WO2009051286A1

WO2009051286A1 - Bicycle with handle rotatable back and forth

Info

Publication number: WO2009051286A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/005143
Authority: WO
Inventors: Byoung Hoon Kim; Hyoung Cho Yang; Byoung Hak Kim
Original assignee: Kyoung Lim Korea Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2007-10-19
Filing date: 2007-10-19
Publication date: 2009-04-23

Abstract

The present invention provides a bicycle having a general structure, the bicycle comprising: a planetary gear unit including a needle bearing, transferring rotational force in one direction and provided at the center thereof, and provided on one or both sides of an axle of a front wheel; a circular plate having a stopper and provided on one side of the planetary gear unit; a handle frame having a '' n '' shape covering the front wheel and fixed to the outer circumference of the planetary gear unit; and a handle rotatable back and forth with respect to the front wheel and fixed to the center of the handle frame in the upward direction. According to the bicycle with the handle rotatable back and forth of the present invention, a user riding the bicycle pushes pedals with his or her feet to generate a forward movement force and, at the same time, rotates the handle back and forth with his or her arms to drive the front wheel, thus achieving the effect of upper- and lower-body strength training.

Description

Description BICYCLE WITH HANDLE ROTATABLE BACK AND FORTH

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a bicycle and, more particularly, to a bicycle with a handle rotatable back and forth with respect to an axle of a front wheel such that, when a user rotates the handle back and forth, the rotational force is transferred to the axle of the front wheel, thus allowing the user to perform upper-body strength training. Moreover, the forward movement force that makes the bicycle move forward is simultaneously applied to the axle of the front wheel, thus allowing the user to perform whole-body strength training.

[2]

Background Art

[3] In general, a bicycle is a transport means that allows a user to move when the user pushes pedals on both sides of the bicycle to generate power. It is well known in the art that a sprocket rotated by the pedals rotates a rear wheel by a chain to make the bicycle move forward.

[4] That is, the user pushes the pedals connected to the rear wheel by the chain to achieve a forward movement force in a state where the front wheel and the rear wheel are rotatably fixed by a frame. Since the bicycle does not require fuel, it does not cause environmental pollution. Moreover, the bicycle is environment-friendly, attracts much attention as a short-distance transport means, and is utilized as a sport machine.

[5] However, since the ordinary bicycle is driven only by the user s legs, the user cannot perform upper-body strength training or arm strength training, and therefore it is difficult to achieve the effect of whole-body strength training using the bicycle.

[6] To solve these problems, Korean Patent No. 579530 discloses a bicycle driven by handle operation, which increases the effect of arm strength training or upper-body strength training.

[7] According to the above bicycle, a use pushes or pulls a handle along a frame that supports the front wheel to drive the front wheel. As a result, the user can perform rotational movement with his or her legs and upper-body strength training with his or her arms at the same time.

[8] The user sitting on a saddle of the above bicycle should repeat the operations of pushing the handle downward and pulling the handle upward to achieve the desired effects. However, since the handle is spaced away from the saddle in the structure of the currently used bicycle, it is not easy for the user sitting on the saddle of the bicycle to push the handle downward and pull the handle upward repeatedly. [9] Meanwhile, Korean Patent Publication No. 2003-39955 discloses a bicycle structure in which a handle is drawn upward and inserted and fixed to a pipe arranged on a side surface of a frame such that a user repeatedly pulls and pushes the handle as if he or she rows a boat. In this state, a connecting bar (connecting rod) connected to the handle rotates a crank by the left and right reciprocating movement such that the rear wheel is rotated by the chain in connection with the crank, thus obtaining the overall forward movement force of the vehicle.

[10] However, according to the bicycle disclosed by Korean Patent Publication No.

2003-39955, the handle is detached and inserted into the pipe arranged on the side surface of the frame, and thus the center of the handle is moved to the side of the user. That is, when the user operates the handle as if rowing a boat in a state where the center between the saddle and the handle is deviated, it may cause a severe pain on the waist of the user since the user exercises in a state where his or her upper body is twisted, and further it is difficult to expect the training effects in a stable posture.

[H]

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[12] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above- mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle with handle rotatable back and forth, which allows a user to achieve the effect of upper- body strength training as well as the effect of lower-body strength training when the user moves a short distance using the bicycle.

[13]

Technical Solution

[14] To accomplish the object of the present invention, there is provided a bicycle having a general structure, in which a planetary gear unit is provided on the side of an axle of a front wheel, a handle frame is fixed to the outer surface of the planetary gear unit, and a handle is connected to the center of the handle frame in the upward direction to be rotatable back and forth, so as to obtain a driving force of the bicycle and allow a user to perform strength training exercises.

[15]

Advantageous Effects

[16] According to the present invention, a user riding the bicycle pushes pedals with his or her feet to generate a forward movement force and, at the same time, rotates the handle back and forth with his or her arms to drive the front wheel, thus achieving the effect of upper- and lower-body strength training.

[17] Brief Description of Drawings

[18] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a front wheel side of a bicycle in accordance with the present invention;

[19] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the front wheel of the bicycle in accordance with the present invention;

[20] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a planetary gear unit in accordance with the present invention;

[21] Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of main parts included in the front wheel side of the present invention;

[22] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the planetary gear unit of the present invention; and

[23] Fig. 6 is a front view showing the overall configuration of the bicycle in accordance with the present invention.

[24]

[25] ** Description of Reference Numerals for Major Elements in the Drawings **

[26] 100: bicycle 110: front wheel

[27] 111: axle 120: planetary gear unit

[28] 121: sun gear 122: planetary gear

[29] 123: segment gear 130: needle bearing

[30] 140: circular plate 141: stopper

[31] 150: handle frame 151: handle

[32]

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

[33] The present invention provides a bicycle 100 having a general structure, the bicycle

100 comprising: a planetary gear unit 120 including a needle bearing 130, transferring rotational force in one direction and provided at the center thereof, and provided on one or both sides of an axle 111 of a front wheel 110; a circular plate 140 having a stopper 141 and provided on one side of the planetary gear unit 120; a handle frame 150 having a ^ n ^ shape covering the front wheel 110 and fixed to the outer circumference of the planetary gear unit 120; and a handle 151 rotatable back and forth with respect to the front wheel 110 and fixed to the center of the handle frame 150 in the upward direction.

[34]

Mode for the Invention

[35] Hereinafter, the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[36] As shown in the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a bicycle which is designed by improving a bicycle having a general structure such that a use can perform upper-body strength training as well as lower-body strength training, thus achieving the effect of whole-body aerobic exercise, in which a handle 151 of the bicycle 100 is rotatable back and forth with respect to a front wheel 110.

[37] A planetary gear unit 120 is provided on an axle 111 of the front wheel 110, and circular plates 140 are provided to cover both outsides of the planetary gear unit 120.

[38] A needle bearing 130 for transferring rotational force in one direction is provided at the center of a sun gear 121 disposed at the center of the planetary gear unit 120, and the needle bearing 130 and the axle 111 of the front wheel 110 are connected to each other.

[39] Meanwhile, a plurality of planetary gears 122 are provided on the outer circumstance of the sun gear 121 to be engaged with the sun gear 121, and a segment gear 123 is engaged with the planetary gears 122.

[40] A handle frame 150 having a * n ^ shape covering the front wheel 110 is fixed to the outer circumference of the segment gear 123, and the handle 151 is fixed to the center of the handle frame 150 in the upward direction.

[41] The operation of the bicycle 100 having the above-described configuration will be described below. The user riding the bicycle pushes pedals to generate a forward movement force. Moreover, the user can generate the forward movement force using the front wheel 110, if necessary.

[42] That is, when the user pulls the handle 151, the handle frame 150 connected to the handle 151 is rotated. At this time, since the handle frame 150 is fixed to the outer circumference of the segment gear 123 of the planetary gear unit 120, the segment gear 123 is rotated.

[43] When the segment gear 123 is rotated, the planetary gears 122 engaged with the inner circumference of the segment gear 123 are rotated and, at the same time, the sun gear 121 engaged with the planetary gears 122 is rotated. As a result, the axle 111 of the front wheel 110 is rotated by the needle bearing 130 transferring the rotational force in one direction and provided at the center of the sun gear 121 such that the front wheel 110 is rotated in the forward direction. As a result, the forward movement force is applied to the front wheel 110 together with the forward movement force provided by the pedals, thus increasing the speed of the bicycle.

[44] Subsequently, the user pushes the handle 151 forward for a continuous back and forth operation. At this time, the segment gear 123 is rotated in the opposite direction, and the planetary gears 122 engaged with the inner circumference of the segment gear 123 are also rotated in the same direction as the segment gear 123. Simultaneously, the sun gear 121 is rotated in the opposite direction. However, the sun gear 121 runs idle by the needle bearing 130 transferring the rotational force in one direction and provided at the center of the sun gear 121 and, thereby, the rotational force of the sun gear 121 is not transferred to the axle 111 connected to the front wheel 110. As a result, the handle 151 can be continuously rotated in the forward direction without interruption.

[45] At this time, if excessive rotation of the handle 151 occurs, it may endanger the safe of the user. Accordingly, a stopper 141 is provided on the outer circumference of each of the circular plates 140 to prevent the excessive rotation of the handle 151 such that the forward movement force is continuously provided to the front wheel 110 while the user can maintain a stable posture, thus increasing the overall speed of the bicycle 100. As a result, it is possible to improve the exercise performance due to the upper- and lower-body strength training and achieve the effect of whole-body strength training.

[46]

Industrial Applicability

[47] The present invention provides a bicycle which is designed by improving a bicycle having a general structure such that a user can perform strength training exercises when the user moves a short distance using the bicycle. Therefore, the bicycle of the present invention can be used for the purpose of training the user s body and used to practice leisure sports.

[48] The invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

[1] A bicycle 100 having a general structure, the bicycle 100 comprising: a planetary gear unit 120 including a needle bearing 130, transferring rotational force in one direction and provided at the center thereof, and provided on one or both sides of an axle 111 of a front wheel 110; a circular plate 140 having a stopper 141 and provided on one side of the planetary gear unit 120; a handle frame 150 having a ^r/ n ^/f shape covering the front wheel 110 and fixed to the outer circumference of the planetary gear unit 120; and a handle 151 rotatable back and forth with respect to the front wheel 110 and fixed to the center of the handle frame 150 in the upward direction.