Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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EXERCISE BICYCLE
DESCRIPTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[00011 The present invention relates to an exercise bicycle, that is, a
bicycle of the type used
in gyms or private homes, allowing similar use and exercise as a conventional
road bicycle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[OO1A] An exercise bicycle with an arched frame, crossbars, pedal shaft, mast
and seat is
disclosed in FR-A-2032043. An exercise bicycle with the mast, seat, and
handlebar
connected is disclosed in FR-A-2624751.
[0002] The object of the invention is to obtain an exercise bicycle which
closely
approximates the functional simulation of a conventional road bicycle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
100031 To achieve this, more specifically, the bicycle consists of a frame
made from two
tubes joined at their ends, which form an angle which is placed considerably
higher than the
ends, on which ends transverse support tubes are placed, on the end of which
are stands or
suction cups for support to the floor, while inside the aforementioned angle
is a crossbeam,
formed from two lateral flat bars, between which is placed the pedal shaft
with appropriate
ball bearings and with the classical drive pulley, to which any available
variable braking
mechanism will be connected in order to control the effort required on the
pedals, this
crossbeam also being stiffened by another two ascending flat bars which also
emerge from
the support bushings for the aforementioned ball bearings, and which reach the
anterior
longitudinal arm of the frame, extending to the other side as a tubular mast
designed to place
the traditional seat on its end so that it's position can be adjusted, and
meeting a crossbeam
near its top end which extends forward, thus stiffening the mast, together
with a
reinforcement angular bracket, also with a tubular structure, inside which
[003A] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
exercise bicycle,
comprising:
- a frame which at the bottom ends in support crossbars;
- a bridge structure connected to the frame;
- a stand for the pedal shaft supported by said bridge structure;
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- a mast, to which the seat is directly connected, rising from said frame,
said mast
being connected near its upper end to an anterior-upper crossbar which extends
forward;
wherein the frame is made out of an anterior tube and a posterior tube welded
together at an end, defining an angle which is located on the vertical,
longitudinal and mid
plane of the bicycle;
an ann, associated to a support of a handlebar, is telescopically attached to
the
anterior-upper crossbar, and
the frame is joined to the support crossbars so that it may oscillate side to
side, in
order for which between tubes of said frame and support crossbars are placed
corresponding
pairs of lateral shock absorbers, in which case the support crossbars end in
suction cups for
adherence to the floor.
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is an arm which ends in a double handlebar which telescoping inside the
bracket and
which may be locked in any position, so that the handlebar can be adjusted in
many ways.
100041 The main tubes of the frame can be connected to the leg-like crossbars
rigidly or
jointedly, in which latter case between each tube and the corresponding
crossbar are
placed a pair of lateral shock absorbers against which it is possible to swing
the frame
side to side, so as to simulate the classical movement of a road bicycle as
the body rises
from the seat as when climbing hills or sprinting. In this case the stands
must be the
aforementioned suction cups to minimise the risk of the bicycle falling
sideways.
[00051 It only remains to point out that two covers forming a cowling will be
affixed to
the sides, hiding the moving parts of the bicycle and the bridge support
structure which
supports them for cosmetic reasons, for this same reason the mast and upper
crossbar
shall also be hidden by similar lateral covers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00061 ln order to complement the description being made and to aid a better
understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a
preferred
embodiment of the same as an integral part of said description is attached a
set of
drawings, where with an illustrative and non-limiting nature the following is
shown:
100071 Figure 1.- Shows, in a perspective sketch, the frame or basic structure
of the
exercise bicycle which comprises the object of tlne present invention, without
the moving
mechanisms or the handlebar.
100081 Figure 2.- Shows a side elevation of the objects shown in the above
figure, on
which the pedal shaft and accessories have been installed.
100091 Figure 3.- Shows an enlarged cross section of the objects shown in the
previous
figure, along the A-B line of said figure.
[0010[ Figure 4.- Shows a side elevation of the objects of figure 1, in the
specific case
where the structure is able to rock laterally.
100111 Figure 5.- Shows an enlarged posterior elevation of the objects of the
previous
figure, according to an embodiment in which the frame is jointed with the
supports.
100121 Figure 6.- Shows a similar view to figure 5 but corresponding to an
embodiment
in which the frame is joined to the transverse supports by elastic elements.
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[0013] Figure 7.- Shows an enlargement in side elevation of the back part of
the objects in
figure 4, with the frame swinging side to side, allowing to see the slot which
makes one
shock absorber disconnected while the other supports the oscillation.
[0014] Figure 8.- Shows a posterior elevation enlargement of the set shown in
the previous
figure, in the same position.
[0015] Figure 9.- Shows, finally, a general perspective of the finished
bicycle, that is, with
the handlebar and cosmetic covers.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In view of these figures, it can be seen how the exercise bicycle
proposed is structured
by a frame on which two longitudinal tubes (1) and (2) are placed along the
vertical,
longitudinal and horizontal plane of the bicycle, which are welded to each
other at one of the
ends (3) forming a slightly obtuse angle, of unequal arms, slightly arched and
concave from
the bottom, these tubes (1) and (2) ending in their free lower ends in
respective grooved
baseplates (4), for coupling to the corresponding support crossbars (5) which
form the bicycle
stand on the floor, being of a sufficient length to make the bicycle stable.
[0017] Both tubes (1) and (2) and support crossbars (5) may be cylindrical, as
shown in the
figures, or have any other cross section.
[0018] In any case, from tube (2) of the frame relatively near its posterior
end begins a mast
(6), slightly inclined backwards, also tubular, intended to receive on its
upper end the
traditional seat (7), which telescopes and can be adjusted in position, and
joined to this mast
(6), an anterior-upper crossbar (8) which extends forward horizontally also
tubular and inside
which telescopes an arm (9) which can be set in any position by conventional
clamping
devices (10), and to which arm (9) is joined support (11) of the handlebar,
which will be dealt
with below.
[0019] Anterior-upper crossbar (8) and the mast (6) are stiffened by a
reinforcement bracket
(12) of angular construction, joined to its anterior-lower generatrix, and
also joined by its
lower end to the anterior tube of the frame.
[0020] Under tube (2) and as a lower extension of mast (6) are a pair of
parallel flat bars (13),
which are welded on their lower ends to corresponding bushings (14), to which
in tuin are
welded another two flat bars (15) extending forward horizontally, and another
pair of flat bars
(16) extending backwards, and which respectively are joined to anterior tube
(2) and posterior
tube (1), forming a vertically stiffened transversal bridge in the heart of
the frame, which
ensures the correct functional rigidity for said bushings (14) in which are
housed ball
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bearings (17) for the pedal shaft (18) on which the drive pulley (19) is
mounted, against
which will act pedals (20) by the respective shafts (21).
[0021] The structure described corresponds to a rigid bicycle, in which frame
(1-2) is not
able to rock sideways, and in which support crossbars (5) acting as stands end
in decorative
elements (22) seen in figure 9, but there also exists the option of frame (1-
2) being able to
swing side to side as in figures 4 to 8, in which case the grooved baseplates
(4) are eliminated
and replaced by either joints (23) between triangular flat bars (24) and (25)
as shown in figure
5, or by elastic elements (26) as shown in figure 6.
[0022] In any case support crossbars (5) will end in suction cups (27) instead
of stands (22),
in order to improve the stability of the bicycle by the grip of said suction
cups (27) to the
floor, and also in any case each joint (23) or (26) will be connected to a
pair of lateral shock
absorbers (28), jointed at their ends (29) and (30), respectively, to frame (1-
2) or support
crossbar (5), as shown in all of figures 5, 6 and 8.
[0023] These shock absorbers (28) are meant to act only when the frame rocks
against them,
for which the upper end (29) of each moves in a groove (31) of frame tube (1-
2) itself, which
allows said end (29) to move down along tube (1-2) when it swings in the
opposite direction,
as shown in figure 8, without resulting in an excessive extension of the shock
absorber.
[0024] Returning to the bicycle handlebar, attached to the aforementioned
support (11) are
two different handlebars, to be used indifferently, a U-shaped handlebar (32)
on whose lateral
arms are segments which first descend and finally bend forward, and an annular
handlebar
(33) which is also basically U-shaped and whose side ends are attached to the
middle section
of the first handlebar (32), said side ends converging from the middle to the
far ends, as well
as being bent, and having relatively near their start short auxiliary and
lateral flat bars (34) on
which are placed corresponding support pads (35) for the user's forearms.
[0025] The structure described is complemented by two symmetrical covers (36)
and (37)
which are attached to the top of tubes (1) and (2) of the frame, thus creating
side panels
which cover the bridge structure which supports the pedal shaft, making a
cosmetic cowling
out of which remain only shafts (21) and pedals (20), as seen in figure 9,
while the other two
symmetrical lateral covers (38) and (39) cover mast (6), anterior-upper
crossbar (8) and
reinforcement bracket (12) completing the lower cowling and giving the bicycle
a pleasing
finish.
[0026] It is not considered necessary to extend this description further for
any expert in the
matter to understand the scope of the invention and the advantages derived
thereof.
[0027] The materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements will be
subject to
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variations as long as this does not cause an alteration of the essence of the
invention.
[0028] The terms of this memory must always be taken in a wide and non
limiting sense.
[0029] The described bicycle shall be provided with means to regulate the
effort required to
act on the pedals, these means not being represented as their constitution is
known in itself
5 and in this type of bicycle.
