GB2472089A - Child's hand and foot operated bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

A child's cross trainer exercising unit includes attachment means 1 for attaching the unit to a steering hub 8 of a bicycle, a pair of hand push-pull levers 3 pivotally coupled to the attachment means 1 via a shaft 2 and a pair of connecting rods 4 to connect the levers 3 to respective pedal cranks on the bicycle. The arrangement allows a child's bicycle to be propelled by the hand operated levers 3 as well as by the foot pedals. The unit may be retro fitted to a child's bicycle. The turning circle of the bicycle is set in a fixed position by the use of a steering alignment clamp 6. Two or more bicycles may be connected by a pole to form a miniature roundabout.

Description

A Children's cross trainer exercise bicycle conversion This invention relates to an add on device assembly to a child's bicycle (tricycle) to turn it into a cross trainer exercise bike that can constantly revolve in circles, by the addition of left and right hand push pull levers.

Young children 3 to 6 years of age love swings and roundabouts.

One of the things children are encouraged to ride their first bicycle for is exercise, coordination, balance and fun. More intense operation of the exercise can take place if the machine is modified to a cross trainer operation with levers, using arms and legs.

This presents a problem of steering?. Children love going round and around in circles so the steering problem can be over come by locking the steering forks on a set circle (radius), this will be adjustable and the circle can correlate to a small corner of a room or a large out door area like a tennis court or play ground, the Parent will also correlate in which area the child will be riding.

What is required is a easy bolt on assembly (kit) that will not damage the original bicycle and that the parent can easily apply.

Usually the parent will purchase a flat pack conventional kids bike so the fitting of handle bars or (cross trainer kit), pedals, wheels, brake callipers and stabilisers should present little problem. The cross trainer assembly will only need to be slotted into the steering forks tube and clamped together. The right and left hand connecting rods are fitted to the bike crank at the pedals and the brake callipers fitted. It would be expected the bikes stabilisers would be fitted to the cycle for stable riding.

The handle bar clamp to the front forks is used to set the cycle onto a set radius or circle and locked. Once round and around operation is accepted and understood the coupling of two or more bikes can be connected by a pole/axle fitting to the rear wheels at there centre to form a miniature fun roundabout for kids, the length of the axle/pole will determine the setting of the turning circle.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective the cross trainer assembly kit, Figure 2 illustrates a plan view of the steering head tube and support cross shaft, Figure 3 shows in perspective the handle bar clamp, steering fork tube and bicycle forward frame.

Figure 4 shows a side view of a push pull lever and connecting rod Figure 5 shows a side view of a push pull lever bent to accommodate a different cranking or throw position. (2)

A detailed description of a cross trainer assembly kit operation will now follow.

In figure 1, a lever support tube (1) is seen clamped to the shaft (2) which is seen supporting two right and left band push pull levers (3),these are connected to a bicycle crank (not shown) by a left and right connecting rods (4). With the turning of the bicycle crank by the legs and pedals the levers (3) vie the connecting rods will be operated in unison with a push pull action on the hands and arms. With leverage on the push pull levers, assistance will be given to the cranking of the bicycles pedal/cycle crank.

In figure 1 a handle bar steering alignment clamp (6) is shown. Loosening this clamp will allow the steering forks to be swivelled or set to a circietradius, defining the area to be used by the child's bicycle, tightening this clamp will maintain a constant tracking for the bike and this area.

In figure 2 the lever support shalt (2) can be seen clamped onto support tube (1) by a tube clamp or welded connection. This shaft carries the two push pull levers (3) which are connecting the bicycle crank via the connecting rods (4).Rotation of the bicycle crank allows the unit to under go a four limb operation.

In figure 3 the steering handle bar clamp (6) is seen in situ with the cycle frame steering head (8) a butterfly locknut (9) is shown for easy adjustment and locking of turning circle. Unlocking the clamp (6) will allow the steering forks to swivel on the steering tube (1) Figure 4 shows a side view of a conventional lever(3) and connecting rod(4) which action will allow leverage onto the cycle crank Figure 5 shows a side view of a bent push pull lever (5) the bending of the upper section of the lever can be used as an adjustment to accommodate a different cranked/throw position when using larger bicycles or different frame sizes. * * p. * .. * S * PL * S * * *5 *S *S St I **.

S (3)

Claims (4)

1. Claims 1. A child's bicycle exercising unit comprising attachment means for attaching the unit to a bicycle, push pull levers on a support steering head carrying connecting rods to connect the unit to a bicycle pedal crank.
2. 2. A child's exercising unit according to claim 1, in which the assemble allows a cross trainer exerciser action to be applied to a child's bicycles.
3. 3. A child's exercising unit assembly according to claim 1, that can be easily added or remove from a child's bicycle frame
4. 4. A child's exercising unit accordingly to claim I,that can easily adjust and lock the turning circle of a child's bicycle.