Patent Application
20200269084
The embodiments of the present invention relate to an upper body exercising device, and more particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to an upper body exercising device for attaching to and using in conjunction with a stationary bicycle.
Numerous innovations for exercising devices have been provided in the prior art, which will be described below in chronological order to show advancement in the art, and which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference thereto. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the embodiments of the present invention in that they do not teach an upper body exercising device for attaching to and using in conjunction with a stationary bicycle. For example:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,132—issued to Hepburn on 9 Oct. 1973 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 123—teaches a frictional exercising device having a tubular casing non-rotatably mounted in a housing and two brake shoe pairs in the housing embracing a tubular brake shaft on projecting ends of which pulleys having cables wound thereon are mounted. The pulleys, through a ratchet engagement, can drive the brake shaft in one direction and freewheel in an opposite direction. The brake shaft rotatably extends through a pair of annular pressure plates slidable with respect to a surrounding casing. A rod extends through a brake shaft and connects at one end to a rope guard secured to one of the pressure plates and slidably extends through a rope guard secured to the opposite pressure plate. The opposite end of the rod is threaded to receive an adjusting nut that is movable inwards against the pressure plate to move the pressure plates together and into engagement with wedges that slide in peripheral slots on the brake shoes between the brake shoes and the casing wall so as to move the brake shoes into braking engagement with the brake shaft and effect frictional braking of the brake shaft when the cables are operated. The pulleys are freewheeling when they are counter-rotated by rewind springs to rewind the cables.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,572—issued to Brown et al. on Jul. 4, 1995 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 116—teaches a portable exercise device including a base having a flat central section on which the user either stands, sits, or lies. A strap housing is on each side of the central section. The base includes two sections joined by mating extrusions such that the base is disassemblable to provide greater portability of the exercise device. One of the strap housings contains a supply/take-up reel onto which left and right straps are wound and from which they are unwound during a workout by the user. The right strap is routed underneath the base and around an idler pulley contained within the other housing. Each of the straps exits its respective housing and is connected to one end of an exercise bar. A rewind spring, a one-way clutch, and a band brake are coupled to the supply/take-up reel to adjust the force required of the user to pull the straps during a workout and to rewind the straps when the user releases the bar.
United States Patent Application Publication Number 2006/0063650—published to Francis on Mar. 23, 2006 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 94—teaches a resistance exercise machine having a frame that includes a base on the floor and upright posts on the base. Resistance packs mounted for adjustment up and down on the posts are equipped with cams that compensate for the increased resistance resulting from increasing deformation of the resistance elements in the packs. The resistance packs are interconnected by teeth on their rims that allow the packs to be arranged in a stack. An adjustable bench and seat are provided. One alternative is a direct drive system having angularly adjustable levers. Another alternative has a fixed number of resistance packs that can be selectively activated to add resistance.
World Organization Patent Application Publication Number WO2007015096—published to Loach on Feb. 8, 2007 in International class A63B24 and subclass 00—teaches an exercise apparatus that allows the user to perform a variety of aerobic and strength training exercises. User input apparatus allows the user to apply torque to an input shaft of a resistance unit. A control apparatus adjusts the resistance provided by a resistance apparatus coupled to the input shaft according to the output of a number of sensors. In a preferred embodiment, the resistance unit is able to simulate at the input shaft the dynamic response of a damped flywheel or the dynamic response of an object driven through a viscous medium or to maintain the resistance at a constant level that is set by the user. The resistance unit includes a battery or an electric generator device and can be operated without connection to an external power source. Accessories may allow the apparatus to be used for rowing, arm-curl, and shoulder pull-down exercises.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,775,936—issued to Wilkinson on Aug. 17, 2010 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 8—teaches an exercise apparatus including a lower body exercise machine, and at least one upper body exercise module positioned for engagement by a user of the machine. Each module is adapted to provide resistance to the user's full natural arm swing. Each module includes an elongated connector, a user engagement connected to one end of the elongated connector for engaging or being engaged by a body appendage of a user, and a resistance mechanism for resisting a tensile force applied to the end of the elongated connector. The apparatus includes a mechanism for adjusting the incline of the user platform of the lower body exercise machine and/or a mechanism for adjusting an attached railing between a close position suitable for gripping by the user and a far position sufficiently distant from the close position to prevent interference with the full natural arm swing of the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,942,793—issued to Mills et al. on May 17, 2011 in U.S. class A63B21 and subclass 00069—teaches a resistance exercise device that enables resistance training by using one or more retractable cables that provide resistance to the user when the user pulls on the cable(s). The resistance exercise device provides a retraction force to retract the cable(s), which is independent of a resistance force applied to the cable(s). The resistance exercise device thus allows adjustment of the resistance force without affecting the retraction force.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,988,601—issued to Bowser on Aug. 2, 2011 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 57—teaches a seated row exercise system including an exercise cycle assembly that detachably connects to a chair frame of a chair, and an elongated support assembly. The exercise cycle assembly includes a main frame having a first end portion detachably connectable to a frame element of the chair frame. The main frame includes a plurality of support legs for supporting the exercise cycle assembly relative to the floor. A pedal assembly is securely connected to the main frame. The elongated support assembly includes a substantially vertical support member secured to the main frame. A pulley housing assembly is attached to the vertical support member for supporting a cable assembly.
Chinese Patent Application Publication Number CN202028096—published to Lei on Nov. 9, 2011 in International class A63B21 and subclass 00—teaches a portable pull body-building device including a pull device, and a pull rope connected with the pull device. The portable pull body-building device is provided with a pedal on which a box body is fixed. The pull device is arranged in the box body, and the pull rope extends out of the box body. By further optimization, the pull device is connected with a force adjusting device that is provided with a force adjusting knob. Furthermore, the force adjusting device is arranged in the box body, and the force adjusting knob extends out of the box body.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,562,495—issued to Ladd et al. on Oct. 22, 2013 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 127—teaches an upper body exercise apparatus including a spring positioned in a housing interior area. First and second cables have respective first ends operatively coupled to the spring and respective second ends extending away from the housing. Respective movements of the first and second cables away from the housing cause the spring to move toward a biased configuration. The exercise apparatus includes a transmission configured such that an outward movement of the first cable in the absence of an outward movement of the second cable causes all of the spring's resistance to be transmitted to the first cable. An outward movement of the second cable in the absence of movement of the first cable causes all of the spring's resistance to be transmitted to the second cable, and an outward movement by both cables causes the spring's resistance to be distributed equally between the first and second cables.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for exercising devices have been provided in the prior art, which are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described, namely, an upper body exercising device for attaching to and using in conjunction with a stationary bicycle.
Thus, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an upper body exercising device for attaching to and using in conjunction with a stationary bicycle, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
Briefly stated, another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an upper body exercising device that attaches to and is used in conjunction with a stationary bicycle having a seat tube. The upper body exercising device includes a pair of resistance mechanisms, and a clamping mechanism. The pair of resistance mechanisms are disposed on opposite sides of the clamping mechanism, respectively, and are for providing resistance for a user. The clamping mechanism attaches to the seat tube of the stationary bicycle so as to attach the upper body exercising device to and use in conjunction with the stationary bicycle.
The novel features considered characteristic of the embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the present invention themselves, however, both as to their construction and to their method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying figures of the drawing.
The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:
Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to
The overall configuration of the upper body exercising device 10 can best be seen in
The upper body exercising device 10 comprises a pair of resistance mechanisms 16 and a clamping mechanism 18. The pair of resistance mechanisms 16 are disposed on opposite sides 20 of the clamping mechanism 18, respectively, and for providing resistance for a user. The clamping mechanism 18 is for attaching to the seat tube 14 of the stationary bicycle 12 for attaching the upper body exercising device 10 to and use in conjunction with the stationary bicycle 12.
Since the internals of the pair of resistance mechanisms 16 are mirror images of each other, for the sake of brevity, only the internals of one resistance mechanism 16 will be discussed.
The specific configuration of the internals of one of the pair of resistance mechanisms 16 can best be seen in
The resistance mechanism 16 comprises a front plate 22.
The resistance mechanism 16 further comprises a shifter 24. The shifter 24 of the resistance mechanism 16 is operatively connected to the front plate 22 of the resistance mechanism 16.
The resistance mechanism 16 further comprises a back plate 26. The back plate 26 of the resistance mechanism 16 is operatively connected to the front plate 22 of the resistance mechanism 16.
The resistance mechanism 16 further comprises a spool 28. The spool 28 of the resistance mechanism 16 is operatively connected to the back plate 26 of the resistance mechanism 16 via a shoulder screw 30, an SAE back washer 32, and a front washer 33.
The resistance mechanism 16 further comprises a plurality of other resistance components 34 operatively connected to each other between the back plate 26 of the resistance mechanism 16 and the front plate 22 of the resistance mechanism 16.
The plurality of other resistance components 34 of the resistance mechanism 16 comprise, in order, from front to back:
The resistance mechanism 16 further comprises a handle arrangement 70. The handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 is operatively connected to the spool 28 of the resistance mechanism 16 by a cord 71, and is for gripping by the user.
The handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 comprises a male holster 72. The male holster 72 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 is operatively connected to the spool 28 of the resistance mechanism 16.
The handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 further comprises a female holster 74. The female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 is attached to the male holster 72 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 by a shifter transfer pin 76, a shifter transfer pin stop 78, and a pair of pins 80.
The female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 is U-shaped, and by definition, has a pair of free ends 82. The pair of free ends 82 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 have a pair of through bores 84 therethrough, respectively.
The female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 comprises a gripping handle 86. The gripping handle 86 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 is cylindrically shaped, hollow, and has a pair of open ends 88, respectively.
The gripping handle 86 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 sits between the pair of free ends 82 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16, with the pair of open ends 88 of the gripping handle 86 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 aligned with the pair of through bores 84 through the pair of free ends 82 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16, respectively.
The female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 further comprises a pair of handle plugs 90. The pair of handle plugs 90 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 sit in the pair of through bores 84 of the pair of free ends 82 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16, respectively, and extend into the pair of open ends 88 of the gripping handle 86 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16.
The female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 further comprises a pin 92. The pin 92 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 extends through one handle plug 90 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16, through one through bore 84 in an associated free end 82 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16, through one open end 88 of the gripping handle 86 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16, through the gripping handle 86 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16, out the other open end 88 of the gripping handle 86 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16, through the other handle plugs 90 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16, and threadably into a hex nut 92, with the gripping handle 86 of the female holster 74 of the handle arrangement 70 of the resistance mechanism 16 still being rotatable.
It is to be understood that the internals of the resistance mechanism 16 are housed in a pod 96 that is substantially spherical-shaped, with the handle arrangement 70 extending outwardly therefrom (
In specific:
The specific configuration of the clamping mechanism 18 can best be seen in
The clamping mechanism 18 is a clam shell configuration 98 having the opposite sides 20 of the clamping mechanism 18 attached to each other by a hinge 100. The opposite sides 20 of the clam shell configuration 98 of the clamping mechanism 18 have a top 102, a pair of interior surfaces 104, a front 106, a back 108, and a bottom 110.
The hinge 100 of the clam shell configuration 98 of the clamping mechanism 18 is disposed at the front 106 of the opposite sides 20 of the clam shell configuration 98 of the clamping mechanism 18 near the top 102 of the opposite sides 20 of the clam shell configuration 98 of the clamping mechanism 18, and lets the clam shell configuration 98 of the clamping mechanism 18 open at the back 108 of the of the clam shell configuration 98 of the clamping mechanism 18.
The pair of interior surfaces 104 of the opposite sides 20 of the clam shell configuration 98 of the clamping mechanism 18 have a pair of interchangeable liners 112, respectively, thereat for allowing their interchanging to fit different seat tubes 14 of different exercise bicycle 12.
The clamping mechanism 18 further comprises a hand-turn knob 114. The hand-turn knob 114 of the clamping mechanism 18 extends between, and is attached to, the pair of interior surfaces 104 of the clamping mechanism 18, is disposed in proximity to the bottom 110 of the clamping mechanism 18 and to the back 108 of the clamping mechanism 18, is for opening the clamping mechanism 18 when fitting the clamping mechanism 18 to the seat tube 14 of the bicycle 12, and maintains the clamping mechanism 18 closed once fitted to the seat tube 14 of the exercise bicycle 12.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.
While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in an upper body exercising device for attaching to and using in conjunction with a stationary bicycle, however, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.
Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.
