CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE DRIVETRAIN
Drivetrains and frames for vehicles, equipment, machines, etc. Some embodiments of the drivetrains and frames are particularly suited for human powered machines, such as bicycles and exercise equipment. In some embodiments, a drivetrain includes a reciprocating crank coupled to a crank pivot. A lever couples to the crank via a lever pivot positioned on the crank. A lever stop cooperates with a lever guide surface to guide a motion of the lever as the lever pivots about the lever pivot. The lever and/or the crank are operably coupled to a drive pulley, idler pulley, and/or compound pulley. In some embodiments, a drive cable operably couples the lever and/or the crank to the drive pulley, idler pulley, and/or the compound pulley. In one embodiment, one or more pulleys couple to the lever's distal ends. In some embodiments, the drivetrain includes a wheel hub adapted to receive torque from the crank via a drive pulley.
1 . A chest support for a vehicle or exercise equipment to facilitate a user laying in a prone position and pressing foot pedals in a reciprocating motion, the chest support comprising:
a support;
a firm support structure attached to the support; and
a support clamp coupled to the firm support structure, the support clamp configured to allow a position adjustment of the support structure.
2 . The chest support of claim 1 , wherein the support comprises depressions adapted to accommodate the female anatomy of a person.
3 . The chest support of claim 1 , wherein the support comprises an inflatable cushion.
4 . The chest support of claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a foam cushion.
5 . The chest support of claim 1 , wherein the support clamp is configured to facilitate a coupling of the firm support structure to a support tube.
6 . The chest support of claim 5 , wherein the support clamp is configured to allow a tilting of the chest support relative to the support tube.
7 . The chest support of claim 1 , wherein the support clamp comprises protrusion having holes for receiving bolts.
8 . A crank for facilitating a reciprocating input of force into a drive, the crank comprising:
a first end having a crank pivot;
a first section comprising a generally straight body;
a second end adapted to support a foot pedal;
a second section, extending from the first section to the second end, wherein the second section comprises a curved portion; and
a crank pulley connector adapted to facilitate the attachment of a pulley to the crank.
9 . The crank of claim 8 , wherein the second section curves relative to the first section by an angle of 10 to 90 degrees.
10 . The crank of claim 8 , wherein the second section curve relative to the first section by an angle of 70-90 degrees.
11 . The crank of claim 8 , claim 9 , or claim 10 , further comprising at least one clamp mount.
12 . A lever for use in a drivetrain, the lever comprising:
a lever pivot end configured to provide a pivot point for the lever; and
a guide surface configured to facilitate guiding of a motion of the lever.
13 . The lever of claim 12 , wherein the guide surface comprises a curved surface.
14 . The lever of claim 13 , wherein the guide surface comprises a substantially elliptical surface.
15 . The lever of claim 14 , wherein the lever pivot end comprises a generally straight portion.
16 . The lever of claim 12 , wherein the lever pivot end comprises at least one pulley attachment coupling.
17 . The lever of claim 16 , further comprising a first pulley attachment coupling located on one end of the lever in the vicinity of the guide surface.
18 . The lever of claim 12 , further comprising a lever hook located on the lever.
19 . The lever of claim 18 , wherein the lever hook is located on one end of the guide surface of the lever.
20 . The lever of claim 17 , further comprising a second pulley attachment coupling located at a distal point from the first pulley attachment coupling, and wherein a pivot point of the lever is located between the first and second pulley attachment couplings.