SUPPORT DEVICES CONFIGURED TO IMPROVE USER EXPERIENCE IN RELATION TO STATIONARY CYCLING TRAINER ASSEMBLIES

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of Australian Patent Application Serial No. 2024903658, filed Nov. 8, 2024, for “Support Devices Configured To Improve User Experience In Relation To Stationary Cycling Trainer Assemblies,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates, in various embodiments, to support devices configured to improve user experience in relation to stationary cycling trainer assemblies. For example, some embodiments provide removable footing devices that are configured to be mounted to existing cycling trainer assemblies, thereby to provide a resilient and/or oscillating interface between the trainer assembly and a support surface. While embodiments will be described primarily in relation to such embodiments, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure may have broader application.

BACKGROUND

Any discussion of the background art throughout the present disclosure should in no way be considered as an admission that such art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

Various common configurations of cycling trainer assemblies include a device that supports the rear of a bicycle. For example, this may include a trainer unit that connects to a rear axle region of the bicycle frame in place of a rear wheel, or a trainer unit into which a conventionally affixed rear wheel of the bicycle is mounted. In either case, a basic premise of the system is that the bicycle is supported in a substantially stable position in which a rider is able to pedal the bicycle in a stationary position with resistance being provided via the trainer assemblies.

A key objective in relation to cycling trainer assemblies is to provide a “realistic” or “natural” feel. Various approaches have been developed to assist in that regard, for example, including rocker plates and the like. A further approach has been to construct coupling devices that are configured to mount to specific trainer devices, which hold resilient balls (for example, tennis balls) in a manner that allows the trainer to be supported on those balls.

It is an object of the present disclosure to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Reference throughout this disclosure to “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in some embodiments,” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this disclosure are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the use of the ordinal adjectives “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the terms “comprising,” “comprised of,” or “which comprises” is an open term that means including at least the elements/features that follow, but not excluding others. Thus, the term “comprising,” when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression “a device comprising A and B,” should not be limited to devices consisting only of elements A and B. Any one of the terms “including,” “which includes,” or “that includes,” as used herein, is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, “including” is synonymous with and means “comprising.”

As used herein, the term “exemplary” is used in the sense of providing examples, as opposed to indicating quality. That is, an “exemplary embodiment” is an embodiment provided as an example, as opposed to necessarily being an embodiment of exemplary quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a support device according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 provides a side view of the support device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 provides a cross section along the line A-A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 provides a bottom view of the support device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a plurality of the support device of FIG. 1 mounted to a cycling trainer assembly.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a support device according to claim 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates a trainer device according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates, in various embodiments, to support devices configured to improve operation of stationary cycling trainer assemblies. For example, some embodiments provide removable footing devices that are configured to be mounted to existing cycling trainer assemblies, thereby to provide a resilient and/or oscillating interface between the trainer assembly and a support surface. This provides a more natural feel for the user. While embodiments will be described primarily in relation to such embodiments, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure may have broader application.

Various embodiments described below are applicable in the context of several categories of cycling trainer assembly. These include:

• • Trainers that are configured to receive a complete bicycle, and engage with a rear wheel of that bicycle thereby to offer resistance. These are often referred to as “wheel-on” trainers.
  • Trainers that are configured to receive a partially deconstructed bicycle, deconstructed in the sense that the rear wheel is removed, and engage with a drivetrain of a bicycle thereby to offer resistance. These are often referred to as “wheel-off” trainers. In these examples, the existing bicycle drivetrain typically attaches to a cassette that is mounted to the trainer assembly.
  • Integrated trainers. These are trainer assemblies that have an integrated bicycle drivetrain, saddle and cockpit, often referred to as “stationary bicycles.” These differ from the previous examples in the sense that, in the previous examples, a conventional bicycle is mounted to a trainer, and in this example the trainer does not require a separate bicycle to be mounted.

It will be appreciated that various aspects of technology described herein are, while described in relation to only one category of trainer, are applicable to multiple categories of trainer, provided the trainer makes use of appropriate support legs.

Most trainer assemblies make use of outwardly extending support legs. These are often horizonal and/or cylindrical. For example, FIG. 7 provides an example of a trainer that has four outwardly extending support legs 701, which are each cylindrical and horizonal. Each leg has a respective foot 702. In use, the trainer rests on a ground surface via these feet, providing a relatively stable support structure. The feet may be independently formed of the legs (for example, plastic/rubber covers, as in FIG. 7), or they may be defined by regions of the legs that contact the ground in use. The design and configuration of legs and feet may vary widely between trainers. Some trainers make use of fewer than four legs/feet, for example, three. Others may use more. Non-cylindrical shapes may also be used. However, ultimately, almost all trainer assemblies have a plurality of elongate legs with feet elements, and it will be appreciated how a given embodiment of the support device described below may be fitted to a wide range of trainer assembly configurations.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 illustrate a support device 100 according to one embodiment. Measurements shown in these diagrams are examples only and should not be regarded as limiting on the scope of the disclosure. The device is shown in an inflated configuration, being a standard pressure that forms the device in a baseline shape and configuration.

Device 100 is a support device for a cycling trainer assembly, having a plurality of outwardly extending support legs (for example, in a similar manner to the trainer of FIG. 7). In use, a plurality of devices such as device 100 are mounted to maintain the support legs of a trainer in an elevated position above a ground surface. That is, devices 100 replace the function of feet 702 in the example of FIG. 7 but do so in a manner that enables limited reciprocating movement of the trainer relative to the ground. Preferably, a device 100 is attached to each leg; in some embodiments, device 100 is attached only to a subset of legs (provided this can be achieved while maintaining the trainer in a suitable and stable orientation).

Device 100 is formed of a body that is defined around a central aperture 101. As described in more detail further below, this central aperture is configured to receive one of the trainer legs. More specifically, central aperture 100 has a variable central diameter. Controlled variation of this central diameter allows for the trainer leg to be inserted into aperture 101 with the central diameter at a first size, and then for the central diameter to be decreased thereby to increase a friction force between the sidewall of aperture 101 and the trainer leg. This friction force holds device 100 in place relative to the trainer leg (up to a threshold magnitude of force).

The manner by which the central diameter is controllably variable may be different across embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, and as described in more detail further below, the central diameter is variably adjustable as a result of two means: (i) elasticity—the body is at least partially formed from an elastic (resiliently deformable) material, allowing for the diameter of the central aperture to be increased via application of a stretching force; and (ii) variable internal pressure—the body has an internal bladder in which air pressure is able to be adjusted, thereby increasing a force through the sidewall in a direction toward the middle of aperture 101, and hence causing stretching of the body in a manner that decreases the diameter of the central aperture. This combination allows for compatibility with a wide range of trainer leg diameters and cross sections. In further embodiments, the device may have a fixed internal pressure, in which case a combination of that pressure and elasticity allows for use with a limited range of leg diameters and cross sections.

In the illustrated embodiment the central aperture is substantially circular in cross section at its center (defined laterally relative to the body). More specifically, the central aperture has a sidewall defined by the body of device 100, the device 100 having a pair of tapered sidewall regions 102 that substantially respectively define shapes of inwardly tapering truncated cones, and a substantial cylindrical central sidewall region 103 that spans between regions 102. The inwards tapering provided by regions 102 facilitates easy insertion of the trainer leg into aperture 101.

In use, a plurality of devices such as device 100 are mounted to respective legs of the trainer assembly (for example, to provide a respective foot on each leg, or to provide a respective foot on at least a pair of the legs). Device 100 is configured such that supporting a trainer assembly in this manner enables limited movement of the trainer assembly. This movement preferably includes either or both of: (i) a self-centering rocking motion relative to the ground surface, which may be in respect to a single axis (preferably longitudinal) or with respect to multiple axes (which, in the present embodiment, is facilitated by curvature of a ground engagement surface as described below); and (ii) resilient movement facilitated by body deformation (which, in the present embodiment, may be controlled via variation of internal air pressure).

The body of device 100 defines a ground engagement surface 110. This is a surface, which, in use, is configured to at least partially contact a ground surface on which the trainer is positioned. Ground engagement surface 110 has a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the axis of central aperture 101 and a lateral axis that is parallel to the axis of central aperture 101. The ground engagement surface is curved with respect to both of these axes. In the illustrated embodiment: the ground engagement surface is laterally curved; the ground engagement surface is longitudinally curved; and the radius of longitudinal curvature is greater than the radius of lateral curvature. These curvatures enable attributes of the limited movement facilitated by supporting of a trainer assembly on multiple devices such as device 100, as described in the preceding paragraph. The ground engagement surface has a longitudinal length that is at least double the lateral width.

Preferably, the device is a tight fit on the trainer assembly legs, such that motion of the trainer assembly relative to the ground is a result of movement between the ground engagement surface and the ground surface (as opposed to the devices rotating with respect to the trainer legs). This defines a threshold secure mounting pressure. It will be appreciated that attributes of the limited movement provided by the devices in use is able to be controlled via a level of inflation of the device above that threshold secure mounting pressure.

For the purposes of facilitating air pressure inside of the device body, an inflatable bladder is defined around the central aperture. Increasing pressure within the inflatable bladder causes a reduction diameter of the central aperture, thereby to in use create a binding force between the body and the given on of the support legs. In some embodiments, the body is formed (at least in part) from a resilient material, and the resilient material of the body defines the inflatable bladder. In other embodiments, resilient material of the body surrounds the inflatable bladder (i.e., an inner tube type arrangement).

In some embodiments, the body includes a first region of resilient material having a first degree of resistance to stretching, and a second region of resilient material having a first degree of resistance to stretching that is greater than the first degree of resistance to stretching, with the first region including at least part of the sidewall defining the central aperture. In this manner, increasing internal air pressure has a greater effect on body stretching through the sidewall of the central aperture, compared to the remainder of the device. In further embodiments, various two (or more) part reigns are applied, which allow for elasticity, pressure and/or inflatability for adjusting the diameter of the central aperture to be isolated from the ground engagement surface (or surfaces). For example, the ground engagement surface may be formed from a rigid material, with a peripheral body zone being configured to hold an inflatable core region that includes the central aperture.

Device 100 has three external “sides,” with one of these defining the ground engagement surface. Preferably, in embodiments wherein the body includes at least three external sides, at least one side provides the ground engagement surface. In some embodiments, two or more sides are configured to operate as the ground engagement surface, optionally with different attributes (such as curvature) thereby to offer different user experiences.

It will be appreciated how device 100 (and other embodiments based on the disclosure herein) may be fitted to a wide range of trainer assembly configurations, including with different leg position, orientations, and shapes. This is indeed a key advantage of the present technology compared with other devices that seek to provide similar functionalities: existing devices tend to be mountable only to trainer legs having a specific shape and diameter; the mounting means described herein allow for wide ranging compatibility. There are further advantages relating to user experience (e.g., providing a more natural feel for a trainer device), device reliability, and ease of use.

It should further be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this disclosure.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as falling within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present disclosure.