Collapsible Cycling Exerciser

Abstract

A collapsible cycling exerciser is an apparatus that effectively exercises a user through full ranges of motion and varied resistance. The apparatus includes a first support post, a second support post, a left handlebar, a right handlebar, a left pedaling mechanism, a right pedaling mechanism, and a torsional resistance mechanism. The first support post and the second support post, together, upholds and positions the user. The left handlebar and the right handlebar guide the linear movement of the arms. The left pedaling mechanism and the right pedaling mechanism guide the rotary movement of the legs. The torsional resistance mechanism applies resistance to the left handlebar, the right handlebar, the left pedaling mechanism, and the right pedaling mechanism. In the preferred embodiment of the apparatus, a hinged connection secures the first support post and the second support post to each other so that the apparatus is collapsible.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible cycling exerciser comprises:
 a first support post;   a second support post;   a left handlebar;   a right handlebar;   a left pedaling mechanism;   a right pedaling mechanism;   a torsional resistance mechanism;   the first support post being terminally mounted to the second support post;   the left handlebar being laterally and hingedly mounted to the first support post;   the right handlebar being laterally and hingedly mounted to the first support post, opposite the left handlebar;   the torsional resistance mechanism being terminally mounted to the first support post, opposite the second support post;   the left pedaling mechanism being torsionally and adjacently connected to a at least one flywheel the torsional resistance mechanism;   the right pedaling mechanism being torsionally and adjacently connected to the at least one flywheel, opposite the left pedaling mechanism;   the left handlebar being crankably coupled to the left pedaling mechanism;   the right handlebar being crankably coupled to the right pedaling mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 a first base; 
 a second base; 
 the first base being terminally connected to the first support post, opposite the second support post; 
 the second base being terminally connected to the second support port, opposite the first support post. 
 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the left handlebar and the right handlebar each comprises a first handlebar portion, a second handlebar portion, a foldable carriage, and a carriage-receiving hole; 
 the carriage-receiving hole traversing through and along the second handlebar portion; 
 the first handlebar portion being connected adjacent to a first end of the foldable carriage; 
 a second end of the foldable carriage traversing into the carriage-receiving hole; and, 
 the second handlebar portion being laterally and rotatably connected to first support post. 
 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 3  comprises:
 the left handlebar and the right handlebar each further comprises a clamp; 
 the clamp being laterally and rotatably connected to first support post; and, 
 the clamp being laterally fastened to the second handlebar support. 
 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 3  comprises:
 the left handlebar and the right handlebar each further comprises a set of locking holes, at least one receiving hole, and a locking fastener; 
 the foldable carriage comprises a first carriage portion and a second carriage portion; 
 the first carriage portion being terminally and hingedly connected to the second carriage portion; 
 the at least one receiving hole laterally traversing through the second handlebar portion; 
 the set of locking holes laterally traversing through the first carriage portion; 
 the set of locking holes being distributed along the first carriage portion; and, 
 the locking fastener being engaged to the at least one receiving hole and a selected hole from the set of locking holes. 
 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 a left connecting rod; 
 the torsional resistance mechanism further comprises a left crank; 
 an input shaft of the left crank being axially connected to the at least one flywheel; 
 the left handlebar being terminally and rotatably connected to the left connecting rod; and, 
 the left pedal mechanism being terminally and rotatably connected to an output shaft of the left crank, opposite to the left handlebar. 
 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 a right connecting rod; 
 the torsional resistance mechanism further comprises a right crank; 
 an input shaft of the right crank being axially connected to the at least one flywheel; 
 the right handlebar being terminally and rotatably connected to the right connecting rod; and, 
 the right pedal mechanism being terminally and rotatably connected to an output shaft of the right crank, opposite to the right handlebar. 
 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the left pedaling mechanism comprises an extension shaft and a pedal; 
 the torsional resistance mechanism further comprises a left crank; 
 an input shaft of the left crank being axially connected to the at least one flywheel; 
 the extension shaft being terminally and perpendicularly connected to an output shaft of the left crank; and, 
 the pedal being terminally and rotatably connected to the extension shaft, opposite to the output shaft of the left crank. 
 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 8  comprises:
 the left pedaling mechanism further comprises a length-adjustment mechanism; and, 
 the length-adjustment mechanism being operatively integrated into the extension shaft, wherein the length-adjustment mechanism is used to adjust a length of the extension shaft. 
 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the right pedaling mechanism comprises an extension shaft and a pedal; 
 the torsional resistance mechanism further comprises a right crank; 
 an input shaft of the right crank being axially connected to the at least one flywheel; 
 the extension shaft being terminally and perpendicularly connected to an output shaft of the right crank; and, 
 the pedal being terminally and rotatably connected to the extension shaft, opposite to the output shaft of the right crank. 
 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 10  comprises:
 the right pedaling mechanism further comprises a length-adjustment mechanism; and, 
 the length-adjustment mechanism being operatively integrated into the extension shaft, wherein the length-adjustment mechanism is used to adjust a length of the extension shaft. 
 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the torsional resistance mechanism further comprises an eddy-current braking system and a user control; 
 the at least one flywheel being rotatably mounted to the first support post; 
 the eddy-current braking system being peripherally mounted about the at least one flywheel; 
 the eddy-current braking system being in magnetic communication with the at least one flywheel; 
 the user control being mounted along the first support post; and, 
 the user control being operatively coupled to the eddy-current braking system, wherein the user control is used to selectively adjust a braking force applied onto the at least one flywheel. 
 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 a spreader; 
 the second support post being hingedly connected to the first support post in between the torsional resistance mechanism and a pair of handlebars, wherein the pair of handlebars includes the left handlebar and the right handlebar; 
 the first support post being hingedly and terminally connected to the spreader; and, 
 the second support post being hingedly and terminally connected to the spreader, opposite to the first support post. 
 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 13  comprises:
 a first wheel assembly; 
 a second wheel assembly; 
 the first wheel assembly being terminally mounted to the first support post, opposite to the hinged connection between the first support post and the second support post; 
 the second wheel assembly being terminally mounted to the second support post, opposite to the hinged connection between the first support post and the second support post; and, 
 a rotation axis of the first wheel assembly and a rotation axis of the second wheel assembly being positioned parallel to the hinged connection between the first support post and the second support post. 
 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 a support plate; 
 a securing fastener; 
 the support plate being terminally connected to the second support post; 
 the support plate being laterally pressed against the first support post; and, 
 the support plate being attached to the first support post by the securing fastener. 
 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 an exercising stepper mechanism; and, 
 the exercising stepper mechanism being laterally mounted to the second support post, offset from the first support post. 
 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 16  comprises:
 the exercising stepper mechanism comprises a left stepper, a left hub, a left connecting rod, a central linkage, a central pivot, a right stepper; a right hub, and a right connecting rod; 
 the central linkage being rotatably connected to the second support post by the central pivot; 
 the left connecting rod being terminally and pivotably connected to the central linkage; 
 the right connecting rod being terminally and pivotably connected to the central linkage, opposite to the left connecting rod; 
 the left stepper being laterally and rotatably mounted to the second support post by the left hub; 
 the left connecting rod being laterally and pivotably connected to the left hub; 
 the right stepper being laterally and rotatably mounted to the second support post by the right hub; 
 the right connecting rod being laterally and pivotably connected to the right hub; and, 
 the left hub and the right hub being positioned opposite each other about the second support post. 
 
     
     
         18 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 17  comprises:
 a rotation axis of the central pivot being coincident with a sagittal plane; 
 a rotation axis of the left hub being oriented at a left acute angle with the sagittal plane; 
 a rotation axis of the right hub being oriented at a right acute angle with the sagittal plane; and, 
 the left acute angle being equal to the right acute angle. 
 
     
     
         19 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 17  comprises:
 the exercising stepper mechanism further comprises a torsionally elastic mechanism; and, 
 the torsionally elastic mechanism being operatively integrated into the central pivot, wherein the torsionally elastic mechanism is used to return the central linkage to an equilibrium orientation. 
 
     
     
         20 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 16  comprises:
 the exercising stepper mechanism comprises a left stepper, a left track, a pulley, a right stepper, and a right track; 
 the left track and the right track being terminally and hingedly connected to the second support post; 
 the pulley being rotatably and laterally connected to the second support post in between the left track and the right track; 
 the left stepper being slidably mounted along the left track; 
 the right stepper being slidably mounted along the right track; and, 
 the left stepper and the right stepper being tensionably tethered to each other about the pulley. 
 
     
     
         21 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 20  comprises:
 the exercising stepper mechanism further comprises a left foot and a right foot; 
 the left foot being terminally and hingedly connected the left track, opposite to the pulley; and, 
 the right foot being terminally and hingedly connected the right track, opposite to the pulley. 
 
     
     
         22 . The collapsible cycling exerciser as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 a bicycle seat; and, 
 the bicycle seat being laterally attached to the first support post.