Systems and methods for selectively rotationally fixing a pedaled drivetrain
AssigneeiFIT Inc.
InventorDavid E. Wrobel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pedaled drivetrain includes a drive mechanism, a wheel, a freewheel hub, and a locking mechanism. The wheel has a rotational axis. The freewheel hub connects the drive mechanism to the wheel, and the freewheel hub transmits torque from the drive mechanism to the wheel in a first rotational direction around the rotational axis. The locking mechanism has a locked state and an unlocked state. The locked state rotationally fixes a component of the drive mechanism to the wheel relative to the rotational axis.
Claims20
A method of transmitting torque in a pedaled drivetrain, the method comprising:
- receiving a first input force with at least one pedal;
- converting the first input force to a first input torque in the pedaled drivetrain in a first rotational direction of the pedaled drivetrain;
- transmitting the first input torque through a freewheel hub to a wheel in a first rotational direction of the wheel;
- moving a locking mechanism from an unlocked state to a locked state to rotationally fix a component of the pedaled drivetrain to the wheel, wherein moving the locking mechanism from the unlocked state to the locked state includes actuating an electric motor;
- receiving a second input force at the at least one pedal;
- converting the second input force to a second input torque in the pedaled drivetrain in a second rotational direction of the pedaled drivetrain opposite the first rotational direction of the pedaled drivetrain;
- and
- transmitting the second input torque through the locking mechanism to the wheel in the second rotational direction of the wheel.
A method of transmitting torque in a pedaled drivetrain, comprising:
- transferring a first torque in a first direction to a flywheel to rotate the flywheel in the first direction;
- with the flywheel in a unlocked state, receiving a second torque in a second direction, wherein the second torque is not transferred to the flywheel;
- moving the flywheel from the unlocked state to a locked configuration by inserting one or more posts into the flywheel;
- and
- with the flywheel in the locked state, receiving a third torque in the second, wherein the third torque is transferred to the flywheel.
A method for transmitting torque, comprising:
- operating an exercise device in a freewheel mode, wherein, in the freewheel mode, torque is transferred to a flywheel in a first direction and not in a second direction;
- moving a locking mechanism axially relative to a direction of rotation of the flywheel and through a portion of the flywheel to change the flywheel from the freewheel mode to a fixed gear mode;
- and
- operating the exercise device in the fixed gear mode, wherein, in the fixed gear mode, the torque is transferred to the flywheel in the first direction and in the second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.