Bicycle-type Exercising Apparatus With Eccentric Mounting

Abstract

The invention is directed to a stationary exercising apparatus of a cycle type whereby a person is cyclically raised and lowered causing his weight to produce a restraint on his pedalling. The apparatus comprises a frame on a base structure for tilting movement in upward and forward, and also sideward directions. The base structure has fixed handles mounted at the forward end thereof to be grasped by a user of the apparatus. The frame has a saddle for a user to sit on and a pair of connected pedals to be driven by the user. Additionally, the frame is connected to the forward end of the base structure by a universal type connection and is further supported at its rearward end on a shaft driven by the pedals, wherein the shaft is adjustably attached at an eccentric position to a vertically and transversely disposed circular member which in turn is rotatably supported on the rearward portion of the base structure. The adjustable feature of the shaft attachment comprises an elongated slot in the circular member radially extending from the center thereof, wherein the shaft is adjustably mounted at any selected position along the length of the slot. In this manner, a user of the apparatus may experience varying degrees of being raised and lowered when exercising with the pedals depending on where the shaft is positioned. Arms extending from the frame and engageably associated with the base structure control the extent of sideward tilting of the frame.

Description

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Stationary cycle-type exercising apparatus are known. These known apparatus generally have a rotatable part on which brake or other friction loading is associated for restrainment. The body of the person is not subjected to any particular additional movement during the pedalling actions.

This invention relates to an improved exercising apparatus and more particularly an exercising apparatus of a kind incorporating foot operated pedal devices which is operated after the fashion of a cycle.

According to the invention an exercising apparatus is provided which includes a base structure, a frame tiltably supported on the base structure and having saddle means, a circular member rotatably carried by the base structure, a mechanism driven by the pedals for driving the rotatable member, and connecting means between the frame and the said rotatable part whereby a person on the saddle for exercising purposes is required to produce a force with his legs for intermittently raising of his body supported on the saddle and frame.

With the rotatable member means may be associated whereby the moment of inertia of the rotatable member and/or its resistance to rotation may be varied.

The said frame is tiltable in a upward and forward direction. Preferably said frame is also mounted for sideward tilting. When sideward tilting takes place stop means are provided to limit the extent of lateral tilting of the frame and associated parts. Such stop means can be adjustable to vary the extent of maximum lateral tilting in opposite directions.

The extent of upward and forward tilting is preferably also adjustable whereby the effort required from the person for each lifting action may be varied.

The apparatus preferably provides handles for engagement by the hands of the person using the apparatus. The handles are advantageously fixed but are nevertheless adjustable to suit people of different body and/or arm lengths. The adjustability of the handles may be vertically, towards and away from the saddle means, and/or the spacing between handgrip parts thereof. The handgrip parts may be separately adjustable relative to longitudinal and transverse axes of the apparatus and includes means for locking. The saddle is also upwardly and downwardly adjustable. In addition the saddle may be adjustable in a forward and rearward direction.

More particularly an apparatus according to the invention comprises a base structure having a front and a rear end and an upright handle bar mounting part at the front, a frame tiltably supported on the base structure and having a front end connected to the front upright part of the base structure by a universal pivot connection, a substantially vertically disposed circular member supported on and located between roller elements on a rear part of the base structure, pedals on a transverse spindle which is journalled on an intermediate portion of the longitudinal part of the frame forwardly of an upwardly extending saddle carrying part of the frame and adapted to drive a shaft journalled in bearing means attached to the frame, and a coupling arrangement whereby the rear end of the shaft is fixed to the circular member for applying rotational movement to said member, the fixing of the shaft to the rotational member being variable from a centre position to a maximum eccentric position. The adjustment of the fixing position of the shaft to the circular member is in a radial direction from the centre towards the periphery of the member. Suitable locking means are provided for locking the connection of the shaft to the circular member in any position between the limits.

On the shaft an additional disc may be provided on which a brake shoe is operative which in turn is operated by control means mounted on the front of the apparatus.

The means for limiting the extent of tilting of the tiltable frame in a sideward direction comprises a downwardly extending arm-like part attached by a portion to the tiltable frame whereas a lower portion thereof engage sides of a rigid part or spaced parts of the base structure. The clearance between the lower portion of said arm-like part and the base structure may be adjustable in order to vary the extent of sideward tilting of the tiltable frame and associated parts.

Due to the eccentrically adjustable fixing of the shaft to the circular member, rotary motion applied to the shaft through the pedals causes rotation of the member and simultaneously the alternative raising, lowering and sideward displacement of the rear end of the tiltable frame. The downward movement of the frame and the person is gravitational. By providing a direct drive mechanism from the spindle to the shaft the person exercising on the apparatus may restrain such downward movement by applying downward foot pressure on the pedals during their upward moving cycles.

The saddle is mounted on a post extending upwardly and preferably adjustably from the saddle carrying part of the tiltable frame.

Due to the handle bars being stationary during use of the apparatus, and the sideward tilting of the saddle, numerous upper muscles of the user are exercised in addition to the muscles used for pedalling and back-pedalling. The handle bars, which are adjustable as aforesaid, are conveniently mounted on a front upright part of the base frame to which the front end of the tiltable frame is swivelably connected.

The invention also extends to a method of exercising on a cycle-type apparatus which includes the steps of employing the weight of the person exercising to produce a restraint on his pedalling. Restraint may be provided by causing the person exercising to be raised and lowered cyclically.

For the invention to be clearly understood and to be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an exercising apparatus constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a preferred form of the exercising apparatus, also constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation of the encircled portion IV of FIG. 2, drawn to a larger scale;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in direction V of FIG. 4 with an encasement cover removed; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line VI -- VI of FIG. 4.

The exercising apparatus comprises a base frame-like structure 10 having longitudinal members 10.1 and transverse parts 10.2, the latter having short legs 10.3 on which the apparatus is supported on a floor. The structure 10, which is of tubular construction, provides on the front end an upright tubular element 10.4 having a clamp element 12 on the upper end. In the clamp element 12 and the tubular element 10.4 a shank portion 14 of a handle arrangement 16 is received and fixed in adjustable fashion. The handle arrangement 16 provides a handle bar 18 having handgrip parts 20 on the ends. Said handle bar 18 is adjustably fixed by clamp means 22 on the shank portion 14.

On the rear of the structure 10 substantially horizontally disposed rollers 24 are freely rotatably mounted in a frame portion 26 of the structure 10. Between the rollers 24 a wheel 28 is rotatably and substantially vertically located.

On the base structure 10 a tubular frame 30 is supported. The front end of the frame 30 is connected to part 10.4 of structure 10 by a universal kind of swivel connection 32. On the rear of frame 30 a steeply upwardly extending part 30.1 is provided having a clamp device 34 on its upper end for clampingly holding the shank portion 36 of a mounting for a saddle 38.

On the frame 30 a gearbox 40 is fixed which locates a pair of meshing bevel gears or the like (not shown) of known construction. One of the bevel gears is fixed to a transverse spindle 42 journalled in the gearbox 40 and having on protruding end crank arms 44. On each crank arm 44 a pedal 46 is provided. The meshing bevel gear is fixed to the front end of a longitudinally arranged shaft 48 which is journalled in the gearbox 40 and a bearing 50. The bearing 50 is fixed to the frame 30.

In the wheel 28, more particularly in a hub of such wheel, a radial slot 52 is provided which extends radially from the centre position. The rear end of the shaft 48 is extended through the slot 52 and fixable in any position in the slot, that is centrally in the wheel or at any eccentric position.

On the frame 30 a fork-like downwardly extending arm 54 is secured of which spaced portions of the lower end embracingly engages with clearance the longitudinal horizontal members 10.1 of the structure 10. The lateral clearance between the spaced portions of the arm 54 limits the extent of sideward tilting of the frame 30 relative to the base structure 10".

In the form of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, which is substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 1, the wheel 28 is replaced by a disc 28.1 and the cage-like frame portion 26 by a stationary annulus 26.1. The longitudinal horizontal members 10.1 are laterally spaced to present a gap between them, instead of being secured against one another, for location between them of a single limbed arm 54.1 which is suspended from the frame 30.

On the rear of frame 30 (FIGS. 2 and 4) a downwardly directed member 56 is rigidly secured and in the lower part of which a bearing 50.1 is housed. On the bottom end of the member 56 the arm 54.1 is suspended from a horizontal transverse pin 60 while the free bottom end portion is located between the laterally spaced members 10.1. At the position of the arm 54.1 the structure members 10.1 are provided with inwardly directed protrusions 62 terminating in spaced relationship and presenting convergent faces 64. The arm 54.1 is located between said protrusions with small clearance and is tiltable between them to a limited extent. In the sloping faces of the convergently shaped ends 64 of the protrusions 62 rollers 66 are captively provided to facilitate the longitudinal movement of the arm when the frame 30 moves to or from the maximum tilted positions and when engaging on said protrusions 62.

On the gearbox 40 lugs 68 may be provided as an alternative position of attachment of the arm 54.1. At a corresponding position the structure members 10.1 must also be provided with additional protrusions 62 and rollers 66 if provision is made for such alternative position for the arm 54.1.

The annulus 26.1 presents a concave inner face. Between the annulus and the circumference of the disc 28.1 balls 24.1 are provided, and preferably captively located.

The rear end of shaft 48 is engaged in a radial slot 52 of the disc 28.1 and is fixed by a nut 70 which engages on a washer 72. On the shaft 48 a shoulder 74 is provided against which the disc 28.1 become clamped.

The annulus 26.1 is mounted on a post 76 which is fixed by its lower end onto the transverse structure parts 10.2.

Adjacent the rear end of the shaft 48 a disc 58 is fixed. On the disc a brake shoe 78 is operative. The brake shoe 78 is mounted on a lever 80 pivotally mounted on the member 56. The drawing of the brake shoe onto a face of the disc is by the inner cable 82 of a sheathed cable 84 by a hand or finger operated lever 86 mounted on the part 10.4. On the member 56 an adjustably mounted brake shoe 78.1 is also provided.

On the fixed arm 88 of frame 30 a revolution counter 90 is mounted preferably for recording purposes. Said revolution counter or the like may drive a sheathed cable 92 for a recording device attached to the part 10.4.

The locating and mounting of the wheel 28 or disc 28.1 on the rollers 24 or balls 24.1 permits the wheel or disc to perform a wobbeling action when rotated with the shaft coupled eccentrically thereto.

On the annulus 26.1 a removable cover 96 is preferably provided.

In operation a person requiring exercising on the apparatus adjusts the saddle height and the handle bars to suit himself. The wheel 28 or disc 28.1 is set in motion by a pedalling action whereby the person is caused to be intermittently raised or lowered. The wheel or disc should preferably be rotated at a constant speed and this requires the person to apply reversing downward pressures on the pedals during the upwardly moving cycles of the pedals and during his downward movement to restrain or retard his downward gravitational movement. Muscles, not used for normal pedalling are thus brought into action and are exercised. Due to the sideward tilting of the frame the person is moved sidewardly thus bringing further muscles into action when endeavouring to balance himself while, when holding onto the stationary handles, his body is subjected to twisting actions whereby more muscles are exercised.

Claims

I claim:

1. An exercising apparatus comprising a base structure having a front end and a rear end, an upright part at the front end of the base structure mounting a handlebar in an adjustably fixable position, a frame having a front end and a rear end tiltably disposed on the base structure, a universal coupling connecting the front end of the frame to the part on the front end of the base structure for tilting moving of the frame in an upward and forward direction and also in sideward directions relative to the base structure, a saddle mounted on and towards the rear end of the frame, a substantially vertically and transversely disposed circular member supported on and located between roller elements on the rear end of the base structure, pedals on a transverse spindle journalled in bearings at an intermediate position of a longitudinal part of the frame, a longitudinally arranged shaft journalled in bearings attached to a lower rear portion of the frame, a mechanism for driving the shaft from the transverse spindle, a coupling on a rearwardly directed end of the shaft and fixable to the circular member at any position between a centre position and a maximum eccentric position; the arrangement being such that a person, seated on the saddle for exercising purposes and holding onto the handlebar with his hands, is required to produce forces with his legs on the pedals for intermittently raising and lowering of his body and the frame while the body of the person is subjected to twisting actions by alternative tilting of the frame in opposite sideward directions.

2. An exercising apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adjustment of the fixing position of the shaft to the circular member is along a radial slot provided in said member.

3. An exercising apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein braking means is provided which comprises a disc fixed to the shaft and brakeshoe means operatively engageable onto the disc and of which the operation is controlled by control means mounted on the upright part at the front of the base structure.

4. An exercising apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a downwardly directed arm is attached to the frame and provides a downwardly extending portion engageable on a horizontal fixed part of the base structure when the frame is in opposite sidewardly tilted positions to control the extent of sideward tilting of the frame.