초록 ▼

The present invention provides a propulsion assembly for a bicycle. The propulsion assembly includes a support member that at least extends from the bicycle frame to a distal end spaced-apart from the rear wheel. The assembly includes a first drive mechanism rotatably mounted on the frame and axiall

The present invention provides a propulsion assembly for a bicycle. The propulsion assembly includes a support member that at least extends from the bicycle frame to a distal end spaced-apart from the rear wheel. The assembly includes a first drive mechanism rotatably mounted on the frame and axially connected to the rear wheel for transmitting motion thereto. A second drive mechanism is rotatably mounted at the distal end of the support member and coupled with the first drive mechanism. Ratchet mechanisms axially extend from the second drive mechanism and connect to a pair of elongate members. The bicycle has pedal arms with pedals extending therefrom. The elongate members are pivotally, operatively connected to the pedals. The pedals with pedal arms are movable in a circular manner for transmitting rotational power to the elongate members for propelling the bicycle.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A propulsion assembly for a bicycle having a frame with a top, a bottom opposite the top, a front with a front wheel rotatably connected thereto at the bottom, and a rear opposite the front with a rear wheel rotatably connected thereto at the bottom, the assembly comprising: a rearwardly extendin

1. A propulsion assembly for a bicycle having a frame with a top, a bottom opposite the top, a front with a front wheel rotatably connected thereto at the bottom, and a rear opposite the front with a rear wheel rotatably connected thereto at the bottom, the assembly comprising: a rearwardly extending support member extending from the frame along the top of the frame, the support member extending to a distal end of the support member, the distal end being spaced-apart from the rear wheel;a first drive mechanism rotatably mounted on the frame and being mechanically connected to the rear wheel for transmitting motion thereto;a second drive mechanism rotatably mounted near the distal end of the support member, the second drive mechanism having an axis of rotation;a coupling member coupling the first drive mechanism to the second drive mechanism;a pair of ratchet mechanisms operatively connecting to the second drive mechanism and with the axis of rotation of the second drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism being between the pair of ratchet mechanisms;a first elongate member and a second elongate member, each said elongate member being operatively connected to the second drive mechanism by means of a respective one of the pair of ratchet mechanisms and extending therefrom, the elongate members being telescopic;a pedal arm axle rotatably mounted to the frame near the bottom thereof between the front and the rear of the frame;a first pedal arm and a second pedal arm angularly spaced-apart from the first pedal arm, the pedal arms extending from opposite ends of the pedal arm axle; anda first pedal and a second pedal rotatably connected to the first pedal arm and the second pedal arm, respectively, for pedaling the bicycle, the first elongate member and the second elongate member extending towards and operatively connecting with the first pedal and the second pedal, respectively, the pedals being rotatably movable for transmitting rotational power through the elongate members and to the second drive mechanism for pedalling the bicycle. 2. The propulsion assembly as claimed in claim 1, the pedals being rotatably movable from an upper position to a lower position and wherein the first pedal arm extends in a direction opposite to the second pedal arm and the elongate members each being moveable from a retracted mode to an extended mode, whereby when the first pedal is in the upper position, the first elongate member is in the retracted mode, the second pedal is in the lower position and the second elongate member is in the extended mode, and when the first pedal is rotatably lowered to the lower position, the first elongate member is in the extended mode, the second pedal is in the upper position and the second elongate member is in the retracted mode, circular motion of the pedals arms thereby causing up and down motion in the elongate members. 3. The propulsion assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the elongate members vary between being two to five times longer than the pedal arms. 4. The propulsion assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the elongate members in a retracted mode is three to four times longer than one of the pedal arms, the assembly thereby enabling a user to generate at least three to four times more torque when pedalling with a given force as compared with that of a conventional bicycle when pedalling at the given force. 5. The propulsion assembly as claimed in claim 1, the bicycle further having a seat post extending outwards from the top of the frame with seat extending from therefrom, the frame further including an upper member extending along the top of the frame and connected at a junction to the seat post, the support member extending from the junction and towards the rear of the frame. 6. The propulsion assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the support member is flush with the upper member of the frame. 7. The propulsion assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first drive mechanism includes a rear axle with the rear wheel axially mounted thereon and a rear sprocket radially extending from the rear axle near one end of the rear axle, and the second drive mechanism includes a drive axle rotatably connected to the distal end of the support member and a drive sprocket radially extending from the drive axle near one end of the drive axle. 8. The propulsion assembly as claimed in claim 5, the frame further including a pair of spaced-apart seat stays extending from the junction to a drive axle, the rear wheel being between the pair of seat stays, the pair of seat stays being in between the elongate members, the second drive mechanism being spaced-apart from the pair of seat stays. 9. The propulsion assembly as claimed in claim 1, the distal end of the support member including a support housing, the drive axle being disposed within the support housing, the support housing including a pair of ratchet housings for receiving the pair of ratchet mechanisms respectively, each of said pair of ratchet mechanisms including a hollow outer portion rotatably mounted on the drive axle and connecting to one of the elongate members, a ratchet gear disposed within the outer portion and connected to the drive axle, and a pawl pivotally connected to the outer portion and positioned for rotatable engagement with the ratchet gear in a first direction and for freely passing over with the ratchet gear in a second direction opposite the first direction. 10. The propulsion assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support housing is rotatably mounted onto the drive axle via a pair of bearings and, for each of the pair of ratchet mechanism the hollow outer portion is rotatably mounted onto the drive axle via a pair of bearings. 11. The propulsion assembly as claimed in claim 1, the pedals being rotatably movable from an upper position to a lower position and wherein the elongate members are reciprocatingly mounted to the pedal arms such that when the first elongate member is in the upper position, the second elongate member is in the lower position, and when the second elongate member is in the upper position, the first elongate member is in the lower position. 12. The propulsion assembly as claimed in claim 1, the bicycle further including a seat post at the top with seat extending therefrom, and wherein the support member is positioned away from the seat post and at least towards the rear of the frame, and the second drive mechanism is spaced-apart from the seat post. 13. A propulsion assembly for a bicycle having a frame with a top, the bicycle having a seat post extending from the top of the frame and having a seat extending from the seat post, the frame including a bottom opposite the top, a front with a front wheel rotatably connected thereto at the bottom, and a rear opposite the front with a rear wheel rotatably connected thereto at the bottom, and the assembly comprising: a rearwardly extending support member extending from the frame, away from the seat post, to a distal end of the support member, the distal end of the support member being spaced-apart from the rear wheel, the distal end of the support member including a support housing;a rear axle axially connected to the rear wheel and rotatably mounted on the frame, a rear sprocket radially extending from the rear axle at one end of the rear axle, the rear sprocket being axially connected to the rear wheel for transmitting motion thereto;a drive axle rotatably received in part within the support housing, a rotatable drive sprocket radially extending from the drive axle at one end of the drive axle, the drive sprocket being spaced-apart from the seat post, the drive sprocket having an axis of rotation;an endless chain operatively connecting the rear sprocket to the drive sprocket;a pair of ratchet mechanisms, each of said pair of ratchet mechanisms including a hollow outer portion rotatably mounted on the drive axle via a pair of bearings, a ratchet gear disposed within the outer portion and connected to the drive axle, and a pawl pivotally connected to the outer portion and positioned for rotatable engagement with the ratchet gear in a first direction and for freely passing over with the ratchet gear in a second direction opposite the first direction;a first elongate member and a second elongate member, each said elongate member being connected to a respective one of the outer portions of the pair of ratchet mechanisms, the elongate members operatively extending from the drive sprocket, the elongate members being telescopic;a pedal arm axle rotatably mounted to the bottom of the frame between the front and the rear of the frame;a first pedal arm and a second pedal arm angularly spaced-apart from the first pedal arm, the pedal arms extending from opposite ends of the pedal arm axle; anda first pedal and a second pedal rotatably connected to the first pedal arm and the second pedal arm, respectively, for pedaling the bicycle, the first elongate member and the second elongate member extending towards and operatively connecting with the first pedal and the second pedal, respectively, the pedals being rotatably movable for transmitting one-way rotational power through the elongate members, to cause the respective pawls of the pair of ratchet mechanisms to engage respective ratchet gears in the first direction, to thereby engage the drive axle, and thereby engage and cause to rotate the drive sprocket, the endless chain, the rear sprocket and the rear wheel for pedalling the bicycle. 14. A bicycle having the propulsion assembly as claimed in claim 1.