Removable crank arm for exercise cycle
A pedal for an exercise bicycle which can be located at various distances from the axis of rotation of a crank arm to which the pedal is attached. The crank arm is removable and is connected to the vertical portion of the pedal arm of the exercise bicycle. The crank arm rotates about the axis of rotation of the pedal arm and a pedal is mounted to the crank arm at a distance which is adjustable depending upon the degree of movement of the limb of a user. The pedal arm need not be removed from the exercise bicycle.
This invention relates to a removable crank arm for an exercise bicycle and, more particularly, to a removable crank arm for an exercise bicycle which allows adjustable mounting of a pedal to the crank arm in order to provide greater or lesser movement of the limbs of a user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONExercise bicycles are, of course, well known. They are provided usually for fitness or training purposes. Because the pedal on which the user rests his foot moves in a circular path, impact blows to the user are avoided which is desirable to prevent aches and sprains to the joints and muscles. Such exercise bicycles are particularly useful for the elderly or for rehabilitation purposes.
Arthritic users are restricted in movement and the more prevalent the arthritis in the user, the more restrictive is the movement. While exercise is known to be beneficial for sufferers of arthritis, and while the movement of the pedals of an exercise bicycle is particularly advantageous because of the absence of shocks and impact to the user, the range of movement of the legs and knees of a user who is suffering from arthritis may not be sufficient to completely rotate the pedal arm to which the pedals are attached. It would be desirable to adjust the motion path of the pedals in order to increase or decrease the range of motion to be performed by the user so as to adapt to the movement of the individual user.
Various apparatuses have been designed to deal with the requirement for an adjustable path of the pedals. U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,532 (Butler) discloses an aquatic exercise cycle with a disc which allows incrementally spaced means to secure the legs of a user. U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,742 (Cones) teaches a hydraulic exercise cycle with a flywheel which allows incremental adjustment of the pedal assembly to the flywheel thereby allowing variable load resistance. Canadian application 2,235,465 (Saringer et al) teaches a flywheel to which resistance is adjustable by way of a control circuit. And Butterworth U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,139 teaches a primary and a secondary crank which allow or prohibit relative movement therebetween and which require tht the pedal arm be attached to the axis of the pedal arm assembly with a removable bolt and an additional member.
The prior art, however, does not teach an exercise bicycle which may be easily adjusted or modified to allow a reduced path of motion of a pedal for users who may lack the ability to participate in the full range of motion such as those arthritic users aforementioned.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a removable crank arm for an exercise bicycle having a pedal arm with a pedal arm axis of rotation and having a first generally horizontal axle section and a second generally vertically extending pedal arm section, said removable crank arm comprising attachment means for attachment of said removable crank arm to said second generally vertically extending pedal arm section of said pedal arm of said exercise bicycle, said removable crank arm being rotatable about a crank arm axis and being operably connected to said pedal arm and being generally rotatable about said axis of rotation of said pedal arm, said removable crank arm further comprising a pedal operably mounted to said crank arm at at least one distance from said crank arm axis, said rotatable pedal rotating about a pedal axis of rotation relative to said crank arm, said removfable crank arm being connected to said pedal arm at a location other than said axis of rotation of said pedal arm.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of moving a pedal connected to a crank arm at a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of said crank arm mounted on an exercise bicycle, said method comprising removing a pedal from a pedal arm which rotates about a pedal arm axis of said exercise bicycle, said pedal arm having a first generally horizontal axle section and a second generally vertically extending pedal arm section, mounting said crank arm on said second generally vertically extending pedal arm section by connecting said crank arm to said second generally vertically extending pedal arm section of said pedal arm such that said crank arm rotates about the axis of rotation of said pedal arm and mounting a rotatable pedal on said crank arm which pedal is adapted to be connected at at least two predetermined distances from the axis of rotation of said crank arm, said rotatable pedal rotating about a pedal axis of rotation, said crank arm being mounted to said pedal arm at a location other than said axis of rotation of said pedal arm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGSSpecific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with the use of drawings in which:
Referring now to the drawings, an exercise bicycle according to the invention is generally illustrated at 100 in
Rotating crank arm 110 is connected to a pedal arm 111 (
Referring now to
In operation, the pedal (not illustrated) of the original pedal arm 111 of the exercise bicycle 100 will be removed and the wedge claim assemblies 122 will be opened to allow entry of the pedal arm 111 of the exercise bicycle into the grove 121 of the crank arm 110 which crank arm 110 is manipulated into position on the pedal arm 111.
The crank arm 110 will be positioned on the pedal arm 111 so that the axis of rotation 112 of the crank arm 110 is coincident with the axis of rotation of the pedal arm 111 when under normal operation with the exercise bicycle 100. When that position is reached, the set screws 123 will be rotated by, for example, a hex key (not illustrated) until the crank arm 100 is securely attached to the pedal arm 111. Of course, while the attachment of only one crank arm 110 has been described, it will be appreciated that the same operation will occur on the side of the exercise bicycle 100 which is opposed.
Following the attachment of the crank arm 110 to the pedal arm 111 of the exercise bicycle 100 on both sides, the pedal 104 will be attached. Pedal 104 itself rotates about a pin 130 (
The user will then assume the usual position on the exercise bicycle 100 and with his feet in the pedal 104, he will rotate the crank arm 110 thereby obtaining exercise and proper movement of the intended limb.
The crank arm 110 may be attached to the pedal arm 111 is a variety of different ways and a further method of attachment is illustrated in
Yet a further attachment technique illustrated in
Many further embodiments will readily occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the particular embodiments described are given by way of example only and are not intended as limiting the scope of the invention as defined in accordance with the accompanying claims.
Claims
1. A removable crank arm for an exercise bicycle having a pedal arm with a pedal arm axis of rotation and having a first generally horizontal axle section and a second generally vertically extending pedal arm section, said removable crank arm comprising attachment means for attachment of said removable crank arm to said second generally vertically extending pedal arm section of said pedal arm of said exercise bicycle, said removable crank arm being rotatable about a crank arm axis and being operably connected to said pedal arm and being generally rotatable about said axis of rotation of said pedal arm, said removable crank arm further comprising a pedal operably mounted to said crank arm at at least one distance from said crank arm axis, said rotatable pedal rotating about a pedal axis of rotation relative to said crank arm, said removfable crank arm being connected to said pedal arm at a location other than said axis of rotation of said pedal arm.
2. A removable crank arm as in claim 1 and further comprising at least two attachment points for said pedal of said crank arm, said at least two attachment points being located a different distances from said axis of rotation of said crank arm.
3. A removable crank arm as in claim 2 wherein said crank arm is attached to said second generally vertically extending pedal arm section with wedge assemblies mounted on said crank arm.
4. A removable crank arm as in claim 2 wherein said crank arm is attached to said second generally vertically extending pedal arm section of said pedal arm by use of bolts.
5. A removable crank arm as in claim 4 wherein said crank arm is provided with a cradle to allow entry of said first generally horizontal axle section of said pedal arm.
6. A removable crank arm as in claim 1 wherein said pedal is connected to said crank arm with a threaded bolt.
7. A removable crank arm as in claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of holes in said crank arm to allow attachment of said pedal to said crank arm at one of said holes.
8. A method of moving a pedal connected to a crank arm at a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of said crank arm mounted on an exercise bicycle, said method comprising removing a pedal from a pedal arm which rotates about a pedal arm axis of said exercise bicycle, said pedal arm having a first generally horizontal axle section and a second generally vertically extending pedal arm section, mounting said crank arm on said second generally vertically extending pedal arm section by connecting said crank arm to said second generally vertically extending pedal arm section of said pedal arm such that said crank arm rotates about the axis of rotation of said pedal arm and mounting a rotatable pedal on said crank arm which pedal is adapted to be connected at at least two predetermined distances from the axis of rotation of said crank arm, said rotatable pedal rotating about a pedal axis of rotation, said crank arm being mounted to said pedal arm at a location other than said axis of rotation of said pedal arm.
9. Method as in claim 8 wherein a pedal is removed from said pedal arm and said crank arm is connected to said second generally vertically extending pedal arm section of said pedal arm using a wedge assembly.
10. Method as in claim 8 wherein said pedal is removed from said pedal arm and said crank arm is connected to said second generally vertically extending pedal arm section of said pedal arm using bolts.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 26, 2004
Publication Date: Jan 26, 2006
Inventor: Robert Caird (Vancouver)
Application Number: 10/900,022
International Classification: A63B 22/06 (20060101); A63B 69/16 (20060101);