GB2368825A

GB2368825A - Bicycle convertible to exercise machine

Info

Publication number: GB2368825A
Application number: GB0027316A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glyn David Rosser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-09
Filing date: 2000-11-09
Publication date: 2002-05-15
Also published as: GB0027316D0

Abstract

The bicycle comprises first and second frame portions (8,9) that are relatively movable with respect to one another by rotation of the second frame portion about an axis transverse to the major axis of said frame portions, said first frame portion supporting the handlebars (4), steering column (5), front wheel (1) and saddle (3), and the second frame portion supporting the rear wheel (2), and being rotatable from a first transport attitude (Fig 1A), and a second exercise attitude, in which the rear wheel is supported by the second frame portion (9), the portions contacting one another by means of an arcuate male/female joint, with locking means e.g. bolts for locking the portions in said transport and exercise attitudes, and with a controllable means for adjusting resistance to the pedals of the cycle in the exercise mode. Stabilisers (19) can be pivoted outwardly from the portion (9) in the exercise attitude.

Description

BICYCLE AND EXERCISE MACHINE

This invention relates to a bicycle. More particularly, it relates to a bicycle convertible between a mode in which it can be ridden in conventional manner and a mode in which it is supported in static form and can be used as an exercise machine.

Bicycles have existed in substantially their present form, with two road wheels, handlebars, a saddle and pedals for over a century. They are used for personal transport, whether for movement from place to place with a specific purpose, or for the purposes of exercise or sport. More recently, machinery has been introduced purely for the purposes of exercise. Such machinery generally has handlebars, a saddle, and pedals, just as a conventional bicycle, but instead of wheels, it has an immobile stand intended to remain in one place, so that the person taking exercise can remain in one place. The pedals operate against some form of resistance, so as to enable the rider to exercise leg muscles and burn off calories. The disadvantage of such devices is that they inevitably occupy a certain amount of space. This is of no inconvenience if the device is located in a gymnasium or health club, but can militate against the use of such equipment in the home.

The present invention solves this problem by providing a bicycle that can be rapidly and simply converted between a form in which it is roadworthy, and can be ridden in conventional manner, and a form in which it is no longer

mobile but in which the pedals can be operated against a resistance so that the user can take exercise in a place and at a time which is convenient. The entire device occupies no more space than a conventional bicycle in bicycle mode and less space when in cycling machine mode.

The present invention provides a bicycle convertible between a first transport attitude, in which a second frame portion supporting the rear wheel is positioned relative to a first frame portion such that the rear wheel is drivably supported in a road contacting orientation, and a second exercise attitude, in which the second frame portion is rotated relative to the first frame portion to provide a support for the rear of the bicycle and raise the rear wheel out of the road contacting orientation.

A preferred bicycle comprises first and second frame portions that are relatively movable with respect to one another by rotation of the second frame portion about an axis transverse to the major axis of said frame portions, said first frame portion supporting the handlebars, steering column, front wheel and saddle, and the second frame portion supporting the rear wheel, and being rotatable from a first transport attitude, in which the rear wheel contacts a road or other bearing surface, and a second exercise attitude, in which the rear wheel is supported above a bearing surface by the second frame portion, said first and second frame portions contacting one another by means of an arcuate male/female joint, with locking means for locking the frame portions in said transport and exercise attitudes, and with a controllable means for adjusting resistance to the pedals of the cycle in the exercise mode.

According to various preferred embodiments of the invention : the locking means is provided by slidable bolts fitting in suitable apertures in the first and second frame portions, the resistance to the pedals is provided by gearing housed with the crank shaft of the pedals or by a belt running alongside the chain, the male portion of the joint comprises wheels or spring loaded ball bearings running on an interior surface of the female portion of the joint, means are provided for folding the first frame portion, and a small electrical generator is provided for use in the exercise mode.

The present invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a bicycle according to the invention in a first mode (the transport mode); Figure 1A is a view from above of the bicycle in the first mode; Figure 2 is a side view of the bicycle according to the invention in a second mode (the exercise mode); Figure 2A is a view from above of the bicycle in the second mode;

Figure 3 is a section through the joint involved in the conversion between modes ; Figure 4A is a view from the rear of the lower portion of the rear wheel and of the stand when the stabilising bars are in the retracted position; and Figure 4B is a view of one side of the lower portion of the stand with its stabilising bar in the extended position.

Referring now to the drawings, a bicycle according to the invention has front and rear wheels (1,2), a saddle (3), and handlebars (4) which are supported on a steering column (5). These, together with chain wheel (6) and pedals (7), are supported by a first frame portion (8).

The rear wheel (2) is supported by a second frame portion (9), which is movable relative to the first frame portion (8), and is linked to it by means of joint (10) which is shown in more detail in Figure 3.

The joint (10) comprises a female portion (11), within which a male portion (12) is able to slide when the bicycle is converted between modes. For smooth running, a suitable bearing surface is advantageously provided, e. g. by nylon wheels or rollers (22) carried on the male portion. Alternatively, spring loaded ball bearings may be used, thus providing some shock absorption. That part of the first frame portion (8) from location (13) through location (14) to location (15) provides the female joint in the form of an arc of a circle. The male portion of the joint (10) has five locations (13,14, 15,16, 17) lying on an arc with the same radius as the arc of the first frame portion (8). Between locations (13,14, 15) the female portion of the joint is preferably a continuous arc. The second frame portion (9) may or may

not form a continuous arc between these locations. It may, for instance, be cut away, as shown in Figure 1A.

Transverse bores are provided in both frame portions at locations (13,14, 15,16, 17). In the transport mode, the frame portions are locked together by means of conveniently removable locking bolts passing through the bores in the frame portions at locations (13,14, 15).

When the bicycle is in the exercise mode, the bores in the first frame portion at locations (13,14) are aligned with bores at locations (16,17) in the second frame portion and the frame portions are held in this position by the locking bolts. The hub of the rear wheel (2) is journalled to the second frame portion at (18).

In order to move from the transport to the exercise mode, the bolts at locations (13,14, 15) are withdrawn and the second frame portion (9) is rotated about the hub (18) by pushing the upper part forwards until the shaped portion constituting the male joint between locations (16,17) engages the female joint in the first frame portion at location (13) and further slides downwards until the bores at locations (16,17) can be locked to the first frame portion by the bolts at locations (13,14).

Locations (13,14) of the second frame portion will now be resting on the ground beneath the rear wheel (2). For extra stability, stabilising bars (19) are rotated transversely to the main axis of the cycle, from corresponding recesses (20) in the movable frame until they contact the ground. They can then be slid inwardly up to their integral stops (21) to lock them in this stabilising orientation in the second frame portion (9).

Conversion from the exercise mode to the transport mode is the reverse of this process.

Alternative locking means to the bolts, such as clamps, may be used.

Resistance to rotation of the pedals is provided by adjustable gearing and a suitable brake mechanism (24) housed with the crank shaft of the pedals. Variation in this gearing is provided by a manual control (26) comprising an on/off switch and a continuous or stepwise adjuster. Alternative means for resistance to rotation of the pedals may be provided by a belt running alongside the chain, so as to provide an additional frictional resistance.

Various modifications of the above described bicycle are possible. For instance, it may be made more portable when in the exercise mode by making the handlebars and the front of the first frame portion foldable.

A small electrical generator may be provided for use in the exercise mode, thus providing an electrical supply for such purposes as communication, cooking, lighting or battery charging. The generator will provide a further braking effect, and may provide the entire exercise load if the resistance of the generator is sufficiently great.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A bicycle convertible between a first transport attitude, in which a second frame portion supporting the rear wheel is positioned relative to a first frame portion such that the rear wheel is drivably supported in a road contacting orientation, and a second exercise attitude, in which the second frame portion is rotated relative to the first frame portion to provide a support for the rear of the bicycle and raise the rear wheel out of the road contacting orientation.
2 A bicycle convertible between a first transport mode and a second exercise mode which comprises first and second frame portions that are relatively movable with respect to one another by rotation of the second frame portion about an axis transverse to the major axis of said frame portions, said first frame portion supporting the handlebars, steering column, front wheel and saddle, and the second frame portion supporting the rear wheel, and being rotatable from a first transport attitude, in which the rear wheel contacts a road or other bearing surface, and a second exercise attitude, in which the rear wheel is supported above a bearing surface by the second frame portion, said first and second frame portions contacting one another by means of an arcuate male/female joint, with locking means for locking the frame portions in said transport and exercise attitudes, and with a controllable means for adjusting resistance to the pedals of the cycle in the exercise mode.
3 A bicycle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the locking means is provided by slidable bolts fitting in suitable apertures in the first and second frame portions.
4 A bicycle as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the resistance to the pedals is provided by gearing housed with the crank shaft of the pedals or by a belt running alongside the chain.
5 A bicycle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the male portion of the joint comprises wheels or spring loaded ball bearings running on an interior surface of the female portion of the joint.
6 A bicycle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein means are provided for folding the first frame portion.
7 A bicycle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein a small electrical generator is provided for use in the exercise mode.
8 A bicycle as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.