Abstract:
A bicycle training apparatus having an elevator assembly, a wheel support assembly operatively coupled to the elevator assembly, and a resistance interface assembly operationally coupled to the elevator assembly. The elevator assembly operates to raise and lower the wheel support assembly, and the resistance interface assembly provides an output signal proportional to the height of the wheel support assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to devices for exercise, and more specifically to, devices for stationary bicycle training. 
     2. Background of the Related Art 
     Aerobic exercising apparatuses are well known in many forms which emulate real-world, non-stationary activities in a stationary manner. These include, among others, stationary exercising devices which emulate rowing, cycling, cross-country and downhill skiing, ice skating, walking, running, stair climbing, and rock climbing. 
     A wide variety of exercisers are known in the field of stationary bicycle exercisers. These include, among others, the devices disclosed in the following patents. 
     First, U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,363 to Sargeant, et al., entitled “Bicycle Racing Training Apparatus,” discloses an exercising apparatus for supporting a bicycle. The apparatus includes a flywheel and variable load means connected to a roller in contact with the bicycle&#39;s rear wheel to simulate the inertia and variable load experienced by a rider during a real-world ride. U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,475, also to Sargeant, et al. and entitled “Bicycle Racing Training Apparatus”, discloses, in addition to the apparatus disclosed in the previously discussed patent, means for varying the load applied from the variable load means to simulate real-world bicycle race conditions. 
     Next, U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,600 to Hoffenberg et al. and entitled “Bicycle Support and Load Mechanism” discloses an apparatus for receiving a bicycle to enable stationary exercise thereupon. The device includes a mechanism for applying differing loads to the rear wheel to simulate real world cycling conditions such as road incline, wind resistance, and tire to road friction. U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,721 to Schroeder, entitled “Bicycle Trainer with Movable Resistance Device” discloses a similar device. 
     In a like manner, U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,672 to Tendero, entitled “Training Apparatus for Cyclist and for Physical Exercise” discloses a device which receives a bicycle. The bicycle is positioned on a running belt and is constrained so as to permit lateral movement while restraining linear movement. 
     Somewhat similar to the foregoing is U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,802 to Ware, entitled “Variable Pitch Stationary Exercise Bicycle”, which discloses a bicycle-like exercise apparatus which varies rear wheel resistance based on user controlled inclination or declination of the pseudo bicycle frame. U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,418 to Harabayashi and entitled “Cycle Type Athletic Equipment” also discloses a bicycle type exercise apparatus that tilts in a variety of orientations. U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,527 to Yu, entitled “Stationary Bike,” likewise discloses a bicycle-like apparatus that alternates between an inclined and declined orientation to simulate uphill and downhill terrain. The device further includes a brake shoe which engages with a wheel to increase friction when the apparatus is in a simulated uphill orientation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,417 to Smithson et al., entitled “System and Method for Bicycle Riding Simulation” discloses an interactive, computer controlled bicycle simulation arcade style game. The disclosed apparatus includes a simulated bicycle that includes front and rear wheels solely for visual appearance. A computer and user each partially controls the movement of the simulated bicycle in connection with an animated bicycle displayed on a screen. The computer controls the simulated bicycle in part to simulate changes in track terrain, including uphill and downhill gradations. 
     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,990 to Bobick et al., entitled “Interactive Exercise Apparatus” discloses a computer manipulated exercise device in which a computer controls various feedback components such as resistance to simulate a real world or artificial environment for an exerciser. The computer disclosed also updates a display of a virtual environment on a screen based on user inputs such as pedal speed and steering changes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,631 to Heidecke, entitled “Exercise Device”, discloses a bicycle-like apparatus that includes partial computer control over pedal resistance, as well as device orientation, so as to simulate inclined terrain and the like. The disclosed apparatus also may include a display device displaying simulated environments. 
     Still other exercise apparatuses simulate bicycling in a minimal manner. One such apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,251 to Sleamaker, entitled “Multifunction Exercise Machine with Ergometric Input-Responsive Resistance.” The apparatus disclosed in this reference includes, among other configurations, a means for a user to exercise via pedals with resistance provided by the user&#39;s weight. 
     The foregoing devices have several shortcomings. For example, the several apparatuses discussed above that include simulated bicycles do not permit exercisers to use their own bicycles—a significant flaw for serious cyclists such as those involved in competitive cycling. These users generally desire to train on the same bicycle used in actual competition, not a different, simulated bicycle. Likewise, none of these apparatuses allow a user to mount his or her own bicycle in a device that simulates inclinations and declinations through varied bicycle orientation and cycling resistance proportional thereto. Furthermore, none permit a user to mount a bicycle into an apparatus that simulates real world conditions through video displays and the like. 
     With these considerations in mind, it is desirable to have an apparatus and method for using the same which permits serious cyclists to use 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A bicycle training apparatus is disclosed having an elevator assembly, a wheel support assembly operatively coupled to the elevator assembly, and a resistance interface assembly operationally coupled to the elevator assembly. The elevator assembly operates to raise and lower the wheel support assembly, and the resistance interface assembly provides an output signal proportional to the height of the wheel support assembly. 
     The output signal may be a tension on a cable operatively attached to the resistance interface assembly, and the signal may be a decrease in tension of the cable proportional to an increase in height of the wheel support assembly. 
     The apparatus may include a linear bearing assembly operationally coupled to the wheel support assembly to provide support thereto. The apparatus may also include a linkage assembly operationally disposed between the elevator assembly and the resistance interface assembly such that the resistance interface assembly reacts to changes in the linkage assembly to provide an output signal proportional to the height of the wheel support assembly. 
     The apparatus may also include a linear actuator motor operationally coupled to the elevator assembly. The apparatus may also include a semi-automatic controller for controlling the linear actuator motor in accordance with a predefined sequence. Likewise, the apparatus may include a programmable controller for controlling the linear actuator motor to conform physical bicycle conditions substantially with a display of a virtual environment and/or to raise and lower the wheel support assembly in substantial synchronicity with a display of a virtual environment. 
     These and other aspects of the subject invention will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawings described herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that those having ordinary skill in the art to which the subject invention pertains will more readily understand how to make and use the subject invention, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein with reference to the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a trainer or trainer/support unit and a bicycle mounted therein. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, including a bicycle wheel mounted therein. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an elevational view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, including a bicycle wheel mounted therein. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The various assemblies described herein each represents a particular embodiment of such assembly, and other embodiments of these assemblies, providing equivalent functionality, may be readily substituted. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , bicycle  200  can be seen operationally mounted in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Wheel platform  117  extends from frame  100  and supports front wheel  210  of bicycle  200 . Frame  100  may be of extruded aluminum or any other material and/or fabrication method providing sufficiently rigid support. Alternatively, frame  100  may comprise a housing providing substantially similar functionality to frame  100 , and the two may be considered functionally interchangeable and equivalent. Furthermore, frame  100  may include a covering (not shown) to hide and protect the assemblies contained therein and to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance for the unit. 
     Rear wheel  220  is mounted in support unit  300  at axle clamp  311 . Resistance unit  310  contacts rear wheel  220  substantially at its periphery and provides variable resistance to the free rotation of the wheel based on the input provided to it by an input cable, for instance, not shown, as will be readily understood by those of skill in the art. Support unit  300  and resistance unit  310  may be readily obtained as a unit, for example, as with the Minoura Mag 850 manufactured by the Minoura Company Limited (1197-1 Godo, Anpachi, Gifu, Japan), or the Computrainer Pro 3D, manufactured by RacerMate Inc. (3016 N.E. Blakeley Street Seattle, Wash.) or any other similar trainer or trainer/support unit combination with a remote capability. Elevation legs  312  may lift support unit  300  so that bicycle  200  is supported some distance above the ground when in its level orientation. In this manner, front bicycle  200  may be declined (i.e., placed in a “downhill” orientation) as well as inclined, as will be discussed in further detail below. 
     Support unit  300  may position rear wheel  220  at a sufficient elevation such that the instant invention may both incline and decline the bicycle, as will be discussed in further detail below. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 through 4 , frame  100  provides overall structural support for the operational components of the present invention and provides a framework for transmission of forces from the bicycle/rider system to the surface on which the unit is placed. 
     Wheel platform  117  is adapted for accepting a front wheel of a bicycle and supporting it therein. In the instant embodiment, wheel platform  117  includes base  113  and sidewalls  112  and  114  extending perpendicularly therefrom. Tire channel  115  is formed between sidewalls  112  and  114 . While an arrangement such as shown in  FIG. 2  may be preferred, other wheel platform arrangements may also be utilized. For example, side walls  112  and  114  may be removed, or the wheel platform assembly may be curved instead of substantially orthogonal as shown, provided that the assembly adequately supports a bicycle wheel as discussed herein. Alternatively, the wheel platform may be adapted to accept a bicycle fork with wheel removed, for instance, by providing a fixedly attached cylinder approximating a wheel axle to be accepted by a bicycle fork. Collectively, wheel platform  117 , base  113 , sidewalls  112  and  114 , tire channel  115 , and elevation plate  116  comprise wheel support assembly  110 . 
     Wheel platform  117  is operationally coupled to elevation plate  116  which in turn is coupled to linear bearing assembly  150 , which is shown in exploded detail in  FIG. 4 , and thereby to drive plate  122  of elevator assembly  120 . Bearing assembly  150  is comprised of a bearing block  153  disposed between two bearing pads  152  and bearing plates  151 , with two bearings or sets of bearings  154  disposed in the ends of bearing block  153 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Bearings  153  travel in bearing channels  155  of frame  100 . Bearings  153  may be of an acetal resin such as Delrin brand acetal resin manufactured by DuPont (1007 Market Street, Wilmington, Del.), and bearing assembly  150  may be any sufficiently strong assembly such as those from Bosch Rexroth Corp. (5150 Prairie Stone Parkway Hoffman Estates, Ill.) or other similar bearing assemblies. Bearing pads  152  may also be of a like acetal resin and may be ⅛″ thick. 
     Elevator assembly  120  comprises drive plate  122  having aperture  124 , and drive nut  127 . Drive plate  122  functionally connects linear bearing assembly  150  to linear actuator assembly  140 . Linear actuator assembly  140  is comprised of motor  141 , lead screw  142 , base  143 , and transmission means between motor  141  and lead screw  142  (not shown). In operation, motor  141  rotates lead screw  142  via gear, pulley or other transmission means contained in base  143 . Linear actuator motor  141  may be a Von Weise linear actuator model #V05583AX76U, manufactured by Fasco (402 E. Haven Street Eaton Rapids, Mich.) and others. Because drive nut  127  is fixedly attached to drive plate  122 , which is constrained by linear bearing assembly  150  and/or frame  100  so as to prohibit rotational movement, as lead screw  142  rotates, drive nut  127  travels linearly along the length of lead screw  142 , thereby raising and lowering drive plate  122 . Drive plate  122  in turn raises and lowers elevation plate  116  and thus wheel platform  117 . 
     The load applied to wheel platform  117  exerts a momentary force on linear bearing assembly  150  via elevation plate  116 , which linear bearing assembly  150  transmits to frame  100 , largely via vertical members  102 , to base members  103 , which in turn transmit the force to the surface on which the unit is placed. Base members  103  should extend a sufficient distance from vertical members  102 , generally under wheel platform  117 , so as to prevent the unit from tipping when a load is applied. 
     Elevator linkage  160  is comprised of several elements. First, base link member  165  is fixedly attached to frame  100  at any suitable point, for instance on base member  103  and/or rear vertical member  105 . Lower linkage  161  is attached to base linkage at substantially the proximal end of lower linkage  161  by means of pin  165   a  such that lower linkage  161  is permitted to pivot about pin  165   a.  Lower linkage  161  is attached at substantially its distal end to the substantially proximal end or upper linkage  162  via pin  165   c  such that the linkages may rotate about pin  165   c.  Upper linkage  162  is attached at substantially its distal end to the substantially proximal end of drive plate bracket  163  via pin  165   d  such that upper linkage  162  may rotate about pin  165   d.  Drive plate bracket  163  is fixedly attached to drive plate  122 , for example, at its periphery. 
     While elevator linkage  160  is shown in the present embodiment as having several substantially linear arm-like linkages, any linkage configuration which is capable of translating the height of the wheel platform and/or elevator assembly to the resistance unit interface may be utilized as a linkage assembly. 
     Resistance unit interface assembly  130 , which provides an interface between a resistance unit and the present invention to transmit resistance information to such resistance unit, is operationally coupled to elevator assembly  120  via elevator linkage  160 . The proximal end of cable  134 , which may be knotted or be terminated in a ferrule or similar arrangement, or anchored in any other mechanically sound manner, is connected resistance cable linkage  135  at the linkage&#39;s proximal end by insertion into groove  121  formed in the proximal end of resistance cable linkage  135 . The substantially distal end of resistance cable linkage  135  is coupled to lower linkage  161  by pin  165   b  such that resistance cable linkage  135  and lower linkage  161  may rotate about pin  165   b . Multiple attachment points  133  in the form of apertures for receiving pin  165   b  may be provided in lower linkage  161  so as to allow fine tuning of the operation of cable  134  in connection with the unit. 
     In operation, when elevator assembly  120  moves upwardly or downwardly, as previously described, resistance cable linkage  135  follows the movement of lower linkage  161 , altering the tension on cable  134  in proportion to the movement of lower linkage  161 , which in turn moves in proportion to the raising and lowering of elevator assembly  120  and consequently wheel platform  117  and front wheel  210 . Thus, as front wheel  210  is raised and bicycle  200  is inclined as previously described, the tension on cable  134  is reduced proportionally to the degree of wheel rise (and therefore bicycle incline). Because cable  134  controls the resistance applied to rear wheel  220  and therefore the resistance felt by the user when pedaling, the user experiences an increase in pedaling resistance proportional to the degree of incline, just as if the user were actually climbing a hill in the real world. Likewise, if the bicycle is positioned such that a the unit&#39;s lowest level of elevation (i.e., when the elevator assembly is at the lowest point of travel) the bicycle is declined (i.e., pointing “downhill”), the rider may experience minimum pedal resistance, as if the rider were traveling downhill in the real world. 
     While the preferred embodiment disclosed in the figures includes elevator linkage  160  operationally disposed between elevator assembly  120  and resistance cable assembly  130 , other arrangements, such as direct attachment of the resistance cable linkage to the elevator assembly are possible without departing from the present invention. 
     Linear actuator  140 , which controls the motion of elevator assembly  120 , may be controlled through a variety of means. In certain embodiments, linear actuator  140  may be controlled directly by the user by means of electrical switches, buttons and the like, as will be readily appreciated by those of skill in the art. Electromechanical means may also be utilized. 
     In other embodiments, linear actuator  140  may be controlled by a semi-automatic controller, that is, a controller requiring limited user intervention, such as intervention to start or stop the controller or to select a particular program to govern operation of the controller, as discussed more fully below. For example, a timer circuit may be used to control an linear actuator  140  using a 120 VAC, 1.8A PSC motor with built in limit switches. Upon applying power to the timer circuit, from a switch mounted on a remote switch plate controlled by the user, the timer circuit may run sequentially through various timer segments constituting an exercise “program”. A program may comprise multiple segments such as:
         Timer Segment 1—Upon supplying power to the circuit, the actuator immediately starts and runs in the forward direction from 4-20 seconds;   Timer Segment 2—The actuator remains off from between 2 and 360 seconds;   Timer Segment 3—The actuator runs in reverse for 4-20 seconds; and   Timer Segment 4—The actuator remains off from between 2 and 360 seconds.       

     Low voltage solid state relays or triacs may be used to switch 120 VAC directly to provide a margin of safety for the user. Alternatively or additionally, a microprocessor and up to four potentiometers may be used to control these timing functions. 
     In still other embodiments, linear actuator  140  may be controlled by a programmable controller such as a computer or microprocessor based device, including among others the NetAthlon manufactured by FitCentric® Technologies, Inc. (9635 Monte Vista Ave, Suite 201, Montclair, Calif.) and the aforementioned Computrainer devices. Such controller may be adapted to synchronize visual cues, such as computer generated graphics depicting a simulated real world riding environment, as well as physical cues, such as pedaling resistance. In this embodiment, a control computer or similar device would send appropriate signals to linear actuator  140  to raise or lower front wheel  220  in synchronicity with visual displays, for example, to raise wheel  220  when a visual display depicted an uphill environment. Other environmental elements could be similarly controlled in this manner, such as fans to simulate wind conditions proportional to bicycle speed and/or ambient weather conditions. 
     In the foregoing embodiments, the programmable controllers are directly interfaced to the unit of the instant invention; however, other embodiments are also possible, for example, embodiments wherein the programmable controllers directly control the resistance unit. In this case, the unit of the present invention would adjust front wheel elevation in proportion to the resistance applied by the resistance unit, thus achieving the same experience for the rider as in the previously discussed embodiments. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the pertinent art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects.