IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DRIVE SYSTEM FOR BICYCLES

Abstract

The invention relates to improvements in the drive system of bicycles, according to which the pedal axle (5) of the bicycle of application is located at a distance between 185-300 mm behind the vertical of the seat (2), whereas the pedals (4) are incorporated on connecting rods (7) of 250-360 mm in length.

Description

FIELD OF THE ART

The object of the present invention relates to the structural configuration of bicycles and specifically to the type in which the pedal axle is arranged in a position behind the vertical of the seat, proposing a drive system to be applied in this type of bicycle with features that allow performing an exercise that is equivalent to that which is developed when running.

STATE OF THE ART

Practicing physical exercise on a sport level entails risks of experiencing bodily injuries due to repetitive and intense straining that the muscles and joints of the body must withstand.

In order to try to minimize as much as possible the occurrence of injuries due to excessive work according to the type of exercise that is practiced and to maximize the degree of performance, generally training sessions in a gym by means of different apparatuses are usually combined with specific training sessions for the corresponding discipline.

Training sessions in a gym consist of using different types of apparatuses which allow exercising different groups of muscles and joints to reinforce the areas of the body that are involved in physical effort for the purpose of preventing the occurrence of certain injuries.

One of the sports in which injuries usually occur is running, an activity that is considered to be a “high impact” sport. In this discipline, the most common injuries are knee pain (commonly referred to as “runner's knee”), shin pains, pulled muscles, twisted ankles, iliotibial band syndrome, the inflammation of the Achilles tendon or stress fractures.

Athletes who practice this discipline generally have training sessions in a gym on a treadmill, however runners with the “runner's knee” injury, which is caused by a misalignment of the knee joint which does not allow absorbing the impact produced in the stepping when running, have difficulties in this type of training, so they usually combine it with the use of a bicycle to achieve better performance. However, exercising on conventional bicycles does not activate the same groups of muscles as those that are activated when running, so training for this effect in such conditions is deficient.

Bicycles have recently been developed with a drive system characterized by the pedal axle being arranged in a position that is shifted behind the vertical of the seat. These types of bicycles have been designed for the purpose of reaching maximum user performance due to the posture adopted on the bicycle. However, the embodiments of bicycles of this type do not provide exercise conditions equivalent to those of the activity when running.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention a drive system for bicycles is proposed, the embodiment of which is provided with constructive features making this system particularly advantageous compared to the conventional solutions of the same application.

The proposed drive system is of the type which places the pedal axle in a position behind the vertical of the seat of the bicycle, this position of the pedal axle being determined according to the invention at a certain distance from the vertical of the seat, furthermore incorporating the pedals by means of connecting rods of greater length than conventional ones, such that it achieves an arrangement with which the user of the bicycle adopts a position which allows exercising the muscles and joints in the same conditions as when running.

The proposed drive system has been developed from a comparative test between the efforts affecting a user who runs and the efforts affecting a user who exercises on a bicycle provided with said proposed drive system.

According to the system of the invention, the pedal axle is arranged at a distance between 185-300 mm behind the vertical of the seat of the bicycle, arranging the pedals on connecting rods of a length between 250 and 360 mm, which is essentially greater than that of the connecting rods of pedals in conventional bicycles.

With this arrangement of the system of the invention, the user of the bicycle adopts a posture so that the angle formed by the knees in maximum bending is 44°, whereas in maximum extension the angle at the knees is 155°, while the angle of maximum bending at the hip is 62° and in the position of maximum extension said angle is 145°.

It is thus achieved that when using the bicycle, the same muscles and joints as those exercised when running are exercised, therefore solving the training drawbacks for people who have problems with injuries affecting the impact of stepping on the surface of the ground.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic depiction of the position of a user on a conventional stationary bicycle, in the situation of maximum extension of the body.

FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of the position of the user on the same bicycle as above, in the arrangement of maximum bending of the body.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a stationary bicycle provided with the drive system of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bicycle of the previous figure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic depiction of the position of a user on the bicycle with the drive system of the invention, in the situation of maximum extension of the body.

FIG. 6 is a representation of the position of the user on the same bicycle of the previous figure, in the situation of maximum bending of the body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes a drive system for bicycles, with which the user performs a body work that is equivalent to the work which is developed when running.

The proposed drive system can be applied both in stationary bicycles and in conventional bicycles with wheels, provided with a handlebar (1) and a seat (2) that can have different configurations and they can be height-adjustable in order to be adapted to different users (3), the functional arrangement including a drive system operated by pedals (4).

The system of the invention is particularly provided for bicycles the pedal axle (5) of which is arranged in a position behind the vertical of the seat (2) of the corresponding bicycle.

In a bicycle with a conventional arrangement, such as the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pedal axle (5) of the operating system is located in front of the vertical of the seat (2), at a distance between 240 and 260 mm from said vertical, whereas the pedals (4) are incorporated with respect to the pedal axle (5) by means of connecting rods (6) of about 200 mm in length.

This configuration of conventional bicycles means that the user (3) adopts on such bicycles a posture such that, according to the depiction of FIG. 1, said user acquires an angle (α) of 135° at the knee of the extended leg in the position of maximum extension of the body, whereas the angle (β)between said extended leg and the body of the user (3) is 104°.

In the same manner, in the situation of maximum bending, such as the one depicted in FIG. 2, the angle (α′) that is acquired at the knee of the bent leg is 84°, whereas the angle (β′) between said bent leg and the body of the user (3) is 65°.

According to the system of the invention, the pedal axle (5) is arranged at a distance between 185 and 300 mm behind the vertical of the seat (2) of the bicycle, in accordance with the arrangement depicted in FIG. 3, while the pedals (4) are incorporated in the assembly with respect to the pedal axle (5) by means of connecting rods (7) with an essentially greater length than that of the connecting rods (6) of conventional bicycles.

The connecting rods (7) by means of which the assembly pedals (4) is established with the system of the invention are particularly of a length between 250 and 360 mm, being able to be arranged in an assembly coupling by themselves with respect to the pedal axle (5) of the drive system, or by means of a securing arrangement on conventional connecting rods (6), as a supplement thereof, as depicted in FIG. 4.

This arrangement of the drive system in accordance with the invention means that the user (3) of the bicycle will adopt a posture such that, as shown in FIG. 5, when pedaling in the position of maximum extension, the extended leg forms an angle (α″) of 155° at the knee, whereas an angle (β″) of 145° is formed between said extended leg and the body of the user (3).

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, in the position of maximum bending, the bent leg forms an angle (α″′) of 44° at the knee, whereas an angle (β″′) of 62° is formed between said bent leg and the body of the user (3).

Claims

1. Improvements in the drive system of bicycles, of the type in which the pedal axle is arranged in a position behind the vertical of the seat of the bicycle, characterized in that the pedal axle (5) is located at a distance between 185-300 mm behind the vertical of the seat (2) and in that the pedals (4) are incorporated in connecting rods (7) of a length between 250 and 360 mm.

2. Improvements in the drive system of bicycles according to claim 1, characterized in that an allowance of the knees of the user (3) when pedaling of between a maximum angle (α″) of 155° and a minimum angle (α″′) of 44° is determined between the position of the pedal axle (5) and the length of the connecting rods (7).

3. Improvements in the drive system of bicycles according to claim 1, characterized in that an allowance of the hip of the user (3) when pedaling of between a maximum angle (β″) of 145° and a minimum angle (β″′) of 62° is determined between the position of the pedal axle (5) and the length of the connecting rods (7).

4. Improvements in the drive system of bicycles according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting rods (7) for the assembly of the pedals (4) are secured on conventional connecting rods (6) of a smaller length by means of which the assembly to the pedal axle (5) is determined.