US20060234837A1

US20060234837A1 - Bicycle exerciser having adjustable handle

Info

Publication number: US20060234837A1
Application number: US11/094,714
Authority: US
Inventors: Hai Kuo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-30
Filing date: 2005-03-30
Publication date: 2006-10-19

Abstract

A bicycle exercising device includes two foot pedals rotatably attached to a base, a seat post for supporting the users, a column extended from the base, a lever pivotally attached to the column and a handle device pivotally supported on the lever. An adjusting device is coupled between the column and the handle device, for adjusting the handle device relative to the column and the seat cushion to any selected positions. The handle device includes two side hand grips and a lateral hand grip coupled between the side hand grips to form a U-shaped structure, and a bar coupled between the side hand grips. An auxiliary adjusting device may further support the handle device on the lever.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bicycle exercising device or exerciser, and more particularly to a bicycle exercising device having a handle adjustable toward and away from the seat and the users, for allowing the bicycle exercising device to be suitably operated by users of different sizes or heights.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical bicycle exercising devices comprise a transmission box driven by foot pedals, and a handle extended or provided on top of the base, for supporting the upper portions of the users. Normally, the handle portions are solidly and firmly disposed and secured on top of the base, and may not be moved or adjusted relative to the base and the seats and the users, such that the typical bicycle exercising devices may not be suitably operated by users of different sizes or heights.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,790 to Hokajärvi discloses one of the typical bicycle exercising devices which also comprises a pair of foot pedals provided to be rotated or driven by the users, and a handle solidly and firmly disposed and secured on top of the base. The handle also may not be moved or adjusted relative to the seats and the users, such that the typical bicycle exercising devices also may not be suitably actuated or operated by users of different sizes or heights.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,164 to Tseng discloses another typical bicycle exercising device which also comprises a pair of foot pedals provided to be rotated or driven by the users, and a handle pivotally or rotatably coupled to a wheel via a gearing device and/or a chain and sprocket coupling device, for allowing the handle to be moved or pulled alternatively toward and away from the seats and the users. However, the handles should be alternatively pushed and pulled toward and away from the seats and the users, but also may not be adjusted relative to the users, such that the typical bicycle exercising devices also may not be suitably actuated or operated by users of different sizes or heights.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional bicycle exercising devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a bicycle exercising device including a handle adjustable toward and away from the seat and the users, for allowing the bicycle exercising device to be suitably actuated and operated by users of different sizes or heights.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a bicycle exercising device comprising a base, a pair of foot pedals rotatably attached to and supported on the base with a spindle and cranks, for being operated by users, a seat post extended upwardly from the base, and having a seat cushion attached thereon, for supporting the users thereon, a column extended upwardly from the base, and including an upper portion, a lever including a lower portion pivotally attached to the upper portion of the column with a pivot axle, and including an upper portion, a handle device pivotally supported on the upper portion of the lever, and an adjusting device coupled between the upper portion of the column and the handle device, for adjusting the handle device relative to the column, and relative to the seat post and the seat cushion to any suitable or selected positions, and thus for allowing various users of different sizes or heights to suitably or comfortably operate or actuate the exercise device.
The adjusting device is an actuator coupled between the handle device and the upper portion of the column, to adjustably support the handle device on the column. The column includes a block provided on the upper portion thereof, and the actuator includes a lower end pivotally attached to the block with a pivot pin and/or a bracket, and includes an upper portion pivotally attached to the handle device.
The actuator may be a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or other actuators, such as motor-driven-bolt adjusting device, gearing adjusting device, sprocket-and-chain adjusting device, pulley-and-belt adjusting device, etc.
The handle device includes a bar provided thereon, and at least one stem extended from the bar and having a free end portion pivotally attached to the upper portion of the lever with a pivot axle. The handle device includes a U-shaped structure having two side hand grips and a lateral hand grip coupled between the side hand grips to form the U-shaped structure, and the bar is coupled between the side hand grips, for such as reinforcing the U-shaped structure of the handle device.
The handle device includes a beam secured between the lateral hand grip and the bar. The actuator include a control knob attached thereto, for actuating the actuator to adjust the handle device relative to the column and the seat post and the seat cushion, and arranged to allow the users to actuate or operate the control knob while conducting the typical cycling or riding exercises or operations.
An auxiliary adjusting device may further be provided and pivotally coupled between the handle device and the lever, to further solidly or stably support the handle device relative to the lever and relative to the seat post and the seat cushion at the selected positions.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a bicycle exercising device in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial rear perspective view of the bicycle exercising device;
FIG. 3 is another enlarged partial rear perspective view of the bicycle exercising device, as seen from the direction different from that shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a side schematic view of the bicycle exercising device; and
FIG. 5 is a side schematic view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the operation of the bicycle exercising device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a bicycle exercising device 10 in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 11 including a pair of foot pedals 12 rotatably attached to the base 11 with a conventional spindle 13 and cranks 14, for being driven or ridden or operated by the users to conduct the conventional cycling exercises, and including a seat post 15 provided or extended upwardly from such as the rear portion of the base 11, and having a seat cushion 16 attached or provided thereon, for supporting the users thereon.
The bicycle exercising device 10 further includes a column 17 extended upwardly from such as the front portion of the base 11, for pivotally and adjustably supporting a handle device 30 thereon, the handle device 30 may further include a control device or a control panel (not shown) provided on top thereof for controlling the exercising device 10. A conventional weight or wheel (not shown) may further be provided and rotatably supported on the base 11, and coupled to the spindle 13 and the cranks 14 or the foot pedals 12, for applying a resistive force against the cycling operation of the foot pedals 12 of the bicycle exercising device 10. The column 17 includes a block 18 provided or secured on or extended from the upper portion thereof.
One or more, such as two levers 20 each includes a lower portion 21 pivotally or rotatably attached to the block 18, or attached to the upper portion of the column 17 with a pivot axle 19, and each includes an upper portion 22 for pivotally or rotatably attaching or supporting the handle device 30 thereon. The handle device 30 includes a substantially U-shaped structure having two side hand grips 31, 32, and a lateral hand grip 33 coupled between one end portions of the two side hand grips 31, 32, to form the U-shaped structure, and further includes a bar 34 coupled between the intermediate portions of the two side hand grips 31, 32, to reinforce the handle device 30.
The handle device 30 further includes one or more, such as two stems 35 secured to or extended from the bar 34, and each having a free end portion 36 pivotally or rotatably attached to the upper portion 22 of the lever 20 with a pivot axle 37, to allow the handle device 30 and the stems 35 to be pivoted or rotated relative to the lever 20 with the pivot axle 37. It is preferable that the handle device 30 further includes a beam 38 attached thereon, such as secured between the intermediate portions of the lateral hand grip 33 and the bar 34, and further includes one or more, such as two brackets 39 secured to or extended from the bean 38, for pivotally coupling the other elements or members, which will be discussed hereinafter.
An adjusting means or device or actuator 40 may further be provided and pivotally coupled between the handle device 30 and the block 18 or the upper portion of the column 17, to adjust and to maintain or to retain the handle device 30 relative to the block 18 or the column 17, and relative to the seat post 15 and the seat cushion 16 to or at any selected positions. For example, the adjusting device or actuator 40 includes a lower portion 41 pivotally or rotatably attached to the upper portion of the column 17 or the block 18 with a pivot pin 42, and an upper portion 43 pivotally or rotatably attached to the handle device 30, such as to the beam 38 of the handle device 30 with a pivot pin 44.
For example, the adjusting device or actuator 40 includes a bracket 45 attached to the upper portion 43 thereof for pivotally or rotatably attached to the one of the brackets 39 of the beam 38 of the handle device 30 with the pivot pin 44, to allow the handle device 30 to be rotated or adjusted relative to the lever 20 about the pivot axle 37, and to allow the handle device 30 and the lever 20 to be rotated or adjusted relative to the block 18 or relative to the upper portion of the column 17 about the pivot axle 19, to any suitable or selected angular positions.
For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the handle device 30 and the lever 20 may thus be rotated or moved or adjusted relative to the seat post 15 and the seat cushion 16 to any selected positions. The adjusting device or actuator 40 may include a control switch or a control knob 46 attached to the upper portion 43 thereof for actuating or operating the adjusting device or actuator 40, to adjust the handle device 30 relative to the seat post 15 and the seat cushion 16.
An auxiliary adjusting means or device or actuator 50 may further be provided and pivotally coupled between the handle device 30 and the lever 20, to further maintain or support the handle device 30 relative to the lever 20, and relative to the seat post 15 and the seat cushion 16 at the selected positions. For example, the auxiliary adjusting device or actuator 50 includes a lower portion having a bracket 51 for pivotally or rotatably attaching to a bracket 23 of the lever 20 (FIGS. 2, 3) with a pivot pin 24, and an upper portion having another bracket 52 for pivotally or rotatably attaching to the other bracket 39 of the beam 38 or of the handle device 30 with a pivot pin 53, to further stably support the handle device 30 on the lever 20 and the column 17.
The adjusting devices 40, 50, as illustrated, may be a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator or cylinder 40, 50 for adjusting and maintaining or retaining the handle device 30 and the lever 20 relative to the block 18 or the column 17 and the seat post 15 and the seat cushion 16 at the selected positions. However, the adjusting devices 40, 50 may also be the motor-driven-bolt adjusting device, gearing adjusting device, sprocket-and-chain adjusting device, pulley-and-belt adjusting device, etc., to adjust and maintain the handle device 30 relative to the block 18 or the column 17 and the seat post 15 and the seat cushion 16 at the selected positions, and thus for allowing the users of different sizes or heights to suitably actuate and operate the bicycle exercising device.
In operation, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the control switch or control knob 46 may be easily operated or actuated by the users to adjust the handle device 30 relative to the block 18 or the column 17, and relative to the seat post 15 and the seat cushion 16, and preferably arranged to allow the users to actuate or operate the control switch or control knob 46 while conducting the cycling or riding exercises or operations.
It is to be noted that the stems 35 may be solidly secured to or extended from the bar 34, and thus rotated in concert with the bar 34, to allow the handle device 30 and the stems 35 to be pivoted or rotated relative to the lever 20 with the pivot axle 37. However, alternatively, the stems 35 may also be pivotally or rotatably coupled to the bar 34, to allow the handle device 30 to be pivoted or rotated relative to the lever 20 and also relative to the bar 34. The auxiliary adjusting device or actuator 50 may adjust and support the handle device 30 relative to the lever 20 at the required or suitable angular positions.
Accordingly, the bicycle exercising device in accordance with the present invention includes a handle adjustable toward and away from the seat and the users, for allowing the bicycle exercising device to be suitably actuated and operated by users of different sizes or heights.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A bicycle exercising device comprising:

a base,

a pair of foot pedals rotatably attached to and supported on said base with a spindle and cranks, for being operated by users,

a seat post extended upwardly from said base, and having a seat cushion attached thereon, for supporting the users thereon,

a column extended upwardly from said base, and including an upper portion,

a lever including a lower portion pivotally attached to said upper portion of said column with a pivot axle, and including an upper portion,

a handle device pivotally supported on said upper portion of said lever, and

an adjusting means coupled between said upper portion of said column and said handle device, for adjusting said handle device relative to said column, and relative to said seat post and said seat cushion to selected positions.

2. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjusting means is an actuator coupled between said handle device and said upper portion of said column, to adjustably support said handle device on said column.

3. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said column includes a block provided on said upper portion thereof, said actuator includes a lower end pivotally attached to said block with a pivot pin, and an upper portion pivotally attached to said handle device.

4. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said actuator is a pneumatic cylinder.

5. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.

6. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said handle device includes a bar provided thereon, and at least one stem extended from said bar and having a free end portion pivotally attached to said upper portion of said lever with a pivot axle.

7. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said handle device includes a U-shaped structure having two side hand grips and a lateral hand grip coupled between said side hand grips to form said U-shaped structure, and said bar is coupled between said side hand grips.

8. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said handle device includes a beam secured between said lateral hand grip and said bar.

9. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said actuator include a control knob attached thereto, for actuating said actuator to adjust said handle device relative to said column and said seat post and said seat cushion.

10. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an auxiliary adjusting device pivotally coupled between said handle device and said lever, to support said handle device relative to said lever and relative to said seat post and said seat cushion at the selected positions.