U.S. patent number 3,724,844 [Application Number 05/249,415] was granted by the patent office on 1973-04-03 for exercise stand for bicycles.
Invention is credited to Hartford National Bank and Trust Company, executor, Frederick S. Olmstead, deceased, Claire G. Olmsted, executrix.
United States Patent |
3,724,844 |
Olmstead, deceased , et
al. |
April 3, 1973 |
EXERCISE STAND FOR BICYCLES
Abstract
An exercise stand adjustable to accommodate standard size
bicycles and pedalling in a stationary position. The base is
T-shaped and has a U-shaped bracket with opposed upright arms
seated on the leg of the base. Attached to the bracket are fore and
aft angled braces supporting the arms. Vertical plates for rear
axle support are anchored to and extend upwardly of the arms and
carry at their lower ends turnbuckle-operated hook devices to
releasably engage rear fork tube frame members of a bicycle and
thereby clamp the wheel of the bicycle in an elevated position. The
plates can be mounted at selected elevations for different size
bicycles. Mounted adjacent the rear of the leg of the base is a
lever carrying a tire presser roll to adjust resistance to
pedalling.
Inventors: |
Olmstead, deceased; Frederick
S. (Longmeadow, MA), Olmsted, executrix; Claire G. (West
Springfield, MA), Hartford National Bank and Trust Company,
executor (Hartford, CT) |
Family
ID: |
22943390 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/249,415 |
Filed: |
May 1, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/61; 211/22;
482/65 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
69/16 (20130101); A63B 2069/164 (20130101); A63B
2069/165 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
69/16 (20060101); A63b 069/16 (); A63b 023/04 ();
A63b 021/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/73,DIG.3
;211/22 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Stouffer; R. T.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A bicycle exercise stand comprising
a T-shaped base, the leg thereof extending rearwardly of the cross
member and at the outer end provided with a short underlying
cross-piece, the outer ends of the cross member having underlying
foot pieces and together with said rear cross-piece providing a
triangular three-point floor stance,
a U-shaped bracket mounted on said leg in spaced relation to the
cross member and forwardly of the central portion of the leg, said
bracket providing laterally opposed upright arms having forwardly
and outwardly angled braces connecting the upper end of each arm
with the adjacent end of said cross member and rearwardly and
inwardly angled braces between the upper end of each arm and
adjacent side of said leg,
the upper portions of said arms having a pair of matching
vertically spaced bolt holes, and upright extension plates bolted
to the arms, said plates being provided with sets of corresponding
vertically spaced volt holes for selective elevation of said plates
and the support of bicycle wheels of different standard diameters
in raised condition over said base,
said plates having notched portions in the upper edges thereof to
cradle the nuts of a rear wheel axle therein and eared portions
extending forwardly from the lower ends of said plates with
turnbuckle operated linkage straps pivotally hung on said ears, the
outer ends of said straps being provided with hooks releasably
engageable over the rear fork tubes of a bicycle frame forwardly of
the rear axle support section thereof, and
a presser roll device mounted adjacent the rear end of said leg
having an upstanding lever pivoted on said leg, a roll at the outer
free end of the lever swingable forwardly into engagement with the
tire of a bicycle mounted on the stand, spring means urging said
lever rearwardly, and manual adjusting means to advance said lever
against said spring.
Description
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to an exercise stand for bicycles and to a
particular construction thereof enabling use in connection with
standard 20, 24 and 26 inches size bicycles of various frame
designs.
Such stands for mounting the rear wheel of bicycles in an elevated
position and for pedalling in a stationary attitude for exercise
purposes are well known in the art and constructions of various
types, adjustable and non-adjustable, have been proposed. However,
insofar as is known such prior devices have been deficient in one
respect or another. Some are of a relatively elaborate and
cumbersome nature, being difficult to assemble and/or awkward to
use. Many others lack versatility in being adapted for use with one
or two models or bicycle frame styles only, and not usable for the
wide range of bicycle frame designs as are now sold on the
market.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
simple compact structure capable of erection without special tools
and operable to support standard models of most if not all of the
bicycles commercially available at the present time.
More specifically, the invention also includes provision for a
stand having parts which can be packed in knock-down condition for
shipment in a relatively compact package, and as above noted, parts
which can be erected by a user with a wrench and/or pliers only, no
special tools being required. Provision is also made for initial
erection, or a later re-adjustment, to accommodate any of the three
standard size bicycles. Once set up it is available for mounting or
detaching a bicycle quickly without the use of any tools. The stand
will also accommodate the vast majority of commercial models having
single, or triple-speed gear drives. A truss construction is
provided with a basic three-point stance insuring stability in
operation and requiring a minimum of floor space when idle or when
placed in storage. In addition, a unique axle and frame clamping
support means enables the mounting of different size bicycles
thereon without need for any significant adjustment once the
vertical elevation has been changed. Thus many of the limitations
characteristic of prior stands are overcome by the present
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The exercise stand of the present invention contemplates a T-shaped
base having a triangular three-point floor contact and on the leg
of which a U-shaped bracket is supported in spaced relation to the
cross member. The arms of the bracket are supported by forwardly
extending outwardly-angled braces connected to the outer ends of
the cross member and by rearwardly extending, inwardly-angled
braces connected to the sides of the leg. Bolted to the upper ends
of the upstanding arms of the brackets and with means for extending
therefrom at one of three selected elevations for standard size
wheels are a pair of plate extensions notched at the top to seat
the rear axle of a bicycle wheel in slightly raised condition and
carrying clamping linkages to engage the frame. Rearwardly on the
leg of the base is a lever having a roller for pressing against the
tire of a wheel and provide the desired resistance to
pedalling.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an exercise stand according to
the present invention, showing portions of a bicycle rear wheel and
frame held in clamped relation thereon;
FIG. 2 is a view on line 2--2 of FIG. 1 with the wheel omitted;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the stand of FIGS. 1 and 2; and
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, the stand being adjusted to
support the rear wheel of a smaller standard size.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the drawings the stand is shown as having a T-shaped base
comprising a rearwardly directed leg 2 and a front cross member 4.
Members 2 and 4 may conveniently be formed from suitable lengths of
channel iron. The fore-end of the leg is rigidly attached to the
cross member as by flanged ears 6 provided by extending portions of
the leg side walls which are bolted to the rear side wall of the
cross member. Preferably, cross member 4 has at each end small
plates or foot pieces as at 8 suitably fixed as by welding to the
bottom edges thereof. At the outer end of the leg a short cross
piece or rear foot plate 10 is fixed as by welding across the edges
of the channel underside. The foot pieces 8 and 10 provide a
three-point stance for the base and provide a stabilized support
although a floor surface may be uneven. The foot pieces may also be
provided with facing strips of rubber or plastic sheet
material.
The leg of the base is typically about 18 to 20 inches in length,
the front cross member about 24 inches. On the leg and spaced about
5 to 6 inches from the cross member is a connecting portion 12 of a
U-shaped bracket, bolted to the leg as shown at 14. Spaced upright
arms of the bracket at 16 are provided in the upper portions with
vertically spaced matched openings in which tie bolts at 18 and 20
are fixed. The upper bolts 18 serve to secure the ends of angled
supporting struts or braces for the uprights 16. Forwardly and
outwardly angled braces 22 are bolted to the outer ends of the
cross member 4 as at 24. Rearwardly and inwardly angled braces 26
are bolted to the opposite sides of the leg channel as at 28.
The tie bolts 18 and 20 are spaced two inches apart and anchor to
each arm a plate 30 extending upwardly thereof. Plates 30 are
formed with notches 32 in the upper edges to cradle axle nuts 34 at
opposite ends of the conventional rear wheel hub assembly of a
bicycle. At the lower end of each plate a forwardly extending ear
36 is provided, on which a releasable frame clamping means,
operated by turnbuckle 38, is hooked as will be described.
Plates 30 are provided with sets of vertically spaced mounting
holes 40 for alternatively erecting the stand to accommodate a 20,
24, or 26 inch bicycle. As in FIG. 1, the first and third holes
from the bottom comprise one set of holes fitted over the bolts 18
and 20 to anchor plates 30 in position to receive a 26 inch wheel.
As in FIG. 4 a second set comprises the second and fourth holes
fitted over bolts 18 and 20 to anchor the plates for a 24 inch
wheel. It will be clear that the fourth and fifth or top two holes
40 comprise a third set engageable on bolts 18 and 20 for receiving
a 20 inch bicycle.
Referring particularly to FIG. 2 the clamping linkages or plates 30
are shown as including a lower screw link 42 hooked in an opening
of ear 36, the turnbuckle 38, an upper oppositely threaded screw
link 44, and an S-hook 46 hooked to link 44. The outer ends of the
S-hooks are adapted to engage the rear fork tubes 48 of a bicycle
frame forwardly of the rear axle assembly, e.g. forwardly of axle
plate 50 as in FIGS. 1 and 4.
It may be noted in considering FIGS. 1 and 4 that when the
elevation of plates 30 is adjusted for different size bicycles the
lower anchored end of the adjustable turnbuckle clamping linkage is
moved vertically to the same extent as the notched portions 32.
Accordingly, no extensive adjustment of the clamping linkage itself
is required for different bicycle sizes.
As will be apparent to those familiar with conventional types of
bicycle frame-work, the horizontal fork tubes of the rear frame in
various commercial models are generally in the same positional
relationship with respect to the axis of a rear wheel in all three
standard sizes. Such dimensional differences as may exist are
slight whether an axle frame plate as the plate 50 is used or not.
Thus the stand as disclosed will receive any of the three
conventional bicycle sizes of almost all bicycle makes without
interference and with a minimum amount of adjustment. It may be
noted further that plates 30 are oppositely spaced approximately 5
inches apart. With but minor variation this spacing accommodates
the axle nuts of the vast majority of rear wheel assemblies. In
other words, whether the stand is adjusted in height to support a
26 or 24 inch wheel as in FIGS. 1 and 4 to elevate the rear wheel
as shown, or to elevate a 20 inch wheel, only slight adjustment, if
any, of the turnbuckle linkages is needed.
As will be apparent a bicycle is mounted on the stand by lifting
the rear wheel and simply dropping the axle nuts into place in
notches 32, the S-hooks of the turnbuckle units being then slipped
over the rear fork tube members and then tightened for a secure
clamped condition.
To adjust pedal pressure for exercise purposes a pressure roll 52
is provided at the end of an upstanding lever 54 pivoted as at 56
on the outer end of leg 2. As shown a central web 58 between the
legs of the lever 54 is engaged by the tip of an adjusting screw 60
threaded in the top of an L-shaped holder 62 bolted onto the leg.
Spring 64 urges the lever rearwardly against the screw 60 which may
be turned by its outer crank handle end to press the roll against a
tire and adjust the degree of resistance to pedal pressure. Roll 52
is preferably of steel and rotating on ball bearings (not shown) so
as to minimize tire wear. It will be apparent from the relative
position in FIG. 1 that the lever may be advanced to the right as
required for engaging a tire of a 24 or a 20 inch wheel mounted on
the stand.
It will further be noted that, in resting the nuts of the rear
wheel axle in the supporting notches 32 and providing the clamping
linkage shown, the stand will easily accommodate bicycles having
gear assemblies for three-speed operation, the conventional
actuator element thereof being extended from the axle stem as is
diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 1 by the Bowden wire at 70.
As will be appreciated from the above the various parts of the
stand frame work are all held together by nuts and bolts and thus
can be shipped disassembled in a flat compact package. Initial
erection will be seen as a relatively simple operation and without
special tools. The mounting of any one of a wide variety of
bicycles of different specific overall frame design may be quickly
accomplished without tools. The clamping arrangement provides a
sturdy, effective and versatile mechanism characterized by extreme
simplicity.
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