초록

A mobile wheeled device driven by a user's striding his feet on a pair of footbeds through an elliptical path while applying reciprocal force to a pair of upright arm members. The device may utilize an internal gear system in the rear hub.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A mobile device adapted to utilize ambulatory motion of the user's body for propulsion comprising: a frame comprising a longitudinal frame member oriented substantially horizontally, having a front end and a rear end; a transverse frame member oriented substantially horizontally, having

I claim: 1. A mobile device adapted to utilize ambulatory motion of the user's body for propulsion comprising: a frame comprising a longitudinal frame member oriented substantially horizontally, having a front end and a rear end; a transverse frame member oriented substantially horizontally, having two ends, joined between said ends of the transverse frame member to said longitudinal member, in a substantially normal orientation thereto; and an upright frame member having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end joined to said longitudinal member at a position rearward of said transverse member; two front wheels, one of said front wheels rotationally coupled to each end of said transverse frame member; a rear wheel comprising a drive assembly rotationally coupled to said longitudinal frame member proximate the rear end thereof, said drive assembly comprising a rotating axle, a hub, and a gear system internal to said hub transferring rotation of said axle to rotation of said hub in a predetermined ratio of axle rotation to hub rotation; a pair of opposing cranks, each crank having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end of each crank fixedly attached to one end of said axle; a pair of elongate striding members, adapted to receive the feet of said user and support said user while ambulating, said members positioned substantially horizontally along either side of said longitudinal frame member, having a front pivot end and a rearward drive end, the rearward drive end of each striding member rotationally coupled to the outer end of one of said cranks; and a pair of upright arm levers having an upper grip end and a lower pivot end, said arm levers pivotally coupled to said upright frame member at a point between said ends of the upright arm levers, the lower pivot end of each said lever pivotally coupled to the front pivot end of one of said striding members; wherein the connection of said transverse frame member and said longitudinal frame member permits partial axial rotation of said longitudinal member, and the device further comprising a camber mechanism coupled to each of the front wheels and affixed to said longitudinal member, said camber mechanism adapted to translate arcuate movement from partial axial rotation of said longitudinal member into wheel camber, thereby causing said device to turn. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said upright frame member is releasably pivotally joined to said longitudinal member, such that said upright frame member may be collapsed against said longitudinal member for storage. 3. The device of claim 1, in which said rotational coupling of said front wheels to said transverse frame member allows said front wheels to camber, such that said ambulatory user may steer said device by shifting his weight laterally. 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said striding member comprises a footbed and means for adjusting the longitudinal position of said footbed on said striding member. 5. A mobile device adapted to utilize ambulatory motion of the user's body for propulsion comprising: a frame having a front end and a rear end; a front wheel and a rear wheel, the rear wheel comprising a drive assembly, the front wheel rotationally coupled to said frame approximate the front end of the frame, and the rear wheel rotationally coupled to said frame via said drive assembly approximate said rear end of said frame; said drive assembly comprising a hub body, a rotating axle, and an internal gear system translating the rotation of said axle to said hub body; a pair of elongate striding members, adapted to receive the feet of said user and support said user while ambulating, with a rear drive end and a front pivot end, the rear drive end of each of said striding members rotationally coupled to said drive assembly, such that the drive end of said striding members when rotated traces a path concentric with said rear wheel; and a pair of upright arm members having an upper grip end and a lower pivot end, the lower pivot end of each of said arm members pivotally coupled to the pivot end of one of said striding members and wherein each said upright arm member is pivotally coupled to said frame at a point intermediate the ends of each said arm member wherein the frame permits partial axial rotation of a portion thereof, and the device further comprising a camber mechanism coupled to the front wheel and affixed to said rotatable portion of the frame, said camber mechanism adapted to translate arcuate movement from partial axial rotation of said rotational portion of the frame into wheel camber, thereby causing said device to turn. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein said frame comprises a longitudinal frame member oriented substantially horizontally, having a front end and a rear end; a transverse frame member oriented substantially horizontally, having two ends, joined between said ends to said longitudinal member, in a substantially normal orientation thereto; and an upright frame member having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end joined to said longitudinal member at a position rearward of said transverse member; and further comprising a second front wheel, one of said front wheels rotationally coupled to each end of said transverse frame member. 7. The device of claim 6, wherein said upright frame member is releasably pivotally joined to said longitudinal member, such that said upright frame member may be collapsed against said longitudinal member for storage. 8. The device of claim 5, further comprising a pair of opposing cranks and wherein the rear drive end of each of said striding members is rotationally coupled to said drive assembly by one of said cranks. 9. A mobile device adapted to utilize ambulatory motion of the user's body for propulsion comprising: a frame comprising a longitudinal frame member oriented substantially horizontally, having a front end and a rear end; a transverse frame member oriented substantially horizontally, having two ends, the front end of the longitudinal member joined to the transverse member and capable of partial axial rotation through a predetermined arc; and an upright frame member having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end joined to said longitudinal member at a position rearward of said transverse member; two front wheels, one of said front wheels rotationally coupled to each end of said transverse frame member; a camber mechanism coupled to each of said front wheels and affixed to said longitudinal member, said mechanism adapted to translate the arcuate movement from the partial rotation of said longitudinal member into wheel camber, thereby causing said device to turn; a rear wheel comprising a drive assembly rotationally coupled to the rear end of said longitudinal frame member; a pair of elongate striding members, adapted to receive the feet of said user and support said user while ambulating, positioned substantially horizontally along either side of said longitudinal frame member, having a front pivot end and a rearward drive end, the rearward drive end of each striding member coupled to said drive assembly; and a pair of upright arm levers having an upper grip end and a lower pivot end, said arm levers pivotally coupled to said upright frame member at a point between said ends, the lower pivot end of each said lever pivotally coupled to the front pivot end of one of said striding members. 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said drive assembly comprises a rotating axle, a hub body, and an internal gear system translating the rotation of said axle to said hub body a gear system internal to said hub, and wherein the rear drive end of each of said striding members is rotationally coupled to said drive assembly by one of a pair of cranks coupled to said axle. 11. The device of claim 9, wherein said upright frame member is releasably pivotally joined to said longitudinal member, such that said upright frame member may be collapsed against said longitudinal member for storage. 12. A mobile device adapted to utilize ambulatory motion of the user's body for propulsion comprising: a frame with a front end and a rear end; two front wheels rotationally coupled proximate the front end of said frame on either side thereof; a camber mechanism coupled to each of said front wheels and to said frame, said mechanism adapted to allow said ambulatory user to translate a lateral shift in said user's body weight into wheel camber, thereby causing said device to turn; a rear wheel comprising a drive assembly rotationally coupled to said frame proximate the rear end thereof; a pair of opposing cranks, each crank having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end fixedly attached to said drive assembly; a pair of elongate striding members, adapted to receive the feet of said user and support said user while ambulating, positioned substantially horizontally along either side of said frame, having a front pivot end and a rearward drive end, the rearward drive end of each striding member rotationally coupled to the outer end of one of said cranks; and a pair of upright arm levers having an upper grip end and a lower pivot end, said arm levers pivotally coupled to said frame at a point between said ends, the lower pivot end of each said lever pivotally coupled to the front pivot end of one of said striding members. 13. The device of claim 12, wherein said drive assembly comprising a rotating axle, a hub, and a gear system internal to said hub transferring rotation of said axle to rotation of said hub in a predetermined ratio of axle rotation to hub rotation. 14. The device of claim 13, wherein said gear system comprises a plurality of said predetermined ratios.