Untitled record

Application filed June 10,1885. Serial No. 108,176. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ephraim N. Bowen, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Im5 proveinents in Exercising-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of exercising-machines which are used by bicycle-riders, and are called “homeio trainers.”

These machines consist, principally, of a crank-shaft provided with pedals, a standard in which said shaft is journaled, and which carries at its upper end a handle-bar, and a 15 saddle attached to said staudard. ’

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of the machine in various respects, whereby it is rendered more convenient in use and better adjustable in accord20 ance with the requirements of the rider; and my invention consists, to that end, of the improvements which will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting 25 of three sheets, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved exercising-machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the lower portion of the standard and connecting parts on 30 an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the saddle. Fig. 5 is a cross-section in linear, Fig. 4. Fig. 6is a perspective view of the saddle-support. Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-section in line y y. Fig. 3. 35 Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the registering device. Fig. 9 is a front elevation thereof, with the bell shown in dotted lines. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional deration of the shaft and supporting parts. Fig. 11 is a hoiizon40 tai section of one of the pedals. Fig. 12 is a cross-section of the same. Fig. 13 is an elevation of the outer portion of the pedal-pin on an enlarged scale. Fig. 14 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the handle. Fig. 15 45 is a cross-section of the same.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the base or foot of the machine, which is firmly secured to the floor by screws 50 or other fastenings.

a represents the lower stationary portion of the standard, rigidly secured, with its lower end in the base A, and a' is the upper movable portion of the standard, which is capable of vertical adjustment in the lower portion, a. 55 The portions a a' of the standard are constructed of tubes, the upper portion, a’, being made of smaller diameter, so as to fit snugly in the bore of the lower portion, a. The latter is composed of two parts, which are united by 60 a cross-piece or fitting, l>, to which are secured short horizontal tubeswhich project on both sides of the standard and form the bearings for the horizontal shaft c. The bore of the lower portion, a, of the standard is closed be- 65 low the shaft c by a plug, c', whereby the bore or cavity around and above the shaft can be utilized as an oil-reservoir, into which the oil is introduced through an opening, c², formed in thestandard above the shaft. This oil-res- 70 ervoir may be filled with sponge or other absorbent material.

D represents the wheels, secured to the ends of the shaft c on both sides of the central standard, and E represents the pedals attached 75 to said wheels.

e represents the pedal-pins, secured adjustably iu radial slots e', formed in the wheels D. ' Each pedal-pin is provided with a flat neck, e'-, which fits in the slote', and a screw-shank, 80 e\ to which is applied a screw-nut, o’, by which the pedal-pin is secured in the slot.

F represents the sleeve, which, is mounted on the pedal-pin and provided with the pedalplates ff. The plates f are made of sheet- 85 steel, and secured by soldering or riveting to the flat parallel faces of the sleeve F, on opposite sides of the pin. These plates f are covered with plates/', of rubber, which afford . a strong foothold and form a light pedal. The 9c sleeve F is open at its inner end and closed at its outer end, where it is provided with au enlargement or cap, F', which covers the outer eud of the pedal-pin.

g is an annular groove formed in the pin ΰ 95 near its outer end, and g' is a ring which is arranged in said groove, split lengthwise, or ' divided into halves lengthwise, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The outer surface of this ring is flush with the pin e, and it is held to- 10c gether by a steel spring, g².

9^?‘ is a screw which works in a threaded

334,635 opening in the cap F', and enters with its inner end between the adjoining ends of the split ring /, so that by moving the screw toward the pin c the split ring is opened and 5 forced against t lie bore of the sleeve F, thereby clamping the ring to ihe sleeve F, and preventing longitudinal displacement of the latter on the pin e, while permitting the sleeve to turn on the pin. In this manner the pedal io is securely attached to the pin and the fastening screw released from the greater part of the strain.

H represents the star-wheel of the registering mechanism or cyclometer, which is turned 15 by a pin, h, secured to one of the wheels D, and checked by a spring detent, h'. The wheel H is mounted on a shaft, h\ which is provided with a screw-thread, h³.. The latter engages with a worm-wheel, I, which makes, preier20 ably, one revolution for every mile traveled by the circumference ofthe wheels. The wheel I turns loosely ou a stud, i. which is secured to a collar, i', cinbracingthestandard a. The wheel I is secured to or formed with the bell 2 j Γ, and the outer face of the latter is provided with a graduation, upon which the distance is read off by means of a stationary pointer, i\ affixed to the stud i. The wheel I is provided with pins j, which operate the striking-ham30 mer /.

K represents the brake arranged to bear against the lower sides of the wheels D D, and hung to a plate, / which is attached to the base A.

k' are rods which connect the brake K to the lower end of the spring-balance L, whose upper end is attached to a bolt, I. The latter is supported by a screw-nut, ΐ, upon the jaws M of a divided ring or collar, Al', so that by 40 turning the screw-nut T the tension on the brake can be increased or reduced. The tension applied to the brake can be read off on the graduation of t-hespring-scale, thus affording ready means for adjust ing the resistance 45 according to the requirements of the rider.

The collar AX' embraces tile upper end of the lower portion, «, of the standard, which latter is also divided vertically at its upper end, so that upon tightening the screw m, which passes 50 through the jaws Al, the upper cud of the lower jiortion, a, is tightened upon the upper portion, thereby holdingthe latterin place, while upon loosening the screw nt the upper portion, a', is released, and can be raised and 55 lowered to adjust the height of the machine to the rider. The upper portion, a', of the standard ispiovldcd with a suitable graduation corresponding with driving;wheels of various diameters, so that the rider can readily 60 adjust the machineto correspond withawheel ol a given diameter.

N represents the saddle, and Ν' the metallic frame or stretcher on which the leather cover of the saddle is mounted.

O represents a curved supporting-arm or backbone projecting rearwardly from the upper eud of the portion a' of the standard, and

P is a metallic bracket, by which the saddle is supported on the arm O. Thebracket P consists of a plate,p, to which the saddle-frame 70 Ν' is attached by a clip. /, and which is provided on its underside with project ions, which form a concave front bearing,/, and similar rear bearings,/·, all resting upon thc.arrn O.

q is a clip which connects the rear end of 75 the supportP willi ihe arm O. Upon loosening the clip the saddle can be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly on the arm O.

B represents the handle-bar, secured to the upper end of the portion a' of the standard 80 by a T-piece, r, or other suitable means, and S are the handles attached to the end of the bar B. Each arm of the handle-bar is provided with a neck or reduced end portion, r', upon which the handle 8 is mounted. Each 85 handle S consists of an open metallic frame, s, provided with a central socket, s', and a rubber body, s², which is formed around the frame s and fills the open spaces thereof. The socket s'is closed at its outer end and fits 90 snugly on the neck r' of the handle-bar. The neck r' is provided near its outer end with an annular groove, r‘, into which enters a sliding bolt, t. The latter is fitted in an opening, t', formed in the frame s, and is held into the 95 groove r² of the neck r' by a screw, i². A spring/?, of rubber or other suitable material, is interposed between the screw i²and the bolt t. The spring P equalizes the pressure which the screw i² exerts upon the bolt t, and the 100 screw P is so adjusted that it presses the bolt against the neck r' with sufficient force to hold the handle stationary on the neck, except when the handle is turned by the hand. The handle adapts itself easily to the position of the 105 hand, and can be comfortably held in the hand.