The present patent relates to training equipment and devices, and particularly concerns a new cycling training device.
In many sporting disciplines, such as cycling, numerous training sessions are needed to achieve adequate levels of preparation.
Cycling is among the most popular sporting disciplines at all levels, for amateurs, as an occasional pastime, for cycling tourism and right up to various competitive levels.
It is not always possible to do cycle training on the road because:
For all these reasons, intensive cycling training is often done at indoor tracks and enclosed circuits.
Training at indoor tracks and circuits is expensive, however, and accessible only to a few athletes at one time. Moreover, such indoor tracks and circuits are in short supply and this means that athletes are obliged to travel more or less far and with more or less difficulty to and from the indoor track or circuit with their bicycles loaded on or in their cars.
There are known types of stationary cycling trainer for simulating a cycling action, which are without wheels and placed on a stand. These stationary trainers are ideal for exercising purposes, especially for the lower limbs, but they are hardly suitable for cycle training.
In fact, due to the reciprocal arrangement of the saddle, pedals and handlebar, stationary cycling trainers involve a riding position that is not like the position of a person riding a road or racing bicycle, and that is certainly different from the typical riding position on the bicycles used by athletes in races, be they amateurs or professionals.
Moreover, stationary cycling trainers have a gearing system that does not reproduce the mechanical features of a real bicycle or of any given bicycle subsequently used for racing.
To overcome all the above-mentioned drawbacks, a new cycle training device for use with a bicycle has been studied and carried out.
One object of the new trainer device is to enable cycle training indoors without having to gain access to installations with cycle tracks or circuits.
Another object of the new cycle trainer device is to enable training at home, irrespective of the weather conditions.
A further object of the new cycle trainer device is to enable training in conditions as similar as possible to those of a cycling race, or at least to those of training sessions on the road, because cyclists can ride their own racing bicycles.
Another object of the new device is to enable training with the cyclist's usual or preferred saddle-pedal-handlebar arrangement.
Another object of the new device is to enable cycle training with the opportunity to vary the gear ratio of the pedalling action.
These and other direct and complementary objects are achieved by the new cycle trainer device applicable to a bicycle, the main component parts of which comprise a folding supporting element, a hub with a set of cogs of decreasing diameter lying side by side, a wheel with a sprocket, a chain or other connection element between a cog on the hub and the sprocket in the wheel.
When opened, the supporting element acquires a shape suitable for supporting all said parts and for ensuring stability in the various directions.
Preferably, said supporting element consists of two uprights forming an inverted V-shaped stand with a hinge near or at the tip of said inverted V-shaped stand, and with two supporting feet attached to its lower ends.
The hinge between said uprights forming the inverted V-shaped stand is designed to enable the two uprights to come together in a generally parallel position, i.e. said hinge has an axis of rotation at right angles to the plane formed by said two uprights.
Said hub and cogs are supported on a suitable seat attached above said tip of the inverted V-shaped stand formed by the two uprights.
In particular, said seat and said hub are arranged so that said hub has an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the hinge between said two uprights.
On one side of said hub there is a chain wheel of diameter similar to that of the toothed wheels of the pedals and a set of cogs of decreasing diameter lying side by side, like the set of cogs on the rear wheel of a bicycle.
A supporting crossbar pointing generally upwards and away from the hinge between said two uprights is removably attached to one of the two supporting uprights.
The free end of said supporting crossbar is fitted at one end with a seat for the revolving connection of said wheel. In particular, said seat and said wheel are arranged so that their axis of rotation lies parallel to the axis of rotation of said hub and cogs.
The wheel is complete with a sprocket and can be fitted with braking means.
The wheel and the hub with the cogs are mounted on the supporting element so that, when the rear fork of a bicycle is inserted and fixed to said hub, the cogs of said hub come to be on the same side as the rear derailleur gear of said bicycle, and so that said wheel comes to be on the side of the bicycle opposite to said hub.
It is preferable for the chain wheel on the hub that transmits the movement to the wheel, and consequently to the sprocket in the wheel, to be on the same side of the hub as the cogs.
Provision is also made to enable the removal and repositioning both of the hub with the cogs and of the wheel so that the cogs on the hub are on the opposite side, i.e. on whichever side the user prefers.
The connection between the sprocket in the wheel and the chain wheel on the hub is preferably achieved by means of a cycling chain of known type.
A guard is provided for protection and safety, covering the wheel and the chain. Said guard is removable to give access to the area of the hub.
The new cycle trainer device is very straightforward to use: users simply have to release the rear wheel from their bicycles and hook the rear fork of their bicycles onto the hub of the new device, engaging the bicycle chain on the chain wheel of said hub on the new device. With a few turns of the wheel, the rear derailleur gear of the bicycle and the chain become adjusted on one of the cogs on the hub.
At the end of the training session, or at a later time, the cyclist can release the bicycle from the new device and reinstall the normal rear wheel on the rear fork of the bicycle.
The new device can be dismantled and/or folded so as to occupy less space: the guard can be removed and dismantled, then the two supporting uprights are folded into a generally parallel position.
The overall dimensions of the device can also be further reduced by removing the wheel and dismantling the wheel-supporting crossbar from the uprights of the supporting element.
Aerodynamic braking elements can be applied to the wheel to generate a greater resistance to the rotation of the wheel that increases as the rotation speed of said wheel increases.
The characteristics of the new cycling training device for application on bicycles will be highlighted in greater detail in the description below with reference to the attached drawings, which are provided as non-limiting examples.
The supporting element (S) consists of two uprights (S1, S2) arranged so as to form an inverted V-shaped stand and hinged near or at the tip of said inverted V-shaped stand.
The lower ends of said uprights (S1, S2) are fitted with two supporting feet (S4).
A hub (M) with cogs (Dc, Dr) is installed on a seat fixed above said tip of the V-shaped stand formed by the two uprights (S1, S2).
In particular, said seat and said hub (M) are arranged so that the axis of rotation of said hub (M) lies parallel to the axis of rotation of the hinge between said two uprights (S1, S2).
On one side of said hub (M) there is a chain wheel (Dr), of diameter similar to that of the toothed wheel for the pedals, and a set of cogs (Dc) lying side by side with decreasing diameters, similar to the set of cogs on the rear wheel of a bicycle.
A supporting crossbar (T) facing generally upwards and away from the hinge between said two uprights (S1, S2) is removably attached (Z) to one of the two uprights (S1) on the supporting element (S).
The free end of said supporting crossbar (T) is fitted with a seat for the revolving connection of said wheel (R). In particular, said seat and said wheel (R) are arranged with their axis of rotation lying parallel to the axis of rotation of said hub (M) and cogs (Dr, Dc).
The wheel (R) is fitted with a sprocket (Rp) at its axis or hub of rotation and can also comprise aerodynamic braking elements (F).
The wheel (R) and the hub (M) and cogs (Dr, Dc) are installed on the supporting element (S) so that, when the rear fork (Bf) of a bicycle (B) is inserted and fixed to said hub (M), the cogs (Dc) on said hub (M) come to be on the same side as the rear derailleur gear of said bicycle (B), and so that said wheel (R) is on the opposite side of the bicycle (B) from said hub (M).
It is preferable for the chain wheel (Dr) on the hub (M) that is used to transmit the movement to the wheel (R), and consequently to the sprocket (Rp) in the wheel (R), to be on the same side of the hub (M) as the cogs (Dc).
Provision is also made to enable the removal and repositioning of both the hub (M) with cogs (Dr, Dc) and of the wheel (R) so that the cogs (Dc) on the hub (M) relating to the derailleur gear of the bicycle (B) are on the opposite side, i.e. on whichever side is preferred.
The connection between the sprocket (Rp) in the wheel (R) and the chain wheel (Dr) on the hub (M) is preferably achieved by means of a bicycle chain (C) of known type.
A protection and safety guard (P) is provided over the wheel (R) and the chain (C). Said guard (P) is removable to give access to the area of the hub (M) and to the corresponding cogs (Dc, Dr). Provision is made for said guard (P) to have openings (Pa) - covered by a metal mesh, for instance - to allow for air circulation and to enable a general visual control of the wheel (R).
To use the new device, users/athletes release the rear wheel from their bicycle (B) and hook the rear fork of the bicycle (B) onto the hub (M) of the new device, engaging the chain (Bc) of the bicycle (B) on the cogs (Dc) on said hub (M).
The initial arrangement of said chain (Bc) on the cogs (Dc) of the hub (M) is obtained simply by performing a few turns of the pedal and operating the rear derailleur gear of the bicycle (B) a few times.
The arrangement of the new cycle trainer device and of the user's bicycle (B) when the device is in use is illustrated in
At this point, the athlete can sit on his/her bicycle (B) and begin training.
The new cycling training device for application to bicycles offers considerable advantages.
The new trainer device enables cycling training indoors without having to go to an indoor cycle track or circuit; the cyclists can remain in their own homes to train whatever the weather conditions.
The new device enables training in conditions as similar as possible to those of a race, or at least of a training session on the road, with the saddle-pedals-handlebar arrangement best suited to the athlete, who can use his or her normal racing bicycle.
The new device also enables users to train with the opportunity to adjust the gear ratio of their pedalling action.
The new device enables training with the athlete's own bicycle, or with a bicycle chosen for the purpose and best suited to each individual athlete.
People with poor vision or blind people can use the new device for training or exercise.
The new device is also suitable for people who have lost a lower limb, since balance is assured by the supporting element (S), which supports both the new device and the bicycle (B).
Provision can also be made for the new device to be used for exercising the arms, i.e. instead of the bicycle (B,) a mechanism or device suitable for enabling rotational arm movements can be applied to the hub (M).
In the light of the previous description and the attached drawings, the following claims are advanced.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.