Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a support device for a bicycle according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

In the cycling sector, the use of so-called rollers or trainers is widespread, that is, devices intended for training in closed environments through which the bicycle may be supported on fixed supports and capable of producing an adjustable braking action on pedalling.

In the context of these devices, the need is felt to be able to recreate situations and conditions that are increasingly similar to those which actually occur in the context of actual cycling practice on the road and outdoors in general.

As part of this need, numerous solutions have been developed aimed at recreating the real conditions that the cyclist may feel during outdoor training and being able to work interactively with the cyclist's activity.

In view of this interactivity, front wheel supports have also been developed which are able to simulate the slopes of the road surface, tilting the bicycle up or down to simulate uphill or downhill stretches. This position may therefore be accompanied by an appropriate variation in the pedalling resistance offered by the roller or by the trainer which allows simulating the ascent or descent condition.

An example of this type of support is described in the international patent application <CIT> which relates to a training device for bicycles which comprises an essentially vertical guide element and a shoe designed to fix the front hub of the bike. The shoe is able to slide along the guide element by means of a belt driven by an electric motor. The guide element is therefore capable of making the shoe slide in a substantially vertical direction, so as to raise and lower the front end of the bicycle.

In order to maintain the correct distance between the axis of the rear wheel of the bicycle and the fixing point of the front hub thereof on the shoe, it is also possible to make the guide element oscillate with respect to a horizontal axis and parallel to the wheel axes.

In fact, it should be understood that the aforementioned distance undergoes variations for purely geometric reasons during the vertical movement of the shoe, variations which must be compensated for in order to allow the training device to function correctly.

The international patent application <CIT> essentially describes two different solutions for carrying out this compensation.

In a first embodiment, the base of the guide element has a curved shape in such a way as to allow the entire device to oscillate according to the compensation required.

A second embodiment, on the other hand, provides for mounting the guide element on a base which may be oscillated by means of a pin. Also with this solution, therefore, the guide element may tilt forward and backward following the vertical movement of the shoe.

One of the main drawbacks linked to these known solutions is related to the fact that the user may feel a sensation of relative instability due to the possibility of oscillation provided for the guide element.

The oscillation may in fact be felt on the handlebar even when the bicycle is kept at a constant inclination, for example when the user gets up from the saddle to simulate a sprint or to perform particular exercises during training.

A further drawback of the solution described in <CIT> is also linked to the movement by means of a belt which may prove to be not very reliable over time.

A further solution is disclosed in <CIT> in which the guide element can rotate with respect to a ground support. Also this solution has the same drawbacks described in connection to <CIT>.

Therefore, the problem underlying the present invention is that of providing a support device for front wheels of bicycles structurally and functionally conceived to at least partially obviate one or more of the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the cited prior art.

A further object is to provide a support device for a front wheel which is able to compensate in an appropriate manner the variations in distance between the support area of the front wheel hub and the axis of the rear wheel which take place when the bicycle is tilted up or down.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a support device for a front wheel which is capable of providing sufficient stability to the user during training practice.

This problem is solved and these objects are achieved, at least in part, by the invention by means of a support device for a bicycle front fork according to claim <NUM>, such that it comprises a support structure intended to be rested on a support surface, a fixing group configured to retain the front fork and supported on the support structure.

The support device preferably comprises a device for translating the fixing group configured in such a way as to move the fixing group in the vertical direction and connection means configured for slidingly constraining said fixing group to said support structure in such a way as to allow displacements of the fixing group with respect to the support structure along a compensation direction C transversal, and preferably perpendicular, to the vertical direction.

The displacements of the fixing group with respect to the support structure along a compensation direction C are preferably linear, i.e. they took place along a straight line.

It will be appreciated that the possibility of moving the fixing body with respect to the support structure allows, during cycling training on rollers or trainers, to compensate for the distance of the fixing group with respect to the position of the rear axle of the bicycle.

In this way, the upward or downward displacement of the front of the bicycle may be carried out, thus simulating a slope situation, while ensuring maximum stability of the structure as the fixing body is slidingly constrained to the support structure placed on the ground.

The provision of a linear displacement capability furthermore allows to make the structure in a particularly stable and resistant manner, guaranteeing a feeling of sufficient stability to the user during displacements.

In some embodiments of the invention, the translation device comprises a guide element with a preferably vertical extension. Preferably, such guide element has the shape of an elongated column.

These features allow for creating a solid and at the same time compact structure, suitable for lifting/lowering the fork of the bicycle with respect to a neutral position which coincides with that which the bicycle would normally have when moving on flat ground.

Preferably, the translation device comprises a support base. The guide element is connected to the support base. In some embodiments, the support base has a substantially rectangular shape. Preferably, the support structure has an elongated shape in such a way as to define a longitudinal direction, the compensation direction being substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction.

Based on another aspect, the connection means comprise a pair of rails and respective shoes sliding in said rails. The support structure may comprise the rails and the translation device may comprise the shoes, or vice versa.

These features allow for obtaining a sliding constraint between the fixing body and the support structure in a simple, robust and, consequently, reliable manner over time.

In some embodiments, each of said rails comprises a first and a second portion arranged at opposite ends of said support structure along said compensation direction.

In some embodiments, the sliders may preferably comprise rollers. The rollers may, for example, be rotatably connected to the support base by means of pins. Preferably, the rails comprise windows through which said pins pass.

According to still further aspects of the invention, the translation means comprise means for actuating the fixing group configured to translate the fixing group along said vertical direction, which preferably comprise a screw and an internally threaded bush, said fixing group being connected to said bush. Preferably, the actuation means comprise an anti-rotation device of the bush with respect to the column guide element, in such a way as to obtain the translation of the movable element following the rotation of the screw.

Preferably, the fixing group comprises retaining means configured in such a way as to define a locking axis of the fork, preferably coinciding with the front wheel axle of the bicycle when the fork is fixed to the fixing group. In some embodiments, the retention means comprise a first and a second locking element, each locking element being configured so as to lock a respective arm of the fork, said locking elements being aligned along said locking axis. Preferably, the compensation direction is transverse to said locking axis.

By virtue of these features, it is possible to effectively lock the front fork, ensuring the stability of the bicycle during training.

In some embodiments, the retention means are rotatably supported on the fixing group in such a way as to allow limited rotations of the retention means with respect to an axis of rotation preferably parallel to the vertical direction. Preferably, the locking axis forms an angle between <NUM>° and <NUM>° with the compensation direction.

By virtue of these features, the device of the present invention allows for carrying out rotational movements of the bicycle handlebars during training. The training experience may therefore be particularly similar to real road cycling.

Accordingly, the invention also relates to the use of the aforementioned support device for cycling training.

Accordingly, the invention relates to a cycling training kit comprising the aforementioned support device and a rear wheel training device, such as a roller or a trainer.

Advantageously, the support device for the fork and training device for the rear wheel are configured in such a way that the compensation direction defined by the support device coincides with the longitudinal extension direction of the bicycle.

Further preferred features of the invention are more generally defined by the dependent claims.

These features and the advantages associated with them will become more apparent from the detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, which will be illustrated, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

With initial reference to <FIG>, a support device for a bicycle front wheel <NUM> is indicated as a whole with the reference numeral <NUM>.

The support device <NUM> of the present invention may be advantageously used in combination with a training device <NUM>, for example a roller or a trainer, which comprises a support <NUM> through which the bicycle may be supported at its rear wheel axle. The training device <NUM> is configured in such a way as to allow simulation of pedalling.

For this purpose, the device <NUM> is advantageously provided with a brake, such as a magnetic, fan, hydraulic or electromechanical brake, to counteract the user's pedalling, which is transmitted either by one or more toothed pinions on which the chain meshes or by means of a roller driven by friction by the rear wheel tyre. In other words, the device of the present invention may form a training kit together with a device <NUM> or other similar system.

As may be seen from the figure, during training the fork <NUM> of the bicycle is fixed to the support device <NUM>, according to methods described in greater detail below.

With reference now also to <FIG>, the support device <NUM> comprises a support structure <NUM> intended to be placed on a substantially flat support surface S, for example the floor of a room in which training is carried out. Still with reference to <FIG>, the support device <NUM> further comprises a fixing group <NUM> configured to retain the front fork <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in some embodiments the fixing group <NUM> may comprise retention means <NUM> configured in such a way as to define a locking axis B of the fork <NUM>.

Preferably, the retention means <NUM> comprise a first and a second locking element 22A, 22B, each configured in such a way as to lock a respective arm of the fork <NUM>.

The locking elements 22A, 22B may for example be made in the form of pins, in such a way as to define a fixing structure similar to that defined by the ends of a common bicycle wheel hub.

It will therefore be appreciated that when the fork <NUM> is fixed to the fixing group <NUM>, the locking axis B coincides with the front wheel axis X of the bicycle <NUM>.

With reference again to <FIG>, the support device <NUM> comprises a translation device <NUM> of the fixing group <NUM> which includes a guide element <NUM> preferably in the shape of an elongated column.

In some embodiments, the fixing group <NUM> may slide on the guide element <NUM> in such a way as to allow displacements in the vertical direction V of the fixing group <NUM> and, in particular, of the retention means.

In this way, the front end of the bicycle <NUM> may be raised or lowered, allowing it to be placed during training in a position similar to that which occurs on an uphill or downhill road.

With reference now also to <FIG> and <FIG>, the movement of the fixing group <NUM> in the vertical direction takes place by means of suitable actuation means <NUM>.

Preferably, these actuation means <NUM> comprise a screw <NUM> and an internally threaded bush <NUM>. The screw is rotated around an axis Z preferably coinciding with the vertical axis V, by means of an electric motor <NUM> which may be associated with a reducer <NUM>.

The fixing group <NUM> is connected to the internally threaded bush <NUM> and the rotation of the screw <NUM> determines the displacement of the group <NUM> along the axis Z of the screw, the group <NUM> being itself slidingly constrained along the guide element <NUM>.

In this way, the vertical position of the fixing group <NUM>, and therefore of the front of the bicycle, may be easily controlled by means of a control system, thus allowing the optimal implementation of interactive training solutions. In preferred embodiments, the actuation means <NUM> are housed inside the column which forms the guide element <NUM>, with the motor <NUM> and the reducer <NUM> positioned at the base thereof.

Preferably, the actuation means <NUM> comprise an anti-rotation device <NUM> of the bush <NUM> with respect to the column guide element <NUM>, in such a way as to obtain the translation of the movable element <NUM> following the rotation of the screw <NUM>. In some embodiments, the rotation device comprises sliding shoes <NUM> sliding into relative seats <NUM> formed in the guide element <NUM>.

With reference again to <FIG>, the translation device <NUM> may comprise a support base <NUM>, which preferably has a substantially rectangular shape. The guide element <NUM> is advantageously connected to this support base <NUM> and extends vertically therefrom.

According to an aspect of the invention, the support base is connected to the support structure <NUM> by means of suitable connection means <NUM> which allow the sliding of the base <NUM> with respect to the support structure <NUM> along a compensation direction C perpendicular to the vertical direction V.

It will be appreciated that the sliding of the base <NUM> determines a corresponding sliding of the fixing group <NUM> and, more generally, the connection means may also be configured differently, as long as they are suitable for slidingly constraining the fixing group <NUM> to the support structure <NUM> in such a way as to allow displacements of the group <NUM> along the compensation direction C.

As may be seen from <FIG>, the displacements of the fixing group <NUM> along the compensation direction C allow the locking axis B to be brought closer/further away with respect to the training device <NUM>. In this way, the correct distance between the training device <NUM> and the support device <NUM> may therefore be maintained following the inclination of the bicycle around its rear axle XP.

In some embodiments, the bicycle <NUM> may be fixed to the training device <NUM> in such a way that it may rotate, as a whole, around the rear axle XP. This allows for avoiding sliding at the locking zone between the bicycle <NUM> and the training device <NUM> during upward or downward inclination.

It will also be appreciated that although in the embodiment shown in the figure the compensation direction substantially coincides with a horizontal direction parallel to the longitudinal extension of the bicycle, embodiments may be provided in which the compensation direction C is inclined with respect to these directions, provided it is not parallel to the vertical axis and the rear axis of the bicycle.

However, it is preferable that the compensation direction C is substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the support structure <NUM>. With reference now also to <FIG>, a possible implementation of the connection means <NUM> will be described.

In particular, in preferred embodiments the connection means may comprise a pair of rails <NUM> and respective sliders <NUM>. Advantageously the rails <NUM> develop in a straight manner, along the compensation direction C. Preferably there are two pairs of rails and respective sliders, formed at transversely opposite ends of the device <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the rails <NUM> are formed in the support structure <NUM> while the sliders <NUM> are supported on the lifting/lowering device <NUM>. However, it is clear that the opposite solution may also be contemplated. Preferably, the sliders <NUM> are in the form of rods sliding in said rails <NUM>.

In some embodiments, each of the rails <NUM> may comprise a first and a second portion 41A, 41B arranged at opposite ends of the support structure <NUM> along the compensation direction C. A return element 43A may also be provided, configured in such a way as to urge the lifting/lowering device <NUM> in an intermediate position along said compensation direction C between respective limit positions.

In alternative embodiments, illustrated for example in <FIG>, the sliders <NUM> may comprise rollers <NUM>, sliding in said rails <NUM>. Preferably there are two pairs of rails and respective sliders, formed at longitudinally opposite ends of the device <NUM>.

The rollers <NUM> may, for example, be rotatably connected to the support base <NUM> by means of pins <NUM>. In this case, the rails <NUM> advantageously comprise windows <NUM> through which the pins <NUM> pass.

The rollers <NUM> may therefore slide inside the rails <NUM> allowing a sliding connection between the support structure <NUM> and the base <NUM> or, more generally, between the support structure <NUM> and the fixing group <NUM>.

With reference again to <FIG>, according to another aspect of the invention, the retention means <NUM> may be rotatably supported on the fixing group <NUM> in such a way as to allow limited rotations of the retention means <NUM> with respect to an axis of rotation S1, preferably parallel to said vertical direction V.

As illustrated in <FIG>, according to another aspect the retention element <NUM> may be rotatable with respect to the movable element <NUM>, also with respect to a secondary axis S2 perpendicular to the locking axis B and to the main axis S1. The secondary axis S2 is preferably substantially horizontal.

Advantageously, the retention element <NUM> may also be translatable along the locking axis B.

As shown schematically in <FIG>, the connection of the retention means <NUM> on the fixing group <NUM> may be configured in such a way that the retention means <NUM> may rotate so that the locking axis B forms a variable angle α with said compensation direction C. Preferably, such angle α may be comprised between <NUM>° and <NUM>°, where <NUM>° corresponds to the straight position of the fork <NUM>. In this way, handlebar rotations of approximately ± <NUM>° with respect to its central position may be allowed.

It will therefore be appreciated that a support device thus made may allow for simulating, in a training session, conditions for the front of the bicycle particularly similar to those which occur during the actual cycling practice. This may be desirable, for example, in the case in which it is desired to simulate in a realistic manner the upward or downward progress.

At the same time, the bicycle is supported in a stable and safe manner, for the benefit of the user's safety and comfort.

Claim 1:
A support device (<NUM>) for a bicycle (<NUM>) including a front fork (<NUM>), said support device (<NUM>) comprising a support structure (<NUM>) which is intended to be supported on a substantially planar support surface (S), a fixing group (<NUM>) which is configured to retain the front fork (<NUM>) and which is supported on the support structure (<NUM>), wherein said fixing group (<NUM>) comprises retention means (<NUM>) which are configured so as to define a locking axis (B) of the fork (<NUM>), a translation device (<NUM>) of said fixing group (<NUM>) which is configured so as to move said fixing group in a vertical direction (V), and connection means (<NUM>) which are configured to slidingly secure said fixing group (<NUM>) to said support structure (<NUM>) so as to allow movements of said fixing group (<NUM>) with respect to said support structure along a compensation direction (C) which is transverse to said vertical direction (V), characterized in that said compensation direction (C) along which said movements of said fixing group (<NUM>) with respect to said support structure (<NUM>) are allowed is linear and transverse to said locking axis (B).