Abstract:
Improvements in an exercise machine where the fan blades alter the resistance created by the blades or vanes by moving a cone that pushes the blades out from a central position. The blades or vanes push against the cone with springs. The cone is then moved into or out of the central axle to alter the effective diameter of the blades or vanes. A twist or contouring of the blades or vanes can be obtained at the same time to alter the resistance. In another embodiment, the fan blades can be individually or collectively adjusted to change the resistance. As the diameter is increased the speed of the blade tips increases as a squared function of the radius without changing the rotational speed of the vane(s). The shape, angle, scoop or tilt of the blade or vanes can also be altered to change the resistance.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/312,395 filed Mar. 23, 2016 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    This invention relates to improvements in an adjustable air bike fan blades. More particularly, the present adjustable air bike fan blades alter the diameter and/or the angle of the blades to change the amount of resistance at the same rotational speed of the fan. 
         [0007]    Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. 
         [0008]    Exercise equipment have some type of a resistance mechanism that increases or decreases the amount of effort to perform the exercise. The resistance mechanism takes a variety of forms from prony brake, to generators, alternators or air movement devices. Air movement devices typically consist of fan blades. For exercise bicycles a person exercising, typically pedals at a fixed rate or cadence or revolutions per minute. The cadence rate is typically between 60 and 100 turns per minute. Because the cadence rate is fairly fixed, the resistance remains the same as the person exercises. With a fan the resistance is based upon movement of air caused by the fan blades. Use of a fan provides both resistance and air movement to cool the person exercising. The use of a fan essentially does not wear-out because there are no parts rubbing against each other to cause the resistance from air movement. 
         [0009]    A number of patents and or publications have been made that use fans to create resistance for exercise machines, and in particular bicycles. The air fan is typically mounted in-front of the person exercising and is further located between the handlebars. These exercise bicycles can include handlebars for also exercising the upper-body. Exemplary examples of patents and or publication that try to address this/these problem(s) are identified and discussed below. 
         [0010]    One of the earliest versions of an exercise cycle using air resistance is U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,030 that issued on Feb. 12, 1980 to Lindsay A. Hooper that disclose A cycle exerciser having a vanned wheel rotatably mounted on a frame and arranged to absorb energy by movement of the broad surfaces of the vanes against the surrounding body of air. While resistance vanes are disclosed, the angle and diameter of the vanes are fixed to the rim of the cycle. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,225 issued on Nov. 14, 1989 to James F. Lucas et al., discloses a dual action cycle exerciser providing for exercising movement of the arms and legs using rotating pedals and oscillating handlebar levers. While the levers are linked to the pedals there is no adjustment to the blades to change the resistance. 
         [0012]    A more modern patent is found in U.S. Pat. No. 8,113,996 that issued on Feb. 14, 2012 to Tad Allen. This patent discloses a dual action recumbent exercise cycle which provides upper body, lower body and cardiovascular conditioning with emphasis directed toward the needs of obese individuals. This patent also uses fixed fan blades. 
         [0013]    What is needed is an adjustable air bike fan blades. The bike fan blades proposed in this document provides adjustable exercise resistance by altering the fan blade diameter and or the angle of the blades/vanes. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    It is an object of the adjustable air bike fan blades to have little or no resistance when the bike or cycle is started from a stop. For many resistance machines the resistance starts at a high level when the pedals and/or cranks are started from a resting position. For some people the initial resistance causes stress or loads on the joints, or muscles that makes them avoid exercising. With a fan type resistance, the only resistance is from the drive train and inertia on the system. Resistance from the loading mechanism is caused by the movement of air that increases as the rotating speed of the fan increases. 
         [0015]    It is an object of the adjustable air bike fan blades for the diameter of the fan blades to be altered. The diameter of the fan blades has a relationship to the resistance. As the diameter is increased the speed of the outer tips of the blades or vanes increase as a squared function of the radius without changing the rotational speed of the vane(s). Changing the radius of the end of the blade from 12 to 18 inches diameter can more than double the resistance to turn the blades or vanes. 
         [0016]    It is an object of the adjustable air bike fan blades for the blades to be individually adjustable to change the diameter of the blades and thereby the air resistance. The blades on opposing sides of the rotating hub can be adjusted or all the blades can be adjusted to alter the resistance. The blades and the adjustments mechanism is with a removable fastener or a fastener that can be loosened for adjusting the position of the blade. 
         [0017]    It is another object of the adjustable air bike fan blades to alter the shape, angle, scoop or tilt of the blade or vanes. Changing the profile of the blade that moves the air also alters the resistance by changing the surface area i.e. the amount of work being performed by the fan. This also alters the amount of air that is available to blow on the person exercising to maintain comfortable cooling as they exercise in one location. 
         [0018]    It is still another object of the adjustable air bike fan blades to alter the resistance created by the blades or vanes by moving a cone that pushes the blades out from a central position. The blades or vanes push against the cone with springs. The cone is then moved into or out of the central axle to alter the effective diameter of the blades or vanes. In addition to altering the blade diameter a twist or contouring of the blades or vanes can be obtained at the same time to alter the resistance. 
         [0019]    Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows the adjustable air bike fan blades on a spin type bike. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows the adjustable air bike fan blades on a spin type bike with elbow handlebars and swing handlebars. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of the adjustable air bike fan blades on a spin type bike with elbow handlebars and swing handlebars. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the adjustable air bike fan blades with the cone withdrawn from the end of the vanes. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the adjustable air bike fan blades with the cone pushed into the vanes. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a side sectional view of the end of the vane. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  shows a side sectional view of the adjustable cone. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an adjustable fan blade. 
           [0028]      FIG. 9A  shows a second alternate embodiment of an adjustable blade. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9B  shows a third embodiment of an adjustable blade. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9C  shows a fourth embodiment of an adjustable blade. 
           [0031]      FIG. 9D  shows a fourth embodiment of an adjustable blade with the arm rotated. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]      FIG. 1  shows the adjustable air bike fan blades on a spin type bike  20 ,  FIG. 2  shows the adjustable air bike fan blades on a spin type bike  21  with elbow handlebars and swing handlebars and  FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of the adjustable air bike fan blades on a spin type bike  22  with elbow handlebars and swing handlebars. In all these figures, the bike has a frame with legs  30  that extend from the frame. The bikes also have pedal  31  that turn the fan  70 . The seat  40  has an adjustment that locks the elevation  42  and a fore aft locking pin  41  for seat adjustment relative to the handlebars  50  and the pedals  31 . The handlebars  50  also have a pin  52  for adjusting the elevation of the handlebars  50  and a fore aft locking pin  51  for adjusting the position of the handlebars  70 . A display  60  tracks and displays the intensity and the accumulated exercise as the bike is being used. 
         [0033]    In  FIGS. 2 and 3  a pair of handlebars  52  are placed on opposing sides of the fan  70  and display  60 . The handlebars  52  are linked to the pedals  31  and the fan  70  to provide resistance for the person exercising by allowing them to exercise either the pedals  31 , the handlebars  52  or a combination of both the pedals  31  and the handlebars  52  at the same time. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the adjustable air bike fan  70  blades  71  with the cone  86  withdrawn from the end of the vanes  71  and  FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the adjustable air bike fan  70  blades  71  with the cone  86  pushed into the vanes  71 . The cone  86  is axially supported by frame member(s)  32 . A spring  84  biases the cone  86  between the housing  33  and the tapered end of the cone  86 . The end of the shaft  82  is concentrically movable in  94  and out  90  of the fan housing  33  to alter the diameter of the fan blades  71 . 
         [0035]    Each fan blade  71  is supported on a support arm  72 . The support arm  72  passes through a bushing  74 . Where the support arm  72  passes through the bushing  74  the arm  73  has a flat or keyed area that controls or prevents rotation of the fan blade  71 . While the preferred embodiment retains the angle of the blade at a fixed angle, cupped, curved or “U” shaped cross-section configurations are contemplated. It is contemplated that the bushing and the arm  73  have a twist that turns or cups the blade  71  to alter resistance of the blade  71 , as the blade  71  is moved towards and away from the rotational axle  85 . Bushings or bearings  81  and  83  are located at opposing outside ends of the axle  85 . The bushings  81 ,  84  allow the axle to freely spin on the frame member(s)  32  that support the fan  70 . 
         [0036]    At the inner diameter of the blade shaft, where the blade shaft sits between the housing  33  and the cone  87 , there is a spring  75  that biases the end of the blade against the cone  86 . This keeps the components in tangential contact. At the end of the arm  73  is a follower  76  that follows the cone  86  as the cone moves concentrically inside of the housing  33  on the axle  85 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  shows a sectional view of the end of the vane  71 . The vane  71  in the embodiment shows in essentially flat and on one end and is supported on an arm  72  that extends into the cage of the fan housing. The opposing end  73  of the arm extends into the frame housing  33 . The outer end of the fan or vane  71  creates resistance as the flat surface of the blade pushes air as the blade or vane  71  spins around the central axis  85  of the fan. The second end has a rod that passes through a bushing that fits though the cylindrical housing  33 . 
         [0038]    The rod or axle  85  has a flat that is placed on one or more sides to maintain a desired profile or orientation of the vane  71  as it turns in the cage. The second end further has a spring that pushes between the bushing and a domed follower. The follower  76  pushes against the outside of the cone  86  surface. A spring  75  pushes between the bushing  74  and the follower  76 . 
         [0039]    Bearings  81  and  83  support both ends of the axle  85 . A sleeve bushing  82  pushes against the inside of the cone  86  to move the cone  86  concentrically within the housing  33 . Spring  84  pushes the cone  86  out from the housing  33 . As the cone  86  is moved out  90  of the housing  33  the spring  75  pushes  92  the arm  73  on the blade  71  into the housing  33 . The springs  84  and  75  maintain the components in contact. This results in a smaller outside diameter for the blades thereby requiring less effort to spin the fan blade(s) as a given rotational speed. 
         [0040]      FIG. 7  shows a side sectional view of the adjustable cone  87 . The cone  87  is shown as solid lines in the inner position and as broken lines in the outermost position. The housing  33  rotates with the vane arms  73  to turn the blades or vanes. The shaft  73  of the arm moves in a linear relationship through bushing  74 . A flat or key that prevents undesirable rotation of the arm  73 . Spring  75  pushes between the bushing  74  and the follower  76 . The spring and follower is shown as solid lines in the retracted position, and as broken lines in the extended position. A “C” clip  77  or similar locking device retains the follower on the end of the vane arm on an end ring  78 . 
         [0041]    The cone  87  is shown in an inner position  86  and in an outer position. As the cone  86  moves out  90 , the spring  75  pushes  91  the end of the arm  73  into  92  the housing  33 . The diameter of the fan blades has a relationship to the resistance. As the diameter is increased the speed of the outer tips of the blades or vanes increase as a squared function of the radius without changing the rotational speed of the vane(s). Changing the radius of the end of the blade from 12 to 18 inches diameter can more than double the resistance to turn the blades or vanes at the same rate of rotation. It is also contemplated that the angle and/or shape of the blade can be altered to change the resistance from the fan from a first amount of resistance to a second amount of resistance at a same rate or revolution of the fan when a person in turning the pedals at a fixed rate. The adjustment may or may not be in finite steps, but detents can be incorporated to provide a visible or tactile indication of resistance to the fan spinning. 
         [0042]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an adjustable fan blade  90  that increases or changes air resistance. In this embodiment, the support arm  72  has a blade  90  secured to the support arm  72  with one or more fasteners  91 . The supporting arms  72  also are fan blades and offer resistance when being turned. All of the blades  90  can be removed from the supporting arms  72  where the supporting arms  72  provide the air resistance. The blade  90 , has one or more slots  92  that slide on the fastener  91 . The fastener(s)  91  is/are loosened and the blade  90  can be slid within the constraints of the slots  92 . It is contemplated that the slots  92  are not mirror image on the blade  90  to allow the blade  90  to be “flipped” to allow for a different range of adjustment. It is also contemplated that replacement blades can also be used, that are different lengths or have a turn to direct air. The support arm  72  is constructed with a reinforcing bend  89  placed on one or both sides of the support arm  72 . The reinforcing bend  89  reduces flexing of the support arm  72 . The support arm  72  is secured to a flywheel, rotor  34  or plate. 
         [0043]    The flywheel, rotor  34  or plate  34  connects multiple support arms  72  and blades  90  to a frame member  32  through an axle  85 . The axle  85  has a pulley  35  that is connected to a belt  37  that is then connected to the pedals  31  or crank (shown in other figures herein). An idler  36  maintains tension on the belt  37  and increases the wrap angle on the pulley  35 . The frame member  32  is secured to the remainder of the exercise bike and the supporting leg  30  member(s). 
         [0044]    The rotating diameter of each blade  90  can be individually adjusted, and not all of the blades need to be at the same displacement on the support arm  72 . This is shown in blade  90  as opposed to blade  90 B. While the location of each blade  90  on the support arm  72  can be individually adjusted, blades on opposing sides to the axle  85  should be set at the same displacement to minimize rotational inertial imbalance that can cause undesirable vibration. One way to minimize variation of blade placement, is with a gauge  99 . In this figure the gauge  99  has a variety of steps on different sides of the gauge  99 , and the gauge  99  is placed against the support arm  72  and the displacement of the blade  90  can be consistently located. 
         [0045]      FIG. 9A  shows a second alternate embodiment of an adjustable blade  101 . In this embodiment, the fan blade  100  is formed with a series of finite steps  101  or bends. The steps or bends  101  allow a person to adjust the extension length of the blade  100  from the support arm  72  without a gauge to set the extension length. This also allows a person to visually see that the blades  100  have been set to the same length. The fastener  91  is loosened and the blade can be slid to the desired location where the blade  100  is “squared” on a step or bend and then the blade  100  is secured by fastener(s)  91 . 
         [0046]    The position of the support arm  72  can also be adjusted on the plate  34 . Fasteners  91  can be used with holes  79  where the fasteners  91  can be removed and the supporting arm  72  can then be moved closer or further from the center of rotation. 
         [0047]      FIG. 9B  shows a third embodiment of an adjustable blade  102 . In this embodiment, the blade  102  has a plurality of holes  103  that provide finite displacement for the blade  102  on the support arm  72 . It is contemplated that the holes  103  are not mirror image on the blade  102  to allow the blade  102  to be “flipped” to allow for a different range of adjustment from different orientations of the blade  102 . To re-position the blade  102 , the fasteners  91  are removed and the blade  103  is moved to align the holes  103  of the blade with the holes in the support arm  72 . The fasteners  91  are then installed and tightened. This configuration ensures a finite position that is visually verified. While the preferred embodiment retains the angle of the blade at a fixed angle, cupped, curved or “U” shaped cross-section  106  configurations are contemplated. 
         [0048]      FIG. 9C  shows a fourth embodiment of an adjustable blade  104 . In this embodiment, the blade  104  is secured to the support arm  72  with a single fastener  91 . The fastener  91  is loosened and the blade  104  is rotated 105 on the support arm  72  to change the rotational diameter of the blade  104  and the resistance to rotation of the fan. The fastener  91  is a pivot for swinging the blade between positions on the supporting arm  72 . The blades  104  can be adjusted on opposing sides of the hub, or all the blades  104  can be adjusted depending upon the desired amount of resistance. 
         [0049]      FIG. 9D  shows a fourth embodiment of an adjustable blade with the support arm  72  rotated. Rotating the support arm  72  and or the blade  104  changes the amount of air resistance by changing the profile of the support arm  72 /blade  104  that is being rotated. While the support arm shows a rotation of 90 degrees, it is contemplated that the sides of the support arm  72  can be bent at an angle other than 90 degrees to change the direction of air flow and air resistance. 
         [0050]    Thus, specific embodiments of an adjustable air bike fan blades have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.