GB2362861A - Improvements relating to bicycles - Google Patents

Abstract

A bicycle has a crank with variable length arms such the throw of the crank may be varied whilst the bicycle is in use. To this end, the crank comprises a hollow arm (a) in which is telescopically mounted an extension (b). A spring (c) biases the extension outwardly of the crank. A protruding nib (e) can engage any one of a multiplicity of notches (f) to define pre-determined crank lengths. A spring (d) biases the extension (b) in a manner to maintain the nib (e) in its selected notch (f). In order to vary the length of the crank sideway pressure is applied to the pedal (h) and the extension is either pushed inwardly or is allowed to move outwardly under the influence of the spring (c). Other improvements disclosed include a novel handlebar design allowing the hand and upper forearm to control steering, a brake operated by reverse pedal rotation, and a cover to protect the wheels from accidental contact with, e.g. a polo stick. The invention may optionally be embodied as a penny-farthing design.

Description

KEY SREET 1 OF 3 Drawing Nos 1 and 2 Drawing No: 1 Fig 1 Sectional plan of

foot activated extendable pedal crank a Hollow rectangular housing crank b Solid rectangular extending crank c Recoil spring d Side bedded flat spring e Protruding engagement nib f Nib engagement notches g Void to facilitate disengagement of nib h Pedal j Chain drive gear Drawing No: 2 Fig 1 Elevation of kidney shaped handlewheel showing left elbow engagnement niche Fig 2 Plan of kidney shaped handlewheel showing left elbow engagement niche Fig 3 Bicycle polo in action illustrating hand/arm/elbow diagonal grip accross handlewheel Fig 4 Illustration of hitting/riding action showing raised elbow enagement version of kidney shaped handlewheel simulating mounted action KEY SHEET 2 OF 3 Drawing No: 3 Fig 1 Elevation and part section of pedal back acting ratchet engagment mechanism and draw action rear wheel inner rim and outer rim brake a Ratchet gear attached to pedal crank spindle b Flat ratchet gear back action pull rod c Adjustable spring loaded fixing in slide slot d Inward sliding spring recoil brake guides rig 2 Underside view of back action ratchet engagement draw action rear wheel rim brake a Rear wheel and tyre in section b Draw action inward sliding spring recoil brake acting on inner rim and outer rim simultaneously Drawing No: 4 Fig 1 Illustration of front wheel/fork protective sleeve a Extent of pre split circumference to facilitate fitting and taped or velcroed fixing Pig 2 Illustration showing rear wheel and frame protective sleeve a Extent of pre split edge to facilitate fitting to b Raised moulded thigh and knee grips or rolls KEY SHEET 3 OF 3 Drawing No: 5 Fig 1 Illustration showing adapted penny farthing style cycle incorporating kidney shaped arm/elbow engagement handlewheel, mobile foot activated extendable pedal cranks and protective sleeve to front and rear wheels.

2362861 Improvements relating to bicycles Most cycling activities and sports are individual and non contact. Contact is dangerous because of the interaction of forces, unprotected flesh and moving and protruding machinery. Cycles mostly require all limbs in continuous contact with the machine, limiting any activity or sport that requires continued or intermittent free use of hand or foot.

This invention consists of a number of improvements and changes to facilitate hand free activity, to enable body contact and improve safety. They have been developed with bicycle polo in mind but they will apply to and facilitate a greater range of bicycle sports and activities, some as yet, unimagined.

The overall aims are to simplify gearing, enhance balance and stability whilst improving one handed steering and control, simplify the machinery and reduce moving parts, improve protection and safety all with the greater aim of improving the fun, skill and challenge of cycling sports.

The first improvement herein described involves extending the range and strength of propulsion ie. pedalling, without the use of gears, both to reduce moving parts and machinery complication and free up the hands from gear change control.

The device herein described is a foot activated extendable pedal crank although other means of control and activation are possible.

1 of 8 Extendable pedal crank The concept is to employ an extendable pedal crank to vary the lever force applied in accordance with speed, the purpose being to extend the crank and increase leverage for starting and acceleration and to reduce crank length at high speeds.

The device as shown on drawing no:l consists of a square or rectangular hollow crank fitted to the chain gear spindle within which slides the crank extension to which the pedal is fixed. The inside of the hollow crank would have a number of recesses or slots, the corresponding side of the extension crank would have a protruding nib which fitted in and clicked into the slots in turn.

A recoil spring seated and fixed within the hollow crank would be fixed to the bottom of the extendable crank to retract the extendable crank as and when the protruding nib is disengaged from the restraining slots.

A flat form of spring is seated within the hollow crank opposite the recesses or slots. The extending crank although fitting snugly at the entry and on the top and bottom of the hollow crank, is free to giggle against the flat spring, the giggle disengaging the protruding nib from the recess or slot and the recoil spring tending to pull in extended crank and reduce overall crank length.

The giggle or disengagement would be activated by deliberate inward pressure from the rider's foot at the same time allowing the pedal to retract to selected notch ie. into a higher gear or higher wheel to pedal circumference ratio.

2 of 8 To go into a lower gear or lower wheel circumference to pedal circumference ratio, the rider would push in to disengage nib, then out or down extending coiled restraining spring until selected nib seating is selected.

Other means of activating the adjustable pedal crank such as a gas cylinder as utilised in a variable height office chair an electric powered worm device could be employed.

The recess or slot spacing and placings would be dependant on the leverage and speed ratios desired which would be dependant on the ergonomics of the rider and riding position, seated or standing, single handed or double handed etc. It is possible that riders may find it convenient to utilise differing pedal crank lengths simultaneously.

For simplicity and ease of operation, for sports such as bicycle polo played on the level ground, only two gears/crank length may suffice simply in and out, with no intermediate selection.

Arm and elbow assisted steering To leave an arm free to swing a mallet or racquet there is a need for improved single handed steering and stability. Similarly, if riders are bumping each other.

This improvement is in relation to a handlebar or wheel that provides for two handed action but facilitates a variety of single handed actions incorporating arm and elbow action directly onto the device.

3 of 8 It is noted that racing cycle handlebars often incorporate forward protruding handlebars in line with the front wheel on which rider rests with hands forward and elbows together, mostly in a straightforward direction. This is not principally a steering device.

The device as shown on drawing no:2 is principally a kidney shape steering wheel incorporating a raised padded arm and elbow engagement to assist hand, arm and elbow action diagonally across the steering wheel. This shape would enable two handed action as well as single handed action in a number of positions and stances.

It is envisaged the steering wheel will be constructed from tubular steel, carbon fibre or similar with handgrip material covering in selected positions. The elbow/arm engagement could be formed as an indent in the wheel to which suitable moulding and padding would be fixed. If it is ergonomically convenient and efficient for the elbow/arm rest to be raised above the steering wheel then an adjustable raising device could be attached to the steering wheel.

The kidney shaped steering device would emerge from and be attached to the front wheel forks, bend backwards toward the rider and curve forwards over the forks and front wheel. This would facilitate a grip forward or backward therefore facilitate a greater flexibility in body positioning.

The one handed grip with the arm diagonally across the wheel, hand gripping at approximately two o'clock and elbow/arm engaged at seven to eight o'clock, would simulate the practice of 'neck reining' as practiced in mounted polo.

4 of 8 A variety of handlebar/shapes are envisaged, figure of eight, oval, round or lozenge incorporating arm or elbow engagement. For bicycle polo this would involve left arm/elbow as the striking arm is only and always righthanded. Other games may involve both or either and thus a steering device incorporating left, right arm/elbow engagement or both, may be required Back acting pedal brake To free up hand control, and reduce moving parts, complications, cables etc, there is a need for simpler braking mechanisms.

It is known that a rear hub brake activated by back pedalling is or has been employed. This would be more appropriate and useful than hand control brakes.

This invention relates to the combination of pedal back action and wheel rim braking.

As illustrated on drawing no:3 a ratchet device acting on the pedal spindle would activate and pull on a draw brake positioned below and along the rear wheel bottom forks when the pedals are pushed backwards.

The ratchet gear would be attached to or formed in the pedal spindle. The engaging ratcheted strip gear would be positioned within or beneath the spindle casing/lower rear forks.Being spring loaded,on forward pedalling the ratchet gears would slide over each other only engaging on pedal back action.

of 8 The ratchet strip gear would extend backwards and thus pull the rear draw action outer rim engaging brake. In this embodiment the spring recoil inward angled draw brake guides would enable the brake pads to act on the inner surface of the rear wheel and the outer rim simultaneously.

Alternatively, to the draw brake, a caliper or side squeeze action brake could be used and activated by the ratchet mechanism.

Safety devices Flying polo sticks, racquets and flying balls do not mix safely with whirring wheel spokes and chain cogs etc.

The improvements herein described as illustrated on drawing no:4 relates to the covering and protection of moving parts and protrusions.

As envisaged, it consists of principally two covers or sleeves, one covering the front wheel and forks, another covering the rear wheel and chain drive reaching forward to cover and fill the triangle between the crossbar, saddle bar and diagonal forward strut. It is envisaged that these sleeves will be moulded from polystyrene, Styrofoam or similar material.

The front wheel cover will be fixed principally by moulding itself snugly and clamping around the front forks. The sleeve will consist of a wheel shape less a bottom segment to allow for ground and grass clearance. The wheel shape will be moulded/scalloped out to accommodate front wheel and forks. The wheel shape will be split at the circumference forward of the forks.

6 of 8 The sleeve will be applied by opening up this split and pushing the sleeve over the wheel from the rear until the interior form and moulding passes over and engages the forks. The split will then be sealed and strengthened by taping over, or velcro fasteners or similar. The rear sleeve will consist of a shape encompassing the rear wheel and chain, then extending within the pedals and cranks but over the chain drive forward to the steering column.

Again the sleeve will be split from the front back to the saddle strut. Again the sleeve will be fitted by prising open the split, pushing the sleeve forward over the rear wheel and the interior mould engaging and clamping over and around the saddle strut, crossbar, diagonal brace and steering column with the split sealed and taped or velcroed around these members.

Alternatively, each sleeve or cover could be split completely and applied from either side and taped or velcroed into place.

As a further improvement to the body grip and stability in action it is envisaged that the rear sleeve/protective cover will embody knee and thigh bracing indents and bumps similar to the knee rolls encountered on horse saddles.

Penny farthing polo bike The height of a penny farthing bike would neatly simulate the riding position on a horse. The problems with a penny farthing as existing are twofold, the feet do not touch the ground so when stationary you fall or jump off and secondly starting and acceleration without running and jumping on, would be difficult if not impossible.

7 of 8 A full size polo stick is some five or six feet long. From experiment this creates a fine prop to keep the penny farthing upright and prevent falling off when stationary. There is then the matter of getting in motion again.

The simplicity of the penny farthing together with the balance and mobility involved, would make for excellent polo stimulation.

The improvement herein described and illustrated on drawing no:5 relates to the application of the aforementioned improvements, except the back acting wheel rim brake, to a penny farthing type cycle.

The extendable crank propulsion improvement if applied to the large wheel of a penny farthing would provide sufficient leverage to get into motion. The handlebar with arm/elbow anchorage would assist steering and provide one handed stability to resist the tendency of pedal force distortion and the protective sleeves over the front wheel would cover most moving parts with a small sleeve over the trailing wheel.

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Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS (1) A cycle incorporating a mobile length adjustable pedal crank

   (2) A cycle incorporating a mobile length adjustable foot activated pedal crank (3) A cycle incorporating a mobile length adjustable foot activated pedal crank incorporating a restraining/returning spring and a side spring enabling foot adjustable selection and engagement of nib and recess engagements within a telescopi pedal crank arrangement.

   (4) A cycle incorporating a handlebar/steering wheel enabling arm and elbow engagement facilitating one handed steering.

   (5) A cycle incorporating a handlebar/steering wheel of a kidney shape or figure of eight or oval or round or lozenge or shape enabling variety of two handed steering and a variety of one handed positioning and steering.

   (6) A cycle with a handlebar/steering wheel of a kidney shape, figure of eight or oval or round or lozenge incorporating left handed arm/elbow engagement or right handed arm/elbow engagement or both.

   (7) A cycle incorporating a pedal back action braking device acting on the rear wheel rim.

   (8) A cycle incorporating a ratchet device acting on the pedal spindle that on back pedal action engages and pulls either a caliper action brake acting on the rear wheel outer rim or a forward sliding brake acting on the rear wheel inner rim.

   1 of 2 (9) A cycle incorporatif.Ej a 4r-,,w action brake whereby the guide mechanism enables the brake blocks to act on inner surface of wheel and outer rim simultaneously.

   (10) A cycle incorporating a protective sleeve that encompasses the front wheel and forks.

   (11) A cycle incorporating a protective sleeve that encompasses the rear wheel, chain drive, saddle strut, cross bar, bottom diagonal strut and front fork and handlebar housing.

   (12) A cycle incorporating protective sleeve as in clauses 9,10 and 11 whereby the sleeve is mould fitted around structural members.

   (13) A cycle incorporating protective sleeves as in claims 9,10,11,and 12 that are partially split to facilitate fitting.

   (14) A cycle incorporating protective sleeves as in claims 9,10,11,12, and 13 that are completely split or separated lengthwise to facilitate fitting.

   (15) A cycle incorporating protective sleeve as in claims 10,11,12,13, and 14 which embodies moulded knee and thigh bracing positions similar to knee rolls on horse saddles.

   (16) A cycle incorporating protective sleeve as in claims 9,10,11,12,13, and 14 that are joined and sealed by edge taping or velcro fastening or similar.

   (17) A penny farthing style cycle incorporating any of the foregoing claims.

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