Eddy current cycling resistance apparatus

Abstract

A cycling resistance apparatus includes an adjustment mechanism configured to be attached to a frame, such as a stationary frame or the frame of a bicycle, and a magnet assembly attached to the adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism is configured to position magnets of the magnet assembly at an active position so that a face of each magnet is positioned within a diameter of a bicycle tire and within a width of the bicycle tire, so as to be adjacent an electrically conductive rim of the bicycle wheel. When in the active position, the one or more magnets of the magnet assembly induce eddy currents in the electrically conductive rim of the wheel to provide resistance against rotation of the wheel in the frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cycling resistance apparatus comprising:
 an adjustment mechanism configured to be attached to a frame, a wheel of a bicycle rotatably mounted with respect to the frame, the wheel having an electrically conductive rim and a tire mounted to the electrically conductive rim; and   a magnet assembly attached to the adjustment mechanism, the magnet assembly having at least one magnet;   the adjustment mechanism configured to position the at least one magnet of the magnet assembly at an active position in which a face of the at least one magnet is positioned within a diameter of the tire and positioned within a width of the tire to be adjacent the electrically conductive rim of the wheel;   the at least one magnet of the magnet assembly when in the active position configured to induce eddy currents in the electrically conductive rim of the wheel to provide resistance against rotation of the wheel in the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a pair of caliper arms pivot connected to at least one pivot point, and wherein the apparatus comprises a pair of opposing magnet assemblies that include the magnet assembly, each magnet assembly of the pair of opposing magnet assemblies connected to a free end of a different one of the pair of caliper arms. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment mechanism further comprises a quick release mechanism configured to lock and unlock rotation of the caliper arms. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a mounting component configured to attach the adjustment mechanism to the frame and to provide linear adjustable positioning of the pair of caliper arms with respect to the wheel. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises at least one caliper arm pivot connected to at least one pivot point, and wherein the magnet assembly comprises a magnet holder that holds a plurality of magnets including the at least one magnet, the magnet holder being connected to a free end of the at least one caliper arm. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the magnet holder is rotatably connected to the free end of the at least one caliper arm. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of magnets is arranged in an arc having a diameter consistent with a diameter of the electrically conductive rim. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein magnets of the plurality of magnets are individually removably connected to the magnet holder. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a stationary frame as the frame, the stationary frame configured to rotatably support the bicycle wheel above a surface. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the stationary frame comprises at least one pair of support legs including a fixed support leg and a collapsible support leg, the adjustment mechanism being connected to the fixed support leg, the collapsible support leg rotatably connected to the fixed support leg between a standing configuration and a storage configuration, the collapsible support leg shaped to define an internal volume that accommodates at least a portion of the fixed support leg in the storage configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the fixed support leg and the collapsible support leg are rotatably connected at a pivot connection. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the fixed support leg comprises a plurality of pivot connections for receiving connection of the collapsible support leg to allow for adjustment to the standing configuration of the stationary frame. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising two opposing pairs of support legs including the at least one pair of support legs and further comprising a cross-member between lower ends of fixed support legs of the two opposing pairs of support legs. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is a bicycle frame of the bicycle, and the apparatus provides for resistance training during riding. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a weight configured to be held between spokes of the wheel, the weight being shaped to fit within a V-shaped volume defined by the spokes extending from the electrically conductive rim of the wheel to a hub of the wheel that is wider than the electrically conductive rim. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the weight is a single monolithic piece. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the weight is made of non-magnetic material to avoid interaction with the at least one magnet. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a screw configured to provide a clamping load between the weight a spoke of the wheel. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller and an actuator, the actuator connected to the adjustment mechanism, the controller configured to control the actuator to actuate the adjustment mechanism to change the active position of the at least one magnet to controllably vary the resistance against rotation of the wheel in the frame. 
     
     
         20 . A cycling resistance apparatus comprising:
 an adjustment mechanism configured to be attached to a frame, a wheel of a bicycle rotatably mounted with respect to the frame, the wheel having an electrically conductive rim, a tire being mountable to the electrically conductive rim; and   a magnet assembly attached to the adjustment mechanism, the magnet assembly having at least one magnet;   the adjustment mechanism configured to position the at least one magnet of the magnet assembly at an active position configured to induce eddy currents in the electrically conductive rim of the wheel to provide resistance against rotation of the wheel in the frame without requiring any corresponding magnets to be attached to the rim, tire, or wheel of the bicycle.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a stationary frame as the frame, the stationary frame configured to rotatably support the bicycle wheel above a surface. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the frame is a bicycle frame of the bicycle, and the apparatus provides for resistance training during riding. 
     
     
         23 . A cycling resistance apparatus comprising:
 an adjustment mechanism configured to be attached to a frame, a wheel of a bicycle rotatably mounted with respect to the frame, the bicycle having an electrically conductive rotational component as part of the wheel or attached to the wheel, the electrically conductive rotational component configured for normal operation of the bicycle; and   a magnet assembly attached to the adjustment mechanism, the magnet assembly having at least one magnet;   the adjustment mechanism configured to position the at least one magnet of the magnet assembly at an active position configured to induce eddy currents in the electrically conductive rotational component of the bicycle to provide resistance against rotation of the wheel in the frame without requiring any corresponding magnets to be attached to the rim, tire, or wheel of the bicycle.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the electrically conductive rotational component is a rim of the wheel. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the electrically conductive rotational component is a disc of a disc brake.