Abstract:
An exercise desk that may be attached to a piece of exercise equipment is disclosed that that has an adjustable desk top. By providing an adapter capable of independent adjustment of the desk top, horizontal position of the adapter and vertical position of the adapter, the exercise desk may be mounted to a variety of exercise devices. Furthermore, the desk top is selectively pivotable.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an attachable desk, and more specifically, to a desk that is attachable to exercise equipment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The mental and physical health benefits of exercise are well known. The physical benefits include reduced risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Additionally, long hours spent working at a desk or studying may be harmful. It has been shown that not moving while working or studying at a desk may cause postural fixity, which is the static loading of the musculoskeletal system. Postural fixity may cause back, neck, shoulder and other pain. 
     The mental health benefits of exercise include reduced depression and anxiety and improved psychological well-being. Additionally, it is believed that exercise provides benefits for individuals with learning disabilities. More specifically, it is believed that physical exercise permits those persons with learning disabilities to concentrate better. 
     There are a number of inventions known in the art that provide for the ability to study or work while exercising. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,947. The &#39;947 patent discloses an exercise desk that enables a user to exercise on an exercise device while carrying out unrelated activities, such as working, by providing a work surface for supporting articles used in such activities. The exercise desk serves as an enclosure for storing the exercise device out of sight when it is not in use and has the look and finish of fine furniture. Additionally, the exercise desk can serve as an upright desk when the user is not exercising. However, one disadvantage of the &#39;947 patent is that it does not have an adjustable desk top. Furthermore, the desk does not attach directly to the exercise equipment, which could create stability problems. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,701 discloses a collapsible desk with unique height adjustment features which allow users to change positions frequently and exercise while they work. However, one disadvantage of the &#39;701 patent is that it does not attach directly to the exercise equipment. Furthermore, the desk does not provide a means to adjust the incline of the desk top. 
     Thus, it is desirable to provide an exercise desk that may be attached to a piece of exercise equipment. It is also desirable to provide an exercise desk that that has an adjustable desk top. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An exercise desk for attaching to an exercise device comprises a base for providing support to the exercise desk and a desk top that provides a stable surface. A selectively pivotable desk mount is fixedly attached to the desk top to permit the desk top to pivot about an axis. A desk top positioning system is selected from the group consisting of an orthogonal positioning system and a triangular positioning system, where the positioning system is attached to the desk mount to permit independent vertical and horizontal positioning of the desk top. The positioning system is further attached to the exercise device at least at one point. 
     An orthogonal positioning system includes an adapter having a vertical desk adjustment, a vertical attachment adjustment and a horizontal attachment adjustment enables the desk top to be positioned independent of the vertical attachment adjustment and horizontal attachment adjustment. An attachment member is provided for securing the exercise desk to the exercise device. At least one desk top support member is disposed between the adapter and the desk mount provides vertical adjustment to the desk top. The exercise desk includes at least one vertical support member disposed between the base and the adapter to provide vertical adjustment for the attachment member. At least one horizontal support member disposed between the adapter and the attachment member provides horizontal adjustment for the attachment. 
     A triangular positioning system includes a generally vertical support member slidably engaging a vertical desk top support member. The desk top support member is selectively adjustable along the long axis of the vertical support member by a vertical attachment adjustment. An inclined support member slidably engages an inclined desk top support member. The inclined desk top support member is selectively adjustable along the long axis of the inclined support member by an inclined attachment adjustment. The vertical support member is attached to one either a base or the exercise device and the inclined support member is attached to the exercise device. 
     The exercise desk may be employed with a bicycle. Additionally, a rear wheel support device may be employed to maintain a vertical clearance between a rear wheel of the bicycle and a support surface, the rear support device having a load device to apply resistance against the petals. 
     Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from analysis of the following written description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exercise desk according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial side view of the exercise desk according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view the exercise desk according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the exercise desk according to the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of an exercise desk  10 , for use with an exercise device  5 , according to the principles of the present invention is shown. The exercise desk  10  comprises an orthogonal positioning system  35  for adjusting the vertical and horizontal position of a desk top  20 . The system  35  includes an adapter  40  that slidably engages vertical support members  45 . The adapter  40  includes a vertical attachment adjustment  44  for selectively adjusting the vertical position of the adapter  40  with respect to the vertical support members  45 . Referring now also to  FIG. 2 , the system  35  further includes a pair of desk top support members  43  which slidably engage the adapter  40 . The adapter  40  includes a vertical desk adjustment  42  for selectively adjusting the vertical position of the desk top  20  with respect to the adapter  40  by vertically positioning the desk top support members  43 . In the present embodiment, the vertical desk adjustment  42  is a threaded clamp-type locking mechanism. 
     The vertical support members  45  extend from a base  60 . Those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that although a pair of support members  45  is shown, as few as one support member  45  may be employed. 
     A desk top  20  is selectively pivotally mounted to a pair of desk top support members  43  by a desk mount  30 . Those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that although a pair of support members  43  is shown, as few as one support member  43  may be employed. The mount  30  is selectively pivotal, which permits the desk top  20  to pivot about an axis parallel to a horizontal axis of the desk top  20  and includes a pivot locking mechanism  31 , which in the present embodiment is a threaded clamp-type locking mechanism. The desk top  20  provides a stable surface for routines not related to exercise, such as, for example, supporting reading and writing materials or a computer. 
     The orthogonal positioning system  35  further includes a pair of horizontal support members  47 . The adapter  40  slidably engages the horizontal support members  47 . The adapter  40  includes a horizontal attachment adjustment  46  for selectively adjusting the horizontal position of an attachment member  50 , via the adapter  40 , with respect to the exercise device  5 . In the present embodiment, the horizontal attachment adjustment  46  is a threaded clamp-type locking mechanism. 
     Those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that although a pair of support members  47  is shown, as few as one support member  47  may be employed. An attachment member  50 , extending from the horizontal support member  47 , is fixedly attached to the exercise device  5 . In the present embodiment, the attachment member  50  is a u-bolt threaded clamp-type locking mechanism attached to a handle bar stem, however, any suitable substitute known in the art may be employed, such as a clevis. Although a threaded clamp-type lock mechanism is disclosed in the immediate embodiment for adjustments  42 , 44 , 46  and locking mechanism  31 , those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that other types of locking mechanisms may be employed, such as, for example, pins, friction locks and gear locks. 
     The orthogonal positioning system  35  enables the desk top  20  to be positioned independent of the vertical attachment adjustment setting and horizontal attachment adjustment setting. The adapter  40  vertical desk adjustment  42 , vertical attachment adjustment  44  and horizontal attachment adjustment  46  are each independently adjustable, which permits a user to adjust the position of the desk to a variety of exercise devices. 
     Referring now also to  FIG. 3 , a rear view of the exercise desk  10  according to the principles of the present invention is shown. A handle  25  is shown adapted to be attached to an exercise device  5 . The handle  25  may provide additional support to the user while mounting and dismounting the exercise device  5  as well as while exercising and working. 
     In the immediate embodiment, the exercise device  5  is a bicycle. One advantage of the present invention is that it may be employed with a non-stationary bicycle, as shown. As such, the exercise desk  10  may further include a load device  7  for applying a load to the user. As the user applies a force to pedals  4  attached to a crank  3 , rotatably supported by a frame  2 . Torque from the crank  8  is transferred through a chain  3  to a rear wheel  9 . The load device  7  includes a rear wheel support  6  to maintain a clearance between the rear wheel  9  and support surface. The load device  7  provides resistance to the rear wheel  9 , which is transferred as a reaction force to the pedals  4  by the user. Additionally, the bicycle may be supported further under a front wheel by the base  60 . As may be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the front wheel seats in the base  60 , while the base  60  had width to add lateral support to the bicycle. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an exercise desk according to the principles of the present invention is shown. An exercise desk  110  comprises a triangular positioning system  135  for adjusting the vertical and horizontal position of a desk top  20 . The system  135  includes at least one generally vertical support member  145  that slidably engages a vertical desk top support member  143 . Although a pair of support members  145  is shown attached to the front axle of the exercise device  5 , those skilled in the art will appreciate that the support members  145  may be attached to the base  160  as well as the frame  2  or handlebar stem. A vertical attachment adjustment  144  provides selective adjustment of the position of the desk top  20  along the log axis of the support member  145 . 
     The system  135  further includes an inclined support member  148  which slidably engages the inclined desk top support member  147 . Support member  148  is mounted to the frame  2  via a clamp or clevis type attachment member  150 . Those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that attachment member  150  may be located at one of several locations on exercise device  5 . A vertical attachment adjustment  146  provides selective adjustment of the position of the desk top  20  along the axis of the inclined support member  148 . Although not shown, the inclined support member  147  pivotally engages support member  143 . A selectively pivotal mount that includes a pivot lock, such as the mount  30  shown in  FIG. 2 , permits the desk top  20  to pivot about an axis. The selectively pivotal mount is pivotally mounted to support member  147 , support member  143  or both members  147  and  143  if attached at the intersection of members  143  and  147 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, adjustments  146  and  142  are twist-style friction locks, however those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that threaded clamp-type lock mechanisms, pins, other types of friction locks and gear locks may be employed. 
     Although in the preferred embodiment the exercise desk is incorporated with a bicycle  5 , the invention is contemplated to be employed with a number of other exercise devices, such as treadmills, ski machines, calf machines or any other device which would permit a user to study while exercising. 
     The foregoing discussion discloses and describes the preferred structure and control system for the present invention. However, one skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.