Apparatus for training on a bicycle connected to the apparatus

• US 20050008992A1
• Filed: 11/29/2002
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AWS Technology ApS
• Original Assignee: AWS Technology ApS
• Inventors: Christensen, Henrik Thor, Finding, Ebbe, Westergaard, Johnny, Bruhn, Flemming
• Application Number:
  US10/497,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20050008992A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/61
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0641 enabling a lateral movement of the exercising apparatus, e.g. for simulating movement on a bicycle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/165 rear wheel hub supports
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/166 supports for the central frame of the bicycle, e.g. for the crank axle housing, seat tube or horizontal tube
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/168 Force transfer through the rim of the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/16 Platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis , e.g. axis through the middle of the platform; Balancing drums; Balancing boards or the like exercising apparatus with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0056; other exercising apparatus for improving balance A63B26/003
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/78 Surface covering conditions, e.g. of a road surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 26/003 for improving balance or equilibrium balance beams A63B4/00; apparatus for rope dancing A63B7/08; balancing drums, balancing boards or the like A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles

Abstract

An apparatus for training on a bicycle connected to the apparatus, so that the bicycle is tiltable in a direction transversely to a plane defined by a frame of the bicycle. The bicycle is elevated to when the bicycle frame is tilted whereby the bicycle frame, by gravity, is biased towards the non-tilted position. A bicycle computer being adapted to collect and/or display course information while the bicycle is not connected to a training device and being adapted to control resistance providing means when the bicycle is connected to the training device. A wheel for training on a bicycle comprising resistance providing means comprising secondary drive means adapted to engage with the force transferring connector of the bicycle so as to apply resistance to rotation from the resistance providing means to the primary drive means of the bicycle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for training on a bicycle connected to the apparatus, so that the bicycle is tiltable in a direction transversely to the plane defined by a frame of the bicycle, between opposite positions, said apparatus comprising:

a base member,

fastening means to be releasably fastened to the frame of the bicycle and

a mechanism interconnecting the base member and the fastening means, said mechanism being adapted to elevate the fastening means and the bicycle frame connected thereto when the bicycle frame is tilted from an intermediate position towards any of said opposite positions whereby the bicycle frame is biased towards the intermediate position by gravity.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises a connecting member and a linkage connected to the base member, a first end of the connecting member being pivotally and/or spherically connected to the linkage and a second end being connected to the fastening means, the connecting member being mounted so as to follow the tilting movement of the bicycle.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the linkage is adapted so as to move the connecting member upwards and/or in a direction opposite the direction of the gravital force acting on the bicycle when the bicycle is tilted towards the opposite positions.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a guide member fixedly connected to the base member and defining retaining means adapted for tiltably and slidingly retaining of the connecting member.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the retaining means forms an opening for receiving a pin.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the retaining means forms a groove for receiving a ball joint.

7. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the linkage comprises at least one primary linkage member and at least one secondary linkage member,

the connecting member being pivotally and/or spherically connected to the at least one primary linkage member,

the at least one secondary linkage member being pivotally and/or spherically connected to the primary linkage member at a first end and at a second end being connected to the base member.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus comprises one primary linkage member and a first and a second secondary linkage member,

the connecting member being pivotally and/or spherically connected to a point on the primary linkage member, said point being positioned between a first end and a second end of the primary linkage member,

a first end of the first secondary linkage member being pivotally and/or spherically connected to the first end of the primary linkage member and a second end of the first secondary linkage member being pivotally and/or spherically connected to the base member

a first end of the second secondary linkage member being pivotally and/or spherically connected to the second end of the primary linkage member and a second end of the second secondary linkage member being pivotally and/or spherically connected to the base member.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opposite positions comprise a first and a second position, said first and second positions being placed on each side of the plane defined by the bicycle frame, the bicycle when tilted to the first and/or when tilted to the second position is tilted with an angle in relation to the gravital force of 45 degrees, such as 40 degrees, such as 35 degrees, such as 30 degrees, such as 25 degrees, such as 20 degrees, such as 15 degrees, such as 12.5 degrees, such as 10 degrees, such as 9 degrees, such as 8 degrees, such as 7 degrees, such as 6 degrees, such as 5 degrees, such as 4 degrees, such as 3 degrees, such as 2 degrees, such as 1 degree.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base member comprises supporting members arranged over a square of a size of 5 square meters, such as 4 square meters, such as 3 square meters, such as 2.5 square meters, such as 2 square meters, such as 1.5 square meters, such as 1 square meters, such as 0.5 square meters.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the base member comprises adjustable pinions.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is made of a material from a group consisting of:

wood, plastic, glass fibre, a composite material, rubber, a metal such as iron, steel, aluminium, magnesium, titanium, copper, nickel, zinc or a combination hereof.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising resistance providing means, the resistance being applied to the user of the apparatus.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resistance providing means is operable by the user of the bicycle.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the resistance providing means is adapted to operate with a frame comprising a primary drive means for transferring force from the user to a secondary drive means via a force transferring connector.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the force transferring connector is a chain and/or a belt drive and/or cardan shaft and/or a plurality of toothed wheels

17. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the resistance providing means comprises a generator having a axle adapted for rotation around a centre axis.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the axle is directly connected to the secondary drive means.

19. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the secondary drive means comprises at least one disc having at least one peripheral surface with a radial distance to the centre axis of the axle.

20. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the force transferring connector is adapted to engage the peripheral surface so as to transfer movement of the force transferring connector to the peripheral surface of the disc for rotating the axle.

21. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the resistance providing means is comprised in a housing, realisably connected to the bicycle.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the housing further comprises means for determining the use of one or more brakes attached to the bicycle.

23. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the generator is an electrical generator.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the electrical generator can be used as a motor and/or a means for generating an electrical power.

25. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the electrical generator can generate a maximum torque when the revolutions per minutes is substantially zero.

26. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the electrical generator can supply an effect being at least 70% of a maximum effect at a rate of rotation being 10% of a maximum rate of rotation, such as an effect being at least 60% of the maximum effect, such as an effect being at least 50% of the maximum effect, such as an effect being at least 40% of the maximum effect, such as an effect being at least 30% of the maximum effect, an effect being at least 20% of the maximum effect.

27. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the generator is an electrical generator having a predefined resistance.

28. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the generator is an electrical generator having an adjustable resistance.

29. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the electrical generator is connected to control means adapted to adjust the resistance of said generator.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the control means is an adjustable electrical resistance electrically connected to the generator, said adjustable electrical resistance being adapted to be releasably attached to a handlebar of the bicycle.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the control means comprises

a first computer system with an operating system, the computer system comprising input means for collecting data in a first format, processing means for processing the data, output means for presenting data in a second format, and data storage means having stored therein a computer program.

32. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the control means is adapted to vary the resistance over time.

33. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the control means is adapted to vary the resistance in response to the number of revolutions per minute of the secondary drive means and/or the primary drive means.

34. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the control means is adapted to vary the resistance in response to a heart rate of the user and/or a EKG of the user and/or a blood pressure of the user and/or a oxidation of the blood of the user.

35. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the control means is adapted to vary the resistance in response to the heart rate of the user and/or the EKG of the user and/or the blood pressure of the user and/or the oxidation of the blood of the user and/or the time and/or the number of revolutions per minute of the secondary drive means and/or the primary drive means.

36. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the control means is adapted to vary the resistance in response to a weight of the user.

37. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the control means is adapted to vary the resistance in a predefined pattern.

38. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the control means is adapted to vary the resistance in a predefined pattern and in relation to the time and/or number of revolutions per minute of the secondary drive means and/or the primary drive means.

39. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the control means is adapted to vary the resistance in a user defined pattern.

40. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the control means is adapted to vary the resistance in response to a virtual course, said course being predefined or defined by the user.

41. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the control means is adapted to vary the resistance in response to a real course, said course being pre-recorded and stored in the data storage means.

42. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the control means is adapted to vary the resistance so as to emulate a virtual gear.

43. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the control means is adapted to collect and/or display course information while the bicycle is not attached to the apparatus.

44. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the course information is speed and/or position of the bicycle and/or resistance to rolling between the bicycle and a floor on which the bicycle is placed and/or the altitude of the bicycle and/or the angle a plane defined by the floor in relation to the gravital force and/or the speed of the wind and/or the direction of the wind and/or the heart rate of the user and/or the blood pressure of the user and/or the oxidation of the blood of the user and/or revolutions per minute of the secondary drive means and/or the primary drive means.

45. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the control means is adapted to collect and/or display at least a part of the course information.

46. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein at least a part of the control means is adapted to be releasable connected to the bicycle.

47. An apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising means for collecting and/or presenting audio and/or video.

48. An apparatus according to claim 47, further comprising a camera.

49. An apparatus according to claim 47, further comprising a screen for playback of images.

50. An apparatus according to claim 47, further comprising a microphone.

51. An apparatus according to claim 47, further comprising a loudspeaker.

52. An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the processing means is adapted to display images and/or play sounds and the storing means is adapted to store images and/or sounds.

53. An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the processing means is adapted to display a virtual route on the screen.

54. An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the processing means is adapted to playback a real course.

55. A bicycle computer for training with or without an attachable training device, the bicycle computer comprising

a computer system comprising input means for collecting data in a first format, processing means for processing the data, output means for presenting data in a second format, and data storage means having stored therein a computer program,

the computer system being adapted to collect and/or display course information while the bicycle is not connected to the training device and

the computer system being adapted to control resistance providing means comprised in the training device

56. A bicycle computer according to claim 55, wherein the computer during a training session is adapted to display course information from the present session and from at least one reference session.

57. A bicycle computer according to claim 56, wherein the at least one reference session is a previous session

58. A bicycle computer according to claim 56, wherein the at least one reference session is calculated by the computer in accordance with predetermined standard data.

59. A bicycle computer according to claim 55, further comprising an apparatus for training on a bicycle connected to the apparatus, so that the bicycle is tiltable in a direction transversely to the plane defined by a frame of the bicycle, between opposite positions, said apparatus comprising:

a base member,

fastening means to be releasably fastened to the frame of the bicycle and

a mechanism interconnecting the base member and the fastening means, said mechanism being adapted to elevate the fastening means and the bicycle frame connected thereto when the bicycle frame is tilted from an intermediate position towards any of said opposite positions whereby the bicycle frame is biased towards the intermediate position by gravity.

60. A wheel for training on a bicycle comprising a primary drive means and a force transferring connector, said wheel comprising

means for realisably connecting the wheel to the bicycle

resistance providing means comprising secondary drive means adapted to engage with the force transferring connector so as to apply resistance to rotation from the resistance providing means to the primary drive means.

61. A wheel according to claim 60, wherein the wheel is a replacement for a bicycle wheel.

62. A wheel according to claim 60, further comprising the features of an apparatus for training on a bicycle connected to the apparatus, so that the bicycle is tiltable in a direction transversely to the plane defined by a frame of the bicycle, between opposite positions, said apparatus comprising:

a base member,

fastening means to be releasably fastened to the frame of the bicycle and

a mechanism interconnecting the base member and the fastening means, said mechanism being adapted to elevate the fastening means and the bicycle frame connected thereto when the bicycle frame is tilted from an intermediate position towards any of said opposite positions whereby the bicycle frame is biased towards the intermediate position by gravity.