U.S. patent application number 09/898072 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-09 for structure of stationary bicycle.
Invention is credited to Hsu, Hank.
Application Number | 20030008752 09/898072 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25408895 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030008752 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsu, Hank |
January 9, 2003 |
Structure of stationary bicycle
Abstract
A stationary bicycle includes a machine base, a seat on the
machine base for the sitting of the user, a back cushion mounted on
the machine base and adapted to support the back of the user
sitting on the seat, a pedal and damper unit installed in the
machine base and adapted to impart a damping power against the
external force employed by the user through the legs, and a rack
mounted on the machine base in front of the seat and adapted to
hold, for example, a computer for operation by the user when
exercising.
Inventors: |
Hsu, Hank; (Taipei Hsien,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C.
624 NINTH STREET, NW
SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-5303
US
|
Family ID: |
25408895 |
Appl. No.: |
09/898072 |
Filed: |
July 5, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/55 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/0622 20130101;
A63B 22/0605 20130101; A63B 2225/72 20130101; A63B 2022/0652
20130101; A63B 2210/00 20130101; A63B 24/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/55 |
International
Class: |
A63B 031/00 |
Claims
What the invention claimed is:
1. A stationary bicycle comprising: a machine base; a seat provided
at said machine base for the sitting of the user; a back cushion
mounted on said machine base and adapted to support the back of the
user sitting on said seat; and a pedal and damper unit installed in
said machine base and adapted to impart a damping power against the
external force employed by the user through the legs; wherein a
rack is mounted on said machine base and adapted to hold things for
use by the user sitting on said seat, said rack comprising a
upright support fastened to said machine base in front of said
seat.
2. The stationary bicycle of claim 1 wherein said rack further
comprises a device holder supported on said upright support, said
device holder comprising a bottom panel connected to said upright
support, a back panel upwardly extended from a rear side of said
bottom panel at right angles, two side panels respectively
connected between two opposite lateral sides of said bottom panel
and two opposite lateral sides of said back panel and defining with
said bottom panel and said back panel a holding space for holding
an apparatus.
3. The stationary bicycle of claim 2 wherein said rack further
comprises a supplementary board connected to said bottom panel at a
bottom side and adapted to hold a device in front of said bottom
panel.
4. The stationary bicycle of claim 1 wherein said machine base
comprises two footrest structures disposed at two opposite lateral
sides thereof for the resting of the legs of the user sitting on
said seat, said footrest structures each comprising a recessed hole
on one sidewall of said machine base, and a footrest pivoted to
said machine base and alternatively set between a first position
where said footrest is received in said recessed hole, and a second
position where said footrest is extended out of said recessed
hole.
5. The stationary bicycle of claim 1 wherein said machine base
further comprises a storage chamber disposed near a rear side
thereof.
6. The stationary bicycle of claim 5 wherein said machine base
further comprises a French window adapted to close/open said
storage chamber.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a home use exercising
machine and, more specifically, to an improved structure of
stationary bicycle.
[0002] A stationary bicycle may be equipped with a back support to
support the back of the user who sits on the saddle of the
stationary bicycle to pedal the pedals with the legs comfortably.
Regular stationary bicycles simply provide the function of
exercising the muscles of the legs. These stationary bicycles are
monotonous, and less attractive. After few times in operating these
conventional stationary bicycles, people may lose their interesting
in using them. According to experimentations, short time exercises
or temporary exercises do little help to bodybuilding.
[0003] Under the pressure of busy works, people may use a desk
computer or notebook computer to do some works or to process words
at home after office hours. Some people may spend a lot of time in
watching TV instead of exercising the body after office hours.
Without exercises, one will gain weight soon, and one's physical
condition will become weak.
[0004] Further, an exercising machine is to be used indoors to
simulate outdoor exercising environment. An exercising machine
occupies much house space. People may give up the thought of buying
an exercising machine due to limited house space.
[0005] Therefore, it is desirable to provide an exercising machine
that fully utilizes house space and attracts people to use it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present
invention to provide a stationary bicycle, which enables the user
to conveniently use a computer to do some works when exercising. It
is another object of the present invention to provide a stationary
bicycle, which enables the user to use a video apparatus when
exercising. It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a stationary bicycle, which enables the user to achieve
visual enjoyment and physical training concomitantly. It is still
another object of the present invention to provide a stationary
bicycle, which has rack means for holding articles. The stationary
bicycle of the present invention comprises a machine base, a seat
mounted on the machine base for the sitting of the user, a back
cushion mounted on the machine base and adapted to support the back
of the user sitting on the seat, a pedal and damper unit installed
in the machine base and adapted to impart a damping power against
the external force employed by the user through the legs, and a
rack mounted on the machine base in front of the seat. The rack
comprises an upright support fastened to the machine base in front
of the seat, a device holder supported on the upright support and
adapted to hold an apparatus, for example, a computer or TV
set.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stationary bicycle
constructed according to the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a status of use of the stationary bicycle
according to the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 shows an application example of the stationary
bicycle according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0010] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a stationary bicycle 10 is shown
comprising a machine base 20. The machine base 20 is the main part
of the stationary bicycle 10. A seat 30 is fixedly mounted on the
top of the machine base 20 near its rear side for the sitting of
the user. A back cushion 40 is fixedly mounted on the top of the
machine base 20 and obliquely disposed at the rear side of the seat
30, and adapted to support the back of the user sitting on the seat
30. A pedal and damper unit 50 is installed in the machine base 20,
and adapted to impart a damping power against the external force
employed by the user through the legs. The pedal and damper unit 50
comprises a flywheel, two pedals for pedaling by the legs to rotate
the flywheel, and a damper adapted to impart a damping power
against the rotation of the flywheel. Because the pedal and damper
unit 50 is of the known art, it is not shown or described in
detail. The main features of the present invention are outlined
hereinafter.
[0011] The stationary bicycle 10 further comprises a rack 60
provided at the top of the machine base 20 near its front side, a
storage chamber 70 provided in the machine base 20, and two
footrest structures 80 respectively provided at two sides of the
machine base 20. The rack 60 comprises an upright support 61
fixedly mounted on the top of the machine base 20 near its front
side, a device holder 62 supported on the top of the upright
support 61, and a supplementary board 63. The device holder 62
comprises a bottom panel 621 connected to the upright support 61, a
back panel 622 upwardly extended from the rear side of the bottom
panel 621 at right angles, two side panels 623 respectively
connected between two opposite lateral sides of the bottom panel
621 and two opposite lateral sides of the back panel 622 and
defining with the bottom panel 621 and the back panel 622 a holding
space for holding an apparatus. The supplementary board 63 is
connected to the bottom side of the bottom panel 621, and adapted
to hold a device in front of the bottom panel 621.
[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the storage chamber 70 is
provided in the machine base 20 below the seat 30, and extending
from one side of the machine base 20 to a certain depth. A French
window 71 is provided to close/open the storage chamber 70. The
footrest structures 80 each comprises a recessed hole 81 on one
sidewall of the machine base 20, and a footrest 82 pivoted to the
machine base 20 and alternatively set between the non-operative
position where the footrest 82 is received in the recessed hole 81
and kept in flush with the outside wall of the machine base 20 (see
FIG. 1), and the operative position where the footrest 82 is
extended out of the recessed hole 81 for the resting of the
foot.
[0013] The advantages of the present invention will be outlined
hereinafter with reference to FIG. 3.
[0014] 1. A computer monitor 91, notebook computer, telephone, or
television, or the main unit of an audio system can be carried on
the bottom panel 621 of the rack 60, and a computer keyboard 92,
mouse, TV game joystick, or any of a variety of small items can be
carried on the supplementary panel 63. Therefore, the user can use
the computer to do word processing works or watch TV when operating
the pedal and damper unit 50 to exercise the muscles of the
legs.
[0015] 2. The speaker 93 of an audio system can be received in the
storage chamber 70 and electrically connected to the main unit of
the audio system. Thus, the user can listen to the music to relax
the mind when operating the pedal and damper unit 50 to exercise
the muscles of the legs.
[0016] 3. The footrest 82 of each footrest structure 80 is received
in the respective recessed hole 81 when operating the pedal and
damper unit 50. When not operating the pedal and damper unit 50,
the footrest 82 of each footrest structure 80 is extended out of
the respective recessed hole 81, and the user can sit on the seat
30 with the back supported on the obliquely disposed back cushion
40 and the legs rested on the footrest 82 of each of the footrest
structures 80, i.e., the stationary bicycle serves as a deck chair
at this time. Therefore, the stationary bicycle is not simply an
exercising machine. Actually, the stationary bicycle of the present
invention is a combination of an exercising machine and
furniture.
[0017] A prototype of improved structure of stationary bicycle has
been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1.about.3. The improved
structure of stationary bicycle functions smoothly to provide all
of the features discussed earlier.
[0018] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *