BICYCLE TREADMILL HAVING AUTOMATIC SPEED AND RESISTANCE ADJUSTMENTS

• US 20050164843A1
• Filed: 10/07/2003
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BCI Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BCI Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Papadopoulos, Larry C., Hole, Jennifer D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,220,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/61
• 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 cycle 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 cycle, 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 cycle'"'"'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; and

(d) a force application device, adapted to apply a rearward force on the bicycle, responsive to said signal, and wherein said device is controlled so as to mimic physical effects felt by a cyclist on a stationary surface.

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

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

speed”

relative to said treadmill.

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

acceleration”

relative to said treadmill.

5. The cycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 1 further including a sensor adapted to determine whether a user is standing or sitting on a cycle 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 cycle.

6. The cycle 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.

9. The cycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 1 wherein said rearward force application device applies a rearwards force to a cycle positioned on said belt or rider in approximate proportion to said cycle'"'"'s acceleration relative to said belt upper surface in order to mimic the effects of inertia on said cycle and rider.

10. The cycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 9 wherein said rearward force application device acts on a cycle positioned on said belt, with an intensity approximately related to the said cycle'"'"'s velocity, relative to said belt upper surface in proportion to said cycle'"'"'s velocity relative to said belt upper surface, in order to mimic the effect of wind resistance on said cycle and rider.

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

7-8. -8. (canceled)

12. A cycle 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 cycle;

(b) a rearward force application device, adapted to apply a rearward force to a cycle, said force application device being controlled to mimic physical effects felt by a cyclist moving on a stationary surface while permitting a limited range of forward and backward movement.

13. The cycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 12, further including a power belt rotation assembly adapted to rotate said belt.

14. The cycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 12 wherein said rearward force application device includes a tension element that is connectable to a bicycle and further includes a tension control assembly adapted to impart a desired tension onto said tension element in order to apply a rearwards force to said cycle.

15. The cycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 12 wherein said treadmill is not powered but is turned by power imparted by said cycle and wherein said rearward force application device holds said cycle within a range of forward positions and wherein an additional assembly resists rotating of said treadmill in mimicry of physical phenomena.

16. The cycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 12 wherein said treadmill is not powered but is turned by power imparted by said cycle and wherein said rearward force application device includes a controllable cycle brake assembly which resists rotating of a wheel of said cycle in mimicry of physical phenomena.

17. The cycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 12 wherein said rearward force application device applies rearwards force to said cycle, in proportion to said cycle'"'"'s approximate acceleration relative to said belt upper surface in order to mimic the effects of inertia on said cycle and rider.

18. The cycle riding facilitating assembly of claim 12 wherein said rearward force application device applies a rearward force to said cycle in relationship to said cycle'"'"'s approximate velocity relative to said belt upper surface, in order to mimic the effect of wind resistance on said cycle and rider.

19. A method of facilitating substantially stationary bicycle riding, comprising:

(a) having a cycle rider mount a treadmill, having a front and having a belt having an upper surface, with a cycle, and start to move said cycle forward;

(b) determining said cycle'"'"'s forward position on said treadmill; and

(c) moving said belt with a speed related to said cycle'"'"'s forward position on said treadmill.

20. A method of facilitating substantially stationary bicycle riding, comprising:

(a) having a cycle rider mount a treadmill, having a front and having a belt that has an upper surface, with a cycle having wheels;

(b) permitting said cycle rider to start to move said cycle forward;

(c) determining speed of said cycle relative to said belt upper surface;

(d) applying a rearward force related to belt speed.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said forward movement is resisted in such a manner as to mimic wind resistance.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein said forward movement mimics acceleration.

22-23. -23. (canceled)