Bicycle simulation apparatus

• US 7,601,097 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miyamaru, Yukio, Yonehana, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): JALALZADEH ABYANE, SHILA
• Application Number:
  US11/095,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20050221960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 482/5, 434/61
• US Class Current: 482/5
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0644 with display speed of moving landscape controlled by the user's performance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

To simulatively implement a retreating movement of a bicycle in a state wherein a rider dismounts from the bicycle. A simulated bicycle includes a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle of a handlebar, a momentary type retreating switch provided at a rear lower portion of a saddle, and a monitor for displaying a scene based on a simulated traveling speed, the steering angle and a signal of the retreating switch. When the retreating switch is operated, an image of a bicycle and a person who operates the bicycle to retreat is displayed on the monitor. The retreating switch is operated through a level so that the rider having dismounted from the bicycle can readily manually operate the same.

Claims

1. A bicycle simulation apparatus comprising:

a simulated bicycle comprising a saddle adapted for positioning a rider on the simulated bicycle and a steering section operable by the rider;

a momentary retreating switch provided on said simulated bicycle and manually operable by the rider after dismounting from said simulated bicycle;

wherein said retreating switch is provided at a rear portion or a rear lower portion of the saddle, wherein said retreating switch is adapted to be operated when a lever disposed below the retreating switch is manually moved to make contact with the retreating switch, and when the lever is moved upward with respect to the saddle and makes contact with the retreating switch, the retreating switch is switched on and

a display section for displaying a scene based on the operation of said steering section and a signal of said retreating switch;

wherein when said retreating switch is operated, an image of a bicycle and a rider operating the bicycle to retreat is displayed on said display section.

2. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 1, and further including at least one mat switch for providing a signal that the rider has dismounted from the bicycle and the bicycle is not being operated.

3. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mat switch includes a plurality of longitudinal electrode lines adhered to a rear face of a sheet and transverse electrode lines adhered to a front face of a sheet with an insulating material being disposed therebetween.

4. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 1, and further including a sensor operatively mounted to a steering mechanism for the bicycle for providing a signal responsive to a turning of the steering mechanism to the left or to the right for determining a cornering of the bicycle.

5. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a warning signal is generated when a bank angle of the bicycle is greater than a predetermined angle for simulating a situation wherein a left or right crank engages a ground surface occurs.

6. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bicycle simulation apparatus further includes a rider detection section for detecting that the rider'"'"'s foot is positioned on the floor;

and

an image is displayed on said display section as an additional condition that said rider detection section detects at a predetermined interval that the foot of the rider is landed on the floor.

7. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lever is rotatably mounted to a saddle support and is biased away from said retreating switch.

8. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 1, and further including a pair of cranks each having a pedal at an end thereof and connected to the left and right of a crankshaft, a left proximity sensor operatively connected to a left crank and a right proximity sensor operatively connected to a right crank for determining the orientation of the left and right cranks and for generating an output that is displayed on the display section.

9. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 1, and further including a lever mounted relative to said saddle and hinged on a saddle support of the bicycle, said lever having a rear portion that extends laterally across a rear portion of the saddle for selectively actuating said momentary retreating switch when the rear portion of the lever is elevated with respect to the saddle.

10. A bicycle simulation apparatus comprising:

a frame for a simulated bicycle;

a saddle adapted for positioning a rider on the simulated bicycle, said saddle being operatively mounted relative to the frame;

a steering mechanism operable by the rider, said steering mechanism being operatively mounted relative to the frame;

a momentary retreating switch provided on said simulated bicycle and manually operable by the rider after dismounting from said simulated bicycle, wherein said retreating switch is provided at a rear portion or a rear lower portion of saddle, said retreating switch being operated when a lever disposed below said retreating switch is manually moved upwardly to make contact with said retreating switch when the lever is moved upward with respect to the saddle and makes contact with the retreating switch, said retreating switch is switched on; and

a display section for displaying a scene based on the operation of said steering section and a signal of said retreating switch;

wherein when said retreating switch is operated, an image of a bicycle and a rider operating the bicycle to retreat is displayed on said display section.

11. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 10, and further including at least one mat switch for providing a signal that the rider has dismounted from the bicycle and the bicycle is not being operated.

12. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the mat switch includes a plurality of longitudinal electrode lines adhered to a rear face of a sheet and transverse electrode lines adhered to a front face of a sheet with an insulating material being disposed therebetween.

13. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 10, and further including a sensor operatively mounted to the steering mechanism for the bicycle for providing a signal responsive to a turning of the steering mechanism to the left or to the right for determining a cornering of the bicycle.

14. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a warning signal is generated when a bank angle of the bicycle is greater than a predetermined angle for simulating a situation wherein a left or right crank engages a ground surface occurs.

15. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said bicycle simulation apparatus further includes a rider detection section for detecting that the rider'"'"'s foot is positioned on the floor;

and

an image is displayed on said display section as an additional condition that said rider detection section detects at a predetermined interval that the foot of the rider is landed on the floor.

16. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 10, and since said lever is provided at the rear portion or the rear lower portion of said saddle, the lever does not provide an obstacle when the rider is seated on the saddle.

17. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 10, and further including a pair of cranks each having a pedal at an end thereof and connected to the left and right of a crankshaft, a left proximity sensor operatively connected to a left crank and a right proximity sensor operatively connected to a right crank for determining the orientation of the left and right cranks and for generating an output that is displayed on the display section.

18. The bicycle simulation apparatus according to claim 10, and further including a lever mounted relative to said saddle and hinged on a saddle support of the bicycle, said lever having a rear portion that extends laterally across a rear portion of the saddle for selectively actuating said momentary retreating switch when the rear portion of the lever is elevated with respect to the saddle.