STATIONARY BIKE

• US 20050064994A1
• Filed: 10/07/2003
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hudson Fitness, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cat Eye Co Limited (Cat Eye)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Masaaki
• Granted Patent: US 6,910,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/902 Employing specific graphic or video display

Abstract

A stationary bike can control a display content appearing on a screen in accordance with its operation. The stationary bike basically includes a body, a handlebar rotatably attached to the body and a control unit controlling the display content on the screen, and is characterized by a restoring mechanism restoring the handlebar to an initial position. The restoring mechanism is configured with a coil spring wound around an outer circumference of a shaft, a hook securing one end of the coil spring to the shaft, and a hook securing the other end of the coil spring to a tubular member. The hooks are respectively engaged with a bolt secured to the shaft and with a bolt secured to the tubular member.

Claims

1. A stationary bike controlling a display content appearing on a screen, comprising:

a body;

a handlebar rotatably attached to said body;

control means for controlling said display content appearing on the screen;

a rotary shaft rotating in connection with a rotating motion of said handlebar;

a tubular member mounted on the body and accommodating said rotary shaft, and

a restoring mechanism within said tubular member to restore said handlebar from a rotationally displaced position to an initial position;

said restoring mechanism including a coil spring wound around an outer circumference of said rotary shaft, first securing means for securing one end of said coil spring to said rotary shaft, and second securing means for securing the other end of said coil spring to said tubular member.

2. The stationary bike according to claim 1, further comprising:

handlebar rotation angle detecting means for detecting a rotation angle of said handlebar;

a pedal connected to said body;

speed signal generating means for generating a speed signal in accordance with a rotation speed of said pedal; and

brake signal generating means for generating a brake signal, wherein

said control means includes a controller receiving a signal from said handlebar rotation angle detecting means, said speed signal generating means and said brake signal generating means for being reflected in said display content on the screen.

4. The stationary bike according to claim 1, wherein an angle between an installation plane where said body is installed on a horizontal plane and a shaft center of said rotary shaft is at least 68°

and at most 73°

.

5. The stationary bike according to claim 2, wherein

said handlebar rotation angle detecting means has a driving shaft driven to rotate by said rotary shaft,

said rotary shaft has a connecting member having a first groove portion receiving said driving shaft for connecting said rotary shaft to said driving shaft and a pin attached to said rotary shaft and extending in a direction orthogonal to said first groove portion,

said connecting member includes a second groove portion receiving said pin in a rotatable manner, and

a spacer formed of an elastic member is arranged between said connecting member and said driving shaft.

6. The stationary bike according to claim 1, comprising a stopper mechanism for limiting a rotation angle of said handlebar.

3. (cancelled).

7. A stationary bike controlling a display content appearing on a screen, comprising:

a body;

a handlebar rotatably attached to said body;

a rotary shaft rotating in connection with a rotating motion of said handlebar;

a tubular member mounted to the body and accommodating said rotary shaft;

a restoring mechanism within said tubular member to return said handlebar from a rotatably displaced position to an initial position, said restoring mechanism including a coil spring wound around an outer circumference of said rotary shaft, one end of said coil spring being secured to said rotary shaft, and the other end of said coil spring being secured to said tubular member;

a handlebar rotation angle detector operably connected to said rotary shaft, the detector having a driving shaft driven to rotate by said rotary shaft, said rotary shaft including a connecting member having a first groove portion receiving said driving shaft for connecting said rotary shaft to said driving shaft and a pin attached to said rotary shaft and extending in a direction orthogonal to said first groove portion, said connecting member including a second groove portion receiving said pin in a rotatable manner, and having a spacer formed of an elastic member arranged between said connecting member and said driving shaft;

a pedal connected to said body;

a speed signal generator operably connected to said pedal and responsive to a rotation speed of said pedal;

a brake signal generator mounted on said handlebar constructed and arranged for generating a brake signal;

a controller operably connected to and receiving a signal from said handlebar rotation angle detector, said speed signal generator and said brake signal generator, said signal being reflected in said display content on the screen.