GB2389542A

GB2389542A - Combination bicycle and exercise bicycle

Info

Publication number: GB2389542A
Application number: GB0211034A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glyn David Rosser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-14
Filing date: 2002-05-14
Publication date: 2003-12-17
Also published as: GB0305009D0; GB2388555A; GB0211034D0

Abstract

A bicycle accessory 10 for converting a bicycle into apparatus for providing exercise, wherein the accessory comprises a support to hold the bicycle upright, means 18 for providing additional exercise resistance to pedalling, and means for retrofitting the accessory to a standard bicycle. The accessory may be a luggage support carrier (Figure 1) which is adapted to swing from a first position above the rear wheel (Figure 1) to a second position, Figure 3, below the rear wheel where the carrier provides a stand for the bicycle to adopt an exercise mode. The accessory 10 may include a roller 18 for engaging the tyre 30 when in the second position to provide exercise resistance. Also disclosed is an accessory for converting a bicycle into apparatus for providing exercise wherein the roller 18 is integral with a dynamo so that exercising on the bicycle generates electrical power.

Description

1 2389542

Bicycle Accessory 5 This invention relates to a bicycle accessory and, more particularly, to a bicycle accessory for converting a bicycle into apparatus for generating energy.

In my co-pending patent application number GB0027316.9 I disclose a 10 bicycle convertible from an exercise mode, as an exercise bicycle, to a non-exercise mode, as an ordinary bicycle, and vice-versa. The bicycle also includes means for generating electrical power directly from output from the bicycle when operating in the exercise mode. Therefore, when in the exercise mode, the bicycle 15 comprises apparatus for generating energy in that it is apparatus for a person to use to generate energy in exercising and it is apparatus for generating electrical energy from the energy applied by the person exercising.

20 An object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle accessory which can be mounted on a bicycle in order to provide the combination disclosed in the co-pending patent application.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided 25 a bicycle accessory for converting a bicycle into apparatus for providing exercise, the accessory comprising, in combination, a support to hold the bicycle upright and stationary, means for providing additional exercise resistance to pedalling, and means for retrofitting the same to a standard bicycle.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a bicycle accessory for converting a bicycle into apparatus for generating energy, the accessory comprising a load support member, means for positioning the member in a first 35 position above a rear wheel of a bicycle and adapted to swing from the first position to a second position below the wheel and inertia means for engaging the wheel, the arrangement being such that, when the accessory is mounted on the bicycle, the positioning means is

adapted to release the member to permit the member to swing to the second position and, when in the second position, the member supports a rear of the bicycle on a surface with the wheel raised in relation to the surface.

The inertia means may be adapted to provide resistance to pedal operation of the bicycle when the load support member is in the second position and may comprise a dynamo for generating electric power. Following is a description, by way of example only and with

reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

15 In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of an accessory in accordance with the present invention shown mounted on a bicycle and when in a non-exercise mode, Figure 2 is a plan view of a load support carrier of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 when 25 mounted on a bicycle and when in an exercise mode.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an accessory 10 for a bicycle 11. The accessory 10 comprises a rectangular load support carrier 12 having a pair of opposite longitudinal flanges 13, 14 30 each formed integrally with corresponding pair of struts, one pair of which is shown at 15 and 16. The pairs of struts each comprise a t'Y" configuration having an aperture 17 at the lower end portion of the configuration.

35 The flanges 13, 14 of the carrier 12 support opposite end portions of a shaft of a roller 18 such that the roller 18 is rotatably mounted relative to the carrier 12. The roller 18 is integral with a dynamo (not shown). The flanges 13, 14 of the carrier

12 are also provided with sockets 19, 20 to which ends of conductors (not shown) of the dynamo are connected.

The flanges 13, 14 of the carrier 12 also support opposite end 5 portions of a transversely extending cross member (not shown) located at an end portion of the carrier 12. The cross member is provided with an aperture (not shown).

The accessory 10 also includes a mounting 21 block adapted to be 10 secured to a frame of the bicycle 11 and having an aperture (not shown) for receiving a shank of a mounting bolt.

The carrier 12 may be provided with transverse tubular members 22 and 23 at opposite end portions thereof in which are received the 15 shanks of pairs of telescopically extending bars 24, 25 and 26, 27 for stabilizing the bicycle when in exercise mode or for carrying bulky items when in cycle mode.

The accessory 10 is attached to the bicycle 11 by locating the 20 apertures 17 of the "Y" struts 15, 16 in register with apertures (not shown) provided at lower positions of rear forks of the frame of the bicycle 11, one of the forks being shown at 28 in Figures 1 and 2, and shanks of bolts (not shown) are inserted through the aligned apertures. The bolts are maintained in position by screwing 25 nuts (not shown) on the shanks of the bolts. The block 21 is mounted between the rear forks at an upper location thereof. The carrier 12 and supporting struts 15,16 are then pivoted about the axes extending through the apertures 17 so that the carrier 12 moves towards the block 21 and the shank of a mounting bolt is 30 inserted through the aperture in the block 21 and through the aperture of the cross member of the carrier 12. The carrier 12 is secured to the block 21 by means of a nut (not shown) which is screwed on to the mounting bolt. The carrier 12 thus extends over a rear wheel 29 of the bicycle. In this position of the carrier 12, 35 the roller 18 is clear of a tyre 30 mounted on the wheel 2g and the bicycle is in a non-exercise mode.

The bicycle 11 operates in a conventional manner and the carrier 12 provides a support for articles which the cyclist may wish to carry. The transverse dimension of the carrierl2 may be increased by drawing the pairs of bolts 24, 25; 26. 27 away from one another, 5 as indicated by the arrows A - A in Figure 2.

When it is required to convert the bicycle into an exercise machine, the nut on the mounting bolt is unscrewed so as to disengage the carrier 12 from the mounting block 21. The carrier 12 10 and supporting struts 15, 16 are then pivoted in the direction of the arrow B in Figure 1 about the axes extending through the apertures 17 so that the carrier 12 moves under the wheel 29, as shown in Figure 3. In this position, the wheel 29 is in a raised position relative to ground supporting the carrier 12 and when a 15 person sits on the bicycle and operates the pedals, the rear wheel is free of the ground. The bolts 24, 25i 26,27 will be in a fully extended position, as indicted by the arrows A - A in Figure 2, so as to provide stability. In this position of the carrier 12, the bicycle is in an exercise mode. A mechanism (not shown) is provided 20 for moving the roller 18 into contact with the Lyre 30 of the wheel 29 and for adjusting the degree of friction between the surface of the roller 18 and the surface of the tyre 30.

The fractional forces causes a resistance to the effort applied to 25 the pedals of the bicycle 11, when in the exercise mode, and the performance can be measured by the current generated by the dynamo and the degree of friction applied by the adjustable mechanism. The current generated by the dynamo can be taken off by plugging a device into the sockets 19, 20. The device may be adapted for 30 supplying electricity for communication, cooking, lighting or battery re-charging purposes, the latter being useful to campers, military personnel or people in remote or undeveloped areas. It will be appreciated that the mounting bolt and nut may be replaced by a latch mechanism which would be mounted on the rear forks of 35 the bicycle and which would co-operate with a detent mounted on the carrier 12, as shown at 31 and 32 in Figure 3.

Claims

1 A bicycle accessory for converting a bicycle into apparatus for providing exercise, the accessory comprising, in combination, a 5 support to hold the bicycle upright and stationary, means for providing additional exercise resistance to pedalling, and means for retrofitting the apparatus to a standard bicycle.

2 A bicycle accessory for converting a bicycle into apparatus 10 for generating energy, the accessory comprising a load support member, means for positioning the member in a first position above a rear wheel of a bicycle and adapted to swing from the first position to a second position below the wheel and inertia means for engaging the wheel, the arrangement being such that, when the 15 accessory is mounted on the bicycle, the positioning means is adapted to release the member to permit the member to swing to the second position and, when in the second position, the member supports a rear of the bicycle on a surface with the wheel raised in relation to the surface.

3 An accessory as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the inertia means

comprises a roller adapted, when the accessory is mounted on the bicycle, to engage a tyre on the wheel, at least when the member is in the second position.

4 An accessory as claimed in Claim 3 wherein means is provided for adjusting friction between the roller and the tyre.

5 An accessory as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the 30 roller is integral with a dynamo so that, when the accessory is mounted on the bicycle and the roller engages the tyre of the wheel, operation of pedals of the bicycle generates electrical power. 35

6 An accessory as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the carrier is provided with terminals connected to the dynamo by electrical conductors whereby electrical power can be drawn from the dynamo, during operation of the pedals, by plugging the terminals.

7 An accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the carrier is provided with means for extending dimensions thereof. 5 8 A bicycle accessory for converting a bicycle into apparatus for providing exercise or for providing energy, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.