Training aid for pedal powered apparatus

Abstract

A removable training aid for a human powered vehicle of the kind in which a pair of opposed cranks are provided which rotate relative to a common axis, the aid providing an audible or tactile indication in use that a rider is rotating the pedals by applying an incorrect pedalling technique, the removable training aid comprising an intermediary body, attachment means for attaching the body to at least one of the cranks and a pedal secured to the intermediary body, the removable training aid being arranged so that in use the pedal is free to rotate around an axis of rotation that is parallel to the common axis, the intermediary part permitting movement of the axis of rotation of the pedal relative to the crank through at least one degree of freedom in the event that a force is applied to the pedal along a path that is not perpendicular to an imaginary line that connects the axis of rotation of the crank with the threaded bore in the crank.

1 . A removable training aid for a human powered vehicle of the kind in which a pair of opposed cranks are provided which rotate relative to a common axis, the aid providing an audible or tactile indication in the event that a rider is rotating the pedals by applying an incorrect pedalling technique, the removable training aid comprising an intermediary body, attachment means for attaching the body to at least one of the cranks and a pedal secured to the intermediary body, the removable training aid being arranged so that in use the pedal is free to rotate around an axis of rotation that is parallel to the common axis, the intermediary part permitting movement of the axis of rotation of the pedal relative to the crank through at least one degree of freedom in the event that a force is applied to the pedal along a path that is not perpendicular to an imaginary line that connects the axis of rotation of the crank with the threaded bore in the crank, and in which the attachment means comprises a threaded shaft that in use engages a threaded hole in the crank and the body includes at least one threaded opening which is offset from the threaded shaft which is arranged to receive a threaded pedal spindle that secures the pedal to the body. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The removable training aid of  claim 1  which includes a resistance means which prevent movement in the additional degree of freedom unless the component of the riders pedalling force applied is sufficient to overcome the resistance means.  
     
     
         4 . The removable training aid of  claim 3  in which the intermediary body is arranged so that there is no movement of the pedal about the additional degree of freedom if a force is applied to the pedal which is orthogonal to this degree of freedom. 
     
     
         5 . The removable training aid of  claim 3  in which the resistance means is arranged to substantially prevent movement about the additional degree of freedom until the force applied by the rider to the pedal in that direction exceeds a predetermined level, the movement thereafter being sufficiently large that it can be felt/heard by the rider. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The removable training aid of  claim 3  in which the resistance means comprises a spring such as a coil spring, or a resilient member such as a rubber block that acts between the intermediary body and the threaded shaft. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The removable training aid  claim 1  in which the threaded shaft and the threaded opening have respective axes that are offset from each other so that the additional degree of freedom allows a rotational movement of the axis of rotation of the pedal relative to the crank. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The removable training aid of  claim 1  which includes a means for biasing the body into a neutral position relative to the crank whereby the pedal spindle and threaded shaft lie on an imaginary line that is substantially perpendicular to a line that connects the axis of rotation of the crank to the threaded shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The removable training aid of  claim 7  in which the intermediary body includes an indication marking, such as a line or groove or ridge that extends between the spindle and the offset threaded bore to enable easy identification of correct/incorrect technique to be observed. 
     
     
         13 . The removable training aid of  claim 1  in which the intermediate body includes at least two offset threaded openings, each one arranged to receive a pedal spindle, and each one offset by a different distance from the threaded shaft whereby a rider may choose to locate the pedal at any of the positions. 
     
     
         14 . The removable training aid according to  claim 1  in which the intermediary body comprises a guide part that is secured to the crank by the threaded shaft so that it cannot rotate relative to the threaded shaft, and hence the crank, and a slider which is free to translate relative to the guide part along an axis parallel to the axis of the crank, the slider including a threaded opening which is adapted to receive a pedal spindle. 
     
     
         15 . The removable training aid of  claim 10  in which movement of the slider is opposed by a resistance means which creates an audible click when moved. 
     
     
         16 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The removable training aid of  claim 11  which includes two springs, one either side of the slider, to bias the slider in the neutral position when under no load. 
     
     
         19 . The removable training aid of  claim 11  which includes a flexible pointer which sits in the neutral position in a grooved slot on the slider, the pointer becoming deformed and eventually moving out of the slot whilst producing an audible click once a predetermined force has been applied. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The removable training aid of  claim 1  which includes one or more sensors which measure the relative position of the body and the crank, in use the deviation from the optimum position being measured by the sensor, the aid also including a processing means which receives the output of the sensor and processes the output to provide a drive signal for an electronic display (acoustic or audible or both), the drive signal causing the display to vary according to the amount of movement of the device along the additional degree of freedom. 
     
     
         22 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A combination of an exercise apparatus, such as a bicycle, or a stationary exercise bicycle, having a pair of cranks secured to a bicycle frame through a common axle, and at least one training aid according to  claim 1  secured to one of the cranks. 
     
     
         25 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method of training using an exercise apparatus according to  claim 15  which comprises pedalling the bicycle against a resistance and observing any tilting movement of the rider's pelvis during the complete pedal stroke is an indication of poor technique causing movement of the pedal relative to the crank along the path of movement corresponding to a pedal force applied in a non-optimal direction.