GB2395141A

GB2395141A - Support apparatus for a user of an exercise apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2395141A
Application number: GB0226313A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Baldwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-11-12
Filing date: 2002-11-12
Publication date: 2004-05-19
Also published as: GB0226313D0

Abstract

An exercise apparatus comprises pedals arranged to be rotated by a user, a seat 10 arranged for the user to sit on while rotating the pedals, a lumbar support 24 arranged to support the lumbar region of the user's back while the user is on the seat, and a pair of shoulder supports 26 arranged to limit forward movement of the user's upper body while the user is on the seat. The apparatus helps to ensure that the user maintains a good posture during use of the apparatus, and thereby aims to avoid discomfort or injury of the user.

Description

EXERCISE APPARATUS

The present invention relates to exercise apparatus and in particular to exercise apparatus, such as an 'exercise bike' or the like, which includes 5 pedals arranged to be rotated by a user's legs in a similar manner to a bicycle. When using exercise apparatus it is always important to ensure that it is used properly, because misuse can cause discomfort or even injury to the 10 user. It is therefore common for new users of exercise apparatus to undergo a training session during which they are instructed how to use the apparatus in a manner which is beneficial to their health. However even with proper training it is still possible for users to cause themselves a degree of discomfort or injury. On an exercise bike one reason for this 15 can be the posture of the user. Most known exercise bikes are set up so that the user has a posture similar to that of a cyclist on a real bicycle.

This generally means that they are leaning forwards, with their back slightly curved. This can result in strain of the user's back during use of the apparatus.

Accordingly the present invention provides an exercise apparatus comprising pedals arranged to be rotated by a user, a seat arranged for the user to sit on while rotating the pedals, a lumbar support arranged to support the lumbar region of the user's back while the user is on the seat, 25 and upper body support means arranged to limit forward movement of the user's upper body while the user is on the seat.

Preferably the upper body support means is arranged to support the user's shoulders. Alternatively it could be arranged to support the user's chest.

Preferably the upper body support means comprises a pair of shoulder supports each arranged to support a respective shoulder of the user. More preferably each shoulder support comprises a top section arranged to extend over the shoulder and a front section arranged to extend down 5 from the top section in front of the shoulder.

Preferably the upper body support means is movably mounted so that it can be moved between an operational position in which it supports the user's upper body, and a non-operational position in which it is moved 10 away from the user's body. This can allow the exercise apparatus to be used without the support means, and also allows the user to easily get onto and get off the apparatus.

Preferably the apparatus further comprises a hand rest arranged to support 15 the user's hands. The hand rest can conveniently be connected to the upper body support means.

Preferably the lumbar support is adjustable, in height and in the horizontal direction. In each case the lumbar support is preferably 20 adjustable between a plurality of discrete predefined positions. This allows as user to memorize or record the position which suits them so that they can always set up the apparatus in that position.

Preferably the apparatus further comprises a support frame arranged to 25 support the lumbar support and the upper body support means. The support frame is preferably arranged to extend vertically behind the user when the apparatus is in use. Preferably the support frame, the lumbar support and the upper body support means are removable as an assembly from the apparatus.

The present invention therefore further provides a support apparatus for a user of an exercise apparatus comprising pedals arranged to be rotated by the user and a seat, the support apparatus comprising a lumbar support arranged to support the lumbar region of the user's back while the user is 5 on the seat, and upper body support means arranged to limit forward movement of the user's upper body while the user is on the seat.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in 10 which: Figure 1 is a side view of an exercise apparatus according to the invention. 15 Referring to Figure 1, an exercise apparatus comprises a seat 10 mounted on a stem 12, which in turn is mounted on a main support (not shown).

Also mounted on the main support are pedals arranged to be rotated by a user 14 to provide exercise for the user 14.

20 A support assembly 20 comprises a support frame 22, and a lumbar support 24, a pair of shoulder supports 26, and a hand rest 28 all mounted on the support frame 22. The support frame 22 comprises a main vertical section 22a, and a lower section 22b which has a clamp 30 at its end by means of which the frame is removably clamped to the seat stem 12. It 25 will be appreciated that the frame could be attached to any suitable part of the exercise apparatus, depending on the design of the exercise apparatus.

The lumbar support 24 is mounted on a sleeve 32 which fits around the vertical section 22a of the support frame 22 and can slide vertically up 30 and down it. The vertical position of the sleeve can be selected using an adjuster pin 33 to provide vertical adjustment of the lumbar support 24

between a plurality of predefined positions. The lumbar support 24 comprises horizontal arm 34 which extends horizontally from the sleeve 32 and a lumbar support pad 36 mounted on the arm 34. The arm 34 is adjustable in length, and its length can be selected using an adjuster pin 5 35 thereby to provide horizontal adjustment of the lumbar support 24 in the direction in which the user 14 faces. The adjuster pin 35 allows the horizontal position of the lumbar support 24 to be adjusted between a plurality of predefined positions. The lumbar support 24 is aligned centrally with the seat 10 in the lateral direction, and so no adjustment in 10 that direction is needed.

At the top of the support frame 22, an upper section 22c extends upwards and forwards from the main vertical section 22a. The upper section 22c is formed from two arms 22d which diverge in the lateral direction so that 15 the upper end of the support frame 22 is Y shaped when viewed from the rear. At the upper end of each of the two arms 22 one of the shoulder supports 26 is mounted by means of a pivot 38. The upper part 22c of the support frame 22 is slidably movable vertically relative to the main vertical section 22a, and a further adjuster pin 39 is provided to allow 20 selection of any of a plurality of predefined vertical positions of the upper section 22a of the support frame 22, and hence of the shoulder supports 26. The shoulder supports 26 are both mounted on a single support bar 40 25 which has its two ends connected to the support frame 22 by means of the pivots 38. The bar has two shoulder support sections 40a which extend horizontally forwards from the pivots 38, two vertical connecting sections 40b extending vertically downwards from the front ends of the shoulder support sections 40a, and a horizontal hand rest section 40c which joins 30 the lower ends of the connecting sections 40b. The support bar 40 and shoulder supports 26 are therefore pivotable together about a horizontal

axis through the pivots 38 between an operational position, as shown in Figure 1 in which the shoulder supporting and connecting sections 40a, 40b of the support bar 40 are horizontal and vertical, and a non-

operational position in which the shoulder supporting sections 40a extend 5 vertically upwards and the whole of the support bar 40 and shoulder supports 26 are clear of the user 14.

The shoulder supports 26 each include a shaped padding member 42 having a substantially horizontal top portion 26a which fits around the 10 respective shoulder supporting section 40a of the support bar 40, and a substantially vertical front portion 26b which extends downwards from the front end of the top portion 26a. Together the top and front portions 26a, 26b of the shoulder supports form a single curved shoulder supporting surface 26c which is concavely curved and extends over the 15 top, and down the front of the users shoulders 44. Depending on the material of the padding member 42, the shoulder supports 26 may include a reinforcing bar extending downwards from the support bar 40 within the vertical portions 26b.

20 To use the exercise apparatus, the user 14 sits on the seat 10 with the support bar 40 in the raised non-operational position and adjusts the height of the seat 10. The seat should be adjusted so that, as the user 14 rotates the pedals, his knees will not rise above his hips. The lumbar support 24 is adjusted vertically and horizontally until it rests comfortably 25 against the lumbar region of the back, and specifically the lumbar vertebrae, of the user 14 so that it supports the user's back in the S-

shaped configuration shown. This is intended to hold the back in the position in which it would naturally be if the user were standing. The support bar 40 is then rotated down into its operational position such that 30 the shoulder supports rest against the top and front of the shoulders of the user 14. In this position, the shoulder supports 26 prevent forward

movement of the user's upper torso and therefore co-operate with the lumbar support 24 to support and hold the user's back in the desired substantially vertical S-shaped position. The user 14 then holds onto the horizontal section 40c of the support bar 40 with his hands, so that the 5 horizontal section 40c forms a hand rest. This makes the user 14 more comfortable and helps to ensure that his shoulders will not drop backwards, and remain approximately level, in the horizontal direction, with his spine.

10 The support assembly 20 therefore keeps the user 14 in the correct position during use of the exercise apparatus, thereby reducing the chances of discomfort or injury. However, if the user 14 wishes to use the exercise apparatus without the aid of the support assembly, the lumbar support 24 can be adjusted to its rearmost position, and the shoulder 15 supports 26 raised into the non-operational position.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the lumbar support is in the form of a simple pad. However, as a further enhancement it can be provided with a heating element so as to heat the users back. Alternatively, or in addition, 20 it can be provided with a massaging device, such as rotatably mounted beads or balls, which can massage the user's back while he is operating the exercise apparatus. Heating elements can also be provided in the shoulder supports 26 and the hand rest 40c.

25 The hand rest 40c can also have controls mounted on it or integral with it.

These can be, for example, controls for the exercise apparatus arranged to enable the user 14 to set the stiffness of the pedals or to select one of a number of pre-set routines in which the resistance to rotation of the pedals is varied so as to simulate a chosen cycling route. A display, such 30 as a video screen, can also be mounted on the support bar 40 to give a visual simulation of the chosen route. Alternatively the controls and

l 7 display can be used to play video games as the user 14 is operating the apparatus. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the support assembly 20 is removably 5 mounted on the seat stem 12. However, it will be appreciated that the support assembly could be formed as an integral part of the exercise apparatus.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising pedals arranged to be rotated by a user, a seat arranged for the user to sit on while rotating the pedals, a 5 lumbar support arranged to support the lumbar region of the user's back while the user is on the seat, and upper body support means arranged to limit forward movement of the user's upper body while the user is on the seat. 10

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the upper body support means is arranged to support the user's shoulders.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the upper body support means comprises a pair of shoulder supports each arranged to support a 15 respective shoulder of the user.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each shoulder support comprises a top section arranged to extend over the shoulder and a front section arranged to extend down from the top section in front of the 20 shoulder.

5. An apparatus according to any foregoing claim wherein the upper body support means is movably mounted so that it can be moved between an operational position in which it supports the user's upper body, and a 25 non-operational position in which it is moved away from the user's body.

6. An apparatus according to any foregoing claim further comprising a hand rest arranged to support the user's hands.

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7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the hand rest is connected to the upper body support means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the hand rest includes a bar arranged to extend horizontally in front of the user.

9. An apparatus according to any foregoing claim wherein the lumbar 5 support is height adjustable.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the lumbar support is height adjustable between a plurality of discrete predefined positions.

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11. An apparatus according to any foregoing claim wherein the lumbar support is adjustable in the horizontal direction.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the lumbar support is adjustable in the horizontal direction between a plurality of discrete 15 predefined positions.

13. An apparatus according to any foregoing claim further comprising a support frame arranged to support the lumbar support and the upper body support means.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the support frame is arranged to extend vertically behind the user when the apparatus is in use.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the 25 support frame the lumbar support and the upper body support means are removable as an assembly from the apparatus.

16. An apparatus according to any foregoing claim wherein the upper body support means is adjustable in the vertical direction.

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17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the upper body support means is adjustable between a plurality of discrete predefined positions. 5

18. A support apparatus for a user of an exercise apparatus comprising pedals arranged to be rotated by the user and a seat, the support apparatus comprising a lumbar support arranged to support the lumbar region of the user's back while the user is on the seat, and upper body support means arranged to limit forward movement of the user's upper body while the 10 user is on the seat.

19. An exercise apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

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20. A support apparatus for a user of an exercise apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.