Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8157280 | Manually powered drive mechanism with steering member and vehicle employing same A mechanism for manually powering a vehicle is provided. The mechanism includes a frame and a first driver attached to the frame. The first driver rotates a driven wheel. A lever arm is pivotally attached to the frame and includes a first end having a pair of handle... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8109529 | Ergonomic wheelchair propulsion system The present application pertains to a wheelchair having a frame; a seat attached to the frame and supporting a user; two lateral drive wheels mounted on essentially horizontal axes; and a propulsion system including a handle, an operating lever supporting said handl... | 02/07/2012 |
| 7938419 | Phase independent row motion propelled bicycle A standard-sized bicycle includes a main frame, a rear drive wheel and a rowing mechanism. The rowing mechanism is coupled to the main frame about a fulcrum. The fulcrum allows the rowing mechanism to oscillate forward in response to a pushing force and backward in ... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7914028 | Occupant propelled vehicle An occupant propelled vehicle is provided that includes a frame having a front portion and a rear portion, front and rear wheels, a platform for the occupant, an integrated articulating steering mechanism and a drive mechanism. The steering mechanism provides the mu... | 03/29/2011 |
| 7900945 | All-terrain wheelchair An all-terrain wheelchair including independently operable right and left push bars arranged to enable individuals of varied physical strength to move the chair along a wide range of terrains, including soft terrain. The push bars allow the user to establish mobilit... | 03/08/2011 |
| 7802804 | Wobble-bearing axle assembly for velocipedes and exercise machines The wobble bearing axle assembly is used for engaging the upper body of a person for use in human powered vehicles and exercise equipment. The wobble bearing assembly converts linear input force derived by the operator into rotational force, which is directed toward... | 09/28/2010 |
| 7584976 | Ergonomically improved rowing motion-propelled convertible wheelchair using retractible fifth wheel The Trike's unique power source is provided by a rowing-type motion of the user rather than the less efficient “hand rim” grip or wrist propulsion. The rowing motion significantly reduces the chances for repetitive stress injuries, like carpal tunnel. Furthermor... | 09/08/2009 |
| 7413206 | Extra hand powered bicycle A drive system for use with a bicycle includes first and second gears arranged so that the second gear is rotatably driven responsive to the first gear. A freewheel is operatively coupled to the second gear, and a drive sprocket is operatively coupled to the freewhe... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7360780 | Apparatus for hand propulsion and steering of a scooter, tricycle or bicycle An apparatus is disclosed by means of which an operator both propels and steers a scooter, tricycle, or bicycle with a single set of handlebars. Power is applied by pumping the handlebars up and down, and steering is positive, and very similar to that of a conventio... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7328906 | Stroller apparatus A stroller apparatus for exercising the arms and a portion of an upper torso of a user includes a seat to receive and support a rider. A frame is coupled to the seat to support the seat in an elevated position above a ground surface. A plurality of wheels is coupled... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7311362 | Torso supporting seating system A seating system providing front support and rear support for the human torso. The front support is by an anterior support device having two pads, which pads are laterally adjustable to fit the different spreads in the iliac crests of different persons. Preferably, ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7303202 | Apparatus for the transfer of linear human power to a rotating member An apparatus for the transfer of linear human power to a rotating member is disclosed, which is adaptable to exercise equipment, wheeled chairs, scooters, bicycles, tricycles, etc. The hands of the operator apply the power during the downward stroke of an up-and-dow... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7296811 | Wheelchair propulsion device This invention provides wheelchair propulsion devices that do not contact the axles of the wheels to which they are attached, that decrease the amount of force required to propel the wheelchair, and that can be easily installed. The devices toggle between sliding wi... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7293790 | Omni-directional toy vehicle The invention relates with the omni-directional toy vehicle that can move in all directions of forward, backward, rotational, left and right movement by driving manually the omni-directional wheels installed at the vehicle and combining their rotational directions. ... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7281724 | Wheeled work chair A wheel work chair has all the attributes and style of an office chair but is equipped with wheelchair-type supporting wheels The chair is height adjustable with the upper portion of the chair moving relative to the lower portion of the chair. Wheels connected to th... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7261309 | Wheelchair drive mechanism A wheelchair which shifts between forward and reverse by virtue of a roller mechanism which grabs in one direction and slips an opposite direction, thereby preventing binding. The shift mechanism is initiated by rotation of a shift paddle which is located on a extre... | 08/28/2007 |
| 6976698 | Manually operable standing wheelchair A manually operable standing wheelchair includes an actuator for moving an occupant from a sitting position to a standing position. The manually operable standing wheelchair has a lifting mechanism, including, for example, a ratchet, cable, pulley, and telescopic tu... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6942234 | Hand-powered vehicle A wheeled apparatus is provided that converts alternate back and forth longitudinal motion supplied by the arms of a user to a pair of members into rotary motion that is used to drive the apparatus forward. The members move in opposite direction pulling and releasin... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6932370 | Human-powered, ride-on vehicle A human-powered, ride-on vehicle, includes a main longitudinal frame member having a steering/drive mechanism mounted thereon for oscillating movement; a driven rear wheel having an axle, a rear sprocket operatively fixed to the rear wheel for coastable engagement t... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6916032 | Manually-propelled vehicle and related systems The invention provides a propulsion, braking and anti-rollback control assembly for use in manually propelled vehicles such as wheelchairs. In one embodiment, the invention provides a wheelchair with a control lever assembly and related force conveyance connecter th... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6893035 | Wheelchair drive mechanism A wheelchair which shifts between forward and reverse by virtue of a roller mechanism which grabs in one direction and slips an opposite direction, thereby preventing binding. The shift mechanism is initiated by rotation of a shift paddle which is located on a extre... | 05/17/2005 |
| 6889991 | Cam engaged, lever propelled wheelchair A drive for a wheelchair having two larger diameter drive wheels with axles, the drive with regard to each drive wheel, including inner and outer disks flanking the drive wheel and being in fixed rotational relation with the drive wheel about the axle, a lever havin... | 05/10/2005 |
| 6820885 | Wheelchair apparatus A wheelchair apparatus for permitting a user to sit in an upright position while operating a wheelchair. The wheelchair apparatus includes a chair member being designed for supporting the user. The chair member has a seat portion. The chair member has a frame portio... | 11/23/2004 |
| 6746034 | Wheelchair A wheelchair is disclosed that comprises a drive system that includes typically two input members carried for oscillatory movement on a frame of the wheelchair. A transmission is system disposed to mechanically interconnect each input member to a respective main gro... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6708997 | Hand-powered vehicle A wheeled apparatus is provided that converts alternate back and forth longitudinal motion supplied by the arms of a user to a pair of members into rotary motion that is used to drive the apparatus forward. The members drive special rack gears that include upper and... | 03/23/2004 |
| 6688623 | Human powered vehicle drive mechanism The present invention is a drive mechanism for human powered vehicles. In general, the invention is a unique drive mechanism for any human powered vehicle, such as a bicycle or a human powered boat. The mechanism enables the operator to efficiently apply ... | 02/10/2004 |
| 6676148 | Front wheel drive child riding toy vehicle A front wheel drive child riding toy vehicle including a vehicle body, a power handle rod, a front wheel set, a shaft bracket and a rear wheel set mainly aims to generate a linearly proceeding function through a forward and rearward sway of the power hand... | 01/13/2004 |
| 6672607 | Mini scooter A mini scooter includes a wheel member, a wheel support member, a steering rod, a steering rod support, a wheel cover plate, and a pedal. The wheel member includes a wheel with a transmission ring in the center, and a unidirectional rotary bearing, a pivo... | 01/06/2004 |
| 6585277 | Hand powered cart A hand powered cart uses a drive mechanism having a power lever operated by the operator's hands and arms, and is steerable by the operator's feet. The drive mechanism includes a closed drive chain that is given forward motion by a one-way freewheeling po... | 07/01/2003 |
| 6328325 | Teamwork and strength training apparatus A wheeled vehicle having plural wheels referenced to a frame. The vehicle includes plural seats. Human power applied through handles and the seats converts and balances a first oscillatory motion along a first axis into rotational motion, while simultaneo... | 12/11/2001 |
| 6325398 | Manually operated ergonomic wheelchair A manually operated ergonomic wheelchair comprises a pair of levers (10) which are pivotably mounted on said wheelchair and can be operated by the user by hand-grips (12) and/or pedals, so as to cause rotation of the wheels (3) of the wheelchair by a chai... | 12/04/2001 |
| 6247715 | Lever-operated wheelchair To produce a wheelchair with high forward-moving efficiency, incorporating a simple structured driving mechanism that is compact enough to be fitted between the wheel and the frame. Thanks to this driving mechanism, the wheelchair moves forward not only w... | 06/19/2001 |
| 6224078 | Steering arrangement for an occupant-propelled vehicle An occupant-propelled vehicle comprising a vehicle frame, a vehicle propulsion system with a movable force receiver, and a vehicle steering arrangement in one embodiment comprising a tilt-grip steering post, a steering drum, a steered wheel, a steered dru... | 05/01/2001 |
| 6206394 | Health exercise equipment propelled by simulated rowing motion An exercise apparatus to exercise the upper and lower body that is powered by a simulated rowing motion is described. The exercise apparatus includes a frame, front and rear wheels, a slide rail, a lever arm, a steering mechanism and a drive mechanism tha... | 03/27/2001 |
| 6179307 | Skateboarding vehicle A skateboarding vehicle including a rear wheel and a brake shoe, which are pivoted to the rear end of a deck board. The deck board is provided at the front end with two guide plates and an arresting wheel set which is disposed between the two guide plates... | 01/30/2001 |
| 6158757 | Motion conversion assembly and vehicle An occupant-propelled vehicle comprising a vehicle body and a first vehicle propulsion system that comprises a first drive wheel, a drum rotatably coupled to the vehicle frame and drivingly engaged with the drive wheel, a movable force receiver, an elonga... | 12/12/2000 |
| 6017046 | Wheelchair apparatus The invention comprises a drive system for use in association with a wheelchair. The drive system includes at least one input gear system, a structure for powering at least one input gear system, at least one transfer gear system, a positioning member, an... | 01/25/2000 |
| 6007082 | Wheelchair driver and braking system A wheelchair driver having a simple, efficient structure is mountable to a horizontal frame extension of a wheelchair between a wheel and the wheelchair's frame. The driver is mounted directly to a spindle sleeve fastened to the horizontal frame extension... | 12/28/1999 |
| 5997020 | Driving device The arm-driven vehicle has a drive mechanism comprising a driving member. A movable chain attachment is secured to the driving member and the chain attachment has spaced apart fork legs and a rod member extending therebetween. A movable arm has one end op... | 12/07/1999 |
| 5988661 | Drive assistance device for ordinary wheelchairs A drive assistance device is disclosed to assist the occupants of ordinary manual weelchairs to propel themselves. Rather than grasping the grip rings secured to the main wheels of the wheelchair the drive assist provides laterally positioned handles upon... | 11/23/1999 |
