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CA2035699C - Bicycle kit - Google Patents

Bicycle kit

Info

Publication number
CA2035699C
CA2035699C CA 2035699 CA2035699A CA2035699C CA 2035699 C CA2035699 C CA 2035699C CA 2035699 CA2035699 CA 2035699 CA 2035699 A CA2035699 A CA 2035699A CA 2035699 C CA2035699 C CA 2035699C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
bicycle
handlebars
crossbar
shaft
pedal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA 2035699
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2035699A1 (en
Inventor
Harvey Scott
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2035699 priority Critical patent/CA2035699C/en
Publication of CA2035699A1 publication Critical patent/CA2035699A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2035699C publication Critical patent/CA2035699C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62KCYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
    • B62K13/00Cycles convertible to, or transformable into, other types of cycles or land vehicle
    • B62K13/02Cycles convertible to, or transformable into, other types of cycles or land vehicle to a tandem
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62KCYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
    • B62K3/00Bicycles
    • B62K3/12Tandems
    • B62K2003/125Tandems with side-by-side seating

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Motorcycle And Bicycle Frame (AREA)
  • Steering Devices For Bicycles And Motorcycles (AREA)

Abstract

In general, two person bicycles are complicated structures requiring substantial modification to the basic structure of the vehicle. A kit for converting a conventional bicycle into a two person vehicle includes a rear T-shaped crossbar for mounting on the top rear of a bicycle frame, the rear crossbar carrying a pair of seats on the outer free ends thereof; a front, generally U-shaped crossbar with a central bracket for mounting on the top end of the bicycle frame;
fixed handlebars on one arm of the front crossbar, a rotatable shaft in the other arm of the front crossbar, a steering linkage interconnecting the shaft and the top end of the front fork carrying shank of the bicycle, handlebars on the top end of the shaft for rotating the latter to steer the bicycle, and an extra pedal and pedal crank arm connected to each existing pedal, so that each rider has a set of two pedals on each side of the bicycle frame.

Description

This invention relates to a kit for converting a standard bicycle into a two person vehicle.
Two person bicycles are usually elongated structures with two sets of handlebars and two seats arranged one behind the other on a stretched out frame. Bicycles for carrying two riders side-by-side are a rarity. The patent literature discloses such structures. In this connection reference is made to Canadian Patent No. 57,471, issued to C.W.D. Manville on September 18, 1897, and United States Patent No. 4,178,008, issued to R.C. Barrett on December 11, 1979. The Manville device is somewhat rudimentary, including single elongated handlebars, which would require steering by both riders of the bicycle. The Barrett structure requires substantial modification to the basic structure of the front end of a bicycle, i.e. the Barrett structure could not be used with existing bicycles without rebuilding the front end of the bicycle frame.
An object of the present invention is to offer a solution to the problems of the patented devices by providing a relatively simple kit for easy conversion of a standard bicycle into a two person vehicle.
Another object of the invention is to provide a kit for producing a two person bicycle, which can be steered by one rider only, and which does not require substantial change to the basic bicycle structure.

2035~i99 Accordingly, the present invention relates to a kit for converting a conventional bicycle into a two person vehicle comprising first crossbar means; a bicycle seat on each end of said first crossbar means; first stem means extending downwardly from said first crossbar means adapted to be mounted in the top rear of a bicycle frame for supporting a rider on each side of the frame; second crossbar means for supporting handlebars on each end thereof; second stem means extending downwardly from said second crossbar means for mounting in the top front of a bicycle frame;
linkage means for connecting one of said handlebars directly to the top end of an existing front fork carrying shank of the bicycle for steering the bicycle; elongated crank arm means for connection to each existing pedal of the bicycle; and a second pedal on the free end of said crank arm means, whereby a pair of riders can simultaneously pedal the bicycle.
The invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a bicycle conversion kit in accordance with the present invention as seen from the rear and above;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of a front crossbar assembly used in the kit of Fig. 1 as seen from the front; and Figure 3 is an isometric view of a pedal assembly used in the kit of Fig. 1.

2035~i99 -With reference to the drawings, the basic elements of the kit of the present invention include a handlebar assembly, a seat assembly and a pedal assembly generally indicated at 1, 2 and 3, respectively.
The handlebar assembly 1 is intended for use with the standard handlebars provided with the bicycle 5. The assembly 1 includes a crossbar 6 with tubular posts 7 and 8 on the ends thereof. A plate 10 (Fig. 2) extends downwardly from the center of the crossbar 6 for receiving the ends of a U-bolt 11, which is used to connect the crossbar to the front end of the bicycle frame 12 slightly beneath the top thereof (Fig. 2). Diagonal reinforcing braces 14 extend between each side of the center of the crossbar and the top bar 15 of the bicycle frame 12.
One post 7 carries standard handlebars 17 with arcuate, rearwardly curving ends 18 and tubular hand grips 19 on the ends thereof. The handlebars 17 are fixedly mounted on the post 7, i.e. do not rotate on the post 7. The second tubular post 8 carries an elongated shaft 21 which is rotatable in the post for steering the bicycle. A lever defined by a plate 22 extends forwardly from the shaft 21 for rotation therewith. A rod 24 connects the outer free end of the plate 22 to the outer free end of a second lever in the form of a plate 25, which extends outwardly form the top end of a shaft 27 connected to the front fork 28 of the bicycle.
Ball and socket connectors 29 are provided on the ends of the 2035~i99 .
rod 24 for pivotally connecting the rod to the plates 22 and 25. Thus, rotation of the plate 22 causes similar rotation of the plate 25, the shaft 27 and consequently the fork 28 and front wheel 30 for turning the bicycle.
An arm 32 extends forwardly from the shaft 21 above the plate 22. A sleeve 33 on the outer end of the arm 32 supports slightly curved handlebars 35, which carry the usual gear and brake levers 37 and 38, respectively, and hand grips 39 on the outer ends thereof. By positioning the handlebars 35 slightly above and in front of the handlebars 17, and by appropriate shaping of such handlebars, the possibility of one of the handlebars interfering with the other is eliminated.
The seat assembly 2 includes a pair of bicycle seats 40 mounted on the outer free ends of a crossbar 41. For such purpose brackets 43 are provided on the ends of the crossbar 41 for receiving the conventional post (not shown) extending downwardly from each seat 40. A stem 44 extends downwardly from the center of the crossbar 41 for mounting in the tubular top rear end of the bicycle frame 12.
As best shown in Fig. 3, the pedal assembly 3 utilizes the existing standard pedal arm 46 and an additional elongated L-shaped pedal arm 47 on each side of the main sprocket wheel 48. The arm 47 is connected to the outer free end of the arm 46 outside of the regular pedal 50 and a second pedal 51 is rotatably mounted on the outer free end of such arm 43. Thus, there is a pair of pedals 50 and 51 o~0e3a~h6 99 side of the sprocket wheel 48 for operation by both riders.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that both riders of the bicycle pedal the vehicle. Steering and braking are effected by one of the riders, i.e. the driver on the left in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing.
Of course, the steering mechanism and the associated handlebars can be mounted on either end of the crossbar 6.

Claims (4)

1. A kit for converting a conventional bicycle into a two person vehicle comprising first crossbar means; a bicycle seat on each end of said first crossbar means; first stem means extending downwardly from said first crossbar means adapted to be mounted in the top rear of a bicycle frame for supporting a rider on each side of the frame; second crossbar means for supporting handlebars on each end thereof; second stem means extending downwardly from said second crossbar means for mounting in the top front of a bicycle frame; linkage means for connecting one of said handlebars directly to the top end of an existing front fork carrying shank of the bicycle for steering the bicycle; elongated crank arm means for connection to each existing pedal of the bicycle; and a second pedal on the free end of said crank arm means, whereby a pair of riders can simultaneously pedal the bicycle.
2. A kit according to claim 1 including post means on each end of said second crossbar means; first said handlebars fixedly mounted on one said post means; shaft means rotatable in the other said post means and extending upwardly therefrom, said linkage means extending between said shaft means and the front fork carrying shank; and second said handlebars on said other shaft means above said first handlebars.
3. A kit according to claim 2, including arm means extending forwardly from said shaft means for supporting said second handlebars at a location in front of and above the first handlebars.
4. A kit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said linkage means includes first lever means on said shaft means for rotation therewith; second lever means on said front fork carrying shank; and rod means interconnecting said first and second lever means, whereby rotation of said second handlebars results in a corresponding rotation of said shank.
CA 2035699 1991-02-05 1991-02-05 Bicycle kit Expired - Fee Related CA2035699C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2035699 CA2035699C (en) 1991-02-05 1991-02-05 Bicycle kit

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2035699 CA2035699C (en) 1991-02-05 1991-02-05 Bicycle kit

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2035699A1 CA2035699A1 (en) 1992-08-06
CA2035699C true CA2035699C (en) 1996-07-16

Family

ID=4146957

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2035699 Expired - Fee Related CA2035699C (en) 1991-02-05 1991-02-05 Bicycle kit

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2035699C (en)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2035699A1 (en) 1992-08-06

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Legal Events

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EEER Examination request
MKLA Lapsed