Design Notes for Low-Cost Bicycle-Powered Devices

Hello All - This posting looks at designing "Low-Cost Bicycle-Powered Devices". The topics in this posting might be helpful in providing basic survival needs, making into products to sell, or instructions for people to make devices themselves. Good Luck!

FYI - As a start, how about these Bicycle-Powered Devices patents. Please remember that newer patents are probably not expired, and therefore active. Patents that have expired due to age (generally more than 20 years old from the filing date) are free to use by anyone.
* Bicycle powered boatUS Pat. 3982495- Filed Jun 9, 1975
* Portable self-powered band sawUS Pat. 4641560- Filed Dec 9, 1985
* DEVICE FOR DRIVING EMERY-WHEELSUS Pat. 620893 - Filed May 14, 1898
* MANUALLY PROPELLED FARM TRACTOR DEVICEUS Pat. 2607613 - Filed Feb 18, 1950
* TRACTORUS Pat. 2230749 - Filed Aug 4, 1937
* BICYCLE-BOATUS Pat. 577269 - Filed Sep 4, 1896
* Aquatic device attachable to a two-wheeled vehicleUS Pat. 4170188 - Filed Jun 22, 1977
* Human powered vehicle drive mechanismUS Pat. 6688623 - Filed Jan 16, 2002
* Bicycle powered mowerUS Pat. 5222348 - Filed Oct 4, 1991
* Universal platform for human powered floatation devicesUS Pat. 6146218 - Filed Sep 8, 1998
* Self-tensioning pedal drive mechanism for a human powered boatUS Pat. 6712653 - Filed Jul 6, 2001
* Water system with a pedal powered reciprocating pumpUS Pat. 5772405 - Filed Apr 3, 1995
* Water system with both electric motor power and manual pedal power, for a ...US Pat. 6210125 - Filed May 11, 1998
* Human powered device with removable flywheel power unitUS Pat. 6983948 - Filed May 29, 2001
* POWER TAKE-OFF FROM BICYCLE CRANKUS Pat. 3910126 - Filed Jun 20, 1974
* Bicycle water pumpUS Pat. 4911339 - Filed Jul 13, 1988
* Bicycle based emergency battery charging systemUS Pat. 6717280 - Filed Feb 28, 2000
* Bicycle watercraft accessoryUS Pat. 6267631 - Filed Jun 29, 1999
* Pedal powered potter's wheelUS Pat. 4061460 - Filed Jul 6, 1976
* DENTAL LATHEUS Pat. 696713 - Filed Dec 18, 1901
* Apparatus and method for transporting cargo with a two-wheeled vehicleUS Pat. 6092820 - Filed Aug 12, 1998
* Tandem bicycle adapterUS Pat. 6612597 - Filed Sep 10, 2002
* Pedal operated power generating systemUS Pat. 6229224 - Filed May 13, 1999
* BICYCLE OPERATED GENERATORUS Pat. 3210634 - Filed Nov 24, 1961
* BICYCLE-PATH MAKERUS Pat. 628363 - Filed Jul 25, 1898
* BICYCLE-AMBULANCEUS Pat. 660769 - Filed Oct 31, 1899
* Portable, human-powered electrical energy sourceUS Pat. 7129592 - Filed Mar 2, 2005
* Bicycle power generating arrangementUS Pat. 6502842 - Filed Jan 30, 2001

To search for more Bicycle-Powered Devices patents, try the following.

In the Patent List above, look at the "Citations" and "Referenced by" of each of the patents that interest you the most. By doing this, you're essentially finding "more like this".
For a Worldwide search, go to esp@cenet.
1 - In the "International Patent Classification (IPC)" field, copy and paste in the following - b62
2 - In the "Keyword(s) in title or abstract" field, copy and paste in the following - bicycl* AND (powered OR waterpump* OR generator*)
3 - Press SEARCH. View your results.

In addition, here's some other information you might find interesting.
* PEDAL POWERED INNOVATIONS
* Pedal Power
* YouTube - Bicycle Powered Water Pump and Sand Filter
* The Wheel Deal a bicycle powered water pump
* MIT Faculty Newsletter (bicycle powered devices)
* Bicycle Ambulance: Details
* Bicycle Powered Water Pump
* WorldBike.org Bikes that Haul, for All
* Freight bicycle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
* Bicycles for Humanity.org
* Find your local library at Libweb and ask about Bicycle-Powered Devices.
* You could ask for help from an Engineering School. Find schools at All Engineering Schools.

So what can you do with all this information? Here's some suggestions.
+ You could make and sell the device described in the expired patent. Please note that just because something is patented or written, it might not work all that well or might not be safe in today's standards. Use your own judgment, or seek help, to stay safe and out of trouble.
+ You could "translate" the expired patent into easy-to-understand instructions for others to make the device. These instructions could use easy-to-find materials, like trees, plants, rocks, people, scrap materials, etc.
+ You could recruit the inventors or authors to help you, since they are experts in their field. Some of the inventors of older patents might be retired now and might be looking for something to do.
+ Existing manufacturers of Bicycle-Powered Devices could use this information to make their already fine products even better, more efficient, or less expensive.
+ Build on the work of others. Maybe, use patent images instead of starting with a blank sheet of paper. Computer model other's designs and make the designs better or cheaper or simpler. You don't have to "reinvent the wheel" . Design around active patents.
+ You could use the information to brainstorm new ideas.

Here's some brainstorming ticklers to help you launch in new directions around the topic of Bicycle-Powered Devices.
* Bicycle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


That's about all for now. As background, the site "Design for the Other 90%" said to "GET INVOLVED", so I did. I plan to continue posting these LOW-COST DESIGN TOPICS on my Blog for a while yet. Let me know if you have a topic you would like covered. I'm open to suggestions on improving my blog format, too. Please e-mail me directly.. I hope you find this helpful. I'm sure you can do much better though! Good Luck!

For more of my LOW COST DESIGN TOPICS - Click on the tag below "design for the other 90%".See disclaimers on TG Ideas LLC publications and website - http://www.athenet.net/~ideas/, Thanks!