US20060234836A1

US20060234836A1 - Bicycle exerciser having adjustable handle

Info

Publication number: US20060234836A1
Application number: US11/086,646
Authority: US
Inventors: Hai Kuo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-22
Filing date: 2005-03-22
Publication date: 2006-10-19

Abstract

A bicycle exercising device includes two foot pedals rotatably attached to a base, for being operated by users, a seat post extended upwardly from the base for attaching a seat cushion to support the users, and a column extended upwardly from the base. A handle device is pivotally supported on the column, and an adjusting device may be used for adjusting the handle device relative to the column, and relative to the seat post and the seat cushion to any selected positions. One or more levers may be pivotally secured between the handle device and the column. The adjusting device may be a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, or other adjusting devices.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bicycle exercising device or exerciser, and more particularly to a bicycle exercising device having a handle adjustable toward and away from the seat and the users, for allowing the bicycle exercising device to be suitably operated by users of different sizes or heights.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical bicycle exercising devices comprise a transmission box driven by foot pedals, and a handle extended or provided on top of the base, for supporting the upper portions of the users. Normally, the handle portions are solidly and firmly disposed and secured on top of the base, and may not be moved or adjusted relative to the base and the seats and the users, such that the typical bicycle exercising devices may not be suitably operated by users of different sizes or heights.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,790 to Hokajärvi discloses one of the typical bicycle exercising devices which also comprises a pair of foot pedals provided to be rotated or driven by the users, and a handle solidly and firmly disposed and secured on top of the base. The handle also may not be moved or adjusted relative to the seats and the users, such that the typical bicycle exercising devices also may not be suitably actuated or operated by users of different sizes or heights.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,164 to Tseng discloses another typical bicycle exercising device which also comprises a pair of foot pedals provided to be rotated or driven by the users, and a handle pivotally or rotatably coupled to a wheel via a gearing device and/or a chain and sprocket coupling device, for allowing the handle to be moved or pulled alternatively toward and away from the seats and the users. However, the handles should be alternatively pushed and pulled toward and away from the seats and the users, but also may not be adjusted relative to the users, such that the typical bicycle exercising devices also may not be suitably actuated or operated by users of different sizes or heights.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional bicycle exercising devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a bicycle exercising device including a handle adjustable toward and away from the seat and the users, for allowing the bicycle exercising device to be suitably actuated and operated by users of different sizes or heights.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a bicycle exercising device comprising a base, a pair of foot pedals rotatably attached to and supported on the base with a spindle and cranks, for being operated by users, a seat post extended upwardly from the base, and having a seat cushion attached thereon, for supporting the users thereon, a column extended upwardly from the base, a handle device pivotally supported on the column, and an adjusting device for adjusting the handle device relative to the column, and relative to the seat post and the seat cushion to selected positions, and for allowing the handle device to be adjusted toward and away from the seat and the users, and thus for allowing the handle device of the bicycle exercising device to be suitably and comfortably actuated or operated by the users of different sizes or heights.
The adjusting device includes at least one lever pivotally secured between the handle device and the column, to pivotally support the handle device on the column. The adjusting device further includes a second lever pivotally secured between the handle device and the column, to stably and pivotally support the handle device on the column.
The adjusting device includes an actuator coupled between the handle device and the column, to adjustably support the handle device on the column. The lever and the column each includes a bracket attached thereto, and the actuator includes a lower portion pivotally attached to the bracket of the column with a pivot pin, and includes an upper portion pivotally attached to the bracket of the lever, to pivotally couple the actuator between the lever and the handle device and the column.
The actuator or the adjusting device may either be a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a motor-driven-bolt adjusting device, a gearing adjusting device, a sprocket-and-chain adjusting device, a pulley-and-belt adjusting device, or the like, to adjust and maintain the handle device relative to the column and the seat post and the seat cushion at any selected positions.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle exercising device in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the bicycle exercising device; and
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the operation of the bicycle exercising device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a bicycle exercising device 10 in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 11 including a pair of foot pedals 12 rotatably attached to the base 11 with a conventional spindle 13 and cranks 14, for being driven or ridden or operated by the users to conduct the conventional cycling exercises, and including a seat post 15 provided or extended upwardly from such as the rear portion of the base 11, and having a seat cushion 16 attached or provided thereon, for supporting the users thereon.
The bicycle exercising device 10 further includes a column 17 extended upwardly from such as the front portion of the base 11, for pivotally and adjustably supporting a handle device 30 thereon, the handle device 30 may include a control device or a control panel 31 provided on top thereof. A conventional weight or wheel (not shown) may further be provided and rotatably supported on the base 11, and coupled to the spindle 13 and the cranks 14 or the foot pedals 12, for applying a resistive force against the cycling operation of the foot pedals 12 of the bicycle exercising device 10.
The column 17 includes a block 20 secured on top with one or more pins or fasteners 21. One or more, such as two levers 22, 23 may further be provided and each may include a lower portion pivotally or rotatably attached to the block 20, or directly attached to the column 17 with pivot axles 24, and each includes an upper portion pivotally or rotatably attached to the handle device 30 with pivot axles 24.
It is preferable that the levers 22, 23 are arranged parallel to each other to form a parallelogrammic structure together with the block 20 and the column 17 and the handle device 30, in order to pivotally couple the handle device 30 and the block 20 of the column 17 together, and thus to allow the handle device 30 to be moved or adjusted relative to the block 20 of the column 17, and to be adjusted relative to or toward and away from the seat post 15 and the seat cushion 16.
An adjusting means or device or actuator 40 may further be provided and pivotally coupled between the handle device 30 and the block 20 or the column 17, to adjust and to maintain or to retain the handle device 30 relative to the block 20 of the column 17, and relative to the seat post 15 and the seat cushion 16 to or at any selected positions. The block 20 or the column 17 and one of the levers 22 each includes a bracket 18, 25 extended therefrom for pivotally coupling the adjusting device 40 and the handle device 30 and the block 20 or the column 17.
For example, the adjusting device 40 includes a lower portion 41 pivotally or rotatably attached to the bracket 18 of the block 20 or the column 17 with a pivot pin 19, and includes an upper portion 42 pivotally or rotatably attached to the bracket 25 of the handle device 30 or the lever 22 with a pivot pin 26, to allow the adjusting device 40 to be pivotally coupled between the handle device 30 and the block 20 or the column 17.
The adjusting device 40, as illustrated, may be a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator or cylinder 40, for adjusting and maintaining or retaining the handle device 30 and the levers 22, 23 relative to the block 20 or the column 17 and the seat post 15 and the seat cushion 16 at the selected positions. However, the adjusting device 40 may also be the motor-driven-bolt adjusting device 40, gearing adjusting device 40, sprocket-and-chain adjusting device 40, pulley-and-belt adjusting device 40, etc., to adjust and maintain the handle device 30 relative to the block 20 of the column 17 and the seat post 15 and the seat cushion 16 at the selected positions.
The adjusting device 40 may further include a control switch 43 provided and disposed on the upper portion 42 thereof, or disposed on the control device or control panel 31, to control or to actuate the adjusting device 40 to adjust the handle device 30 and the levers 22, 23 relative to the block 20 or the column 17 and the seat post 15 and the seat cushion 16 to any suitable or required or selected positions, and thus for allowing the users of different sizes or heights to suitably actuate and operate the bicycle exercising device.
In operation, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the control switch 43 may be easily operated or actuated by the users to adjust the handle device 30 relative to the block 20 or the column 17, and relative to the seat post 15 and the seat cushion 16. However, the control switch 43 may also be provided and disposed on top of the control device or control panel 31, to allow the users to actuate or operate the control switch 43 while conducting the cycling or riding exercises or operations.
Accordingly, the bicycle exercising device in accordance with the present invention includes a handle adjustable toward and away from the seat and the users, for allowing the bicycle exercising device to be suitably actuated and operated by users of different sizes or heights.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A bicycle exercising device comprising:

a base,

a pair of foot pedals rotatably attached to and supported on said base with a spindle and cranks, for being operated by users,

a seat post extended upwardly from said base, and having a seat cushion attached thereon, for supporting the users thereon,

a column extended upwardly from said base,

a handle device pivotally supported on said column, and

means for adjusting said handle device relative to said column, and relative to said seat post and said seat cushion to selected positions.

2. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjusting means includes at least one lever pivotally secured between said handle device and said column, to pivotally support said handle device on said column.

3. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said adjusting means further includes a second lever pivotally secured between said handle device and said column, to stably and pivotally support said handle device on said column.

4. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said adjusting means includes an actuator coupled between said handle device and said column, to adjustably support said handle device on said column.

5. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said at least one lever and said column each includes a bracket attached thereto, and said actuator includes a lower portion pivotally attached to said bracket of said column with a pivot pin, and includes an upper portion pivotally attached to said bracket of said at least one lever, to pivotally couple said actuator between said at least one lever and said handle device and said column.

6. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said actuator is a pneumatic cylinder.

7. The bicycle exercising device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.