Angle adjustable handle for exercise bike

[0002] The present invention relates to an angle adjustable handle for exercise bike and includes a clutch device to prevent the handle from rotating after the angle is set.

[0003] A conventional exercise bike generally includes a base with a frame extending from the base. A seat post and a handle post are respectively connected to the frame. A wheel with a resistance device is connected to the frame and is rotated by operating a crank. The user sits on the set on a top of the seat post and holds the handle with two hands and rotates the crank with his/her feet to overcome the resistance force of the resistance device to rotate the wheel. Generally, the handle is fixedly connected to the frame by bolts or by way of welding so that the position of the handle cannot be adjusted. For the users with different heights, the fixedly positioned handle is not convenient for them and no matter the position of the handle is too high or too low, the shoulder of the user could not feel good. Some exercise bikes has a retractable handle post which can be pulled higher or pushed lower to meet the users' needs. However, the handle itself is fixed to the handle post so that it cannot be pivoted about a horizontal axis.

[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an angle adjustable handle assembly and comprising a positioning tube fixedly connected to a handle post and having a toothed end. A sleeve movably extends through the positioning tube and has a head on a first end of the sleeve. The head has a toothed shoulder which is engaged with the toothed end of the positioning tube. A threaded portion is defined in a second end of the sleeve and a locking member is threadedly engaged with the threaded portion. A handle extends through the sleeve and a bolt extends through the head of the sleeve and is engaged with the handle.

[0005] The primary object of the present invention is to provide an angle adjustable handle for an exercise bike wherein the handle is easily rotated about a horizontal axis so that the users can adjust the handle for their needs.

[0006] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, three preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show a first embodiment of the handle assembly of the present invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view to show the handle assembly of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show the handle assembly of the present invention is rotated an angle;

[0010] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view to show the handle assembly of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2;

[0011] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view to show the handle assembly of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 3;

[0012] FIG. 6 is an exploded view to show a second embodiment of the handle assembly of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view to show the handle assembly of the present invention as shown in FIG. 6;

[0014] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view to show the handle assembly shown in FIG. 7 is rotated an angle;

[0015] FIG. 9 is a top cross sectional view to show a cable extends through the handle assembly as shown in FIG. 6;

[0016] FIG. 10 is a top cross sectional view to show a cable extending through the handle assembly as shown in FIG. 6 is bent together with the rotation of the handle, and

[0017] FIG. 11 is an exploded view to show a third embodiment of the handle assembly of the present invention.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the handle assembly for an exercise bike of present invention comprises a tube 10 which is fixedly and transversely connected to a handle post 1. A positioning tube 2 is fixedly received in the tube 10 by bolts extending through holes 11 in the tube 10 and contacting the positioning tube 2. The positioning tube 2 has a toothed end 20.

[0019] A sleeve 3 movably extends through the positioning tube 2 and has a head 30 on a first end of the sleeve 3. The head 30 has a toothed shoulder 303 which is engaged with the toothed end 20 of the positioning tube 2 so as to prevent the sleeve 3 from rotating. A threaded portion 304 is defined in a second end of the sleeve 3 and extends out from the tube 10 so as to be threadedly engaged with a threaded inner periphery 310 of a locking member 31. A

[0020] A handle 5 extends through the sleeve 3 and a bolt 19 extends through a hole 301 in the head 30 of the sleeve 3 and is engaged with a hole 50 in the handle 5. The head 30 of the sleeve 3 has a flange 302 which contacts an end of the tube 11 and the locking member 31 contacts the other end of the tube 11 to securely position the handle 5.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, when adjusting the angle of the handle 5, the blocking member 31 is unscrewed from the threaded portion 304 on the sleeve 3 and the handle 5 together with the sleeve 3 are pushed left to disengage the toothed shoulder 303 of the head 30 of the sleeve 3 from the toothed end 20 of the positioning tube 2. Then the handle 5 can be rotated to a desired angle and then reengage the toothed shoulder 303 of the head 30 of the sleeve 3 from the toothed end 20 of the positioning tube 2, and locking the locking member 31.

[0022] FIGS. 6, 7 and 9 shows a second embodiment of the handle assembly wherein the tube 10 extends through the handle post 1 and has an elongate hole 12. The positioning tube 2 securely received in the tube 10 has a first slot 21 which is located in alignment with the elongate hole 12. Each of the sleeve 3 and the handle 5 has a hole 305/500 defined therethrough so that a cable 6 such as a brake cable or signal cable extends through the elongate hole 12, the first slot 21 and the two holes 305, 500. A second slot 306 is defined in the head 30 of the sleeve 3 and a limit bolt 190 is located in the second slot 306 and engaged with the handle 5. The bolt 190 limits the angle that the handle 5 is rotated when the bolt 190 contacts an inner end of the second slot 306.

[0023] FIG. 10 shows that the handle 5 is rotated by the same way described above and the cable 6 is bent together with the rotation of the handle 5. The cable 6 can still be pulled freely.

[0024] While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.