Tandem exerciser and power generator

• US 6,910,992 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arcadio C. Arguilez
• Original Assignee: Arcadio C. Arguilez
• Inventors: Arguilez, Arcadio C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAM M
• Application Number:
  US10/272,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20040072657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/52, 482/57, 482/61, 482 62- 65, 482133-137
• US Class Current: 482/61
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/285 in cooperation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/102 having a common resisting device
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles

Abstract

A tandem exerciser is described with two facing seats and two pedal cranks that cause tandem riders to face each other and pedal forwards. A mutually operable handlebar crank with opposing handles mechanically couples to pedals on both sides of the distal pedal crank. A single sprocket wheel concentrically attached to the proximal pedal crank is coupled by a twisted, figure-eight looped chain to one of two sprocket wheels coupled to the distal pedal crank. These opposing sprocket wheels are mounted to their respective pedal cranks so as to have opposite offset angles relative to vertical plane of frame. These offset angles prevent damaging physical contact between sides of chain. The remaining sprocket wheel of distal pedal crank is conventionally chain coupled to freewheel coupled to hub of flywheel. Optionally, a power generator is belt-coupled to outer rim of flywheel, to produce electrical, fluidic or motive power.

Claims

1. A tandem exerciser for forward pedaling and mutually facing riders comprising:

a frame having proximal and distal ends;

a flywheel rotatably coupled to the frame;

a standing support means;

a first seat mounted to the proximal end of the frame for a first user and a second seat mounted to the opposite distal end of the frame for a second user such that the seats are facing each other;

a proximal pair of foot pedals and a distal pair of foot pedals operably connected to simultaneously drive the flywheel;

proximal pedal cranks and distal pedal cranks;

a pair of handle bar cranks operably connected to the frame wherein one end of each handle bar crank is pivotally connected to a respective said distal foot pedal, an opposite end of the handle bar crank is bifurcated into handle bars such that the first and second user can simultaneously grip and actuate the handle bars, and a middle portion of the handle bar crank is pivotally coupled to a cross member of the frame thereby providing a common pivot axis for both handle bar cranks; and

a power transmission means, operably mounted to the frame, having a drive mechanism that includes at least two chains, one of which is twisted less than one-hundred-eighty degrees, to allow for both users to simultaneously pedal in their respective forward directions to drive said flywheel.

2. The tandem exerciser of claim 1, wherein:

said distal end of said frame is a gantry, said gantry connected to said flywheel by a plurality of interconnected frame members.

3. The tandem exerciser of claim 1, wherein:

said standing support means is downwardly coupled to said frame and is a wheel, kick-stand, T-shaped kickstand, A-shaped kickstand, V-shaped kickstand, or U-shaped kickstand.

4. The tandem exerciser of claim 1, wherein said flywheel comprises:

an axle;

a freewheel attached centrally to said axle; and

a wheel having a plurality of semicircular metal segments attached to perimeter of said wheel.

5. The tandem exerciser of claim 4, wherein:

said wheel is a bicycle wheel having attached rim weights, bicycle wheel having semicircular metal segments attached to outer rim, one-piece metal wheel, one-piece machined metal wheel, or one piece molded metal wheel.

6. The tandem exerciser of claim 4, wherein:

said freewheel is a single sprocket wheel, three interchangeable sprocket wheels, three fixed sprocket wheels, five interchangeable sprocket wheels, five fixed sprocket wheels, a plurality of interchangeable sprocket wheels, or a plurality of fixed sprocket wheels.

7. The tandem exerciser of claim 1, wherein:

said power transmission and transduction means is a chain-and-sprocket system coupled to said frame, said chain-and-sprocket system operationally coupled to the handlebar cranks and the proximal and distal pedal cranks, said chain-and-sprocket system operationally engaged to said flywheel.

8. The tandem exerciser of claim 7, wherein:

said handlebar cranks are operationally coupled to said distal pedal crank, said distal pedal cranks having first and second sprocket wheels fixedly and centrally attached;

said proximal pedal cranks have a fixedly and centrally attached sprocket wheel that is coupled by synchronized chain to said second sprocket wheel of said distal pedal cranks; and

said first sprocket wheel of said distal pedal cranks is operationally coupled by drive chain to said flywheel.

9. The tandem exerciser of claim 8, wherein:

said synchronized chain is twisted less than one-hundred-eighty degrees between said sprocket wheel of said proximal pedal cranks, and said second sprocket wheel of said distal pedal cranks.

10. The tandem exerciser of claim 9, wherein:

said sprocket wheel coupled to said proximal pedal cranks is angularly offset opposite to angular offset of said second sprocket wheel coupled to said distal pedal cranks.

11. The tandem exerciser of claim 1, wherein:

said flywheel is belt coupled to a power generator.

12. The tandem exerciser of claim 1 further comprising:

a first seat adjustment means for adjusting the vertical, horizontal and rotational position of said first seat, and a second seat adjustment means for adjusting the vertical, horizontal and rotational position of said second seat, such that the relative position of said seats are adjustable.

13. The tandem exerciser of claim 12, wherein:

said first and second seat adjustment means is a seat post collar, or a quick-release seat post collar.

14. The tandem exerciser of claim 12, wherein:

said first and second seat adjustment means is comprised of first and second seat posts rotationally adjustable and inserted into first and second seat columns, thereby allowing said proximal seat and said distal seat to be facing each other.