US4564206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pedal drive
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1983-10-11
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Granted: 1986-01-14
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Expires: 2003-10-11
Abstract
Abstract A pedal drive for a bicycle having a driven wheel rotatably mounted to a frame, including a first sprocket rotatably mounted to the frame; a second sprocket rotatably mounted to the frame below the first sprocket and in planar alignment with it at a location spaced apart from the first sprocket; an endless chain extending about and interconnecting the first and second sprockets; a third sprocket rotatably mounted to the frame for rotary movement in response to the rotary movement of the first and second sprockets; an endless chain extending about and interconnecting the third sprocket and a sprocket attached to the driven wheel; left and right upper crank arms attached to the first sprocket and extending in generally opposite directions from each other; left and right lower crank arms attached to the second sprocket and extending in opposite directions from each other; a left pedal arm carrying a left pedal and pivotally connected to the left upper crank arm; a right pedal arm carrying a right pedal and pivotally connected to the right upper crank arm; a left link pivotally connected to the left pedal arm and pivotally connected to the left lower crank arm; and a right link pivotally connected to the right pedal arm and pivotally connected to the right lower crank arm. The upper and lower left-side crank arms are rotationally displaced from each other by at least 60 degrees, as are the upper and lower right-side crank arms, with the lower crank arms rotationally leading the upper crank arms. The left and right links have a length exceeding the left and right lower crank arms, and the left and right pedal arms exceed the left and right upper crank arms.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry G. Lenhardt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:12
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M1/00; B62M1/24; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2164; Y10T74/2165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
319 words
A pedal drive for driving a bicycle or the like having a driven wheel rotatably mounted to a frame, comprising: a first rotatable shaft mounted to said frame; a first sprocket attached to said first shaft; a second rotatable shaft mounted to said frame at a location spaced apart from said first shaft, said first and second shafts being positioned generally one above the other; a second sprocket attached to said second shaft and aligned in a common plane with said first sprocket; and a first endless chain extending about and interconnecting said first and second sprockets; a third sprocket attached to said second shaft; a second endless chain extending about and interconnecting said third sprocket and a sprocket attached to said driven wheel; a first crank arm attached to said first shaft to rotate said first shaft; a second crank arm attached to said first shaft to rotate said first shaft, said second crank arm extending generally opposite to said first crank arm; a third crank arm attached to said second shaft to rotate said second shaft; a fourth crank arm attached to said second shaft to rotate said second shaft, said fourth crank arm extending generally opposite to said third crank arm; a first pedal arm carrying a first pedal, said first pedal arm pivotally connected to said first crank arm; a first link pivotally connected to said first pedal arm at a location spaced apart from the location of connection of said first pedal arm to said first crank arm, and pivotally connected to said third crank arm; a second pedal arm carrying a second pedal, said second pedal arm pivotally connected to said second crank arm; and a second link pivotally connected to said second pedal arm at a location spaced apart from the location of connection of said second pedal arm to said second crank arm, and pivotally connected to said fourth crank arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
319 words
A pedal drive for driving a bicycle or the like having a driven wheel rotatably mounted to a frame, comprising: a first rotatable shaft mounted to said frame; a first sprocket attached to said first shaft; a second rotatable shaft mounted to said frame at a location spaced apart from said first shaft, said first and second shafts being positioned generally one above the other; a second sprocket attached to said second shaft and aligned in a common plane with said first sprocket; and a first endless chain extending about and interconnecting said first and second sprockets; a third sprocket attached to said second shaft; a second endless chain extending about and interconnecting said third sprocket and a sprocket attached to said driven wheel; a first crank arm attached to said first shaft to rotate said first shaft; a second crank arm attached to said first shaft to rotate said first shaft, said second crank arm extending generally opposite to said first crank arm; a third crank arm attached to said second shaft to rotate said second shaft; a fourth crank arm attached to said second shaft to rotate said second shaft, said fourth crank arm extending generally opposite to said third crank arm; a first pedal arm carrying a first pedal, said first pedal arm pivotally connected to said first crank arm; a first link pivotally connected to said first pedal arm at a location spaced apart from the location of connection of said first pedal arm to said first crank arm, and pivotally connected to said third crank arm; a second pedal arm carrying a second pedal, said second pedal arm pivotally connected to said second crank arm; and a second link pivotally connected to said second pedal arm at a location spaced apart from the location of connection of said second pedal arm to said second crank arm, and pivotally connected to said fourth crank arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
122 words
The pedal drive of claim 1 wherein said first pedal arm has a length, defined by the distance between the locations of its connection to said first crank arm and said first link, at least as great as the length of said first crank arm, defined by the distance between the locations of its connection to said first pedal arm and said first shaft, and said second pedal arm has a length, defined by the distance between the locations of its connection to said second crank arm and said second link, at least as great as the length of said second crank arm, defined by the distance between the locations of its connection to said second pedal arm and said first shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
118 words
The pedal drive of claim 1 wherein said first link has a length, defined by the distance between the locations of its connection to said first pedal arm and said third crank arm, at least as great as the length of said third crank, defined by the distance between the locations of its connection to said first link and said second shaft, and said second link has a length, defined by the distance between the locations of its connection to said second pedal arm and said fourth crank, at least as great as the length of said fourth crank arm, defined by the distance between the locations of its connection to said second link and said second shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The pedal drive of claim 1 wherein said third crank arm and said third crank arm are rotationally displaced from each other, and said second arm and said fourth crank arm are rotationally displaced from each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pedal driver of claim 4 wherein said rotational displacement is at lest 60°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The pedal drive of claim 4 wherein said third crank arm rotationally leads said first crank arm and said fourth crank arm rotationally leads said second crank arm as said cranks are rotated to provide a forward drive to the driven wheel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
The pedal drive of claim 1 wherein said first pedal arm has an extension portion extending generally longitudinally beyond its location of connection to said first link in a direction away from its location of connection to said first crank arm, said extending portion carrying said first pedal, and said second pedal arm has an extension portion extending generally longitudinally beyond its location of connection to said second link in a direction away from its location of connection to said second crank arm, said extending portion carrying said second pedal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pedal drive of claim 1 wherein said first shaft is located generally above said second shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
The pedal drive of claim 8 wherein said third crank arm has a length, defined by the distance between the locations of its connection to said first link and said second shaft, substantially equal to or greater than the length of said first crank arm, defined by the distance between the locations of its connection to said first pedal arm and said first shaft, and said fourth crank has a length, defined by the distance between locations of its connection to said second link and said second shaft, substantially equal to or greater than the length of said second crank arm, defined by the distance between the locations of its connection to said second pedal arm and said first shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pedal drive of claim 1 wherein said first and second sprockets are of substantially equal diameter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
245 words
A pedal drive for driving a bicycle or the like having a driven wheel rotatably mounted to a frame, comprising: a first sprocket rotatably mounted to said frame; a second sprocket rotatably mounted to said frame at a location spaced apart from said first sprocket, said first and second sprockets being positioned generally one above the other and aligned in a common plane; first transmission means for transmitting rotary movement of one of said first and second sprockets to the other; second transmission means for transmitting rotary movement of said first and second sprockets to said driven wheel; a first crank arm attached to said first sprocket to rotate said first sprocket; a second crank arm attached to said first sprocket to rotate said first sprocket, said crank arm extending generally opposite to said first crank arm; a third crank arm attached to said second sprocket to rotate said second sprocket; a fourth crank arm attached to said second sprocket to rotate said second sprocket, said fourth crank arm extending generally opposite to said third crank arm; a first pedal operatively connected to said first and third crank arm; a second pedal operatively connected to said second and fourth crank arm; and means carrying said first and second pedal for rotating said crank arms responsive to pedaling said first and second pedals, with a downward stroke of said pedals exceeding an upward stroke of said pedals as measured by the corresponding rotation of said cranks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
245 words
A pedal drive for driving a bicycle or the like having a driven wheel rotatably mounted to a frame, comprising: a first sprocket rotatably mounted to said frame; a second sprocket rotatably mounted to said frame at a location spaced apart from said first sprocket, said first and second sprockets being positioned generally one above the other and aligned in a common plane; first transmission means for transmitting rotary movement of one of said first and second sprockets to the other; second transmission means for transmitting rotary movement of said first and second sprockets to said driven wheel; a first crank arm attached to said first sprocket to rotate said first sprocket; a second crank arm attached to said first sprocket to rotate said first sprocket, said crank arm extending generally opposite to said first crank arm; a third crank arm attached to said second sprocket to rotate said second sprocket; a fourth crank arm attached to said second sprocket to rotate said second sprocket, said fourth crank arm extending generally opposite to said third crank arm; a first pedal operatively connected to said first and third crank arm; a second pedal operatively connected to said second and fourth crank arm; and means carrying said first and second pedal for rotating said crank arms responsive to pedaling said first and second pedals, with a downward stroke of said pedals exceeding an upward stroke of said pedals as measured by the corresponding rotation of said cranks.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
The pedal drive of claim 11 wherein said means for rotating said crank arms further provides a predetermined downward stroke pedal path and a predetermined upward stroke pedal path for said pedals, said downward and upward paths for each of said pedals defining a generally vertically oriented, elongated, closed-loop path, with the distance between the vertical limits of said loop path being substantially greater than any horizontal distance between said loop path measured at corresponding vertical positions along said downward and upward paths comprising said loop path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The pedal drive of claim 12 wherein the distance between the vertical limits of said loop path is at least four times greater than any said horizontal distance between said loop path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The pedal drive of claim 12 wherein said loop path is positioned forward of an imaginery center line defined by and extending between the centers of said first and second sprockets.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
The pedal drive of claim 11 wherein said downward strokes of said first and second pedals overlap such that a first one of said pedals travels along an initial portion of its downward stroke as a second one of said pedals travels along a final portion of its downward stroke, with said second one of said pedals completing its upward stroke before said first one of said pedals completes its downward stroke.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
124 words
The pedal drive of claim 11 wherein said means for rotating said crank arms includes: a first pedal arm carrying said first pedal and pivotally connected to said first crank arm; a first link pivotally connected to said first pedal arm at a location spaced apart from the location of connection of said first pedal arm to said first crank arm, and pivotally connected to said third crank arm; a second pedal arm carrying said second pedal and pivotally connected to said second crank arm; and a second link pivotally connected to said second pedal arm at a location spaced apart from the location of connection of said second pedal arm to said second crank arm, and pivotally connected to said fourth crank arm.
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) | 1989-01-13 | 1989-07-15 | 1990-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-13 | 1993-07-15 | 1994-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-13 | 1997-07-15 | 1998-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |