Patent US3888136A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3888136A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable pedal and crank system for foot propelled vehicles
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-06-04
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Granted: 1975-06-10
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Expires: 1994-06-04
Abstract
Abstract The present disclosure is directed to a pedal and crank arm system for bicycles and the like to provide rugged yet safe and easy means for adjusting the effective length of the pedal arms in one quick step if preferred to whatever extent desired within the limits of the full adjustment range, while automatically maintaining the two pedals an equal distance from the axis of the drive shaft at all times. The system further provides simple and positive locking means for insuring fixed effective pedal arm length during pedaling. The locking means may be easily and quickly disengaged and pedal position adjusting means actuated by the feet of the cyclist either when bicycle is at a standstill or in motion, thereby leaving both hands of cyclist available for guiding and braking. The devices of this disclosure may be installed as original equipment or provided in kit form for modifying bicycles which have other pedal and sprocket arrangements.
Inventors
- 👤 Fernand S Lapeyre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:55
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M3/00; B62M3/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2164; Y10T74/2167; Y10T74/2168
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An adjustable pedal crank system for bicycles and the like for compelling rotation of the drive shaft, comprising a pair of primary drive cranks secured to said drive shaft, a pair of secondary drive cranks connected to the primary cranks and each having a pedal, means for locking said secondary drive cranks at any angular position of the secondary cranks relative to the primary cranks for propelling the vehicle, and foot actuated interconnecting means between both sets of secondary cranks for maintaining both pedals at equal distance from the drive shaft at all times even while effecting change of pedal drive arm length from the drive shaft axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An adjustable pedal crank system for bicycles and the like for compelling rotation of the drive shaft, comprising a pair of primary drive cranks secured to said drive shaft, a pair of secondary drive cranks connected to the primary cranks and each having a pedal, means for locking said secondary drive cranks at any angular position of the secondary cranks relative to the primary cranks for propelling the vehicle, and foot actuated interconnecting means between both sets of secondary cranks for maintaining both pedals at equal distance from the drive shaft at all times even while effecting change of pedal drive arm length from the drive shaft axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connection between said primary and secondary cranks is a pivot shaft secured to one of said primary or said secondary cranks and interlocking means selectively engagable therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said interconnecting means comprises a toothed pinion secured to the pivotal end of each secondary crank and a pair of toothed quadrant members each member of the pair in mesh with one of said toothed pinions at one end and secured to rotate with a positioning shaft at the other end, said positioning shaft being secured at each of its ends to one of the toothed quadrant members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said secondary drive cranks are pivotally connected to the free end of said primary drive cranks and said means for locking said secondary drive cranks at any angular position of the secondary cranks relative to the primary cranks is an axially slidable meshing gear-like connection with spring means normally biasing the meshing gears into locked interconnection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a toothed positioning segment is secured to the primary arm and a pivoted locking latch is actuated by the pedal on the secondary arm and is spring loaded to a normally locked position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for locking said secondary drive cranks at an angular position of the secondary cranks relative to the primary cranks is a latch pivoted at a right angle to the axis of pivot between said primary and secondary cranks and having a detent engaging teeth of a pinion secured to the primary crank on one side of the latch pivot and a foot engagable means, spring biased to normally urge the detent into engagement with the pinion teeth on the opposite side of the latch pivot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
An adjustable pedal and crank system for bicycles and the like for compelling rotation of the drive shaft comprising: a. a drive shaft, b. two crank arm means having adjustable effective pedal arm lengths, c. pedals on said crank arm means, d. foot actuated interconnecting means between the pedals of said crank arms to automatically maintain both pedals an equal distance from said drive shaft throughout all variations of change of pedal arm length, e. and drive connecting means between said pedal arms and drive shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
An adjustable pedal and crank system for bicycles and the like for compelling rotation of the drive shaft comprising: a. a drive shaft, b. two crank arm means having adjustable effective pedal arm lengths, c. pedals on said crank arm means, d. foot actuated interconnecting means between the pedals of said crank arms to automatically maintain both pedals an equal distance from said drive shaft throughout all variations of change of pedal arm length, e. and drive connecting means between said pedal arms and drive shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
An adjustable pedal and crank syStem for bicycles and the like for compelling rotation of the drive shaft comprising: a. a drive shaft, b. two crank arm means having adjustable effective pedal arm lengths, c. pedals on said crank arm means, d. foot actuated interconnecting means between the pedals of said crank arms to automatically maintain both pedals an equal distance from said drive shaft throughout all variations of change of pedal arm length, comprising chain means connected to be actuated by said pedals, passing through the drive shaft and being connected to the other end of the opposed crank arm on the opposite side of the bicycle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
An adjustable pedal and crank syStem for bicycles and the like for compelling rotation of the drive shaft comprising: a. a drive shaft, b. two crank arm means having adjustable effective pedal arm lengths, c. pedals on said crank arm means, d. foot actuated interconnecting means between the pedals of said crank arms to automatically maintain both pedals an equal distance from said drive shaft throughout all variations of change of pedal arm length, comprising chain means connected to be actuated by said pedals, passing through the drive shaft and being connected to the other end of the opposed crank arm on the opposite side of the bicycle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
125 words
An adjustable pedal and crank system for bicycles and the like for compelling rotation of the drive shaft comprising: a. a drive shaft, b. two crank arm means having adjustable effective pedal arm lengths, c. pedals on said crank arm means, d. foot actuated interconnecting means between said pedal means and interconnection means comprising a shaft with gear means at both ends for engagement with racks, each having two opposed lines of gear teeth, one of which line of gear teeth in both racks are disengagable from locking engaging position thereby allowing foot acutated positioning of the pedals to desired effective pedal arm lengths while automatically maintaining pedals at an equal distance from said drive shaft throughout all variations of change of pedal arm length.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
125 words
An adjustable pedal and crank system for bicycles and the like for compelling rotation of the drive shaft comprising: a. a drive shaft, b. two crank arm means having adjustable effective pedal arm lengths, c. pedals on said crank arm means, d. foot actuated interconnecting means between said pedal means and interconnection means comprising a shaft with gear means at both ends for engagement with racks, each having two opposed lines of gear teeth, one of which line of gear teeth in both racks are disengagable from locking engaging position thereby allowing foot acutated positioning of the pedals to desired effective pedal arm lengths while automatically maintaining pedals at an equal distance from said drive shaft throughout all variations of change of pedal arm length.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
An adjustable pedal and crank system for bicycles and the like for compelling rotation of the drive shaft comprising: a. a drive shaft, b. two crank arm means having adjustable effective pedal arm lengths, c. pedals on said crank arm means, d. foot actuated interconnecting means between the pedals of said crank arms passing through the drive shaft to automatically maintain both pedals an equal distance from said drive shaft throughout all variations of change of pedal arm length, e. and drive connecting means between said pedal arms and drive shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
An adjustable pedal and crank system for bicycles and the like for compelling rotation of the drive shaft comprising: a. a drive shaft, b. two crank arm means having adjustable effective pedal arm lengths, c. pedals on said crank arm means, d. foot actuated interconnecting means between the pedals of said crank arms passing through the drive shaft to automatically maintain both pedals an equal distance from said drive shaft throughout all variations of change of pedal arm length, e. and drive connecting means between said pedal arms and drive shaft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US823712A
Cited
US3789696A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-09 | 1978-12-09 | 1979-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-09 | 1982-12-09 | 1983-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-09 | 1986-12-09 | 1987-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |