Bicycle treadmill having automatic speed and resistance adjustments

• US 7,220,219 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2003
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BCI Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BCI Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Papadopoulos, Larry C., Hole, Jennifer D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; (Jackie) Tan-Uyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAM M
• Application Number:
  US10/682,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20050164843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/52, 482/54, 482 4- 9, 482/901, 482/908, 482/57
• US Class Current: 482/57
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/009 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled in synchronism with visualising systems, e.g. hill slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/167 on rollers without further support
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0081 Stopping the operation of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0644 with display speed of moving landscape controlled by the user's performance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0242 with speed variation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/16 Platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis , e.g. axis through the middle of the platform; Balancing drums; Balancing boards or the like exercising apparatus with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0056; other exercising apparatus for improving balance A63B26/003
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 26/003 for improving balance or equilibrium balance beams A63B4/00; apparatus for rope dancing A63B7/08; balancing drums, balancing boards or the like A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles

Abstract

A treadmill assembly that includes a frame and a treadmill belt. In addition, a sensor produces a signal representative of an aspect of the user'"'"'s position relative to at least one point on the frame. A belt rotation assembly turns the belt with a speed related to the signal. In one preferred embodiment the speed of the belt is inversely proportional to the distance between the user and the front of the treadmill. In another preferred embodiment the treadmill is sized to support a cycle.

Claims

1. A free motion bicycle riding facilitating assembly, comprising:

(a) a treadmill having a front and including a belt having an upper surface that is adapted to support a user riding a bicycle, said cycle having a limited range of forward and rearward movement 15 cm (½

foot) while on said treadmill;

(b) a sensor adapted to produce a signal related to said bicycle'"'"'s present and previous positions on said treadmill;

(c) a belt rotation assembly adapted to rotate said belt at a speed responsive to said signal;

(d) a motion-allowing force application device, adapted to apply a controlled rearward force on the bicycle, responsive to said signal, without preventing fore/aft motion, wherein said device is controlled so as to mimic physical effects felt by a cyclist on a stationary surface, where such effects include inertial resistance and wherein inertial resistance to actual fore/aft motion comprises a portion of the total apparent inertial resistance felt by an assembly user; and

(e) wherein said motion allowing rearward force application device applies a rearwards force to a bicycle or rider on said belt in approximate proportion to said bicycle'"'"'s acceleration relative to said belt upper surface, simultaneously with said bicycle'"'"'s actual forward motion through said limited range of movement, in order to mimic the effects of inertia on said bicycle and rider.

2. The free motion bicycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 1 wherein said signal is more specifically representative of said bicycle'"'"'s forward position on said treadmill.

3. The free motion bicycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 1 wherein said signal is more specifically representative of a bicycle forward position on said treadmill, combined with said bicycle'"'"'s change in forward position over a period of time, which may also be referred to as “

speed”

relative to said treadmill.

4. The free motion bicycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 1 wherein said signal is more specifically representative of a bicycle'"'"'s change in speed over a period of time, which may also be referred to as “

acceleration”

relative to said treadmill.

5. The free motion bicycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 1 further including a tilt mechanism for imparting a degree of tilt to said belt, to present a slope to said user and wherein said belt rotation assembly responds to said tilt mechanism by altering said response of said belt speed to said signal, according to said degree of tilt.

6. The free motion bicycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 1 wherein said motion allowing rearward force application device acts on a bicycle positioned on said belt, with an intensity approximately related to the said bicycle'"'"'s velocity, relative to said belt upper surface in proportion to the square of said bicycle'"'"'s velocity relative to said belt upper surface, in order to mimic the effect of wind resistance on said bicycle and rider.

7. The free motion bicycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 1 wherein said motion allowing rearward force application device acts on a bicycle positioned on said belt, with an intensity approximately related to the said bicycle'"'"'s velocity, relative to said belt upper surface in proportion to the square of said bicycle'"'"'s velocity relative to said belt upper surface, in order to mimic the effect of wind resistance on said bicycle and rider.

8. A free motion bicycle riding facilitating assembly, comprising:

(a) a treadmill having a front and including a belt having an upper surface that is adapted to support a user riding a bicycle, said bicycle having a limited range of forward and rearward movement 15 cm (½

foot) while on said treadmill;

(b) a sensor adapted to produce a signal related to said bicycle'"'"'s present and previous positions on said treadmill;

(c) a belt rotation assembly adapted to rotate said belt at a speed responsive to said signal;

(d) a motion-allowing force application device, adapted to apply a controlled rearward force on the bicycle, responsive to said signal, without preventing fore/aft motion, wherein said device is controlled so as to mimic physical effects felt by a cyclist on a stationary surface, where such effects include inertial resistance and wherein inertial resistance to actual fore/aft motion comprises a portion of the total apparent inertial resistance felt by an assembly user; and

(e) a sensor adapted to determine whether a user is standing or sitting on a bicycle positioned on said belt and wherein said belt rotation assembly responds to said signal differently depending on whether said user is sitting or standing on said bicycle.