Patent Publication Number: US-9884237-B2

Title: Bicycle trainer

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to bicycle training technology and more particularly, to a bicycle trainer having high structural strength. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In order for bicycle riders to exercise cycling without being affected by weather or the environment, the most common way is to set up the bike on a bicycle trainer, enabling the bike to be pedaled indoors to achieve a training effect similar to riding a bike outdoors. 
     A conventional bicycle trainer, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,916 (hereinafter called as Patent 916), mainly comprises a U-shaped frame 2 and two legs 3. The legs 3 can be extended out of the bottom side of the U-shaped frame 2 to allow the bicycle trainer to be positioned on the floor. A rear wheel 9 of a bicycle 8 is held in place between two side bars of the U-shaped frame 2, and kept in contact with an impeller unit 100 that provides a damping resistance to achieve training effects. Further, the U-shaped frame 2 and the legs 3 can be folded up to allow the bicycle trainer to be easily stored. 
     Because the impeller unit 100 of the aforesaid Patent 916 or similar trainer is located at the bottom side of the U-shaped frame 2 and has a relatively heavier magnetic attraction device set located at one lateral side, the center of gravity of the structure is deviated from the center of the U-shaped frame 2, and therefore, there is a problem of trainer bias and being difficult to lift the trainer. 
     Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,143 (hereinafter called as Patent 143) discloses another design of bicycle trainer, wherein first and second frame members 18, 20 are pivotally connected to each other so that when the second frame member 20 is positioned on the floor, the first frame member 18 can be moved to an operative extended “up” position with respect to the second frame member 20, allowing a rear wheel 38 of a bicycle to be placed between two arcuate end portions 36 of the first frame member 18. When a user rides the bicycle, the body weight of the user and the weight of the bicycle itself can force the wheel-rotating unit 44 and the rear wheel 38 into engagement with each other for cycling exercises. 
     However, because the aforesaid Patent 143 or similar trainer uses the pivotable, obliquely extended second frame member 20 to hold the rear wheel of the bicycle, the center of gravity of the rider&#39;s body will be lifted and moved when the rider pedals the bicycle with much effort to perform, for example, a standstill training or high cadence pedaling training, thus, the second frame member 20 will be abnormally biased toward the first frame member 18, causing the rider unable to steadily pedal the bicycle, and the trainer can fall down suddenly during the exercise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a bicycle trainer, which has a solid structural strength when in use and, facilitates folding after each use. 
     To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a bicycle trainer of the invention is adapted for supporting a wheel of a bicycle. The bicycle trainer comprises a base frame, a damper unit, a support frame, and a non-return unit. The base frame comprises a first pivot connection part. The damper unit is mounted at the base frame. The support frame comprises a second pivot connection part and a locating portion. The second pivot connection part is pivotally connected to the first pivot connection part of the base frame, allowing the support frame to pivot relative to the base frame in direction away from or toward the damper unit. When the support frame is disposed in an oblique position relative to the base frame, the locating portion and the damper unit can hold the wheel of the bicycle in place. The non-return unit can be mounted at the base frame or the support frame to prohibit the support frame from pivoting in a direction away from the base frame. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the non-return unit comprises an engaging member and a fixed member. The engaging member and the fixed member are respectively mounted at one of the support frame and the base frame. The engaging member comprises a cam portion. The fixed member faces toward the cam portion. The cam portion of the engaging member can be selectively moved into engagement with or in direction away from the fixed member. When the cam portion is forced into engagement with the fixed member, the non-return unit prohibits the support frame from pivoting in a direction away from the base frame. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the non-return unit comprises an engagement member and a ratchet member. The engagement member and the ratchet member are respectively mounted at one of the support frame and the base frame. The engagement member is selectively movable relative to the ratchet member into engagement with or in direction away from the ratchet member. When the engagement member is forced into engagement with the ratchet member, the non-return unit prohibits the support frame from pivoting in a direction away from the base frame. 
     Based on the composition of the aforesaid component parts, the invention enables the support frame to be constrained by the non-return unit, avoiding instability or collapse of the bicycle trainer during application and ensuring a high level of safety during exercises. Further, the user can conveniently fold up the bicycle trainer into a compact condition for storage. 
     Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique top elevational view of a bicycle trainer in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a support frame held in an inclined position on a base frame. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the bicycle trainer in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the bicycle trainer in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the bicycle trainer in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view of the bicycle trainer in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a part of  FIG. 5 , illustrating the non-return unit stopped against the support frame. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic applied view of the bicycle trainer in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates another application status of the bicycle trainer in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 6 , illustrating the support frame released from the constraint of the non-return unit. 
         FIG. 10  is similar to  FIG. 6 , illustrating the support frame released from the constraint of the non-return unit and received to the base frame. 
         FIG. 11  is similar to  FIG. 1 , illustrating the support frame received to the base frame. 
         FIG. 12  is an elevational view of a part of a bicycle trainer in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating another alternate form of the non-return unit. 
         FIG. 13  is a right side view of a part of the bicycle trainer in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior to viewing the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the bicycle trainer of the present invention can be used for bike pedaling training exercises, or simply for supporting a bicycle. Further, the directional terms or similar terms to describe the shape, such as “cylindrical”, “circular shaped”, “front end”, “rear end”, “top side”, “bottom side” throughout the specification are simply exemplary description languages, not intended for use to limit the scope of the claims. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , a bicycle trainer in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The bicycle trainer comprises a base frame  10 , a damper unit  20 , a support frame  30 , and a non-return unit  40 . The base frame  10  comprises two parallel-spaced first extension portions  12 , and a first connection portion  14 . Each first extension portion  12  has a first pivot connection part  16  located at a front end thereof. In the present preferred embodiment, the first pivot connection part  16  at each first extension portion  12  is a cylindrical sleeve. The two first pivot connection parts  16  are coaxially extended in a first axial direction  18  substantially in parallel to the ground. The first connection portion  14  extends in integrity between the front ends of the two first extension portions  12  to support the damper unit  20 . The base frame  10  has foot members  19  located at a bottom side thereof for positioning on the ground. 
     The support frame  30  comprises two long rod-like second extension portions  32  and a second connection portion  34 . The two second extension portions  32  are parallel-spaced. The second connection portion  34  is transversely connected between the two second extension portions  32  at a bottom side. Each second extension portion  32  has a locating portion  36  located at a top side thereof for holding a bicycle wheel  1 . The second connection portion  34  has a second pivot connection part  38  located at each of two opposite ends thereof. Each second pivot connection part  38  is pivotally connected to one respective first pivot connection part  16  of the base frame  10 , allowing the support frame  30  to pivot relative to the base frame  10  in direction away from the damper unit  20  or toward the damper unit  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the aforesaid direction away from the damper unit  20  is to turn the support frame  30  about the first axial direction  18  in a counter-clockwise direction b; the aforesaid direction toward the damper unit  20  is to turn the support frame  30  about the first axial direction  18  in a clockwise direction a. When pivot the support frame  30  in direction away from the base frame  10 , the support frame  30  will be lifted and held in an oblique position at a predetermined inclined angle relative to the base frame  10 , allowing the bicycle wheel  1  to be positioned in between the support frame  30  and the damper unit  20 . At this time, the wheel axle  5  of the bicycle wheel  1  is supported in the locating portions  36 , and the outer periphery of the bicycle wheel  1  is stopped against one roller set  24  of the damper unit  20 . When pivot the support frame  30  toward the base frame  10 , the support frame  30  will be received to the base frame  10 , keeping the locating portions  36  in proximity to the damper unit  20 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , in this first embodiment, the non-return unit  40  is a cam mechanism, however, because the non-return unit  40  is used to prohibit the support frame  30  from pivoting in a direction away from the damper unit  20 , the positioning of the non-return unit  40  is not limited to the location described in this embodiment; any arrangement capable to prohibiting the support frame  30  from pivoting in a direction away from the damper unit  20  should be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention. 
     The non-return unit  40  comprises an engaging member  42  and a fixed member  44 . The engaging member  42  comprises a cam portion  46  and an operating portion  48 . The cam portion  46  defines a center of rotation  47 . The engaging member  42  is pivotally connected with the center of rotation  47  thereof to a bottom side of one second extension portion  32  of the support frame  30  adjacent to the pivot connection between the second pivot connection part  38  and the first pivot connection part  16 . The fixed member  44  has a substantially circular shape. Further, the fixed member  44  is mounted at the base frame  10  to face toward the bottom side of the cam portion  46  of the engaging member  42 . When the cam portion  46  is moved with the engaging member  42  to have a part of the surface thereof be forced into contact with the fixed member  44 , the cam portion  46  is tightly squeezed against the fixed member  44 , enabling the engaging member  42  to stop the support frame  30  from pivoting relative to the base frame  10 , and thus, the non-return unit  40  can prohibit the support frame  30  from pivoting in a direction away from the base frame  10 . Under this technical concept of the present invention, the position of the engaging member  42  and the position of the fixed member  44  can be exchanged, i.e., the same effect can be achieved by mounting one of the engaging member  42  and the fixed member  44  at the support frame  30  and the other at the base frame  10 . 
     According to the above statement to describe the component parts of the bicycle trainer, as illustrated in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , when the support frame  30  is held in an inclined position between the bicycle wheel  1  and the base frame  10 , the two locating portions  36  of the support frame  30  hold the bicycle wheel  1  in place, and the tread of the bicycle wheel  1  is rotatably kept in contact with the damper unit  20 , enabling the bicycle wheel  1  to be held down between the support frame  30  and the damper unit  20  by the weight of the rider, and thus the rider can pedal the bicycle in situ. During cycling, the cam portion  46  is directly stopped against the fixed member  44 , and therefore, the support frame  30  is prohibited by the non-return unit  40  from pivoting in a direction away from base frame  10 . If the rider&#39;s body is largely lifted or forwardly moved during cycling, the support frame  30  can still be secured firmly to base frame  10  by the non-return unit  40 , avoiding instability or collapse of the bicycle trainer and ensuring exercise safety. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9-11 , after the exercise is ended and the bicycle wheel  1  is removed from the support frame  30 , the user can operate the operating portion  48  of the engaging member  42  to pivot the engaging member  42  to an angle where the cam portion  46  and the fixed member  44  are kept apart. At this time, the support frame  30  is released from the constraint of the engaging member  42  and can be pivot relative to the base frame  10  and then closely attached to the base frame  10  to minimize the dimension of the bicycle trainer, facilitating storage and saving storage space. 
     Under the same concept of the present invention, the non-return unit can be alternatively made in the form of a ratchet mechanism. In a second embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , the non-return unit comprises a holder frame  50 , an engagement member  52 , a handle  54 , and a ratchet member  56 . The holder frame  50  is mounted at the bottom side of one second extension portion  32  of the support frame  30 . The engagement member  52  is movably mounted inside the holder frame  50 . The handle  54  is pivotally mounted at the holder frame  50 , and operable to move the engagement member  52  relative to the holder frame  50 . Moving the engagement member  52  can engage a toothed bottom side of the engagement member  52  into the ratchet member  56  at the base frame  10 , or disengage the toothed bottom side of the engagement member  52  from the ratchet member  56 . When the engagement member  52  is forced into engagement with the ratchet member  56 , the non-return unit prohibits the support frame from pivoting in a direction away from the base frame  10 . When the engagement member  52  is disengaged from the ratchet member  56 , the support frame  30  can then be freely pivot relative to the base frame  10 . Thus, this second embodiment can achieve the same effects of the aforesaid first embodiment. 
     Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.