U.S. patent application number 10/377456 was filed with the patent office on 2003-09-04 for pedalling simulating implement with means for adjusting the pedalling effort depending on the inclination.
Invention is credited to Gramaccioni, Federico.
Application Number | 20030166436 10/377456 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11449423 |
Filed Date | 2003-09-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030166436 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gramaccioni, Federico |
September 4, 2003 |
Pedalling simulating implement with means for adjusting the
pedalling effort depending on the inclination
Abstract
A pedalling simulating implement, with adjusting means for
adjusting the variable effort depending on the inclination,
comprises an adjustable braking system coupled to a bearing
construction including a seating plane and a handlebar. To the
bearing construction is pivoted a pulley to which is rigidly
connected a pair of pedals, the pulley being kinematically coupled
to a flywheel. This implement is characterized in that it further
comprises swinging means adapted to allow the bearing construction
to swing with respect to the base of the implement, so as to change
the inclination of the implement depending on the pedalling effort
applied by the athlete for pedalling.
Inventors: |
Gramaccioni, Federico;
(Conegliano, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQUIRE
Fifth Floor
59 John Street
New York
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
11449423 |
Appl. No.: |
10/377456 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/57 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20130101;
A63B 22/0605 20130101; A63B 22/0023 20130101; A63B 2220/78
20130101; A63B 21/225 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/57 |
International
Class: |
A63B 022/06; A63B
069/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 1, 2002 |
IT |
MI2002A-000434 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A pedalling simulating implement, including adjusting means for
adjusting the pedalling effort depending on the inclination,
comprising an adjustable braking system coupled to a bearing
structure including a seating plane and a handlebar, to said
bearing structure being pivoted a pulley to which is rigidly
coupled a pair of pedals, said pulley being kinematically connected
to a flywheel, characterized in that said implement comprises
swinging means causing said bearing structure to swing with respect
to a base of said implement, thereby adjusting the inclination of
said implement depending on the effort applied by an athlete for
pedalling.
2. An implement, according to claim 1, characterized in that said
swinging means comprise a pivot pin coupling said bearing structure
to said base bearing on a floor and that the inclination of said
bearing structure is adjusted by extending a piston as controlled
by a control unit.
3. An implement, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that
said braking system is coupled to said base by a supporting element
and that the approaching and moving away displacements with respect
to the flywheel, and accordingly the increase or decrease of the
braking load, depends on the inclination of said bearing
structure.
4. An implement, according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterized in that said braking system, comprising an arch or
curved element covered by magnets, is fixed to said swinging
structure, by a support.
5. An implement, according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterized in that said arch or curved element is urged by a
spring and coupled to said base through a tie-rod, the position of
said curved element with respect to said flywheel, being controlled
by inclining said bearing structure with respect to said base.
6. An implement,. according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterized in that said implement comprises one or more of the
disclosed and/or illustrated characteristics.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a pedalling simulating
implement, including adjusting means for adjusting the pedalling
effort depending on the inclination.
[0002] As is known, the most part of prior pedalling simulating
implements conventionally comprise braking systems, either manually
or electromechanically adjusted, designed for simulating the
pedalling resistance encountered on positive inclination or uphill
grounds.
[0003] The above mentioned braking systems comprise, for example,
friction braking, magnetic and electromagnetic braking systems,
operating based on friction, magnetic and electromagnetic
forces.
[0004] Further prior pedalling simulating devices are designed for
swinging along a cross and longitudinal axis to simulate a road
pedalling condition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The aim of the present invention is to provide such a
pedalling simulating implement which is adapted to simulate a
pedalling operation on slanted roads.
[0006] Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object
of the invention is to provide such a pedalling simulating device
or implement, for providing a pedalling feeling much more realistic
than that provided by existing like implements.
[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide such an
implement which is very flexible in operation and can be made by
already existing methods and systems.
[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above
mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will
become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a pedalling
simulating implement including adjusting means for adjusting the
pedalling effort depending on the inclination, said implement
comprising an adjustable braking system coupled to a bearing
structure including a seating plane and a handlebar.
[0009] To said bearing structure is pivoted a pulley to which is
rigidly fixed a pair of pedals, said pulley being moreover
kinematically coupled to a flywheel.
[0010] This implement is characterized in that it further comprises
swinging moans designed for allowing the bearing structure to swing
with respect to a base of the implement, thereby an inclination of
the implement will change the effort applied by the athlete for
driving the pedals.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following
detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive,
embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated by way of an
indicative, but not limitative, example in the accompanying
drawings, where:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a pedalling simulating
implement or device;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a further side elevation view of a pedalling
simulating implement, according to a first aspect of the present
invention; and
[0014] FIG. 3 is a further side elevation view of a pedalling
simulating implement or device according to a further aspect of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] With reference to the number references of the above
mentioned figures, FIG. 1 shows a typical pedalling simulating
implement or device, including a magnetic braking system which can
be manually adjusted, and comprising a bearing or supporting
framework 1 including a seating plane 2 and a handlebar 3.
[0016] To this same structure a pivoting pulley 4, to which pair of
pedals 5 are rigidly coupled.
[0017] Said pulley 4 is coupled, through a transmission or driving
belt 6, to a flywheel 7.
[0018] The braking system position, as shown by an arch 8 having
inner magnets 9 pivoted to the structure 1' at the point M, with
respect to the flywheel 7, is adjusted by an adjusting device 10
through a cable 12.
[0019] In the above braking system, the approaching and moving away
displacements of the magnets with respect to the outer rim of the
flywheel, which is generally made of a ferrous material, and
sometimes coated by copper or aluminium, cause the braking load to
increase or decrease.
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates, merely by an example, a first embodiment
of the present invention, applied to the implement shown in FIG.
1.
[0021] In this embodiment, the bearing supporting structure 20 is
adapted to swing about the implement base 21, on a pivot pin 22,
and the inclination of the structure 20 may be adjusted by
extending a piston 23, being controlled by a control unit 24.
[0022] The braking system 8, 9, for example of the same type as the
above disclosed braking system, is coupled to the implement base 21
by a support element 25.
[0023] The approaching and moving away displacements to/from said
flywheel 7 of said braking system, and accordingly the increase or
decrease of the braking load, is in this embodiment controlled by
inclining the structure 1.
[0024] As in the above disclosed example, this embodiment of the
invention can be applied to any pedalling simulating implements,
including any desired braking systems, by merely providing
different adjusting means for adjusting the inclination of the
implement.
[0025] In FIG. 3, for example, the braking system, shown by the
arch element 8 supporting magnets 9, is coupled to the swinging
construction 30. instead of being coupled to the base 21, through a
supporting element 31, said arch element being moreover urged by a
spring 32, and coupled to the implement base 21 through a tie-rod
33.
[0026] Even in this embodiment, the position of said arch or curved
element, with respect to the flywheel 7, will be determined by the
inclination of the structure 1 to the implement base 21.
[0027] It has been found that the invention fully achieves the
intended aim and objects.
[0028] In fact, the invention provides a pedalling simulating
implement which has been specifically designed for simulating, for
an implement user, a pedalling on slanted or inclined tracks, while
providing a pedalling feeling much more realistic than that
provided by prior like devices.
[0029] In fact, the pedalling simulating implement according to the
present invention changes the inclination thereof depending on the
pedalling effort applied by the athlete or user.
[0030] In particular, the implement according to the present
invention changes the frontward--rearward inclination by changing
the braking load.
[0031] In particular, by frontward inclining the implement (that is
in the handlebar direction), the braking load decreases, thereby
providing the athlete with a downhill pedalling feeling.
[0032] On the contrary by rearward inclining the implement, the
braking load will increase, thereby simulating an uphill pedalling
condition.
[0033] Actually, the inclination of a bike, and the pedalling
resistance thereof, would greatly change as the bike running plane
is inclined, in particular in pedalling on roads and the like.
[0034] Thus, the invention provides a much more realistic pedalling
feeling than that of prior like devices.
[0035] While the inventive concept specifically relates to changing
the inclination of the implement depending on the braking load,
this concept can be applied by any desired methods and to any
desired braking systems and related adjustment means.
[0036] A great advantage of the invention is that it can be applied
to any pedalling simulating devices, and any desired braking
systems, by providing different adjusting means for adjusting the
inclination of the implement.
[0037] In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as
the contingent size and shapes of the component elements thereof,
can be any, depending on the requirements and status of the
art.
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