U.S. patent application number 11/108095 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-06 for exercise bicycle stability tracking system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Forcillo, John. Invention is credited to Forcillo, John.
Application Number | 20050221961 11/108095 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35055103 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050221961 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Forcillo, John |
October 6, 2005 |
Exercise bicycle stability tracking system
Abstract
A stabilizing tracking system for a spinner exercise bicycle
includes a spool that is attached to the bike in the loop path of
the drive belt between the drive and flywheel sprockets. The spool
is located such that the belt is forced to travel below the top
dead center of the flywheel sprocket. The spool also has flanges
such that the standard poly-V-belt is caused to track within the
spool. Forcing the belt below top-dead center of the flywheel
sprocket and keeping the belt in tack reduces belt wear,
stretching, and the tendency of the belt to wobble or sway as it is
driving a flywheel. The spool utilizes inner bearings for smooth
rotation of the stability tracking spool. The spool compensates for
the differential in the thrust from the top, dead center position
of the drive sprocket. The spool picks up the slack in the drive
belt that and keeps the belt in a close track. The spool also
compensates for slippage during start up of the flywheel and keeps
the belt from slipping or wobbling.
Inventors: |
Forcillo, John; (Laval,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVIDSON BERQUIST JACKSON & GOWDEY LLP
4300 WILSON BLVD., 7TH FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22203
US
|
Assignee: |
Forcillo, John
Laval
CA
|
Family ID: |
35055103 |
Appl. No.: |
11/108095 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11108095 |
Apr 18, 2005 |
|
|
|
10794077 |
Mar 8, 2004 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/57 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0605 20130101;
A63B 21/225 20130101; A63B 2022/0658 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/057 |
International
Class: |
A63B 022/06; A63B
069/16 |
Claims
1. A stabilizing and tracking system for an exercise bike having
frame, pedal drive sprocket rotatably mounted to said frame, and a
flywheel drive sprocket linked to a flywheel that is rotatably
mounted to said frame, a belt interconnecting the pedal drive
sprocket and the flywheel drive sprocket, comprising a spool
rotatably connected to said frame, said spool being fixed at a
position vertically between the pedal drive sprocket and the
flywheel drive sprocket such that a bottom dead center point of
said spool is below a top dead center point of said flywheel drive
sprocket, and such that an axis of said spool is horizontally
positioned from about 1.5 to about 5.5 inches from an axis of said
flywheel drive sprocket toward said pedal drive sprocket.
2. A stabilizing and tracking system as in claim 1, wherein said
spool has left and right flanges such that said belt is kept
between said flanges as the belt moves.
3. A stabilizing and tracking system as in claim 1, wherein said
spool has left and right flanges and an inner drive surface wherein
said inner drive surface is located below said top dead center
point of said flywheel drive sprocket.
4. A stabilizing and tracking system as in claim 3, further
comprising a spool hub for rotatably supporting said spool and
attached to said exercise bike, and at least one bearing located
between said spool hub and said spool.
5. A stabilizing and tracking system as in claim 3 wherein the
flanges are positioned at an angle, relative to the inner device
drive surface, ranging from about 120.degree. to 140.degree..
6. A stabilizing and tracking system as in claim 5, where the angle
for each flange is 128.degree..
7. A stabilizing and tracking system as in claim 1, wherein the
belt is a poly-V ribbed belt.
8. A stabilizing and tracking system as in claim 1, wherein the
bottom dead center of said spool is located from about one eighth
of an inch to about one and a half inches below said top dead
center of said flywheel drive sprocket.
9. A stabilizing and tracking system as in claim 8, wherein the
bottom dead center of said spool is located about a half inch below
the top dead center of said flywheel drive sprocket.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to stationary exercise bicycles used
for group cycling, spinning, or other exercise uses. More
particularly, an advanced belt stability tracking system is
presented that stabilizes the belt drive of such exercise bicycles
to improve operation, belt functions, and belt life.
[0002] Adjustable stationary exercise bicycles have been in common
use throughout the exercise industry for many years. Numerous
patents have been issued for exercise bicycles, all directed to
different aspects of the structure of exercise bicycles. For
example, the applicant has several patents issued to him for
adjustable, stationary exercise bicycles. These include U.S. Pat.
No. 6,612,970, disclosing a quick-brake disengagement mechanism and
a vertical handle bar adjustment, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,603,
provides for the vertical adjustment of the seat as well as the
horizontal adjustment of the seat and handle bars. Other inventors
have disclosed different inventions and improvements to other
aspects of the structure of spinner exercise bicycles.
[0003] Adjustable exercise bicycles utilize the structure of a
regular bicycle placed on a stationary base. The base does not
move, hence the term stationary exercise bicycle. The front wheel
of a standard bicycle is most often replaced with a weighted
flywheel, and is connected to the pedals and drive sprocket of the
bicycle, usually by an endless chain or belt. The interconnection
of the drive sprocket to the flywheel sprocket through use of a
chain or belt causes certain problems, with the most significant
problem being addressed by the instant invention.
[0004] A preferred type of drive mechanism, used to connect the
drive sprocket to the flywheel sprocket, is the use of a flexible
belt. Such belts are commonly referred to as a poly-V-belt because
of its trapezoidal cross-section. However, flat or rectangular
cross-section belts are also used. These flexible belts are common
throughout the industry and their use is well known. As noted, the
cross section of such flexible belts can take a variety of forms,
and where a poly-V-belt is used with its trapezoidal cross-section
the larger, flat portion of the belt is usually on top, and the
smaller portion of the belt being on the bottom and in contact with
the drive and flywheel sprockets. My new invention is directed
mainly to the belt-driven type of exercise bikes now currently in
use.
[0005] One problem with flexible belt systems is that the belt may
stretch over time. Belt stretching necessarily degrades the entire
drive mechanism, since the belt will loose tension, and as it
becomes loose the belt will wobble or otherwise become unstable in
use due to the looseness from stretching. Many known systems employ
a belt tensioner which can operate either manually, automatically,
or by a spring assembly to take up slack associated with any such
belt stretching. It is an object of this invention to decrease the
amount of stretching which a belt may experience during the life of
the belt.
[0006] As the belt stretches, it can also become unstable in its
tracking and may sway laterally. The more the belt stretches, the
more the wobble and lateral sway occurs. This wobbling and swaying
is detrimental to the smooth functioning and spinning of the
flywheel, and the belt may also move laterally off the drive
pulleys, or otherwise become disengaged from, the drive sprocket or
flywheel sprocket. It is another object of this invention to
provide a mechanism to reduce the wobble and sway of a belt in a an
exercise bike.
[0007] Other and further objects of this invention will become
obvious upon reading the following specification.
BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVICE
[0008] A stability tracking hub is introduced into a standard
exercise bicycle drive train. The stability tracking hub is
preferably comprised of a spool with flanges at the outer edges,
and is rotatably connected to the bike frame at a fixed position.
From a horizontal standpoint, it is preferred that the
drive-surface of the stabilizing and tracking spool, in contrast
with the belt, is located below the top dead center of the flywheel
sprocket. Such an arrangement permits the drive belt, as it passes
around and under the tracking spool, to be forced below or beneath
a point equal to the top dead center of the flywheel sprocket
before it engages the flywheel sprocket as the belt continues to
move it in its forward or clockwise motion. The tracking spool is
fastened to the bike frame by a hanger bracket or other fixed
structure.
[0009] Forcing the belt to move under the tracking spool and then
up and over the top, dead center of the flywheel sprocket reduces
the stress in the belt. This reduces stretching and also stabilizes
the way the belt tracks toward the flywheel sprocket. It is also
preferred to employ an improved flat reinforced drive belt that is
extremely strong in its longitudinal direction to minimize belt
stretching.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND FIGURES
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a standard exercise spinner
bicycle showing some of the features of such standard bicycles.
[0011] FIG. 2 is right-side view of a standard exercise spinner
bike showing the hanger bracket and stabilizing and tracking
spool.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a left-side view of the spinner bike, showing the
stabilizing and tracking spool from the side opposite that shown in
FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the stabilizing and tracking
spool, hub, axle, spool, and bearings.
[0014] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the stabilizing and tracking
system shown near the front, flywheel sprocket similar to FIG.
3.
DETAINED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] An exercise bicycle used for individual or group exercise,
and the like, is shown in FIG. 1. Standard features of such an
exercise bike, generally shown at 1, include a seat 2, handlebars
3, pedals 4, a front flywheel 5 and a cross frame 6a, front
vertical supports 6b, and a lower front base 6c, and a lower rear
base 6d. A base cross bar is shown at 6e. Most of the exercise
bikes have numerous adjustments, for example the vertical seat
adjustment shown at 7 on the seat support mechanism at 7a. This
typical exercise bike usually has a guard 30 over the drive
mechanism as shown at 30 in FIG. 1. In the bike shown in FIG. 1,
the guard 30 covers the stability tracking system to be described
below.
[0016] Turning now to FIG. 2, an adjustable exercise bicycle is
shown with the guard 30 removed. The pedals 4 are connected to left
and right crank arms 8a and 8b, respectively. Each crank arm 8a and
8b is connected to a pedal drive sprocket 9, that may be of various
sizes, one common size having a diameter of about 8 inches.
[0017] The pedal drive sprocket 9 is connected to the front
flywheel drive sprocket 10 by means of flexible belt 11 such as
Gatorback poly-v rib series. The preferred belt is a Goodyear
K6-500, industrial series multiple-ply belt. This belt is comprised
of a composition including polyester fiber and rubber, and has
about a 24 mm width and a thickness of about 4 mm. This flat
multi-ply polyester fiber and rubber poly-V rib belt is included to
make the belt seem to be pre-stretched, and so that stretching of
the belt in normal use will be prevented or minimized. The front
flywheel sprocket 10 is typically smaller than the rear drive
sprocket 9. FIG. 3 shows a partial side view of the bike 1 with a
number of parts removed to show the stability tracking system more
clearly. The flywheel drive sprocket 10 and components of the
stability tracking system are also shown in FIG. 5. Flywheel
sprocket 10 is mounted to a hub 40, made from aluminum, which is
mounted on flywheel 5 by bolts 42 that pass through holes provided
in the hub 40 and flywheel 5 to a second hub (not shown) on the
opposite side. The second hub has compliamentary treaded holes that
receive bolts 42. An axis for sprocket 10 is indicated at 54. A
standard diameter for the hub 40 can vary between six to eight
inches with flywheel drive sprocket 10 having a diameter of about
four inches. In this way, the front flywheel drive sprocket 10 is
connected to the working flywheel 5.
[0018] Important points of force are applied between the belt 11
and the spools and sprockets over which belt 11 moves as the belt
11 contacts the top, dead center 16 of the flywheel drive sprocket
circumference, and when the belt contacts the top, dead center 17a
of the pedal drive sprocket 9.
[0019] The working flywheel 5 is normally quite heavy and has a
standard diameter of approximately eighteen inches. Due to the
disparity between the size and weight of the pedal drive sprocket
9, the flywheel drive sprocket 10, and the working flywheel 5, a
significant amount of force is exerted on the working flywheel 5.
This force, applied initially top dead center of the flywheel drive
sprocket 10, can result in damaging and/or stretching of the belt
11. It is this stretching and the resultant wobbling and loss of
tracking ability in the belt to which this invention is
directed.
[0020] Belts utilized in bicycles prior to this invention
frequently stretched and became contorted due to the relationship
between the forces exerted on the belt. In Lo, U.S. Pat. No.
5,310,392, for example, an expensive tensioning system was used to
keep the drive belt sufficiently taught to effectively transmit
drive forces. This tensioning system included a tensioning wheel
mounted on one end of a rocker arm with a spring connected to the
opposite end of the rocker arm. The spring would cause the
tensioning wheel to push down on the drive belt and apply pressure
on the belt to keep the belt taught. Such pressure can also cause
additional belt stretching over time, which is automatically taken
up by the spring.
[0021] Without the introduction of the present stability tracking
system to a belt-driven exercise bike, the force exerted by the
pedals 4 on the normal belt arrangement at the top dead center
point 17a on pedal drive sprocket 9 will exert a huge amount of
force on the belt at point 16, the top dead center of the flywheel
drive sprocket circumference. Because the pedal drive sprocket 9 is
about twice as big as the flywheel drive sprocket 10, and because
the flywheel drive sprocket 10 must drive a much larger and heavier
working flywheel 5, the usual belt arrangement will subject the
belt to stretching forces, and when actual stretching occurs
slippage can occur between the belt and drive sprockets 9 and 10.
This stretching of the belt could damage and ultimately necessitate
the replacement of the belt. Slippage of the belt relative to
flywheel drive sprocket 10 is also a source of concern since it
provides an uncomfortable and possibly dangerous experience on the
spinner bike. The stability and tracking system described here
ameliorates both of those problems.
[0022] Connected to the front handle bar support 12 is a hanger
bracket 13, as shown in FIG. 2. Bracket 13 could be bolted, welded
or otherwise fixed to support 12. A horizontal adjustment slot 13a
in bracket 13, not the subject of this invention, allows for the
adjustment of the flywheel 5 in the forward and aft directions. The
hanger bracket 13 has a shoulder, or extension 14, that supports a
stabilizing and tracking spool axel hub 18, as shown in FIG. 4,
within a mounting hole 14a. A stabilizing and tracking spool 15 is
rotatably positioned around the hub 18.
[0023] The stability and tracking spool 15 compensates for the
differential in the thrust from the top, dead center position 16 of
the flywheel drive sprocket 10. In addition, the stability and
tracking spool 15 picks up the slack in the drive belt 11 and keeps
the belt in a confined track. The stability and tracking spool 15
also compensates for slippage during start up of the flywheel 5,
and keeps the drive belt 11 from slipping or wobbling.
[0024] Turning now to FIG. 4, an exploded perspective view of the
stability tracking system is shown. The stability and tracking
spool 15 rotates on spool axle hub 18. Spool axle hub 18 has a
central axis that coincides with stabilizing and tracking spool
axle mounting hole 14a in bracket 13 and is permanently connected
or fixed to hanger bracket 13 as best shown in FIG. 2. Thus,
neither spool axel hub 18 nor tracking spool 15 is adjustable, and
is not provided to accommodate slack in belt 11. The objective is
to minimize or prevent belt stretching.
[0025] The stabilizing and tracking spool 15 has left 19 and right
19' spool flanges. The stabilizing and tracking spool 15 thus takes
the shape of a spool of thread. The angle between the interior hub
surface 23 and each of the flanges 19 and 19' can range from
95.degree. to 150.degree.. Thus, the cross-sectional shape of the
belt channel can vary from a U-shaped channel to one that is
trapezoidal in its cross-sectional shape. The particular angle
between the bottom surface 23 and the two opposing side flanges
should approximate the angular shape of the sides of the opposing
belt to be used. The range of angles for the flanges relative to
the bottom surface 23 that best accommodates the K6-500 Goodyear
belt is about 120.degree. to about 140.degree., with the preferred
angle adjacent to each flange being about 128.degree..
[0026] The cylindrical stabilizing and tracking spool 15 fits over
the spool axle hub 18 and rotates thereon. In order to provide for
the smooth rotational motion of the spool 15, left and right spool
hub bearings, 20 and 20' respectively, are inserted inside the
cylindrical spool 15, and these bearings are shown in an exploded
condition in FIG. 4. A spacer 21 separates the left 20 and right
20' hub bearings.
[0027] As clearly demonstrated in FIG. 5, it is important to note
that the bottom tangent point 22 of the tracking spool 15 is
located below a plane defined by the top, dead center 16 of the
flywheel drive sprocket 10. FIG. 5 also includes a horizontal line
50 extending through the axis of tracking spool 15 and which is
tangent to the top dead center point 16 of flywheel drive sprocket
10 and thus defines the plane passing through the top dead center
16. A second horizontal line 52 passes tangentially across the
bottom dead center point 22. Two vertical lines, 54 and 56,
respectively, pass through the axis of flywheel drive sprocket 10
and the axis of tracking spool 15.
[0028] The location of tracking spool 15 relative to flywheel drive
sprocket 10 is important. First, the vertical distance between
lines, or planes, 50 and 52 is preferably about half an inch, but
can range between about 1/8 inch to about 1.5 inches. The
horizontal spacing between the axes of tracking spool 15 and
flywheel drive sprocket 10, defined by vertical lines 54 and 56, is
preferably about 2.5 inches, but can vary from about 1.5 inches to
about 5.5 inches.
[0029] By using the two preferred locations for tracking spool 15
relative to flywheel drive sprocket 10, and by using the
non-stretch belt 11, the tension on belt 11 will be reduced from
about 180 psi, to about 135 psi while still maintaining the desired
drive force on flywheel 5. Further, this relative position of
tracking spool 15 and flywheel drive sprocket 10 relative to the
bike's other operating structures, maintains the stability and
tracking of belt 11 around flywheel drive sprocket 10 without
wobble, without causing stretching of belt 11, and without belt 11
becoming disengaged from flywheel sprocket 10.
[0030] Due to this significant relationship of the belt drive and
support structures, the belt 11 is forced below the top, dead
center 16 of the flywheel sprocket 10, and belt 11 then moves
upward in its movement towards the flywheel sprocket 10 as the
pedals are rotated in a standard clockwise fashion. Forcing belt 11
to move upwardly to the top, dead center position 16 of the
flywheel sprocket 10 prolongs the life of belt 11, reduces
stretching and creates more stability in the entire drive system.
In addition, the flanges 19 and 19' on spool 15 keep the belt in a
stable tracking mode for smooth, efficient, and long-lasting
operation of the belt drive system.
[0031] It has been shown that the use of this device and approach
greatly prolongs and enhances the belt drive system described
above. It is to be noted that the dimensions given for the drive
sprocket, flywheel sprocket, and working flywheel are meant as
means of illustration only and not as limitation. Obviously,
different manufacturers use sprockets and flywheels of different
dimensions. However, the use of the stabilizing and tracking spool
in the manner shown and described is of general application to belt
driven and chain driven applications. Special attention herein is
directed towards the belt driven embodiments of spinning exercise
bicycles.
* * * * *