Patent Application
20120046147
Most seat backs merely encounter, at most, the weight of a person's back. However, exercise device seat backs may encounter much greater forces as a result of forces exerted by the person to move a resistance source. As a result, existing exercise device seat backs are frequently uncomfortable.
Support frame 92 provides the structural support for all components of the stationary recumbent bicycle. Support frame 92 comprises a structure to carry the dead weight of exercise device 10, the weight of an exerciser using exercise device 10 and live loads associated with an exerciser's use of exercise device 10. Support frame 92 includes at least one attachment point for each of feet 94, foot pedals 96 and frame 20.
Feet 94 each comprise a pad or leg configured to stationarily support frame 92 relative to the floor. Feet 94 provide the points of contact between support frame 92 and the floor.
Foot pedals 96 are supported by frame 92. Foot pedals 96 provide operable contact points between the exerciser and the resistance source 98 of the stationary recumbent bicycle. Each of foot pedals 96 is configured to receive force from a person's feet with the foot pedal's receiving force having a component that is essentially parallel to the floor.
Resistance source 98 (schematically shown) comprise a source of resistance operably connected or coupled to pedals 96. In the example illustrated, resistance source 98 may comprise an Eddy brake. In other embodiments, resistance source 98 may comprise other sources of magnetic or frictional resistance. In the example illustrated, resistance source 98 provides a user adjustable resistance. In some embodiments, resistance source 98 may be operably coupled to other components or may be omitted.
Control and display panel 100 comprises one or more panels operably coupled to controllable or adjustable components of exercise apparatus 10, such as resistance source 98, and monitored components, such as pedals 96. Control and display panel 100 includes one or more control buttons, switches, slider bars, pads or touch-screen icons providing a person exercising with control over functions of exercise device 10, such as resistance source 98. In particular, such control mechanisms enable the person exercising to adjust the resistance provided by resistance source 98. In addition, control display panel 100 provides a person exercising with information regarding current settings for exercise apparatus 10 and exercise metrics. In some embodiments, control and display panel 100 may further present entertainment media such as music, videos, advertisements and the like.
Control and display panel 100 is supported by frame 92 and faces in a general or some direction towards back support 102. In other embodiments, control and display panel 100 may have other configurations or may be omitted.
Back support 102 is supported by frame 92 and is configured to support a person while the person is facing control and display panel 100 and while the person is exerting force against foot pedals 96 and against resistance source 98. In one embodiment, back support 102 is movable between a plurality of preset stationary positions to accommodate different persons having different heights or different leg lengths. In the example illustrated, back support 102 supports a person's back while the person is seated upon a seat 103 and while a person is exerting force against a resistance source, such as resistance source 98, where the force has a horizontal component. In the example illustrated, back support 102 supports the person's back while the person is exerting force having horizontal component against foot pedals 96 with his or her legs and feet. In other embodiments, back support 102 may support a person's back while the person is seated and exerting forces having a horizontal component against the resistance source with his or her arms and hands. In yet other embodiments, back support 102 may support a person's back while a person is standing, wherein the person may be exerting force against the resistance source using his or her arms or hands and wherein forces having horizontal components are transferred to back support 102.
Seat back 30 comprises a surface against which the back of a person using exercise device 10 may rest. During use of exercise device 10, the exerciser's back pushes against seat back 30 as the exerciser's feet move foot pedals 96. Seat back 30 is constructed of material that is both light-weight and strong enough to withstand forces transmitted from the exerciser's body without failure, such as metal or polymer material. Although seat back 30 is illustrated as including venting or apertures, in other embodiments, seat back 30 may be imperforate and may have other shapes and configurations.
Mounting system 40 joins seat back 30 to frame 20. As shown by
As shown by
As shown by
Rim 70 outwardly extends from cup portion 64 and provides a flange by which mounting member 50 may be secured to seat back 30. In the example illustrated, rim 70 includes apertures through which fasteners 78 may extend into securement with seat back 30. In other embodiments, rim 70 may include other structures facilitating mounting and securement of mounting member 50 to seat back 30. For example, in other embodiments, rim 70 may alternatively include projections integrally formed with rim 70 which are configured to snap or otherwise be fastened to seat back 30. In the example illustrated, rim 70 surrounds and is attached to cup portion 64 to stabilize and support cup portion 64. In other embodiments, rim 70 may include a plurality of spaced extensions extending from cup portion 64 and configured to be mounted to and abut seat back 30. In other embodiments in which other means are used to secure body member 50 to seat back 30, rim 70 may be omitted.
Extension 68 comprises a post extending from base 60 along axis 86 in the absence of external forces applied to seat back 30. Extension 68 is configured to be mounted or secured to frame 20. In the example illustrated, extension 68 has an end portion 69 distant from base 60 which is configured to resiliently linearly move in directions substantially perpendicular to axis 86 360° about the axis 86. In the example illustrated, extension 68 is formed from a resilient flexible polymer, allowing extension 68 to resiliently linearly move in directions substantially perpendicular to axis 86 360° about the axis 86 and to pivot, bend and resiliently flex relative to base 60. In the embodiment illustrated, extension 68 is formed as a single unitary body with base 60 out of one or more flexible or polymeric materials, such as polypropylene, polyethylene or polypropylene/nylon hybrids, and is dimensioned such that both base 60 and extension 68 resiliently flex to allow end 69 to resiliently linearly move in directions substantially perpendicular to axis 86 360° about the axis 86. In other words, end 69 may move in any direction substantially in a plane perpendicular to axis 86. In other embodiments, base 60 may be inflexible while extension 68 is resiliently flexible. In still other embodiments, base 60 may be inflexible while extension 68 is a flexible.
In the example illustrated in
According to one example embodiment, one of base 60 and extension 68 is characterized by a torsional rigidity of 300 to 900 in-lb/rad. Here torsional rigidity is defined as the amount of angular deflection in degrees radian that is achieved with a given applied moment or torque. A force is applied to end 69 in a direction perpendicular to axis 86 resulting in a bending moment. Angular deflection is the degrees radian measured from axis 86 to the new axis through center point of end 69 after the force is applied. Rim 70 is rigidly fixed in this characterization.
Retainer 52 comprises a structure configured to facilitate securement of fastener 83 to mounting member 50. In the example illustrated, retainer 52 comprises a blind nut metal insert secured to mounting member 50 within cavity 71, wherein the nut includes internal threads that receive external threads of fastener 83. In one embodiment, retainer 52 is sonically welded to mounting member 50. In another embodiment, retainer 52 may be attached to extension 68 by alternative methods such as with epoxy, pins or the like. In other embodiments, retainer 52 may comprise other structures that facilitate such connection of fastener 83 to mounting member 50. In yet other embodiments where fastener 83 directly connects to mounting member 50, retainer 52 may be omitted.
Bushing 82 comprises a sleeve secured to frame 20 and configured to support fastener 83. In one embodiment, bushing 82 is welded to frame 20. In another embodiment, bushing 82 may be press fit or otherwise secured to frame 20. In still other embodiments, bushing 82 may be omitted.
Fastener 83 comprises a structure configured to facilitate securement of frame 20 to mounting member 50. In the example illustrated, fastener 83 comprises a bolt extending through frame 20 and through bushing 82 into retainer 52 which is secured to mounting member 50. As fastener 83 is tightened into retainer 52, the head of fastener 83 contacts frame 20 to form the attachment between frame 20 and mounting member 50. In yet another embodiment, fastener 83 may be attached directly to mounting member 50. In yet another embodiment, fastener 83 may be omitted, wherein extension 68 comprises an elongated member that directly connects to frame 20, that extends through frame 20 for interconnection with frame 20 or that extends through bushing 82 and is directly connected to frame 20.
Overall, mounting system 40 of exercise device 10 allows flexible movement of seat back 30 relative to frame 20 thereby providing a cushioning effect that is more comfortable for and less fatiguing to the person exercising. Such flexible movement of seat back 30 relative to frame 20 also provides less stress within the structure of seat back 30 resulting a longer component life for seat back 30.
The connection of extension 168 to center portion 162 of mounting member 150 creates cavity 171 which is essentially the same as cavity 71 of mounting member 50 as previously described herein. As such, extension 168 of mounting member 150 is attached to frame 20 substantially as previously described herein for the attachment of extension 68 of mounting member 50 to frame 20.
In an example embodiment, mounting system 340 comprises at least four mounting members 350 including the mounting member 350 joining the seat back 330 to frame 320.
Mounting member 350 comprises a base 360 and an extension 368 extending along an axis 386 in absence of external forces to extension 368. Base 360 comprises a knob or head configured to fit within cavity 344 which is integral with seat back 330. Base 360 is pivotable within cavity 344. Extension 368 comprises one or more components providing attachment between base 360 and frame 320. Extension 368 includes at least one elongated member with an end 369 that is distant from base 360 and a structure configured to facilitate securement of fastener 383 to mounting member 350. In the illustrated embodiment, base 360 is sandwiched between a first compliant member 376 and a second compliant member 377 and is held in place inside cavity 344 by retainer element 388. Retainer element 388 comprises a flat plate, including an opening 390 which is located essentially at the center of retainer element 388 and which is larger in size than extension 368, Extension 368 protrudes through second compliant member 377 and retainer element opening 390, thereby projecting beyond cavity 344. Extension 368 is connected to frame 320 by fastener 383. Retainer element 388 includes one or more apertures through which fasteners 378 may extend to secure retainer element 388 to seat back 330.
In the example embodiment, extension 368 is rigidly attached to base 360. In the presence of external forces to one of base 360 and extension 368, base 360 pivots or rotates within cavity 344 and end 369 of extension 368 is resiliently linearly movable in directions substantially perpendicular to axis 386 360° about axis 386, resulting in essentially arcuate movement of end 369 about axis 386. In an example embodiment, the combination of first compliant member 376 and second compliant member 377 creates a system that is characterized by a torsional rigidity of 250 to 450 in-lb/rad. Here torsional rigidity is defined as the amount of angular deflection in degrees radian that is achieved with a given applied moment or torque. A force is applied to end 369 in a direction perpendicular to axis 386 resulting in a bending moment. Angular deflection is the radians measured from axis 386 to the new axis through center point of end 369 after the force is applied. Seat back 330 is rigidly fixed in this characterization.
In the example embodiment, opening 390 comprises a rectangular opening sufficient in size to allow movement of seat back 330 and retainer 388 relative to mounting member 350 without contact between retainer 388 and mounting member 350. In another embodiment, opening 390 may be circular in shape. In other embodiments, first compliant member 376 and second compliant member 377 may be combined into a unitary compliant member. In yet other embodiments, more than two compliant members may be used. In yet other embodiments, one or more compliant members may be permanently attached to or integrally formed with one of seat back 330, mounting member 350 and retainer 388.
Although the present disclosure has been described with application to a stationary recumbent bicycle, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is applicable to similar devices in which a more comfortable back support is desirable and useful. For example, back support 102 or mounting members 50, 150, 350 may be used in other exercise devises wherein forces are exerted against a seat back while a person exercising is pressing against a resistance source.
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to example embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. For example, although different example embodiments may have been described as including one or more features providing one or more benefits, it is contemplated that the described features may be interchanged with one another or alternatively be combined with one another in the described example embodiments or in other alternative embodiments. Because the technology of the present disclosure is relatively complex, not all changes in the technology are foreseeable. The present disclosure described with reference to the example embodiments and set forth in the following claims is manifestly intended to be as broad as possible. For example, unless specifically otherwise noted, the claims reciting a single particular element also encompass a plurality of such particular elements.
