I think that all of these anonymous inventors may have simply missed the point by removing the drive system from what it should be turning directly - the wheels against the ground. It would be like using a propeller to move a locomotive; possible, but not efficient. Also, cumbersome in a world peopled with... well... "people" - and of course any other objects which could be struck by a propeller extending out to each side of the bike.
In 1977 Paul B. MacCready [he died just a couple weeks ago, age 81] developed the pedal powered, propeller driven Gossamer Condor for the first successful human powered flight, and two years later in 1979 his Gossamer Albatross crossed the English Channel. The propeller better serves movement through the air - unimpeded by wheels and ground resistance, and unobstructed by terrestrial clutter.
There have also been pedal driven pontoon boats for many decades. Floating chairs or benches powered by pedal driven paddle wheels were cruising around on Adirondack lakes when I was a child (1950s). More recently, I've seen boat-propeller pontoon boats in use too. But, whatever the purpose, with successful designs, the engine (your legs) always was directed to the most effective use: moving air for flight, displacing water for boats and simply turning wheels on the ground.
Today we are blessed with the successes of the past golden ages of bicycle inventiveness... and the knowledge gained from any failures. Personally, I think the pedal driven device in the following photo shows a great blending of 19th, 20th and 21st century technologies:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/
Now, if I could only integrate something like this onto a touring bike... perhaps fitted with a stable, drop-down, rear wheel stand... or perhaps a touring trike... or a recumbent trike... or...
A cyclists imagination knows no bounds.
BOB HANSON, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, USA
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