GB2026876A - Bicycle training apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Bicycle training apparatus comprises a frame 1 capable of having a wide range of bicycles installed thereon. Essentially the apparatus comprises means engaging with the opposite ends of the rear axle 61 of the bicycle to hold it in place, for example with the rear wheel 62 resting on road-simulating roller 40; in the illustrated case such means comprises bushes 20, 30, mounted at the upper ends of pillars 16, 17 which are adjustable for height and tightenable onto the axle ends by butterfly bolts 22, 33. Additionally, the arrangement of the invention has a support limb 3a which supports the axle 61 from below at a position between the rear wheel hub and rear axle bracket 64 of the bicycle. In the specific embodiment, an adjustable brake is provided for the roller 40 and the pillars 16, 17 can be swung down to lie alongside the frame in a collapsed disposition. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bicycle training apparatus This invention concerns bicycle training apparatus and has for its object to provide a form of apparatus adapted to receive and form a stationary mounting for a bicycle which can then be ridden under conditions simulating road use, the apparatus being capable of being used with a wide range of bicycles of differing shapes and sizes in a simpler and more convenient manner than has hitherto been possible.

Various forms of bicycle training apparatus are already known for enabling a user to ride his own bicycle for stationary training. However, such apparatus either has the disadvantage that it is suitable for use only with a single type of bicycle, or has the disadvantage of requiring complicated adaptation and/or disassembly of the bicyle and/or the apparatus itself.

It is understandable that the known constructions of apparatus would have these disadvantages, since the development of the apparatus has generally been on the basis of providing for the training of cyclists at a competitive or professional level. Therefore, the known forms of apparatus, whether of the roller type requiring some measure of cycling skill on the part of the user or of the kind requiring removal of the rear wheel, which would generally be a relatively simple operation for an experienced cyclist, have been justified by the capability of the intended user, either by his riding skill or his aptitutde in carrying out the necessary mechanical operations.

In other known forms of such training apparatus, it has, indeed, been possible to mount bicycles of differing shapes and sizes, but only subject to the performance of supplementary assembly and/or dismantling operation and/or making appropriate changes, substitutions and/or adaptations of the apparatus and/or the bicyle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a form of bicycle training apparatus wherein the aforementioned disadvantages are obviated and which incorporates means enabling it to be used with bicycles of widely varying shapes and/or dimensions without the need for making any physical adaptations or modifications, even of a temporary nature, to the bicycle itself.

With this object in view, the present invention provides bicycle training apparatus adapted to receive and form a stationary mounting for a bicycle which can then be ridden under conditions simulating road use, in which means for supporting the bicycle engages with opposite ends of the axle of the rear wheel of the bicycle and comprises a support limb which engages with said axle at a disposition between the hub of said rear wheel and an adjacent rear wheel axle bracket of the bicycle.

In the apparatus of the invention, the roller for supporting the rear wheel of the bicycle may be provided with braking means, adjustable to vary its braking action, whereby a resistance to rotation may be applied to the back wheel of the bicycle to simulate different road gradients and/or conditions.

The apparatus may also include a speedometer and/or counter to give an indication of the simulated speed and/or distance covered by the user.

The arrangement of the invention has the particular advantage that it is particularly suited for domestic or family use. The present day trend, particularly in towns and larger villages, is for most or all members of a family to possess their respective bicycles and to wish to maintain respective exercise and/or training programmes regardless of normal weather conditions which, particularly in winter, can preclude the possibility of actual road training or exercise. Accordingly, whilst the apparatus can be used by keen and/or competitive cyclists for training purposes it opens up the way for all cyclists, whether young or old, to have an opportunity of taking stationary cycling exercise and obtaining corresponding physical benefit.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view, from one side and above, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the bicycle training apparatus of the invention with a racing cycle mounted in position on the apparatus and in use, only a part of the bicycle and the user being shown; Figure 2 is a view comparable with Figure 1, but showing a small-wheeled collapsible bicycle mounted on the apparatus and in use, only a part of the bicycle and the user (who is shown adjusting a brake of the apparatus) being illustrated in this figure;; Figure 3 is a detached fragmentary perspective view showing parts at the rear of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, and illustrating a step in the mounting of a cycle on the apparatus, the actual cycle shown being the racing cycle of Figure 1; Figure 4 is another detached fragmentary perspective view showing various of the parts at the rear of the apparatus, and illustrating a further step in the mounting of a bicycle on the apparatus (or a corresponding step in the dismounting of a bicycle from the apparatus), the actual cycle shown in this case being the collapsible bicycle of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a detached fragmentary perspective view also showing various parts at the rear of the apparatus, this figure corresponding to Figure 4 but being taken from the other side and showing in detail the nammer of mounting the collapsible cycle in the apparatus.

Figure 6 is a detached fragmentary perspective view illustrating the same parts at the rear of the apparatus as are shown in Figure 5, but with the bicycle omitted, it being understood that in this figure the view is taken looking towards the rear of the apparatus, as compared with Figure 5 which is taken looking towards the front of the apparatus; Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing certain of the parts at the rear of the apparatus, and illustrating how the apparatus may be collapsed when not required for use; Figure 8 is a perspective view from above showing the entire apparatus in its collapsed condition.

Figure 9 is an underneath perspective view corres ponding to Figure 8; and Figure 70 is a rear view, with parts broken away, showing the apparatus with the collapsible bicycle mounted in place and therefore corresponding gen erallywith Figures 2, 4 and 5.

The illustrated embodiment of the bicycle training apparatus of the invention comprises a frame 1 (see particularly Figures 8 and 9) generally of jews-harp configuration, including a side-by-side pair of longitudinal backbone members 10 which coverge gra- dually towards the front end of the apparatus and a symmetrically-disposed pair of arcuate wing pieces 1 0a which join together in a cross-piece 1 Ob at the rear ends of the backbone members 10, support legs 11 being provided respectively at the outermost locations of said wing pieces and at the front end of the frame 1.

The support leg 11 at the front end of the frame 1 projects upwards between the backbone members 10 and serves, at its upper end, as a mounting for a locator or receiver, in the form of a channel member 12, intended for the front wheel 60 of a bicycle to be located therein as will be described later in detail.

Secured to the backbone members 10 adjacent the rear ends thereof so as to be spaced a short distance away from the cross-piece 1 Ob are respective uprights each in the form of an angle member 13, the bottom ends of these uprights being connected together, for rigidity, by a square sectioned cross-bar 13a. Where the project upwards past the backbone members 10, the two angle members 13 each have a pair of vertically spaced-apart holes 13b and 13c (Figure 7) respectively for respective relatively long bolts 14 and 15, (see for instance Figure 8) which bolts have been shown foreshortened in Figure 7. As can best be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the bolts 14 and 15 to be clamped to the upright angle member 13, the bolts 14, 15 extending through slots 18 in the respective pillars 16,17 so that the latter are adjustable vertically.

Carried at the top of the pillar 16, integrally therewith, is a cup-shaped socket 2 disposed with its axis substantially horizontal, this socket 2 slidably accommodating a tubular bush 20 which is slotted at 20a. A butterfly bolt 22, engaged in a threaded hole centrally of endwall 23 of the socket 2, co-operates with the bush 20 and enables the extent by which said bush 20 protrudes from the socket 2 to be adjusted manually.

Correspondingiy, carried at the top of the pillar 17 is a stirrup 3 providing limbs 3a and 3b of which limb 3a is bifurcated and serves as a supportforthe axle 61 (See Figure 10) of rearwheel 62 of a bicycle by engaging beneath said axle at a location between hub 63 of said wheel 62 and the respective axle bracket 64 of rear fork 65 of the bicycle. The limb 3b has a threaded hole accommodating a respective butterfly bolt 33 which carries, at its end towards the limb 3a, a respective bush 30 which is slotted at 30a.

The bush 20 and 30 respectively present, the one towards the other, conical or tapered openings so that each said bush 20, 30 can be engaged with a respective wheel nut on the axle of the rear wheel 62 of a bicycle, the taper ensuring firm engagement with said nuts. The slot 20a and 30a enable the bushes 20, 30 to be engaged with wing-type wheel nuts, in which case the wings of the nuts will protrude radially through the respective slots 20a, 30a.

As has already been mentioned, the location of the bolts 14, 15 through the slots 18 is such as to enable the pillars 15 and 16 to be adjusted vertically and to be locked in their vertically-adjusted positions. From Figures 8 and 9 it will be appreciated that the arrangement is also such that upon release of the bolts 14 and removal of the bolts 15, each said pillar 16,17 can be swung about the axis provided by the respective bolt 14 between its operative upright position illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 and 10 and an inoperative or collapsed position, adjacent the backbone members 10 as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

Figures 7 shows the pillar 17 partially swung down towards the collapsed position, and also shows the pillar 16 separted from its angle member 13 to enable the manner of connection to said angle member 13 to be appreciated.

In correspondence with the connections between the upright angle members 13 and the respective backbone members 10, a spindle 4 extends between the backbone members 10 and this serves rotatably to mount a roller 40 so as to be at the lower ends of the pillars 16, 17. This roller 40 is frictionally engaged by a brake comprising a shoe 44 carried at the projecting end of a plunger 44a projecting from a socket 446 supported from a bracket extending between the backbone members 10 in front of the roller 40.An operating cable 45 of the brake extends forwardly of the frame 1 and then into a brake arm 47 which is connected at its lower end to the front end of the frame 1 by a pivot 48, a knob 46 at the top end of the arm 47 permitting the action of the brake on the roller 40 to be varied buy a user whilst sitting on the bicycle. The pivot 48 permits the arm 47 to be swung down to lie adjacent the frame 1 when the apparatus is collapsed.

A cable 5 serves to provide a connection between the roller 40 and a meter 50 which may be speedometer and/or a distance meter.

It will readily be understood from the foregoing description and the drawings that the apparatus can be employed for cycle-training, or for exercise purpose, using different bicycles as may be available to the user, the apparatus being readily adaptable for the installation thereon cycles ranging from children's cycles to adult's cycles. In installing the bicycle, this is positioned with the front wheel 60 located in the locator or receiver 12 and the rear wheel resting upon the rolier 40, the pillars 16,17 at this time being in their upright dispositions and adjusted to a relatively low height so as not to interfere with the initial positioning of the bicycle.

Then, the bolts 14, 15 of the pillar 17 are released to permit the pillar 17 to be extended upwards until its limb 3a engages with the rear wheel axle 61 between the rear wheel hub 63 and the adjacent axle bracket 64, the butterfly bolt 33 having been screwed back to keep the bush 30 out of the way of the bicycle wheel axle 61 whilst this is done. The butterfly bolt 33 is then screwed in to engage the bush 30 onto the confronting wheel nut on the axle 61. The bolts 14, 15 of the pillar 17 are then tightened to clamp the pillar 17 to its adjusted height, and the bolt 33 is tightened firmly to retain the bicycle in position.

Corresponding adjustment of the pillar 16 is now effected in that its bolts 14, 15 are slackened off, the pillar 16 is extended to bring the bush 20 into alignment with the axle 61, and the butterfly bolt 22 is screwed in to engage the bush 20 with the wheel nut on the respective end of the axle 61. The bolts 14, 15 are now tightened, and the bolt 22 is then very securely tightened onto the respective axle end.

The bicycle is now firmly and reliably installed in the apparatus, and can be ridden, in its stationary condition by the userwho can vary simulated road conditions, gradients and soon by varying the effect on the brake. This can be done by means of the knob 46 even whilst the bicycle is being ridden. The user can, of course, check his notional speed and/or the notional distance travelled by means of the meter 50.

The installation of the bicycle can be facilitated by using Allen bolts as the bolts 14, 15, so that they can be loosened and tightened quickly by use of an Allen Key 70 (see Figure 3).

As has already been stated, the apparatus can readily be adapted, with the minimum of operations, effort and time to bicycles of different sizes and constructions. Acordingly, it can be used individually by the various members of a family, each making use of his own bicycle and fitting it to the apparatus as required, when wishing to effect training or to take exercise.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description serves only to illustrate one form the appartus of the invention can take, and that variations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (8)

1. Bicycle training apparatus adapted to receive and form a stationary mounting for a bicycle which can then be ridden under conditions simulating road use, in which means for supporting the bicycle engages with opposite ends of the axle of the rear wheel of the bicycle and comprises a support limb which engages with said axle at a disposition between the hub of said rear wheel and an adjacent rear wheel axle bracket of the bicycle.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the means which engages with the opposite ends of the axle are provided at the upper ends of a pair of pillars which are vertically adjustable to support the bicycle with its rear wheel resting upon a roller.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the pillars are adjustably secured to uprights fixedly mounted on a frame of the apparatus.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the uprights are angle members.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2,3 or4 wherein the pillars are secured by bolts which extend through slots in the pillars and which permit said pillars to be swung to collapsed dispositions.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the means which engages the opposite ends of the axle comprises opposed bushed which present, to the respective ends of the axle, respective conical openings to engage the respective wheel nuts on said axle.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 wherein each said bush is slotted to enable it to locate with a respective wing nut.

8. Bicycle training apparatus substatially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.