GB2380419A

GB2380419A - An adjustable magnetic resistance device for an exercise bike

Info

Publication number: GB2380419A
Application number: GB0123726A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tsung-Yu Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-02
Filing date: 2001-10-03
Publication date: 2003-04-09
Also published as: DE20116463U1; US20030064863A1; GB0123726D0

Abstract

An adjustable magnetic resistance force for an exercise bike comprises first and second members 51,52 which are pivotly connected to the frame of the bike and hold a casing 54 by means of bolts 53 which pass though casing 54 and first and second members 51,52 allowing casing 54 which has a plurality of magnets 541 received therein to pivot in unison with first and second members 51,52. Plate 512 is connected between two extensions 510 of the first member 51 at its mid point and is connected to a spring 56 at one end and a cable 55 at its distal end, so that when pulling the control cable 55, the first and second members 51,52 and casing 54 are moved away from flywheel 36 which adjusts the overlapped portion between the magnets 541 and the flywheel 36 and thus varies the amount of resistance applied to the exercise bike.

Description

23804 9

ADJUSTABLE MAGNETIC RESISTANCE DEVICE FOR EXERCISE

BIKE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adjustable magnetic resistance device for exercise bike wherein the magnets are received in a casing which is 5 clamped between two members which can be pulled away from a fly wheel so as to adjust the magnetic resistance force of the exercise bike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional exercise bike has a wheel and a plurality of magnets are received in the wheel. These magnets are connected with each other by a 10 belt which is connected to a control bar so that when the user pulls the control bar, the position of the magnets are moved relative to a fly wheel and the resistant force between the magnets and the fly wheel is adjusted. However, the magnets received in the wheel could be affected by metal objects when being put close to the wheel. Besides, the magnets are connected to a belt which is a 15 flexible belt so that when pulling the bar to adjust the position of the magnets, the flexible belt could bend to a position that is not what it is supposed to be and the adjustment of the resistance force becomes less precise. The magnets received in the wheel also makes the replacement or maintenance for the magnets to be difficult.

20 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustable magnetic resistance device of an exercise bilce and which comprises a lug extending from a top surface of a frame of the bike and

a spring is connected to the lug A plate has an end thereof connected to a distal end of the spring and the other end of the plate is connected to a cable which is connected to a control member on a handlebar post of the bike. A first member and a second member are respectively received in the frame and extend from a 5 hole in the frame. The first member is connected to the plate and a casing is pivotably connected between the first member and the second member by extending two bolts through two slots in a side of the frame and the casing and being engaged with two respectively first ends of the first member and the second member. Two respectively second ends of the first member and the second member are pivotally connected to a lower end of the frame. A plurality of magnets are engaged with the casing and face a surface of the fly wheel of the bike.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an exercise bike that has a casing with magnets received therein and the casing can be 15 pivoted relative to the fly wheel by pulling a cable so as to adjust the overlapped portion between the magnets and the fly wheel.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which

show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance 20 with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view to show the exercise bike of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view to show the adjustable magnetic resistance device of the exercise bike of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an exploded view to show the fly wheel and the adjustable magnetic resistance device of the exercise bike of the present invention; 5 Fig. 4 is a side view to show the exercise bike of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a side view to show when the adjustable magnetic resistance device of the exercise bike of the present invention is not pulled, and Fig. 6 is a side view to show when the adjustable magnetic resistance 10 device of the exercise bike of the present invention is pulled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figs. 1 to 57 the exercise bike of the present inventio comprises a T-shaped support base 22 and a handlebar post 21 extends from the support base 22 so that a handlebar is connected to a top of the handlebar post 15 21. A transverse frame 30 is connected to the handlebar post 21 and a seat post extends from the frame 30. Two slots 421, 422 are respectively defined through one side of the frame 30 and a hole 41 is defined through a top surface of the frame 30. A crank 34 with two pedals 341 is connected to one end of the frame 30 and a wheel 342 is engaged with the crank 34. A fly wheel 36 is connected 20 to a shaft 35 connected to the other end of the frame 30 and a chain 37 is reeved between the fly wheel 36 and the wheel 341 so that when rotating the crank 34, the wheel 342 is rotated and the chain 37 drives the fly wheel 36.

A lug 43 extends from the top surface of the frame 30 and a spring 56 is connected to the lug 43. A plate 512 has an end thereof connected to a distal end of the spring 56 and the other end of the plate 512 is connected to a cable 55 which is connected to a control member 211 on the handlebar post 21.

5 A first member 51 and a second member 52 are respectively received in the frame 30 and extend from the hole 41 in the frame 30. The first member 51 has two extensions 510 extending therefrom and the plate 512 is connected between the two extensions 510. An elongate casing 54 is pivotably connected between the first member 51 and the second member 52 by extending two bolts 10 53 through the two slots 421, 422 and the casing 54 and being engaged with two holes 511, 521 in respective first ends of the first member 51 and the second member 52. Two respectively second ends of the first member 51 and the second member 52 are pivotally connected to a lower end of the frame 30 by bolts 530. A plurality of magnets 541 are engaged with the casing 54 and 15 located along a longitudinal axis of the casing 54. The magnets 541 face a surface of the fly Wheel 36 as shown in Fig. 5.

As shown in Fig. 6, when pulling the cable 55 by operating the control member 211, the cable 55 pivots the first member 51 and the second member 52 about the two respective bolts 530, the casing 54 also tilts so that 20 some portion of the magnets 541 are shifted away from the fly wheel 36.

Therefore, this shifted portion of the magnets 541 will not affect the fly wheel 36 so that the magnetic resistance force to the fly wheel 36 is reduced.

The magnets 541 are collected in the casing 54 which can be easily accessed by the maintainer so that the maintenance can be conveniently proceeded. The mutual position relationship between the magnets 541 and the fly wheel 36 can be adjusted according to the practical needs so that the 5 magnetic resistance force may also be adjusted in various ways.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

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Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An exercise bike comprising: a support base and a handlebar post, a transverse frame connected to said handlebar post and two slots respectively defined through one side of said 5 frame, a crank connected to one end of said frame and engaged with a wheel, a fly wheel connected to the other end of said frame and a chain reeved between said fly wheel and said wheel, a hole defined through a top surface of said frame; a lug extending from said top surface of said frame and a spring 10 connected to said lug, a plate having an end thereof connected to a distal end of said spring and the other end of said plate connected to a cable which i connected to a control member on said handlebar post, and a first member and a second member respectively received in said frame and extending from said hole in said frame, said first member connected 15 to said plate, a casing pivotably connected between said first member and said second member by extending two bolts through said two slots and said casing and engaged with two respective first ends of said first member and said second member, two respectively second ends of said first member and said second member pivotally connected to a lower end of said frame, a plurality of 20 magnets engaged with said casing and facing a surface of said fly wheel.

2. The exercise bike as claimed in claim 17 wherein said casing is a elongate member and said magnets are located along a longitudinal axis of said casing.

3. The exercise bike as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first member has two extensions extending thereDom and said plate connected between said two extensions.

An exercise bike substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.