Bicycle training device

• US 4,932,651 A
• Filed: 10/03/1989
• Issued: 06/12/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Georges Defaux
• Original Assignee: Georges Defaux
• Inventors: Defaux, Georges
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/416,693
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 272/73, 272/93, 272/DIG. 4, 434/61, 434/247
• US Class Current: 482/61
• 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 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/058 for teaching control of cycles or motorcycles

Abstract

An apparatus that simulates bicycle riding is disclosed wherein a bicycle is mounted on a rectangular structural base having two freely rotating rollers on which leading and trailing wheels of the bicycle lie. The bicycle is supported and held by a rigid rod enterable in a vertical tube disposed on the bicycle frame and the rod is mounted on a laterally sliding support in the base. Stop rollers are provided at each end of the leading roller to prevent the leading wheel of the bicycle from moving off of the roller surface.

Claims

1. Apparatus that permits bicycle riding indoors with a feeling of being outdoors due to the freedom of the bicycle wheels to move laterally when riding, comprising a universal bicycle having a vertically positioned tube located on a lower portion of said bicycle;

a rectangular structural base having free leading and trailing rotating rollers on which leading and trailing wheels of said bicycle lie;

said bicycle being supported by a rigid rod fitted within said tube and assembled on a lateral sliding mechanism on said structural base that simulates a sensation of bicycling over a road;

said rigid rod having an adjustment system for varying the pedalling resistance; and

wherein two lateral stop rollers are mounted at each end of said leading roller to prevent the leading bicycle wheel from going off of said leading roller.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bicycle comprises a bicycle saddle adjustment means in which a saddle supporting tube has a square cross section and a sufficient stroke length to allow a tall or small person to ride said bicycle, and a locking device to hold said saddle in a selected place.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said locking device comprises an outer tube having a V-shaped cut at the middle of said tube, two solid metal cylinders lodged inside said tube to provide said cylinders with a 45°

-cut at one of its ends so that, when face to face, the cut-ends form a V-shaped groove which when coupled with said square cross section saddle supporting tube, said cylinders are capable of providing a clamping force on said square cross section tube to hold it securely in place, each of said cylinders is provided with a threaded hole having a different diameter and thread, a stud with a handle terminating end having along its length two threads which differ in diameter and thread, which threads mate with those in said cylinders, said stud being screwable in said cylinders beginning with the one having the major diameter to produce an effect in the cylinders pitch per turn impressed on the handle that is different but in the same direction, so that said cylinders close towards each other with a slow closing velocity, thereby obtaining a great clamping force on said square cross section tube, with a minimum applied force on the handle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bicycle further comprises a handlebar height adjustment system, comprising a fork having at its lower end a means for holding the leading wheel of the bicycle, said means being formed out of two round and parallel tubes having a curved portion and held in place by a triangular support which allows free access to top open ends of said tubes, two tubes constituting the handlebar support having a smaller diameter than that of the fork tubes are introduceable through said top open ends, but curved in the same manner and with the same radius of curvature;

said handlebar support tubes being of a length to obtain a handlebar height adjustment which is compatible with said saddle height adjustment of said bicycle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said structural base comprises a rectangular shape and two free rotating rollers forming minor opposing sides of said rectangular shape, said rollers being mounted on ball bearings which are mounted on a central axle, wherein two major sides of said rectangular shape are formed each by two round metal tubes located one over the other in parallel and spaced apart relationship from the other, said tubes having respective ends connected to respective four covers located at the end of said rollers, said rollers being connected mechanically by two belts which travel within major opposing sides of said structural base forming tubes.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said structural base comprises a tubular structure formed from a round tube bent in an elongated O-shape and disposed and held to said structural base parallel to said rollers and slightly backward from the center of said structural base, said tubular structure exceeding the limits of said major sides of said structural base, wherein two vertical tubes are soldered at each end of said tubular structure in order to provide support, and wherein said free lateral sliding mechanism is located within an inside area defined by the tubular structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said mechanism comprises two rectangular metal plates in parallel spaced apart relation from each other and held tight by four riveted spacers and four freely rotating wheels located within said plates, wherein each wheel has a V-shaped groove which mates exactly against both sides of a longer part of said tubular structure to cause movement of said mechanism along said tubular structure, and a tube passing across said mechanism in perpendicular direction with respect to its center;

said tube having inside at a lower end a metal disk soldered to said tube closing said lower end of said tube, and a rod fitting through said tube over its top open end.

8. Tne apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said rod holds the bicycle in place in a standing position over said structural base and provides a relative position adjustment between said bicycle and said structural base to prevent a rocking movement which would eliminate the lateral movement if one of said bicycle wheels comes off of contact with one roller;

said rod comprises a metal tube, a thick metal disk located inside said tube at its lower end and soldered to the same;

said disk having a threaded through-hole which acts as a nut, and a solid steel rod disposed inside of said metal tube over its top open end;

said rod having at its lower end, a threaded rod portion which mates with the thread of said disk and a ball set upon said rod;

said rod having at its opposing end a cylindrical shape handle having a rough grinded surface, which is screwed in said disk to provide adjustment;

a cylinder shaped collar located over and outside of said tube and soldered around the same disposed at a sufficient height along said tube to provide adequate support to said bicycle.