Abstract:
A bicycle trainer is a bicycle-mounted apparatus used to produce friction to resist the turning of a wheel of a bicycle, thereby requiring the rider to exert more energy than would otherwise be necessary. The bicycle trainer is adjustable by the rider while riding, and can simulate hill or mountain climbing at any positive grade.

Description:
[0001]    This invention is a bicycle-mounted exerciser that provides an adjustable, variable resistance to a bicycle wheel, thereby requiring a bicycle rider to exert more or less energy to pedal the bicycle. By working against a resistance, a bicycle rider can get exercise and training for leg strength and overall endurance as part of a physical training program while riding a bicycle. The exerciser device is mounted to the post supporting the bicycle seat, and is adjustable to enable a friction wheel to be pressed downward against the bicycle&#39;s driving wheel with sufficient force to substantially eliminate slippage between the bicycle&#39;s driving wheel and the exerciser&#39;s friction wheel. If desired, the exercise device may be raised above the bicycle wheel to allow the driving wheel to turn without being in contact with the exercise device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many kinds of exercise devices have been used on bicycles and other pedal-operated equipment to artificially increase resistance to pedaling whereby a rider will have to exert greater force upon the bicycle pedals in order to turn them. Some such devices are found in so-called “stationary” bicycles which are designed to be used in a gymnasium or other enclosed area, and which serve the sole purpose of providing resistance to a pedaling movement. Other exercise devices have been designed as stationary platforms for standard bicycles that can be placed upon the platform to provide resistance to pedaling. Because stationary bikes and standard bicycles placed upon a stationary platform are not mobile, and are used within a controlled physical space, the friction generating mechanisms can be as large, heavy, or intricate as may be required to provide the necessary resistance to motion. However, bicycles are primarily used for traversing terrain, and many riders enjoy the freedom of being able to cover distances on a bicycle while also obtaining exercise. For such riders, a suitable exercise device must be mounted upon the bicycle and must be operable by a rider under varying conditions of speed and terrain. For a bicycle-mounted exercise device, factors such as weight, simplicity of operation, ruggedness, and efficiency in dissipating heat that is generated through the friction of restraining the circular motion of the bicycle driving wheel take on added importance. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The exercise device of this invention is a seat-post mounted frame supporting a friction wheel and a braking wheel that are rigidly joined with a common axle. The friction wheel is held in non-slipping contact with a bicycle wheel while the braking wheel is subjected to a braking force applied through an adjustable brake pad. Although it is preferred that the friction be in non-slipping contact with the rear (driving) wheel of a bicycle, the device will provide adequate resistance to pedaling when placed in non-slipping contact with a non-driving bicycle wheel. The rotation of the exerciser&#39;s braking wheel is retarded by a brake pad mounted within the braking wheel. The brake pad has a linkage to a hand lever operated by the rider for adjusting the amount of resistance to rotation being provided at any given time. A turn screw on the exercise device is used to adjust the downward force of the friction wheel against a wheel of the bicycle to ensure sufficient pressure to avoid slippage during operation of the exercise device. When the exercise device is not being used, the turn screw can be adjusted to hold it out of the way, above the driving wheel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a right elevational view showing the exercising device in relation to a bicycle rear wheel and seat mounting post. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the exercise device of this invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a detailed right elevational view depicting the friction wheel of the exercise device being held out of contact with a bicycle tire. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a detailed right elevational view showing the friction wheel of the exercise device being held against a bicycle tire. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a left elevational view showing the braking wheel with the spring linkage holding the brake pad away from contact with the braking wheel. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a left elevational view showing the brake pad being pressed into operating engagement with the braking wheel. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the exercise device with the mounting clamp in an open position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of the exercise device with the mounting clamp closed and tightened. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a detailed perspective view of the friction wheel and braking wheel of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is a cutaway front view of the braking wheel taken along plane A-A′. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the exercise device of this invention  10  is mounted on a bicycle by being attached to the bicycle seat post where it can be positioned in relation to the rear wheel of a bicycle. An adjustment turn screw  40  may be tightened to press the device against the bicycle wheel, or may be released to relieve the downward pressure and permit the device to be raised above the bicycle wheel. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  shows the exercise device in perspective view. A friction wheel  20  and a braking wheel  30  are maintained in rigid co-axial relationship upon a single axle  50 . The friction wheel is in contact with the bicycle tire during operation. Although the diameters of the friction wheel  20  and the braking wheel  30  are shown as being substantially equal in  FIG. 2 , this is not a requirement for acceptable operation of the exercise device, and the braking and friction wheels of the device may be of different sizes in order to achieve a desired combination of rotational speed and braking forces. 
         [0016]    The exercise device has three framing pieces that may be adjusted to properly position the friction and braking wheels above the rear wheel of a bicycle. An upper frame  90  is rigidly attached to an adjustable clamp  60  that secures the device to the post of a bicycle seat. Middle frame  100  is securely fastened to upper frame  90 . Middle frame  90  also includes an adjustment bracket  70  through which is threaded a turn screw  40  that is used to make fine adjustments to the positioning of the friction wheel  20  upon a bicycle tire. Lower frame  110  is pivotably joined to middle frame  100  at pin  180 , and has a pressure plate  160  rigidly attached to the lower frame below tuna screw  40 . Brake piston  120  and brake cylinder  190  are visible adjacent to lower frame  110 . 
         [0017]    As seen in  FIG. 2 , the upper frame  90 , middle frame  100 , and lower frame  110  have large open cavities which result in an overall weight reduction for the device. Strong, lightweight materials are desirable, as they provide sufficient retarding forces when the device is applying friction, yet do not otherwise hinder operation of the bicycle when the device is raised to eliminate additional friction that is supplied by the exercise device. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , lower frame  110  securely supports braking wheel  30  and friction wheel  20  while permitting them to rotate together, and also supports the braking assembly comprising brake piston  120 , brake spring  130 , brake cable  140 , brake cylinder  190 , and brake pad  150 . In  FIG. 5 , brake pad  150  is being held away from contact with the inner portion of braking wheel  30  by brake spring  130 , allowing braking wheel  30  to rotate freely. Also,  FIG. 5  shows the braking wheel being a spoked wheel, rather than a solid disc, thereby reducing the mass of the wheel and the overall weight of the exerciser. 
         [0019]      FIG. 6  shows brake pad  150  being drawn against the inner circumference of braking wheel  30  when brake cable  140  is tightened. A conventional hand lever or turning knob (not shown) can be mounted on the bicycle handle bars or some other convenient location, and may be adjustable to increase or decrease resistance to the rotation of braking wheel  30  and, through axle  50 , with friction wheel  20 . As brake pressure is applied, resistance causes the braking wheel  30  to transmit a retarding force to the friction wheel  20  through common axle  50 , thereby placing additional resistance upon the friction wheel  20  and the bicycle tire, requiring the rider to exert more effort while riding and obtain the desired exercise and training. 
         [0020]    A turn screw  40  is threaded into adjustment bracket  70  which is rigidly attached to middle frame  100 . Turn screw  40  protrudes downwardly to contact pressure plate  160  which is rigidly attached to lower frame  110 . When tightened downwardly, turn screw  40  presses against pressure plate  160 , causing lower frame  110  to pivot about pin  180  toward the bicycle tire, bringing friction wheel  20  into contact with the tire, as is depicted in  FIG. 4 . Pin  180  is a bolt having a locking nut that may be tightened or loosened, as circumstances require, to allow lower frame  110  to be pivoted about rotating pin  180  with a slight amount of force.  FIG. 3  also shows a raising spring  170  (in phantom) behind middle frame  100 . Raising spring  170  places upward pressure on lower frame  110  and holds pressure plate  160  against turn screw  40 . When the friction wheel  20  is to be raised above the bicycle tire, turn screw  40  is backed partially out of adjustment bracket  70 , allowing raising spring  170  to force lower frame  110  upwards. Friction wheel  20  will then be raised above the bicycle tire.  FIGS. 3 and 4  depict the friction wheel as having spokes, although the friction wheel may be a solid disc, depending upon engineering preferences. 
         [0021]    When the bicycle to which the exercise device is mounted is being operated over open terrain, turn screw  40  is subject to vibration that may cause unwanted tightening into adjustment plate  70 , changing the setting previously applied by the rider, and increasing the pressure holding friction wheel  20  against the bicycle tire. To prevent such inadvertent tightening of the turn screw, a turn screw spring  80  may be coiled about the shaft of the turn screw, and will operate to counteract the force of gravity that would otherwise cause turn screw  40  to tighten. 
         [0022]    The exercise device of this invention is portable from bicycle to bicycle, and has sufficient adjustment pins, levers, and screws to make it suitable for nearly all conventional bicycles. As is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a quick-release clamp  40  is used to secure the exercise device to the post of a bicycle seat. A cambered lever  200  is pivotally connected to a shaft  220  which is itself pivotally attached to one of two opposing clamp arms  210 . Each of the clamp arms pivots between an open and closed position, depicted respectively in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . If desired, shaft  220  can be threaded to permit the distance between clamp arm  220  and cambered lever  200  to be lengthened or shortened to accommodate larger or smaller diameter bicycle seat posts. When clamp  40  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 8 , cambered lever  200  will pivot to an over-center position in which the clamp will remain closed -until manually released. 
         [0023]    A detailed depiction of the braking wheel  30  and the friction wheel  20  is given in  FIG. 9 . Friction wheel  20  may have an abraded or other non-slip circumferential surface to prevent slippage between friction wheel  20  and a bicycle tire. Friction wheel  30  has a cylindrical configuration extending around the circumference of the wheel. Brake pad  150  fits within the circumference defined by the inner cylindrical surface and, when activated through brake piston  120 , will exert a frictional force against the inner portion of the cylindrical surface to retard rotation of the braking wheel.  FIG. 10  shows a cutaway front view of the braking wheel taken along line A-A′. In one embodiment, the cylindrical surface of braking wheel  30  extends beyond the disc of the wheel on both sides of the disc to create spaces for brake pads  150  on both sides of the disc. This embodiment may be used where strong braking forces are desired, or to maintain symmetrical braking forces upon braking wheel  30 . Where dual brake pads are used, brake piston  120  will attach to both brake pads using a “U” shaped harness, enabling both brake pads  150  to apply force to braking wheel  30  with a single movement of the brake cable  140 . 
         [0024]    It will be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are exemplary, and that persons of ordinary skill may conceive additional embodiments not explicitly described herein, but which fall within the disclosure and scope of the invention. The invention is therefore limited only by the claims appended hereto.