A recumbent tricycle with differential brake steering providing enhanced performance and a controllable maneuverability for use as a recreational or short-ranged commuter vehicle. The vehicle is suited to peddle power and in the alternative; small gasoline, electric or alternate fuel engine drive. This invention discloses two parallel forward leading wheels combing the braking and steering functions through the application of a differential mechanism in the drive axle. Manual brake handles on ea...

A recumbent leg and arm exercising machine is disclosed which may be used as a rower, a stepper and/or to perform a bench press-type exercise. The machine may also be used to exercise only the arms, only the legs, as well as both the arms and the legs. The exercising machine includes a seat, foot levers and arm levers, and is constructed so that the apparatus may be used for synchronized exercises in which selected or all levers move in synchronism. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, t...

A semi-recumbent cycling apparatus constrains left and right foot supports to move through substantially elliptical paths of motion relative to a frame, while supporting a person's back in an inclined position relative to an underlying floor surface. The paths of the foot supports have major axes which extend generally perpendicular to the floor surface.

A semi-recumbent bicycle allows the rider to sit on a high-backed seat elevated above a rear wheel in a semi-recumbent position with his legs extending forward and angling downward to a pedal crank assembly. The bicycle includes an elongated relatively large hollow main frame or frame member connecting a front steering assembly and front wheel at the front end of the bike to the rear wheel and the seat at the rearward end of the bike. The pedal crank assembly is positioned in the area of the ste...

A recumbent or the like cycle includes an improved seat structure that can be used to facilitate angular positioning of the seat and/or handling of the cycle for transport and/or storage. The seat includes a mounting structure enabling fore-and-aft adjustment along the cycle as well as angular adjustment of the seat. The seat also preferably includes a material having reflective properties incorporated directly into the material of the seat, e.g., such as the fabric of the seat.

A recumbent bicycle with (i) a cantilevered bicycle seat and (ii) a coaxial pivot and mid-drive sprocket around which the bicycle can be folded so as to form a more compact configuration. The folding of the bicycle is facilitated by the splaying of support arms for the coaxial pivot and mid-drive sprocket, which splaying allows the rear portion of the bicycle to be folded into a position lying between the splayed support arms.

A process for building recumbent bicycles to fit their riders. The first step is to build an adjustable recumbent bicycle frame designed for adjustability in the location of all the major elements of the bicycle; including position and angle of seat, position of wheels and pedals or other foot power means, position and caster angle of steering axis and position of handlebars or other steering means. Then individual riders or classes of riders test the adjustable frame model, and work out configu...

An integrated subject monitoring system facilitates measurement, collection and analysis of data pertaining to frequency and intensity of movement by a recumbent subject. The system includes a network-coupled computer and sensors placed in a bed or other resting surface of the subject. Parameter data is obtained primarily passively, without the cooperation or active participation of the subject. Subject parameters can be continuously monitored, sampled and recorded. Captured values then can be c...

Disclosed is an exercise apparatus that is a combination stationary recumbent cycle-type exerciser and an upper body exerciser, and a method of exercising. In the stationary recumbent cycle mode, the seated operator pedals a conventional pedal mechanism. In the upper body exerciser mode, the operator is in a normal push-up position with the hands on the pedals of the pedal mechanism. Exercising is accomplished by hand pedaling the pedal mechanism while supporting the body weight on the feet and ...

A recumbent stepper is provided for exercising the lower body and the upper body and includes a frame and a seat attached to the frame. First and second lower body lever arrangements are pivotally coupled to the frame to move in first and second opposite directions and are adapted to be engaged by an exerciser's feet. First and second upper body lever arrangements are pivotally coupled to the frame to move in the first and second directions and are adapted to be engaged by the exerciser's arms. ...