BACKGROUND OF iNVENTION The invention relates to a bicycle apparatus, and more particularly to a bicycle apparatus that is transformable between a recumbent bicycle conformation and a conventional safety bicycle conformation. It is immediately appreciated that the invention allows the bicycle rider to choose between either conformation in order to access a variety of bicycle riding terrain that would be inaccessible by either a nontransformable safety bicycle or a nontransformable recumbent bicycle. Additionally, the invention allows the bicycle rider to choose between the invention\'s two conformations in order to choose a position that is more comfortable for the bicycle rider.

"Safety bicycle"is a term that denotes bicycles that allow the bicycle rider to ride the bicycle in an equestrian or upright position. Safety bicycles typically possess a structural frame commonly known as either a diamond frame or an"A-frame."Safety bicycles are commonly called road bicycles or touring bicycles. Safety bicycles also include the category of bicycles typically known as mountain bicycles or mountain bikes. Bicycle riders may ride safety bicycles over a variety of terrain conditions, including paved surfaces and unpaved trails through the woods or other natural areas. Safety bicycles often possess structural modifications that allow the bicycle rider to encounter a specific terrain condition. For example, safety bicycles modified for usage as a mountain bicycle often possess shock absorbing means, allowing the bicycle rider to comfortably navigate over uneven surfaces.

The pedals of a safety bicycle are usually located between the bicycle tires.

Recumbent bicycles are bicycles configured in such a way that the plane running through the recumbent bicycle rider\'s hips and feet is parallel with the plane of the ground.

Recumbent bicycles are well-known in the art. Recumbent bicycles are ideally suited for

level terrain conditions, and the recumbent bicycle rider may achieve significant speeds and travel for substantial distances by exerting considerably less physical effort than that which would be required if the bicycle rider were riding a safety bicycle over the same terrain. The pedals of the recumbent bicycle are usually located above the front tire of the bicycle.

Recumbent bicycles are difficult to ride over unpaved surfaces, over terrain with frequent changes in slope, or over the off-road terrain typically frequented by mountain bicycle riders.

The present invention addresses an unmet need for a bicycle apparatus that allows the bicycle rider to transform the physical conformation of a bicycle so that the bicycle rider can successfully and most efficiently ride over a variety of terrain than could be accomplished only by a recumbent bicycle or only by a safety bicycle. Additionally, the present invention allows the bicycle rider to choose either of the two conformations of the bicycle in order to best suit the bicycle rider\'s comfort needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a transformable bicycle apparatus that is transformable between a recumbent bicycle conformation and a conventional safety bicycle conformation.

An object of the invention is to provide a recumbent bicycle that is improved so that the bicycle rider can transform the conformation of the recumbent bicycle into a safety bicycle conformation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety bicycle that is improved so that the bicycle rider can transform the conformation of the safety bicycle into a recumbent bicycle conformation.

An advantage of the invention is that it allows the bicycle rider to efficiently and comfortably travel over a greater variety of terrain than would be possible with only a safety bicycle or only a recumbent bicycle.

Another advantage of the invention is that it allows the bicycle rider to choose between either a safety bicycle conformation or a recumbent bicycle conformation depending upon the comfort needs of the bicycle rider.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side view of the bicycle in the recumbent bicycle conformation.

Figure 2 is a side view of the bicycle in the safety bicycle conformation.

Figure 3 is a view of the components of the steering means.

Figure 4 is a left side view of the pedaling means and swinging crank arm assembly.

Figure 5 shows the means that secures the bicycle seat to the bicycle frame.

Figure 6 shows the pedal system for the bicycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention relates to a transformable bicycle apparatus, and more particularly to a bicycle apparatus that is transformable between a recumbent bicycle conformation and a conventional safety bicycle conformation.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus of the present invention 10 is centered about a skeletal bar frame generally indicated at 1. The frame comprises two crossbars 4,4\' that are connected at their ends and run together in a parallel manner. Although the two crossbars 4,4\'are connected at their ends, the crossbars do not touch together along their length, creating an aperture parallel to the length of the crossbars. A rearwardly descending bar 5 connects to the frontward-facing ends of the crossbars 4,4\'. The end of rearwardly descending bar 5 opposite crossbars 4,4\'connects to a dual-pronged fork 6. The portion of the fork 6 opposite the prongs connects to the rearwardly descending bar 5. The two prongs of fork 6 are adapted to receive rear tire 3. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is contemplated that rear tire 3 is a tire possessing a 26 inch diameter, but tires of other diameters could be utilized in the invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. A double-ended fork 7, each end of the fork terminating in two prongs, connects the two crossbars 4,4\'to the fork 6 adapted to connect to rear tire 3. The tips of each prong at one end of the double ended fork 7 connect to one of the prongs of the fork 6 in such a manner so as not to interfere with the operation and rotation of rear tire 3. The space between the prongs of fork 6 and the space between the attached prongs of double-

ended fork 7 will allow rear tire 3 to rotate in this space. The prongs at the end of double- ended fork 7 opposite to fork 6 connect to crossbars 4,4\'. The frontward facing end of the bar frame 1, at the area indicated by the convergence of rearwardly descending bar 5 and crossbars 4,4\', forms a hollow cylinder 8, the axis of which is substantially perpendicularly oriented to the ground and holds the steering means, generally indicated at 50 and pictured in detail in Figure 3. A threaded bar bolt 64 extends from the right side of cylinder 8 and from the left side of cylinder 8 such that the axis of each threaded bar bolt 64 is perpendicularly oriented to the axis of the frame 1 of bicycle 10.

With reference to Figures 1,2, and 5, the bicycle 10 includes an adjustable seat 11 for the bicycle rider. The bicycle seat system 11 includes a seat back 12 so that the bicycle rider may ride the bicycle 10 when it is transformed into the recumbent position. Adjustable seat 11 possesses any of the height adjustment means known in the art such that the height of the seat 11 may be raised or lowered depending upon the preferences of the bicycle rider and the conformation of the bicycle 10. The seat post 13 of the adjustable seat 11 passes through the open portions of the bicycle frame 1 created by the open areas of upward facing portion of double ended fork 7 and crossbars 4,4\'. Additionally, the distance of the adjustable seat 11 from the steering means 50 may be adjusted. The adjustable seat 11 slides through a bracket 14 attached to the seat post 13. A bolt 15 passes through a flat plate 16 underneath crossbars 4,4\', through bracket 14 and is held in place by a wing nut 17. By loosening the wing nut 17, the bicycle rider can slide the seat 11 rearwardly or forwardly depending upon his preferences or the conformation of the bicycle 10.

Two chain rollers 20,21 are attached to the right side of the bicycle 10 on the crossbars 4 of bicycle frame 1. The front chain roller 20 is located a few inches rearward of the threaded bar bolt 64. The rear chain roller 21 is located rearward of double-ended fork 7. A shifting gear means 22 is attached to the right side of the bicycle 10 along the rotating axis of the rear tire 3. The shifting gear means also includes a rear chain derailer 23.

Referring to Figure 3, the steering and means includes a handlebar 51 and attached neck portion 52. The attached neck portion 52 slides into a steering column pipe 53 with an enlarged end constructed to receive the attached neck portion 52. The neck portion 52 and

steering column pipe 53 are connected via an attachment means such as a screw attachment mechanism commonly known in the art. The steering column pipe 53 includes two apertures 54,55 drilled with parallel axes in the same plane as the handlebar 51 and extending through the diameter of the steering column pipe 53. The apertures 54,55 do not physically interfere with the enlarged end of the steering column pipe 53 constructed to receive the neck portion 52. The end of the steering column pipe 53 opposite the enlarged portion constructed to receive the neck portion 52 slides into a height adjustment locking pipe 56. The end of the locking pipe 56 that receives the steering column pipe 53 contains an aperture 57 that extends through the diameter of the locking pipe 56. The hollow pipe 53 and the locking pipe 56 may be attached by sliding the pipes such that one of the two apertures 54,55 of the steering column pipe 53 correspond with the aperture 57 of the locking pipe 56. A locking pin 68 inserted through the matched apertures then connects the steering column pipe 53 to the locking pipe 56.

The exterior end of locking pipe 56 opposite steering means is modified with screw grooves. The interior of the upward facing portion of cylinder 8 of bicycle frame 1 is modified with screw grooves so as to accept locking pipe 56. Locking pipe 56 and cylinder 8 are then attached by their corresponding screw means. The steering column pipe 53 is inserted through locking pipe 56 and cylinder 8, and the end of steering column pipe 53 then protrudes through the end of cylinder 8 facing the ground. The end of steering column pipe 53 pointing toward the ground is tapered into a smaller tube end 60. The smaller tube end 60 possesses an aperture 63 drilled through its diameter, the axis of which is in the same plane as handlebars 51. A front tire bicycle tire fork 58 possesses a projection 59 opposite the prongs of the fork 58 with an indentation adapted to accept the tapered end 60 of steering column pipe 53. The projection 59 possesses an aperture 61 drilled through its diameter, the axis of the aperture being in the same plane of the handlebars 51. By inserting the tapered tube end 60 of the steering column pipe 53 into the indentation of projection 59 of fork 58, the apertures 57,63 can be matched, and a locking pin 62 can be inserted into the matched apertures 57,63 to attach the fork 58 to the steering column pipe 53. A front tire 2 is attached to the prongs of fork 58 in any manner that is commonly known in the art. In the

preferred embodiment of the invention, it is envisioned that the front tire 2 would possess a 20-inch diameter. However, a front tire with a different diameter may also be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

A positioning bracket 70 allows the rider of the bicycle 10 to change the position the pedal system 71 shown in Figure 6. The substantially flat positioning bracket 70 comprises a straight length, with a shorter length perpendicularly branching from the longer length. The shorter length branches from the longer length at a location approximately one quarter of the length of the longer length. The longer length possesses a hole 72 drilled through the longer length of the positioning bracket 70 near the end closer to the shorter length. Two additional holes 73,74 are drilled through the longer length of the positioning bracket 70 at the end opposite hole 72. Holes 72,73, and 74 are drilled in a manner such that the holes form a straight line along the longer length of the positioning bracket 70. The shorter length of the positioning bracket 70 possesses two holes 75,76 which form a line perpendicular to the longer length. Hole 75 of positioning bracket 70 accepts threaded bar bolt 64 in such a manner such that the shorter length of the positioning bracket 70 points to the rearward of bicycle 10. Another positioning bracket 70 is similarly placed on the threaded bar bolt 64 on the opposite side of bicycle 10. Holes 73,74 on the positioning bracket 70 allow for the attachment of a pedal system 71 by nut and bolt means or other attachment means. The positioning bracket 70 facing the right side of the bicycle has attached to it a front derailer 78 that will be used for the chains of the bicycle 10.

A pair of substantially flat retaining brackets 77 allows for the attachment of the rearwardly descending bar 5 of the bicycle bar frame 1 to the threaded bar bolts 64 found on cylinder 8 of bicycle frame 1. The retaining brackets 77 are placed on the threaded bar bolts 64 after the placement of positioning brackets 77. On the right side of the bicycle 10, a washer 80, and then gear means 79 adapted to accept two bicycle chains is placed on the threaded bar bolt 64. Another washer 80 is then placed on the same threaded bar bolt 64, and the already attached brackets 70,77, washers 80, and gear means 79 are held securely to the bicycle 10 with a nut 81. On the left side of the bicycle 10, another nut 81 is used to securely

hold the two positioning brackets 70 attached to the threaded bar bolt 64 on the left side of the bicycle 10.

The positioning brackets 70 allow the bicycle 10 to assume a recumbent bicycle conformation (shown in Figure 1) or safety bicycle conformation (shown in Figure 2). A locking pin 83 is inserted through holes 72 of positioning brackets 70 so that the positioning brackets 70 position the pedal system 71 above front tire 2 of bicycle 10 so that the bicycle may assume a recumbent conformation. The locking pin 83 passes through a loop or cylinder attached to bicycle frame 1 so that the positioning brackets 70 remain immobile while the bicycle 10 is in operation. The transformation of the bicycle between the two conformations will be described later in the description.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the bicycle 10 utilizes two unending, looped chains 30, 31 to power the bicycle via the pedal system 71. The first chain 30 is connected to the shifting gear means 22, passes through the rear chain derailer 23, travels over the top portion of front chain roller 20, travels through gear means 79, travels over the top portion of rear chain roller 21, and then travels back down to shifting gear means 22. The second chain 31 travels around the gear of pedal system 71, through front chain derailer 78, and then around gear means 79, Gear means 79 is specially adapted to accommodate both bicycle chains 30, 31 so that the chains 30,31 do not physically interfere with one another while bicycle 10 is in operation.

Bicycle 10 also includes any one of the many types of braking means known in the art.

Figure 1 shows the bicycle 10 in the recumbent conformation. To transform the recumbent bicycle conformation into the safety bicycle conformation shown in Figure 2, the bicycle rider will perform the following steps. The rider will first disembark from the bicycle 10. The rider will then remove locking pins 68,62, separating the steering column pipe 53 from the height locking pipe 56, and also separating fork 58 from steering column pipe 53.

The bicycle rider then removes steering means 50 from the bicycle frame 1 or lifts the steering means 50 upward from bicycle frame 1 by pulling the steering column pipe 53 from the tube formed by the height adjustment locking pipe 56 and cylinder 8 so that the steering

means 50 does not interfere with the pedal system 71 when the bicycle rider changes the position of positioning brackets 70. The rider then removes locking pin 83, allowing the positioning brackets 70 to freely move and allow for positioning of the pedal system 71. The rider then rotates the positioning brackets 70 downward such that the pedal system 71 will be positioned between the bicycle tires 2,3 when the steering means 50 is reattached to the bicycle 10. The bicycle rider then inserts locking pin 83 through the hole 76 of both positioning brackets 70. The locking pin 83 simultaneously passes through a cylinder or loop attached to crossbars 4,4\', preventing the positioning brackets 70 from moving. The rider then reinserts steering column pipe 53 through the cylinder formed by height adjustment locking pipe 56 and cylinder 8. The tapered end 60 of steering column pipe 53 is matched with the projection 59 of fork 58. The rider matches apertures 61 and 63, and then reinserts locking pin 62, therefore reattaching fork 58 to steering column pipe 53. The bicycle rider then matches aperture 54 of steering column pipe 53 with aperture 57 of locking pipe 56 and inserts locking pin 68, therefore reattaching the steering column pipe 53 to the height adjustment locking pipe 56. The bicycle rider may then adjust the height and positioning of the bicycle seat 11. By loosening wing nut 17, the bicycle rider may freely move the bicycle seat 11 closer or further from the steering means 50. When the bicycle rider converts the bicycle 10 into the safety bicycle conformation, it is generally assumed that the bicycle rider will desire to move the seat 11 to a distance from the steering means 50 that will be most comfortable for operating the bicycle 10 in the safety bicycle conformation. The bicycle rider may then tighten wing nut 17 to re-secure the bicycle seat 11 to the bicycle frame 1. The bicycle rider may also adjust the height of bicycle seat 11. The rider has transformed the bicycle 10 from a recumbent bicycle into a safety bicycle. To transform the bicycle 10 from the safety bicycle conformation into the recumbent bicycle conformation shown in Figure 1, the bicycle rider will perform the following steps. The rider will first disembark from the bicycle 10. The rider will then remove locking pins 68,62, separating the steering column pipe 53 from the height locking pipe 56. and also separating fork 58 from steering column pipe 53. The bicycle rider then removes steering means 50 from the bicycle frame 1 or lifts the steering means 50 upward from bicycle frame 1 by pulling the steering column pipe 53

from the tube formed by the height adjustment locking pipe 56 and cylinder 8 so that the steering means 50 does not interfere with the pedal system 71 when the bicycle rider changes the position of positioning brackets 70. The rider then removes locking pin 83, allowing the positioning brackets 70 to freely move and allow for positioning of the pedal system 71. The rider then rotates the positioning brackets 70 toward the front of the bicycle 10 and upward such that the pedal system 71 is above the gear 79. The bicycle rider then inserts locking pin 83 through the hole 72 of both positioning brackets 70. The locking pin 83 simultaneously passes through a cylinder or loop attached to crossbars 4,4\', preventing the positioning brackets from moving. The rider then reinserts steering column pipe 53 through the cylinder formed by height adjustment locking pipe 56 and cylinder 8. The tapered end 60 of steering column pipe 53 is matched with the projection 59 of fork 58. The rider matches apertures 61 and 63, and then reinserts locking pin 62, therefore reattaching fork 58 to the steering column pipe 53. The bicycle rider then matches aperture 54 of steering column pipe with aperture 57 of locking pipe 56 and inserts locking pin 68, therefore reattaching the steering column pipe 53 to the height adjustment locking pipe 56. The bicycle rider may then adjust the height and positioning of the bicycle seat 11. By loosening wing nut 17, the bicycle rider may freely move the bicycle seat 11 closer or further from the steering means 50. When the bicycle rider converts the bicycle 10 into the recumbent bicycle conformation, it is generally assumed that the bicycle rider will desire to move the seat 11 to a distance from the steering means 50 that will be most comfortable for operating the bicycle 10 in the recumbent bicycle conformation. The bicycle rider may then tighten wing nut 17 to re-secure the bicycle seat 11 to the bicycle frame 1. The bicycle rider may also adjust the height of bicycle seat 11. The rider has transformed the bicycle 10 from a safety bicycle into a recumbent bicycle.

It is immediately appreciated that through the transformation process, changes occur to the position of the pedal system 71, the position of the seat 11 from the steering means 50, the height of handlebars 50, the angle of crossbars 4,4\'to the ground, the distance between front tire 2 and gear 79, and the height of seat 11. All of these changes allow the bicycle rider to readily transform the bicycle 10 from a recumbent bicycle to a safety bicycle or from a safety bicycle to a recumbent bicycle.

There are several other modifications that could be incorporated into the invention.

For example, the bicycle frame 1 could incorporate means to absorb shock created when the bicycle 10 travels over uneven terrain. A shock absorption means could be incorporated into the fork 58, or between the forks of double-ended fork 7. A shock absorption means could also be incorporated into the seat 11 of the bicycle 10.

It is also contemplated that the bicycle 10 could be transformable into more than two conformations. For example, the addition of additional holes to the positioning brackets 70 and steering column pipe 53 could allow the bicycle 10 to be transformed into a variety of other conformations.

Additionally, the sizes of tires 2,3 could also be changed. For example, tires possessing different treads, thicknesses, and diameters could also be incorporate into the design of bicycle 10. The types of tires typically used on mountain bicycles, the types of tires used on road bicycles, or some other intermediary design of tire could be used. It is also not necessary to use tires of different diameters ; front tire 2 could possess the same diameter as that of rear tire 3. The tires could possess any variety of characteristics that would allow for effective operation of the bicycle 10. The bicycle may also possess other intermediary conformations through the modification of positioning brackets 70 to include extra holes for locking pin 83. Additional holes may also be drilled into height locking pipe 56 so that the bicycle rider may adjust handle bars 51 to different heights other than the ones provided in the preferred embodiment.

It is therefore to be understood that while preferred forms and methods of the invention have been herein set forth and described, various modifications and changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts, composition of materials, and order of steps without departing from the scope of the present invention.