Turning control device for a virtual stationary bike

• US 6,561,952 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2000
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tonic Fitness Technology, Inc. (Peloton Interactive, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tonic Fitness Technology, Inc. (Peloton Interactive, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wu, Mu-Chuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US09/747,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20020082147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/57, 482/1-8, 482/9, 482/10, 482/900-902, 434/29, 434/61, 273/148.B, 463/37
• US Class Current: 482/3
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0476 by rotating cycling movement arrangements on or for real bicycles A63B69/16
• 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: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry

Abstract

A turning control device for a virtual stationary bike includes a video monitor and a computer program. The program is driven by a flywheel of the bike to show images of a rider on the bike on a road. A control case is fixed at the lower end of the handle with a sensor fixed inside for sending signals, with a shade plate that moves with the handle. The shade plate is positioned between two circuit boards, and has a plurality of opening for controlling lights emitted by electronic elements of the two circuit boards. The handle Controls the shade and the sensor to send out different signals so that the video monitor shows images of the rider on the bike moving in directions according to the command of the computer program, permitting the rider to feel as though he were riding on a road to enhance the pleasure of exercise.

Claims

1. A turning control device for a virtual stationary bike comprising:

a video monitor,

a computer program, and

a bike body with a steering handle;

wherein

a control case is situated at a lower end of said handle, and a sensor contained in said control case has an output terminal connected to said computer program so that said handle controls said computer program, said computer program is connected to a video monitor positioned so that it can be seen by a user, said monitor shows images of a rider on a bike on a road, the images changing according to signals sent from said computer program activated by said handle, and

said sensor comprises two circuit boards with a gap therebetween, a plurality of light emitting electronic elements are fixed on said circuit boards to emit light, and a shade plate is positioned between said two circuit boards and moved by a transmitting rod of said handle, said shade plate being separated from said two circuit boards and having a plurality of openings to correspond to said electronic elements, said shade plate being moved with said transmitting rod of said handle when said handle is turned so that shading locations of said electronic elements is varied to form changing signals to be transmitted to said computer program so as to alter images of said rider and said bike shown on said video monitor.

2. The turning control device for a virtual stationary bike as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said control case comprises an upper cover and a lower cover, said upper cover having a plurality of screw receivers under its bottom surface, said lower cover having a plurality of support rings corresponding to said screw receivers of said upper cover, said two circuit boards having round holes corresponding to said screw receivers of said upper cover, said sensor being placed on said lower cover, said screw receivers passing through said round holes of said upper and said lower circuit boards and screwed to said support rings of said lower cover so that a rotating angle of said shade plate is restricted by a distance between two of said screw receivers of said upper cover.

3. The turning control device for a virtual stationary bike as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said transmitting rod of said handle is non-circular.

4. The turning control device for a virtual stationary bike as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said two circuit boards of said sensor each have a through hole to receive a connecting post, said shade plate has a fan-shaped portion and a small size portion with an engaging hole aligned with said through hole of said two circuit boards, so that said connecting post passes through said though holes and said engaging hole to affix said shade plate between but not in contact with said two circuit boards.

5. The turning control device for a virtual stationary bike as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said connecting post has an upper non-circular recess formed on an upper surface conforming in shape to a non-circular inset recess on said transmitting rod of said handle so as to let said transmitting rod engage and rotate said connecting post and said shade plate synchronously.

6. The turning control device for a virtual stationary bike as claimed in claim 1, wherein said openings of said shade plate are arranged in a plurality of concentric circles, said openings having different sizes and being separated regularly.

7. The turning control device for a virtual stationary bike as claimed in claim 6, wherein said openings of said shade plate are arranged according to Fray'"'"'s code.