A double disc assembly including an outer disc and an inner disc is provided at each side of the associated wheel and the inner and outer discs of each assembly are secured together for adjustable angular displacement about a center axis. A substitute axle assembly is secured through the center hub of the associated wheel and the substitute axle assembly is rigidly secured to the wheel hub and to the inner discs of the disc assemblies at corresponding points spaced radially outwardly of the axes of relative rotation of the discs or disc members of each disc assembly. In addition, each outer disc is journalled from the associated bicycle fork arm for rotation about an axis spaced the same radial distance from the axis of relative rotation of the disc members. In this manner, the substitute axle, which is stationarily secured through the center hub of the associated wheel, may be swung into alignment with the axes of rotation of the outer disc members relative to the bicycle fork arms or swung about the axes of relative rotation of the disc members relative to the axes of rotation of the outer discs relative to the fork arms whereby the axis of rotation of the entire wheel assembly may be eccentrically disposed relative to the center hub of the wheel.
This application comprises a continuation-in-part of my copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 97,846, filed Dec. 14, 1970, for Wheel Hub With Adjustable Eccentric Mounting, now abandoned.
Disclosed is an apparatus for varying eccentrically or centrically the shaft of the bicycle wheel in order that the bicycle can run up and down wavy manner like horseback riding beside regular level riding. The apparatus has an eccentric hub including a shaft housing formed integrally in eccentric position between two hub discs having a plurality of notches corresponding to different eccentricities of the shaft and a shaft penetrated through said shaft housing, two circular supporting plates having a slot for locking and two cover plates so that each hub discs of the eccentric hub is rotatively mounted relatively between each hub disc housings of the circular supporting plates and each cover plates and can be rotated to adjust the eccentricity of the shaft, and a locking means fixed on said circular supporting plate for setting the hub disc in the selected eccentricity of the shaft by matching it with any one of the notches through the slot.
Disclosed is an apparatus for varying eccentrically or centrically the shaft of the bicycle wheel in order that the bicycle can run up and down like horseback riding beside regular level riding. The apparatus has an eccentric hub including a shaft housing formed integrally in eccentric position between two hub discs having an opening and a shaft penetrated through said shaft housing, two circular supporting plates coupled rigidly each other by three connecting rods to reserve revolvably said eccentric hub therebetween, each which has a hub disc housing formed in its eccentric position said hub disc housing has a relatively large hole on its centric portion to exposure the shaft and also a plurality of openings corresponding to different eccentric positions on its circumference of circle, and a resettable spring loaded rod for locking the eccentric hub between the hub disc housings of the circular supporting plates by passing through the openings in alignment with each other.
A wheel assembly is provided, particularly for use with a vehicle, for example a scooter or a bicycle and the like, for operation in both eccentric and concentric modes. The wheel rim of the assembly rotatably and concentrically supports a wheel hub thereon. An offset axle is supported on the wheel hub radially spaced from the central axis of the wheel for rotation with the wheel hub relative to the wheel rim about the central axis. The offset axle rotatably connects to the frame of the vehicle. A locking mechanism selectively engages the wheel hub for rotation with the wheel rim in the eccentric mode, while the rim rotates freely about the central axis relative to the rim in the concentric mode. In this arrangement, any variety of simple clutch mechanism between the hub and the rim is effective for converting between the eccentric and concentric modes of operation.
Vehicles having wheels of different diameter sizes that are mounted with different eccentricities relative to each other. The twofold variability afforded by the wheel diameter and eccentricity disparities allows a vast array of possible two, three and four wheel vehicles, each having unique oscillatory patterns. A bicycle embodiment has differently-sized front and back wheels that are eccentrically mounted on their respective axle hubs by a differing offset amount with respect to each other. A tricycle embodiment has a front wheel with a different diameter than that of the back wheels, and the hub eccentricities of both wheels also differ with respect to each other. The hubs are arranged on an axle so as to be 180.degree. out of phase relative to each other. One possible four wheel embodiment has front wheels with a different diameter than that of the back wheels, and the hub eccentricity of the front wheels also differs from that of the back wheels. Both sets of hubs are arranged so as to be 180.degree. out of phase relative to each other.
The present invention provides a rider-propelled vehicle that includes a frame capable of supporting a rider, an eccentrically-mounted front wheel, and a concentrically-mounted rear wheel. In one embodiment, the rider propels the vehicle using the cyclic motion of the eccentric front wheel, and a driving mechanism is not provided for the rear wheel. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a frame for a rider-propelled vehicle. The frame includes a head tube, a top tube connected to the head tube and extending to one side of an axle for a rear wheel, a bottom tube connected to the head tube below the top tube and extending to another side of the axle for the rear wheel, and a cross tube extending between the top tube and bottom tube in front of the rear wheel. In this embodiment, the top tube and the bottom tube extend along side one another at the same height from the location for connecting the axle for the rear wheel to a predetermined location. This portion of the top and bottom tubes allows for connection with a deck capable of accommodating a rider.
