U.S. patent application number 09/792042 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-01 for leisure equipment with wheeled vehicle.
Invention is credited to Schweizer, Jochen.
Application Number | 20010036867 09/792042 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7632240 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010036867 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schweizer, Jochen |
November 1, 2001 |
Leisure equipment with wheeled vehicle
Abstract
Leisure equipment is disclosed which permits an experience of
fully controlled loop-the-loop rotary motion with a wheeled
vehicle. The leisure equipment comprises a frame structure with a
trough-shaped wheel track, an axis of rotation and at least one
rotating arm with one wheeled vehicle each. The trough-shaped wheel
track is curved so as to form a closed contour. The axis of
rotation is contained within this contour. At least one rotating
arm is rotatably supported on this axis of rotation. At the
rotating arm a wheeled vehicle is fastened which is adapted to be
guided in the wheel track. The wheeled vehicle is pressed into the
wheel track by a pressing device acting on the rotating arm. In
this way a contact of wheel track and wheeled vehicle exists in
every point of the wheel track. With the wheeled vehicle of the
leisure equipment, a rider can perform loop-the-loop rotary motions
or revolutions during which he retains full command of the motion
at all times.
Inventors: |
Schweizer, Jochen; (Munchen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C.
624 NINTH STREET, NW
SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-5303
US
|
Family ID: |
7632240 |
Appl. No.: |
09/792042 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
472/21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63J 9/00 20130101; A63G
9/08 20130101; A63G 1/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
472/21 |
International
Class: |
A63G 001/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 24, 2000 |
DE |
100 08 655.1-15 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Leisure equipment having a frame structure, comprising: a
trough-shaped wheel track (110, 120) curved so as to form a closed
contour, an axis of rotation (210) supported within the contour of
the wheel track, at least one rotating arm (200) supported
rotatably on the axis of rotation (210), and at least one wheeled
vehicle (300) fastened at one end of the rotating arm (200) and
adapted to be guided in the wheel track, wherein a pressing device
(320, 330) acting on the wheeled vehicle (300) is provided which
presses the wheeled vehicle (300) into the wheel track (110,
120).
2. Leisure equipment according to claim 1 where the pressing device
has a pneumatic spring (320, 330).
3. Leisure equipment according to claim 1 where the pressing device
has a helical spring.
4. Leisure equipment according to claim 1 where the pressing device
has a leaf spring.
5. Leisure equipment according to one of the preceding claims where
the contour of the wheel track (110, 120) is circular and the axis
of rotation (210) is situated in the center of the circle.
6. Leisure equipment according to one of the preceding claims where
the wheeled vehicle (300) is detachably connected with the rotating
arm (200).
7. Leisure equpiment according to one of the preceding claims where
the wheeled vehicle (300) is solidly connected with the rotating
arm (200).
8. Leisure equipment according to one of the preceding claims where
at the free end of the rotating arm (200) opposite to the wheeled
vehicle (300) at least one weight can be fastened (at 270), and the
position of the weight along the rotating arm (200) is
adjustable.
9. Leisure equipment according to one of the preceding claims where
the wheeled vehicle (300) has a bicycle.
10. Leisure equipment according to claim 9 where a free wheel is
provided both forward and backward when the pedals are not
treaded.
11. Leisure equipment according to claim 9 where the bicycle has a
saddle (340) adjustable in its height.
12. Leisure equipment according to one of the preceding claims
where the rotating arm (200) can be decelerated by a braking system
operable from outside.
13. Leisure equipment according to claim 12 where a disk break is
used as the braking system in the axis of rotation (210).
14. Leisure equipment according to claim 12 where a drum brake is
used as the braking system in the axis of rotation (210).
15. Leisure equipment according to one of the preceding claims
where appropriate harness to secure the rider is attached to the
rotating arm (200).
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention concerns leisure equipment according
to the preamble of claim 1.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Wheeled vehicles are known in the prior art in most diverse
embodiments. They have in common that they permit almost
exclusively rides on a horizontal or inclined ground. However, from
WO 96/15019 and from EP 0 856 460 A1, two embodiments of wheeled
vehicles or bicycles are known which permit a ride in a vertical
direction. Their propulsion may occur by purely muscular activity
or also with an engine. A rotary motion is not possible with these
embodiments.
[0003] From the prior art a variety of embodiments of pendulums are
also known. Probably the most well-known ones are a children's
swing and a boat swing commonly erected in fairgrounds. In this
case rotations of the pendulum are possible. Prior to overturning,
pendular movements usually are required. These pendular movements
are characterized, on one hand by a continuous alternation between
the kinetic and potential energy of the pendular system, and on the
other hand by the change in direction of the movement. A change in
direction occurs at the point where all of the mechanical energy is
concentrated in the form of potential energy, and thus no kinetic
energy is left. Through an appropriate displacement of the center
of gravity during the individual phases of the oscillation, both
the amplitude of the oscillation and the mechanical energy of the
pendulum can be raised. A complete revolution but no change in
direction will occur when the mechanical energy is higher than the
largest attainable potential energy (at the highest point of the
trajectory of rotation). The motion has changed from an oscillation
to a rotation.
[0004] It is the task of the present invention to specify leisure
equipment for rotary motions with a wheeled vehicle where the
wheeled vehicle can be closely held against the wheel track, which
causes the rotary motion to become more uniform and the rider is
enabled to execute self-controlled rotary motions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This task is accomplished according to the invention by
leisure equipment according to claim 1. The contact force presses
the wheeled vehicle against the wheel track so as to secure
sufficient contact of the wheeled vehicle in the wheel track. In
this way a driving force can be generated at all times which
results in a reliable forward motion of the wheeled vehicle. In
this way the user has full command of the rotary motion at all
times.
[0006] The preferred pressing device is a pneumatic spring, which
produces the required contact force in the simplest and most
elegant way. However, any other technical spring can also be used
as an alternative.
[0007] The preferred contour of the wheel track is a circle having
the axis of rotation in its center. For a displaced axis of
rotation or for another contour the distance between the axis of
rotation and the wheel track is not the same everywhere. The spring
excursion of the pressing device must then be at least as large as
the difference between the minimum and maximum distance between the
axis of rotation and the wheel track. A constant contact pressure
is no longer guaranteed when the spring excursion is smaller, since
the contact between the wheeled vehicle and the wheel track will be
partly interrupted.
[0008] It is preferred that the wheeled vehicle be detachably
fastened at the rotating arm. The wheeled vehicle can then easily
be exchanged with another one. As an alternative, the wheeled
vehicle can be solidly attached to the rotating arm, but then an
exchange of the wheeled vehicle is difficult or entirely impossible
without demounting the rotating arm.
[0009] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, at
least one weight can be attached to the end of the rotating arm
opposite to the wheeled vehicle. The rotating arm can be brought
into a state of equilibrium with this additional weight. The
condition for the equilibrium state follows from the law of lever
action. The product of weight and distance of the weight from the
axis of rotation must be the same at both ends of the rotating arm
in order to attain this equilibrium state. With the rotating arm in
an equilibrium state, the rider is only required to expend muscular
activity for the rotary motion. He need not expend work against the
force of his own weight due to gravitation. The exact position of
the weight on the rotating arm can be adjusted so as to account
individually for the rider's weight. The degree of difficulty can
also be adjusted by varying the position and size of the
weight.
[0010] It is preferred to use a bicycle as the wheeled vehicle. The
muscular activity that is needed is readily produced by the rider
on a bicycle with pedal drive, and many people master a
bicycle.
[0011] In the pedal drive preferably applied in this invention,
free wheel both forward and backward is envisaged when the pedal
drive is at rest. In this point the pedal drive deviates from
traditional pedal drives for bicycles. Ordinarily a free wheel is
envisaged in two situations for bicycles. In the prior art, free
wheel occurs, firstly when back-pedaling, and secondly when not
pedaling while the bicycle is moving in the forward direction.
However, in backward motion the pedals also turn backward. In the
pedal drive preferred in this invention, a force-locking
transmission of the rider's muscular activity to a motion is only
envisaged in forward motion and forward actuation of the pedal
drive. Thus, when rolling backward there is no impairment for the
rider by the pedal drive.
[0012] It is further preferred that the bicycle has a saddle
adjustable in its height. In this way the bicycle can be adjusted
individually to the rider or body size of the rider. Also, the
bicycle pedals are detachably mounted on the crank mechanism of the
pedal drive in order to give the rider a choice of pedal makes, for
instance with straps or of the plug-in type.
[0013] It is preferred in this embodiment of the invention to
provide an emergency brake or emergency brake system. This
emergency brake is actuated from outside in this case. The brake
system is located on the axis of rotation and exerts its braking
action on the rotating arm. It is preferred in this embodiment to
employ a drum brake. A preferred alternative in this invention is a
disk brake.
[0014] Appropriate harness which can be secured at the rotating arm
is provided in a preferred embodiment. The harness serves to secure
the rider against dropping out and down during the ride. The
harness system can be adjusted individually to the particular
rider.
[0015] It is preferred that the leisure equipment contains a data
acquisition device. Measurable data are those concerning the
revolutions per minute, the velocity, the acceleration (G forces),
the performance and the pulse of the rider. The data can be
acquired individually or in combination. Objectively measurable
values can be communicated to the user. The objectively measured
data can also be used as a basis for a sports competition organized
with leisure equipment of this invention.
[0016] Additionally, a lining of the wheel track is preferred in
this embodiment. In this way the rolling friction resistance of the
wheels in the wheel track can be raised and a slipping of the
wheels in the wheel track can be additionally impeded. The rolling
friction resistance becomes even larger when the lining in addition
has a structure.
[0017] Preferably, it is possible to partly disassemble and
collapse the complete leisure equipment for transport and for
storage between different uses.
[0018] The preferred mode of erection of the leisure equipment is
on a motor vehicle trailer. The leisure equipment is then
detachably mounted on the trailer. Thus, the leisure equipment can
be taken from the trailer so that the latter is free for other uses
or can be inspected in a motor vehicle examination.
[0019] Further advantages, features and possible applications of
the present invention become apparent from the drawing and
subsequent detailed description of an embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic lateral view of the leisure equipment
according to the invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the rotating arm
according to the invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic lateral view of the rotating arm with
a bicycle fastened to it, according to the invention.
[0023] FIG. 4a is a schematic lateral view of a part of the frame
structure.
[0024] FIG. 4b is a schematic front view of the part of FIG.
4a.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic lateral view of leisure equipment
according to the invention. In the preferred embodiment the leisure
equipment is detachably mounted on a motor vehicle trailer 190. As
a basic structure, the leisure equipment has a tubular steel frame
consisting of main struts 130, vertical frame struts 140 and
horizontal tame struts 150. The main struts 130 are fastened to the
loading area of the motor vehicle trailer 190. The overall
dimensions of the tubular steel structure of the main struts 130
occupy almost all of the loading area, and the main struts 130
support the entire leisure equipment. At the front and rear part of
the main struts 130, vertical frame struts 140 are fastened so as
to rise perpendicularly upward, while at their upper end the
horizontal frame struts 150 are fastened. Seen from the side, the
main struts 130, the vertical frame struts 140 and the horizontal
frame struts 150 yield the contours of a rectangle. A telescopic
tower consisting of a lower telescopic tower 410 and an upper
telescopic tower 420 and explained in more detail in FIGS. 4a/4b is
centrally mounted on the main struts 130. The horizontal frame
struts 150 are also connected with the upper zone of the lower
telescopic tower 410. One wheel track each is located on either
side of the telescopic tower. The lower wheel track 110 is sitting
as a semicircle opening upward on the main struts 130. The two free
ends of the semicircle of the lower wheel track 110 are fixed to
the frame structure consisting of vertical and horizontal frame
struts 140 and 150. The telescopic tower is maximally extended in
FIG. 1, and the upper wheel track 120 is displaceably fastened at
the upper zone of the upper telescopic tower 420. The upper wheel
track 120 forms a semicircle opening downward. The free ends of the
upper wheel track 120 and the free ends of the lower wheel track
110 are connected with each other in such a way that together they
form a full circle. The two half wheel tracks 110 and 120 each
consist of two steel tubes curved in like manner, and between these
two steel tubes there is a wheel track made of aluminum the edges
of which are welded to the steel tubes. For better static and
rolling friction, the intermediate aluminum part is laminated with
grip tape known from the coating of skateboard surfaces. At the
upper wheel track 120, diagonal struts 180 are fastened in the
center of both the front and rear quarter circle; their other ends
are fastened to the upper part of the lower telescopic tower 410.
The diagonal struts 180 serve to raise the lateral stability of the
upper wheel track 120. From the upper zone of the lower telescopic
tower 410, safety struts 170 go beyond the dimensions of the motor
vehicle trailer to all four corners of the basal surface on the
ground. The four safety struts 170 support the entire leisure
equipment from all four directions and carry the entire weight of
the leisure equipment, so that the axles of the motor vehicle
trailer 190 are not loaded when the leisure equipment is used.
Support struts 160 are mounted for greater stability between the
safety struts 170 and the main struts 130. Two pivotal hubs 460 are
located in the upper zone of the lower telescopic lower 410 on the
sides facing the wheel tracks. The pivotal hubs 460 are at the same
time in the centers of the circles formed by the corresponding
wheel tracks 110 and 120. The pivotal hubs 460 are commercial hubs
for motor vehicle trailers. The rotating arms 200 are suspended
rotatably at these hubs in the axis of rotation 210. The bicycles
300 which are pressed against the track wheels 110 and 120 by
integrated sprig elements 320 and 330 are mounted on the rotating
arms.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the rotating arm. The
rotating arm 200 consists of a tubular steel structure. Several tie
struts 260 go from the suspension in the axis of rotation 210 to
the main frame 250. The mid-vertical of the main frame 250 is
located centrally above the bicycle and the user. In the upper zone
of the main frame 250 a number of connecting sockets 270 for the
attachment of commercial weighted disks (dumbbells, not shown) are
located. The weighted disks serve as counterweights. The lower end
of the rotating arm 200 is formed by the two bow frames 220a and
220b. The bow frames 220 form a contour opening downward (see FIG.
3). The front ends of the bow frames 220 terminate at the forward
points of attachment 240 where the handlebar of the bicycle 300 is
fastened. The two bow frames, the left one 220a and the right one
220b, merge in the rearward zone of the bow frames 220 and form the
rearward point of attachment 230 which is connected with the
bicycle 300 in the reward zone of the bicycle frame. The space
delimited above by the bow frames 220a, b and below by the bicycle
300 leaves sufficient room and clearance zone for the user (FIG.
3).
[0027] FIG. 3 is a schematic lateral view of the rotating arm with
a bicycle attached to it. Essentially, the same features can be
seen here as in FIG. 2. The bicycle 300 is shown in addition in
FIG. 3. In the zone of the handlebar, the bicycle 300 is tied to
the rotating arm 200 in the points of attachment 240a, 240b. The
rearward zone of the frame of bicycle 300 is tied to the rotating
arm 200 at the point of attachment 230. Pneumatic spring elements
integrated into the bicycle are used as pressing devices. A
pneumatic spring double-bridge fork 320 is one spring element, a
rear-shock suspension 330 is a further spring element in the rear
part of the bicycle 300. The drive is a crank drive (310) operated
via pedals. A modified three-speed hub derailleur is used in order
to realize free wheel during backward movement. Ordinarily the gear
shift has three forward speeds and one free wheel. In a modified
version just one speed and the free wheel are left. At the wheels,
magnets are mounted, their magnetic fields are recorded by Hall
effect sensors at the frame of bicycle 300. This procedure allows
the direction of movement to be recognized. During backward motion
the Hall effect sensors switch the gear shift into free wheel via a
servo device, During forward movement the single forward speed is
reconnected.
[0028] FIGS. 4a and 4b show the telescopic tower: FIG. 4a in a
lateral view and FIG. 4b in a front view. For perspicuity, the two
figures will be described together. The telescopic tower consists
of two halves, the lower telescopic tower 410 and the upper
telescopic tower 420. The upper telescopic tower 420 can be lowered
into the lower telescopic tower 410 and extended from it. The two
parts of the tower represent a cuboid tubular steel structure
having diagonal struts in each of the four sides of the cuboids for
greater stability and carrying capacity. At the lower end of the
upper telescopic tower 420, two guide pulleys 450 for a wire rope
440 are located. The wire rope 440 is solidly fastened with one end
at the upper end of the lower telescopic tower 410. From there the
wire rope 440 descends approximately perpendicularly to the first
diverter pulley 450 at the upper telescopic tower 420, and from
there, diverted at a right angle, to the second diverter pulley
450, also fixed at the upper telescopic tower 420. The wire rope
440 is once more diverted at a right angle and now rises
approximately perpendicularly to the diverter pulley 452 fixed at
the lower telescopic tower 410. At the diverter pulley 452, the
wire rope 440 is diverted by about 180.degree. and now descends
approximately perpendicularly to the winch 430 in which the wire
rope 440 can be wound up. This constitutes a simple pulley-block
hoist where the two diverter pulleys 450 are the "free" pulley and
the diverter pulley 452 is the "standing" pulley of the
pulley-block hoist. The upper telescopic tower constitutes the load
to be lifted by this pulley-block hoist. By turning the crank of
winch 430, the upper telescopic tower 420 can be lifted from the
lower tower and lowered back into it. It is envisaged that the
winch can be locked so that the tower will also remain stable when
extended or lifted.
[0029] Suspensions 460 are located to both sides at the upper end
of the lower telescopic tower 410 for one rotating arm 200 each. A
commercial hub of a motor vehicle trailer is used as the suspension
460. A drum brake (not shown) is integrated into the hubs in order
to be able to decelerate the rotating arm 200 from outside.
[0030] The lower telescopic tower 410 is solidly attached to the
main struts 130 which in turn are detachably fastened on the motor
vehicle trailer 190. The upper telescopic tower 420 moves freely
within the lower telescopic tower 410. It is supported via diverter
pulleys 450 on the wire rope 440 and is guided through the opening
in the upper side of the lower telescopic tower 410 so that the
upper telescopic tower 420 cannot buckle laterally. A cross-bar 470
is solidly connected with the upper telescopic tower on its upper
side. The upper half of the wheel track 120 (not shown) is movably
attached via a trolley (also not shown) to this cross-bar.
[0031] For the leisure equipment to become usable, it must first be
erected from its compact transport condition. At first the
telescopic tower must be extended, to this end the winch 430 is
operated until the upper telescopic tower 420 is maximally lifted
from the lower telescopic tower 410. Then the two upper wheel track
halves 120 are pushed out along the cross-bar 470 by trolleys until
they are positioned exactly above the lower wheel track halves 110.
The wheel track halves 110, 120 are detachably fixed at each other.
The free ends of diagonal struts 180 having their other ends
solidly connected with the upper track wheels 120 are also
detachably fixed to the horizontal struts 150. The safety struts
170 are extended and arrested in such a way that the weight of the
leisure equipment is supported via the safety struts on the ground.
The axle of the motor vehicle trailer 190 is loaded during
operation in order to prevent the trailer 190 from slipping away.
Next, the rotating arms 200 are connected with the suspensions. The
bicycle with the relieved spring elements 320, 330 is now mounted
on the rotating arm 200. Once the bicycle 300 mounted, the spring
elements 320, 330 are inflated. In this way the bicycle 300 is
pressed into the wheel track 110, 120. Counterweights (not shown)
are slipped onto the sockets 260 and secured. The saddle 340 of the
bicycle 300 is adjusted individually to the user, who mounts the
bicycle 300 at the lowest position. Finally a harness (not shown)
can be fitted to the user before he is able to use the leisure
equipment according to the invention. During operation of the
leisure equipment the rotating arm 200 can be decelerated by
operators outside the leisure equipment via a drum brake (not
shown) in the pivotal hub 460 when required for safety reasons.
* * * * *