Exercise apparatus

Abstract

A bicycle exercise roller system including a roller with an internal flywheel. The internal flywheel is driven at a speed higher than the speed of the roller that the flywheel is located within. A platform extends between a pair of spaced frame rails and includes a channel for the passage of a drive belt for the roller engaging the front wheel of the bicycle.

1 . An exercise training apparatus, comprising: 
 a mechanical frame;    a roller coupled to and rotatable relative to said frame; and    a flywheel located within said roller.    
     
     
         2 . The exercise training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said flywheel and said roller are positioned co-axially.  
     
     
         3 . The exercise training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said roller and said flywheel are tubular.  
     
     
         4 . The exercise training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said roller has a circular cross section and said flywheel is balanced.  
     
     
         5 . The exercise training apparatus of  claim 1 , which further includes a shaft fixedly coupled between a first portion of said mechanical frame and a second portion of said mechanical frame; and 
 wherein said roller and said flywheel are positioned coaxial with said shaft and rotatably mounted on said shaft.    
     
     
         6 . The exercise training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanical frame includes a first frame member and a second frame member spaced therefrom; 
 wherein said roller includes a shaft fixedly coupled to said first frame member and said second frame member;    wherein said roller is located between said frame members and rotates about said shaft; and    wherein said flywheel rotates about said shaft.    
     
     
         7 . The exercise training apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said shaft and said roller and said flywheel are coaxial; 
 wherein said flywheel includes an outer surface;    wherein said roller includes an inner surface;    wherein said outer surface is spaced about 0.050 to 0.200 inches from said inner surface; and    wherein said roller and said flywheel are substantially tubular.    
     
     
         8 . The exercise training apparatus of  claim 1 , which further includes a supplemental load device located within said roller and disposed co-axially with said roller and said flywheel.  
     
     
         9 . The exercise training apparatus of  claim 1 , which further includes a second roller coupled to and rotatable relative to said frame; and 
 which further includes a second flywheel located within said second roller.    
     
     
         10 . The exercise training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanical frame includes a first frame member and a second frame member spaced therefrom; 
 wherein said roller includes a shaft fixedly coupled between said first frame member and said second frame member;    which further includes a pair of first bearings located between said shaft and said flywheel to enable said flywheel to rotate relative to said shaft;    which further includes a second bearing located between said flywheel and said roller to enable said roller to rotate relative to said flywheel;    which further includes a third bearing located between said shaft and said roller to enable said roller to rotate relative to said shaft;    wherein said flywheel includes an outer cylindrical surface;    wherein said roller includes an inner cylindrical surface;    wherein said outer surface is spaced about 0.050 to 0.200 inches from said inner surface.    
     
     
         11 . The exercise training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanical frame includes a pair of frame rails, each of said frame rails being foldable about a hinge point.  
     
     
         12 . The exercise training apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each of said frame rails includes a first portion and a second portion adjacent said hinge point; and 
 which further includes means for locking said portions in at least one of an open or closed position.    
     
     
         13 . A bicycle exercise roller system for riding a bicycle having a front and a rear wheel thereon, comprising: 
 a mechanical frame including a pair of spaced frame rails;    a rotatable front roller disposed between said pair of frame rails and adapted for receiving the front wheel of the bicycle thereagainst;    a rotatable intermediate roller disposed between said pair of frame rails and adapted for receiving the rear wheel of the bicycle thereagainst, and upon rotation of the rear wheel the intermediate roller is rotated;    a rotatable rear roller disposed between said pair of frame rails and adapted for receiving the rear wheel of the bicycle thereagainst, and upon rotation of the rear wheel the rear roller is rotated;    a flywheel located within one of said rotatable intermediate roller and said rotatable rear roller; and    a mechanical drive coupled between said flywheel and one of said rotatable intermediate roller and said rotatable rear roller and upon rotation of the rear wheel said mechanical drive causes rotation of said flywheel at a rotational speed greater than the rotational speed of the roller that said flywheel is located within.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said flywheel rotates at speeds about three to five times greater than the speed of the roller that it is located within.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , which further includes a drive engagement system operable with said mechanical drive, said drive engagement system having a first mode wherein said mechanical drive is engaged and causes rotation of the flywheel upon rotation of the rear wheel and a second mode wherein said mechanical drive is freewheeling and does not cause rotation of the flywheel upon rotation of the rear wheel.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said mechanical drive includes a ring gear coupled with one of said rotatable intermediate roller and said rotatable rear roller, and said mechanical drive further includes a sun gear connected with said flywheel, and said mechanical drive includes a plurality of planet gears disposed between said ring gear and said sun gear.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said flywheel and the roller said flywheel is located within are co-axial; and 
 wherein said flywheel and said roller said flywheel is located within are substantially tube shaped.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said flywheel includes a first pulley, and the other of said intermediate roller and said rear roller that the flywheel is not located within includes a second pulley, said first pulley having a smaller diameter than said second pulley; and 
 which further includes a belt coupling said first pulley and said second pulley.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , which further includes a lock for selectively coupling said first pulley with said rotatable intermediate roller.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , which includes a belt coupled between said rotatable intermediate roller and said rotatable front roller, and upon rotation of said intermediate roller said front roller is rotated; 
 which further includes a platform extending between said pair of spaced frame rails and located between said rotatable front roller and said rotatable intermediate roller, said platform having an upper deck surface adapted to receive the bicyclist thereon; and    said platform including a channel formed therein for the passage of the belt below the upper deck surface.    
     
     
         21 . A bicycle exercise roller system for riding a bicycle having a front and a rear wheel thereon, comprising: 
 a mechanical frame including a pair of spaced frame rails;    a rotatable front roller disposed between said pair of frame rails and adapted for receiving the front wheel of the bicycle thereagainst;    a rotatable intermediate roller disposed between said pair of frame rails and adapted for receiving the rear wheel of the bicycle thereagainst, and upon rotation of the rear wheel the intermediate roller is rotated;    a rotatable rear roller disposed between said pair of frame rails and adapted for receiving the rear wheel of the bicycle thereagainst, and upon rotation of the rear wheel the rear roller is rotated;    a belt coupling said front roller with one of said intermediate roller and said rear roller; and    a platform extending between said pair of frame rails and between said front roller and said intermediate roller, said platform having an outer surface for receiving the bicyclist thereon and a channel formed in the platform for the passage of the belt below the outer surface.    
     
     
         22 . A bicycle exercise roller system for riding a bicycle having a front and a rear wheel thereon, comprising: 
 a mechanical frame including a pair of spaced frame rails;    a rotatable front roller disposed between said pair of frame rails and adapted for receiving the front wheel of the bicycle thereagainst;    a rotatable intermediate roller disposed between said pair of frame rails and adapted for receiving the rear wheel of the bicycle thereagainst, and upon rotation of the rear wheel the intermediate roller is rotated at a first speed;    a rotatable rear roller disposed between said pair of frame rails and adapted for receiving the rear wheel of the bicycle thereagainst, and upon rotation of the rear wheel the rear roller is rotated at a first speed;    a flywheel located within one of said intermediate rotatable roller and said rotatable rear roller; and    means for driving said flywheel at speeds greater than said first speed.