Adjustable stationary bicycle

• US 9,403,052 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2011
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cycling Sports Group Incorporated (Dorel Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cycling Sports Group Incorporated (Dorel Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Giannascoli, Antonio, St-Amant, Eric, Thibault, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ginsberg, Oren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nyca T
• Application Number:
  US13/019,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20110319231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 482/57, 482/58, 482/1, 482/4, 482/51, 482/52, 482/59, 738/624.9, 733/790.1, 733/790.7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/096 automatically adjusted according to anthropometric data of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles

Abstract

A stationary bicycle with a frame. A crankset is rotatably mounted to the frame to receive a pedaling actuation from a user of the stationary bicycle. A seat is mounted to the frame to support the user using the crankset in the pedaling actuation. A handlebar is mounted to the frame to serve as a hand/arm support for the user during the pedaling actuation. Translational joints between the frame and the seat and the handlebar are provided for translational displacement of the seat or handlebar with respect to the crankset. A mechanism is connected to the translational joint for locking the translational joint in a selected position, the mechanism allowing movement of the translational joint solely by a selected actuation displacing the translational joint proportionally in the direction of the translational displacement.

Claims

1. A stationary bicycle comprising:

a frame;

a crankset rotatably mounted to the frame configured to receive a pedaling actuation from a user of the stationary bicycle;

a seat configured to support the user using the crankset in the pedaling actuation;

a handlebar mounted to the frame to serve as a hand or arm support for the user during the pedaling actuation;

a first seat translational joint between the frame and the seat, the first seat translational joint being oriented for generally vertical translational displacement of the seat with respect to the crankset;

a second seat translational joint between the frame and the seat, the second seat translational joint being oriented for generally horizontal displacement of the seat with respect to the crankset;

a first handlebar translational joint between the frame and the handlebar, the first handlebar translational joint being oriented for generally vertical translational displacement of the handlebar with respect to the crankset;

a second handlebar translational joint between the frame and the handlebar, the second handlebar translational joint being oriented for generally horizontal translational displacement of the handlebar with respect to the crankset;

actuators connected to each of the translational joints for displacing the seat and the handlebar to different positions during pedaling actuation; and

a controller system that includes, a controller for receiving data from one or more sensors, and a position commander in communication with the actuators, that at least in part due to the received data, commands displacement of at least one of the seat and the handlebar during pedaling actuation such that an optimal user position may be determined.

2. The stationary bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes a power sensor for measuring a pedaling power.

3. The stationary bicycle according to claim 2, wherein the one or more sensors further includes a cadence sensor on the crankset for measuring a cadence.

4. The stationary bicycle according to claim 3, wherein the optimal seat position is determined by the controller system based at least in part on the cadence.

5. The stationary bicycle according to claim 2, wherein an optimal seat position is determined by the controller system based at least in part on the pedaling power.

6. The stationary bicycle according to claim 5, wherein the one or more sensors further includes a cadence sensor on the crankset for measuring a cadence, wherein the optimal seat position is determined by the controller system based additionally on the cadence.

7. The stationary bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the actuators are electrical linear actuators.

8. The stationary bicycle according to claim 1, further comprising a quick-release mechanism connecting the handlebar to the frame.

9. A stationary bicycle comprising:

a frame;

a crankset rotatably mounted to the frame configured to receive a pedaling actuation from a user of the stationary bicycle;

a seat configured to support the user using the crankset in the pedaling actuation;

a handlebar mounted to the frame to serve as a hand or arm support for the user during the pedaling actuation;

at least one seat translational joint situated between the frame and the seat, the seat translational joint actuatable to provide at least one of a horizontal displacement and a vertical displacement of the seat relative to the frame, wherein actuation of the seat translation joint is accomplished via at least one electronically controlled seat joint actuator to provide varied seat positions during pedaling actuation;

at least one handlebar translational joint situated in between the frame and the handlebar, the handlebar translational joint actuatable to provide at least one of a horizontal displacement and a vertical displacement of the handlebar relative to the crankset, wherein actuation of the handlebar translation joint is accomplished via at least one electronically controlled handlebar joint actuator to provide varied handlebar positions during pedaling actuation; and

an electronic controller system comprising a position commander in communication with the actuators for controlling displacement of the seat and the handlebar, wherein displacement of the seat and the handlebar via the actuators, is performable via the electronic controller system when the user is supported in a riding position and the crankset is configured to receive power applied by the user.

10. The stationary bicycle according to claim 9, wherein displacement of at least one of the seat and the handlebar is performed automatically via the electronic controller system in response to sensed data received by one or more sensors in communication with the seat and the handlebar.

11. The stationary bicycle according to claim 10, wherein the sensed data includes sensing pressure provided by the user during operation of the crankset while in the riding position.

12. The stationary bicycle according to claim 9, wherein incremental actuation of one or more actuators is automatically provided by the electronic controller system during the application of the power applied to the crankset via the user.

13. The stationary bicycle according to claim 12, wherein the actuators are electrical linear actuators.

14. A stationary bicycle comprising:

a frame;

a crankset rotatably mounted to the frame configured to receive a pedaling actuation from a user of the stationary bicycle;

a seat configured to support the user using the crankset in the pedaling actuation;

a handlebar mounted to the frame to serve as a hand or arm support for the user during the pedaling actuation;

a first seat translational joint between the frame and the seat, the first seat translational joint being oriented for generally vertical translational displacement of the seat with respect to the crankset;

a second seat translational joint between the frame and the seat, the second seat translational joint being oriented for generally horizontal displacement of the seat with respect to the crankset;

a first handlebar translational joint between the frame and the handlebar, the first handlebar translational joint being oriented for generally vertical translational displacement of the handlebar with respect to the crankset;

a second handlebar translational joint between the frame and the handlebar, the second handlebar translational joint being oriented for generally horizontal translational displacement of the handlebar with respect to the crankset;

actuators connected to each of the translational joints for displacing the seat and the handlebar to different positions during pedaling actuation; and

a controller system comprising a controller and a position commander in communication with the actuators for controlling displacement of the seat and the handlebar during pedaling actuation such that an optimal user position may be determined via automatic incremental actuation of the actuators during the application of constant power applied to the crankset by the user.