BICYCLE TRAINER AND METHOD OF ITS OPERATION

• US 20170216678A1
• Filed: 01/27/2017
• Published: 08/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tacx (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tacx Roerend En Onroerend Goed B.V.
• Inventors: Smits, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 10,315,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/009 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled in synchronism with visualising systems, e.g. hill slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/163 for the front wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/165 rear wheel hub supports
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4034 for operation by feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/78 Surface covering conditions, e.g. of a road surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

Method for operating a bicycle trainer, and such a bicycle trainer comprising a stand with a seat, handlebars and rotatable pedals, or such a bicycle trainer comprising a stand for mounting a bicycle frame with a seat, handlebars and rotatable pedals, wherein the stand incorporates an electronically variable brake acting directly or indirectly on the rotatable pedals with a braking resistance that depends on a computer-controlled predetermined setting, wherein the pre-determined setting is variable and wherein said setting depends on selected parameters to reflect a simulated surface condition of a road.

Claims

1. A bicycle trainer comprising a stand with a seat, handle-bars and rotatable pedals, or comprising a stand for mounting a bicycle frame with a seat, handlebars and rotatable pedals, wherein the stand incorporates an electronically variable brake acting directly or indirectly on the rotatable pedals with a braking resistance that depends on a computer-controlled predetermined setting, wherein the predetermined setting is variable and depends on selected parameters to reflect a simulated surface condition of a road.

2. The bicycle trainer according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined setting is time variable with variations within a predetermined frequency band.

3. The bicycle trainer according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined setting is time variable with variations predominantly of a fixed frequency.

4. The bicycle trainer according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined setting is time variable with variations containing a mixture of fixed frequencies.

5. The bicycle trainer according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined setting is speed dependent, wherein the speed reflects a simulated forward speed of a user that drives the pedals, and wherein said setting of the braking resistance inversely correlates with said forward speed.

6. The bicycle trainer according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined setting is depending on a force applied to the pedals, and wherein the braking resistance is inversely correlated to said force.

7. A method for operating a bicycle trainer comprising a stand with a seat, handlebars and rotatable pedals, or for operating a bicycle trainer comprising a stand for mounting a bicycle frame with a seat, handlebars and rotatable pedals, wherein the stand incorporates an electronically variable brake acting directly or indirectly on the rotatable pedals with a braking resistance that depends on a computer-controlled predetermined setting, comprising providing that the predetermined setting is variable and providing that said setting depends on selected parameters to reflect a simulated surface condition of a road.

8. The method according to claim 7, additionally comprising providing that the predetermined setting is time variable with variations within a predetermined frequency band.

9. The method according to claim 7, additionally comprising providing that the predetermined setting is time variable with variations predominantly of a fixed frequency.

10. The method according to claim 7, additionally comprising providing that the predetermined setting is time variable with variations containing a mixture of fixed frequencies.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined setting is speed dependent, and wherein the speed reflects a simulated forward speed of a user that drives the pedals, and additionally comprising providing that the setting of the braking resistance inversely correlates with the forward speed.

12. The method according to claim 7, additionally comprising providing that the predetermined setting is depending on a force applied to the pedals, and providing that the braking resistance is inversely correlated to said force.