Exercise bicycle virtual reality steering apparatus
First Claim
1. A steering apparatus for altering steering direction of an exercise bicycle that utilizes an interactive computer or television video game simulation, comprising,a steering mechanism primary frame, including a steering tube and a steering plate, said steering tube disposed within an exercise bicycle frame head, said steering plate having a potentiometer mounted thereupon, a steer frame rotatably mounted within the steering mechanism primary frame having at least one spring contiguously suspended between the primary frame and the steer frame such that changing steering direction by manual planar rotation of a handlebar attached to the steer frame creates progressively varying linear resistance, the steer frame returns to a centered position when unrestrained, duplicating the feel and impression of riding a bicycle, and said potentiometer interfacing with said rotatable steer frame providing variable electrical resistance relative to the directional movement of the steer frame to the primary frame, wherein an electrical signal transmitted from an interactive computer or television video game to the potentiometer interprets actual steering position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering apparatus for altering steering direction of an exercise bicycle utilizing an interactive computer or television video game simulation which consists of a steering mechanism primary frame (22) that includes a steering tube (24) and a steering plate (26). The steering tube is disposed within an exercise bicycle frame head. A steer frame (58) is rotatably mounted within the primary frame and utilizes a pair of springs (60) that are suspended between the primary frame and the steer frame. Changing steering direction by rotation of the handlebar (70) attached to the steer frame creates progressively linear resistance to the handlebar movement. The steer frame returns to a centered position when unrestrained, duplicating the feel and impression of riding a bicycle. A potentiometer (32) interfaces with the rotating steer frame providing variable electrical resistance relative to the directional movement of the steer frame to the primary frame. An electrical signal is transmitted from an interactive computer or television video game to the potentiometer which interprets the actual steering position of the exercise bicycle.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A steering apparatus for altering steering direction of an exercise bicycle that utilizes an interactive computer or television video game simulation, comprising,
a steering mechanism primary frame, including a steering tube and a steering plate, said steering tube disposed within an exercise bicycle frame head, said steering plate having a potentiometer mounted thereupon, a steer frame rotatably mounted within the steering mechanism primary frame having at least one spring contiguously suspended between the primary frame and the steer frame such that changing steering direction by manual planar rotation of a handlebar attached to the steer frame creates progressively varying linear resistance, the steer frame returns to a centered position when unrestrained, duplicating the feel and impression of riding a bicycle, and said potentiometer interfacing with said rotatable steer frame providing variable electrical resistance relative to the directional movement of the steer frame to the primary frame, wherein an electrical signal transmitted from an interactive computer or television video game to the potentiometer interprets actual steering position.
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13. A steering apparatus for altering steering direction of an exercise bicycle that utilizes an interactive computer or television video game simulation, comprising,
means for rigidly mounting a potentiometer to an exercise bicycle frame head, a steer frame rotatably mounted into said potentiometer mounting means, said steer frame having spring loading changing steering direction by manual planar rotation of a handlebar attached to the steer frame creates progressively varying linear resistance, the steer frame while the steer frame returns to a centered position when unrestrained, duplicating the feel and impression of riding a bicycle, and means for potentiometer interfacing with said steer frame providing variable electrical resistance relative to the directional movement of the steer frame to the primary frame, wherein an electrical signal transmitted from an interactive computer or television video game to the potentiometer interprets actual steering position.
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14. A steering apparatus for altering steering direction of an exercise bicycle that utilizes an interactive computer or television video game simulation comprising,
a steering mechanism primary frame, disposed within an exercise bicycle frame head, said steering mechanism having a potentiometer mounted thereupon, a steer frame rotatably mounted within the primary frame having spring loading wherein changing steering direction by manual planar rotation of a handlebar attached to the steer frame creates progressively varying linear resistance, the steer frame while the steer frame returns to a centered position when unrestrained, duplicating the feel and impression of riding a bicycle, and said potentiometer interfacing with said steer frame providing variable electrical resistance relative to the directional movement of the steer frame to the primary frame, wherein an electrical signal transmitted from an interactive computer or television video game to the potentiometer interprets actual steering position.
Specification