Four Bar Drive Link Simulator

Abstract

This invention relates to a mechanical fixture which simulates a four bar link drive system for pedal driven scooters and bicycles and the resulting drive system. A four bar drive link system simulator has a frame assembly, a proximal hinge attachment bracket, a bottom bracket simulator, a pair of crank levers, a pair of coupling levers and a pair of pedal levers. The frame assembly has a plurality of guide rails, including at least a proximal hinge adjustment rail, and a frame rail. The proximal hinge attachment bracket is connected to the proximal hinge adjustment rail. The bottom bracket simulator is attached or otherwise connected to the frame simulator rail.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A four bar drive link system comprising:
 a frame assembly, the frame assembly having a plurality of guide rails, including at least a proximal hinge adjustment rail, and a frame simulator rail;   a proximal hinge attachment bracket connected to the proximal hinge adjustment rail;   a bottom bracket simulator attached or otherwise connected to the frame simulator rail;   a pair of crank levers, each being attached at a first end to an axle having an axis of rotation in the bottom bracket assembly;   a pair of coupling levers each attached to an opposite second end of the crank lever wherein each coupling lever includes a post opening;   a pair of pedal levers each having a post wherein each post of each pedal lever is pivotally attached to its respective post opening and to an axle having an axis of rotation in the proximal hinge attachment bracket; and   wherein the relative dimensions between the axis of rotation of proximal hinge and axis of rotation of the bottom bracket are adjustable by movement along the proximal hinge guide rail or the frame simulator guide rail or a combination of both.   
     
     
         2 . The four bar drive link system of  claim 1  wherein the pair of pedal levers each has an adjustable coupling attachment bracket, movement of the adjustment bracket changes the dimensional distance between axis of rotation of the proximal hinge and the pivotal attachment end of the coupling lever. 
     
     
         3 . The four bar drive link system of  claim 1  wherein the pedal levers each have a pedal lever angularly adjustable to change the pedal bend angle. 
     
     
         4 . The four bar drive link system of  claim 2  further comprising: a second bottom bracket simulator slidably mounted onto the frame simulator guide rail, the second bottom bracket simulator having an axle to which a pair of sprockets can be attached. 
     
     
         5 . The four bar drive link system of  claim 4  wherein the frame assembly further comprises a rear lateral guide rail onto which an adjustable rear wheel mounting assembly for attaching a rear wheel sprocket and axle assembly is affixed wherein chain alignment of the vehicle can be simulated and adjusted by lateral movement. 
     
     
         6 . The four bar drive link system of  claim 1  wherein the crank lever has a moveably adjustable coupling attachment to change the crank lever length between the axis of rotation of the bottom bracket and the coupling lever attachment. 
     
     
         7 . The four bar drive link system of  claim 6  wherein the crank lever is a spider lever for attachment onto a drive sprocket and the spider lever has the adjustable coupling attachment. 
     
     
         8 . The four bar drive link system of  claim 1  wherein the coupling lever has a movably adjustable pedal attachment for changing the coupling lever length between the crank lever attachment and the pedal attachment. 
     
     
         9 . A pedal lever assembly for use with a four bar drive link system comprising:
 a forward portion included in said pedal assembly rotatably attached to a frame;   a post attached to said pedal assembly for being received in a post opening defined in a coupling lever so that said pedal assembly is pivotally attached to said coupling lever wherein said post is orthogonal in relation to the plane of movement of the pedal assembly;   a crank lever rotatably attached to said coupling lever; and,   a drive sprocket attached to said crank lever.   
     
     
         10 . The pedal lever assembly of  claim 9  including a moveably adjustable coupling attachment carried by said crank lever for adjusting the position of the post opening along the length of the crank lever. 
     
     
         11 . The pedal lever assembly of  claim 9  wherein said crank lever is a spider lever for attachment onto said drive sprocket and the spider lever has said adjustable coupling attachment. 
     
     
         12 . The pedal lever assembly of  claim 9  wherein said post is attached to a movably adjustable pedal attachment for changing position of the post along the pedal lever. 
     
     
         13 . The coupling lever of  claim 9  wherein said pedal lever has a pedal lever angularly adjustable to change the pedal bend angle. 
     
     
         14 . A pedal assembly for us with a four bar drive system comprising:
 a front portion block;   a front portion adjustment rod slidably attached to said front portion block; and,   a rear portion block attached to said front portion adjustment rod so that the distance between the front portion block and the rear portion block can be modified.   
     
     
         15 . The pedal assembly of  claim 14  including:
 a coupling lever having a front coupling block rotatably attached to said front portion rear block; 
 coupling rods slidably attached to said front coupling block; and, 
 a rear coupling block attached to said coupling rods so that the distance between the front coupling block and the rear coupling block can be modified. 
 
     
     
         16 . The pedal assembly of  claim 15  including:
 a crank lever having a front crank block rotatable attached to said rear coupling block; 
 a crank rod slidably attached to said front crank block; and, 
 a rear crank block attached to said crank rod so that the distance between the front crank block and the rear crank block can be modified. 
 
     
     
         17 . The pedal assembly of  claim 14  including an opening in said forward portion rear block for receiving a pedal lever. 
     
     
         18 . The pedal assembly of  claim 14  including a plurality of opening defined in said forward portion rear block each having different angles of incident so that when a pedal lever is inserted in said opening, the pedal angle is unique to each opening. 
     
     
         19 . The pedal assembly of  claim 19  including a plurality of opening defined in said forward portion disposed along the forward portion rear block so that when a pedal lever is inserted in said opening, the pedal angle is unique to each opening. 
     
     
         20 . The pedal assembly of  claim 14  including a post orthogonally attached to said forward portion rear block.