Stationary exercise apparatus for indoor cycling

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a stationary exercise apparatus for indoor cycle training (1), i.e. a stationary exercise bicycle, preferably provided with a magnetic resistance unit (15). One embodiment relates to a stationary exercise bike comprising a flywheel (10) defining a radial gap (25) in the periphery wherein at least the periphery of the flywheel (10) has ferromagnetic properties, and wherein a magnetic resistance unit (15) is configured to controllably insert one, two or more magnets into said radial gap.

1 . A stationary exercise bike comprising a lower frame housing a flywheel drivable by a rotatable crankshaft, the flywheel having a radial gap in the periphery. 
     
     
         2 . The stationary exercise bike according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the periphery of the flywheel has conductive and/or ferromagnetic properties, and wherein a magnetic resistance unit is configured to controllably insert one, two or more magnets into said radial gap. 
     
     
         3 . The stationary exercise bike according to  claim 1 , wherein the flywheel comprises two parallel plates, such as metallic plates, preferably aluminium plates, mounted in parallel on a flywheel shaft with a distance there between thereby forming the radial gap. 
     
     
         4 . The stationary exercise bike according to  claim 3 , wherein each parallel plate comprises at least one conductive and/or ferromagnetic ring mounted near the periphery of the plates. 
     
     
         5 . The stationary exercise bike according to  claim 4 , wherein said rings are provided in a material with ferromagnetic properties, such as steel. 
     
     
         6 . The stationary exercise bike according to  claims 4  to  5 , wherein the rings have stronger ferromagnetic properties than the other parts of the flywheel. 
     
     
         7 . The stationary exercise bike according to  claim 4 , wherein the rings are attached on the outside of the flywheel such that the width of the flywheel separates the magnet from the ring. 
     
     
         8 . The stationary exercise bike according to  claim 1 , wherein said magnets are permanent magnets, preferably selected from the group of rare-earth magnets, preferably neodymium magnets. 
     
     
         9 . The stationary exercise bike according to  claim 2 , wherein the magnetic resistance unit comprises a stepper motor, a threaded guide bolt, a slide seat and a magnet holder for holding said magnet(s), such that the magnet holder can be translated inside the radial gap of the flywheel in a linear fashion. 
     
     
         10 . The stationary exercise bike according to  claim 9 , wherein the magnet holder comprises two contact surfaces on opposite sides of a plate, each contact surface formed to hold a predefined permanent magnet, the plate formed such that the permanent magnets attract each other when mounted in the magnet holder. 
     
     
         11 . The stationary exercise bike according to  claim 9 , wherein the step motor and the magnetic resistance unit are configured such that each step of the step motor corresponds to less than 0.05 mm, more preferably 0.04 mm, most preferably less than 0.03 mm of linear translation of the magnet holder. 
     
     
         12 . The stationary exercise bike according to  claim 1 , wherein the flywheel comprises a first driving wheel, such as a gearwheel, and wherein the radial gap is located centrally in the periphery of the flywheel and extending to the first driving wheel, the stationary exercise bike further comprising
 a driving unit having a second driving wheel, such as a gear wheel, displaced from and parallel to the first driving wheel, and   a driving element, such as an endless belt, connecting the first and second driving wheels through the radial gap in the flywheel.   
     
     
         13 . The stationary exercise bike according to  claim 12 , wherein a gearing between the first driving wheel and the second driving wheel is at least 3, preferably at least 4, more preferably at least 5. 
     
     
         14 . The stationary exercise bike according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a driving unit wherein the rotatable crank shaft is mounted in a freewheeling mechanism, and   a driving element connecting the flywheel and the freewheel crank shaft such that the crankshaft is separated from the flywheel shaft, such that the flywheel can be driven in a freewheel arrangement where the freewheel mechanism is provided in the crank shaft.   
     
     
         15 . The stationary exercise bike according to  claim 1 , further comprising an upper frame comprising a seat post for attaching a saddle and a head tube for attaching a handlebar, wherein the upper frame is detachable from the lower frame such that different types of upper frames with different configurations of the seat post and head tube can be attached to the lower frame.