Aquatic exercise bicycle

Abstract

An aquatic exercise cycle including a frame receptive to be at least partially submersed in a liquid medium; a seat adjustably secured to the frame; a pair of handles operably coupled to at least one of the frame and the seat for an operator to hold onto; a crank assembly operably coupled to said frame having an input shaft rotatable with a pair of user operated pedals; and a variable resistance mechanism in operable communication with the input shaft and receptive to varying a resistance of rotation of the input shaft. The aquatic exercise cycle allows the user to adjust at least the seat relative to the crank assembly to select either an upright riding position or a recumbent riding position.

1 . An aquatic exercise cycle comprising: 
 a frame receptive to be at least partially submersed in a liquid medium;    a seat adjustably secured to said frame;    a pair of handles operably coupled to at least one of said frame and said seat for an operator to hold onto;    a crank assembly operably coupled to said frame, said crank assembly having an input shaft rotatable with a pair of user operated pedals; and    a variable resistance mechanism in operable communication with said input shaft, said variable resistance mechanism receptive to varying a resistance of rotation of said input shaft,    wherein at least said seat is adjustable relative to said crank assembly to select either an upright riding position or a recumbent riding position.    
     
     
         2 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 1 , wherein said seat and said crank assembly are adjustable relative to said frame to select either an upright riding position or a recumbent riding position.  
     
     
         3 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 1 , wherein said seat is receptive to translation substantially parallel with a portion defining a length of said frame and substantially normal to said frame.  
     
     
         4 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 3 , wherein said seat depends from a height adjustable seat post, said seat post selectively coupled along a length defining said frame depending on a selected riding position.  
     
     
         5 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 3 , wherein said crank assembly is pivotally attached to said frame at a first location and a second location, said crank assembly is attached to said first location using a first support having a first end pivotally extending from said crank assembly and an opposite second end realeasably coupled along a length of said frame at said first location depending on a selected riding position.  
     
     
         6 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 5 , wherein said second end of said first support is translatable within a first slot extending along a length of said frame and is realeasably secured therealong.  
     
     
         7 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 6 , wherein said crank assembly is pivotally attached to said frame at said second location using a second support having a first end pivotally extending from said crank assembly and an opposite second end pivotally coupled to said frame at said second location.  
     
     
         8 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 6 , wherein said seat depends from a height adjustable seat post, said seat post selectively coupled along a length of said frame depending on a selected riding position.  
     
     
         9 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 8 , wherein said seat post is translatable within a second slot aft of said first slot extending along a length of said frame and is realeasably secured therealong.  
     
     
         10 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 9 , wherein said second end of said first support and said seat post are fixedly secured with respect to translation within said first and second slots, respectively, using corresponding mechanical fasteners to prevent further translation therein.  
     
     
         11 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 1 , wherein said a variable resistance mechanism is incorporated with said crank assembly.  
     
     
         12 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 1 , wherein said pair of handles operably coupled to at least one of said frame and said seat for an operator to hold onto include a first pair of handles operably coupled to said frame for said upright position and a second pair of handles operably coupled to said seat for said recumbent position.  
     
     
         13 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 12 , wherein said second pair of handles are receptive to being moved out of the way for operation in said upright position.  
     
     
         14 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 1 , wherein said frame is a single tube frame configured in an arch with feet depending from opposing ends defining said frame to stabilize said frame in said liquid medium.  
     
     
         15 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 1 , wherein said variable resistance mechanism includes a first gear in operable communication with a second gear operably coupled to an output shaft, said first gear having first teeth engaged with second teeth of said second gear in said liquid medium, wherein said variable resistance mechanism is receptive to varying a resistance of rotation of said output shaft to vary a resistance of rotation of said input shaft.  
     
     
         16 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 15 , wherein said variable resistance mechanism includes first and second gears rotatably fixed within a liquid filled chamber, said chamber including an inlet intermediate axes of rotation of said first and second gears and an outlet opposite said inlet intermediate axes of rotation of said first and second gears, said liquid filled chamber includes said liquid medium in which the exercise bicycle is immersed.  
     
     
         17 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 16 , wherein rotation of said first and second gears pumps liquid into said chamber through said inlet and exit said chamber through said outlet.  
     
     
         18 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 17 , wherein said outlet includes an adjustable restrictor plate, said restrictor plate is receptive to moving into and out of said outlet varying a resistance of rotation of said first and second gears.  
     
     
         19 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 1 , wherein said variable resistance mechanism includes first and second gears rotatably fixed within a self contained liquid filled chamber, said chamber being a closed fluid system having suitably configured reservoirs to vary the resistance of liquid pumped by first teeth and second teeth of said first and second gears, respectively.  
     
     
         20 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 17 , wherein said first gear is operably coupled to said input shaft.  
     
     
         21 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 16 , wherein said variable resistance mechanism includes said output shaft variably geared with respect to said input shaft such that adjustment of a relative speed of said output shaft relative to said input shaft varies a resistance of rotation of said input shaft dependent on a change of relative speeds of said output and input shafts.  
     
     
         22 . The aquatic exercise cycle of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid medium includes a swimming pool in which at least a substantial portion of the exercise cycle is immersed in water when in operation.