Bicycle trainer with movable resistance device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6702721
  • Patent Number
    6,702,721
  • Date Filed
    Friday, January 19, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 9, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
An exerciser adapted for use with a pedaled device includes a frame having a post support ends for supporting the pedaled device and a frame mounting flange. A resistance device is selectively securable to the frame mounting flange in a first position relative to the opposed support ends. An adapter is selectively securable to the frame mounting flange and has an adapter mounting flange such that when the adapter is secured to the secured mounting flange, the resistance device is securable to the adapter mounting flange.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to exercise equipment, and more particularly, to a bicycle trainer.




Bicycle trainers have been used by bicycle enthusiasts to convert their bicycles for stationary riding. A typical user is a bicycle owner who competes in various bicycle races or rides often. When the weather prevents riding outdoors, such as it is raining, too cold or too hot, the cyclist can use the trainer indoors to simulate a ride. In some cases, cyclist may want to use a trainer while also reading or watching television. However, in all cases, the bicycle trainer should be easy to use and simulate bicycle riding. A common bicycle trainer has a frame onto which the user mounts the bicycle. Typically, the rear wheel of the bicycle is in contact with a roller that, in turn, is coupled to a resistance unit. The roller is supported by the frame at a fixed distance from couplers that engage and support the bicycle in an upright position. In this manner, the bicycle trainer is generally designed to work with bicycles of a particular wheel diameter. Some cyclists however may enjoy riding types of bicycles, i.e., bicycles with large diameter wheels as well as bicycles with small diameter wheels. Likewise, a family may desire bicycle trainer that can accommodate bicycles having different wheel diameters.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




An exerciser adapted for use with a pedaled device includes a frame having a post support ends for supporting the pedaled device and a frame mounting flange. A resistance device is selectively securable to the frame mounting flange in a first position relative to the opposed support ends. An adapter is selectively securable to the frame mounting flange and has an adapter mounting flange such that when the adapter is secured to the secured mounting flange, the resistance device is securable to the adapter mounting flange.




A second aspect of the present invention is an adapter for mounting a resistance device on a frame of an exerciser used to support a pedaled device. A frame includes a frame mounting flange for mounting the resistance device and spaced apart frame portions. The adapter includes a portion adapted for mounting to the frame mounting flange. The portion includes an adapter mounting flange to which the resistance device is mountable. The adapter further includes a support member having ends engagable with the spaced apart frame portions.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of an exerciser.





FIG. 2

is an exploded view of the exerciser without an adapter.





FIG. 3

is a view of a resistance device.





FIG. 4

is a side elevational view of the resistance device with a mounting bracket illustrated in two positions.





FIG. 5

is a front elevational view of a portion of a frame of the exerciser with the adapter.





FIG. 6

is a side elevational view of a portion of the frame with the adapter and mounting bracket illustrated in two positions.





FIG. 7

is a front elevational view of the adapter.





FIG. 8

is a side elevational view of the adapter.





FIG. 9

is a top plan view of the adapter.





FIG. 10

is a perspective view of a portion of the frame.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS




An exemplary embodiment of an exerciser


10


with a movable resistance device


12


is illustrated in FIG.


1


. As well known to those skilled in the art, the exerciser


10


is a bicycle trainer that is adapted to support a tire and wheel of a bicycle or other pedaled device (hereinafter “bicycle” by way of example, and used as a representation of all types of pedaled devices). The resistance device


12


includes a roller


14


that engages a tire of the bicycle. The resistance device


12


typically includes a rotatable resistance assembly


15


such as an impeller rotatable in a fluid such as oil. However, it should be understood that the present invention can be used with many forms of resistance devices wherein the specific implementation provided herein is not a part of the invention, and thus should not be limiting.




The exerciser


10


includes a frame


20


used to support the rotating wheel of the bicycle. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the frame


20


includes opposed support ends


32


that support couplers


25


, for releasably supporting the bicycle above a floor. In this embodiment, the couplers


25


engage opposed portions of an axle of the bicycle. Each of the couplers


25


include rods


23


that threadably mate with threaded apertures in the frame


20


. Handles


26


secured to the rods


23


adjust the couplers


25


axially to engage the bicycle. The manner in which the couplers


25


move relative to the frame


20


is merely exemplary, and other constructions can be used, if desired.




In the embodiment illustrated, the frame


20


includes a center portion


30


that is “U” or “V” shaped wherein the support ends


32


are spaced apart. Legs


36


are secured proximate the ends


32


and extend downwardly. In one embodiments the legs


36


are pivotally secured to the center portion


30


so as to allow the frame


20


to assure a compact position for storage. In this embodiment, the frame


20


further includes a horizontal support rod


38


joined to the center portion


30


that provides additional stability.




Referring also to

FIGS. 2 and 3

, the resistance device


12


includes a mounting bracket


44


. The mounting bracket


44


supports a shaft


46


of the resistance device


12


to which the roller


14


is secured. In the embodiment illustrated, the impeller unit


15


is mounted to a first end of the shaft


46


, while a flywheel


47


is provided on an end opposite the impeller unit


15


. Bearings


52


are provided to allow rotation of the shaft


46


, and thereby, the roller


14


relative to the mounting bracket


44


.




The mounting bracket


44


can be secured to the frame


20


on an end


53


opposite the roller


14


. Specifically, the mounting bracket


44


can be mounted to a frame mounting flange


54


(

FIG. 10

) that is secured to the center portion


30


. In the embodiment illustrated, the frame mounting flange


54


comprises a pair of opposed ears


54


A and


54


B. A fastener


55


, such as a threaded bolt herein illustrated in

FIG. 3

, can secure the mounting bracket


44


to the frame mounting flange


54


. The fastener


55


extends through suitable apertures provided in the frame mounting flange


54


and the mounting bracket


44


.




In order to provide some accommodation for wheels of different diameters, the mounting bracket


44


pivots relative to the frame


20


. To adjust the position of the mounting bracket


44


and, thus, the resistance device


12


, a threaded fastener


57


extends through an aperture


60


in the mounting bracket


44


. In the embodiment illustrated, the fastener


57


comprises a “L”-shaped hook having a first portion


57


A received in an aperture


59


provided on the frame


20


. The portion


57


A can pivot relative to the aperture


59


. A second portion


57


B of the fastener


57


is threaded and extends through the aperture


60


provided in the mounting bracket


44


. A handle


62


threadably mates with the fastener


57


to hold the mounting bracket


44


in position wherein the resistance device


12


(i.e., the roller


14


) engages the tire of the bicycle.




Although pivotal motion of the mounting bracket


44


relative to the frame mounting flange


54


allows wheels of different size to be used in the exerciser


10


, the range of diameters is limited. Referring to

FIGS. 3

,


4


and


6


-


10


, an adapter


70


selectively securable to the frame mounting flange


54


allows the resistance device


12


to be moved upwardly or closer to the support ends


32


in order that the exerciser


10


can be used with yet smaller wheels. In the embodiment illustrated, the adapter


70


includes a first end


72


having a width substantially similar to the end


53


of the mounting bracket


44


so as to be easily secured to the frame mounting flange


54


. In this embodiment, the end


72


includes opposed ears having apertures to correspond with apertures provided in the ears


54


A and


54


B. A fastener


74


, such as a threaded bolt and nut, secures the end


72


to the frame mounting flange


54


. A second end


76


of the adapter


70


includes an adapter mounting flange


78


that is substantially similar to the frame mounting flange


54


so that the end


53


of the mounting bracket


44


can be easily mounted thereto when the adapter


70


is secured to the frame mounting flange


54


. The fastener


55


secures the mounting bracket


44


to the adapter mounting flange


78


. The adapter


70


includes an aperture


79


similar to the aperture


59


provided on the frame


20


to receive the first portion


57


A of the fastener


57


.




In the embodiment illustrated, the adapter


70


further includes a support


80


that releasably engages spaced apart portions of the frame


20


and, in particular, the center portion


30


. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, the support


80


can take many forms. In the embodiment illustrated, each end


81


of the support


80


includes a recess


83


that receives the respective portion of the frame


20


. The support


80


stabilizes the adapter


70


relative to the frame


20


and helps hold the adapter


70


in a fixed position.




As described above, the adapter


70


allows the exerciser


10


to accommodate bicycles or other pedaled devices having smaller wheels. In effect, the adapter


70


allows the resistance device


12


to be positioned closer to the support ends


32


. In a further embodiment, it may be desirable that the support ends


32


be lowerable in the second position of the resistance device


12


using the adapter


70


in order that the bicycle or other pedaled device is substantially level and it center of gravity is as close to the floor as possible to avoid a tipping action, when operated. In order to adjust the height of the support ends relative to the floor, each of the legs


36


(

FIGS. 1 and 10

) are selectively fastened to the center portion


30


using one of a plurality of apertures


90


provided for each leg


36


. In the embodiment illustrated, fastening of the leg


36


in each of the apertures


90


changes the angular position of the leg relative to the center portion


30


wherein larger angles effectively lower the height of the support ends


32


above the floor. Mounting flanges


92


on the center portion


30


include the plurality of apertures


90


. However, those skilled in the art can appreciate that a similar flange can be secured to each of the legs


36


, wherein the flanges on the legs


36


would include the plurality of apertures


90


in order to provide the necessary adjustment.




Likewise, other techniques for selectively lowering the ends


32


can be used and are considered other aspects of the present invention. For instance, each of the legs can be made selectively adjustable. Each leg can include portions that are connectable to form a desired length. For example, telescoping legs with a suitable fastener to selectively connect the leg portions to form a desired length can be used.




In summary, the adapter


70


allows the resistance device


12


to be easily positioned in one of two different positions on the exerciser


10


in order to accommodate varying wheel diameters. The adapter


70


is easy to manufacture and does not require alteration of the frame


20


from the existing design. Furthermore, the adapter


70


can be easily installed and removed, as desired.




Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. An exerciser adapted for use with a pedaled device, the exerciser comprising:a frame having opposed support ends supporting the pedaled device and a frame mounting flange; a resistance device selectively securable to the frame mounting flange in a first position relative to the opposed support ends; and an adapter selectively securable to the frame mounting flange and having an adapter mounting flange, wherein when the adapter is secured to the frame mounting flange, the resistance device is securable to the adapter mounting flange.
  • 2. The exerciser of claim 1 wherein the frame mounting flange is substantially similar to the adapter mounting flange.
  • 3. The exerciser of claim 2 wherein the frame mounting flange includes opposed mounting ears.
  • 4. The exerciser of claim 3 wherein the adapter includes ends engagable with portions of the frame to provide stability.
  • 5. The exerciser of claim 4 wherein each end of the adapter includes a recess for receiving a portion of the frame.
  • 6. The exerciser of claim 1 and further comprising a mounting bolt and wherein the frame mounting flange, adapter mounting flange and the resistance device each include an aperture shaped to receive the bolt.
  • 7. The exerciser of claim 1 wherein the frame includes a center portion for supporting the resistance device and a pair of extending legs, each leg being selectively securable to the center portion at different angular positions in order to adjust a height of the support ends relative to a floor.
  • 8. The exerciser of claim 7 wherein the center portion includes a plurality of apertures proximate each of the legs for adjustably securing each of the legs to the center portion.
  • 9. The exerciser of claim 1 wherein the resistance device is pivotally coupled to the adapter mounting flange.
  • 10. The exerciser of claim 9 and further comprising a fastener couplable between the adapter mounting flange and the resistance device, the fastener adjusting the pivotal position of the resistance device and the adapter mounting flange.
  • 11. The exerciser of claim 10 wherein the adapter mounting flange includes a first aperture and the resistance device includes a second aperture, and wherein a first end of the fastener is pivotally received in the first aperture and a second end of the fastener extends through the second aperture.
  • 12. The exerciser of claim 11 wherein the frame mounting flange includes a third aperture similar in position to the first aperture so as to receive the first end of the fastener.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/177,494, filed Jan. 21, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

US Referenced Citations (9)
Number Name Date Kind
5026047 Kosecoff Jun 1991 A
5042795 Bursik Aug 1991 A
5108092 Hurst Apr 1992 A
5433681 Minoura Jul 1995 A
5611759 Zeh et al. Mar 1997 A
5800316 Huang Sep 1998 A
5916068 Chisholm et al. Jun 1999 A
5944637 Stickler et al. Aug 1999 A
6203472 McCaffrey et al. Mar 2001 B1
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/177494 Jan 2000 US