FR2985193A1 - Bicycle type physical exercise apparatus for use in swimming pool, has frame including set of tubes of square or rectangular cross-section inserted between flanges and connected to flanges, where one of tubes forms support for seat - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus (1) has a frame (2), a seat (3), and pedals (4). The frame includes two circular flanges (6) centered on an axis of the pedal and situated at a distance from each other, and a set of tubes (7) of square or rectangular cross-section inserted between the flanges and connected to the flanges. One of the set of tubes forms a support for the seat, and another set of tubes (10-15) forms a positioning structure of the apparatus with respect to a swimming pool. A handlebar (5) is mounted on one of the former set of tubes and connected to the flanges.

Description

The present invention relates to a physical exercise device in the pool, the bike type, that is to say comprising a frame, a saddle and a pedal. and possibly a support piece for the hands of a user, similar to a handlebar.

Such a device, commonly referred to as "pool bike", is known in principle. Known devices generally include folded and welded tube frames, which are relatively complex and expensive to make. Such devices also include blades or buckets related to the crank shaft, whose support against water during pedaling generates resistance to pedaling. This resistance is however not to generate a perfectly adapted effort and is not adjustable. The present invention aims to remedy all of these disadvantages.

The device concerned is of the bike type, that is to say includes a frame, a saddle and a pedal. According to the invention, the frame consists of: two substantially circular flanges, centered on the axis of the pedal and located at a distance from one another, and square or rectangular section tubes inserted between these flanges and connected. to them, one of these tubes forming the saddle support and at least one other tube forming a positioning structure of the device relative to a swimming pool. Thus, the structure of the frame of the apparatus according to the invention is particularly simple, being based on two central-lower circular flanges, made of a resistant material, in particular sheet metal, on which are fixed, according to the appropriate angulation, tubes square or rectangular forming the different parts of the frame of the device. This structure does not imply bending and greatly reduces the number of welds to be made to assemble the tubes. As a result, it is clearly simpler and less expensive to manufacture than existing pool bike structures. In addition, this structure allows easy assembly and disassembly of the device, making it possible in particular delivery of the device kit, or storage of the device in a small footprint outside periods of use.

In addition, the two flanges have the advantage of perfectly channeling laterally the eddy generated by the support elements in the water integral with the crank shaft. This canalization of the eddy is very favorable to obtaining a resistance to pedaling perfectly adapted to physical exercises of fitness or reeducation. The apparatus preferably comprises a support piece for the hands of a user, similar to a handlebar, mounted on a support tube of square or rectangular section, also connected to said flanges. Preferably, each flange comprises extensions or ears protruding from its peripheral edge in the mounting direction of the corresponding tube, the extensions that comprises a flange lying opposite the extensions that comprises the other flange when the flanges are in the position of mounting relative to each other, the different pairs of extensions thus forming elongated structures for assembling the tubes.

These extensions thus constitute rigid parts for mounting the tubes, which make it possible to assemble the tubes with the flanges over relatively long lengths, according to the length of the tubes, and which thus make it possible to obtain a rigid structure and a good distribution of the exerted forces. . The abovementioned support elements in the water may have any suitable shape, and in particular be buckets, blades, blades, fins; these support elements in the water can also be constituted by hollow parallelepipedic boxes, mounted radially on the crank shaft, including sealing means for sealing their interior volumes, these means being able to be selectively placed in positions allowing communicating the interior volume of the boxes with the outside or in sealed closure positions of this interior volume. One or more of these boxes can be opened to allow the water to occupy their internal volume, or can be sealed before immersion of the device, to remain filled with air. Depending on whether all the boxes are full of air or full of water, or that only some of them are full of air and others are full of water, a different pedaling effort can be obtained. which allows adjustment of the pedaling effort. Preferably, the apparatus comprises mounting means for the end of a water jet pipe so that the water supplied by this pipe is projected between the flanges, against the support in the water of said support elements in the water. This projection of water increases the pedaling effort and, depending on the flow of water and the orientation of the projection, to adjust the pedaling effort. It also creates a swirl around the device and thus generate a massage effect like a balneotherapy swirl, useful in case of venous insufficiency or cellulite. These mounting means may in particular be in the form of clamps for clipping the pipe to one of the tubes of the frame that includes the device, in particular to the support tube of the handlebar. According to another aspect of the invention, at least one pedal comprises: a lower housing open on its front side and on its rear side, thus delimiting a duct extending from the front to the rear of the pedal, and shut-off means situated inside this duct, allowing selectively to completely or partially close the duct or to release this duct. During pedaling, water tends to pass through this lower housing, back and forth in the upper half of the pedal rotation and back and forth in the lower half of the pedal rotation; the closure means, depending on whether they are placed in the total or partial closure position of the duct, or that they release this duct, make it possible to prevent, restrict or prevent this flow, and thus allow to easily and accurately adjust the pedaling effort. Preferably, the bottom wall of the housing is not parallel to the upper wall of the housing and has an inclination with respect to this upper wall, such that one of the openings of the conduit has a lower section than the section of the housing. other opening of this conduit. This specific shape is found to allow a restriction of the flow of water as this water tends to flow into said conduit from the opening of larger section to the smaller section opening. Obtaining a restriction to the flow of water through the housing is thus obtained by the very shape of the housing, regardless of the position of said sealing means. Preferably, the lower section opening is the front opening. The tapered shape of the housing allows easy passage of this housing into the water.

The angle formed by said upper and lower walls can range from 10 ° to 30 ° and is preferably 20 °. The housing advantageously has an elongate shape, and has a length of 15 to 30 centimeters, that is to say capable of receiving most or all of the foot of a user. The casing thus has a surface generating in itself a resistance to passage into the water. In addition, the upper wall of the housing forms a comfortable surface for receiving the foot of a user. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said closure means are formed by a gate pivotally mounted inside the housing along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conduit. Preferably, the means for maintaining this gate in the fully or partially closed position, or opening, said conduit, comprise: - at least one elastic tab connected to the gate, on a lateral side thereof and equipped with a lug, and - at least one series of holes formed in the corresponding side wall of the housing, these holes being arranged on a circular arc centered on the axis of pivoting of the door, the lug of the lug being adapted to be selectively inserted into one or other of these holes to maintain the gate in a given angular position, and the elasticity of the tab to maintain normally this pin in this hole or, when the leg is deformed, to release this pin of this hole. The tab can be elastically deformed to extract the lug of a hole and allow the pivoting of the gate to another position.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises a positioning structure with respect to a pool, in the form of a base connected to said frame, allowing the support of the apparatus against the bottom of a swimming pool . According to one embodiment of the invention, this positioning structure is shaped to allow a suspension of the device along a side wall of a pool, when the latter is too deep. The invention will be better understood, and other features and advantages thereof will become apparent with reference to the attached schematic drawing showing, by way of non-limiting examples, two embodiments of the apparatus concerned. Figure 1 is a perspective view, according to a first embodiment; Figure 2 is a perspective view from another angle, one of the two flanges that includes the structure of the frame of the apparatus having been removed; Figures 3 to 5 are partial views, side, on an enlarged scale, showing a pedal that includes this device, in three possible positions of a door that includes this pedal; Figure 6 is a view of the apparatus according to an alternative embodiment, and Figure 7 is a simplified view, from the side, according to a second embodiment. For simplicity, the parts or elements of an embodiment, which are identical or similar in another embodiment, will be identified by the same reference numerals and will not be described again. Figures 1 and 2 show a device 1 physical exercise pool to be placed against the bottom of a pool.

This apparatus 1 is of the bicycle type, that is to say includes a frame 2, a saddle 3 and a crankset 4. The apparatus 1 also comprises, in the example shown, a hand support piece 5, comparable to a handlebar. The frame 2 consists of two flanges 6 and tubes 7 of square section. Each flange 6 is formed by a sheet metal part having a substantially circular main central portion 8, and two pairs of extensions or "ears" 9 adjacent to this main central portion 8 (see Figure 3). The main central portion 8 is pierced at its center with a through hole of the crank shaft 4. Each pair of extensions 9 forms a body with the central portion 8 and projects from the peripheral edge thereof, the one of the pairs of extensions 9 located on the front side of the central portion 8 and the other pair of extensions 9 located on the rear side of this central portion 8. The upper front extension 9 projects upwards at an angle of the order of 10 to 15 ° relative to the vertical of the apparatus 1; the lower front extension 9 projects downwards at an angle of about 40 ° to the vertical; the upper rear extension 9 projects upwards at an angle of the order of 10 to 15 ° relative to the vertical of the apparatus 1, and the rear lower extension 9 projects downwards at an angle of the order of 40 ° with respect to the vertical. It will be understood that the terms "front" and "rear" are to be considered with reference to the position of a user on the apparatus 1, the front being the side of the "handlebar" 5 and the rear being that of the 3. The "vertical" also refers to the vertical of the apparatus 1 as placed on the bottom of the pool, or to a line perpendicular to the diametrical line of said central portion 8 of a pair of 9 extensions to each other. As shown, the two flanges 6 are intended to be placed parallel to each other and the tubes 7 are intended to be inserted between them and to be connected to them, by means of bolts, at the different pairs of extensions 9 thus formed, these pairs of extensions 9 forming elongate structures for assembling the tubes 7. One of the tubes 7 is intended to be connected to the upper extensions 9 before and forms the support of the support piece 5; another tube 7 is intended to be connected to the rear upper extensions 9 and forms the support of the saddle 3; another tube 7 is intended to be connected to the front lower extensions 9 and forms the support of a front leg 10; a fourth tube 7 is intended to be connected to the rear lower extensions 9 and forms the support of a rear base 11.

The upper upper tube 7 has a lower end chamfered so as to come into contact with the lower front tube 7 by all of its section. It is the same for the rear upper tube 7. In addition, the upper ends of the lower tubes 7 are chamfered so as not to encroach on the space defined by the two central portions 8 of the flanges 6, so as not to hinder the rotation of buckets 12 integral with the shaft of the pedal 4 (see Figure 3). The saddle 3, the support piece 5 and each base 10 and 11 are integral with square section tubes 15, adapted to be fitted into the corresponding tubes 7, with the possibility of sliding. These tubes 15 are pierced with holes in which can be inserted stop screws 16 with large operating heads, these holes and screws for fixing the tubes 15 in a specific position relative to the tubes 7 and thus adjust the height of the piece 5 and the saddle 3, and the length of the legs 10, 11. In the example shown, the front leg 10 comprises wheels 17 to facilitate the movement of the device 1 on the bottom of the pool ; the other base comprises studs 18 bearing immovable against this bottom. Referring to Figures 1 to 5, it appears that each pedal 20 comprises an elongate lower housing 21, open on its front side and on its rear side and defining a conduit 22, and a pivoting rear door 23. The housing 21 has a length such that it is able to receive most or all of the foot of a user, being a length of 15 to 30 centimeters.

It comprises an upper wall for receiving the foot of a user, a lower wall not parallel to the upper wall, and side walls. Said bottom wall is inclined at about twenty degrees with respect to said upper wall, so that the front opening of the duct 22 has a section smaller than the section of the rear opening of this duct. Said side walls each comprise a series of holes arranged in a circular arc centered on the axis of pivoting of the pivoting rear door 23. The latter comprises, at its upper edge, two pivotally mounting journals in the housing 21 and, at its lower edge, an elastic tab 24 equipped with a lug 25. This lug 25 is adapted to be inserted selectively into one or the other of said holes so as to maintain the gate 23 in a given angular position as can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 5. The elasticity of the tab 24 makes it possible to hold the pin 25 normally in the chosen hole, or, when the tab is deformed, to release this pin from this hole. During pedaling, water tends to pass through the housing 21, back and forth in the upper half of the pedal rotation and back and forth in the lower half of the pedal rotation; the gate 23 forms closure means selectively allowing to completely or partially close the conduit 22 or to release this conduit; depending on whether it is placed in the total or partial closure position of the duct 22, or that it releases this duct, it makes it possible to prevent, to restrict or not to obstruct this flow, and thus to adjust easily and precisely the pedaling effort. To modify the position of the gate 23, the tab 24 may be elastically deformed to extract the pin 25 from a hole and thus allow the pivoting of the gate 23 to another position. FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the apparatus 1 in which the buckets 12 have been replaced by blades 27. FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the apparatus 1 in which the frame 2 of the apparatus is connected to a structure 30 of suspension of the apparatus along a side wall of the pool, when the latter is too deep. In this case, the flanges 6 comprise, in the lower part, only two rear horizontal extensions 9, of connection with a tube 7 connected to this structure 30, and the seat support tube 7 of the saddle 3 is connected to a horizontal branch 31 of this structure 30.

FIG. 7 also shows that the apparatus 1 comprises clips 35 for clipping a pipe 40 along the support tube 7 of the support piece 5, this pipe 40 having its end located between the flanges 6 and allowing a splashing water between them, contrary to the support in the water of the buckets 12 or blades 27.

This projection of water increases the pedaling effort and, depending on the flow of water and the orientation of the projection, to adjust the pedaling effort. It also allows to create a swirl around the device 1 and thus generate a massage effect like a balneotherapy balne, useful in case of venous insufficiency or cellulite.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the invention provides a bike-type physical exercise apparatus 1 having a frame 2 of particularly simple structure, based on two central-lower flanges 6 and on section tubes 7. square or rectangular, fixed to these flanges 6 according to the appropriate angulation. This structure does not involve bending or welding of tubes and is much simpler and less expensive to manufacture than existing pool bike structures. In addition, this structure allows assembly is easy disassembly of the device 1, making it possible in particular possible delivery thereof in kit, or storage under a small footprint outside periods of use. The invention has been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that it is not limited to these embodiments but that it extends to all other embodiments covered by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS1 - Apparatus (1) for physical exercise in the pool, of the bicycle type, that is to say comprising a frame (2), a saddle (3) and a pedal (4); characterized in that the frame (2) consists of: - two substantially circular flanges (6), centered on the axis of the pedal (4) and located at a distance from one another, and - tubes (7). ) of square or rectangular section, inserted between these flanges (6) and connected to them, one of these tubes (7) forming the saddle support (3) and at least one other tube (7, 10, 11; , 30, 31) forming a positioning structure of the apparatus (1) with respect to a swimming pool. 2 - Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a part (5) of support for the hands of a user, similar to a handlebar, mounted on a tube (7) support section square or rectangular, also connected to said flanges (6). 3 - Apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that each flange (6) comprises extensions (9) or lugs projecting from its peripheral edge in the mounting direction of the corresponding tube (7), the extensions (9) that comprises a flange (6) facing the extensions (9) that comprises the other flange (6) when the flanges (6) are in the mounting position relative to each other , the different pairs of extensions (9) thus forming elongated assembly structures of the tubes (7). 4 - Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises support elements in the water integral with the crank shaft, and in that these support elements in the water are constituted by hollow parallelepiped boxes, mounted radially on the crank shaft, including sealing means for sealing their interior volumes, these means being selectively placed in positions making it possible to communicate the interior volume of the boxes with outside or in tight fence positions of this interior volume. 5 - Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises elements (12, 27) of support in the water integral with the crank shaft (4), and means (35) for mounting the end of a hose (40) for splashing water so that the water is projected between the flanges (6), against the support in the water support elements (12, 27) in the water. 6 - Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one pedal (20) comprises: - a lower housing (21) open on its front side and on its rear side, thus delimiting a duct (22) extending from the front to the rear of the pedal (20), and - shut-off means (23) located inside this duct (22), which selectively allow the shutter to close completely or partially the conduit (22) or to release this conduit. 7 - Apparatus (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the housing (21) has an elongated shape, and has a length of 15 to 30 centimeters, that is to say capable of receiving the major part or the the entire foot of a user. 8 - Apparatus (1) according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that said closure means are formed by a gate (23) pivotally mounted inside the housing (21) along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the duct (22). 9 - Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a positioning structure with respect to a pool, in the form of a base (10, 11) connected to said frame (2 ), allowing the support of the device (1) against the bottom of a pool. 10 - Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a positioning structure with respect to a pool, connected to the frame (2) shaped to allow a suspension of the apparatus ( 1) along a side wall of a pool.