James David Sharp

US Patent:

63187450, Nov 20, 2001

Filed:

Sep 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/676206

Inventors:

James Virgil Sharp - Raleigh NC

International Classification:

B62H 112

US Classification:

280303

Abstract:

An improved adjustable training wheel apparatus for attachment to a bicycle as a stabilizing aid to developing balancing skills when first learning to ride a bicycle, and allowing the bicycle body to lean in either direction while being ridden, includes a hinged frame on each side of the rear wheel axle that is rectangular in shape while the bicycle is upright, but forms a parallelogram when the bicycle leans in either direction, each side of the frame connected to an adjacent side by a hinge, one side of each frame attached to the rear bicycle wheel, and the opposite parallel side supporting an auxiliary wheel. A chain or cable working in concert with a tension spring attached to the outside upper and inside lower frame corners to halt the bicycle lean in a turn and increase the restoring forces on the bicycle when in a turn, while the spring on the other frame maintains the auxiliary wheel in contact with the ground. The training wheel apparatus allows a restricted range of adjustably dampened axial movement thereby providing more realistic training. As the axial dampening forces are reduced they more closely approximating the actual degree of balancing necessary to ride the bicycle without the training wheel apparatus.