BICYCLE TRAINER STAND AND TRAINER DEVICE

Abstract

A bicycle trainer stand comprises supporting means for supporting to a base, a lower support connected to the supporting means, and an upper support (14) connected to the lower support and comprising fastening means for connecting to a bicycle. The upper support is tiltable around an imaginary rotation axis with respect to the lower support. The trainer stand further comprises first spring elements for subjecting the upper support to a force opposing the tilting. In the invention, the lower support is movable with respect to the supporting means in a direction perpendicular to said rotation axis. A bicycle trainer device comprises a first trainer stand for fastening to the front fork of a bicycle, and a second trainer stand for fastening to the rear fork of a bicycle.

Claims

1. A bicycle trainer stand comprising: supporting means for supporting to a base; a lower support connected to the supporting means; and an upper support connected to the lower support, the upper support comprising fastening means for connecting to a bicycle, and the upper support being tiltable around an imaginary rotation axis with respect to the lower support, and the lower support being movable with respect to the supporting means in a direction perpendicular to said rotation axis, as well as first spring elements for subjecting the upper support to a force opposing the tilting, wherein the bicycle trainer comprises at least one first guide track, to which first guide track the lower support is fastened to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the guide track, as well as at least one second spring element opposing the movement of the lower support in the direction of the first guide track.

2. The bicycle trainer stand according to claim 1, wherein said first guide track is fastened to the supporting means at a first fastening point and a second fastening point so that the lower support is arranged between the first fastening point and the second fastening point.

3. The bicycle trainer stand according to claim 1, wherein said second spring element is a helical spring arranged around the first guide track and supported at its first end to the lower support and at its second end to said supporting means.

4. The bicycle trainer stand according to claim 1, wherein the force exerted by the first spring elements on the upper support and opposing tilting is adjustable.

5. The bicycle trainer stand according to claim 1, wherein the distance from the first spring elements to the rotation axis is adjustable.

6. The bicycle trainer stand according to claim 1, wherein the first spring elements are elastic and compressible cushions between the lower support and the upper support.

7. The bicycle trainer stand according to claim 1, wherein said supporting means for supporting to the base comprise rollers, which rollers are arranged at the ends of said first guide tracks (16).

8. The bicycle trainer stand according to claim 1, wherein said supporting means for supporting to the base comprise a supporting frame with support legs to be placed against the base, to which supporting frame said at least one first guide track is fastened to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide track.

9. The bicycle trainer stand according to claim 8, wherein said supporting frame comprises fastening means for supporting to a substantially vertical plane or base.

10. The bicycle trainer stand according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means for fastening to a bicycle comprise a front shaft for fastening to the front fork (102) of the bicycle.

11. The bicycle trainer stand according to claim 10, wherein the bicycle trainer stand comprises a front resistance spaced from the front shaft, and a rear resistance, wherein the front resistance and the rear resistance are movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the front shaft, and wherein the front fork can be fitted between the front resistance and the rear resistance.

12. The bicycle trainer stand according to claim 10, wherein the front shaft is fastened to the upper support to be rotatable around a vertical axis perpendicular to the front shaft.

13. The bicycle trainer stand according to claim 1, wherein the bicycle trainer stand comprises a bike trainer installed in the upper support, wherein the bike trainer comprises a rear shaft to be fastened to the rear fork of the bicycle.

14. A bicycle trainer device comprising a first trainer stand according to claim 1 for fastening to the front fork of a bicycle, and a second trainer stand according to claim 13 for fastening to the rear fork of a bicycle

15. The bicycle trainer device according to claim 14, wherein the bicycle trainer device further comprises a bicycle frame, a front fork fastened to said first trainer stand, and a rear fork fastened to said second trainer stand.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the following, the invention will be described in detail. In the description, reference will be made to the appended drawings, in which

[0023] FIG. 1 shows, by way of example, a bicycle trainer device according to the invention, in a diagonal side view,

[0024] FIG. 2a shows, by way of example, a supporting frame comprised in the first embodiment of the trainer stand shown in FIG. 1, in a diagonal view from above,

[0025] FIG. 2b shows, by way of example, an upper support comprised in the first embodiment of the trainer stand shown in FIG. 1, in a diagonal view from above,

[0026] FIG. 3a shows, by way of example, a second embodiment of the trainer stand shown in FIG. 1, in a diagonal view from above, and

[0027] FIG. 3b shows, by way of example, the second embodiment of the trainer stand shown in FIG. 1, in a diagonal view from below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows, by way of example, a bicycle trainer device according to the invention, in a diagonal side view. The device comprises two embodiments of a trainer stand, of which the first one is fastened to the front fork 102 of a bicycle and the second one is fastened to the rear fork 104 of the bicycle. The bicycle fastened to the trainer stands is preferably a conventional road bike, from which the front and rear wheels have been removed to enable its mounting on the trainer stands. The first embodiment of a trainer stand comprises a supporting frame 40 and an upper support 14 which is installed to be movable on the supporting frame and to which the front fork of the bicycle is fastened. The second embodiment of a trainer stand comprises a supporting plate 6 whose upper surface is provided with a so-called bike trainer 30, to which the rear fork of the bicycle is fastened. The bike trainer comprises a pack of gear wheels around which the chain 33 of the bicycle is arranged to go. The bicycle mounted on the trainer stands can be used for cycling workouts, for example, indoors. Pedaling the bicycle will rotate the circular wheel 35 of the bike trainer, whose rotating motion is opposed by a resistance mechanism comprised in the bike trainer, invisible in the figure. The operating principle of the bike trainer is commonly known prior art, so that it will not be described in further detail in this context.

[0029] FIG. 2a shows the supporting frame 40 comprised in the first embodiment of the trainer stand shown in FIG. 1, seen in a slanted view from above, and FIG. 2b shows the upper support 14 fastened to the supporting frame, seen in a slanted view from the front. In the following, both figures will be described at the same time.

[0030] The supporting frame comprises two substantially parallel second guide tracks 42, to which a first guide track 16 is connected in such a way that the second guide tracks are substantially perpendicular to the first guide track. The first guide track and the second guide tracks are substantially identical metal pipes. At both ends, the first guide track is provided with a slidable fixing element 44 having a hole through which the respective second guide track extends. Inside the slidable fixing element, a bearing is provided which allows the slidable fixing element, and the first guide track fastened to it, to move along the second guide track. The bearing in the slidable fixing element may be a slide bearing, a ball bearing or, for example, a roller bearing implemented by means of plastic rollers. The first ends of the second guide tracks are connected by corner joint pieces 48 to the ends of a first support arm 46, and the second ends are connected by corner joint pieces to the ends of a second support arm 47. Support legs 28 are hinged to the corner joint pieces 48. Thanks to the hinged joint, the support legs can be turned to a passive position in a plane parallel to the first and second guide tracks, or to an active position, in which the support legs are substantially perpendicular to the direction of the first and second guide tracks. The support legs can be turned to the passive position, for example, for storage of the trainer stand. The supporting frame constitutes the supporting means for supporting the trainer stand on a horizontal base, such as a floor.

[0031] Two second spring elements 20 in the form of helical springs are arranged around each of the second guide tracks 42 so that one spring element is placed on each side of the slidable fixing element. The second spring element is thus supported at its first end to the slidable fixing element 44 and at its second end to the corner joint piece 48. The spring elements, i.e. helical springs, are dimensioned so that they are slightly compressed in the assembled supporting frame, whereby the spring force of the spring elements tends to keep the slidable fixing elements, provided at the ends of the first guide track, halfway along the length of the second guide tracks.

[0032] The upper support 14 (FIG. 2b), to which the front fork of the bicycle is fastened, is mounted on the first guide track 16 by means of a sliding support 52. The sliding support is provided with a hole, through which the first guide track 16 extends. Like the slidable fixing elements, the sliding support is provided with an inside bearing which allows the sliding support to move along the first guide track. The bearing in the sliding support may be a slide bearing, a ball bearing or, for example, a roller bearing implemented by means of plastic rollers. Two spring elements 20 in the form of a helical spring are arranged around the first guide track so that the sliding support is placed between the second spring elements. The second spring elements are slightly compressed between the respective slidable fixing element 44 at the end of the first guide track and the sliding support 52, whereby their spring forces tend to keep the sliding support 52 halfway the length of the first guide track.

[0033] The upper support fastened to the sliding support comprises a telescopic bar having an adjustable length. The bar comprises two nested tubular parts which can be fastened to each other by a locking screw 50 so that the bar has a desired length. At its first end, the bar is provided with two parallel lugs 54 and a plate-like stem 55 connecting them. The lugs are arranged on the sides of the sliding support and connected to the sliding support by a pin 56 extending through the lugs and the sliding support. The pin is placed on the imaginary central axis of the bar 53. The fastening by means of the pin and the lugs makes it possible for the bar 53 to tilt around the pin in either direction. A gap is provided between the substantially flat upper surface 51 of the sliding support and the stem 55, in which gap two first spring elements 18 are arranged so that the spring elements are placed on opposite sides of the imaginary central axis of the bar. The first spring elements are elastic cylindrical cushions made of a resilient material, preferably neoprene, rubber or silicone. The compressibility of the first spring elements allows limited tilting of the bar around the pin in either direction. By their spring force, however, the first spring elements tend to return the stem 55 and the upper surface 51 of the sliding support to a position where they are parallel to each other, whereby the bar is in a position perpendicular to the upper surface of the sliding support. In this embodiment of the trainer stand, the sliding support 52 constitutes a lower support, to which the upper support 14 is fastened to be tiltable around an imaginary rotation axis.

[0034] At the second end of the bar, two end plates are arranged on top of each other: a first end plate 58 and a second end plate 62. The first end plate is rigidly fastened to the second end of the bar 53, and the second end plate is fastened to the first end plate by a bolt 64 parallel to the bar in such a way that the second end plate can rotate around the bolt. On the rim of the second end plate, two parallel upper lugs 60 are provided, through which a front shaft 22 extends so that the ends of the front shaft protrude outside the space limited by the upper lugs. The free ends of the front shaft constitute first fastening means for fastening to the front fork 102 of the bicycle. The fastening of the second end plate 62 to the first end plate 58, implemented by means of the bolt 64, makes it possible to rotate the front fork, fastened to front shaft, around the bolt, that is, to turn the handlebars of the bicycle. A sensor 59 for measuring the rotation angle of the front shaft is installed in the first end plate.

[0035] A front resistance 34 is provided on the first side of the upper lugs, and a rear resistance 36 is provided on the second side. The front and rear resistances are substantially identical bar-like elements arranged parallel to and spaced from the front shaft 22. The front and rear resistances are fastened by their respective adjustment screws 61 to a plate connecting the upper lugs so that the front resistance and the rear resistance can be moved in the direction of the adjustment screw by turning the adjustment screw (FIG. 2b only shows the adjustment screw for the front resistance). Thus, a gap having an adjustable width is left between the front and rear resistances, in which gap the front fork of the bicycle can be fitted. By turning the adjustment screws, the front fork can be clamped between the front and rear resistances. The clearance in the direction of the adjustment screws for the front and rear resistances allows a fitted fastening of the front fork also when the tilting angle of the front fork is changed, for example, upon changing the length of the bar 53. The front and rear resistances constitute second fastening means for fastening to the front fork of the bicycle.

[0036] FIG. 3a shows, by way of example, a second embodiment of the trainer stand shown in FIG. 1, in a diagonal view from above, and FIG. 3b shows the same in a diagonal view from below. This embodiment of the trainer stand is designed to be fastened to the rear fork of a bicycle, in place of a rear wheel removed from the rear fork. In the following, both figures will be described at the same time.

[0037] The embodiment comprises the supporting plate 6 shown in FIG. 1, with a bike trainer (FIG. 1), known as such, installed on its upper surface. The supporting plate may be made of plastic, a composite material, or a wood material, such as plywood. The supporting plate is fixed with a screw fastening to a metal spacer plate 70 whose both ends are provided with an attachment bracket 72 turning to a straight angle from the plane of the spacer plate. A lower beam 74 formed of a metal profile having a rectangular cross section is provided between the attachment brackets. The first end of the lower beam is fastened to the attachment bracket at the first end of the spacer plate, and the second end of the lower beam is fastened to the attachment bracket at the second end of the spacer plate by a joint pin 76 so that the lower beam can rotate around the joint pin. Each end of the lower beam is provided with a sliding sleeve 45 having a hole through which the first guide track 116 extends. The longitudinal direction of the first guide tracks is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lower beam. Inside the sliding sleeve, a bearing is provided, allowing the movement of the lower beam along the first guide track. The bearing may be a slide bearing, a ball bearing or, for example, a roller bearing implemented by means of plastic rollers. At the free ends of the first guide tracks, rollers 32 are provided, which are mounted on bearings to the first guide tracks.

[0038] In this embodiment, the rollers constitute supporting elements for supporting the trainer stand on a horizontal base, such as a floor. The first guide tracks are used as shafts, the rollers being installed at their ends. The lower beam 74 is used as a lower support which is fastened to the spacer plate 70 used as the upper support to be turnable around an imaginary rotation axis extending via the joint pins 76.

[0039] Two second spring elements 120 in the form of helical springs are arranged around the first guide tracks so that the sliding sleeve 45 is placed between the second spring elements. The second spring elements are slightly compressed between the roller 32 at the end of the first guide track and the sliding sleeve 45, whereby their spring force tends to keep the sliding sleeve 45 and the lower beam 74 halfway the length of the first guide track.

[0040] Two plate-like supporting brackets 78 are provided on each side surface of the lower beam. The supporting brackets on the same side of the lower beam are spaced from each other and from the ends of the lower beam in the longitudinal direction of the lower beam. The supporting brackets on opposite sides of the lower beam point away from the side surface of the lower beam and are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the lower beam. The supporting brackets are provided with a shaped plate-like spring support 80 having a section above the supporting bracket and a section below the supporting bracket. On top of the section above the spring support, a first spring element 118 is provided, which is slightly compressed between the spacer plate 70 and the supporting bracket 78. By their spring force, the spring elements tend to keep the spacer plate 70 and the supporting plate fastened to it substantially parallel to an imaginary plane extending via the first guide tracks 116. The first spring element shown in the figure is a cylindrical cushion made of an elastic material, such as neoprene, rubber or silicone.

[0041] The supporting brackets and the spacer plate 70 are provided with an elongate hole 84 extending in the longitudinal direction of the supporting bracket (holes of the supporting brackets are not shown in the figures). The first spring elements are fastened to the upper surface of the section on the lower side of the spring support 80 by a fastening bolt 82 (FIG. 3b) extending through the hole 84 in the spacer plate 70, the first spring element 118, the section on the lower side of the spring support, the hole in the supporting bracket 78, and the section on the lower side of the spring support, below the spring support. The elongate holes in the spring support and the spacer plate allow the spring support and the first spring element fastened to it to be moved in the longitudinal direction of the elongate hole, whereby the distance of the first spring element from the lower beam 74 and from the imaginary rotation axis extending via the joint pins 76 is changed. The change in the distance affects the ability of the first spring elements to limit the tilting of the spacer plate 70 and the supporting plate fastened to it around the rotation axis, and their ability to return the tilted spacer plate to its initial position. When the first spring elements are moved closer to the lower beam, the spring elements limit the tilting of the spring plate to a lesser extent, and when the first spring elements are moved farther away from the lower beam, the spring elements limit the tilting of the spring plate to a greater extent. The user of the trainer stand can adjust the first spring elements to a desired space from the intermediate beam by moving the spring supports 80 manually.

[0042] A conventional bicycle used in road traffic, track cycling or mountain biking can be fastened to the bicycle trainer device according to the invention. The trainer device works best when a trainer stand according to the invention is fastened to each of the front fork and the rear fork of the bicycle, in place of the wheels of the bicycle. The trainer stands enable turning of the handlebars, tilting of the bicycle in the lateral direction, as well as a small lateral movement of the bicycle, so that a cycling workout corresponds very well to normal cycling. The device can also be applied in such a way that a trainer stand according to the invention is only fastened to either the front fork or the rear fork. The device can be used for cycling exercises for example in such a way that only the rear fork of the bicycle is fastened to a trainer stand according to the invention. In such a case, the front of the bicycle is supported to the base via the front wheel. Alternatively, only the front fork of the bicycle may be fastened to a trainer stand according to the invention, whereby the rear wheel of the bicycle may be supported to, for example, a pair of rollers resting on the base.

[0043] The trainer stand according to the invention, to be fastened to the front fork of the bicycle, may be equipped with fastening means for fastening it to a vertical plane, such as a wall, or a rail in a vertical position. A particular advantage of the fastening to a rail is that the distance of the trainer stand from the horizontal plane can be easily changed, which enables flexible training in cycling uphill and downhill.

[0044] Some advantageous embodiments of the trainer stand and the trainer device according to the invention have been described above. The invention is not limited to the solutions described above, but the inventive idea may be applied in different ways within the scope of the claims.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numerals: 6 supporting plate 14 upper support 16, 116 first guide track 18, 118 first spring element 20, 120 second spring element 22 front shaft 26 rear shaft 28 support leg 30 bike trainer 32 roller 33 chain 34 front resistance 36 rear resistance 35 circular wheel 40 supporting frame 42 second guide track 44 slidable fixing element 45 sliding sleeve 46 first support arm 47 second support arm 48 corner joint piece 50 locking screw 51 upper surface 52 sliding support 53 bar 54 lug 55 stem 56 pin 58 first end plate 59 sensor 60 upper lug 61 adjustment screw 62 second end plate 64 bolt 70 spacer plate 72 attachment bracket 74 lower beam 76 joint pin 78 supporting bracket 80 spring support 82 fastening bolt 84 hole 102 front fork 104 rear fork