Static Cycling Machine

Abstract

A static cycling machine includes a support assembly and a drive assembly. A frame assembly is mounted on the support assembly. The frame assembly includes a seat tube assembly extending from the drive assembly, the seat tube assembly being adjustable in length. A down tube assembly extends from the drive assembly, the down tube assembly being adjustable in length. A handlebar assembly is mounted on the down tube assembly. A fork assembly is connected to the handlebar assembly and is adjustable in length. The seat tube, down tube, handlebar and fork assemblies are connected to each other such that at least the dimensions of the frame assembly can be adjusted by adjusting the lengths of the tube assemblies. A driven wheel assembly is operatively connected to the drive assembly so that work applied to the drive assembly can be transmitted to the wheel assembly. Actuators are operatively engaged with the frame assembly to adjust dimensions of the frame assembly.

1 . A static cycling machine which comprises
 a support assembly;   a drive assembly;   a frame assembly mounted on the support assembly, the frame assembly comprising
 a seat tube assembly extending from the drive assembly, the seat tube assembly being adjustable in length; 
 a down tube assembly extending from the drive assembly, the down tube assembly being adjustable in length; 
 a handlebar assembly mounted on the down tube assembly; and 
 a fork assembly connected to the handlebar assembly and being adjustable in length, the seat tube, down tube, handlebar and fork assemblies being connected to each other such that at least the dimensions, of the frame assembly can be adjusted by adjusting the lengths of the tube assemblies; and 
   a driven wheel assembly operatively connected to the drive assembly so that work applied to the drive assembly can be transmitted to the wheel assembly; and   actuators operatively engaged with the frame assembly to adjust dimensions of the frame assembly.   
     
     
         2 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a top tube assembly is connected between the seat tube assembly and the handlebar assembly and is adjustable in length. 
     
     
         3 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a seat assembly is mounted on the seat tube assembly. 
     
     
         4 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 3 , in which an actuator is engaged with the seat tube assembly and an actuator is engaged with the down tube assembly, 
     
     
         5 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the fork assembly includes left and right fork assemblies and actuators are engaged with respective fork assemblies. 
     
     
         6 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the seat assembly includes a seat post assembly that is adjustable with respect to the seat tube assembly, an actuator being engaged with and interposed between the seat post and seat tube assemblies. 
     
     
         7 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the handlebar assembly is pivotally mounted with respect to the top tube assembly, the down tube assembly and the fork assembly to permit the handlebar assembly to pivot in response to adjustment of the frame assembly. 
     
     
         8 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 7 , in which an actuator is engaged with the down tube assembly and the handlebar assembly to pivot the handlebar assembly. 
     
     
         9 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the drive assembly includes a pair of independently operable crank and drive sprocket assemblies. 
     
     
         10 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 9 , in which the drive assembly includes an intermediate sprocket and hub assembly that includes a pair of minor sprockets to take power from each of the crank and drive sprocket assemblies and a major sprocket rotationally fixed with respect to the minor sprockets. 
     
     
         11 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the driven wheel assembly includes a driven sprocket to take power from the major sprocket and a continuously variable transmission connected to the driven sprocket. 
     
     
         12 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the driven wheel assembly includes a driven sprocket set to take power from the major sprocket. 
     
     
         13 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 11 , in which the driven wheel assembly includes a resistance wheel connected to the driven sprocket via the transmission, the resistance wheel having vanes to provide air resistance as the wheel is rotated, each vane having peripheral edges that are directed away from a direction of movement of the vanes. 
     
     
         14 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes a fan cover assembly for covering the driven wheel assembly, the fan cover assembly defining a vent to direct a flow of air generated by the driven wheel assembly on to a user to cool the user. 
     
     
         15 . A control system for a static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 1 , the control system comprising
 a controller operatively connected to each of the actuators to control operation of the actuators and thus the extent of adjustment of the frame assembly; and   a data storage medium operatively connected to the controller to store data related to the extent of adjustment of each actuator.   
     
     
         16 . A control system. as claimed in  claim 15 , which includes a wireless communications module to permit the controller to communicate data to a wireless device. 
     
     
         17 . A control system as claimed in  claim 16 , in which the control system includes a wireless terminal configured to read data from the controller and to generate a suitable interface to permit an operator to adjust the frame assembly. 
     
     
         18 . A control system as claimed in  claim 16 , in which the controller is configured to read user data from the actuators corresponding to an extent of adjustment of the frame assembly and to store said user data in the data storage medium. 
     
     
         19 . A control system as claimed in  claim 16 , which includes a wireless computational device that is configured to receive said user data from the controller and to generate output data based on the user data. 
     
     
         20 . A control system as claimed in  claim 19  in which the computational device is configured to generate a database relating users with data representing frame assembly dimensions. 
     
     
         21 . A control system as claimed in  claim 20 , in which the computational device is configured to write user data for respective users to a data storage medium for use by said respective users. 
     
     
         22 . A control system as claimed in  claim 21  which includes a reader for reading said data storage medium, the controller being configured to control operation of the actuators in response to data read from the storage medium such that the frame assembly is adjusted into a condition related to the user associated with the data storage medium. 
     
     
         23 . A method for using the static cycling machine of  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 recording a user's details;   reading power applied at the drive assembly;   adjusting the frame assembly with the actuators until a maximum power applied at the drive assembly is achieved;   recording positional conditions of the actuators corresponding to said maximum power; and   storing the user's details together with the positional conditions in a database.   
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in  claim 23 , which includes the steps of writing data relating to the user's details and the positional conditions of the actuators to a data storage medium. 
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , which includes the steps of reading said data relating to the user's details and the positional conditions of the actuators and adjusting the frame assembly. in accordance with said data.