WO1991008024A2

WO1991008024A2 - Physical exercise apparatus having programmable simulation

Info

Publication number: WO1991008024A2
Application number: PCT/BE1990/000068
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Michel Schumacher
Original assignee: Schumacher Jean Michel
Priority date: 1989-12-05
Filing date: 1990-12-04
Publication date: 1991-06-13
Also published as: WO1991008024A3; BE1003439A6

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a frame (11) on which are mounted a rotating member (16) which is freely rotatable about a horizontal axis, a flywheel (20) coupled with the rotating member, and a strap (22) fastened to part of the circumference of the flywheel (20), said strap being attached at one end to an axle (23) which is fixed to the frame (11), and at the other end to the end of a spring (24), the other end of the spring (24) being connected to an adjustable pulling device (26) which is mounted on the frame (11) in such a way that it imparts a predetermined tensile load to the spring (24) and the strap (22). The adjustable pulling device (26) responds to a control signal produced by a microprocessor (30), said control signal constituting a simulated difficulty.

Description

PHYSICAL EXERCISE APPARATUS WITH PROGRAMMABLE SIMULATION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for enabling an individual to practice physical exercise and training.

The practice of the bicycle constitutes a beneficial exercise for the physical form of an individual and this practice is also commonly adopted for healing. For this purpose, not only is the conventional bicycle used for moving around used, but also an indoor machine, called a cyclo-ergometer, which essentially comprises a crankset mounted on a stationary frame. However, such a device does not make it possible to control or program the exercises. In addition, this known device hardly creates motivating exercise conditions because it can never give the user a velocity sensation similar to that which he would have when riding a bicycle on a road.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for physical exercise which overcomes the drawbacks of known exercise machines.

This object is achieved according to the inventi.on thanks to an apparatus for physical exercises comprising a frame on which are mounted a rotary member mounted so as to be able to freely rotate about a horizontal axis, a coupled flywheel to the rotary member, and a strap tightened on a part of the circumference of the flywheel, the strap being attached by one end to an axis fixed to the frame and attached by its end opposite to the end of a spring, the other end of the spring being connected to an adjustable traction device mounted on the frame so as to exert a predetermined tensile force on the spring and strap.

The strap consists of a steel ribbon under which are placed a leather ribbon and a textile ribbon, the latter being in contact with the rim of the flywheel, the leather ribbon and the ribbon. textile being attached with the steel tape to the aforementioned axis.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the adjustable traction device is electronically controlled by a programmable microprocessor, the control signal representing a simulated difficulty of the route. Different exercise programs can be stored in the microprocessor, each program comprising a sequence of tracks having different degrees of difficulty both in braking force (simulating a degree of slope) and in distance or duration. In this way the user has the feeling of driving on a real road course and it is possible for him to select such or such memorized program according to his physical possibilities or his exercise needs.

The microprocessor can also be programmed to perform a topographic simulation composed at the discretion of the user himself according to his physical form or according to his physical performance or desired performance. The microprocessor memory is loaded with a range of ranges various difficulties (for example more than ten ranges) which allow the user to adjust his physical exercises and their "à la carte" difficulties.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the rotary member consists of at least one roller mounted for free rotation on the frame so as to constitute a raceway for a drive wheel of a bicycle placed on the frame.

In another exemplary embodiment, the device according to the invention can also be used on a cyclo-ergometer. In this case, the rotary member consists of a bottom bracket fixed to the frame of the device and mechanically coupled to the flywheel.

The development necessary to carry out a simulated course and overcome the simulated slope which it represents is established by the aforementioned microprocessor, which microprocessor is organized to memorize the development theoretically necessary for several predetermined simulated courses and, in response to the aforementioned signal representing the number of turns of the flywheel, to generate a second signal representing a number of turns increased in proportion to the "theoretically necessary development corresponding thereto and to produce a control signal for the adjustable traction device in response to said second signal representing the simulated increased number of revolutions.

The device according to the invention has the advantage of automatically ensuring a programmable regulation of the eff- strong physical during the exercises and perform a motivating programmable simulation that gives the user a velocity sensation similar to that which he would have when riding a bicycle on a road.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of the accompanying drawings which represent two exemplary embodiments.

- Figure 1 shows in perspective a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

- Figure 2 is an elevational view, broken away, of a portion of Figure 1.

- Figure 3 is a section along line III-III of Figure 2.

- Figure 4 is a diagram showing an exemplary simulation carried out by the apparatus according to the invention.

- Figure 5 partially shows a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

- Figure 6 is a partial enlarged view of the steering wheel shown in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. It is a device 10 intended to carry and cooperate with the drive wheel of a bicycle with the aid of which the user can perform his exercises. The frame of a common bicycle is symbolized at 1. This bicycle frame is fixed at the front on a column 12 secured to the frame 11 of the apparatus 10 according to the invention and is also supported by the support 13 which is also secured to the frame 11. As is usual, the driving wheel 2 of the bicycle is driven by a crankset, the plate 3 of which is coupled by a chain 4 with a pinion 5 mounted on the hub of the driving wheel.

The frame 11 of the device according to the invention carries two parallel horizontal axes 14 and 15 about which freely rotate rollers 16 and 17 which constitute a raceway for a driving wheel 2 of a bicycle. The rotation of the drive wheel 2, driven by the pedal actuated by the user, rolls on the rollers 16 and 17 and drives them in rotation. On the frame 11 is also mounted a flywheel 20 freely rotating about an axis 19. Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 3, the axis 19 of the flywheel 20 is mounted on flanges 18 fixed to the frame 11. The flywheel 20 is mechanically coupled to the roller 16, for example, by means of a belt 21.

According to the invention, part of the periphery of the flywheel 20 is tightened a strap 22: one end of the strap is fixed to a retaining pin 23 integral with the frame and the other end of the strap 22 is attached to a tension spring 24. This is itself attached to an arm 25 of an adjustable traction device 26, for example a gear motor, intended to exert on the spring 24 an adjustable predetermined traction force which has the effect of tightening the strap on the rim of the flywheel so that it provides resistance this predetermined for the rotation of the roller 16 to which it is mechanically coupled. The roller 16 thus opposes a predetermined resistance to the rotation of the drive wheel 2 of the bicycle placed on the apparatus and it is this resistance to rolling that the user of the apparatus must overcome.

In a preferred embodiment (FIG. 6), the strap 22 consists of a steel ribbon placed on the rim of the steering wheel 20 with the interposition of a leather ribbon 32 and a textile ribbon 39, the latter being in contact with the steering wheel strip 20. The leather tape and the textile tape are attached at one end to the fixed axis 23 to which the steel tape 22 is also attached. The dimensional stabilization steel tape ensures a perfectly determined and adjustable clamping force. The leather ribbon has the effect of distributing the tightening force well over the sector of the steering wheel 20 with which it cooperates and the textile ribbon guarantees excellent friction. The textile ribbon is for example made up of a synthetic textile such as a nylon woven. Thanks to this embodiment, the predetermined pulling force exerted on the spring 24 and thus on the strap 22, creates on the flywheel 20 a perfectly determined, stable and reproducible braking force, which allows to program a simulation of braking forces that can be calibrated precisely.

In a particular embodiment, the adjustable traction device 26 is electronically controlled by a programmable microprocessor 30 so as to realize a system. programmable braking. The steering wheel 20 is for example associated with a counting device for towers constituted for example by a magnet 27 fixed on the flywheel 20 and a sensitive cell 28 producing an electrical pulse at each pass of the magnet 27. The pulses are transmitted in a cable 29 to the microprocessor 30 which compares their number to a preset preset number which represents a programmed difficulty for a course simulation. In response to the counting pulses of the number of turns of the flywheel, the microprocessor 30 generates a control signal for the traction device 26 in order to produce on the strap 22 a pre-established traction.

In the microprocessor 30 are advantageously stored data representing simulated routes which present variations in the degree of difficulty. Each simulated route is made up of a succession of pre-established beaches with varying lengths and degrees of slope simulating a terrain profile similar to that of a real road route. Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary simulation. The simulated distance DS is plotted on the abscissa and the simulated slope PS expressed in percentages is plotted on the ordinate. A given degree of slope PS corresponds to a predetermined braking force produced by the strap 22 on the flywheel 20. The simulated path 100 shown by way of example consists of ranges 101 to 108. Range 101, by - example, simulates a flat section corresponding to a distance of 1 km. Beach 102 simulates a 0.6 km section with a 4% slope, and so on. The range 104, for example, which follows two sloping course ranges, represents a recovery range for the user.

For each simulation range, the microprocessor 30 stores data representing the simulated distance and data representing the traction force on the strap 22, that is to say the braking force corresponding to the degree of simulated slope. The microprocessor 30 is programmed to produce the desired control signal for the traction device 26 in response to the counting pulses of the number of turns of the steering wheel 20 so that the desired braking force is achieved for a given simulated distance. The implementation of programming within the microprocessor is within the normal competence of the skilled person.

Instead of simulating sections of route defined in distance from counting pulses of the number of revolutions, the microprocessor can also be programmed to simulate the sections of course in duration from time pulses generated by a general ¬ appropriate writer.

Throughout the simulation in accordance with the invention, the user finds himself placed in conditions of exercises which give him a feeling of speed comparable to that which a journey on a real road provides. At each simulation range, the sensation of speed which it experiences obliges the user to react as on the road and, if necessary, to select the appropriate development using the speed change device which would be equipped the bicycle, so as to continue the exercise. A selector provided on the microprocessor allows the user to select the program of an exercise.

In order to offer the user a wide range of simulations allowing him to modulate his physical exercises and their "à la carte" difficulties, the micropro- Cesseur 30 advantageously stores a number of simulation simulation ranges of various difficulties that the user can select and program as he pleases so as to compose a simulation of terrain profile according to his physical form or according to his previous performances or of sought-after performances.

A display device 31 on the microprocessor 30 (see FIG. 1) ensures the visualization of the selected data (simulated distances and difficulties) as well as the performances achieved (distance traveled from the start, instantaneous speed, cadence, etc ... ).

The device according to the invention, comprising a flywheel with adjustable effect, can also be used on a cyclo-ergometer. FIG. 5 represents an exemplary embodiment. A cyclo-ergometer is an indoor device which essentially comprises a pedal board mounted on a frame. In this application, the flywheel 20 is coupled to the plate 33 of the crankset. As the device does not use a drive wheel ensuring development, the hub 34 of the flywheel 20 is coupled to a pinion 36 by a chain 35 and the pinion 36 is integral with a second pinion 37 which is coupled by a chain 38 with the chainring 33. On the flywheel 20 is tightened a strap 22 as in, the embodiment of Figure 1. The machine does not include a gear change device unlike a normal bicycle. Also, the variation of the development necessary for carrying out a given simulated course and overcoming the simulated slope which it represents, is it carried out here by the microprocessor 30. se counting pulses received from a counting device such as the device 21-22 of Figure 2 for example, the microprocessor 30 increases the number of turns in proportion to the development theoretically required to achieve the simulated distance so that the user can physically achieve this simulated distance with greater ease as would allow him to use a speed change device.

The embodiments of the invention described in the foregoing are examples given by way of illustration and the invention is in no way limited to these examples. Any modification, any variant and any equivalent arrangement must be considered to be within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Physical exercise apparatus comprising a frame (11) on which are mounted a rotary member (16) mounted so as to be able to rotate freely around a horizontal axis, a flywheel (20) coupled to the rotary member, and a strap (22) tightened on a part of the periphery of the flywheel (20), characterized in that the strap (22) is attached by one end to a pin (23) fixed to the frame (11) and atta¬ chée by its end opposite the end of a spring (24), the other end of the spring (24) being connected to an adjustable traction device (26) mounted on the frame (11) so as to exert a predetermined tensile force on the spring (24) and the strap (22).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the strap (22) consists of a steel tape under which are placed a leather tape (32) and a textile tape (39), the latter being in contact with the flywheel (20), the leather tape and the textile tape being attached with the steel tape to the axis (23) above.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adjustable traction device (26) responds to a control signal produced by a microprocessor (30), the control signal representing a simulated difficulty of the route.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the microprocessor (30) is organized to memorize information representing several difficulties of simulated paths, which microprocessor is programmed to produce a separate pre-determined control signal for the adjustable traction device (26) in response to a counting signal, each control signal corresponding to a difficulty of 5 simulated routes (101, 102, 103, ...) stored separately.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned rotary member 10 consists of at least one roller (16) mounted for free rotation on the frame (11) so as to constitute a kill raceway for a driving wheel (2) of a bicycle placed on the frame (11).

15 6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the aforementioned rotary member consists of a bottom bracket (33) fixed on the frame (11) and mechanically coupled to the flywheel (20 ).

20

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the development necessary to perform a simulated course and overcome the simulated slope it re¬ presents is established by the microprocessor (30) above

25. tee, which microprocessor is organized to memorize the development theoretically necessary for several predetermined simulated courses and, in response to a signal representing the number of turns of the flywheel (20), to generate a second signal represented by

30 feeling an increased number of turns proportional to the theoretically necessary development corresponding to and for producing a control signal for the adjustable traction device (26) in response to said second signal representing the increased number of turns

35 simulated.