Rotary motion transmission system for exercise bicycle

• US 5,031,902 A
• Filed: 08/16/1990
• Issued: 07/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inside Fitness, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Inside Fitness, Inc.
• Inventors: Findlay, Nathanial B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/568,035
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 272/73, 272/128, 272/72, 272/71
• US Class Current: 482/63
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/15 Arrangements for force transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels

Abstract

The exercise bicycle includes pedals and a fly wheel, and the axes of the pedals are spaced from the axis of the fly wheel. A pedal sprocket is mounted on the pedal shaft for rotation with the pedal shaft, and a fly wheel sprocket is mounted on the transmission system in operative engagement with the transmission system. A chain connects the two sprockets. The rotary motion transmission system, which is operatively connected with the fly wheel sprocket, comprises a planetary gear arrangement.

Claims

1. A rotary motion transmission system for a stationary exercising bicycle;

said bicycle comprising;

a stationary support stand;

pedal means supported by said support stand, said pedal means including a rotatable shaft and a toothed pedal sprocket means mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith;

a fly wheel means supported by said support stand in spaced relationship with said pedal means, said fly wheel means comprising a fly wheel sprocket means connected in operative relationship with said fly wheel means;

said pedal sprocket means being connected to said fly wheel sprocket means by chain means;

said rotary motion transmission system comprising a planetary gear arrangement connected in operative relationship between said fly wheel sprocket means and said fly wheel;

said planetary gear comprising;

an outer circular ring gear having a central opening therethrough and being rotatable about a ring gear axis, and a ring member having teeth on the inner surface thereof;

said outer ring gear being connected to said fly wheel sprocket for rotation therewith;

a carrier gear comprising a circular carrier member, said circular carrier member being coaxial with said ring gear and having a central opening, said circular member supporting a plurality of pinion gears equally spaced therearound, said pinion gears having teeth on the outer surface thereof, said pinion gear teeth meshing with said outer gear ring teeth, said pinion gears being rotatable relative to said circular member;

a central gear having a central opening therethrough, said central gear having teeth on the outer surface thereof, said central gear teeth meshing with said pinion gear teeth, said central gear being operatively connected with said flywheel means;

whereby, rotation of said central gear will cause rotation of said flywheel means via the rotary motion of said pedal means.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 and further including

a fly wheel having a central opening therethrough;

a main shaft, said main shaft extending through said outer ring gear, said circular member, said central gear and said fly wheel;

said outer ring gear being rotatable relative to said main shaft and said fly wheel being rotatable with said main shaft;

whereby, when said fly wheel sprocket is rotated, said outer ring gear rotates therewith to rotate said pinion gears, the rotation of said pinion gears causing the rotation of said central gear and said main shaft therewith, the rotation of said main shaft causing the rotation of said fly wheel;

whereby, the rotary motion of said pedal means is transmitted to said fly wheel means.

3. A system as defined in any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said support stand comprises a central support structure for supporting said pedal means;

an elongated horizontal support bar for supporting said central support structure;

a pair of posts extending upwardly from either side of said support bar adjacent one end thereof, said pair of posts providing support for said fly wheel and said transmission system.

4. A system as defined in any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said fly wheel sprocket means comprises a sprocket assembly comprising a plurality of different diameter sprocket wheels arranged in descending order.