Also worth noting that patents have to be very precise and explicit, detailing how they achieve the intended feature / benefit. It is not enough to say “we have a variable geared trainer that utilizes a single cog”. You have to detail exactly how you achieve that feature. In exchange for divulging how you achieve something unique, you are granted am exclusive period of time to produce the product without competition. But once the patent expires, the design is available for use by everyone.
In that sense, that brings a risk factor to rushing out a similar feature…if you don’t know how Zwift is executing a particular feature, you don’t know if your competitive response is violating a potential patent.