WO1994023807A1

WO1994023807A1 - Bicycle riding exercise device

Info

Publication number: WO1994023807A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1994/000030
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francis Patrick Cooney
Original assignee: Francis Patrick Cooney
Priority date: 1993-04-14
Filing date: 1994-04-13
Publication date: 1994-10-27
Also published as: AU6545494A

Abstract

An exercising device comprising a frame (2) having two spaced apart rollers (6) to support the rear wheel (7a) of a bicycle (7) and a forward roller (10) to support the front wheel (7b) of the bicycle. At least one of the spaced apart rollers (6) is connected to the forward roller (10) so the forward roller (10) will rotate in unison with the at least one spaced apart rollers (6). The frame (2) has crawler wheels (3) to support the frame (2) on a surface and to allow the frame (2) to move over the surface. Means are provided where at least one of the crawler wheels (3) is driven through a speed reduction system from at least one of the spaced apart rollers (6).

Description

BICYCLE RIDING EXERCISE DEVICE

Riding a bicycle is well recognised not only for sport and recreation but also for exercise. Initially road going bicycles were adapted particularly for exercise by attaching them to a stand and including a form of brake which acted on the rear wheel to enable a person to obtain exercise on a bicycle while the bicycle is essentially stationary. The exercise bicycles have undergone a further evolution into purpose built machines which resemble bicycles only in that they have pedals attached to a crank which drives a wheel which can have mechanical, dynamic or electrical braking, the intensity of which is controllable by the user.

Technical Field

While the known exercise bicycles provide a form of exercise, they suffer a major disadvantage in that because they are permanently or temporarily stationed in a set location, continued use of the bicycle tends to be boring and uninteresting. A further disadvantage with the specialised forms of exercise cycles is that no particular skill is required to ride them and there is no feedback to the user which will give the impression of riding a bicycle. Consequently the mere use of an exercise machine which is essentially stationary, while having a wide acceptance as a very satisfactory means of exercise is also recognised to be of very limited, if any, enjoyment. Another disadvantage exhibited by the specialised forms of exercise bicycles is that they are essentially solitary machines because there is little if any competitive nature in the exercise. Consequently apart from the user's desire to obtain certain levels of exercise there is little or no likelihood of competition from other people.

In an endeavour to improve the quality of such exercise machines it has been proposed to adapt a known form of bicycle by locating its rear driven wheel on rollers so that when the rear wheel is rotated by the use of the pedals and gear system, the rollers will also rotate. If the rollers are of a sufficient width, then the rear wheel can move laterally on the rollers as it rotates, with the amount of lateral movement on the rollers being controlled. Generally means are provided to maintain the bicycle in a substantially upright condition while the front 8 wheel or the front of the bicycle is suitably tethered or supported. When the user has mounted the bicycle and commences pedalling to rotate the rear wheel, a sensation partly

- 1 - simulating the use of a bicycle on the road will be obtained.

Background Art

One such device is disclosed in UK Patent Specification 2,195,549 which describes a machine having two rollers which have parallel spaced apart axes with the rollers being journalled to or otherwise supported on a base frame. A channel extends from the base frame to support the front wheel of the bicycle. The rear driven wheel of the bicycle is positioned, on the two rollers.

In a further adaptation, in an endeavour to produce a more life-like effect of riding a bicycle, there is described in the specification of US Patent 4,415, 152 a method of mounting a conventional bicycle, whereby the rear wheel rests on rollers which have parallel spaced apart axes. One or more of the rollers drives a belt way on which the front wheel of the bicycle rests. As the rear wheel is rotated, the belt way moves and this in turn rotates the front wheel of the bicycle to thus provide an action which more closely simulates the motion of riding a bicycle. Means are provided to restrain, within preset limits, the lateral movement of the bicycle on the device.

Another form of bicycle is that described in the Patent Specification WO88/09688 which discloses an apparatus in which the rear wheel of the bicycle also drives an endless treadmill on which the front wheel of the bicycle unit rests. The treadmill has irregularities on its surface to simulate bumps of a conventional road surface.

In all of the prior known devices, although the device is constructed so that the riding of a bicycle on a roadway is partly simulated, nevertheless, the device as a whole is stationary and consequently such a device does not fulfil all of the desirable features that should be available.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved bicycle training and exercise device, which will allow the rider to experience a simulated effect of riding a bicycle on the road or track.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a device on which a bicycle can be mounted and which traverse the surface on which the device is supported at a distance and at a speed which is related to the amount of rotation and speed of rotation of a wheel of the bicycle.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, one form of the invention consists in an exercising apparatus for use with a bicycle, said apparatus comprising:

a frame having crawler wheels to support the frame on a surface and to provide mobility to the frame on the surface,

a pair of rollers having spaced apart parallel axes journalled to the frame and adapted to support the rear wheel of the bicycle,

a forward roller to support the front wheel of the bicycle, said front roller having its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the said axis of the pair of rollers,

means to rotationally connect at least one of the pair of rollers to the forward roller,

means to rotationally connect at least one of the pair of rollers to at least one crawler wheel.

Brief Description of Drawings

Preferred forms of the invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a typical form of the device incorporating the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of a preferred form of the device, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device but drawn to a larger scale.

- 3 - Best Mode of Carrying out the Invention

As can be seen particularly from Fig. 1 the device includes a frame 2 which is essentially rectangular in shape and which may be formed from a suitable material such as a non corrodible metal or the like. The frame includes four crawler wheels 3 which are suitable supported on axles 4 journalled to the frame so that the crawler wheels may rotate in relation to the frame and which will support the frame on a surface (not shown in the drawings) to enable the frame to move on the surface.

The device also includes a pair of rollers 6 which are suitably journalled to the frame 2 so their axes are parallel and spaced apart as shown in the drawings. To effect this, bearing means are provided so that the rollers can rotate freely in the journals. The rollers 6 as shown, extend essentially the full width of the interior of the frame 2 and the peripheral surface of the rollers may be covered with a suitable wear resistant surface. When the rear wheel 7a of the bicycle such as that graphically illustrated at 7 rests between but on the surface of the rollers, rotation of the rear wheel will result in a corresponding rotation of the rollers 6. It will be understand that the rollers 6 are positioned so that their axes are parallel and are spaced apart a suitable distance to enable the rear wheel 7a of the bicycle 7 to rest between but on the surface of the rollers.

The device also includes a forward roller 10 which is also suitably journalled in bearings so that it may rotate in relation to the frame 2. Suitable adjustment means are preferably provided so that the spacing of the forward roller 10 from the rear rollers 6 can be adjusted. One preferred means comprises forming a slot 11 in the sides of the frame 2 through which the axle 10a of the roller 10 may protrude. The end of the axle 10a may be threaded and a suitable lock nut screwed onto the threaded end to lock the axle in the desired location. The adjustment means enables the forward roller 10 to be moved closer to or further away from the rollers 6 so that when the rear wheel 7a of the bicycle rests between the rollers 6, the front wheel 7b of the bicycle will rest on the roller 10 as indicated in Fig. 1. The peripheral surface of the roller 10 is also preferably provided with a suitable non-skid surface.

Means are provided so that rotation of one or both of the rollers 6 can result in a

- 4 - corresponding rotation of the roller 10. One preferred means is to connect one of the rollers 6 by suitable drive means such as the belt indicated at 12 to the forward roller 10. Suitable adjustment means are provided to maintain adequate tension on the drive means 12 to ensure the forward roller 10 will rotate with the rear rollers 6.

In use, when the rider has mounted the bicycle and commences pedalling, the rear wheel will rotate and the rotation of the rear wheel will be transmitted from a roller 6 by the drive 12 to the forward roller 10 so that the front wheel 7b of the bicycle which is resting on the roller 10 will also rotate.

In addition to the drive means which rotates the front wheel 7b, additional drive means are also provided so that rotation of the rear wheel 7a of the bicycle will also result in an equivalent rotation of at least one set of the crawler wheels 3. It is highly desirable that the rotational speed of the crawler wheels 3 is very considerably less than the rotational speed of the rear wheels 7a of the bicycle. Accordingly a speed reduction system is utilised between the roller 6 and the crawler wheel 3. One suitable speed reduction system is shown at 15 in Fig. 3. In this system a series of toothed reduction gears are utilised so that rotation of the roller 6 will in turn result in rotation of the crawler wheel 3 but at a greatly reduced speed. Various means of providing the reduction in the speed can be obtained as will be apparent to those skilled in the art and the use of the gears as indicated in Fig. 3 is given as one indication only of a preferred method of obtaining this result. Various forms of speed reducing mechanisms can be utilized, such as for instance commercial speed reduction gear boxes, or a series of sprockets driven by chains, or a series of pulleys driven by belts and the like.

It will thus be understood that when the rear wheel of the bicycle is rotated, then the front wheel of the bicycle will also rotate at the same speed. The bicycle is preferably not tethered so that a person having mounted the bicycle and commenced pedalling will have to maintain balance on the bicycle. Balance will be assisted because the front wheel, which is rotating, can be turned and so will move laterally across the forward roller 10. However, because the front wheel when turned will move rapidly laterally across the forward roller 10, an additional element of skill is required to maintain balance on the bicycle. Consequently the user can experience an enhancement of the effects generally found from riding a bicycle

- 5 - because of the additional skill required. In addition to the simulated effect the device will also move along the surface on which it is placed at a speed which is directiy proportional to the speed of rotation of the wheels of the bicycle. Because of the reduction in the ratio between the rear wheel 7a and the driven crawler wheels 3, the device will move quite slowly along the surface. The reduction is preferably arranged so that the cycling of the equivalent of four kilometres will result in the device moving approximately 12 metres on the surface. However various speed reductions are contemplated and to this end the speed reduction mechanism can be made so that the reduction can be varied as required by the user.

By arranging the crawler wheels 3 to receive their motive power from the bicycle, the machine becomes a self propelling device which will simulate a sensation very similar as if the rider is riding on a road or a track. Because the bicycle is essentially not tethered it is necessary to concentrate on the riding and the maintenance of balance while peddaling. In addition the forward movement of the device will assist in the simulation of riding on a road or track.

If desired, grooves, tracks or other guiding means may be provided on the surface to ensure the frame moves solely in the desired direction.

Because of the fact that the machine as a whole can move, it is possible for a number of the machines to be utilized by different riders at the same time particularly if each device has essentially similar gear reduction between the wheel 7a of the bicycle and of crawler wheels 3 of the device. Riders can thus compete with other riders in 'riding' the machine along a track from a start to a finish point and the winner of such a "race" or competition will be the rider who not only is able to maintain peddaling the bicycle at the highest rate but who is also able to maintain balance and control of the bicycle on the rollers.

In a modification of the invention, means are provided to enable one or both sets of crawler wheels to be steerable, thereby enabling the rider to steer the device while riding the bicycle.

In a yet further modification of the invention, if the machine is to be utilized solely for exercise in a specific location then means may be provided to immobilize the device.

- 6 - One such preferred means consists of legs 20 which are diagrammatically shown for instance in Fig. 1 and which may be lowered so as to raise the ground wheels 3 of the surface and thereby provide stability to the device so that it will no longer move.

Although not shown in the drawings, part of the upper portion of the frame may be covered with a suitable material in a manner that the rollers 6 and the forward roller 10 will be left exposed.

To assist transportation of the device, the sides of the frame 2 can be hinged at 21 so that the sides of the frame can be folded as indicated by the arrows.

It is to be understood that modification and improvements can be made to the invention as herein described which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Any such modifications and improvements are to be incorporated herein as being within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

- 7 -

Claims

1. Exercising apparatus for use with a bicycle, said apparatus comprising:

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the distance between the said forward roller and the pair of rollers can be adjusted.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2, including a speed reduction means between the at least one of the pair of rollers and the at least one crawler wheel.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the speed reduction means comprises as series of reduction gear wheels.

5. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein belt drive means connects the at least one of the pair of rollers with the said forward roller.

- 8 -

6. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said frame has hinge means to enable the frame to be folded for transportation.

7. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a set of retractable legs operable to enable the said crawler wheels to be raised clear of the said surface.