Exercise Arrangement

Abstract

The invention discloses an exercise arrangement having a stationary frame with a seat and handle for a user attached to the frame. At least one flywheel is rotatably mounted on the frame and is operatively joined to a crankshaft, with at least one pedal, by a flexible drive element. Vibration means are associated with the flywheel and/or crankshaft being adapted to apply vibration to the user.

1 . An exercise arrangement, which includes
 (a) a stationary frame;   (b) a seat for a user attached to the frame;   (c) a handle for a user attached to the frame;   (d) at least one flywheel rotatably mounted on the frame;   (e) a crankshaft with at least one pedal rotatably mounted on the frame;   (f) a flexible drive element operatively joining the crankshaft to the at least one flywheel; and   (g) vibration means associated with at least one component selected from the group consisting of the at least one flywheel and the crankshaft, and being adapted to apply vibration to the user.   
   
   
       2 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the vibration has a range of 0 to 60 Hz frequency, a 2 to 6 mm amplitude, generating an acceleration factor of approximately 2 to 6 g. 
   
   
       3 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the vibration means is adapted to apply vibrations to the user through at least one component selected from the group consisting of the pedal and the handle. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the frame is at least one device selected from the group consisting of a cycle, a bicycle, training bicycle and tandem-cycle. 
   
   
       6 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the vibration is a vibration selected from the group consisting of mechanical vibration and electromechanical vibration. 
   
   
       7 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the mechanical vibration is adapted to act in at least one direction selected from the group consisting of a vertical direction and a rotational direction. 
   
   
       8 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes electromechanical actuation means to provide up and down displacement of the drive-element. 
   
   
       9 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the electromechanical actuation means includes a free wheeling sprocket on at least one component selected from the group consisting of a motor driven eccentric, a solenoid, and any other suitable actuator, with or without a software generated input signal. 
   
   
       10 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which inertia of the flywheel is adapted to provide a base/platform from which the flexible drive element can transmit force. 
   
   
       11 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the flexible drive element is adapted to be tensioned by suitable means. 
   
   
       12 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the flexible drive element includes at least one suitable driving device selected from the group consisting of a roller chain, a bicycle chain and a toothed belt. 
   
   
       13 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which vertical displacement of the flexible drive element is adapted to transmit movement to the chain ring and to the pedal. 
   
   
       14 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the pedal is provided with rotational displacement around the crank centre creating vibrating action on the pedal. 
   
   
       15 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the handle is fitted with vibration actuation. 
   
   
       16 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the handle is provided with at least one vibration selected from vertical vibration and rotational vibration. 
   
   
       17 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes electromechanical actuation means to provide up and down displacement of the handle. 
   
   
       18 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 17 , in which the electromechanical actuation means is provided to the crankshaft. 
   
   
       19 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the crankshaft is adapted to cause vertical displacement of the chain-ring or on a vibrating path centring around the flywheel axis or any other virtual axis. 
   
   
       20 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which rotational vibration is adapted to be applied to a crank-set mechanism, the rotational vibration having a rotational axis horizontally along the centre of the crankshaft. 
   
   
       21 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which vibration is adapted to be induced by applying a vertical vibration to a tension side of the flexible drive element with the inertia of the flywheel providing a base/platform from which the force can be applied along the drive element to a chain ring of the exercise arrangement. 
   
   
       22 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the at least one pedal is adapted to vibrate on a circular path described by the axis of the at least one pedal as it travels around a crankshaft axis. 
   
   
       23 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which vertical vibration displacement is adapted to be applied to the crankshaft with the effect of the at least one pedal following a similar path irrespective of the pedal position along its path around the crankshaft centre. 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 15 , in which the vibration is adapted to be applied to the handlebars is in a vertical plane and/or rotational around an axis running anterior-posterior on the midline of the frame and/or around a transverse axis of the frame. 
   
   
       27 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the vibration is effected by at least one of an electrical actuator, a mechanical actuator, an electro-mechanical actuator. 
   
   
       28 - 32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the vibration is controlled in at least one way selected from the group consisting of: by the user, by the user during the operation of the exercise arrangement, and by the user from a key pad mounted on the frame. 
   
   
       34 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes computer software adapted to generate vibrations of different characteristics. 
   
   
       35 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a stationary frame;   a seat attached to the frame, the handle adapted for engagement with the user;   a flywheel rotatably mounted on the frame;   a crankshaft rotatably mounted on the frame, the crankshaft having at least one pedal adapted for engagement with the user;   a flexible drive element operatively joining the crankshaft to the flywheel;   an actuator connected to the frame to apply vibration to the user.