DE9010480U1 - Bicycle-like exercise device - Google Patents

Description

Bicycle-like exercise device

The invention relates to a bicycle-like exercise device with a pedal device arranged on a stationary frame and with a flywheel that can be driven thereby, which can be continuously braked by an adjustable brake and is equipped with a device for measuring the force applied.

For such training devices, there are a wide variety of performance measuring devices based on different physical laws, which display the performance on a scale or similar.

Such devices are either mechanically complex or electrically complicated.

For such an exercise device, it is known to design this flywheel as a brake disc of a disc brake, which is equipped with a brake shoe device. The brake shoes are equipped with a spring balance with a damping device. The movement of the spring balance can be read on a scale.

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Such measuring and display devices on mechanical

ri basis- show the disadvantage.' let them only give rough indications

&bgr; and also easily withstands wear and tear.

f subject to contamination.

The object of the present invention is to provide a measuring device in an exercise device of the aforementioned type, in which, with a mechanically induced entrainment of a brake band, its change in position is transmitted to a display device via an electrical measuring system.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in an exercise device according to the above type in that the flywheel (flywheel) (10) is surrounded by an endless friction band, which is mechanically connected to a sliding rod which interacts with a potentiometer, the voltage change of which is visible on a display device connected to it.

The sliding rod moved by the friction belt acts on an electrical potentiometer, which electrically adjusts a display device when its voltage changes.

In a preferred embodiment, a flexible retaining band can be attached to the outside of the circumferentially guided friction band, which can be coupled to the sliding rod via a detachable connecting link. This makes it possible to install the display device at a different distance for each application so that the person exercising can read the display easily.

In a further preferred embodiment, the displacement rod can be mounted in guides of a housing surrounding the potentiometer and under the influence

a return spring surrounding the rod. The sliding rod can also carry a driver, which moves the slider (connection) of the potentiometer on a guide.

Further features arise from the Unier claims.

The protection extends not only to the individual features, but also to their combination.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is described in more detail below. They show:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a flywheel of a pedal crank drive connected to a measuring device (in the rest position),

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same measuring device, in a position acted upon by the flywheel, as compared to Fig. 1.

A flywheel (10), which is integrated in a pedal crank drive (not shown for reasons of clarity) for a home exercise device such as a stationary bike or the like, is detachably connected to a measuring device (11) for measuring the performance or muscle power of a person using the home exercise device.

The flywheel (10) is wrapped around most of its radial circumference by an endless so-called friction or braking band (12), which is made of a non-stretchable, flexible material; a tensioning pulley (13) is also surrounded by the friction band (12) on part of its radial surface. The flywheel (10) and pulley (13) are hinged accordingly in the frame area (not shown) of the home exercise equipment. A finite retaining band (14) is attached to the friction band (12) over part of its length, e.g. in the shape of a circular arc, on a small part of its circular arc-shaped circumference. The free end of this finite retaining band (14) has a continuous hooking opening (15).

The measuring device (11) has a housing (16) which can be open at the bottom towards the base of the home exercise equipment and in which a potentiometer (17) is arranged. For this purpose, a cover (18) closing the housing (16) has on its inner surface two fixed electrical connections (19) which are aligned with one another in the longitudinal direction of the housing (16) and arranged at a distance from one another. Between these two fixed electrical connections (19) there is a further electrical connection (20) which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the housing (16), which engages in two guides (21) which are opposite one another at a parallel distance and also run in the longitudinal direction of the housing (16) and is guided by these until its displacement movement.

A driver (22) engages in the further (middle) connection (slider) (20) and is movable on a rod (23). The driver also runs in the longitudinal direction of the housing (16) like the guide (21) and is guided in its front area facing the flywheel (10) by a guide plate (24) firmly embedded in the housing (16). Between the guide plate (24) and the driver (22), the rod (23) is surrounded by a compression spring (25) (return spring) which is supported on the two opposite end faces of the guide plate (24i) and the driver (22) at a distance. These two end faces are at a right angle to the axis of the rod (23). The area of the rod (23) opposite the flywheel (10) is surrounded by an adjusting sleeve (26) over most of its length. This is supported on the one hand by the still free end ring surface of the driver (22) and on the other hand by a washer (27) placed on the rod (23) which is supported by a

the nut (28) screwed onto the rod (23) is clamped between the latter and the adjusting sleeve (26). The adjusting sleeve (26) which bypasses the "rear" end of the rod is mounted in a guide plate (29) which is arranged at a distance from the guide plate (24) and firmly embedded in the housing (16).

A so-called stop piece (30) is screwed onto the opposite end of the rod (23) facing the flywheel (10) and also protruding from the housing (16), the free end of which has a continuous hooking opening (31).

The stop piece (30) and the free end of the finite retaining band (14) fixedly arranged on the friction band (E) are detachably connected to one another by a wire-shaped connecting link (32). For this purpose, the two end areas of the connecting link (32) each merge into an eyelet (33), with one eyelet (33) engaging in the hooking opening (31) of the stop piece (30) and the other eyelet (33) engaging in the hooking opening (15) of the finite retaining band (14).

When the pedal crank of the home exercise machine is operated and the user is exercising, the flywheel (10) rotates in the direction of the arrow (34). The frictional force of the rotating flywheel (10) causes the friction band (12) to be drawn along a certain distance against the force of the compression spring (25). The end retaining band (14) attached to the friction band M2) pulls the rod (23) out of the housing (16) by a certain length via the connecting link (32). The pressure between the compression spring

(25) and adjusting sleeve (26) on the rod (23) and engaging in the further (middle) connection (20) driver (22) is displaced.

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This change in the distance of the movable middle connection (20) of the potentiometer (17) compared to the two fixed electrical connections (19) located at a distance from each other involves an electrical voltage change which is transmitted by the potentiometer (17) to a corresponding measuring system (not shown). This voltage change causes a certain tensile force of the finite holding strap (14), which is achieved by the trainee actuating the pedal crank drive accordingly (whereby the measuring system or the computer can display these values to the trainee, e.g. in digital form).

If the displayed value is maintained, the flywheel (10) continues to rotate and its peripheral surface rubs along the inside of the friction band (12). The rod (23) remains in the position shown in Fig. 2. If the load is reduced accordingly - reduced performance due to less actuation of the pedal crank by the person exercising or complete cessation of actuation of the pedal crank drive - the previously reached and also displayed force is not reached and the compression spring (25) pushes the driver (22) and thus also the movable connection (20) back either to the starting position or to an intermediate position.

By turning the nut (28) accordingly, the preload of the compression spring (25) can be changed.

The friction that occurs between the flywheel (10) and the friction band (12) is determined by the friction factor on the outside of the flywheel (10) and/or the inside of the friction band. This friction factor can be changed by using different material surfaces.

In the example shown in Fig. 3, the front flywheel (10) with (partially) wrapped brake band (12) is fixedly mounted on the stand frame (35) of the exercise device (9).

The deflection roller (13) which tensions the brake band (12) is, however, slidably mounted on the base frame (35) and coupled to a device which changes its position. This adjusting device has a rod (36) which passes through the box-shaped handlebar shaft (37) and is connected at its upper end in the area of the handlebar (38) to a rotary knob (39) which reduces the position of the rod (36) when it is turned by hand so that the deflection roller (13) coupled at the lower end of the rod (36) is pushed closer to the flywheel (10) and thus the friction of the brake band on the flywheel (10) is reduced. When the rotary knob (39) is turned in the opposite direction, the deflection roller (13) moves away from the flywheel (10) and thus increases the frictional force. This allows the user to change the performance display as desired.

It is preferred to mount the deflection roller (13) so that it can move on a partial circular arc, so that during longitudinal movement of the rod (36) the deflection roller (13) is suitably changed in its distance from the flywheel (10).

&zgr; It may also be preferable to design the handlebar shaft (37) in two parts, 30 so that in addition to a smaller space requirement (packaging, storage) also its assembly and that of the rod (36), which is also in two parts, for example, is easier.

Claims (11)

Protection claims 1. Bicycle-like exercise device with a pedal device arranged on a stationary frame and with a flywheel that can be driven thereby and that can be braked continuously by an adjustable brake, as well as with a device for measuring and displaying the force applied, characterized in that the flywheel (10) is driven by a friction belt (12) is indicated as an electric band, ^which is mechanically connected to a displacement rod (23) which interacts with an electric potentiometer (7), the electrical voltage change of which is visible on a display device connected to it. 2. Bicycle-like exercise device according to claim 1, characterized in that a flexible retaining band (14) is attached to the outside of the friction band (12), which is coupled to the sliding rod (23) via a detachable connecting member (32). 3. Bicycle-like exercise device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the friction belt (12) rotates around an adjustable deflection roller (13). 4. Bicycle-like exercise device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the retaining strap (14) is made of a flexible, non-stretchable material. 5. Bicycle-like exercise device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the connecting member (32) is equipped with at least one detachable connecting device (33). t IfI « ·· ··
t· *··· ·&Igr; tf r · · · «4 i ^a - 2 - 6. Bicycle-like exercise device according to one of claims 1 to 5, £ characterized in that the sliding rod (23) in ■ Guides (21 } of a po*. tiometsr (17) surrounding - housing (16). 7. Bicycle-like exercise device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the sliding rods (23) under the action of a return spring (25) surrounding them &igr; stands for. 8. Bicycle-like exercise device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sliding rod (23) carries a driver (22) which moves the slide (20) of the potentiometer (17) on a guide. 9. exercise device in particular according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the deflection roller (13) which is slidably mounted on the stand frame (35) is coupled to an adjustment device such as a rod (36) which extends through the handlebar shaft (37) and which can be adjusted by means of a hand device such as a rotary knob which is adjustable in the handlebar area (38). ) button (39/ is designed to be adjustable. 10. Exercise device according to claim 9, characterized in that the deflection roller (13) is mounted so as to be displaceable in an arc. 11. Training device according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the handlebar shaft (37) and/or the rod (36) is formed in two or more parts.