Abstract:
A single exercise bicycle which combines a standard upright bicycle with an elliptical trainer combined with a recumbent bicycle. The three-in-one bicycle includes added pedals which allow full support of a user&#39;s feet when the rider&#39;s body is in a reclining position. The exercise bicycle enables a rider to stand while performing an elliptical training exercise.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of exercise equipment and in particular, to different types of exercise equipment such a standard bicycle, an elliptical trainer, and a recumbent bicycle, all of which are used for physical fitness. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The present inventor is a major innovator in the present field of invention. The present inventor has the following patents for which improvement in this field would be very beneficial: 
     1. U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,414 issued to Bob Hsiung on Mar. 4, 2008 for “APPARATUS TO ENABLE A USER TO SIMULATE SKATING”; 
     2. U.S. Pat. No. 7,473,210 issued to Bob Hsiung on Jun. 6, 2009 for “APPARATUS TO ENABLE A USER TO SIMULATE SKATING”. 
     3. U.S. Pat. No. 7,951,048 issued to Bob Hsiung on May 31, 2001 for “ABDOMINAL SWIVELING EXERCISE MACHINE COMBINED WITH AN ELLIPTICAL. TRAINER EXERCISE MACHINE OR SKATE SIMULATION TRAINER OR EXERCISE BICYCLE OR RECUMBENT BICYCLE”. 
     4. U.S. Design Pat. D459,773 issued to Bob Hsiung on Jul. 2, 2002 for “STEPPER WITH ARM MOTION”. 
     5. U.S. Design Pat. D438,264 issued to Bob Hsiung on Feb. 27, 2001 for “ELLIPTICAL STRIDING EQUIPMENT”. 
     The inventor Bob Hsiung is also the owner by assignment of U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,132 by inventor Jack Chang issued on Dec. 12, 2000 for “OVAL-TRACKED EXERCISE DEVICE”. 
     There is a significant need for an improvement in exercise bicycles which can combine three bicycles in one piece of exercise equipment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention a single piece of exercise bicycle equipment which combines a standard upright bicycle with an elliptical trainer combined with a recumbent bicycle. 
     It is an object of the present invention to incorporate features from U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,132 which disclose a standard upright bicycle and an oval tracked elliptical bike and include a support and horizontal arms to add the feature of a recumbent bicycle to the exercise device. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a three-in-one bicycle where the added pedals will allow full support of a user&#39;s feet when the rider&#39;s body is in a reclining position. The design also enables a rider to apply more force. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to include a recumbent pedal feature which will not alter or interfere with the upright and elliptical bike functions 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a three-in-one bicycle where using the equipment as an elliptical bicycle involves movement while using it as an upright bicycle involves mid and lower body movement. As a recumbent bicycle, the equipment allows for lower body workout and burns more calories. 
     Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the present invention three-in-one exercise bicycle being used as an elliptical trainer; 
         FIG. 2  is a is side perspective view of the present invention three-in-one bicycle being used as a standard upright bicycle; 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the present invention three-in-one bicycle being used as a recumbent bicycle; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of a one-piece combination right foot pedal and right recumbent foot pedal; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of a right foot pedal in two pieces and a separate right recumbent foot peal in three pieces. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , there is illustrated the present invention three-in-one exercise bicycle  10 . The bicycle  10  includes a base  20  comprised of at least one longitudinal bar  30  with a first end  32  to which a first transverse bar  40  is connected. The at least one longitudinal bar  30  having a rear end  34  to which a second transverse bar  42  is connected, thereby providing stability to the exercise bicycle  10 . A bicycle body  50  supports a resistance flywheel  60 . The bicycle body  50  supports a post  52  which in turn supports a seat  54  with a backrest  56 , a first seat handlebar  58  and a parallel oppositely disposed second seat handlebar (not shown) The resistance flywheel  60  is covered by a top end  64  of a cover  62 . The cover  62  is attached at its bottom end  66  to longitudinal bar  30 . 
     Connected to the flywheel  60  is a first crank axle  70  with a first end  72  rotatably connected to the resistance flywheel  60  and a second end  74  rotatably connected to a first or right elliptical trainer pedal assembly  80  having a first or right longitudinal pedal bar  82  to which a first or right foot pedal  84  is connected. The first longitudinal pedal bar  82  is rotatably connected to the first or right vertical handle  100  at the longitudinal pedal bar&#39;s front end  86  through a first transverse rod  110  connected to the first vertical handle  100 . The first transverse rod  110  connected to front  86  of the first or right longitudinal pedal bar  82  is also connected to the first vertical handle  100  and its lower end  102 . The first transverse rod  110  also is connected to the lower end  102  of right vertical handle  100 . The stationary vertical post  90  with a lower section  92  is fixed at its lower end  91  to at least one longitudinal bar  30 . In addition, the right vertical handle  100  is rotatably connected at its lower end  102  by the first transverse rotatable rod  110  to the front  86  of first or right longitudinal pedal bar  82 . The right vertical handle  100  is rotatably connected at a higher location of the right vertical handle  100  to a higher location  96  of stationary vertical post  90  by a second transverse rod  98  in a slot member  99  of the right vertical handle  100  to enable the right vertical handle  100  to move back and forth. In addition, the present invention includes a right recumbent foot pedal member  120  attached to the right or longitudinal pedal bar  82  at a location adjacent to the rotatable lower connection of the right vertical handle  100  and the first or right longitudinal pedal bar  82 . The right recumbent foot pedal  120  also includes a right foot strap  122  (see  FIG. 3 ) into which a rider&#39;s right foot is inserted so that the exercise bike  10  can also be used as a recumbent bicycle. The stationary vertical post  90  includes an intermediate section  160  having a lower portion  162  and a top section  164  with a riding handle attached to the top section  164  of the stationary vertical post  90 . The vertical post  90  is stationary and is connected at its lower end  91  to longitudinal bar  30 . 
     Also connected to the flywheel  60  is a second crank axle  70 A with a first end (not shown) rotatably connected to the resistance flywheel  60  and a second end  74 A rotatably connected to a second or left elliptical trainer pedal assembly  80 A having a second or left longitudinal pedal bar  82 A to which a second or left foot pedal  84 A is connected. The second longitudinal pedal bar  82 A is rotatably connected to the second or left vertical handle  100 A at the longitudinal pedal bar&#39;s front end  86 A through a third transverse rod  110 A connected to the second vertical handle  100 A. The third transverse rod  110 A is connected to front  86 A of the second or left longitudinal bar  82 A and is also connected to the second vertical handle  100 A and its lower end  102 A. The left vertical handle  100 A is rotatably connected at its lower end  102 A to the front  86 A of the left longitudinal pedal bar  82 A by the third transverse rotatable rod  110 A. The left vertical handle  100 A is also rotatably connected at a higher location  96 A (see  FIG. 2 ) by a fourth transverse rod (not shown) in a slot (not shown) to the stationary vertical post  90  to enable the left vertical handle  100 A to move back and forth. In addition, the present invention includes a left recumbent foot pedal member  120 A attached to the second or left longitudinal pedal bar  82 A at a location adjacent to the rotatable lower connection of the left vertical handle  100 A and the second or left longitudinal pedal bar  82 A. The left recumbent second foot pedal  120 A also includes a left foot strap  122 A (see  FIG. 2 ) into which a left rider&#39;s foot is inserted so that the exercise bike  10  can also be used as a recumbent bicycle. 
     In one variation, the right foot strap and the left foot strap are eliminated so that the right foot rests onto and holds onto the right recumbent foot pedal and the left foot rests on and retained onto the left recumbent foot pedal. With the straps, the right and left straps respectively retain the right and left foot respectively onto the right and left recumbent foot pedals. 
     In an additional alternative variation, the first or right foot pedal  84  and the second or left foot pedal  84 A have been illustrated as being formed in one piece. It will be appreciated that for purposes of assembly and disassembly and storage, it is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention for each foot pedal  84  and  84 A on a respective longitudinal pedal bar  82  and  82 A to be formed in two or more pieces so that they can be assembled together into one final piece. 
     In another alternative embodiment, the right recumbent foot pedal  120  and the left recumbent second foot pedal  120 A have been described as being formed in one piece. It will be appreciated that the right recumbent foot pedal  120  and the left recumbent foot pedal  120 A can be formed in two or more pieces for easy assembly and disassembly. 
     Further, the right and left foot pedals  84  and  84 A have each been illustrated as a one piece foot pedals. The right and left recumbent foot pedals  120  and  120 A have each been illustrated as a one piece recumbent foot pedal It is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention for the right foot pedal and right recumbent foot pedal to be united or combined into one piece. Similarly, the left foot pedal and left recumbent foot pedal can be combined into one piece. Illustrated in  FIG. 4  is the one piece combination right foot pedal and left foot pedal numbered  284 . 
     Also, the left and right foot pedals can each be in be in two or more pieces as illustrated in  FIG. 5  where the right foot pedal is in two pieces  84 AA and  84 AAA. The left and right recumbent foot pedals can each be in two or more pieces as illustrated in  FIG. 5  where the right recumbent foot pedal is in three pieces  120 AAA,  120 AAAA and  120 AAAAA. 
     The first and second longitudinal pedal bars  82  and  82 A have each been illustrated as being straight and being in one piece. It is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention for the longitudinal pedals bars to each be curved and each be formed into more than one interlockable sections so that each can be formed in at least two interlockable sections which can be straight or curved. 
     The three-in-one use of the present invention exercise bicycle  10  is demonstrated in the three figures. The rider  500  has a head  510 , a torso  520 , a right arm  530  terminating in a right hand  532 , a left arm  540  terming in a left hand  542 , a back  546 , a rear end  548 , a right thigh and right leg  550  terminating in a right foot  552  wearing a right shoe  600 , a left thigh and left leg  560  terminating in a left foot  562  wearing a left shoe  602 . 
     In  FIG. 1 , the rider is using the exercise bicycle  10  as an elliptical trainer. The rider  500  is in a standing position. The right hand  532  is holding the right vertical handle  100 , the right foot  552  wearing a right shoe  600  is placed on the right foot pedal  84 , the left hand  542  is holding the left vertical handle  100 A and the left foot  562  wearing a left shoe  602  is placed on the left foot pedal  84 A. The rider moves the vertical handles  100  and  100 A with the rider&#39;s hands  532  and  542  causing the foot pedals  84  and  84 A connected to their respective longitudinal pedal bars  82  and  82 A to rotate in an oval or elliptical motion, and the right and left vertical handles also move back and forth, providing exercise to the rider&#39;s entire body. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the  500  rider is seated and is using the exercise bicycle  10  as an standard bicycle. The right hand  532  and left hand are each holding the vertical riding handle  150 , the right foot  552  wearing a right shoe  600  is placed on the right foot pedal  84 , the left foot  560  wearing a left shoe  602  is placed on the left foot pedal  84 A. The rider&#39;s rear end  548  is seated on bicycle seat  54 . The rider holds the vertical riding handle  150  with the rider&#39;s hands  532  and  542  and pedals down on the right foot pedal  84  and left foot pedal  84 A causing the foot pedals  84  and  84 A connected to their respective longitudinal pedal bars  82  and  82 A to move up and down simulating a standard bicycle, providing exercise to the rider&#39;s mid-body and lower legs. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the rider is using the exercise bicycle  10  as a recumbent bicycle. The right hand  532  is holding the first seat handlebar  58 , the right foot  552  wearing a right shoe  600  is placed into the right strap  122  on the right recumbent foot pedal  120  (the right strap  122  is optional and the rider can place and hold the rider&#39;s right foot directly onto the right recumbent foot pedal with no right strap  122 ), the left hand  542  is holding the second seat handlebar (not shown) and the left foot  560  wearing a left shoe  562  is placed into the left strap  122 A on the left recumbent foot pedal  120 A (the left strap  122 A is optional and the rider can place and hold the rider&#39;s left foot directly onto the left recumbent foot pedal with no left strap  122 A). The rider&#39;s rear end  548  is seated on the bicycle seat  54  and the rider&#39;s back  546  rests against backrest  56  so that the rider is seated at an angle or recumbent position. The rider respectively holds onto the first and second seat handlebars and moves the recumbent foot pedals  120  and  120 A with the rider&#39;s feet  552  and  552 A wearing shoes  600  and  600 A causing the longitudinal pedal bars  82  and  82 A to move back and forth providing significant exercise to the rider&#39;s legs. 
     Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.