Bicycle with a pivotable rear wheel

Abstract

A two wheeled, rider propelled vehicle having both wheels pivotably mounted upon a medial principal frame. The pivotable rear wheel frame supports pedal mechanism propelling the rear wheel and may be steered by the feet of the user. Mechanical biasing means communicate between the pivotable rear wheel frame and main frame to bias motion and a latching mechanism allows fixed positioning of the two members. A vertically adjustable seat is fixedly carried by the principal frame and the forward portion of the vehicle provides a traditional manually steerable, pivotably mounted front wheel frame.

Having thusly described my invention, what I desire to protect by Letters Patent, and what I claim is: 
     
       1. A bicycle comprising: a rigid upright main frame having front and rear ends;   a saddle .[.fixidly.]. mounted to said main frame for support of a rider;   a front fork journalled .[.intermediate.]. .Iadd.at .Iaddend.its upper .[.and lower ends.]. .Iadd.end .Iaddend.about a first upright axis at the front end of the main frame, said front fork having a front wheel rotatably mounted to its lower end;   a handlebar assembly fixed to the upper end of said front fork;   a rear fork journalled at its upper end about a second upright axis at the rear end of the main frame, said rear fork having a rear wheel rotatably mounted to its lower end about a rear wheel axis;   a rigid pedal frame fixed to the rear fork and extending outwardly therefrom alongside said rear wheel;   foot-operated pedal means movably mounted to the outer end of said pedal frame, said pedal means being drivingly connected to said rear wheel for turning said rear wheel about said rear wheel axis;   said rear fork being free to move about said second upright axis independently of movement of said front fork about said first upright axis;   the angular position of the front fork relative to the main frame about said first upright axis being controllable by the hands of the rider through the handlebar assemblies;   the angular position of the rear fork relative to the main frame about said second upright axis being controllable by the feet of the rider through the pedal means and pedal frame independently of the angular position of the front fork about said first axis.   
     
     
       2. A bicycle as set out in claim 1, wherein said pedal frame is cantilevered forwardly from the rear fork in a substantially horizontal orientation. 
     
     
       3. A bicycle as set out in claim 1, wherein the second upright axis diverges downwardly and rearwardly from the vertical.