US20030008752A1

US20030008752A1 - Structure of stationary bicycle

Info

Publication number: US20030008752A1
Application number: US09/898,072
Authority: US
Inventors: Hank Hsu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-05
Filing date: 2001-07-05
Publication date: 2003-01-09

Abstract

A stationary bicycle includes a machine base, a seat on the machine base for the sitting of the user, a back cushion mounted on the machine base and adapted to support the back of the user sitting on the seat, a pedal and damper unit installed in the machine base and adapted to impart a damping power against the external force employed by the user through the legs, and a rack mounted on the machine base in front of the seat and adapted to hold, for example, a computer for operation by the user when exercising.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a home use exercising machine and, more specifically, to an improved structure of stationary bicycle.

A stationary bicycle may be equipped with a back support to support the back of the user who sits on the saddle of the stationary bicycle to pedal the pedals with the legs comfortably. Regular stationary bicycles simply provide the function of exercising the muscles of the legs. These stationary bicycles are monotonous, and less attractive. After few times in operating these conventional stationary bicycles, people may lose their interesting in using them. According to experimentations, short time exercises or temporary exercises do little help to bodybuilding.

Under the pressure of busy works, people may use a desk computer or notebook computer to do some works or to process words at home after office hours. Some people may spend a lot of time in watching TV instead of exercising the body after office hours. Without exercises, one will gain weight soon, and one's physical condition will become weak.

Further, an exercising machine is to be used indoors to simulate outdoor exercising environment. An exercising machine occupies much house space. People may give up the thought of buying an exercising machine due to limited house space.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide an exercising machine that fully utilizes house space and attracts people to use it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a stationary bicycle, which enables the user to conveniently use a computer to do some works when exercising. It is another object of the present invention to provide a stationary bicycle, which enables the user to use a video apparatus when exercising. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a stationary bicycle, which enables the user to achieve visual enjoyment and physical training concomitantly. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a stationary bicycle, which has rack means for holding articles. The stationary bicycle of the present invention comprises a machine base, a seat mounted on the machine base for the sitting of the user, a back cushion mounted on the machine base and adapted to support the back of the user sitting on the seat, a pedal and damper unit installed in the machine base and adapted to impart a damping power against the external force employed by the user through the legs, and a rack mounted on the machine base in front of the seat. The rack comprises an upright support fastened to the machine base in front of the seat, a device holder supported on the upright support and adapted to hold an apparatus, for example, a computer or TV set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stationary bicycle constructed according to the present invention. [0007]
FIG. 2 shows a status of use of the stationary bicycle according to the present invention. [0008]
FIG. 3 shows an application example of the stationary bicycle according to the present invention.[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a [0010] stationary bicycle 10 is shown comprising a machine base 20. The machine base 20 is the main part of the stationary bicycle 10. A seat 30 is fixedly mounted on the top of the machine base 20 near its rear side for the sitting of the user. A back cushion 40 is fixedly mounted on the top of the machine base 20 and obliquely disposed at the rear side of the seat 30, and adapted to support the back of the user sitting on the seat 30. A pedal and damper unit 50 is installed in the machine base 20, and adapted to impart a damping power against the external force employed by the user through the legs. The pedal and damper unit 50 comprises a flywheel, two pedals for pedaling by the legs to rotate the flywheel, and a damper adapted to impart a damping power against the rotation of the flywheel. Because the pedal and damper unit 50 is of the known art, it is not shown or described in detail. The main features of the present invention are outlined hereinafter.
The [0011] stationary bicycle 10 further comprises a rack 60 provided at the top of the machine base 20 near its front side, a storage chamber 70 provided in the machine base 20, and two footrest structures 80 respectively provided at two sides of the machine base 20. The rack 60 comprises an upright support 61 fixedly mounted on the top of the machine base 20 near its front side, a device holder 62 supported on the top of the upright support 61, and a supplementary board 63. The device holder 62 comprises a bottom panel 621 connected to the upright support 61, a back panel 622 upwardly extended from the rear side of the bottom panel 621 at right angles, two side panels 623 respectively connected between two opposite lateral sides of the bottom panel 621 and two opposite lateral sides of the back panel 622 and defining with the bottom panel 621 and the back panel 622 a holding space for holding an apparatus. The supplementary board 63 is connected to the bottom side of the bottom panel 621, and adapted to hold a device in front of the bottom panel 621.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the [0012] storage chamber 70 is provided in the machine base 20 below the seat 30, and extending from one side of the machine base 20 to a certain depth. A French window 71 is provided to close/open the storage chamber 70. The footrest structures 80 each comprises a recessed hole 81 on one sidewall of the machine base 20, and a footrest 82 pivoted to the machine base 20 and alternatively set between the non-operative position where the footrest 82 is received in the recessed hole 81 and kept in flush with the outside wall of the machine base 20 (see FIG. 1), and the operative position where the footrest 82 is extended out of the recessed hole 81 for the resting of the foot.
The advantages of the present invention will be outlined hereinafter with reference to FIG. 3. [0013]
1. A [0014] computer monitor 91, notebook computer, telephone, or television, or the main unit of an audio system can be carried on the bottom panel 621 of the rack 60, and a computer keyboard 92, mouse, TV game joystick, or any of a variety of small items can be carried on the supplementary panel 63. Therefore, the user can use the computer to do word processing works or watch TV when operating the pedal and damper unit 50 to exercise the muscles of the legs.
2. The [0015] speaker 93 of an audio system can be received in the storage chamber 70 and electrically connected to the main unit of the audio system. Thus, the user can listen to the music to relax the mind when operating the pedal and damper unit 50 to exercise the muscles of the legs.
3. The [0016] footrest 82 of each footrest structure 80 is received in the respective recessed hole 81 when operating the pedal and damper unit 50. When not operating the pedal and damper unit 50, the footrest 82 of each footrest structure 80 is extended out of the respective recessed hole 81, and the user can sit on the seat 30 with the back supported on the obliquely disposed back cushion 40 and the legs rested on the footrest 82 of each of the footrest structures 80, i.e., the stationary bicycle serves as a deck chair at this time. Therefore, the stationary bicycle is not simply an exercising machine. Actually, the stationary bicycle of the present invention is a combination of an exercising machine and furniture.
A prototype of improved structure of stationary bicycle has been constructed with the features of FIGS. [0017] 1˜3. The improved structure of stationary bicycle functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. [0018]

Claims

What the invention claimed is:

1. A stationary bicycle comprising:

a machine base;

a seat provided at said machine base for the sitting of the user;

a back cushion mounted on said machine base and adapted to support the back of the user sitting on said seat; and

a pedal and damper unit installed in said machine base and adapted to impart a damping power against the external force employed by the user through the legs;

wherein a rack is mounted on said machine base and adapted to hold things for use by the user sitting on said seat, said rack comprising a upright support fastened to said machine base in front of said seat.

2. The stationary bicycle of claim 1 wherein said rack further comprises a device holder supported on said upright support, said device holder comprising a bottom panel connected to said upright support, a back panel upwardly extended from a rear side of said bottom panel at right angles, two side panels respectively connected between two opposite lateral sides of said bottom panel and two opposite lateral sides of said back panel and defining with said bottom panel and said back panel a holding space for holding an apparatus.

3. The stationary bicycle of claim 2 wherein said rack further comprises a supplementary board connected to said bottom panel at a bottom side and adapted to hold a device in front of said bottom panel.

4. The stationary bicycle of claim 1 wherein said machine base comprises two footrest structures disposed at two opposite lateral sides thereof for the resting of the legs of the user sitting on said seat, said footrest structures each comprising a recessed hole on one sidewall of said machine base, and a footrest pivoted to said machine base and alternatively set between a first position where said footrest is received in said recessed hole, and a second position where said footrest is extended out of said recessed hole.

5. The stationary bicycle of claim 1 wherein said machine base further comprises a storage chamber disposed near a rear side thereof.

6. The stationary bicycle of claim 5 wherein said machine base further comprises a French window adapted to close/open said storage chamber.