Human powered generator

1. A device for harvesting a back and forth linear kinetic energy and converting it to a rotational kinetic energy, the device comprising:

a belt having a first belt end and a second belt end;

a pilot gear having an axle, wherein the pilot gear is configured to engage a central portion of the belt and the axle is configured to be rotatably accepted within a slot;

a left gear;

a right gear; and

a transmission mechanism which provides unidirectional rotation of the left gear and the right gear independent of the motion of the belt and the pilot gear,

wherein movement of the belt to the left or right moves the pilot gear to the left or right within the slot so that the pilot gear becomes engaged alternatively with the left gear or the right gear.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least two pulleys which engage the belt and maintain an orientation of the belt parallel to a longitudinal axis of the slot.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transmission mechanism comprises:

a second left gear configured to engage the left gear; and

a second right gear configured to engage the right gear,

wherein the second left gear engages the second right gear and rotation of the left gear and the right gear is in opposite directions.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a flywheel for storing the rotational kinetic energy generated the left gear, the right gear, the transmission mechanism, or any combination thereof.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an electrodynamic generator for converting the rotational kinetic energy to an electrical energy.

6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an energy storage means.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the energy storage means is comprised of rechargeable batteries.

8. A device for harvesting biomechanical energy, the device comprising:

a belt having a first belt end and a second belt end; and

a housing configured to be worn on a body of a human user, the housing comprising:

a pilot gear having an axle, wherein the pilot gear is configured to engage a central portion of the belt and the axle is configured to be rotatably accepted within a slot;

a left gear;

a right gear; and

a transmission mechanism which provides unidirectional rotation of the left gear and the right gear independent of the motion of the belt and the pilot gear,

wherein movement of the belt to the left or right moves the pilot gear to the left or right within the slot so that the pilot gear becomes engaged alternatively with the left gear or the right gear,

wherein the linear back and forth movement of a user's legs or arms move the belt to the left or the right.

9. The device of claim 8 , further comprising:

at least two pulleys which engage the belt and maintain an orientation of the belt parallel to a longitudinal axis of the slot.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the transmission mechanism comprises:

a second left gear configured to engage the left gear; and

a second right gear configured to engage the right gear,

wherein the second left gear engages the second right gear and rotation of the left gear and the right gear is in opposite directions.

11. The device of claim 8 , further comprising:

a flywheel for storing the rotational kinetic energy generated by the left gear, the right gear, the transmission mechanism, or any combination thereof.

12. The device of claim 8 , further comprising:

an electrodynamic generator for converting the rotational kinetic energy to an electrical energy.

13. The device of claim 8 , further comprising:

an energy storage means.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the energy storage means is comprised of rechargeable batteries.

15. The device of claim 8 , wherein the device is supported at a location on the front of the user's body.

16. The device of claim 8 , wherein the housing is supported at a location on the front of the user's body by a band attached at the waist.

17. The device of claim 8 , wherein the first belt end is attached to a lower part of a thigh above a first knee and the second belt end is attached to a lower part of a thigh above a second knee.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the housing is supported about the waist of the user at a position forward from a point of rotation of the hip such that, when the user takes a step forward, the belt moves to the left or right resulting in an unequal belt length between (a) the first end of the belt and the pilot gear, and (b) the second end of the belt and the pilot gear.

19. A method for converting a back and forth movement of human legs to electrical energy, the method comprising:

attaching a belt of a human powered generator device to the legs of a user, wherein a first belt end is attached about a first leg and a second belt end is attached about a second leg;

attaching a housing portion of the human powered generator device about a midsection of the user, wherein the housing comprises:

a pilot gear having an axle, wherein the pilot gear is configured to engage a central portion of the belt and the axle is configured to be rotatably accepted within a slot;

a left gear;

a right gear; and

a transmission mechanism which provides unidirectional rotation of the left gear and the right gear independent of the motion of the belt and the pilot gear,

wherein movement of the belt to the left or right moves the pilot gear to the left or right within the slot so that the pilot gear becomes engaged alternatively with the left gear or the right gear; and

walking in a forward direction so that a linear back and forth movement of the user's legs moves the belt to the left or the right.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the housing is supported about the waist of the user at a position forward from a point of rotation of the hip such that, when the user takes a step forward, the belt moves to the left or right resulting in an unequal belt length between (a) the first end of the belt and the pilot gear, and (b) the second end of the belt and the pilot gear.