WO2001037949A1

WO2001037949A1 - Stationary bicycle brake tension-regulator

Info

Publication number: WO2001037949A1
Application number: PCT/ES1999/000374
Authority: WO
Inventors: Julián ECHEVERRIA GUISASOLA
Original assignee: Wingroup, S. Coop.
Priority date: 1999-11-23
Filing date: 1999-11-23
Publication date: 2001-05-31
Also published as: CN1152725C; CN1333699A

Abstract

The invention relates to a tension-regulator for the brakes of stationary bicycles characterized in that the regulator assembly has a single continuos cable from the lower mechanism to the control located on the upper part of the shank of the handlebars. The single cable has a complete regulator on the end thereof which traverses the shank and comes out through a top window of said shank. The cable is then fixed in said position to a box (19) that is in turn fixed to said shank (4).

Description

"Brake tensioner-regulator for exercise bikes"

The invention relates to a braking tension mechanism for stationary bicycles used for the practice of physical exercises, in which a device acts on a system associated with the steering wheel of the bicycle, in order to protect the user from application of a greater or lesser effort during the use of the machine.

normally, these devices are constituted - by a tensioning control disposed in the upper part of the seat post which is associated with a cable that runs through the interior of said seat to the device in charge of carrying out the greater or lesser resistance of the pedaling user. These devices are usually of various types, not being the object of this consideration "

To the extent known, the common technique - to regulate the voltage of these lower devices, includes a small section of the outgoing cable of the voltage regulator, which is connected to another cable of greater length that - accesses to the lower tensioning mechanism, as indicated along the inside of the bicycle seat »This connection is made by means of a special hitch.

Generally, the assembly between the two cable sections is not carried out at the factory, but with the consequent instructions for this, it is left in the hands of the user, B being especially simple to execute this connection, there are users who reject this Type of bicycles for the problems pointed out.

It is an object of the invention a tension-regulator that totally eliminates the problems mentioned in the conventional arrangements. Another object of the invention is a tensioner-regulator that performs the complete assembly of the system through the interior of the bicycle seat.

Another object of the invention is a tension-regulator that is easy to insert and uses only one cable.

Another object of the invention is a tension-regulator that is cheaper than conventional ones.

For the implementation of these objectives, the invention claims a tension-regulator that from the lower mechanism associated with the pedals incorporates a single cable connected at its free end to a regulating device which is likely to run through the inside of the seatpost. from the bicycle to the top of it.

Obviously, the largest dimension of this regulating device is smaller than the diameter of the seat of the seat, so that the passage thereof is devoid of difficulties.

The mechanism of this regulating device is known in itself and has a body and an external knob or knob. The body includes the conventional system that pulls the cable or loosens it according to the direction of rotation of the control knob, being in this case the small size so that it does not represent any obstacle for its passage through the interior of the seatpost .

The regulating device runs through the interior - of said post until it reaches the top of it, and through a wide hole of its lateral surface it accesses the outside, together with the cable secured to it.

Once the regulator is outside and with the cable housed in the seatpost, it is placed on the - outside the seat post and specifically on the wide mentioned hole, the box in which said regulator sits to perform its function.

The case in question is a hollow prismatic piece - with a triangular-rectangular side elevation, a rectangular rectangular front elevation and an upper face. By the - hypotenuse of its side, it is accommodated to the lateral surface - exterior of the post, with its frontal elevation approximately vertical and the upper face that completes the box in position - substantially horizontal.

In order for the position of the box on the seatpost to be stable, the rear, top and bottom edges of the box - are made with the proper curvature that conforms to the curvature of the seatpost.

The special characteristics of this box are that a central hole is made in the upper face, which constitutes a seat pocket through which the regulator passes and sits, from a superior position, and a centered groove that from said Hollow opens up to the curved rear edge.

The open groove allows the cable connected to the regulator to pass in the direction of the central recess so that once the cable is passed, said regulator is lowered over the recess, relying on the pocket through a perimeter projection prior to its upper part, highlight that it is carried out just below - below the drive knob of the internal regulator system.

As previously indicated, the manual actuation knob is of reduced dimensions and in the regulator position inserted in the box, it protrudes upwards from the upper face of said box. In order that the reduced dimensions of the knob do not generate the application of a considerable effort of the user to operate the mechanism, once the regulator is housed, a hollow cover of larger dimensions is connected on it that connects with its inner surface to the outer surface of the reduced knob through corresponding means.

The cover in question will have the appropriate dimensions so that the user makes a minor effort that - is capable of, once transmitted to the knob, promoting - the movement of the mechanism contained inside the regulator.

The box described above, will have a general dimension sufficient to cover and hide outside the seat of the seat post by which the regulator is removed so that this hole is not visible from the outside.

For the assembly of the box on the seat post, and preferably, the box is provided with εobutient pins of the rounded upper rear edge and on both sides of the slot for the passage of the cable, which pins will be housed in a small opening made in the seat post, above the hole for the passage of the regulator.

At the same time, in the front vertical face of the box, at least one hole is made through which a locking screw is passed that will be threaded to a corresponding hole also practiced in the body of the post, below the hole of the regulator.

As mentioned, the regulator is connected to a single cable which runs from the lower tension conversion mechanism to the box, once mounted, so that the user has only to act on the outer plug to vary the tension of the cable, no need to carry out mounts Heh some.

The cable will be conveniently protected by a suitable cover that ensures its entry without problems inside the seatpost.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, these and other details of the invention are observed more concretely, representing the following:

- Figure 1 is an exploded perspective of - the main components of a bicycle _conve, tional exercise.

- Figure 2 ^a represents a perspective of the assembly object of the invention.

- Figure 3 ^S _? It is a front elevation of the box - which supports the regulator.

- Figure 4 ⁸ »corresponds to section II practiced in fig. 1 ^a .

- Figure 5 ^a »is a top view of fig. 3".

- Figure 6 ^a , is a perspective of the box of - figs. 3 ^a , 4 ^a and 5 ^a .

With reference to fig. 1 ^a , we highlight a conventional stationary bicycle with a base (1), a column (2) for the saddle and a seat post (3, 4) topped by the handlebar. The mechanism providing the greater or lesser effort - for pedaling is constituted in this case by a magnetic assembly (6) located at the rear and the steering wheel (5) and co- Rrea (31) front, hidden by the covers (7). As noted above, this is a conventional and disclosed mechanism, so as not being the object of the present, it does not go into greater detail on this particular.

This mechanism is regulated by the greater or lesser tension of the cable (8), which in these known units - is topped by the connector (9), which runs along the inside of the seatpost (3, 4) until reaching the upper hole (13) of the latter.

Here the box assembly (1θ) and tension control for the cable are located, which includes a cable protrusion - (12) which is the one that the user must manipulate to be fixed to the connector (9) so that the actuation of the control (11) promote the tensioning of the cable (8) or its tensioning, as appropriate.

According to fig. 2 ^a , we appreciate the solution claimed by the invention in which the continuous cable - (8) with the sheath (21), directly connected to the regulator (15) is appreciated. This regulator, which includes a known mechanism inside, is operated by the small knob (1) fixedly attached - to the body (15) »

The body (15) includes a perimeter shoulder (16) and the largest section of this assembly (15, 16, 17) is smaller than the inner section of the post (3, 4). so that said assembled assembly is passed inside said seat post from its end. mo inferior to the superior, being able to access the outside - through the hole (13) of the seat post described in fig. 1 ^a .

Once this set has accessed the outside through - the hole (13). the box (1) is approaching. passing the cable (8) - through the open slot (23) so that the position of - this fig. 2 ^a . Once in the described position, the box is raised) until the body section (15) is lodged with a pressure adjustment in the hole (26) until the perimeter projection (16) is supported by the pocket (22). Once this seat is made, the projections (33) of the body (15) immobilize the assembly by being below the thickness of the hole (26) of the box.

Subsequently, the box is fixed to the seat post, and finally the cover (18) is placed on the knob (17) »For this purpose, - this knob is provided with a series of projections (30) on its lateral surface and the plug (18) in turn includes in its inner lateral surface the corresponding recesses with the mentioned cushions for a suitable pressure adjustment.

The plug (18) is of a larger diametral dimension than - the knob (30), thereby increasing the torque provided by the user when turning the plug, thus facilitating the action of the cable regulating mechanism.

The geometry of the box in figs. 3 ^a to 6 ^a , allows us to notice the prismatic shape of the same with the upper groove (23) for the passage of the cable, the inclined surfaces (27) that are adjusted longitudinally to the outside of the - seatpost and the upper edges e lower (28, 29) that fit circularly to the post.

The upper hole (26) is what allows the passage - of the regulator (15> 16, 17) the pocket (22) is the one that supports the perimeter projection (16) which is in turn adjusted in the hole upper (25).

The entrance of the regulator (15, 16, 17) is carried out by overcoming the resistance of the projections (33) of the body (15), the regulator as it passes through the thickness of the hole (26), of so that once this thickness is exceeded, the projections stop against the bottom face (34) of the gap.

The box (1) is in turn provided with pins - (20) on both sides of the slot (23) and at least one hole - front (24) »aimed at fixing the box on the post.

Such fixation includes concealment of the recess (13) of the seat of fig. 1 ^a by positioning the box (1) - on it. In addition, the two pins (20) are inserted into the window (14) and once housed, a screw is passed through the hole (24) which is mounted in the hole - (32) of the post .

Claims

REnruroicAc IQHES

1 .- Tensor-braking device for stationary bikes, applicable such units has a - frame (1, 2) and a generator mechanism variables holistic efforts

(6, 5 ») with side covers (7)» as well as a seat post (3, 4) that extends to the handlebar, the seat being occupied by a section of cable (8) connected to the lower mechanism and finished off by a connector (9) which, through a hole in the seatpost, is fixed to - another section of cable (12) from an external control (11) - arranged in a body (10) mounted on the seat post, whose body is included a regulator of the tension of the cable, which is drawn _{, means} that the cable (8) is continuous from the lower mechanism to an independent regulator) »which regulator - has a maximum dimension in its section that is less than the section of the interior of the post allowing the passage of said regulator with the cable through said interior, the regulator including a small knob (17) mounted on it, in which the regulator (15) - with the knob (17) protrude outside to through a recess (32) of the upper part of the post, with said recess - a hollow box (1) equipped with a groove (23) for the passage of the - cable connected to a recess (26) for the introduction of the regulator and its fixation in the said recess, in which the box is secured to the top of the post, by providing a cover (18) of larger size on the handle of the regulator that fits the geometry of said knob.

2 .- Tensor-braking device for bikes according to claim 1, wherein the re- guider (15) is provided with a peripheral projection (16) below the position of the knob (30) and projections (33) on the projection of the projection, in which the hollow of the box has a pocket (32) in which the projection of the regulator sits, accommodating the projections (33) below the thickness of the recess (26) once housed the regulator in the box. 3 .- Tensor-braking device for bicycles is ticas according to 1 claim, characterized in that the housing (19) has a prismatic shape with a side elevation as triangular-rectangular and a front elevational rectangular, in which the sides (27) that constitute the hypotenuse the box is longitudinally austed to the seat post (4)> also counting the - box with upper and lower rear edges (28) re-located for adjustment in the circular section of the seatpost, in which on the rounded upper edge and on both sides of the groove (23) for the passage of the cable, there are two pins (20) that are received in a small window (14) above the outlet of the regulator and in which the front face of the box is provided with at least one hole (24) for the passage of screws fixing the box to the post.