Aquatic exercise bicycle

Abstract

An aquatic exercise cycle including a frame receptive to be at least partially submersed in a liquid medium; a seat adjustably secured to the frame; a pair of handles operably coupled to at least one of the frame and the seat for an operator to hold onto; a crank assembly operably coupled to said frame having an input shaft rotatable with a pair of user operated pedals; and a variable resistance mechanism in operable communication with the input shaft and receptive to varying a resistance of rotation of the input shaft. The aquatic exercise cycle allows the user to adjust at least the seat relative to the crank assembly to select either an upright riding position or a recumbent riding position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Application No. 60 / 489,946, filed Jul. 22, 2003 the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates generally to exercise equipment and in particular to an aquatic exercise bicycle for providing exercise in a liquid medium. More particularly, the invention relates to an aquatic exercise bicycle that may be adjusted and ridden in a recumbent or upright bicycle configurations. [0003] The benefits of aerobic exercise and particularly jogging are well known. Jogging is not suggested for persons who are prone to back, knee, and foot problems because the inherent impact of the feet on the ground surface is often the cause of peripheral vascular insufficiency or injury to the legs, ankles, and back. Invalids, osteoarthritic, and postoperative patients are given alternative forms of exercise such as s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The above discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies are overcome or alleviated by an aquatic exercise cycle that includes a frame receptive to be at least partially submersed in a liquid medium; a seat adjustably secured to the frame; a pair of handles operably coupled to at least one of the frame and the seat for an operator to hold onto; a crank assembly operably coupled to said frame having an input shaft rotatable with a pair of user operated pedals; and a variable resistance mechanism in operable communication with the input shaft and receptive to varying a resistance of rotation of the input shaft. The aquatic exercise cycle allows the user to adjust at least the seat relative to the crank assembly to select either an upright riding position or a recumbent riding position. In an exemplary embodiment, the seat and the crank assembly are adjustable relative to the frame to select either an upright riding position or a recumbent riding position.

Problems solved by technology

Jogging is not suggested for persons who are prone to back, knee, and foot problems because the inherent impact of the feet on the ground surface is often the cause of peripheral vascular insufficiency or injury to the legs, ankles, and back.

However, this design is limited to adjustment of the seat relative to the fixed crank and directed toward exercising in an upright position only.

This design does not allow an operator to pedal the exercycle in a supine position as in a recumbent bicycle configuration.

The classical position, however, may require a significant portion of the user's weight to be supported by the arms and upper body of the user.

Such a position may be uncomfortable for an elderly user.

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