A recumbent vehicle having a frame which includes an elongate tubular support adapted to substantially entirely enclose within its interior the vehicle's primary drive mechanism thereby eliminating risk of rider entanglement. Other features of recumbent vehicles according to the invention include a steering assembly including handlebars selectively positionable along the frame and diametrically interconnected by steering cable means to a front fork selectively positionable along the frame and rotatably supporting a front wheel providing for nearly 90.degree. steering movement of the front wheel, and a seat selectively positionable along the frame to accommodate various size riders and adapted to support a rider without the need for complicated seat bracing apparatus.
A folding recumbent bicycle wherein a bicycle of recumbent design includes a three-section main frame which folds at two hinged locations; a steering bar which folds at a hinged location and handlegrip members which fold to lie along the steering bar; and a seat and backrest which fold down essentially parallel to the main frame member. Forward and rear seat support members may each include a box-like storage compartment.
A front drive train bicycle has practically the parts of a simple bicycle. The major difference is in the location of the drive train. The front drive train bicycle has a steerer tube extension (38) where the bottom bracket shell. (22) is attached. A crankset consisting of a bottom bracket (21), a chainwheel (24), crank arm (52), and pedals (54) is attached to the bottom bracket shell (22). A rear wheel (32) with its gear or freewheel (28) is attached to the fork tips (42). A chain (26) connects the chainwheel (24) to the rear wheel gear or freewheel (28). A front wheel (34) is attached to the rear dropouts (44). A down tube stay (30) is used instead of a chainstay (20). The front drive train bicycle has a shorter overall length because there is no bottom bracket between the two wheels and also because it uses relatively smaller wheels. It is also lighter in weight because of these. It requires less space for parking and storing away. It is easy to lift and carry around.
A cycle in the form of a bicycle or a tricycle has an elongate horizontal main frame member with a rear wheel support assembly at the rear end and a front wheel support assembly at the front end. The front wheel support assembly supports the steerable front wheel at the lower end of a slanted steering column and handlebars at the top end slanted toward the rear. A seat and seat back are supported on a rearward-slanting seat standard that is clamped onto the horizontal frame member and may be adjusted fore and aft to provide comfortable access to the pedals mounted on the front end of the horizontal frame member. The seat remains at the same elevation regardless of the adjustment and the pedals are forward and below the hips of the rider. Force on the pedals forces the back against the backrest for enhanced leverage.
A two-wheeled scooter with a frame and a standing board attached thereto. Two steering tubes, each with a pivotable fork for the front or rear wheel, are provided on the frame. The steering tubes are inclined toward one another and relative to vertical at an acute angle. The turning angle of the front wheel causes a turning angle of the rear wheel via a connection arrangement. The steering connection between the front wheel and the rear wheel is carried out by driving disks, which are attached in rotation-proof fashion to the forks and connected to each other, for example, via a flexible steel cable, so that the front and rear wheel forks turn in opposite directions with the same turning angle. Because of the dependence of the steering movements of the front and rear wheels and their control by a standard bicycle steering rod with a handle bar, travel is controlled precisely and thus operational safety is optimized.
An adjustable pedal arm is mounted on an occupant powered vehicle. The pedal arm is elongated and tubular, extending from one end, mounting pedals and cranks, to a remaining end that is pivotably mounted to the vehicle frame for adjustable pivotal movement about an axis. An internal drive assembly is provided within the pedal arm, extending from the crank arms to the remaining end of the pedal arm. An external drive assembly connects the internal drive assembly to at least one of the vehicle wheels. An adjuster is mounted between the pedal arm and vehicle frame to permit selective adjustment of the pedal position relative to the occupant seat. The pedal arm with the use of a pedal arm adjuster, pivots about a jack shaft located on the vehicle frame to meet the occupant's preferred pedal position.