GB2561830A

GB2561830A - Apparatus for raising and/or lowering the front of a bicycle

Info

Publication number: GB2561830A
Application number: GB1706368.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Descy Ronan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-04-21
Filing date: 2017-04-21
Publication date: 2018-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-21
Also published as: GB201706368D0; GB2561830B

Abstract

An apparatus 10 for raising and/or lowering the front of a bicycle relative to a surface, comprising a support structure 11 and a mount 12 for holding and receiving the front of the bicycle, wherein the fixture 12 is coupled to the support 11 to allow movement between a plurality of different positions relative to the support 11. This allows the front of the bicycle to be lifted and/or lowered relative to the surface. A rotation enabling structure 13 coupled to the support 11 allows the support 11 to turn relative to the surface. The rotation means 13 may comprise male and female parts coupled to the support 11 and a base 14, and may also include a reversibly deformable part to resist rotation of the support 11 relative to the base 14. The deformable part may extend further from the base 14 on the side closer to the bike.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Apparatus for raising and/or lowering the front of a bicycle Abstract Title: Apparatus for Raising or Lowering the Front of a Bicycle (57) An apparatus 10 for raising and/or lowering the front of a bicyclerelative to a surface, comprising a support structure 11 and a mount 12 for holding and receiving the front of the bicycle, wherein the fixture 12 is coupled to the support 11 to allow movement between a plurality of different positions relative to the support 11. This allows the front of the bicycle to be lifted and/or lowered relative to the surface. A rotation enabling structure 13 coupled to the support 11 allows the support 11 to turn relative to the surface. The rotation means 13 may comprise male and female parts coupled to the support 11 and a base 14, and may also include a reversibly deformable part to resist rotation of the support 11 relative to the base 14. The deformable part may extend further from the base 14 on the side closer to the bike.

FIGURE 1A

1/7

FIGURE 1A

2/7

FIGURE 1B

3/7

CM

FIGURE 2C FIGURE 2D

4/7

FIGURE 3B

5/7

FIGURE 4

FIGURE 5A

FIGURE 5B

7/7

FIGURE 6

- 1 Apparatus for Raising and/or Lowering the Front of a Bicycle

Technical Field

The present specification relates to apparatus for raising and/or lowering the front of a 5 bicycle.

Background

Bicycle trainers (or turbo trainers) are commercially available devices which allow a user to ride a bicycle while keeping the bicycle stationary. This is useful for, for example, indoor training on a bicycle. Bicycle (turbo) trainers typically utilise a static front wheel mount on which the bicycle’s front wheel is placed. This is typically used to raise the front of the bicycle to a height matching the rear of the bicycle which is attached to the turbo trainer, creating a “level” bicycle position. However, when using such a bicycle trainer, it may be desirable to simulate more realistically the feeling of riding a bicycle. Furthermore, it may also be desirable to more realistically simulate the natural movement of a bicycle when a user is being fitted to the bicycle during bicycle fitting (e.g. by a professional bicycle fitter).

The invention is made in this context.

Summary

According to a first aspect, this specification describes apparatus for raising and/or lowering the front of a bicycle relative to a surface comprising a support structure for supporting the front of the bicycle above the surface, a mount for receiving the front of the bicycle, wherein the mount is movably coupled to the support structure to allow the mount to move between a plurality of different positions relative to the support structure, thereby to allow the front of the bicycle to be raised and/or lowered relative to the surface, and a rotation enabling structure coupled to the support structure to allow the support structure to rotate relative to the surface.

The rotation enabling structure may allow the support structure to rotate relative to the surface as the front of the bicycle is raised or lowered.

The rotation enabling structure may be adapted to allow the support structure to rotate in a first plane towards or away from the rear of the bicycle.

- 2 The rotation enabling structure may be adapted to allow the support structure to rotate in such a way as to allow lateral movement of the bicycle. Such rotation may be in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to both the surface and the frame of the bicycle.

The rotation enabling structure may be adapted to allow the support structure to rotate in a plane that is substantially parallel to the surface. This may allow rotation of the handlebars of a bicycle which is mounted to the mount. Put another way, the rotation enabling structure may be adapted to allow the support structure to rotate about (an axis substantially parallel to) its length/longitudinal axis.

The mount maybe movable along a length of the support structure.

The rotation enabling structure may comprise a male part coupled to one of the support 15 structure and the base, and a female part coupled to the other one of the support structure and the base, wherein the male part is rotatably received in the female part.

The rotation enabling structure may further comprise a reversibly deformable part disposed between the base and the support structure to resist rotation of the support structure relative to the base.

The reversibly deformable part may extend further from the base on a first side than on a second side.

In use, the first side may be closer to the bicycle than the second side.

The rotation enabling structure may comprise an arcuate structure coupled to the support structure, the arcuate structure being arranged to roll on the surface to allow the support structure to rotate relative to the surface.

The arcuate structure maybe arcuate in first and second directions.

The apparatus may further comprise an actuator arranged to move the mount relative to the support structure.

-3The actuator may comprise a threaded rod coupled to the mount, and a motor coupled to the threaded rod and arranged to drive the threaded rod to move the mount along the threaded rod, thereby to move the mount relative to the support structure.

The mount may comprise a coupling element arranged to couple the mount to the front of the bicycle.

The coupling element may be adapted to couple the mount to one or more of the following types of bicycle fork, hub, or axle: nine millimetre quick release, twelve millimetre thru-axle, fifteen millimetre thru-axle, and twenty millimetre thru-axle.

The apparatus may further comprise control apparatus configured to control the actuator to move the mount relative to the support structure.

The control apparatus may be configured to control the actuator in response to a user input.

The apparatus may further comprise a gradient sensor configured to sense an inclination of the apparatus relative to the surface.

The apparatus may further comprise a cut-off switch configured to prevent movement of the mount past a predetermined point relative to the support structure.

According to a second aspect, this specification describes a system comprising any 25 apparatus as described with reference to the first aspect, a bicycle mounted to the mount, and a bicycle trainer coupled to the rear of the bicycle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a more complete understanding of the methods, apparatuses and computer30 readable instructions described herein, reference is now made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure lA illustrates two different views of an example of an apparatus for raising and/or lowering the front of a bicycle;

Figure lB illustrates two different views of another example of an apparatus for raising and/or lowering the front of a bicycle;

-4Figures 2Ato 2D illustrate the apparatus of Figure lA in use with a bicycle and a bicycle trainer;

Figures 3A and 3B illustrate rotation enabling structures ofthe apparatuses of Figures lA and lB;

Figure 4 illustrates an actuator which moves a mount of the apparatus relative to a support structure of the apparatus;

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate different examples of coupling elements which are usable with the mount of the apparatus; and

Figure 6 illustrates control apparatus for controlling the actuator of the apparatus.

Detailed Description

In the description and drawings, like reference numerals may refer to like elements throughout.

Figures lA and lB illustrate two different examples of an apparatus 10 for raising and/or lowering the front of a bicycle. The raising and/or lowering of the front of the bicycle may be relative to a level of the rear of the bicycle, thereby enabling simulation of the orientation of a bicycle as it travels uphill and/or downhill.

As will be apparent from the below description, embodiments of the apparatus described herein may provide one or more of the following benefits. The apparatus may be usable with a user’s existing bicycle equipment such as a bicycle and a bicycle trainer. The apparatus maybe usable with a user’s own bicycle (as opposed to a stationary exercise bicycle which cannot be ridden outdoors). It may allow the front of a bicycle to be raised and/or lowered in real time while a user pedals on the bicycle. It may allow the bicycle to be lowered below a “bicycle level” to simulate riding downhill. Finally, the apparatus described herein may allow multi-directional movement of both a bicycle and the apparatus, which allows “natural flow” of the user as the user pedals, thus providing the feeling of riding a bicycle outdoors. Real-time incline/decline and natural sideways motion are desirable in a home training or bicycle fitting setting as this allows for a more accurate translation of muscle recruitment which is beneficial to both the cyclist and the fitter. These benefits are not provided by conventional front wheel mounts that are commonly used with turbo trainers.

Typically, when the bicycle is in situ on the apparatus 10 (as illustrated by Figures 2A to 2D), the rear of the bicycle is maintained at a substantially constant height relative to a

-5surface such as the ground or a floor. For example, the rear of the bicycle may be mounted to a bicycle trainer (also known as a turbo trainer) which holds the rear of the bicycle at a constant height above the surface (as illustrated by Figures 2A to 2C). Typically, the rear of the bicycle may be raised about 35 mm or higher off above the surface. In this way, the front of the bicycle can be raised and/or lowered by the apparatus 10 relative to the level of the rear of the bicycle. This raising and/or lowering of the bicycle may simulate the feel of riding a bicycle on an upwardly or downwardly inclined surface such as a hill.

As illustrated by Figures lA and lB, the apparatus 10 comprises a support structure 11 for supporting the front of a bicycle above a surface such as the ground or a floor. The support structure 11 may comprise structural elements which bear at least part of the weight of the front of the bicycle when the apparatus 10 is in use.

The apparatus 10 further comprises a mount 12 for receiving the front of the bicycle. In other words, the front of a bicycle may be mounted to the mount 12. The mount 12 is coupled to the support structure 11 so that, when the front of the bicycle is mounted to the mount 12, the bicycle is supported by the support structure 11 via the mount 12. It will be appreciated that the “front of the bicycle” may refer to the front of the bicycle with or without the front wheel attached. In examples in which the front wheel is not attached (such as those illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B), the front of the bicycle may be coupled to the mount 12 via the front bicycle fork. In examples in which the front wheel is attached to the bicycle, the front wheel axle assembly and/or front wheel hub may be used to couple the front of the bicycle to the mount 12.

The mount 12 may be movably coupled to the support structure 11 to allow the mount 12 to move between a plurality of different positions relative to the support structure 11. This in turn allows the front of the bicycle to be raised and/or lowered relative to a surface. In each of the plurality of different positions, the mount 12 may be held in position relative to the support structure 11 so that the front of a bicycle mounted to the mount 12 can maintain a particular height above the surface. In this way, the apparatus 10 may allow the front of a bicycle to be held at a plurality of different heights above the surface.

The apparatus 10 further comprises a rotation enabling structure 13 which is coupled to the support structure 11. The rotation enabling structure allows the support structure 11

-6to rotate relative to the surface as the front of the bicycle is raised or lowered, as will be described below in more detail.

As will be explained in more detail below, in the example of Figure 3A, the rotation 5 enabling structure 13 is disposed between the support structure 11 and a base 14, which rests on the supporting surface (e.g. a floor, the ground etc.). In contrast, in the example of Figure 3B, the rotation enabling structure 13 rests on the supporting surface.

As can be seen in both examples, the apparatus 10 may further comprise an actuator 15 for driving movement of the mount 12 up and down the support structure 11.

Figures 2Ato 2D illustrate the apparatus 10 of Figure lA in use. In use, the rear of the bicycle may be mounted to a bicycle trainer 21 and the front of the bicycle may be mounted to the mount 12 of the apparatus 10. It will be appreciated that the arrangement and functions described with respect to Figures 2A to 2D are also applicable to the apparatus 10 of Figure lB.

Referring to Figures 2A to 2C, the rotation enabling structure 13 may be adapted to allow the support structure 11 to rotate in a first plane towards or away from the rear of the bicycle 20 as the front of the bicycle 20 is raised or lowered. In other words, the rotation enabling structure 13 may be rotatable to allow the pitch angle of the bicycle 20 to be changed (when in use as illustrated by Figures 2A to 2C).

Figure 2A illustrates the apparatus 10 in a neutral position in which the front of the bicycle 20 is not raised or lowered relative to the rear of the bicycle 20 (i.e. when the bicycle 20 is level).

Figure 2B illustrates the apparatus 10 departing from the neutral position to raise the front of the bicycle 20. As illustrated, the mount 12 to which the front of the bicycle 20 is mounted may be moved up the support structure 11. This raising action causes the front of the bicycle 20 to move in an upwards arc since the front of the bicycle 20 pivots about the fixed rear of the bicycle 20. Therefore, in addition to the vertical component of the motion of the front of the bicycle 20 (the raising), there is also a horizontal component towards the rear of the bicycle 20. In other words, the arced motion of the front of the bicycle can be mathematically considered as having a vertical component

-Ίand a horizontal component. The rotation enabling structure 13 allows the support structure 11 to rotate towards the rear of the bicycle 20 in order to match this horizontal component of motion. Thus, the support structure 11 can be said to rotate to match (or follow) the arced movement of the front of the bicycle.

The rotation of the support structure 11 is illustrated in Figure 2B, with the original position of the support structure 11 and mount 12 being shown in dashed lines relative to the new positions of the support structure 11 and mount 12 when the front of the bicycle 20 has been raised. It can thus be seen that the support structure 11 has pivoted about the rotation enabling element 13 in a direction towards the bicycle 20. As will be appreciated, the rotation of the support structure 11 when the front of the bicycle 20 is raised or lowered may be in a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the frame of the bicycle (that is the plane in which the seat tube, the top tube and the down tube all reside).

Figure 2C illustrates the apparatus 10 departing from the neutral position to lower the front of the bicycle 20. In this situation, front of the bicycle 10 may move in a similar manner to that described above with reference to Figure 2B. More specifically, as illustrated, the front of the bicycle 20 may move in a downwards arc which has corresponding vertical and horizontal components. Thus, the rotation enabling structure 13 may allow the support structure 11 to rotate towards the rear of the bicycle in order to match the horizontal component of the motion of the front of the bicycle. Although not illustrated, as will be explained with reference to Figures 3A and 3B, the rotation enabling structure 13 may also be adapted to allow the support structure 11 to rotate in a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane. In other words, the rotation enabling structure 13 may be rotatable to allow the roll angle of the bicycle 20 to be changed (when in use as illustrated by Figures 2A to 2C). This may contribute to the simulated feel of riding a bicycle in motion since it may allow the bicycle 20 to sway from side to side (this can also be referred to as lateral movement of the bicycle and support structure 11).

In addition, the rotation enabling structure 13 may also be adapted to allow the support structure 11 to rotate in a plane that is substantially parallel to the surface. In other words, the rotation enabling structure 13 may be rotatable to allow the handlebars of the bicycle 20 to rotate (when in use as illustrated by Figures 2A to 2C). As above, this may contribute to the simulated feel of riding a bicycle in motion.

-8Figure 2D illustrates the apparatus 10 in the respective raised, neutral and lowered positions of Figures 2A to 2C. As illustrated, the support structure 11 may be elongate and the mount 12 may be movable along a length of the support structure 11. In the raised position, the mount 12 may be disposed at an upper portion of the support structure 11. In the lowered position, the mount 12 may be disposed at a lower portion of the support structure 11. In the neutral position, the mount 12 maybe disposed at a portion of the support structure 11 which is between the upper and lower portions of the support structure 11. It will, however, be appreciated that whether the mount 12 is in the raised, neutral or lowered position depends not only on the position of the mount on the support structure but also on the height of the rear of the bicycle 20. As such, if the rear of the bicycle 20 is particularly high, the mount 12 being at the upper portion of the support structure 11 may correspond to the bicycle 20 being in the neutral position.

Figures 3A and 3B illustrate different examples of the rotation enabling structure 13 described above. The rotation enabling structure 13 of Figure 3A corresponds to the one illustrated by Figure lA and the rotation enabling structure 13 of Figure 3B corresponds to the one illustrated by Figure lB.

Referring to Figure 3A, the rotation enabling structure 13 may comprise a male part 31 coupled to the support structure 11 and a female part 32 coupled to a base 14. The male part may be rotatably received in the female part, thereby allowing the support structure 11 to rotate relative to the surface on which the base 14 rests. In other words, the rotation enabling structure 13 may act like a ball and socket joint. Alternatively, in some examples, the support structure 11 may be coupled to the female part 32 while the base 14 may be coupled to the male part 31.

As will be appreciated and as described above, the rotation enabling structure 13 of Figure 3A may allow the support structure 11 to rotate in each of three planes. Rotation in the first plane (that is parallel to the page) allows the support structure 11 to tilt towards and/or away from the bicycle as the front of the bicycle is raised and lowered. Rotation in the second plane (that is perpendicular to the page and parallel to the height of the support structure 11) allows the front of the bicycle to tilt from side to side (lateral movement). Finally, rotation in the third plane (that is perpendicular to both the page and the height of the support structure) allows the support structure 11 to twist about its longitudinal axis. Rotation in the third plane (which is typically substantially

-9parallel to the surface on which the apparatus 10 is provided) allows the handlebars of the bicycle to turn/rotate. Such rotation of the handle bars is a natural movement which often occurs when a rider is cycling. This rotation may be provided by the male part 31 of the joint rotating within the female part 32 about an axis that is parallel to the length of the support structure 11.

Rotation in each of the three planes described above may allow the apparatus 10 to emulate the action of the wheel of a bicycle when in use on the road. It will be appreciated that the rotation enabling structure 13 may allow rotation in any one of or any combination of the three planes described above. In some examples, the rotation enabling structure 13 may allow rotation of the support structure 11 in any direction about a pivot point.

The rotation enabling structure 13 may further comprise a locking mechanism which, when activated, prevents rotation of the support structure 11 in one or more of the three planes described above. The locking mechanism may also then be deactivated to allow the rotation which it prevented when it was activated.

The rotation enabling structure 13 of Figure 3A may further comprise a part which resists rotation of the support structure 11 relative to the surface. For example, the rotation enabling structure 13 may comprise a reversibly deformable part 34 disposed between the base 14 and the support structure 11. The reversibly deformable part 34 may be configured to resist rotation of the support structure 11 relative to the base 14. The reversibly deformable part 34 may (when the apparatus 10 is in a neutral position) extend substantially from the base 14 to a lowermost element 36 of the support structure (in this case an end plate). Rotation of the support structure 11 relative to the base 14 may cause the compression of a portion of the reversibly deformable part 34, which as a result exerts a force against the rotation.

In more detail, rotation enabling structure 13 may have a neutral position in which the reversibly deformable part 34 is not deformed (this may correspond to the neutral position of Figure 2D). The rotation enabling structure 13 may also have non-neutral positions (including positions which correspond to the raised and lowered positions of Figure 2D) in which the reversibly deformable part 34 is deformed by rotation of the support structure 11 relative to the base 14. The reversibly deformable part 34 may

- 10 resist rotation of the support structure 11 relative to the base 14 by acting to bias the rotation enabling structure 13 towards the neutral position.

It will be appreciated that the reversibly deformable part 34 may take any appropriate 5 form as long as it is able to resist rotation of the support structure 11 as described above. It will also be appreciated that the reversibly deformable part 34 may be formed from any appropriate material or combination of materials, as long as it is able to reversibly deform in the manner described above.

For instance, the reversibly deformable part 34 may (as in the example of Figures lA and 3A) comprise a collar of (e.g. elastic or rubberised) material which surrounds the male part 31. The aperture in the collar maybe large enough such that there is a gap 37 between the collar and the male part 31. Put another way, the interior surface of the collar may not be in contact with the male part 31. The gap 37 may be air-filled of may be filled with a lubricating liquid. The gap 37 may allow the male part 31 to rotate more easily within the female part 32. Alternatively, the reversibly deformable part 34 may, in some examples, comprise one or more springs instead of the collar described above.

As illustrated in Figure 3A, the reversibly deformable part 34 may extend further from the base 14 on a first side (e.g. the left side of Figure 3A) than on a second side (e.g. the right side of Figure 3A). In other words, the reversibly deformable part 34 may be a wedge shape. In use, the first side may be closer to the bicycle than the second side. The further extension of the reversibly deformable part 34 on the first side may mean that the support structure 11 can rotate further in a first direction (towards the bicycle) than in a second opposite direction (away from the bicycle). This is because on the first side the lowermost element 36 of the support structure 11 starts further away from the base and so is able to rotate further before rotation is obstructed by the base 14. Thus, in examples in which the first side is closer to the bicycle, the maximum amount by which the front of the bicycle can be raised or lowered may be increased.

Referring to Figure 3B, the rotation enabling structure 13 may comprise an arcuate structure 35 coupled to the support structure 11. As illustrated, the arcuate structure 35 may, in some examples, be similar to the shape of part of a bicycle wheel. This may allow the apparatus 10 to behave like the wheel of a bicycle on the ground. The arcuate structure 35 may be arranged to roll on a surface to allow the support structure 11 to rotate relative to the surface. As illustrated, the arcuate structure may be arcuate in first

- 11 and second directions, thereby to allow the arcuate structure to roll in first and second directions. For example, rolling in the first direction may allow the support structure 11 to rotate in the first plane as described above with reference to Figures 2A to 2D. Similarly, rolling in the second direction may allow the support structure 11 to rotate in the second plane as described above with reference to Figures 2A to 2D. Moreover, as will be appreciated, the arcuate structure 35 of Figure 3B also allows rotation in the third plane that is parallel to the surface since the arcuate structure is not fixed to surface and so the bottom of the arcuate structure may slide against the surface to allow rotation in the third plane.

In the example of Figure 3B, the rotation enabling structure 13 is coupled to the support structure 11 via a base plate 38. For instance, a fixing element (e.g. a threaded rod) may extend from the support structure 11 through the base plate 38 and may affix to the rotation enabling structure (e.g. by screwing). Alternatively, the support structure 11 and the rotation enabling structure 13 may each be individually affixed to the base plate 38. The base plate 38 may extend beyond the dimensions of the arcuate structure 35 in all directions. As such, if the support structure 11 rotates in any one direction beyond a particular angle, the base plate 38 may come into contact with the surface (e.g. the floor) and may prevent further rotation. It will be appreciated that, in some examples, the base plate 38 may be omitted and the rotation enabling structure 13 may be directly bolted to the support structure 11.

Figure 4 illustrates an example of an actuator 15 arranged to move the mount 12 relative to the support structure 11. As illustrated, the actuator maybe a screw action actuator. In more detail, the screw action actuator may comprise a threaded rod 41 coupled to the mount 12 and a motor 42 coupled to the threaded rod. The motor 42 maybe arranged to drive the threaded rod 41 (e.g. by turning the threaded rod 41) to move the mount 12 along the threaded rod 41 by a screwing action. In this way, the mount 12 can be moved relative to the support structure 11. It will be appreciated that the motor and threaded screw actuator described above is an example only and any type of suitable actuator can be used, as long as the mount 12 can be moved relative to the support structure 11 in the manner described above. For example, a telescoping actuator or a hydraulic actuator may also be used instead of the screw action actuator described with reference to Figure 4. Also, although the actuator 15 is, in this example, motorised, it may, in other examples, be manual.

- 12 Figures 5A and 5B illustrate examples of coupling elements 50 which can be used to couple the mount 12 to the front of a bicycle. The coupling element 50 may be removably attachable to the mount so that an appropriate coupling element 50 for the type of front of bicycle can be used. As such, a coupling element 50 which is specifically adapted to couple the mount 12 to one or more of the following types of bicycle fork, hub, or axle may be used: nine millimetre quick release, twelve millimetre thru-axle, fifteen millimetre thru-axle, and twenty millimetre thru-axle (or any variation of these systems).

Referring to Figure 5A, the coupling element 50 may be generally cylindrical and comprise an axial though-hole 51. If the forks of the front of a bicycle are of a slotted type (e.g. a 9mm quick release type), the slotted fork maybe placed on top of the cylindrical coupling element 50, and the cylindrical coupling element 50 may be slotted into the slots of the forks. In this case, the forks may be fixed in place by a skewer (e.g. a

9mm quick release skewer) placed through the through-hole 51.

If the forks of the front of the bicycle are of a hole-ended type (e.g. a thru-axle type), the forks maybe placed at either end of the cylindrical coupling element 50, and the holes of the forks may be aligned with the through-hole 51. In this case, the forks may be fixed in place by a thru-axle placed through the through-hole 51 and the holes in the forks.

As illustrated by the example of Figure 5B, the forks of the front of the bicycle may be further secured in place using one or more securing elements 52.

It will be appreciated that, in general, the coupling element 50 maybe compatible with both slotted forks and hole-ended forks, and also compatible with their corresponding attachment methods as described above (e.g. 9mm quick-release and/or thru-axle).

As illustrated in Figure 6, the apparatus 10 may further comprise control apparatus 60 configured to control the actuator 15 (for example, the actuator of Figure 4) to move the mount 12 relative to the support structure 11. For example, the control apparatus 60 may send control signals to the actuator 15 to cause the actuator to move the mount 12. As such, it will be appreciated that the actuator 15 may be electronically controllable.

The control apparatus 60 may communicate the control signals to the actuator via wired or wireless communication means.

-13The control apparatus 60 maybe any appropriate control apparatus such as a computer, a mobile telephone or an electronic head unit which can be worn by the user. It will be appreciated that the control apparatus 60 maybe placed on the bicycle handlebars or held by a third party user (e.g. a bicycle fitter accompanying the user sat on the bicycle). The control apparatus 60 may comprise processing circuitry and memory storing computer readable instructions thereon. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute the computer readable instructions to carry out any of the functions of the control apparatus 60 described herein.

The control apparatus 60 maybe configured to control the actuator 15 in response to a user input received at a user interface 61. The user interface 61 may, for example, be a touchscreen of a mobile phone. As such, it will be appreciated that the control apparatus 60 may also be in communication with the user interface 61 via wired or wireless communication means. The user may input a command to raise or lower the front of the bicycle 20 via the user interface 61, in response to which the control apparatus 60 may control the actuator 15 to move the mount 12 based on the command. As illustrated, the user interface 61 maybe mounted to the bicycle 20 so that the user can use the user interface 61 while on the bicycle 20. In this way, the raising and/or lowering of the front of the bicycle can be achieved while the user is in the process of using the bicycle 20 with the apparatus 10 and a bicycle trainer 21.

The gradient sensor maybe attached to the bicycle or to the apparatus 10. In some examples, the gradient sensor (also known as an inclinometer) may be a mechanical tilt-based sensor. The mechanical tilt-based sensor may be attached to a certain point on the bicycle 10 or the apparatus 10 and measure the inclination at that point.

In some examples, the gradient sensor maybe an optical gradient sensor (e.g. an infrared gradient sensor) which measures a height difference between two points on the apparatus 10 using light (e.g. one point on the base 14 and one point on the mount 12).

The optical gradient sensor may calculate the inclination based on the measured height difference (e.g. using an algorithm).

-14In some examples, the gradient sensor maybe part of a mobile phone and may measure the inclination via a phone app (e.g. using a GPS or gravity sensor in the phone).

It will be appreciated that although three specific examples of gradient sensor have 5 been described above, any appropriate type of gradient sensor may be used to measure the inclination.

The apparatus may further comprise a cut-off switch configured to prevent movement of the mount 12 past a predetermined point relative to the support structure 11. This may prevent the mount 12 hitting the top or bottom of the support structure 11, thus avoiding damage to the support structure 11.

In some examples, the cut-off switch may comprise a mechanical switching mechanism. The mechanical switching mechanism may comprise a first mechanically activated switch disposed at the top of the support structure 11. The mechanical switching mechanism may also comprise a second mechanically activated switch disposed at the bottom of the support structure 11. When the mount 12 moves relative to the support structure (driven by the actuator 15) and comes into contact with either the first or second mechanically activated switches (e.g. by depressing the first or second switch), the switch may be activated to cause the actuator 42 to switch off, thus halting the movement of the mount 12. This may prevent the mount 12 from hitting the top or bottom of the support structure 11.

In some examples, the cut-off switch may comprise an optical switching mechanism.

Similarly to the mechanical switching mechanism described above, the optical switching mechanism may comprise a first optically activated switch disposed at the top of the support structure 11. The optical switching mechanism may also comprise a second optically activated switch disposed at the bottom of the support structure 11.

The first and second optically activated switches may each output a light beam (e.g. an infrared light beam) and switch on/off in response to the light beam being blocked by an object. Thus, when the mount 12 moves relative to the support structure (driven by the actuator 15) and activates either the first or second optically activated switches (e.g. by moving to block a light beam), the actuator 42 may be caused to switch off, thus halting the movement of the mount 12.

-15It will be appreciated that the mechanically activated/optically activated switches described above may each be movable to alter the point on the support structure n at which the movement of the mount 12 is halted by said switches.

Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the independent claims, other aspects of the invention comprise other combinations of features from the described embodiments and/or the dependent claims with the features of the independent claims, and not solely the combinations explicitly set out in the claims.

It is also noted herein that while the above describes various examples, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modifications which may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

-ι6-

Claims

Claims

1. Apparatus for raising and/or lowering the front of a bicycle relative to a surface, comprising:

5 a support structure for supporting the front of the bicycle above the surface;

a mount for receiving the front of the bicycle, wherein the mount is movably coupled to the support structure to allow the mount to move between a plurality of different positions relative to the support structure, thereby to allow the front of the bicycle to be raised and/or lowered relative to the surface; and

10 a rotation enabling structure coupled to the support structure to allow the support structure to rotate relative to the surface.
2. The apparatus of claim l, wherein the rotation enabling structure allows the support structure to rotate relative to the surface as the front of the bicycle is raised or

15 lowered.
3. The apparatus of claim l or claim 2, wherein the rotation enabling structure is adapted to allow the support structure to rotate in a first plane towards or away from the rear of the bicycle.
4. The apparatus of any one of claims l to 3, wherein the rotation enabling structure is adapted to allow the support structure to rotate in such a way as to allow lateral movement of the bicycle.

25 5. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotation enabling structure is adapted to allow the support structure to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

6. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mount is movable along a length of the support structure.

7. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotation enabling structure comprises:

a male part coupled to one of the support structure and a base; and a female part coupled to the other one of the support structure and the base,

35 wherein the male part is rotatably received in the female part.

-178. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the rotation enabling structure further comprises a reversibly deformable part disposed between the base and the support structure to resist rotation of the support structure relative to the base.
5 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the reversibly deformable part extends further from the base on a first side than on a second side.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein, in use, the first side is closer to the bicycle than the second side.
11. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rotation enabling structure comprises an arcuate structure coupled to the support structure, the arcuate structure being arranged to roll on the surface to allow the support structure to rotate relative to the surface.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the arcuate structure is arcuate in first and second directions.
13. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further 20 comprises an actuator arranged to move the mount relative to the support structure.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the actuator comprises: a threaded rod coupled to the mount; and a motor coupled to the threaded rod and arranged to drive the threaded rod to 25 move the mount along the threaded rod, thereby to move the mount relative to the support structure.
15. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mount comprises a coupling element arranged to couple the mount to the front of the bicycle.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the coupling element is adapted to couple the mount to one or more of the following types of front of bicycle:

nine millimetre quick release; twelve millimetre thru-axle;

35 fifteen millimetre thru-axle; and twenty millimetre thru-axle.

-ι817. The apparatus of any one of claims 13 to 15, further comprising control apparatus configured to control the actuator to move the mount relative to the support structure.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the control apparatus is configured to control the actuator in response to a user input.
19. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a gradient 10 sensor configured to sense an inclination of the apparatus relative to the surface.
20. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a cut-off switch configured to prevent movement of the mount past a predetermined point relative to the support structure.
21. A system, comprising:

the apparatus of any one of the preceding claims; a bicycle mounted to the mount; and a bicycle trainer coupled to the rear of the bicycle.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1706368.6 Examiner: Mr Patrick Lucas