U.S. patent application number 10/523300 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-22 for gym bike that uses the effect of stroboscopic lights for the immediate visual control of the user's flywheel revolution speed.
Invention is credited to Panatta, Rodolfo.
Application Number | 20050282685 10/523300 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33446412 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050282685 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Panatta, Rodolfo |
December 22, 2005 |
Gym bike that uses the effect of stroboscopic lights for the
immediate visual control of the user's flywheel revolution
speed
Abstract
The present invention refers to a gym bike of the type provided
with a flywheel actuated by pedals and an electronic control unit
interfaced to a suitable keyboard and display capable of measuring
the speed of the flywheel by means of a sensor and show it on the
display, characterised by the fact that, once the speed that the
user should maintain during the training session has been set on
the control unit, the control unit can enable the operation of a
stroboscopic light according to a switching on frequency equal to
the angular speed or integer multiple or sub-multiples of the speed
that the flywheel should, maintain to keep the predetermined speed
of the exercise; it being provided that the stroboscopic light is
directed onto one or more reflecting marks mounted on the surface
of the flywheel.
Inventors: |
Panatta, Rodolfo; (Apiro
(MC), IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Armstrong Kratz Quintos Hanson & Brooks
502 Washington Avenue
Suite 220
Towson
MD
21204
US
|
Family ID: |
33446412 |
Appl. No.: |
10/523300 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
May 13, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IT04/00268 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01P 3/40 20130101; A63B
2071/0638 20130101; A63B 21/225 20130101; A63B 22/0605 20130101;
A63B 2220/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/003 |
International
Class: |
A63B 071/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 16, 2003 |
IT |
AN2003A000028 |
Claims
1. Gym bike of the type provided with a flywheel (D) actuated by
pedals and an electronic control unit (1) interfaced to a suitable
keyboard (M) and display (R), capable of measuring the speed of the
flywheel (D) by means of a sensor (L) and show it on the display
(R), characterised by the fact that once the speed that the user
should maintain during the training session has been set on the
control unit (1), the control unit (1) can enable the operation of
a stroboscopic light according to a switching on frequency equal to
the angular speed or multiple or sub-multiple whole numbers of the
speed that the flywheel (D) should maintain to keep the
predetermined speed of the exercise; it being provided that the
stroboscopic light is directed onto one or more reflecting marks
(H) mounted on the surface of the flywheel (D).
2. Gym bike as defined in claim 1, characterised in that the
stroboscopic light is produced by a circular series of LED's (F)
applied on a fixed disk (4) mounted in parallel concentric position
opposite to the flywheel (D), with the interposition of an optical
prism (E) used to direct the light emitted by the LED's (F) towards
the perimeter border of the flywheel (D) with the reflecting marks
(H).
3. Gym bike as defined in claim 1, characterised in that the speed
to be maintained by the user during pedalling is set on the
electronic control unit (1) with the keyboard (M).
4. Gym bike as defined in claim 1, characterised in that the speed
to be maintained by the user during pedalling is set on the
electronic control unit (1) starting from a central computer (N)
connected to the bike in wireless mode by means of suitable two-way
radio transmitters (Q, P).
5. Gym bike as defined in claim 4, characterised in that the
electronic control unit (1), by means of the transmitter (Q), can
send the date on the execution modes of the spin-bike to a central
computer (N) that will project on a giant screen (O) the image (in
digital format) of the marks (H) of the flywheel (D) of the bike.
Description
[0001] The present patent application refers to a gym bike that
uses the effect of stroboscopic lights for the immediate visual
control of the user's flywheel revolution speed.
[0002] As it is known, gym bikes have undergone deep evolution in
the last few years, being converted from a rehabilitation or light
training equipment (i.e. traditional stationary bicycles) to a
fitness and heavy training equipment (i.e. modem spin-bikes).
[0003] The new physical activity that uses this last kind of
bicycles (known as "spinning") is made in groups: a certain number
of athletes--each of them on his/her own bicycle--works under the
strict supervision of the trainer who decides the exercises to be
performed and the pedalling speed.
[0004] With this view, it appears evident that group work can
guarantee excellent results only if the trainer can evaluate the
quality of the exercise in real time for each single athlete and,
more specifically, the capability of the athletes to comply with
the instructions, with special reference to pedalling frequency and
consequently the speed reached by the user.
[0005] The immediate control from the trainer is also-crucial to
guarantee the safety of the athletes during the exercise, since it
allows to check if the athletes can bear the effort requested by
the activity.
[0006] In particular, it would be very important for the trainer to
discover immediately that the athlete cannot keep up with the
pedalling rhythm to understand that physical effort is higher than
his/her physical capabilities with consequent overworking with
possible dangerous consequences, such as for example an abnormal
increase of his/her heart rate.
[0007] However, the current models of spin-bikes do not allow for
this type of instantaneous and "centralised" verification from the
trainer.
[0008] They can show the pedalling frequency value (or the speed
reached by
[0009] the user) on a display associated with the handlebar.
However, it appears evident that such a piece of information can be
advantageously used only by the specific user of the spin-bike and
not by the trainer, although he/she might be interested in checking
the pedalling frequency of several athletes simultaneously.
[0010] Following this critical evaluation of the current state of
the art, the Invention has been devised to provide a control
principle for training sessions of a group of athletes on
spin-bikes, which provides the trainer with the to possibility of
checking immediately whether the athletes can comply with the
instructions given by the trainer.
[0011] The selection of the new control principle has been
conditioned by the need to avoid increasing the weight of
spin-bikes with sophisticated devices, since this type of bikes
must be always minimal, light and easy to use.
[0012] In particular, the invention makes use of the spin-bike
flywheel to acquire Information on the user's pedalling rhythm in
real time, because the flywheel is very visible from a certain
distance in view of the essential structure typical of modern
spin-bikes.
[0013] The spin-bike of the invention is charactierised in that the
flywheel is suitably provided with some radial marks and receives
the stroboscopic light emitted by a series of LED's located in a
circle in front of the flywheel and directed onto the reflecting
marks by an optical prism.
[0014] The spin-bike of the invention must be equipped with an
electronic control unit used to check the flywheel speed and
generate the switching on frequency of the LED's to obtain the
stroboscopic effect.
[0015] Before using the spin-bike, the athlete must set the control
unit at the desired speed, which corresponds to a certain angular
speed of the flywheel.
[0016] As soon as the athlete starts pedalling, the control unit
starts to monitor the flywheel speed and, simultaneously, generates
a switching on frequency of the LED's equal to the angular speed of
the flywheel, should the athlete respect the instructions given by
the trainer on the speed to be maintained.
[0017] Should this condition occur (i.e. the athlete manages to
maintain the predefined flywheel rotation frequency), because of a
visual effect, the human eyes can discriminate the marks on the
flywheel, just as if the flywheel was still.
[0018] It appears evident that the trainer will be able to check
the execution mode of the exercise performed by the athletes under
his/her supervision in real time by simply looking at the flywheel
to see if they are maintaining the predefined speed.
[0019] In particular, the trainer can be sure that all the athletes
are maintaining the predefined angular speed in case of "virtual
immobility" of the flywheels of the spin-bikes.
[0020] Should the athlete reduce the pedalling rhythm, the angular
speed of the flywheel will become lower that the switching on
frequency of the LED's; In this case the optical effect produced
will be an inverse rotation of the reflecting marks of the flywheel
with respect to pedal rotation, as if the flywheel was turning
backwards.
[0021] On the contrary, should the athlete maintain a pedalling
rhythm higher than the predefined one, because of the optical
effect produced, the reflecting marks will rotate in the same
rotation direction as the pedals, just as if the entire flywheel
turned forward.
[0022] The trainer will be able to use these two "optical effects"
to Identify the users in the group who are not able to maintain the
predefined pedalling rhythm or who are pedalling at a higher
rhythm.
[0023] For major clarity the description of the invention continues
with reference to the enclosed drawings, which are intended for
purposes of illustration only and not in a limiting sense,
whereby:
[0024] FIG. 1 is the block diagram of the installation that
provides the gym bike of the Invention with remote optical
monitoring as mentioned above;
[0025] FIG. 2 and 3 are a front and a side view of the flywheel of
the bike of the invention, respectively.
[0026] With reference to FIG. 1, the gym bike of the invention is
equipped with an electronic control unit (I) used to check the
speed of the flywheel (D) and generate the switching on frequency
of the LED's to obtain the stroboscopic effect.
[0027] The electronic control unit (I) Is programmed with Khe speed
of the flywheel (D) of the spin-bike according to the type of
exercise that must be carried out by the athletes under the
trainer's supervision.
[0028] This parameter can be set on the electronic control unit by
the user in manual mode by means of a keyboard (M) provided on the
spin-bike, or in automatic mode if the piece of information is
transmitted by a centralised computer (N) used by the trainer to
all the spin-bikes under his/her supervision.
[0029] The athlete can check the parameters and execution modes of
the exercise by means of a standard display (R) associated with the
keyboard (M) and connected to the control unit (I).
[0030] The transmission of information from the centralised
computer (N) of the trainer to each spin-bike of the athletes is
preferably performed in wireless mode. meaning by means of suitable
two-way radio transmitters, of which one (Q) is installed on each
spin-bike and the other one (P) Is installed on the centralised
computer (N) of the trainer.
[0031] After receiving the parameter of the speed of the flywheel
(D), the electronic control unit (I) starts to monitor the speed
thanks to a sensor (L), suitably interfaced with the flywheel. By
means of his/her own display (R), the user can immediately check
the current speed of the flywheel (D) and the speed that the
flywheel should maintain to comply with the trainer's
instructions.
[0032] At the same time, it allows for generating a switching on
frequency for the LED's (F) used for stroboscopic effect, whose
luminous emissions are directed onto the face of the flywheel (D)
with reflecting marks (H) on the perimeter border thanks to the
presence of a suitable optical prism.
[0033] As mentioned earlier, the stroboscopic effects becomes
immediately visible on the flywheel (D) by simply looking at the
movements of the marks (H) on the flywheel (D). As a matter of
fact, the marks will appear to be still if the angular speed of the
flywheel (D) is equal to the electronically determined switching on
frequency of the LED's (F). On the contrary, the marks will appear
to rotate backwards or forward if the angular speed of the flywheel
(D) is respectively lower or higher than the switching on frequency
of the LED's (F).
[0034] The electronic control unit (I) can be enabled to send the
acquired data on the execution modes of each spin-bike to the
central computer (N) that will project on a giant screen the image
(in digital format) of the marks (H) of the flywheels (D) of all
the exercise parameter by means of a video projector system
(O).
[0035] In this way the pedalling rhythm of each athlete becomes
visible for anybody who is supervising the training session of the
group (trainer, public, other athletes who are waiting to start
their training session).
[0036] As mentioned earlier, FIGS. 2 and 3 Illustrate the structure
of the spin-bike provided with "visual" monitoring function
according to the present invention.
[0037] The bike has a traditional tubular frame (1) that supports a
flywheel (D) driven into rotation by the user by means of pedals
and a traditional chain (2).
[0038] The flywheel (D) rotates together with a shaft with
horizontal axis (3) supported by the tubular frame (1) where the
pinion (4)--on which the chain (2) is engaged--is joined.
[0039] The frame (1) is also provided with a shelf (la) used to
support a sensor (L) in a useful position in order to detect the
rotation of the perimeter border of the flywheel (D).
[0040] A fixed optical prism (E) with circular plan is mounted in
opposite position to the external side of the flywheel (D), and a
fixed disk (4) is mounted in external position, provided with LED's
(F) With electronic circuit on the perimeter; it being provided
that both the prism (E) and the disk (4) have a parallel concentric
position with respect to the flywheel (1).
[0041] The same external side of the flywheel (D) is provided with
some marks (H) located on the perimeter border and capable of
reflecting the light produced by the LED's (F).
[0042] The structure and the position of the optical prism (E)
between the flywheel (D) and the disk (4) that supports the LED .S
(F) must be such that, when the LED's (F) switch on, the light
emitted by the LED's can be directed onto the reflecting marks (H)
of the flywheel (D).
[0043] In particular, the model of flywheel shown in FIG. 2 is
provided with four marks (H) located at 90.degree. intervals,
although a different number of marks can be used, at regular
intervals, since the number of visible marks on the flywheel in
virtual Immobility condition depends on the electronically defined
scanning frequency.
[0044] For example, if the predefined angular speed of the flywheel
(D) is set at 60 rpm, If the flywheel rotates at the set speed, and
the light impulses generated by the LED's (F) have a frequency
equal to the predefined angular speed of the flywheel (D), the
human eyes can discriminate a number of marks (H) equal to the
number of marks on the flywheel (D).
[0045] On the contrary, if the control unit (I) is set to enable a
switching on frequency of the LED's (F) double than the predefined
angular speed of the flywheel (D), the human eyes can discriminate
a number of marks double than the number of marks on the flywheel
(D) and half of the marks if the control unit (I) is set with a
switching on frequency of the LED's (F) that is equal to half of
the angular speed of the flywheel.
[0046] However, it must be noted that these last two possibilities
depend on the possibility that the control unit (I) enables a
switching on frequency of the LED's (F) that corresponds to
multiple or submultiple whole numbers of the angular speed of the
flywheel (D) set from time to time.
* * * * *