Adjustable stationary exercise bicycle

• US 7,419,458 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mad Dogg Athletics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: STS World Concept LTD.
• Inventors: Forcillo, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly; Jerome
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAM M
• Application Number:
  US10/609,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20040053750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: 482 51- 53, 482 57- 65, 482117-120, D21/667
• US Class Current: 482/57
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4049 Rotational movement
• 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 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height

Abstract

A new and unique highly adjustable stationary exercise bicycle is presented incorporating a number of features specifically designed for youthful stationary bicycle users. The improvements over the prior art include infinitely adjustable vertical and horizontal seat heights and handlebar heights which are secured in their positions by a quick release lever rather than the standard pop pins. Also included is a lubrication port that allows the surface between the friction member and the working wheel to be lubricated. An emergency brake for the working wheel as well as a quick way to disengage the working wheel from the pedals is provided. Special pedal cage brackets are placed around each pedal so that the youth'"'"'s use of such an exercise bicycle is made much more safely. All of the above elements combine to make this stationary exercise bicycle safe for use by children or adolescents.

Claims

1. A braking system for a stationary exercise bicycle operable to apply rotational resistance to a wheel rotatably mounted to a bicycle frame, the braking system comprising:

a bicycle frame;

a brake pad movably attached to the frame and engageable against a rotatable wheel, that is mounted to the bicycle frame, to provide rotational resistance to the wheel, and

an adjustment mechanism disposed on the frame and operable to vary contact pressure of said brake pad against said wheel, said adjustment mechanism having a force transmitting member displaceable relative to the frame, and a biasing member operatively engaged with the force transmitting member and being elastically deformable by displacing said force transmitting member against a biasing force thereof when compressed, the force transmitting member being movable toward the brake pad to apply additional contact pressure between the brake pad and the wheel, and away from the brake pad by further compressing the biasing member to thereby temporarily reduce the contact pressure between the brake pad and the wheel.

2. The braking system of claim 1, wherein said biasing member is disposed between a first reaction surface that is immobile relative to the frame and a second reaction surface disposed to transmit force from said biasing member to said force transmitting member.

3. The braking system of claim 2, wherein said second reaction surface is defined on a reaction member displaceable with said force transmitting member.

7. The braking system of claim 1, wherein said biasing member provides a substantially linear resistance when subjected to elastic deformation.

8. The exercise bicycle as defined in claim 1, wherein a gap is defined between said biasing member and said force transmitting member throughout a range of elastic deformation of said biasing member.

11. The biasing mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein said force transmitting member is a shaft and said force adjustment member is a nut threadably engaged thereto between the friction pad and the first reaction surface.

12. The biasing mechanism as defined in claim 11, wherein said biasing member is a compression spring disposed about, the shaft between the first reaction surface and the nut.

4. The braking system of clam 3, wherein said force transmitting member is a shaft and said reaction member is a nut threadably engaged thereto, said nut being held rotationally captive relative to said frame and displaceable along said shaft in response to rotation thereof within said nut, such that force exertedty said shaft against said brake pad is variable by rotating said shaft to control contact pressure of said brake pad on said wheel and therefore rotational resistance against said wheel.

5. The braking system of claim 4, wherein said first reaction surface is defined on a lower portion of a hollow tube fixed to said frame and extending there through, said shaft being received within said hollow tube.

6. The braking system of claim 4, wherein said shaft is operable to transmit force there through toward said brake pad along a longitudinal axis of said shaft in response to downward pressure applied by the user to said force transmitting member, thereby temporarily applying additional brake pad contact pressure to said wheel to at least slow rotation thereof.

9. A biasing mechanism for use with a braking and resistance system of an exercise bicycle, the biasing mechanism comprising a bicycle frame, a force transmitting member operatively linked to the frame and a friction pad movably attached to the frame and displaceable for adjusting contact pressure of the friction pad against a flywheel mounted to the bicycle frame, with the and a biasing member normally urging the force transmitting member toward the friction pad, the biasing member being elastically deformable away from a rest position thereof by displacing the force transmitting member away from the flywheel to reduce the contact pressure between the friction pad and the flywheel, wherein the biasing member is disposed between a first reaction surface that is immobile relative to the frame of the exercise bicycle and a second reaction surface disposed to transmit force from said biasing member to said force transmitting member.

10. The biasing mechanism as defined in claim 9, wherein said second reaction surface is defined a on force adjustment member displaceable with the force transmitting member.

13. The biasing mechanism as defined in claim 9, wherein said biasing member provides a substantially linear resistance when subjected to elastic deformation.

14. The biasing mechanism as defined in claim 9, wherein a gap is defined between said biasing member and said force transmitting member throughout a range of elastic deformation of said biasing member.

15. A tensioning mechanism for use with a friction brake and a rotatably mounted flywheel of an exercise bicycle, the tensioning mechanism comprising:

a bicycle frame;

a friction brake movably attached to the frame and engageable against a flywheel, that is mounted to the bicycle frame, to provide rotational resistance to the flywheel;

a movable rod acting on the friction brake;

a member attached to the rod permitting adjustment of the rod relative to the frame and thereby adjustment of a force between the flywheel and the friction brake by the positioning of said rod; and

a biasing member positioned between the frame and the member thus urging the rod towards friction brake, the biasing member being elastically deformable away from a rest position thereof to permit the rod to be pulled and thereby temporarily moved away from the flywheel such that contact pressure between the friction brake and the flywheel is at least reduced.

16. The tensioning mechanism as defined in claim 15, wherein the member is disposed on a lower end of the rod near the friction brake and the biasing member is provided on the rod above the member.

17. The tensioning mechanism as defined in claim 16, wherein the member is a nut threadably engaged to rod.

18. The tensioning mechanism as defined in claim 15, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

19. The tensioning mechanism as defined in claim 15, wherein a gap is defined between the biasing member and the rod throughout a range of elastic deformation of the biasing member.

20. A tensioning mechanism for use with a braking force applying friction pad and a flywheel of an exercise bicycle, the tensioning mechanism comprising:

a bicycle frame;

a friction pad movably attached to the frame and engageable against a flywheel, that is mounted to the bicycle frame, to provide rotational resistance to the flywheel;

a rod, operatively disposed on the frame, having a knob at a top end of the rod;

a member located on the rod permitting adjustment of a braking force between the flywheel and the friction pad by relative movement between the rod and the member; and

a resilient element through which the rod passes and which is positioned above the member to permit the force to be applied onto the flywheel and to permit the knob and the rod to be pulled upwardly to further compress the resilient element and thereby release at least a portion of the force on the flywheel.

21. The tensioning mechanism as in claim 20 wherein said rod is threaded and said member comprises a nut threaded thereon.

22. The tensioning mechanism as in claim 21 wherein the resilient element comprises an elastic member.

23. The tensioning member as in claim 22 wherein the elastic member comprises a spring.

24. A tensioning mechanism for use with a friction pad and a flywheel of an exercise bicycle, the tensioning mechanism comprising:

a bicycle frame;

a friction pad movably attached to the frame and engageable against a flywheel, that is mounted to the bicycle frame, to provide rotational resistance to the flywheel;

an adjustment device comprising a rod operatively disposed on the frame;

a member threadedly engaged on the rod permitting adjustment of a braking force between the flywheel and the friction pad by the positioning of said rod by positioning said rod; and

a resilient element provided above the member about the rod so as to engage and permit the rod to be moved upwardly to release part of the force on the friction pad.