Man-propelled vehicle, such as in particular a cycle

The invention relates to a machine, such as particular cycle, human-powered, with a longitudinal frame provided, about one of its ends, a seat with a back and, towards its end opposite, a pedal system adapted to be activated foot by a user in a seated position with back maintained by the record, said pedal system being associated with the transmission means connecting it to a shaft engine, adapted to transform the movement of this system pedals into a rotary motion of said motor shaft.

Such devices, described in particular in Patent FR 811 916 and BE 432 336, as regards the cycles, have the advantage of offering the user a position "semi-reclined" comfortable, while requiring a effort similar or even lower compared to cycles classics.

However, such cycles allow not to optimize the performance of the efforts of the user due to "dead spots", inherent in design, which correspond to positions of pedals where transmitted effort is reduced or even zero.

It should be noted, moreover, that at a time present, most commercial cycles designed to be used in the sitting position are provided with a pedal vector generally disposed in front of the machine. Of same as those mentioned above, and because of the design of pedals, these cycles have "dead spots" that not allow to optimize the efficiency of effort.

In order to overcome this drawback, a other type of gear in particular as described in EP-0069932 comprises:<ul><li>a pedal system having two pedals connected to the frame by means actuator capable of allowing to confer a reciprocating movement of translation, </li><li>transmission means comprising, for each pedal, a rotary member unidirectional transmission associated with return means elastic, carried by the drive shaft and connected to the means by actuating a connecting element adapted to rotating said rotary member and the shaft engine during movements of said pedal as a direction away from the latter with respect to the seat,</li><li>at least one rear wheel motor with a shaft equipped with a free wheel connected by a chain at least one plate secured to the shaft motor, and a front wheel provided with an axle mounted on a secured a fork steering tube.</li></ul>

However, such rings do not possess great flexibility of use. In addition, in view of cornering, these cycles needed to tilt the handlebar relative to the longitudinal axis of said cycles, so it is impossible to use the handle as element propulsion manual actuation and simultaneously control wheel steering angle director.

The present invention aims to overcome all of the disadvantages described above, and for main objective of providing a device optimizing performance efforts.

Another object is to provide a device simple design also having a low congestion.

Another object is to provide a device which in its cycle design, can easily be equipped storage volumes for transport of all types utensils.

To this end, the invention provides a machine, such as that particular cycle, as described above, is characterized in that it comprises:<ul><li>two independent joysticks manual actuation, connected to the chassis by means actuator capable of allowing to confer a alternating translational movement, means each knob actuation being connected to a member rotary unidirectional transmission associated with elastic return means and supported by the drive shaft, by a connecting member adapted to rotate said rotatable member and the drive shaft, when movements of said lever in a direction removal with respect to the seat,</li><li>two handles hinged respectively each to the upper end of one of the controllers, of pivotably about a longitudinal axis, said handles being connected to a drive rod secured to the steering tube by means of elements of bond adapted to cause rotation of said bar maneuvering and steering tube about a vertical axis.</li></ul>

First, such a device allows to make optimal use of muscle power developed by the four limbs of the user. In Indeed, every member driven in reciprocation translation of a pedal or joystick and animates the body associated transmission that is active in only one direction rotation. So, this machine provides a force developed very superior to that obtained with the apparatus current.

Furthermore, it should be noted the simplicity of the design of this machine with a frame, mobile actuating means relatively said chassis, and a unidirectional transmission member connected to each pedal and each handle.

Finally, it should be noted the total independence between the action of the different members authorizes all freedoms of use.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the actuating means comprise, for each pedal and each lever, a carriage mounted sliding along the chassis.

In addition, the two carriages of each pair carriages are preferably interconnected by a flexible connecting element associated with a return member secured to the chassis, arranged so as to maintain taut said linking element in positions of the carriages where these are located symmetrically on either side the midpoint of their path.

Thus, the thrust force generated by a member, leg or arm, as it extends, is added the other member of the tensile force, when the latter is folded in synchronization with the extension of said first member.

Furthermore, according to one embodiment preferential, the machine comprises elastic members limit switch arranged to act as a stop to trolleys in the position of the furthest past of the seat.

These resilient stops have the function to accumulate the power supplied muscularly end Expansion of the members, which maximum power out, and to return the energy accumulated at the beginning of Phase return of the carriages which corresponds to a power muscular provided below.

Likewise, the machine comprises preferentially elastic members Limit arranged to serve as a stop to the carriages in the position of the latter nearest to the seat.

Such resilient elements allow accumulating the tensile forces and to return to get more thrust. They can, moreover, be used in combination with the elastic members and the aforesaid flexible connecting elements.

Furthermore, still in order to optimize performance, each rotary transmission member unidirectional advantageously has a shape substantially ovoid and is eccentrically mounted on the motor shaft so that the lever length between the axis of rotation of said motor shaft and the longitudinal axis the force exerted on the carriage is inversely proportional to the distance between said carriage the seat.

Thus, in the folded position of the members corresponding to a lesser developed strength, effort provide to cause rotation of the rotary members is is lower than in providing end extension where Maximum power is developed.

Furthermore, in the context of the application cycle, the tray is preferably mounted on the shaft engine via a free wheel adapted to allow to rotate said drive shaft only when the machine is moved forward.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention emerge from the description detailed below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which show by way of non-limiting examples two modes preferential realization. In these drawings which are integral part of this description:<ul><li>Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cycle according to the invention,</li><li>Figure 2a is a side view,</li><li>Figure 2b is an enlarged detail enlarged in Figure 2a,</li><li>FIG 3 is a cross-sectional a vertical plane A, enlarged representative the trolleys pedals</li><li>Figure 4 is a bottom view of Part of the frame to the right of the steering tube,</li><li>FIG 5 is a diagram of operation of the actuating means of the tube direction,</li><li>Figure 6 is a longitudinal section by a horizontal plane B of the rear end of the frame this cycle.</li><li>Figure 7 is a top view of schematic of an alternative embodiment of a cycle according to the invention, shown without seat and without wheel before, </li><li>and Figure 8 is a cross section C by a vertical plane, on an enlarged scale, of the chassis this alternative cycle.</li></ul>

The preparation cycles to the invention shown as examples in the figures are cycles two wheels.

The cycle shown in Figures 1 to 6 comprises, firstly, a frame 1 a rail component longitudinal guide, consisting of a tubular profile 2 of rectangular cross section, on each of the side faces which are welded two profiles, such as 3, T-shaped arranged so that the b ranch said T extends orthogonally to the lateral face correspondent tubular section 2.

This chassis 1 carries, towards its end before a conventional head tube 4 in the extension which extends a fork 5 supporting the spindle of the front wheel 6.

To its rear end, the frame 1 is extended by two tubular frames such as 7 parallel, each having the general shape triangular. One side of these frames defines a support 8 for the folder 9a of a seat 9 secured at its seat 9b of the chassis 1, while the other two sides form two forks extending between said support and 8 the axis of the rear wheel 10 which they support the shaft carrying the freewheel 11.

These two frames 7 are connected, at their tops lying substantially in the extension rear chassis 1 by a shaft 12, said motor mounted in bearings, the bearing or the tray (s) such as 13 said cycle typically connected to the freewheel 11 by a Chain 14. Each plate 13 is further mounted on the shaft motor 12 via a free wheel adapted to allow to reduce the cycle.

Along the chassis 1 are mounted four identical sliding carriages such as 15, 16 associated in pairs: two carriages 15 and actuation Pedestrian each carrying a pedal such as 17 and two 16 manually operated trolleys each carrying a controller such as 18.

Each of these carriages 15, 16 is constituted a U-shaped section capable of fitting one of the profiles 3 T-shaped frame 1. In addition, each carriage 15, 16 three pairs of rollers such as 19 arranged to come into contact with both sides of respectively the branch and the two wings of the section 3 of the frame to the end of said leg and wings.

Furthermore, the carriages 15 (or 16) of each pair are connected by a cable 20 (or 21) associated with a pulley 22 (or 23) of vertical axis secured under the frame 1, arranged so that any movement of a carriage in one direction causes the movement of the carriage associated in the other direction.

Furthermore, each of the carriages 15, 16 is connected by a cable such as 24, 25 of adjustable length by any known means, in an ovoid pulley such as 26, 27 mounted around the drive shaft 12, each of said pulleys comprising a rotatable member of unidirectional transmission system type freewheel and being associated with a built-in return spring (not represent).

The function of each of these pulleys ovoid 26, 27 is to cause rotation of the shaft motor 12, when moving in the direction of the wheel 6 before the carriage 15, 16 associated. When returning carriages 15, 16 ovoid these pulleys 26, 27 are inoperative relative to the drive shaft 12 and undergo a simple rotation under the action of the associated spring.

Furthermore, as shown in 2b, these ovoidal pulleys 26, 27 are mounted eccentric relative to the drive shaft 12 so that the lever between the axis of this shaft and the axis of the force tending to cause rotation of said pulleys is a variable length, preferably decreasing as and Measuring the progress of carriages 15, 16.

In addition, as shown in Figures 2b and 6, the ovoid pulleys 26 associated with carriages 15 to Pedestrian operation are smaller than 27 associated with carriages 16 manually operated.

Finally, regarding the carriages 15, 16, the chassis 1 carries stop means such as elastic 28, 29 arranged to limit the forward stroke of said carriages and to exercise these a last effort to push them backwards.

Similarly, the chassis 1 carries the bodies elastic stop such as 60, 61, arranged to limit the rearward travel of the carriages 15, 16 and exercise on a recent effort to repel forward.

The longitudinal position of these bodies resilient stop 28, 29, 60, 61 may further be adjusted depending on the size of the user, so in particular to limit the rotation angle of the pulleys ovoid 26, 27.

Furthermore, the levers 18 have a telescopic structure and comprises a section fixed 18a consists of a curved tube, and a section mobile 18b able to allow to adjust the height of said handles relative to the frame 1.

The movable section 18b of each of these shifters 18 is further extended by a handle 30, 31 articulated about a longitudinal axis.

These handles 30, 31 is secured to the end of two cables 32 respectively, 33 and 34, 35 attached symmetrically on both sides of the hinge axis. The opposite end of these 32-35 cable is in turn secured to a bar horizontal operation 36 V-shaped integral with the tube Dir 4.

As shown in Figure 5, the 32-35 cables are arranged so that upon pivoting a handle 30, 31, said cables cause the rotation of the drive rod 36 in one direction or the other.

Finally, and conventionally, the handles 30, 31 are equipped with brake handles such 37 and members (not shown) of the control (or of) derailleur (s).

7 shows a variant according to wherein the frame consists of a cylindrical tube 38 hollow curved so as to have the shape of a fork whose end bent at 180 degrees constitutes the end before the cycle.

The two branches 39, 40 of the fork 38 are further shaped so that said fork present, three sections longitudinally widths different: a front section 38a of the minimum width along which the two arms 39, 40 extend parallel and substantially horizontally, a section Intermediate 38b wider than that of the section front 38a, along which the legs 39, 40 extend also in parallel and substantially horizontally, and a rear section 38c of maximum width along which the branches 39, 40 have a first portion length where they extend in parallel and where it is located disposed the motor shaft 41, and a second portion length where they converge towards one another so as to carry, to their end, the shaft carrying the free wheel the rear wheel 42.

In addition, this rear section 38c which constitutes the rear portion of the cycle with particular the seat is downwardly inclined relative to the sections front 38a and 38b through.

As shown in Figure 8, each carriage 43 is constituted by a cylindrical carriage housed in tube 38 of the frame, with a holding tab of the pedal 44 or lever 45 extending through a longitudinal slot in said tube.

Furthermore, these trolleys 43 and the tube 38 are with, facing, longitudinal grooves accommodating balls 46 of sliding.

As shown in Figure 7, the Pedal trolleys 44 are arranged to slide along the front portion 38a of the chassis and are connected by a cable 47 associated with a return pulley 48 to vertical axis mounted to the front end of said chassis.

The door handles are about 45 trucks them arranged to slide along the section 38b through the frame and are connected by a cable 49 associated with two pulleys mounted to 50 as the front end of said intermediate section.

Finally, as for the first embodiment of embodiment, these carriages 43 are connected by cables such as 51, 52 to ovoid pulleys such as 53, 54 carried by the motor shaft 41.

Note further that the tube 38 may have a rounded shape other than circular, and the carriages 43 may be slideably mounted around of the tube and not within the latter. In addition, the sliding can be provided, instead of the balls 46, by a Teflon / Teflon contact (registered trademark), or a Contact iron / bronze with greasing ...

As shown in FIGS, such cycles have the advantage of having a low congestion. In addition, by design, firstly, all cables are integrated into the plane of the frame and, on the other hand, a large volume is shown below this frame enabling the establishment of volume storage.

Furthermore, such rings may be equipped with all standard accessories such as fairing ...