U.S. patent application number 11/765709 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-25 for crossover exercise recumbent bike.
Invention is credited to Ming-Hsiung CHEN.
Application Number | 20080318738 11/765709 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40137084 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080318738 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHEN; Ming-Hsiung |
December 25, 2008 |
CROSSOVER EXERCISE RECUMBENT BIKE
Abstract
The invention relates to a crossover exercise recumbent bike,
comprising a pedal mechanism positioned on the bike body with a
seat provided thereon. The characteristic of the invention lies in
that each of two pedal cranks thereof has an axis of rotation
tilted forward to form an included angle between the transversal
direction; accordingly, when an exerciser steps on pedals to rotate
the two cranks, the invention enables the exerciser to promote the
multiple efficacy of exercise of firming up lower body (legs and
butt) and strengthening upper body (flat abs) at the same time.
Inventors: |
CHEN; Ming-Hsiung; (Taipei
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RABIN & Berdo, PC
1101 14TH STREET, NW, SUITE 500
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
40137084 |
Appl. No.: |
11/765709 |
Filed: |
June 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/57 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2022/0652 20130101;
A63B 2022/0028 20130101; A63B 2225/09 20130101; A63B 2022/0617
20130101; A63B 22/0605 20130101; A63B 21/015 20130101; A63B
2208/0238 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/57 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/08 20060101
A63B022/08 |
Claims
1. A crossover exercise recumbent bike, comprising: a pedal
mechanism positioned on a bike body with a seat provided thereon,
thereby enabling an exerciser to sit on the bike and step on the
pedal mechanism for exercise, each of two cranks of the pedal
mechanism having an axis of rotation tilted forward to form an
included angle with a direction transverse to an extension from the
seat.
2. The crossover exercise recumbent bike of claim 1, wherein the
bike body has an extensible tube insert provided on a front of the
seat, and a fastening screw bolt is used to fasten or adjust the
tube insert; a support rack is provided on a front of the tube
insert and the pedal mechanism is provided on the support rack.
3. The crossover exercise recumbent bike of claim 2, wherein the
body enables a backrest whose angle of inclination is adjustable to
be provided on a rear of the seat.
4. The crossover exercise recumbent bike of claim 1, wherein the
included angle between each axis of rotation of the two cranks on
the pedal mechanism and the transversal direction is from 10 to 35
degrees.
5. The crossover exercise recumbent bike of claim 1, wherein the
pedal mechanism has an interlocking mechanism provided between two
rotary shafts of the cranks, thereby enabling the cranks to form a
few degrees of forward tilt for joint rotation.
6. The crossover exercise recumbent bike of claim 5, wherein the
interlocking mechanism has a bevel gear provided on an inner
lateral side of each of the rotary shafts of the two cranks; the
bevel gears are interlocked and a brake is positioned on either of
the two rotary shafts.
7. The crossover exercise recumbent bike of claim 5, wherein the
interlocking mechanism has a bevel gear provided on an inner
lateral side of each of the rotary shafts of the two cranks; the
two bevel gears have a transmission device provided therebetween;
the transmission device has two bevel gears respectively provided
on two ends of a rotary shaft, so that said bevel gears of the
rotary shaft are respectively engaged with the bevel gears of the
two cranks for joint movement, the rotary shaft of the transmission
device has a brake positioned in a middle thereof.
8. The crossover exercise recumbent bike of claim 5, wherein the
interlocking mechanism has a transmission shaft provided on inner
lateral sides of the two rotary shafts of the cranks, the
transmission shaft enables two ends thereof to link with the two
rotary shafts by two universal joints each for joint rotation; the
transmission shaft has a brake positioned in a middle thereof.
9. The crossover exercise recumbent bike of claim 6, wherein the
brake comprises a frictional wheel, a belt and a spin button
control; the frictional wheel is positioned on one of said rotary
shafts for joint rotation, the belt has one end thereof positioned
on the support rack and the other end thereof connected to a screw
bolt, which pierces through the support rack and is screwed into
the spin button control.
10. The crossover exercise recumbent bike of claim 1, wherein the
two cranks of the pedal mechanism have respective pedals provided
on the outer sides thereof, the pedal for the exerciser to step on
has an inclined plane inwardly formed on a surface thereof.
11. The crossover exercise recumbent bike of claim 1, wherein the
pedal mechanism has a pedal thereof and a pedal shaft of the crank
assembled by a universal joint, a vertical tube is positioned on
top of a sleeve, which is screwed by a screw nut after being
slipped on the pedal shaft; the pedal has two sleeves positioned on
a bottom thereof corresponding to both ends of the vertical tube, a
shaft support is employed to pierce through said sleeves and tube
for assembly.
12. The crossover exercise recumbent bike of claim 1, wherein the
seat of the bike body has a short shaft pivoted in a round hole on
a bottom plate and a plurality of rollers provided on a bottom side
thereof.
13. The crossover exercise recumbent bike of claim 7, wherein the
brake comprises a frictional wheel, a belt and a spin button
control; the frictional wheel is positioned on one of said rotary
shafts for joint rotation, the belt has one end thereof positioned
on the support rack and the other end thereof connected a screw
bolt, which pierces through the support rack and is screwed into
the spin button control.
14. The crossover exercise recumbent bike of claim 8, wherein the
brake comprises a frictional wheel, a belt and a spin button
control; the frictional wheel is positioned on one of said rotary
shafts for joint rotation, the belt has one end thereof positioned
on the support rack and the other end thereof connected a screw
bolt, which pierces through the support rack and is screwed into
the spin button control.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] I. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a crossover exercise
recumbent bike, especially to a rotary pedal mechanism of a
recumbent bike having an axis of rotation of each of two cranks
thereof with a few degrees of forward tilt, thereby enabling an
exerciser to promote the multiple efficacy of exercise of firming
up the lower body (legs and butt) and strengthening the upper body
(flat abs) at the same time.
[0003] II. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Generally, people lack exercise opportunities due to the
living style in modern society and the constraints on athletic
field and exercise equipment provided. To solve these problems,
there are fitness centers and various exercise machines provided on
the market for the selection of general public. However, a
conventional rotary recumbent bike has its pedal mechanism made the
same as a pedal mechanism of a general bike, which is a coaxial
rotary structure on both left and right cranks. When a user pedals
on the cranks for exercise, the conventional bike merely enables
the exerciser to lift and press their legs on the upright
direction, so as to achieve single efficacy of exercise of training
quadriceps on the front of the thighs and the biceps on the rear
thereof, without additionally exercising the adductor muscle group
on the inner thigh and muscle groups of lower body (waist and
butt). Therefore, the conventional rotary recumbent bike does not
possess the function of strengthening and training the muscle
groups of the lower body. The conventional rotary recumbent bike
needs to be improved.
[0005] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a
crossover exercise recumbent bike, enabling each of two pedal
cranks thereof to have an axis of rotation tilted forward, thereby
enabling an exerciser to exercise the lower body (legs and butt)
while strengthening the upper body (flat abs) at the same time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a
crossover exercise recumbent bike, mainly comprising a pedal
mechanism positioned on the bike body with a seat provided thereon,
thereby enabling an exerciser to seat on the bike and steps on the
pedal mechanism for exercise; the characteristic of the invention
lies in that each of two bicycle cranks of the pedal mechanism
having an axis of rotation tilted forward to form an included angle
with the transversal direction.
[0007] The assembly of the invention enables a user to sit on the
seat of the bike body and rotationally step on the two cranks of
the pedal mechanism, seeing that the two cranks are slantwise
rotated by way of the exerciser's alternating left and right leg
movements, that is, the exerciser alternatively pedals the left leg
on the right front and the right leg on the left front; therefore,
when a user employs the invention to do exercise, the invention
forcedly enables the exerciser to wiggle his/her lower body on both
left or right side, and at the same time, naturally wiggle his/her
upper body on the opposite side in order to balance
himself/herself, so as to enable the exerciser to promote the
multiple efficacy of exercise of firming up lower body (legs and
butt), strengthening upper body (flat abs) at the same time,
properly extending and stretching the muscle groups of lower legs,
thighs, hips and the waist. Moreover, the mechanism of the
invention enables an exerciser to rotate the two cranks to promote
the multiple efficacy of exercise of firming up arm and pectoral
muscle muscles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a top-down overlook view showing the structure
assembly of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional assembly view showing the
structure of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a top-down view showing a pedal mechanism of the
invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top-down view showing a brake of the structure
in accordance with the invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the assembly of another
preferable embodiment of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the assembly of another
preferable embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional assembly view showing another
pedal structure of the pedal mechanism of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional assembly view showing another
pedal structure of the pedal mechanism of the invention; and
[0016] FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional exploded view showing a seat
portion of the invention;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Further aspects, objects, and desirable features of the
invention will be better understood from the detailed description
and drawings that follow in which various embodiments of the
disclosed invention are illustrated by way of examples.
[0018] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the "crossover exercise
recumbent bike" of the invention mainly comprises a pedal mechanism
20 positioned on a bike body 10 with a seat 11 provided thereon,
enabling an exerciser to sit on the seat 11 and step on the pedal
mechanism 20 while exercising. The invention lies in that each of
two cranks 21 or 22 of the pedal mechanism 20 has an axis of
rotation 23 or 24 tilted forward and form an included angle "a"
with a transversal direction 25.
[0019] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the body 10
has an extensible tube insert 12 provided on the front of the seat
11 and a fastening screw bolt 121 is used to fasten or adjust the
tube insert. In addition, a support rack 13 is upwardly provided on
the front of the tube insert 12 and the pedal mechanism 20 is
provided on top of the support rack 13. Therefore, each exerciser
is able to apply the extensible tube insert 12 to flexibly adjust
the distance between the pedal mechanism 20 and the seat 11,
according to different height and/or leg length requirements.
Moreover, the body 10 enables a backrest, 14 whose angle of
inclination is adjustable, to be provided on the rear of the seat
11. Thus, each exerciser is able to exercise with his/her most
comfortable posture.
[0020] The assembly of the invention enables a user to sit on the
seat 11 of the bike body 10 and rotationally step on the two cranks
21 and 22 of the pedal mechanism 20, due to the two cranks 21 and
22 being slantwise rotated by way of the exerciser's alternating
left and right leg movements (as shown in FIG. 1). That is, the
exerciser alternatively pedals the left leg on the right front and
the right leg on the left front. Therefore, when a user employs the
invention to exercise, the invention forcedly enables the exerciser
to wiggle his/her lower body on both their left or right side, and
at the same time, naturally wiggle his/her upper body on the
opposite side in order to balance himself/herself, so as to help
the exerciser to exercise the lower body (legs and butt), while
strengthening the upper body (flat abs) at the same time, and while
properly extending and stretching the muscle groups of lower legs,
thighs, hips and the waist. Moreover, the mechanism of the
invention enables an exerciser to rotate the two cranks 21 and 22
to promote the multiple efficacy of exercise of firming up arm and
pectoral muscle muscles.
[0021] With the reference to FIG. 3, the included angle ".alpha."
between the axis of rotation 23, 24 of each of the two cranks 21,
22 on the pedal mechanism 20 and the transversal axis direction 25
is from 10 to 35 degrees, and the optimal included angle is at 25
degrees.
[0022] Furthermore, an interlocking mechanism is provided between
rotary shafts 211 and 221 of the two cranks 21 and 22 of the pedal
mechanism 20 on the inner lateral sides of the rotary shafts 211
and 221 (i.e., the inner part of the support rack 13). Two bevel
gears 212 and 222 are provided to be engaged with each other and
jointly interlocked, enabling the cranks 21 and 22 to form a few
degrees of forward tilt to achieve the objective of the invention.
In addition, the interlocking mechanism enables a brake 26 to be
positioned on either of the rotary shafts 221 (or 211). The brake
26 (as shown in FIG. 4) comprises a frictional wheel 261, a belt
262 and a spin button control 263. The frictional wheel 261 is
positioned on the rotary shaft 221 for joint rotation. The belt 262
has one end thereof positioned on the support rack 13 and the other
end thereof connected to a screw bolt 264, which is pierced through
the support rack 13 and screwed with the spin button control 263.
Accordingly, the spin button control 263 is able to control the
friction drag of the belt 262 against the frictional wheel 261 to
enable an exerciser to adjust his/her exercise force (load).
[0023] The interlocking mechanism of the invention is able to be
designed as two embodiments as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. With
reference to FIG. 5, the interlocking mechanism has a bevel gear
212, 222 provided on each of the two rotary shafts 211, 221 of the
cranks 21, 22 on the inner lateral side thereof. The two bevel
gears 212 and 222 have a transmission device 27 provided
in-between. The transmission device 27 has two bevel gears 272, 273
respectively provided on two ends of a rotary shaft 271 to
respectively engage with the bevel gears 212, 222 of the two cranks
for joint movement, enabling the cranks 21 and 22 to form a few
degrees of forward tilt for joint rotation. The transmission device
27 has a brake 26 positioned in the middle of the rotary shaft 271
as shown in FIG. 4. With reference to FIG. 6, the interlocking
mechanism of the invention is changed based on the preferred
embodiment as shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, a transmission
shaft 28 is provided on the inner lateral sides of the two rotary
shafts 211 and 221 of the cranks 21 and 22. The transmission shaft
28 enables two ends thereof to link with the two rotary shafts 211
and 221 by two universal joints 281 and 282 each for joint
rotation, enabling the cranks 21 and 22 to tilt forward. In
addition, the transmission shaft 28 has a brake 26 positioned in
the middle thereof. Consequently, the two different embodiments are
able to achieve the expected objective of the invention.
[0024] Moreover, with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, the cranks 21
and 22 of the invention each have respective pedals 213 and 223
provided on the outer sides thereof. The pedal 213 (223) for an
exerciser to step on has an inclined plane 2131 (2231) inwardly
formed on the surface thereof. Therefore, when the invention is
applied, the pedals 213 and 223 are able to move in harmony with
the inclined angles of the cranks 21 and 22, to allow an exerciser
to meet his/her ergonomic needs for use. The invention is able to
be altered as shown in FIG. 8, so that a universal joint is
employed to connect both of the pedal 213 (223) and a pedal shaft
214 (224) of the crank 21 (22). A vertical tube 216 (226) is
positioned on top of a sleeve 215 (225), which is screwed by a
screw nut 217 (227) after being slipped on the pedal shaft 214
(224). In addition, the pedal 213 (223) has two sleeves 2132 (2232)
positioned on the bottom thereof corresponding to both ends of the
vertical tube 216 (226). A shaft support 2133 (2233) is employed to
pierce through the sleeves and tube for assembly. Accordingly, the
universal joint possesses the function of automatically adjusting
the angle of the pedal 213 (223) by simultaneously using the pedal
shaft 214 (224) and the shaft support 2133 (2233) as revolving
spindles. Therefore, when an exerciser uses the invention for
exercise, he/she is able to adjust the angle of the pedal 213 (223)
with more flexibility, that is, the invention conforms to the
ergonomic design to enable an exerciser to do crossover step
exercise.
[0025] With reference to FIG. 9, the embodiment of the invention
shows the wriggling and squirming movement that a user can make
when he/she is doing exercise. The seat 11 of the body 10 has a
short shaft 111 downwardly extruded on the bottom thereof and
pivoted in a round hole 151 on a bottom plate 15. In addition, the
seat 11 has a plurality of rollers 112 provided on the bottom side
thereof. Consequently, when a user is sitting on the seat 11 and
doing exercise, the crossover step movement of the exerciser easily
enables his/her body on the seat 11 to simultaneously wriggle and
squirm smoothly.
[0026] To sum up, the "crossover exercise recumbent bike" of the
invention certainly enables an exerciser to promote the multiple
efficacy of exercise of firming up the lower body (legs and butt)
and strengthening the upper body (flat abs) at the same time.
[0027] New characteristics and advantages of the invention covered
by this document have been set forth in the foregoing description.
It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are
for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a
definition of the limits of the invention. Changes in methods,
shapes, structures or devices may be made in details without
exceeding the scope of the invention by those who are skilled in
the art. The scope of the invention is, of course, defined in the
language in which the appended claims are expressed.
* * * * *