US20070281833A1

US20070281833A1 - Pedal exercising vehicle

Info

Publication number: US20070281833A1
Application number: US11/444,260
Authority: US
Inventors: Barua Arun Kumar; Mei-Ting Yang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-31
Filing date: 2006-05-31
Publication date: 2007-12-06

Abstract

A exercising vehicle includes a base frame, two crank shafts rotatably mounted on the base frame and each having two bent end portions and two straight distal ends each connected to the respective bent end portion, two pedals each mounted between the two crank shafts and each having two end portions each pivotally mounted on the respective bent end portion of the respective crank shaft, and a plurality of wheels each secured on the respective straight distal end of the respective crank shaft. Thus, the user can step the two pedals to rotate the two crank shafts simultaneously to rotate the wheels so as to move the exercising vehicle, thereby obtaining an exercising effect.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exercising vehicle and, more particularly, to a pedal exercising vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional exercising device, such as an exercising bike, comprises a stand, a base frame mounted on the stand, a handlebar mounted on the front portion of the base frame, a seat mounted on the rear portion of the base frame, a flywheel mounted on the base frame, a pedal assembly rotatably mounted on the base frame to drive the flywheel by a chain, and a damping mechanism mounted in the base frame to provide a damping force to the pedal assembly so that a user has to apply a larger force to drive the pedal assembly, thereby achieving the exercising effect. However, the exercising bike is operated more violently, so that it is not available for the older people.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an exercising vehicle, comprising a base frame, two crank shafts rotatably mounted on the base frame and each having two opposite bent end portions and two straight distal ends each connected to the respective bent end portion, two pedals each mounted between the two crank shafts and each having two opposite end portions each pivotally mounted on the respective bent end portion of the respective crank shaft, and a plurality of wheels each secured on the respective straight distal end of the respective crank shaft to rotate therewith.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a pedal exercising vehicle that is operated like a bicycle.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an exercising vehicle, wherein the user can step the two pedals to rotate the two crank shafts simultaneously to rotate the wheels so as to move the exercising vehicle, thereby obtaining an exercising effect.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide an exercising vehicle, wherein each of the cylinders provides a damping force to the respective pedal, so that the user has to exert a larger force to step the two pedals, thereby enhancing the exercising effect.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide an exercising vehicle, wherein the user can be seated on the seat with his two hands holding the handle bar during the exercising process, so that the user can operate the exercising device comfortably and stably.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercising device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the exercising device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially plan cross-sectional view of the exercising device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partially plan cross-sectional view of the exercising device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partially plan cross-sectional view of the exercising device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a plan exploded cross-sectional view of the exercising device as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partially exploded perspective view of an exercising device in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan cross-sectional assembly view of the exercising device as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partially plan cross-sectional view of an exercising device in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-6, an exercising vehicle in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a base frame 1, two crank shafts 17 rotatably mounted on the base frame 1 and each having two opposite bent end portions 170 and two straight distal ends 172 each connected to the respective bent end portion 170, two pedals 18 each mounted between the two crank shafts 17 and each having two opposite end portions each pivotally mounted on the respective bent end portion 170 of the respective crank shaft 17, a plurality of wheels 171 each secured on the respective straight distal end 172 of the respective crank shaft 17 to rotate therewith, two cylinders 141 each mounted between the base frame 1 and the respective pedal 18, a manipulation device 2 mounted on a front portion of the base frame 1, and a seat assembly 3 mounted on a rear portion of the base frame 1.
Each of the two crank shafts 17 is a symmetrically arranged bent tube. Each of the two crank shafts 17 has a middle portion formed with a straight portion 174 located between the two bent end portions 170. The two bent end portions 170 of each of the two crank shafts 17 are parallel with each other and directed toward two different directions from the straight portion 174 as shown in FIG. 2.
The base frame I includes a longitudinal support rack 12, a mounting tube 133 mounted on an upward and forward extending front end of the longitudinal support rack 12, a transverse support rack 11 mounted on a rear end of the longitudinal support rack 12, two locking tubes 131 each mounted in the transverse support rack 11 and each having a locking hole 132, two side support racks 13 mounted on two opposite ends of the transverse support rack 11, and a transverse support plate 14 mounted between the side support racks 13 and extended through the longitudinal support rack 12.
Each of the cylinders 141 is mounted on the support plate 14 of the base frame 1 and has a top end provided with a retractable cylinder shaft 142 having a top end provided with a roller 143 located under the respective pedal 18. Thus, when each of the pedals 18 is movable to press the roller 143 of the respective cylinder 141, the respective cylinder 141 provides a damping force to each of the pedals 18.
The base frame 1 further includes two upright support posts 15 mounted on the longitudinal support rack 12 and the transverse support rack 11 respectively and each having a top face formed with a receiving groove 151 to receive the straight portion 174 of the respective crank shaft 17, and two top covers 153 each secured on the respective support post 15 and each having a bottom face formed with a receiving groove 152 to receive the straight portion 174 of the respective crank shaft 17, so that the straight portion 174 of each of the two crank shafts 17 is rotatably mounted between the respective support post 15 and the respective top cover 153 as shown in FIG. 3.
The base frame 1 further includes a plurality of washers 175 each mounted on the respective straight distal end 172 of the respective crank shaft 17 and each rested on the respective wheel 171, and a plurality of locking nuts 173 each screwed onto the respective straight distal end 172 of the respective crank shaft 17 and each rested on the respective washer 175 to lock the respective wheel 171 onto the respective straight distal end 172 of the respective crank shaft 17.
Each of the pedals 18 is located at the same positions of the two crank shafts 17 respectively, so that one of the two pedals 18 is pivotally mounted on and located at one bent end portion 170 of each of the crank shafts 17, and the other pedal 18 is pivotally mounted on and located at the other bent end portion 170 of each of the crank shafts 17. Thus, when one of the two pedals 18 is movable downward, the other pedal 18 is movable upward. In addition, the two crank shafts 17 are rotatable simultaneously by connection of the pedals 18.
As shown in FIG. 4, each of the pedals 18 has a bottom face provided with two protruding blocks 181 each formed with a mounting groove 182 to receive the respective bent end portion 170 of the respective crank shaft 17, and the exercising device further comprises a plurality of retaining members 19 each secured on the respective protruding block 181 of the respective pedal 18 and each formed with a mounting groove 191 to receive the respective bent end portion 170 of the respective crank shaft 17, so that each of the bent end portions 170 of each of the crank shafts 17 is rotatably mounted between the respective protruding block 181 of the respective pedal 18 and the respective retaining member 19.
The manipulation device 2 includes an upright steering post 22 rotatably mounted on the mounting tube 133 of the base frame 1, a transverse handlebar 21 secured on an upper portion of the steering post 22, and a front wheel 23 rotatably mounted on a lower portion of the steering post 22.
The seat assembly 3 includes a support bracket 31, and a seat 32 mounted on the support bracket 31. The support bracket 31 of the seat assembly 3 is substantially inverted U-shaped and has two bent end portions 310 each inserted into the respective locking tube 131 of the base frame 1 and each having an inside provided with an elastic snapping member 311 having a protruding locking boss 312 detachably locked in the locking hole 132 of the respective locking tube 131 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
In operation, referring to FIGS. 1-6, the two crank shafts 17 are rotatable on the base frame 1, so that when the two pedals 18 are stepped by a user's two feet, the two crank shafts 17 are rotatable simultaneously relative to the base frame 1 to move the two pedals 18 upward and downward. Thus, the user can step the two pedals 18 to rotate the two crank shafts 17 simultaneously to rotate the wheels 171 so as to move the exercising vehicle, thereby obtaining an exercising effect. At this time, each of the cylinders 141 provides a damping force to the respective pedal 18, so that the user has to exert a larger force to step the two pedals 18, thereby enhancing the exercising effect. In addition, the user can be seated on the seat 32 of the seat assembly 3 with his two hands holding the handle bar 21, so that the user can operate the exercising device comfortably and stably.
Accordingly, the user can step the two pedals 18 to rotate the two crank shafts 17 simultaneously to rotate the wheels 171 so as to move the exercising vehicle, thereby obtaining an exercising effect. In addition, each of the cylinders 141 provides a damping force to the respective pedal 18, so that the user has to exert a larger force to step the two pedals 18, thereby enhancing the exercising effect. Further, the user can be seated on the seat 32 with his two hands holding the handle bar 21 during the exercising process, so that the user can operate the exercising device comfortably and stably.
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, each of the two bent end portions 170A of each of the two crank shafts has a height adjustable structure and includes a substantially U-shaped adjusting tube 1701 having two end portions, and two substantially L-shaped adjusting shafts 1703 each having an end portion adjustably inserted into the respective end portion of the adjusting tube 1701.
Each of the two end portions of the adjusting tube 1701 has a plurality of adjusting holes 1702, each of the adjusting shafts 1703 has a through hole 1704, and each of the two bent end portions 170A of each of the two crank shafts further includes two adjusting bolts 1705 each extended through one of the respective adjusting holes 1702 of the adjusting tube 1701 and the through hole 1704 of the respective adjusting shaft 1703, and two locking nuts 1706 each screwed onto the respective adjusting bolt 1705 and rested on the respective end portion of the adjusting tube 1701.
Thus, the distance between the adjusting tube 1701 and the adjusting shafts 1703 can be adjusted so that the height of each of the two bent end portions 170A of each of the two crank shafts is adjustable as shown in FIG. 8 so as to fit the user's stature.
As shown in FIG. 4, the seat assembly 3A includes a support post 33 secured on the longitudinal support rack 12 of the base frame 1, and a seat 32 mounted on the support post 33.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An exercising vehicle, comprising:

a base frame;

two crank shafts rotatably mounted on the base frame and each having two opposite bent end portions and two straight distal ends each connected to the respective bent end portion;

two pedals each mounted between the two crank shafts and each having two opposite end portions each pivotally mounted on the respective bent end portion of the respective crank shaft;

a plurality of wheels each secured on the respective straight distal end of the respective crank shaft to rotate therewith.

2. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the pedals is located at the same positions of the two crank shafts respectively.

3. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein one of the two pedals is pivotally mounted on and located at one bent end portion of each of the crank shafts, and the other pedal is pivotally mounted on and located at the other bent end portion of each of the crank shafts so that when one of the two pedals is movable downward, the other pedal is movable upward.

4. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the two crank shafts are rotatable simultaneously by connection of the pedals.

5. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the two crank shafts is a symmetrically arranged bent tube.

6. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the two bent end portions of each of the two crank shafts are parallel with each other and directed toward two different directions from the straight portion.

7. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising two cylinders each mounted between the base frame and the respective pedal.

8. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a manipulation device mounted on a front portion of the base frame.

9. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a seat assembly mounted on a rear portion of the base frame.

10. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the base frame includes a longitudinal support rack, a mounting tube mounted on an upward and forward extending front end of the longitudinal support rack, a transverse support rack mounted on a rear end of the longitudinal support rack, two locking tubes each mounted in the transverse support rack and each having a locking hole, two side support racks mounted on two opposite ends of the transverse support rack, and a transverse support plate mounted between the side support racks and extended through the longitudinal support rack.

11. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 10, further comprising two cylinders each mounted on the support plate of the base frame and having a top end provided with a retractable cylinder shaft having a top end provided with a roller located under the respective pedal so that when each of the pedals is movable to press the roller of the respective cylinder, the respective cylinder provides a damping force to each of the pedals.

12. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 10, wherein each of the two crank shafts has a middle portion formed with a straight portion located between the two bent end portions, and the base frame further includes two upright support posts mounted on the longitudinal support rack and the transverse support rack respectively and each having a top face formed with a receiving groove to receive the straight portion of the respective crank shaft, and two top covers each secured on the respective support post and each having a bottom face formed with a receiving groove to receive the straight portion of the respective crank shaft, so that the straight portion of each of the two crank shafts is rotatably mounted between the respective support post and the respective top cover.

13. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a manipulation device mounted on a front portion of the base frame and including an upright steering post rotatably mounted on the mounting tube of the base frame, a transverse handlebar secured on an upper portion of the steering post, and a front wheel rotatably mounted on a lower portion of the steering post.

14. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a seat assembly mounted on a rear portion of the base frame and including a support bracket, and a seat mounted on the support bracket.

15. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 14, wherein the support bracket of the seat assembly is substantially inverted U-shaped and has two bent end portions each inserted into the respective locking tube of the base frame and each having an inside provided with an elastic snapping member having a protruding locking boss detachably locked in the locking hole of the respective locking tube.

16. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the pedals has a bottom face provided with two protruding blocks each formed with a mounting groove to receive the respective bent end portion of the respective crank shaft, and the exercising device further comprises a plurality of retaining members each secured on the respective protruding block of the respective pedal and each formed with a mounting groove to receive the respective bent end portion of the respective crank shaft, so that each of the bent end portions of each of the crank shafts is rotatably mounted between the respective protruding block of the respective pedal and the respective retaining member.

17. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the base frame includes a plurality of washers each mounted on the respective straight distal end of the respective crank shaft and each rested on the respective wheel, and a plurality of locking nuts each screwed onto the respective straight distal end of the respective crank shaft and each rested on the respective washer to lock the respective wheel onto the respective straight distal end of the respective crank shaft.

18. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the two bent end portions of each of the two crank shafts has a height adjustable structure and includes a substantially U-shaped adjusting tube having two end portions, and two substantially L-shaped adjusting shafts each having an end portion adjustably inserted into the respective end portion of the adjusting tube.

19. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 18, wherein each of the two end portions of the adjusting tube has a plurality of adjusting holes, each of the adjusting shafts has a through hole, and each of the two bent end portions of each of the two crank shafts further includes two adjusting bolts each extended through one of the respective adjusting holes of the adjusting tube and the through hole of the respective adjusting shaft, and two locking nuts each screwed onto the respective adjusting bolt and rested on the respective end portion of the adjusting tube.

20. The exercising vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a seat assembly mounted on a rear portion of the base frame and including a support post secured on the longitudinal support rack of the base frame, and a seat mounted on the support post.