STATIONARY EXERCISE BICYCLE WITH HORIZONTAL FLYWHEEL

Abstract

An exercise machine such as a stationary exercise bicycle includes a body supported by the ground; an axle disposed in the body; a first gear disposed on the axle; a driving shaft vertically disposed in the body; a second gear disposed on the driving shaft and meshed the first gear; and a horizontally disposed flywheel disposed in a base of the body. A rotation of the axle rotates the flywheel via the first gear, the second gear, and the driving shaft.

Claims

1. An exercise machine comprising: a body supported by the ground; an axle disposed in the body; a first gear disposed on the axle; a driving shaft vertically disposed in the body; a second gear disposed on the driving shaft and meshed the first gear; and a horizontally disposed flywheel disposed in a base of the body and including a rotating shaft; wherein a rotation of the axle rotates the flywheel via the first gear, the second gear, and the driving shaft.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the axle is horizontally or vertically disposed.

3. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein both the first and second gears are bevel gears.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a transmitting assembly under the driving shaft, the transmitting assembly being driven by the driving shaft to rotate the flywheel.

5. The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the transmitting assembly includes a first grooved wheel placed on an end of the driving shaft, a second grooved wheel placed on the rotating shaft, and a belt disposed on both the first and second grooved wheels.

6. The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the transmitting assembly comprises a first gear member and a second gear member co-rotated with the flywheel by meshing the first gear member.

7. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the flywheel is in a frame of the body and the frame is a portion of the body.

8. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the body is implemented as a frame supported by the ground.

9. The exercise machine of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the exercise machine is an exercise bicycle, a treadmill, a weight machine, a stretch trainer, an elliptical trainer, or a rowing machine.

1. An exercise machine comprising: a body supported by the ground; an axle disposed in the body; a first gear disposed on the axle; a driving shaft vertically disposed in the body; a second gear disposed on the driving shaft and meshed the first gear; and a horizontally disposed flywheel disposed in a base of the body and including a rotating shaft; wherein a rotation of the axle rotates the flywheel via the first gear, the second gear, and the driving shaft.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the axle is horizontally or vertically disposed.

3. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein both the first and second gears are bevel gears.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a transmitting assembly under the driving shaft, the transmitting assembly being driven by the driving shaft to rotate the flywheel.

5. The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the transmitting assembly includes a first grooved wheel placed on an end of the driving shaft, a second grooved wheel placed on the rotating shaft, and a belt disposed on both the first and second grooved wheels.

6. The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the transmitting assembly comprises a first gear member and a second gear member co-rotated with the flywheel by meshing the first gear member.

7. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the flywheel is in a frame of the body and the frame is a portion of the body.

8. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the body is implemented as a frame supported by the ground.

9. The exercise machine of any one of claim 1, wherein the exercise machine is an exercise bicycle, a treadmill, a weight machine, a stretch trainer, an elliptical trainer, or a rowing machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise machine according to the invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2; and

[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the flywheel and associated components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an exercise machine (e.g., stationary exercise bicycle) in accordance with the invention comprises a body 10 supported by the ground 50, a driving shaft 30, a horizontally disposed flywheel 40, and an axle 20.

[0025] A gear 21 is integrally formed on a position of the axle 20 proximate to a central portion of the axle 20. Two crank arms 23 are provided at two ends of the axle 20 respectively. Two pedals 22 each are provided at one end of the crank arm 23. A person may pedal the pedals 22 to rotate the crank arms 23 about the axle 20 to achieve the purpose of physical exercise.

[0026] The driving shaft 30 is vertically disposed, i.e., perpendicular to the ground 50. The driving shaft 30 includes a gear 31 on a top. The gears 21 and 31 are meshed. In the embodiment as shown, both the gears 21 and 31 are bevel gears. Alternatively, other types of gears are possible within the scope of the invention. Still alternatively, the gear 21 may be disposed vertically and the gear 31 may be disposed horizontally in other embodiments.

[0027] The flywheel 40 is disposed horizontally and is disposed in a wide base 11 of the body 10. The flywheel 40 includes a rotating shaft 41 rotatably disposed through a housing 42 which is provided on the base 11.

[0028] The exercise machine further comprises a transmitting assembly 60 under the driving shaft 30. The transmitting assembly 60 includes a first grooved wheel 61 disposed around an end of the driving shaft 30 and driven by the driving shaft 30, a second grooved wheel 62 placed on the rotating shaft 41, and a belt 63 disposed on both the first grooved wheel 61 and the second grooved wheel 62. Alternatively, the belt 63 is eliminated, the first grooved wheel 61 is replaced with a first gear, and the second grooved wheel 62 is replaced with a second gear meshed the first gear in other embodiments.

[0029] The flywheel 40 is disposed in a frame of the body 10 and the frame is a portion of the body 10. Alternatively, the frame is the whole portion of the body 10 and is supported by the ground 50.

[0030] In addition to the exercise bicycle, the exercise machine can be implemented as a treadmill, a weight machine, a stretch trainer, an elliptical trainer, or a rowing machine.

[0031] In an exercise, a person may pedal the pedals 22 to rotate the axle 20. And in turn, the gear 21 rotates to turn the gear 31. And in turn, the gear 31 rotates the driving shaft 30. And in turn, the driving shaft 30 rotates the first grooved wheel 61. And in turn, the driven first grooved wheel 61 rotates the second grooved wheel 62 via the belt 63. And in turn, the second grooved wheel 62 rotates the rotating shaft 41. Finally, the rotating shaft 41 rotates the flywheel 40 to store rotational energy in the flywheel 40.

[0032] The invention has the following advantageous effects in comparison with the prior art: The horizontally disposed flywheel 40 can lower gravity of the body 10, thereby stabilizing the body 10. The horizontally disposed flywheel 40 can save space to make a compact body 10.

[0033] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalent variations and modifications can still occur to those skilled in this art in view of the teachings of the present invention. Thus, all such variations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.