DE29516200U1 - Manual drive mechanism for bicycles or training bicycles - Google Patents

Description

&Lgr;1 October 1995 MülIer-BorS & Partner

Applicant: TSAY Ing-Lang

LIN Sheng-i

"Hand drive mechanism for bicycles or training bicycles" Our reference: T 1941 - h! / bz

Description

HAND DRIVE MECHANISM FOR BICYCLES

OR TRAINING BIKES 5

Background of the invention

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to a hand crank drive mechanism and more particularly to a hand crank drive mechanism adapted for use with bicycles or exercise bikes.

2. Description of the state of the art
15

Bicycles are no longer used only as a means of transportation, but they are also used for recreational and exercise purposes. The conventional bicycle uses a pedal crank to drive the rear wheel and the rider operates the bicycle by pedaling. Although the rider exercises his (her) legs by pedaling, he (she) has no chance to exercise his (her) upper body.

Cal M. Phillips teaches a bicycle with dual drive in US Patent 4,773,662. This patent retains the known bicycle design of driving the rear wheel by means of foot pedals, but still provides a gear on the front wheel which is driven by a hand drive mechanism via a chain. The hand drive mechanism disclosed therein consists of a pair of parallel and symmetrical handles.

&Lgr;&Iacgr;. October 1995 MÜUer-Bore & Partner

rods which, when acted upon by the rider's hands, rotate axially to drive the gear. The two handlebars are held on a horizontal axis so that when in use, both are pushed forward and then pulled backward at the same time. When the rider performs such pushing and pulling movements, his/her waist must also move forward and then backward, which will cause the arms and waist to tire easily.

Arms are less susceptible to fatigue because they are exercised comparatively more often. In other words, if the rider using the Phillips dual drive bicycle feels fatigue in his (her) waist, he (she) cannot ride any longer and must therefore give up training the arms even though they are not yet tired. From the training point of view, the rider has sufficient forward and backward training for his (her) waist when riding on an ordinary bicycle, and there is therefore no need to provide one with a special mechanism for training the waist.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hand drive mechanism adapted for use with bicycles or exercise bikes to enable a rider to exercise his arms even when his waist is tired. ^ -*

This object is achieved according to the invention by a hand drive mechanism according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the subclaims.

Accordingly, there is provided a hand drive mechanism adapted for use with bicycles or exercise bikes to enable a rider to drive or operate the bicycle or exercise bike with his hands, in which a pair of crank handles arranged at a distance of 180° from each other

12 October 1995 Müller-Bare & Partner

are provided to form a hand crank mechanism.

There is also provided a hand drive mechanism adapted for use with bicycles or exercise bikes in which a hand crank mechanism includes clamping means for supporting the rider's wrist or forearm to increase rider comfort and bicycle stability when the hand crank drive mechanism is in use.

There is also provided a hand drive mechanism adapted for use with bicycles or exercise bikes having a simple stop mechanism to allow clamping means on a hand crank mechanism to reciprocate within a predetermined angle and to allow portions of the clamping means to rest against the lower region of a rider's wrists or forearms. There is also provided a hand drive mechanism adapted for use with bicycles or exercise bikes in which a Y-shaped fork is connected to a steerer tube of the bicycle for rotatably supporting thereon a wheel driven by a hand crank mechanism.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a drive wheel is pivotally mounted on an upper front side of the bicycle frame, and an axis of the hand crank mechanism passes through the center of the wheel and is coupled thereto such that, through transmission by means of chains or belts, the drive wheel can drive the front wheel or the rear wheel of the bicycle or operate a measuring instrument of an exercise bicycle when a pair of hand crank handles of the hand crank mechanism are manually rotated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a clamping device is provided on the left and right crank handles of the hand crank mechanism, the clamping device being connected to a U-shaped or L-shaped support and arranged on a horizontal extension, the clamping device further comprising a stop sleeve arranged thereon and always raised upwards to be clamped on the wrist or the lower

12 October 1995 Mülier-Bor6 & Partner

arm of the driver with the help of an elastic element.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, each of the left and right hand crank handles of the hand crank mechanism includes a ring spring disposed on a horizontal extension thereof, the spring having a first end thereof secured to the horizontal extension, a second end thereof supporting the bottom of the clamping device, and an upper portion of the clamping device being locked by a stop block so that the clamping device can be restricted to reciprocate within a defined angle.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a Y-shaped fork is securely disposed at the front of the bicycle frame to attach a drive wheel to a horizontal tube of the fork, the fork being held at the center of the bicycle so that the rider can maintain balance when the hand crank handles are rotated, thereby preventing the rider from leaning to one side of the bicycle.

The hand drive mechanism according to the present invention is particularly adapted for use with bicycles or exercise bikes. The mechanism comprises a fork fixedly mounted on the front of the bicycle frame for rotatably mounting a drive wheel thereon, a hand crank mechanism consisting of a left crank handle and a right crank handle arranged at a mutual distance of 180°, the hand crank mechanism having a central axis passing through the drive wheel and being coupled thereto, both the hand crank mechanism and the drive wheel being rotatably mounted together on the fork. The left crank handle and the right crank handle each have a horizontal extension for gripping, wherein the horizontal extension is pivotally provided with a bracket which is connected to a U-shaped support extension for supporting the wrist or forearm of the driver, wherein the bracket is held by a spring and is pivotable about the horizontal extension within a defined angle and wherein the U-shaped support is able to slide on the bracket in a telescopic manner.

&Lgr; 2. October 1935 Müiier-Bore & Partner

The hand drive mechanism according to the present invention can be adapted for use in exercise machines equipped with a device or instruments for measuring the movement of the user's hands or their movement frequency or the like. It can also be used in unicycles, hand-driven bicycles, dual drive bicycles or other multiple drive bicycles.

Short description of the drawings

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of the hand drive mechanism according to the present invention adapted for use with an exercise bicycle;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the hand drive mechanism according to the present invention for use in the exercise bicycle; Fig. 3 is an enlarged, partial sectional view of Fig. 2 showing the internal structure of the hand drive mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of Fig. 3 showing the coupling of the spring to the horizontal extension of the hand crank mechanism and the support of the clamp;

Fig. 5 is a partial top sectional view of the clamp; Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5 but the clamp is shown in an extended condition;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. 1, but shows the invention adapted for use on a bicycle.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

■\·2.. October 1995 Müller-Borö & Partner

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8. The hand drive mechanism according to the present invention can be used to drive a wheel or a measuring instrument (not shown) of an exercise bicycle. Referring to Figure 1, when the hand drive mechanism according to the present invention is adapted for use with an exercise bicycle, it is mounted on a base 3. The present invention essentially comprises a frame 1 including a steerer tube 12 disposed at a front portion thereof, a lower end of the steerer tube 12 being connected to a front fork blade for rotatably securing a front wheel 2 thereto, the frame 1 further comprising a saddle 11 disposed at a rear portion thereof and a pedal device 31 at a lower portion thereof. The hand drive mechanism further comprises a fork 13 connected to an upper end of the steerer tube 12 for pivotally supporting thereon a central axis or shaft 50 of a hand crank mechanism 5 which passes through and is coupled to the center of a drive wheel 4. The hand crank mechanism 5 consists of a left crank handle 5b and a right crank handle 5a which are arranged at a mutual distance of 180°. The left crank handle 5b and the right crank handle 5a each have a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the central axis 50 on either the left or the right side of the drive wheel 4.

The pedal device 31 arranged at the lower part of the frame 1 can

a horizontal support bar or pedal plate which is fixed to the frame. Alternatively, conventional foot pedals which are arranged at a mutual distance of 180° from each other can be used to drive the rear wheel 32.

The central axle 50, which is arranged on the fork 13 at the upper end of the steerer tube 12, is designed for rotatably securing the drive wheel 4 thereto. The fork 13 is preferably a Y-shaped fork so that the drive wheel 4 can be rotatably arranged between a pair of support ends at the upper portion of the fork 13. The drive wheel

■&Mgr;. October 1995 Müller-Borä & Partner

4 may be in the form of a sprocket or pulley for a toothed belt and the power generated thereby may be transmitted, as in the conventional drive mechanism, via a chain 22 and a freewheel gear 21 to a driven wheel 23, which in turn causes the front wheel 2 to rotate synchronously. Preferably, a cover 14 is provided to protect the drive wheel 4 and the Y-shaped fork 13.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 7, the left crank handle 5b and the right crank handle 5a each comprise a horizontal extension 51 which is perpendicularly connected to a second end of the left crank handle 5b (or the right crank handle 5a), a clamping device 53 which has a fixed end and at least one free end, the fixed end being arranged directly rotatably on the horizontal extension 51 or indirectly with the interposition of a bearing 52; a spring element 54 which has a first acting end and a second acting end, the spring element 54 preferably being an annular spring arranged on the horizontal extension 51, the first acting end being fixedly arranged on the horizontal extension 51 (as shown in Figs. 3 and 4) and the second acting end supporting the clamping device 53 so that the clamping device 53 is held in a suspended state; a support 57 (see Figs. 2, 5 and 6) which is fitted onto the free end of the clamping device 53 to extend the free end thereof. When the driver grasps the horizontal extension 51, the support 57 on the free end of the clamping device 53 can support the driver's wrist or forearm. In the drawings, the clamping devices 53 are shown as having two free ends, and the support 57 is designed as a U-shaped tubular structure which is fitted onto the two free ends of the clamping device 52. It is understood that the support 57 can be an L-shaped extension which is fitted onto the free end of the clamping device 53.
Soft covers are preferably arranged on the horizontal extension 51 and the support 57 to increase the comfort of the driver. The support 57 and the clamping device 53 can be firmly connected to each other, but an axial sliding element, such as a linear bearing 58, is preferably arranged on

\Z. October &Lgr;99&Bgr; Müller-Bore & Partner

the clamping device 53 so that the support 57 can slide on the clamping device in a telescopic manner (as shown in Figs. 5 and 6). Such an arrangement provides stability and comfort during use of the handle by the driver.

The horizontal extension 51 is preferably provided with a stop member, for example a stop block 553, as shown in Fig. 3. The stop block 553 is formed as part of a brake lever bracket 55, which is used to pivotally mount a brake lever 551 for pulling a brake cable 552. Another embodiment of the stop member is shown in Fig. 7, in which an independent stop block 512 is provided on the horizontal extension 51 to stop an upper edge 531 of the clamping device 53 to prevent the clamping device 53 from rotating upward to a highest position (as shown in Fig. 4 by the dashed lines).

As described above, the hand drive mechanism according to the present invention can be used to drive the drive wheel on the upper front portion of the frame to exercise the arm muscles. When adapted for use with exercise bicycles as shown in Fig. 1, it can be used to operate a meter (not shown) of the exercise bicycle or to drive a wheel at the same time.

The present invention can also be adapted for use in bicycles to drive the wheels so that the rider can perform balancing exercises of his (her) arms while riding. Naturally, the present invention can also be used for dual drive bicycles.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that it is by no means limited to the details of that embodiment, but that numerous modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (1)

Λα. October &Lgr; 995 Mül/er-ßorö & Partner Applicant: TSAY Ing-Lang^· ··*· LlN Sheng-I "Hand drive mechanism for bicycles or exercise bikes" Our reference: T 1 941 - hl / bz Expectations 1. A hand drive mechanism for bicycles or exercise bikes, the mechanism comprising: a frame (1), a front end of which is provided with a steerer tube (12), a rear end of which is provided with a saddle (11) and a lower portion of the same with a foot pedal device (31); a fork (13) which is connected to an upper end of the steerer tube (12) to pivotally connect thereto a horizontal central axis (50) of a hand crank mechanism (5); a drive wheel (4) having a center through which the central axis (50) of the hand crank mechanism (5) passes, the drive wheel (4) being coupled to the central axis (50) and having a left side and a right side; and
wherein the hand crank mechanism (5) has a left crank handle (5b) and a right crank handle (5a) which are arranged at a mutual distance of 180°, wherein the left crank handle (5b) and the right crank handle (5a) each have a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the central axis (50) on the left or right side of the drive wheel (4), wherein the left crank handle (5b) and the right crank handle (5a) each comprise: a horizontal extension (51) which is vertically connected to the second end thereof;
a clamp device (53) having a fixed end and at least one free end, the fixed end of which is pivotally provided on the horizontal extension (51);
Spring elements (54) with a first effective end and a second effective 12 October 199S Müfier-BonS & Partner action end, wherein the first action end is attached to the horizontal extension (51) and the second action end supports the clamping device (53) such that the clamping device (53) is held in a suspended state and a support (57) fitted to the free end of the clamp means (53) to extend the free end of the clamp means (53) so that the free end can support the wrist or forearm of a driver when the driver grasps the horizontal extension (51). 2. A hand drive mechanism for bicycles or exercise bicycles according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal extension (4) of the left crank handle (5b) or the right crank handle (5a) is fixedly provided with a stop block (553, 512) for limiting the upward pivoting of the clamp device (53) to a highest position. 3. Hand drive mechanism for bicycles or exercise bikes according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the horizontal extension (51) of the left crank handle (5b) or the right crank handle (5a) and the corresponding support (57) are equipped with soft covers to increase the comfort when operating the bicycle. 4. A hand drive mechanism for bicycles or exercise bikes according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein an axial sliding element is provided on the clamping device (53) of the left crank handle (5b) or the right crank handle (5a) is provided, so that the support (57) arranged at the free end of the corresponding clamping device (53) is slidably movable in a telescopic manner. 5. A hand drive mechanism for bicycles or exercise bikes according to claim 4, wherein the axial sliding element is a linear bearing (58). 6. Hand drive mechanism for bicycles or exercise bikes according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the clamping device (53) has two free ends and the support (57) is a U-shaped tube structure, the two ends of which are respectively supported on the two free ends of the clamping device (53) are arranged. 7. Hand drive mechanism for bicycles or exercise bikes according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the spring (54) is a ring spring, wherein a "12.. OUtobei &Lgr; 995 Müller-Bore & Partner central region thereof is arranged on the horizontal extension (51). 8. A hand drive mechanism for bicycles or exercise bikes according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the horizontal extension (51) is fixedly provided with a brake lever holder (55) for pivotally connecting a lever (551) for pulling a brake cable (552). 9. A hand drive mechanism for bicycles or exercise bicycles according to claim 8, wherein the brake lever holder (55) is provided with a stop block (553) for limiting the upward pivoting of the clamp device (53) to a highest position. 10. Hand drive mechanism for bicycles or exercise bikes according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the drive wheel (4) is a sprocket or a pulley for a toothed belt for driving a front wheel (2) of the bicycle. 11. A hand drive mechanism for bicycles or exercise bikes according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the fork (13) is a Y-shaped fork. 12. A hand drive mechanism for bicycles or exercise bikes according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the foot pedal device (31) is a pair of foot pedal cranks arranged at a mutual distance of 180°. 13. A hand drive mechanism for bicycles or exercise bicycles according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the foot pedal device (31) is a support rod or a pedal plate which is secured in the horizontal direction. » ·