Static Cycling Machine

Abstract

A static cycling machine includes a base assembly. A front post support structure is arranged on the base assembly. A front post assembly is arranged on the front post support structure and is angled forward with respect to a support substrate, the front post assembly being adjustable in length and configured to permit a handlebar assembly to be mounted thereon. A rear post support structure is arranged on the base assembly. A rear post assembly is arranged on the rear post support structure and is angled rearward with respect to the support substrate, the rear post assembly being adjustable in length and configured to permit a seat assembly to be mounted thereon. Linear actuators are arranged on respective support structures and operatively engaged with respective post assemblies to adjust the lengths of the post assemblies. A control system controls operation of the linear actuators. A crank assembly is arranged on at least one of the base and support structures.

1 . A static cycling machine which comprises
 a base assembly;   a front post support structure arranged on the base assembly;   a front post assembly arranged on the front post support structure and angled forward with respect to a support substrate, the front post assembly being adjustable in length and configured to permit a handlebar assembly to be mounted thereon;   a rear post support structure arranged on the base assembly;   a rear post assembly arranged on the rear post support structure and angled rearward with respect to the support substrate, the rear post assembly being adjustable in length and configured to permit a seat assembly to be mounted thereon;   linear actuators arranged on respective support structures and operatively engaged with respective post assemblies to adjust the lengths of the post assemblies;   a control system for controlling operation of the linear actuators; and   a crank assembly that is arranged on at least one of the base and support structures.   
     
     
         2 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the crank assembly is arranged on one of the support structures, such that the post assemblies, support structures and the crank assembly define a frame that can simulate a conventional bicycle frame with adjustment of the front and rear post assemblies resulting in adjustment of a frame size of the simulated bicycle frame. 
     
     
         3 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 2 , in which at least one of the support structures is linearly displaceable with respect to the base assembly so that a distance between the post assemblies can be adjusted, the machine including an actuator operatively arranged with respect to the support structures and operable to adjust the distance between the support structures, the actuator being configured for control with the control system. 
     
     
         4 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 3 , in which each linear actuator includes a lead screw that is in threaded engagement with a sleeve, a drive motor being mounted on an associated support structure and operatively engaged with the lead screw such that the drive motor can be used to rotate the lead screw to drive the sleeve linearly, a mount being arranged on a free end of the sleeve so that the seat assembly or the handlebar assembly can be mounted on the sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the crank assembly includes an axle assembly that is configured so that a crank arm can be mounted on each of two respective input ends of the axle assembly, the axle assembly being configured so that torque applied via one crank arm is isolated from the other crank arm and vice versa. 
     
     
         6 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the axle assembly includes a pair of opposed lower bracket assemblies and an axle extending between and engaged at each end with a respective lower bracket assembly, the bracket assemblies each being configured to transmit torque to the axle only when the associated crank arm is rotationally driven with respect to the axle, thereby isolating the axle from the effects of a non-driving crank arm. 
     
     
         7 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the control system is configured to receive power measurement signals from crank arms, thereby allowing association between maximum power output from respective legs and said positional data. 
     
     
         8 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 7 , in which the control system includes a controller for communicating with the actuators and a control interface for displaying at least positional data to a user. 
     
     
         9 . A static cycling machine as claimed in  claim 8 , which includes a wireless communications module to permit the controller to communicate with a wireless device such that at least one of the positional data and the performance data can be received from, or communicated to, a networked data processing apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . A method for using the static cycling machine of  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 recording a user's details;   measuring power applied at the crank assembly;   operating the actuators until a maximum power applied at the crank assembly is achieved;   recording positional conditions of the actuators corresponding to said maximum power; and   storing the user's details together with the positional conditions in a database.   
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , which includes the step of writing data relating to the user's details and the positional conditions of the actuators to a data storage medium. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , which includes the steps of reading said data relating to the user's details and the positional conditions of the actuators and adjusting the post assemblies in accordance with said data.