplemental crank arm rotatably coupled to a support selectively positionable on the bicycle frame generally intermediate the main crank arm and the driving wheel axis. First and second sprockets each fixedly coupled to a respective outer end of the main and supplemental crank arms for corresponding movement therewith are joined by a chain encompassing both sprockets to provide rotational correspondence between the main and supplemental crank arms.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr James H Blow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:02
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M1/00; B62M1/36; B62K; B62K13/00; B62K13/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19023; Y10T74/19051
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A bicycle construction comprising: a bicycle frame having at least one driving wheel; a main crank arm having a first end rotatable on said frame and a second end having a pedal rotatable thereat; drive means connecting said main crank arm to said driving wheel; a supplemental crank arm having a first end and a second end; support means selectively positionable on said fram generally intermediate said main crank arm and the axis of said driving wheel, said supplemental crank arm first end being rotatably coupled to said support means; a supplemental pedal rotatable on sais supplemental crank arm second end; a connecting rod having one end coupled to said supplemental crank arm second end and the other end coupled to said main crank arm second end; first gear means coupled to said supplemental crank arm second end for corresponding movement therewith; second gear means coupled to said main crank arm second end for corresponding movement therewith; and means coupling said first gear means to said second gear means to maintain corresponding orientation between said supplemental crank arm and said main crank arm as said main crank arm is rotated about its first end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A bicycle construction comprising: a bicycle frame having at least one driving wheel; a main crank arm having a first end rotatable on said frame and a second end having a pedal rotatable thereat; drive means connecting said main crank arm to said driving wheel; a supplemental crank arm having a first end and a second end; support means selectively positionable on said fram generally intermediate said main crank arm and the axis of said driving wheel, said supplemental crank arm first end being rotatably coupled to said support means; a supplemental pedal rotatable on sais supplemental crank arm second end; a connecting rod having one end coupled to said supplemental crank arm second end and the other end coupled to said main crank arm second end; first gear means coupled to said supplemental crank arm second end for corresponding movement therewith; second gear means coupled to said main crank arm second end for corresponding movement therewith; and means coupling said first gear means to said second gear means to maintain corresponding orientation between said supplemental crank arm and said main crank arm as said main crank arm is rotated about its first end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A supplemental pedalling means as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting rod comprises a first section and a second section joined together by an interconnecting member selectively engageable with each of said first and said second sections to permit adjustment of the length of said connecting rod.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A bicycle construction as defined in claim 2 wherein said interconnecting member comprises a selectively internally threaded sleeve, and said connecting rod first and second sections each comprise an externally threaded end threadably coupled to said sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
109 words
A bicycle consTruction as defined in claim 3 wherein one of said first and said second section threaded ends comprises a right hand thread and the other of said first and said second section threaded ends comprises a left hand thread, said sleeve having a corresponding right hand internally threaded portion adjacent one end thereof and a corresponding left hand internally threaded portion adjacent its other end, so that rotation of said sleeve about its longitudinal axis in one direction causes a decrease in the length of said connecting rod and rotation of said sleeve in the opposite direction causes an increase in the length of said connecting rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A bicycle construction as defined in claim 2 wherein said interconnecting member comprises an elongate member having selectively externally threaded ends, and said connecting rod first and second sections each comprise a selectively internally threaded end threadably engaged with a corresponding externally threaded end of said elongate member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
114 words
A bicycle construction as defined in claim 5 wherein one of said first and said second sections has a left hand threaded internally threaded end and the other of said first and said second sections has a right hand threaded internally threaded end, said elongate member having a corresponding right hand externally threaded portion adjacent one end thereof and a corresponding left hand externally threaded portion adjacent its other end so that rotation of said elongate member about its longtudinal axis in one direction causes a decrease in the length of said connecting rod and rotation of said elongate member in the opposite direction causes an increase in the length of said connecting rod.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A bicycle construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a shaft projecting outwardly therefrom, said supplemental crank arm first end being rotatable about said shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A bicycle construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said first gear means comprises a first sprocket and said second gear means comprises a second sprocket, said means coupling said first sprocket to said second sprocket being a chain extending about said first and said second sprockets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A bicycle construction as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said first and said second sprockets are located directly adjacent a corresponding second end of said main and said supplemental crank arms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
138 words
A bicycle construction as defined in claim 1, there being a first stud threadably engaged to said supplemental crank arm second end and a second stud threadably engaged to said main crank arm second end, each of said first and said second studs extending outwardly from its respective crank arm second end generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said respective crank arm and having a shank portion, said first gear means and one end of said connecting rod being supported on said first stud shank portion, and said second gear means and the other end of said connecting rod being supported on said second stud shank portion, each of said main and said supplemental pedals having a threaded spindle threadably engaged into the end of a corresponding one of said first and said second stud shank portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A bicycle construction as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said first and said second gear means comprises spaced shoulder portions engaging a respective second end of said main and said supplemental crank arms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A bicycle construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said main crank arm and said supplemental crank arm are of substantially equal length.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A bicycle construction as defined in claim 1 wherein the diameter of said first gear means is substantially equal to the diameter of said second gear means.
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) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |