Human Engine - US Patent 7770908, Issued August 10, 2010

Human Engine - US Patent 7770908

Issued August 10, 2010

"A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved human-powered engine which is actuated by forward and rearward movement of the body to cause extension of a resilient member which serves to provide driving motion to a wheel,propeller or the like."

".....is simple and easy to use, even for people with physical handicaps, yet which can serve to propel virtually anytype of vehicle, such as cars, bicycles, boats or airplanes."

"In use, the rider drives the seat support 22 rearward, by pushing with his legs against the peddles 58 or by pushing with his arms against the handlebars 60 or both. The rearward movement of the seat support 22 carries the pivot bar 18 rearward,which serves to expand the spring 54. When the seat support 22 reaches its rearmost position, the rider ceases pushing, whereupon the spring 54 serves to pull the pivot bar 18 and seat support 22 forward. This causes bicycle chain 26 to rotate sprocket32 counterclockwise, which drives chain 50, sprocket 52 and rear wheel 16 to propel the bicycle 10. As is well known in multi-speed bicycles, the sprockets 32 and 52 may contain gearing so that a single movement of the seat support 22 may result in manyrotations of the wheel 16. If desired, a bicycle chain 62 may connect the peddle sprocket 20 with sprocket 52 through derailer 63 to provide additional driving power for the rear wheel 16."