Patent Application
20070054782
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus, and more particular to an exercise apparatus that virtually simulates a real bicycle riding.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
The conventional exercise bicycles are generally operated by pedaling a rotatable wheel with a variable and adjustable resistance, so as to cause a corresponding amount of the energy consumption for the exerciser. It is so drab for the exerciser to do the body-building with such an exercise apparatus, and the exerciser may hence lose his interests thereon and give it up. However, conventional exercise bicycles only provide for an indoor exercise. The exerciser just pedals mechanically without feeling any road condition variation and acquiring any experience in handling such road conditions, which may make the exerciser lose his interests. In other words, exercising on a conventional exercise bike decreases the desire of the exerciser, and thus hinders the exerciser from developing his physical strength. In addition, a device for exercising the limbs and torso of the exerciser is disadvantageous in that the rotatable wheel thereof is positioned below the seat, which makes the exerciser fail to keep the balance while exercising.
For overcoming the mentioned disadvantage of the prior art, a novel exercise apparatus is provided in the present invention. The provided exercise apparatus is capable of providing the exerciser with an improved balance while exercising the therewith, so as to simulate a real bicycle riding and make the exerciser more interested in exercising.
The main aspect of the present invention is to provide an exercise apparatus with which the exerciser would keep his balance while being on the bicycle frame thereof.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, the exercise apparatus includes a base, a bicycle frame movably mounted on the base and having a seat for seating thereon a user, and a balance controlling device mounted on the bicycle frame in front of the seat and rotatably mounted on the bicycle frame for balancing the user on the bicycle frame.
Preferably, the exercise apparatus includes a rotating unit pivotally mounted on the bicycle frame.
Preferably, the rotating unit includes a driving wheel linked with a driven wheel.
Preferably, the bicycle frame further includes a connecting unit vertically fixing thereon the bicycle frame.
Preferably, the bicycle frame further includes a connecting unit swingably fixing thereon the bicycle frame within a limited range.
Preferably, the balance controlling device is a gyratory wheel.
Preferably, the gyratory wheel is a flywheel.
Preferably, the gyratory wheel is replaceable.
Preferably, the balance controlling device is a swinging unit.
Preferably, the swinging unit operates on a surface, which includes a frame, an adapting device movably connected on the frame, and a control device movably mounted on the frame and operable for adapting the frame on the surface to keep the bicycle frame at a balance.
Preferably, the exercise apparatus includes a retainer retaining the swinging unit to the bicycle frame.
Preferably, the balance controlling device includes a gyratory wheel and a swinging unit.
Preferably, the swinging unit rotates therethrough the gyratory wheel.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, an exercise apparatus is provided. The provided exercise apparatus includes a base, a bicycle frame movably mounted on the base, and a diversifying device pivotally mounted on the bicycle frame and controlled by a user to keep the bicycle frame at a balance.
Preferably, the diversifying device is a swinging unit.
Preferably, the swinging unit is kept in front of a gyratory wheel.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, an exercise apparatus is provided. The provided exercise apparatus includes a base, a bicycle frame movably mounted on the base and having a seat for seating thereon a user, and a virtually simulating device mounted on the bicycle frame in front of the seat and movably mounted on the bicycle frame to virtually simulate a real bicycle riding.
Preferably, the virtually simulating device is a gyratory wheel.
Preferably, the virtually simulating device is a swinging unit.
Preferably, the virtually simulating device includes a gyratory wheel and a swinging unit.
Preferably, the swinging unit includes a first portion rotating therethrough and a second portion kept in front of the gyratory wheel.
The above contents and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed descriptions and accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are front views schematically showing the operation of the connecting unit shown in
FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are cross-sectional views schematically showing the operation of the adapting device shown in
The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.
Please refer to
On the control device 20, a swinging unit 30 whose shape is not limited to the disclosed one is connected with a first end thereof. The swinging unit 30 has a cross rod 31 on a second end thereof, which is parallel to the base surface G. Moreover, an adapting device 301 is movably connected to the cross rod 31.
The exercise apparatus further has a rotating unit 40 including a driving wheel 41, a driven wheel 42 and a gyratory wheel 43. The driven wheel 42 and the gyratory wheel 43 are coaxially mounted on the bicycle frame 10, and the driving wheel 41 is linked to the driven wheel 42 by a link 44. A pair of pedals 45 are connected to the axial center of the driving wheel 41. In this embodiment, the driving wheel 41 and the driven wheel 42 would be one of a gear and a pulley. The link 44 would be one of a chain and a belt, depending on the driving wheel 41 and the driven wheel 42.
The weight of the gyratory wheel 43 will results in an inertia when the rotating unit 40 is rotated and the swinging unit 30 is suitably swung, so as to balance the bicycle frame 10 effectively and provide the exerciser with a balance when the exerciser is exercising. Besides, the exercise apparatus may includes more than one gyratory wheels 43 and the respective diameters and weights thereof are different.
A retainer 60 is provided on the supporting member 11 for holding the swinging unit 30, so as to prevent the swinging unit 30 from bouncing up and down while swinging.
The supporting member 11 and the base 13 are connected to each other through a connecting unit 50, which is described in detailed with reference to
Please refer to FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), which show front views schematically showing the operation of the connecting unit shown in
As shown in
Through the connecting unit 50, it is easy to adjust the bicycle frame 10 to fix at a position which is vertical to the base surface G, and alternatively, to swing within a limited angle. Besides, one should notice that the connecting unit 50 shown in FIGS. 2, 3(a) and 3(b), is only illustrated for the preferred embodiments of the present invention. The connecting unit 50 may also include a supporting rod 51 and a pivotal seat 52, wherein the supporting rod 51 is able to be pivoted to the pivotal seat 52 with other components.
Please refer to
Please refer to
In this embodiment, the supporting element 35 is a rotatable member which contacts the base surface G, and the contact point thereof with respect to the base surface G is regarded as a supporting point. In other embodiments, however, the base surface G further includes the ground or other surfaces.
Please refer to FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b), which show cross-sectional views schematically showing the operation of the adapting device shown in
Please refer to
Please refer to
While the bicycle frame 10 swings, the swinging unit 30 would swing left and right and the supporting element 35 contacting the base surface G is moved corresponding, so as to supply a supporting force for the bicycle frame 10. However, the swinging of bicycle frame 10 would be slightly affected by an uneven base surface G or an excessive slant of the bicycle frame 10 which leads to an adverse manner, therefore, one inventive design in this embodiment exists in that the swinging unit 30 is provided with the elastic member 37A. As a result, the swinging unit 30 is capable of providing a supporting effect for balancing and stabilizing the bicycle frame 10 as well as the exerciser.
Please refer to
As the above-mentioned, the weight of the gyratory wheel would result in an inertia when the rotating unit is rotated and the swinging unit is suitably swung, so as to dynamically balance the bicycle frame and provide the exerciser with a balance when the exerciser is exercising with the exercise apparatus. Furthermore, the provided exercise apparatus also makes the exercise simulation to be more real and interesting. The bicycle frame swing left and right in a predetermined range whose swinging angle is easily adjustable and thus the riding and the quality of riding simulation are well improved. In addition, the connecting unit and the bicycle frame are able to be adjusted to stand vertically or swing laterally, and thus the swinging angle of the bicycle frame is easily controlled by the exerciser as needed.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
