Universal Footrest for one-legged operation of a stationary bicycle

Abstract

To allow the use of a stationary bicycle comfortably with one foot through the use of a foundation, expandable in the horizontal direction, and connected to a joint that is expandable in the vertical direction. A footrest attached to the expandable joint allows the user to place the resting foot at a comfortable level. In use the foundation is expanded so the apparatus can be attached to the stationary bicycle, the apparatus is attached to the side of the stationary bicycle with the unused pedal, the joint expanded to a level comfortable to the user, and the user then gets on the bicycle, rests the unused foot on the platform and pedals as normal with one foot.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A universal footrest for a stationary bicycle comprising:
 A foundation with at least one expandable joint attached to a stationary bicycle by attachment means;   At least one expandable member attached to and extending upwardly from the foundation; and   At least one platform attached to at least one of the expandable member.   
     
     
         2 . The universal footrest from  claim 1  wherein:
 the expandable joint comprises a smaller joint end at least partially inserted inside and attached to a larger joint end. 
 
     
     
         3 . The universal footrest from  claim 2  wherein:
 both the smaller and larger sized joint ends are provided with a series of openings extending through the ends; 
 the series of openings on the larger sized joint end are arranged so as to be alignable with the series of openings on the smaller sized joint end; and 
 the attachment means comprises a pin means sized to pass through both series of aligned openings in the larger and smaller sized joint ends to attach the larger sized joint end to the smaller sized joint end. 
 
     
     
         4 . The universal footrest from  claim 1  wherein:
 the expandable member comprises a smaller member end at least partially inserted inside and attached to a larger member end. 
 
     
     
         5 . The universal footrest from  claim 4  wherein:
 both the smaller and larger sized member ends are provided with a series of openings extending through the ends; 
 the series of openings on the larger sized member end are arranged so as to be alignable with the series of openings on the smaller sized member end; and 
 the attachment means comprises a pin means sized to pass through both series of aligned openings in the larger and smaller sized member ends to attach the larger sized member end to the smaller sized member end. 
 
     
     
         6 . The universal footrest from  claim 2  wherein:
 the expandable member comprises a smaller member end at least partially inserted inside and attached to a larger member end. 
 
     
     
         7 . The universal footrest from  claim 6  wherein:
 both the smaller and larger sized member ends are provided with a series of openings extending through the ends; 
 the series of openings on the larger sized member end are arranged so as to be alignable with the series of openings on the smaller sized member end; and 
 the attachment means comprises a pin means sized to pass through both series of aligned openings in the larger and smaller sized member ends to attach the larger sized member end to the smaller sized member end. 
 
     
     
         8 . The universal footrest from  claim 3  wherein:
 the expandable member comprises a smaller member end at least partially inserted inside and attached to a larger member end. 
 
     
     
         9 . The universal footrest from  claim 8  wherein:
 both the smaller and larger sized member ends are provided with a series of openings extending through the ends; 
 the series of openings on the larger sized member end are arranged so as to be alignable with the series of openings on the smaller sized member end; and the attachment means comprises a pin means sized to pass through both series of aligned openings in the larger and smaller sized member ends to attach the larger sized member end to the smaller sized member end. 
 
     
     
         10 . A universal footrest for a stationary bicycle comprising:
 A bottom consisting of a forward and a rear foundation, connected by at least one expandable joint, and a stationary bicycle attachment means;   at least one expandable member extending upwardly from the foundation; and   at least one platform attached to at least one of the expandable members.   
     
     
         11 . The universal footrest from  claim 10  wherein:
 the expandable joint consists of a smaller joint end at least partially inserted inside and reversibly attached via attachment means to a larger joint end. 
 
     
     
         12 . The universal footrest from  claim 11  wherein:
 both the smaller and larger joint ends are provided with a series of openings extending through the ends; 
 the series of openings on the larger joint end are arranged so as to be alignable with the series of openings on the smaller joint end; and 
 the attachment means consist of a pin means sized to pass through both series of aligned openings in the larger and smaller diameter tubes to attach the larger diameter tube to the smaller diameter tube. 
 
     
     
         13 . The universal footrest from  claim 10  wherein:
 the expandable member consists of a smaller member end at least partially inserted inside and reversibly attached via attachment means to a larger member end. 
 
     
     
         14 . The universal footrest from  claim 13  wherein:
 both the smaller and larger sized member ends are provided with a series of openings extending through the ends; 
 the series of openings on the larger sized member end are arranged so as to be alignable with the series of openings on the smaller sized member end; and 
 the attachment means comprises a pin means sized to pass through both series of aligned openings in the larger and smaller sized member ends to attach the larger sized member end to the smaller sized member end. 
 
     
     
         15 . The universal footrest from  claim 11  wherein:
 the expandable member consists of a smaller member end at least partially inserted inside and reversibly attached via attachment means to a larger member end. 
 
     
     
         16 . The universal footrest from  claim 15  wherein:
 both the smaller and larger sized member ends are provided with a series of openings extending through the ends; 
 the series of openings on the larger sized member end are arranged so as to be alignable with the series of openings on the smaller sized member end; and 
 the attachment means comprises a pin means sized to pass through both series of aligned openings in the larger and smaller sized member ends to attach the larger sized member end to the smaller sized member end. 
 
     
     
         17 . The universal footrest from  claim 12  wherein:
 the expandable member consists of a smaller member end at least partially inserted inside and reversibly attached via attachment means to a larger member end. 
 
     
     
         18 . The universal footrest from  claim 17  wherein:
 both the smaller and larger sized member ends are provided with a series of openings extending through the ends; 
 the series of openings on the larger sized member end are arranged so as to be alignable with the series of openings on the smaller sized member end; and 
 the attachment means comprises a pin means sized to pass through both series of aligned openings in the larger and smaller sized member ends to attach the larger sized member end to the smaller sized member end. 
 
     
     
         19 . A universal footrest for a stationary bicycle comprising:
 a bottom consisting of a forward, middle, and rear foundation, connected by at least one expandable joint, and a stationary bicycle attachment means;   at least one expandable member extending upwardly from the foundation; and   at least one platform attached to at least one of the expandable members.   
     
     
         20 . The universal footrest from  claim 19  wherein:
 the expandable joint consists of a smaller joint end at least partially inserted inside and reversibly attached via attachment means to a larger joint end. 
 
     
     
         21 . The universal footrest from  claim 20  wherein:
 both the smaller and larger joint ends are provided with a series of openings extending through the ends; 
 the series of openings on the larger joint end are arranged so as to be alignable with the series of openings on the smaller joint end; and 
 the attachment means consist of a pin means sized to pass through both series of aligned openings in the larger and smaller joint ends to attach the larger joint end to the smaller joint end. 
 
     
     
         22 . The universal footrest for a stationary bicycle from  claim 19  wherein:
 the expandable member consists of a smaller member end at least partially inserted inside and reversibly attached via attachment means to a larger member end. 
 
     
     
         23 . The universal footrest for a stationary bicycle from  claim 22  wherein:
 both the smaller and larger sized member ends are provided with a series of openings extending through the ends; 
 the series of openings on the larger sized member end are arranged so as to be alignable with the series of openings on the smaller sized member end; and 
 the attachment means comprises a pin means sized to pass through both series of aligned openings in the larger and smaller sized member ends to attach the larger sized member end to the smaller sized member end. 
 
     
     
         24 . The universal footrest for a stationary bicycle from  claim 20  wherein:
 the expandable member consists of a smaller member end at least partially inserted inside and reversibly attached via attachment means to a larger member end. 
 
     
     
         25 . The universal footrest for a stationary bicycle from  claim 24  wherein:
 the larger sized member end is provided with a series of openings extending through the end; and 
 the attachment means comprises a pin means sized to pass through the opening in the larger sized member end and through friction prevent the smaller member end from moving. 
 
     
     
         26 . The universal footrest for a stationary bicycle from  claim 24  wherein:
 both the smaller and larger sized member ends are provided with a series of openings extending through the ends; 
 the series of openings on the larger sized member end are arranged so as to be alignable with the series of openings on the smaller sized member end; and 
 the attachment means comprises a pin means sized to pass through both series of aligned openings in the larger and smaller sized member ends to attach the larger sized member end to the smaller sized member end. 
 
     
     
         27 . The universal footrest for a stationary bicycle from  claim 21  wherein:
 the expandable member consists of a smaller member end at least partially inserted inside and reversibly attached via attachment means to a larger member end. 
 
     
     
         28 . The universal footrest for a stationary bicycle from  claim 22  wherein:
 both the smaller and larger sized member ends are provided with a series of openings extending through the ends; 
 the series of openings on the larger sized member end are arranged so as to be alignable with the series of openings on the smaller sized member end; and 
 the attachment means comprises a pin means sized to pass through both series of aligned openings in the larger and smaller sized member ends to attach the larger sized member end to the smaller sized member end. 
 
     
     
         29 . A method of using a universal footrest comprising:
 obtaining a universal footrest comprising a foundation with at least one expandable joint, at least one expandable member attached to and extending upwardly from the foundation, and at least one platform attached to at least one of the expandable member;   attaching the universal footrest to either the right or left side of the stationary bicycle;   sitting on the stationary bicycle seat with one foot resting on the universal footrest platform;   pedaling the stationary bicycle.