FR3061858A1 - PHYSICAL EXERCISE APPARATUS IN SWIMMING POOL, OF BIKE TYPE - Google Patents

Abstract

This apparatus (1) comprises a frame (2), a saddle (3) and a pedal (4), equipped with pedal resistance means and means for adjusting this resistance. According to the invention, - the pedaling resistance means comprise a disc (6) wedged on the crank shaft (4) and a shoe (21) adapted to rub against the edge of the disc (6); - the means for adjusting the pedaling resistance comprise a spring bearing against the shoe (21), a transmission rod (25) bearing against the spring (24), a lever (8) pivotally mounted on the apparatus (1) and a selection plate (9) traversed by the lever (8); the selection plate (9) forms, at the level of the opening (35) traversed by the lever (8), a plurality of successive housings in which the lever (8) can be engaged selectively and be immobilized in a given angular position , so as to more or less compress the spring, and thus to more or less press the pad (21) against the disk (6).

Description

Holder (s): limited.

RD CONCEPT Liability company

O Extension request (s):

Agent (s): LLR.

® BIKE-TYPE PHYSICAL EXERCISE APPARATUS.

FR 3,061,858 - A1 (57) Qand apparatus (1) comprises a frame (2), a saddle (3) and a crankset (4), equipped with means of resistance to pedaling and means of adjusting this resistance.

According to the invention,

- The pedaling resistance means comprise a disc (6) wedged on the crankshaft (4) and a shoe (21) capable of rubbing against the edge of this disc (6);

- The means for adjusting the pedaling resistance comprise a spring bearing against the shoe (21), a transmission rod (25) bearing against the spring (24), a lever (8) pivotally mounted on the device (1) and a selection plate (9) through which the lever (8) passes; the selection plate (9) forms, at the opening (35) through which the lever (8) passes, a plurality of successive housings in which the lever (8) can be selectively engaged and be immobilized in a given angular position , so as to more or less compress the spring, and therefore more or less pressing the pad (21) against the disc (6).

The present invention relates to a physical exercise device in a swimming pool, of the bicycle type, that is to say comprising a frame, a saddle and a pedal board, and possibly a support piece for the hands of a user, which can be assimilated. to a handlebar.

Such a device, commonly known as a swimming pool bicycle, is known in principle.

On such a device, it is known to provide means for adjusting the pedaling resistance, so as to allow the intensity of the pedaling effort to be adjusted according to the user; in particular, the French patent application published under the number FR 2 985 194 describes lower housings under the pedals, delimiting conduits extending from the front to the rear of the pedals, and adjustable closure means located at the inside these conduits, these obturating means making it possible to selectively completely or partially obstruct the conduits in question or to release these conduits, and thus to thus play on the resistance to the passage of the pedals in the water, and therefore on the resistance to pedaling.

Such a device gives overall satisfaction in practice; however, adjusting the pedaling resistance may not always be very easy for any user underwater, and is not very intuitive or very quick to perform.

The object of the present invention is to remedy this drawback.

The objective of the invention is therefore to provide a device equipped with pedaling resistance means and means for adjusting this resistance, which make it possible to adjust, in a simple, intuitive and rapid manner, the degree of this resistance.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which this adjustment allows a regular gradation of the increase or the decrease of the pedaling resistance.

An additional objective of the invention is to provide an apparatus of solid and durable design.

The device concerned is of the bicycle type, that is to say comprises a frame, a saddle and a crankset, the device being equipped with resistance to pedaling means and means for adjusting this resistance.

According to the invention,

- The pedaling resistance means comprise a disc wedged on the crankshaft and a pad capable of rubbing against the edge of this disc;

the means for adjusting the pedaling resistance comprise a spring bearing against the shoe, a transmission rod bearing against the spring, a lever pivotally mounted on the device, pivotally connected to the transmission rod, and a plate integral selection of the device, through which the lever passes; the selection plate forms, at the opening through which the lever passes, a plurality of successive housings in which the lever can be selectively engaged and be immobilized in a given angular position; one or other of the angular positions which can thus be conferred on the lever makes it possible, by means of the transmission rod, to compress the spring more or less, and therefore to press the shoe more or less against the disc, to adjust the degree to which the pad presses against the disc, and therefore to adjust the pedaling resistance.

The device according to the invention is therefore equipped with a lever easily accessible to the user, which can be moved from one housing to the other of said selection plate, in the manner of a vehicle gear lever, and thus allowing, in a simple, rapid and perfectly intuitive manner for a user, to modify the compression of the spring and therefore the degree of support of the shoe against the disc.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

- Said housings are arranged on one side of the selection plate which is lateral with respect to a vertical front / rear plane of the apparatus, the housings being successive in a direction parallel to this plane;

- The lever is engaged on a pivot integral with the frame of the device, with a clearance between the pivot and the lever allowing a movement of the lever in a direction perpendicular to this vertical plane front / rear of the device; and

the device comprises an insert of elastically compressible material placed between the frame of the device and the lever, which is capable of being compressed when the lever is moved in said perpendicular direction so as to pass from one housing to another, and whose elastic return allows, in the absence of compression, to maintain the lever in a position of engagement in a given housing.

Preferably, said adjustment means comprise a mounting block, connected to the frame of the device and pierced right through with a bore, this bore being, when the block is mounted on the frame of the device , arranged radially with respect to the disc; this mounting block receives the pad on its end located on the side of the disc, with the ability to move the pad relative to this end in a radial direction relative to the disc; said spring is engaged in said bore, and said transmission rod is partially engaged in this same bore, adjusted but with sliding capacity in the latter.

Said block thus allows the mounting of the shoe, the spring and the transmission rod on the device, and allows the compression of the spring by means of the transmission rod, with perfect guidance of the latter by this block.

Preferably, the mounting block forms two flat side faces on two opposite sides, the distance from one to the other corresponds substantially to the width of the upright of the frame of the device on which this mounting block is intended be mounted, and said pedaling resistance means include two mounting flanges adapted to be respectively connected to these flat side faces and to be connected to said upright of the frame of the device, on either side of this upright.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

- The pad has, on its side opposite to that facing the disc, two legs projecting from itself, parallel to each other;

- The mounting block has, on the side of the pad, a part forming two recesses suitable for receiving respectively these tabs in them, with the possibility of sliding of the tabs in them in a direction radial to the disc.

These legs and recesses make it possible to carry out in a simple manner the displacement of the pad in a direction radial to the disc, while making it possible to ensure the setting of the pad in pivoting relative to the mounting block.

The pad may include a wear lining, bearing against the disc.

The frame of the device preferably forms a recess surrounding the disc at least partially and containing the pad, and comprises an openwork cage completely enveloping this disc as well as the aforementioned pad.

The pedaling resistance means that constitute this disc and this shoe are thus perfectly isolated from the external environment and are not likely to be injurious to a user.

The invention will be well understood, and other characteristics and advantages thereof will appear, with reference to the appended schematic drawing, representing, by way of nonlimiting example, a preferred embodiment of the device concerned.

Figure 1 is a perspective view;

Figure 2 is a partial perspective view, from a slightly different angle;

Figure 3 is a partial view, in perspective, and on an enlarged scale; and Figure 4 is a partial view, in exploded perspective, from another angle.

Figures 1 and 2 show an apparatus 1 for physical exercise in a swimming pool, intended to be placed against the bottom of a swimming pool.

This device 1 is of the bicycle type, that is to say comprises a frame 2, a saddle 3 and a crankset 4. The device 1 also includes, in the example shown, a support piece 5 for the hands , similar to a handlebar.

The device 1 further comprises a disc 6 wedged on the crankset 4 and actuated in rotation by means of the latter, and an assembly 7 for braking this disc, controlled by a lever 8 which is positioned by means of a part. selection 9 forming a grid for positioning the lever 8.

The frame 2 includes feet 10 ensuring the stability of the device 1 against the bottom of a swimming pool, of which the one located on the front of the device 1 is equipped with rollers 11 favoring the movement of the device.

The bottom bracket 4 comprises sole-shaped pedals, provided with straps 12 for holding the feet of the user and comprising lower parts 13 in the form of a U which constitute sorts of housings. These boxes are opposed to the passage of the pedals in the water and therefore increase the physical force necessary to operate a pedaling, and therefore the intensity of the effort allowing to operate this pedaling.

The disc 6 is placed in a recess 15 formed by the frame 2 and is housed in an openwork cage 16 so as to be entirely isolated from the external environment (an anterior flange which this cage comprises is removed in FIGS. 1 and 2 so to make disc 6 clearly visible). The disc 6 and the cage 16 are more particularly visible in FIG. 3.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, it appears that the braking assembly 7 comprises a lining 20 bearing against the edge of the disc 6, a shoe 21, receiving this lining 20, a mounting block 22, connected to the frame 2 by means of two lateral cheeks 23, a spring 24, and a transmission rod 25.

The lining 20 is fixed to the shoe 21, by any appropriate means allowing its interchange when it is worn, in particular by screws passing through it, as well as the shoe 21, at the level of lateral end wings that this lining 20 and this skate 21 form.

The shoe 21 forms, at its central part, two projecting legs 30 coming in adjusted engagement in two diametrically opposite recesses 31 formed by a cylindrical part of the mounting block 22. This adjusted engagement allows a setting of the shoe 21 in pivoting relative to to the mounting block 22 while allowing a possibility of displacement of this pad relative to this mounting block in a radial direction of the disc 6, therefore in a direction of approximation / distance of the pad 21 relative to the mounting block 22.

The shoe 21 and the disc 6 jointly form resistance to pedaling.

The mounting block 22 also forms a substantially cubic part connected to the cheeks 23 (one of them is omitted in FIG. 4 so that the block 22 is clearly visible) and is pierced right through with a bore 32 , coaxial with said cylindrical part. It is understandable that this substantially cubic part forms two flat lateral faces on two opposite sides of the block 22, the distance from one to the other substantially corresponds to the width of the upright of the frame 2 on which this mounting block 22 is intended to be mounted; this upright of the frame 2 has a substantially square cross section, like the rest of the rest of the frame 2, and therefore forms two opposite flat surfaces for receiving the cheeks 23.

These cheeks 23 make it possible, in the assembled state, to position the block 22 so that the bore 32 is arranged radially relative to the disc 6.

The spring 24 is received in this bore 32, with compression / decompression capacity in the latter, and bears against the shoe 21, between the legs 30.

A part of the rod 25 is partially received in the bore 32 in an adjusted manner but with longitudinal sliding capacity in the latter, the end of the rod 25 engaged in the bore 32 coming to bear against the spring 24. At its end opposite, the rod 25 forms two parallel lateral flats and is pierced with a hole perpendicular to these flats, this hole allowing the connection of the rod 25 to the lever 8 by means of a screw (not shown in FIG. 4) or d 'a bolt which is engaged through a pin 33 secured to the lower end of the lever 8.

This lever 8 is mounted on the frame 2 by means of a pivot, with the interposition of a cylindrical lining 34 which is elastically compressible, for example made of a common elastomer. A clearance exists between this pivot and the lever 8, so as to allow a slight clearance of the lever 8 in a direction perpendicular to the vertical front / rear plane of the device 1, that is to say to a coincident or parallel plane to the one in which the disc extends 6.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it appears that the selection piece 9 is fixed to the front upright of the frame 2 and that it is pierced with an opening 35 through which the lever 8 is engaged; this opening 35 has an elongated shape in a direction parallel to the vertical front / rear plane of the device 1, and forms, on a side which is lateral with respect to this direction, a series of successive housings, these housings being able to receive selectively lever 8 and to maintain this lever in a determined angular position. The passage of the lever 8 from one housing to another is made possible by a movement of the lever 8 in said direction perpendicular to the vertical front / rear plane of the device 1, this movement being itself made possible by the compressibility of the gasket 34 and the existence of the aforementioned clearance between the lever 8 and the pivot allowing the lever to be mounted on the frame 2.

It is understood that the selection grid 9, the lever 8, the transmission rod 25, the spring 24, the mounting block 22 and the cheeks 23 constitute means for adjusting the pressure exerted by the shoe 21 on the disc 6 , and therefore for adjusting the pedaling resistance. The positioning of the lever 8 in the angular position shown in Figures 1 to 3, in which the lever 8 is located in the most forward housing of the device 1, performs a displacement of the transmission rod 25 inwards of the bore 32, leading to greater compression of the spring 24, and therefore to an increased pressing force of the lining 20 against the edge of the disc 6, consequently increasing the intensity of the effort that the user must produce to achieve pedaling; conversely, the positioning of the lever 8 in the housing of the plate 9 located furthest back from the apparatus 1 achieves less compression of the spring 24, and therefore a reduced pressing force of the lining 20 against the edge of the disc 6, and therefore reduces the intensity of the effort required to achieve pedaling. The plurality of housings (four housings in the example shown) makes it possible to adapt the pedaling effort to the user, by simple, rapid and intuitive handling, by means of a braking assembly having a simple structure and 5 allowing regular gradation of the increase or decrease in pedaling resistance.

The invention has been described above with reference to an embodiment provided by way of example; it goes without saying that it is not limited to this embodiment but that it extends to all the other embodiments covered by the 10 appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus (1) for physical exercise in a swimming pool, of the bicycle type, that is to say comprising a frame (2), a saddle (3) and a crankset (4), equipped with resistance to pedaling means (6, 20, 21) and means (8, 9, 25, 24, 22, 23) for adjusting this resistance; characterized in that: - The pedaling resistance means comprise a disc (6) wedged on the crankshaft (4) and a shoe (21) capable of rubbing against the edge of this disc (6); - the means for adjusting the pedaling resistance comprise a spring (24) bearing against the shoe (21), a transmission rod (25) bearing against the spring (24), a lever (8) pivotally mounted on the device (1), pivotally connected to the transmission rod (25), and a selection plate (9) integral with the device (1), through which the lever (8) passes; the selection plate (9) forms, at the opening (35) through which the lever (8) passes, a plurality of successive housings in which the lever (8) can be selectively engaged and be immobilized in a given angular position ; one or other of the angular positions which can thus be conferred on the lever (8) allows, via the transmission rod (25), to more or less compress the spring (24), and therefore to press more or less the pad (21) against the disc (6), in order to adjust the degree to which the pad (21) presses against the disc (6), and therefore to adjust the pedaling resistance. 2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: - Said housings are arranged on one side of the selection plate (9) which is lateral with respect to a vertical front / rear plane of the device (1), the housings being successive in a direction parallel to this plane; - The lever (8) is engaged on a pivot integral with the frame (2) of the device (1), with a clearance between the pivot and the lever (8) allowing the lever (8) to travel in a direction perpendicular to this vertical front / rear plane of the device (1); and - The device (1) comprises an insert (34) of elastically compressible material placed between the frame (2) of the device and the lever (8), which is capable of being compressed when the lever (8) is moved according to said direction perpendicular so as to pass from one housing to another, and the elastic return of which allows, in the absence of 9 compression, to maintain the lever (8) in an engagement position in a given housing. 3. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said adjusting means comprise a mounting block (22), connected to the frame (2) of the apparatus (1) and drilled right through. part of a bore (32), this bore being, in the assembly state of the block (22) on the frame (2) of the device, arranged radially with respect to the disc (6); this mounting block (22) receives the pad (21) on its end located on the side of the disc (6), with the ability to move the pad (21) relative to this end in a radial direction relative to the disc (6) ; said spring (24) is engaged in said bore (32), and said transmission rod (25) is partially engaged in this same bore (32), adjusted but with sliding capacity in the latter. 4. Apparatus (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the mounting block (22) forms two flat side faces on two opposite sides, the distance from one to the other substantially corresponds to the width of the upright of the frame (2) of the device on which this mounting block (22) is intended to be mounted, and in that said pedaling resistance means include two mounting cheeks (23) able to be respectively connected to these faces flat side and to be connected to said frame amount (2) of the device, on either side of this amount. 5. Apparatus (1) according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that: - The pad (21) has, on its side opposite to that facing the disc (6), two tabs (30) projecting from itself, parallel to each other; - The mounting block (22) has, on the side of the shoe (21), a part forming two recesses (31) capable of receiving respectively these legs (30) in them, with the possibility of sliding the legs in them in a radial direction to the disc (6). 6. Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the shoe (21) comprises a wear lining (20), bearing against the disc (6). 7. Apparatus (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the frame (2) which it comprises forms a recess (15) surrounding the disc (6) at least partially and containing the pad (21 ), and comprises an openwork cage (16) entirely surrounding this disc (6) as well as the shoe (21).