The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 24, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 22, 2000
Clive Marles Sinclair, London, GB;
Alexander Joseph Kalogroulis, Coulsdon, GB;
Sinclair Research Limited, London, GB;
Abstract
Drive apparatus ( ) for a cycle ( ), comprising an electric motor ( ), a first pulley ( ) driven by electric motor ( ), a second pulley ( ), an endless belt ( ) which passes around two pulleys ( ) and is driven by first pulley ( ), and a swinging link mounting ( ). During use, endless belt ( ) is in driving engagement with a tire ( ) of a wheel ( ). Mounting ( ) enables the distance between centers of first and second pulleys ( ) and tire ( ) to vary during use of drive apparatus ( ), which enables drive apparatus ( ) to exert on tire ( ) a varying contact pressure which increases as transmitted torque increases. Mounting ( ) comprises an attachment for attaching drive apparatus ( ) to cycle ( ), and a pivot ( ). Drive apparatus ( ) is characterised by electric motor ( ), pulleys ( ) and endless belt ( ) forming a transmission which is counter-balanced about pivot ( ) such that in an equilibrium position, endless belt ( ) is not in contact with tire ( ) when drive apparatus ( ) is not in use.