ON-THE BIKE, MINI, RESISTANCE BICYCLE TRAINING AND COMPETITION-EQUALIZATION DEVICE

Abstract

A light, aerodynamic, mini-resistance trainer used with a two-wheel bicycle a vertical connector plate, the connector plate configured to attach to the front, upright side of a bicycle's seat tube, on a bicycle frame using the bicycle's two standard water bottle cage threaded fastener holes and M3 Allen bolts. The upper portion of the connector plate continues around the bicycle frame's seat tube and overlaps the second part of the device, namely the drive system housing. The drive system assembly is comprised of a worm gear on an axle connected to a linear gear rack.

Claims

1. A light, aerodynamic, mini-resistance trainer used with a two-wheel bicycle outdoors on a road or similar surface and a cyclist. The device has two parts, firstly a vertical connector plate, the connector plate is configured to attach to the front, upright side of a bicycle's seat tube, on a bicycle frame using the bicycle's two standard water bottle cage threaded fastener holes and M3 Allen bolts. The upper portion of the connector plate continues around the bicycle frame's seat tube and overlaps the second part of the device, namely the drive system housing. With the drive system housing positioned within either side of the overlapping portions of the connector plate, the attachment of the drive system housing to the connector plate is made via M3 Allen bolts at either lateral end through the connector plates and screwed into the drive system housing's two vertical sides. When assembled as described the device encircles the upper portion of the bicycle frame's seat tube and provides the drive system's resistance wheel access to the rear bicycle tire. The drive system housing encases the variable resistance drive system assembly. The drive system assembly is comprised of a worm gear on an axle connected to a linear gear rack. By turning either of the two resistance dials located at either distal point of the worm gear's axle, the worm gear's rotational motion moves the linear gear rack either forward (toward the rear bicycle tire) or backward (away from the rear bicycle tire). The distal point of the linear gear rack has an axle with needle bearings upon which a resistance wheel rotates whose function it is to apply rolling resistance to the rear bicycle tire. The drive system assembly applies or retracts incremental amounts of rolling resistance to the rear tire of the bicycle. Regulation of resistance levels is applied or retracted via resistance dials located at either distal point of the worm gear axle. The worm gear axle protrudes from the drive system housing and the overlapping connector plate sufficiently to hold a resistance dial at either end of the worm gear axle, allowing the cyclist to rotate either of these two resistance dials to apply or retract incremental levels of rolling resistance to or from the rear bicycle tire. Immediately above the resistance wheel is a resistance wheel protection plate that protects the resistance wheel from debris. To manage heat created by the frictional contact between the resistance wheel and the rear bicycle tire while maintaining the required stability of the resistance wheel the device may have either or both or similar of: (a) a plurality of openings into and through the resistance wheel. These openings are set along the face (left to right) and around the circumference of the resistance wheel to dissipate heat, and (b) a plurality of angled openings into and through the sides of both, the overlapping sides of the connector plate and the vertical sides of the drive system housing, directing outside airflow directly into the drive system housing and (due to the angle of such openings) focusing such airflow at the drive system assembly.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the present technology is used in conjunction with an analog or digital set of cyclist data-points/metrics producing an individual handicap for one or more cyclists based on multiple past performance data-points, the present technology provides the physical handicap/resistance to the bicycle's rear tire creating a new category of cycling competition, namely equitable or handicapped bicycle competition. Here, cyclists with various levels of proficiency may participate/compete together, where the participants are allocated a handicap based on their past performance and that allocated handicap is associated with a resistance level setting related to the present technology's resistance levels and then such corresponding physical rolling resistance is applied to the rear tire of the participants' bicycles' rear tires during such competition activity (similar to golf handicaps or horse racing weight handicap systems) by the present technology.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the resistance level can be set manually via a cyclist rotating a resistance dial to a desired resistance setting by hand at any time; the system of setting the resistance level can be mechanized and such mechanization can be controlled and managed by a local or remote software program, App or other digital system/device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the device can be used to apply resistance when used on a bicycle being used on a roller type bicycle training machine, reason being that generally, such bicycle roller type training machines do not add resistance beyond those physical properties of the bicycle, the cyclist and the latent friction of the rollers themselves and therefore the current technology can deliver resistance training when used on a bicycle being used on a roller type bicycle training machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0016] FIG. 1(a) shows a side view of the mini resistance bicycle training device according to the presently described technology.

[0017] FIG. 1(b) shows a rear view of the mini resistance bicycle training device according to the presently described technology.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the mini resistance bicycle training device's drive system housing according to the presently described technology.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the mini resistance bicycle training device's drive system assembly's components according to the presently described technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] A light, aerodynamic, mini-resistance trainer used with a two-wheel bicycle outdoors on a road or similar surface and a cyclist. The device has two parts, firstly a vertical connector plate, the connector plate is configured to attach to the front, upright side of a bicycle's seat tube, on a bicycle frame using the bicycle's two standard water bottle cage threaded fastener holes and M3 Allen bolts. The upper portion of the connector plate continues around the bicycle frame's seat tube and overlaps the second part of the device, namely the drive system housing. With the drive system housing positioned within either side of the overlapping portions of the connector plate, the attachment of the drive system housing to the connector plate is made via M3 Allen bolts at either lateral end through the connector plates and screwed into the drive system housing's two vertical sides. When assembled as described the device encircles the upper portion of the bicycle frame's seat tube and provides the drive system's resistance wheel access to the rear bicycle tire. The drive system housing encases the variable resistance drive system assembly. The drive system assembly is comprised of a worm gear on an axle connected to a linear gear rack.

[0021] By turning either of the two resistance dials located at either distal point of the worm gear's axle, the worm gear's rotational motion moves the linear gear rack either forward (toward the rear bicycle tire) or backward (away from the rear bicycle tire). The distal point of the linear gear rack has an axle with needle bearings upon which a resistance wheel rotates whose function it is to apply rolling resistance to the rear bicycle tire. The drive system assembly applies or retracts incremental amounts of rolling resistance to the rear tire of the bicycle. Regulation of resistance levels is applied or retracted via resistance dials located at either distal point of the worm gear axle. The worm gear axle protrudes from the drive system housing and the overlapping connector plate sufficiently to hold a resistance dial at either end of the worm gear axle, allowing the cyclist to rotate either of these two resistance dials to apply or retract incremental levels of rolling resistance to or from the rear bicycle tire. Immediately above the resistance wheel is a resistance wheel protection plate that protects the resistance wheel from debris. To manage heat created by the frictional contact between the resistance wheel and the rear bicycle tire while maintaining the required stability of the resistance wheel the device may have either or both or similar of: (a) a plurality of openings into and through the resistance wheel. These openings are set along the face (left to right) and around the circumference of the resistance wheel to dissipate heat, and (b) a plurality of angled openings into and through the sides of both, the overlapping sides of the connector plate and the vertical sides of the drive system housing, directing outside airflow directly into the drive system housing and (due to the angle of such openings) focusing such airflow at the drive system assembly.

[0022] One example of a preferred on-the-bicycle, aerodynamic, mini, resistance training device for outdoors cycling and an equitable bicycle competition device according to the present technology can be described as follows: a vertical connector plate and a drive system housing.

[0023] The vertical connector plate with aerodynamic winglets attaches to the front, upright side of a bicycle's seat tube, on a bicycle frame via the bicycle's two standard water bottle cage threaded fastener holes using M3 Allen bolts. The connector plate has several attachment holes, allowing the device to fit various bicycle frame sizes. The device can be attached directly to the bicycle frame's water bottle cage fastener holes or if a water bottle cage is used on the bicycle frame's seat tube, the device would be located between the water bottle cage and the bicycle frame's seat tube with the M3 Allen bolts going through the water bottle cage fastener holes and then through the device's fastener holes and screwed into the bicycle frame's water bottle cage threaded fastener holes. The connector plate elements may be comprised of a strong, lightweight composite material (for example carbon fibre) and the like.

[0024] The upper portion of the connector plate continues around the bicycle frame's seat tube and overlaps the second part of the device, namely the drive system housing. With the drive system housing positioned within either side of the overlapping portions of the connector plate, the attachment of the drive system housing to the connector plate is made via M3 Allen bolts at either end, through the connector plates and screwed into the drive system housing's two vertical sides. When assembled as described the device encircles the upper portion of the bicycle frame's seat tube at the front via the connector plate and from the rear of the seat tube the drive system housing and assembly provide (with overlapping connector plate outsides) the drive system's resistance wheel access to the rear bicycle tire.

[0025] The drive system housing encases the variable resistance drive system assembly. The drive system assembly is comprised of a worm gear on an axle connected to a linear gear rack. By turning either of the two resistance dials located at either distal point of the worm gear's axle, the worm gear's rotational motion moves the linear gear rack either forward (toward the rear bicycle tire) or backward (away from the rear bicycle tire). The distal point of the linear gear rack has an axle with needle bearings upon which a resistance wheel rotates whose function it is to apply rolling resistance to the rear bicycle tire. The drive system assembly applies or retracts incremental amounts of rolling resistance to the rear tire of the bicycle.

[0026] Regulation of resistance levels is applied or retracted via resistance dials located at either distal ends of the worm gear axle, allowing the cyclist to apply or retract incremental levels of rolling resistance to and from the rear bicycle tire. The resistance dials are ergonomically shaped so that the cyclist can alter the resistance level while riding the bicycle if desired. The resistance dials have an opposite concave shape left as to right dials, so that it is intuitive by feel in which direction to rotate the resistance dial to add or subtract resistance to the rear bicycle tire, allowing a cyclist to regulate the applied resistance level while riding the bicycle if desired. The left-hand asymmetrical resistance dial houses a removable M3 Hex tool that can be removed and used to tighten, loosen any of the device's M3 Allen bolts for roadside or other maintenance and or removal of the device entirely from the bicycle frame.

[0027] The drive system housing has an access panel at the top, fastened in position by tension and an M3 Allen bolt. This access panel allows for roadside or other maintenance of the internal drive system components.

[0028] The component that provides the physical rolling resistance, the resistance wheel is protected from debris by a resistance wheel protector plate located immediately above the resistance wheel.

[0029] To manage heat created by the frictional contact between the resistance wheel and the rear bicycle tire while maintaining the required stability of the resistance wheel the device may have either or both or similar of: (a) a plurality of openings into and through the resistance wheel. These openings are set along the face (left to right) and around the circumference of the resistance wheel to dissipate heat, and (b) a plurality of angled openings into and through the sides of both, the overlapping sides of the connector plate and the vertical sides of the drive system housing, directing outside airflow directly into the drive system housing and (due to the angle of such openings) focusing such airflow at the drive system assembly.

[0030] The components of the drive system may be made from alloy and or composite materials.

[0031] The device is removed by reversing the order of attachment, unscrewing the M3 Allen bolts on either side of the overlapping connector plate and drive system housing to detach the drive system housing from the overlapping portion of the connector plate. Then, unscrewing the two water bottle cage M3 Allen bolts and removing the water bottle cage (if present) and then removing the device's connector plate.

[0032] When used in conjunction with a cyclist handicapping system the device is used to provide the physical resistance (i.e. the handicap) on the bicycle to reflect the equalization or handicap allocated to each or a set of cyclists. The incremental handicap is applied on the bicycle by the device by setting the resistance level from either of the drive system resistance dials. This facilitates a new category of equalized bicycle competition where cyclists with varying cycling proficiency/racing categories may compete on a level playing field with the application of the device's individual allotted equalizing resistance levels on their bicycles. This can be compared in principle to golf's handicapping equalization scoring and horse racing's weight handicapping equalization systems.

[0033] Further, the device may form an integral part of a cyclist's training program. This may be in preparation for a specific event or for general cycling improvement or level of fitness. This would take the form of incrementally increasing device resistance levels while producing the same or similar cycling training route-metrics for speed, pace, power, duration i.e. getting fitter, faster and stronger.

[0034] Reference to the Figures will provide an even greater understanding of the technology described and claimed herein.

[0035] FIG. 1(a) shows a side view and FIG. 1(b) a rear view of the mini resistance bicycle training device according to the presently described technology. [0036] 1 a stiff, partly upper curved shaped, vertical connector plate with wider more encircling upper portion, the front portion of the connector plate connects to a bicycle frame at the front-facing side of the bicycle frame's seat tube, connection to the seat tube is made via the bicycle frame's two water bottle cage threaded fastener holes with aerodynamic winglets to release the airflow efficiently, 2 device's holes for use with the bicycle frame's water bottle cage threaded fastener holes and two M3 Allen bolts, the upper portion of the connector plate encircles the bicycle frame's seat tube when attached to the drive system housing, 3 back force plate of the drive system housing butts up against the rear of a bicycle frame's seat tube (with a cushioning rubber or similar material insert between the device and the bicycle seat tube, so as to not cause damage to the rear side of the bicycle frame's seat tube) providing the linear rigidity for the drive system housing to project rolling resistance via the worm gear and linear gear rack drive system to the rear tire via the resistance wheel, 4 drive system housing connected to the connector plate's two upper overlapping portions that encircle the bicycle's seat tube via M3 Allen bolts on each of the two sides of the overlapping connector plate and the drive system housing, 5 right-hand side asymmetrical ergonomic resistance dial, 6 left-hand-side asymmetrical ergonomic resistance dial, 7 the resistance dial incremental resistance level settings, 8 airflow cooling management openings on each of the two sides of the overlapping connector plate and the drive system housing.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the mini resistance bicycle training device's drive system housing according to the presently described technology. [0038] 1 a stiff, partly upper curved shaped, vertical connector plate with wider more encircling upper portion, the front portion of the connector plate connects to a bicycle frame at the front-facing side of the bicycle frame's seat tube, connection to the seat tube is made via the bicycle frame's two water bottle cage threaded fastener holes with aerodynamic winglets to release the airflow efficiently. Here showing detail of the circular portion of the connector plate coming around the front of the bicycle frame's seat tube, then connecting to the drive system housing via M3 Allen bolts on each of the two sides of the drive system housing, 3 back force plate of the drive system housing butts up against the rear of a bicycle frame's seat tube (with a cushioning rubber or similar material insert between the device and the bicycle seat tube, so as to not cause damage to the rear side of the bicycle frame's seat tube) providing the linear rigidity for the drive system housing to project rolling resistance via the worm gear and linear gear rack drive system to the rear tire via the resistance wheel, 4 drive system housing connected to the connector plate's two upper overlapping portions that encircle the bicycle's seat tube via M3 Allen bolts on each of the two sides of the overlapping connector plate and the drive system housing, 5 the right-hand-side asymmetrical ergonomic resistance level dial is connected to the worm gear and used to set the level of resistance from zero resistance to maximum resistance, 6 the left-hand-side asymmetrical ergonomic resistance level dial is connected to the worm gear axle and used to set the level of resistance from zero resistance to maximum resistance with a Keyed M3 Hex tool insert housed as part of the dial's connection to the worm gear axle the M3 Hex tools is for roadside device maintenance, either dial may be used at any time including while riding if desired, the reason for two resistance dials is for easy access by the right or left hand of a cyclist, 9 the incremental resistance level dial settings, 10 drive system housing access panel used for device maintenance fastened via tension and an M3 Allen bolt, 11 resistance wheel with a plurality of openings into and through the resistance wheel. These openings are set along the face (left to right) and around the circumference of the resistance wheel to manage the frictional heat from contact between the resistance wheel and the rear bicycle tire, 12 the protector plate that is located immediately above the resistance wheel to deflect small road debris from hitting and damaging the resistance wheel, 13 resistance wheel axle, 14 resistance wheel needle bearings.

[0039] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the mini resistance bicycle training device's drive system assembly's components according to the presently described technology. [0040] 4 drive system housing, 5 the right-hand-side asymmetrical ergonomic resistance level dial is connected to the worm gear and used to set the level of resistance from zero resistance to maximum resistance, 6 the left-hand-side asymmetrical ergonomic resistance level dial is connected to the worm gear axle and used to set the level of resistance from zero resistance to maximum resistance with an M3 Hex tool housed in the dial's connection to the worm gear axle for roadside device maintenance, either dial may be used at any time including while riding if desired, the reason for two resistance dials is for easy access by the right or left hand of a cyclist, 8 airflow openings on each of the two sides of the overlapping connector plate and the drive system housing, 11 drive system housing access panel used for device maintenance secured via tension and an M3 Allen bolt, 12 resistance wheel with a plurality of openings into and through the resistance wheel. These openings are set along the face (left to right) and around the circumference of the resistance wheel to manage the frictional heat from contact between the resistance wheel and the rear bicycle tire, 13 the protector plate that is located immediately above the resistance wheel to deflect small road debris from hitting and damaging the resistance wheel, 14 resistance wheel's needle bearings, 15 resistance wheel axle, 16 outer portions of the resistance wheel needle bearing, 17 front-end of the linear gear rack with resistance wheel housing, 18 linear gear, 19 gear rack position screw converts the rotation of the worm gear into linear motion for the gear rack, 20 resistance force distribution plate distributes the force from the position screw/linear gear rack into the back of the drive system housing (and into the rear of the seat tube), 21 worm gear axle, 22 worm gear, 23 M3 Hex tool for roadside maintenance.

[0041] The device can be made from a variety of components/materials (in a variety of colors) including but not limited to alloys and composites.