WO2025170705A1

WO2025170705A1 - Exercise bike with side-to-side motion mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2025170705A1
Application number: PCT/US2025/011077
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adnan Abbas
Original assignee: Wahoo Fitness LLC
Current assignee: Wahoo Fitness LLC
Priority date: 2024-02-06
Filing date: 2025-01-10
Publication date: 2025-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-06
Also published as: US20250249334A1

Abstract

A bike trainer includes a rocking base having a bottom surface with an arc shaped rocking surface. A pair of support legs are each connected to a side of the base by a tilt mechanism. A main frame extends upward from the base and supports a seat. A pedal assembly is rotatably mounted to the main frame and drivingly connected to a flywheel assembly.

Description

EXERCISE BIKE WITH SIDE-TO-SIDE MOTION MECHANISM

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/550,211 , filed on February 6, 2024. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a bike trainer with a side-to-side motion mechanism.

BACKGROUND

[0003] This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

[0004] Busy schedules, bad weather, focused training, and other factors cause bicycle riders ranging from the novice to the professional to train indoors. Numerous indoor training options exist including exercise bicycles and trainers. An exercise bicycle looks similar to a bicycle but without wheels, and includes a seat, handlebars, pedals, crank arms, a drive sprocket and chain. An indoor trainer, in contrast, is a mechanism that allows the rider to mount her actual bicycle to the trainer, with or without the rear wheel, and then ride the bike indoors. The trainer provides the resistance and supports the bike but otherwise is a simpler mechanism than a complete exercise bicycle. Such trainers allow a user to train using her own bicycle, and are much smaller than full exercise bicycles, and often are less expensive than full exercise bicycles.

[0005] While very useful, conventional trainers nonetheless suffer from many drawbacks. For example, exercise bicycles do not adequately simulate a realistic rider feel on the exercise bicycle.

[0006] With these thoughts in mind among others, aspects of the trainer disclosed herein were conceived.

SUMMARY

[0007] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. [0008] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a bike trainer includes a rocking base having a bottom surface with an arc shaped rocking surface. A pair of support legs are each connected to a side of the base by a tilt mechanism. A main frame extends upward from the base and supports a seat. A pedal assembly is rotatably mounted to the main frame and drivingly connected to a flywheel assembly.

[0009] According to a further aspect, a horizontal extension extends from an upper end of the main frame and a handle bar is mounted to the horizontal extension.

[0010] According to a further aspect, the main frame is supported on the base by a glide mechanism.

[0011] According to a further aspect, the glide mechanism includes a lockout mechanism.

[0012] According to a further aspect, a damper mechanism for adjustable controlling friction of the glide mechanism.

[0013] According to a further aspect, the pair of support legs are each pivotally connected to the base by a hinge.

[0014] According to a further aspect, each tilt mechanism includes a spring that biases the pair of support legs in a downward direction.

[0015] According to a further aspect, an adjustable damper mechanism for adjusting a spring force of the tilt mechanism.

[0016] According to a further aspect, the spring is an elastomer spring.

[0017] According to a further aspect, the spring is a coil spring.

[0018] According to a further aspect, the spring includes a pair of elastomer springs.

[0019] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a front left perspective view of an exercise bike with a side-to- side motion mechanism according to the principles of the present disclosure; [0022] FIG. 2 is a front right perspective view of an exercise bike with a side-to- side motion mechanism according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a bottom left perspective view of the exercise bike with a side-to- side motion mechanism according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a left side plan view of the exercise bike with a side-to-side motion mechanism according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the exercise bike with a side-to-side motion mechanism according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tilt mechanism with the outer elastomer spring removed for illustration purposes;

[0027] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tilt mechanism according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the glide damper mechanism according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the glide damper mechanism with the cover removed for illustration purposes;

[0030] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the glide damper mechanism according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the exercise bike;

[0032] FIG. 12 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating the glide mechanism of the exercise bike; and

[0033] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the lockout mechanism of the glide mechanism.

[0034] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exercise bike 10 is shown including a rocking base 12 with a pair of support legs 14 extending laterally from the sides of the rocking base 12. The pair of support legs 14 are each connected to the rocking base 12 by a tilt mechanism 16. A glide assembly 18 is supported by and within the rocking base 12 for fore and aft movement relative to the rocking base 12. A main frame 20 pivotally extends upward from the glide assembly 18 and supports a seat 22. A pedal assembly 24 is rotatably mounted to the main frame 20 and is drivingly connected to a flywheel assembly 26 by a chain or a belt, not shown. A horizontal extension 28 extends from an upper end of the main frame and a handle bar 30 is mounted to the horizontal extension 28.

[0037] As best shown in FIGS. 3-5, the rocking base 12 includes an elongated housing 32 having a bottom 34, a sidewall 36 and a cover 38. A plurality of spaced arc shaped bars 40a-40c are secured to the bottom 34. The arc shaped bars 40a-40c each have an arc shaped rocking surface 42 that allow the rocking base 12 to rock in a sideward direction. As an alternative, the rocking surface 42 can be formed directly into the bottom 34 of the elongated housing or into the sidewall 36. The curvature of the arc shaped surface 42 can be selected based upon providing a user with a realistic bike rider feel.

[0038] With reference to FIG. 7, the tilt mechanism 16 includes a hinge 44 that connects the support legs 14 to the rocking base 12. The hinge 44 includes a face plate 46 mounted to an end of the support leg 14. A first spring 48 is disposed between the face plate 46 and the sidewall 36 of the rocking base 12. The first spring 48 can be an elastomeric block (as shown), or alternatively can include one or more coil springs that bias the leg 14 in a downward direction. With reference to FIG. 6, a second, outer elastomer spring 50 is mounted between the face plate 46 and the sidewall 36 of the rocking base 12. The outer elastomer spring 50 can be U-shaped and encase the first spring 48. It is noted that the springs 48, 50 can take on alternative forms. One or more springs can be used, so long as the spring provides a sufficient downward pivoting force on the support legs 14 to provide the user with a desired resistance in the side-to- side pedaling motion of the exercise bike 10. The thickness and the density of the elastomer spring(s) 48, 50 determines a spring constant of the springs 48, 50 and can be selected based upon a rider’s desired feel.

[0039] With returning reference to FIGS. 1 -5, a distal end of the first and second support legs 14 are provided with flexible and adjustable leveling support pads 52. Each pad 52 is adjustably mounted to the leg 14 to allow the exercise bike 10 to be leveled, transverse to a longitudinal centerline, and thereby maintain the exercise bike 10 in a side-to-side level orientation. While other alternatives are possible, in the example illustrated in the figures, the leg 14 defines a threaded aperture and the pad 52 is coupled with a threaded member 54 (see FIG. 3) that engages the aperture. An adjustment collar can be coupled with the threaded member such that rotation of the collar causes the pad 52 to move vertically relative to the leg 14. The pad 52 is made from rubber or another elastomeric material so that the pad 52 is capable of flexing when the rider exerts forces in a sideward manner. Accordingly, the flexible pads 52 further provide the user with a side-to-side sway that more closely simulates the ride of a road bicycle. The legs 14 can further include rollers 60 mounted to brackets 62 that can engage the floor when the front end of the exercise bike is lifted in order to facilitate easy movement of the exercise bike 10.

[0040] With reference to FIGS. 1 -4, a flywheel assembly 26 is supported by a support arm 64 extending rearward from the main frame 20. The flywheel assembly 26 includes an outer relatively heavy flywheel member 66 (best shown in FIG. 11 ) that is configured to rotate relative to a plurality of internal components that are substantially fixed relative to the outer rotatable flywheel member 66. The flywheel member 66 is coupled with a flywheel axle 68 that communicates through and is rotatably supported by the support arm 64. The flywheel axle 68 is connected to the pedal assembly 24 by a sprocket and chain. In the depicted arrangement, a user's pedaling force is translated through the pedal assembly 24 and chain to the flywheel axle 68, which in turn causes the flywheel member 66 to rotate. The flywheel assembly 26 provides a resistance unit that can alternatively or additionally include a braking mechanism or other mechanism to provide adjustable resistance to the rider.

[0041] The seat 22 is adjustably mounted to the main frame 20 by a tube 70 received in a bracket 72 with an adjustment clamp 74.

[0042] With reference to FIG. 12, the glide assembly 18 is supported within the housing 32 and includes a U-shaped metal frame 76 that has a flat base 76a and a pair of perpendicular sidewalls 76b. The sidewalls 76b support a pair of front rollers 78 and a pair of rear rollers 80. The pair of front rollers 78 are each received in a pair of front curved tracks 82 and the pair of rear rollers 80 are each received in a pair of rear curved tracks 84. The pair of front rollers 78 are supported by a shaft 86 extending through the sidewalls 76b of the glide assembly 18. The pair of rear rollers 80 are supported by a shaft 88 extending through the sidewalls 76b of the glide assembly. Each of the pair of front curved tracks 82 and the pair of rear curved tracks 84 are supported within the housing 32 on opposite sides of the glide assembly 18. As shown in FIG. 1 , the cover 38 is mounted above the pair of front curved tracks 82 and the pair of rear curved tracks 84. [0043] With reference to FIG. 13, a lockout mechanism 100 is shown including a lockout button 102 that can be toggled between a locked position (FIGS. 1 and 13) and an un-lockout position. The lockout mechanism 100 is movable into and out of engagement with a lockout structure 104. The engagement of the lockout button 102 with the lockout structure 104 prevents the glide assembly from operating. The lockout button 102 is engaged by a toggle spring 110 that biases the lockout button 102 to the un-locked position and the lockout position when the lockout button 102 passes over a center toggle position.

[0044] In operation, the slider assembly 18 is able to move forward and rearward along the front curved tracks 82 and the pair of rear curved tracks 84 in response to rider accelerations and provide an improved rider experience. The lockout mechanism 100 can be engaged to prevent the slider assembly 18 from moving relative to the front curved tracks 82 and rear curved tracks 84, as discussed above.

[0045] With reference to FIGS. 8-10, a damper mechanism 120 includes a bolt 122 extending through a threaded aperture 124 in the housing 32. The bolt 122 includes a knob 126 at a head end and engages a pad member 128 at a second end. The pad member 128 presses against a friction pad 130 that engages a side of the glide assembly 18. The adjustment of the bolt 122 by the knob 126 either increases or decreases a friction against the glide assembly 18.

[0046] With reference to FIG. 11 , the main frame 20 is pivotally mounted to the glide assembly 18 by a pivot 130. A pivotal position of the main frame 20 can be adjusted by an adjustment mechanism 132 connected between the glide assembly 18 and the support arm 64. The adjustment mechanism 132 can include a drive motor 134 and an extendable arm 136 that is adjusted by the drive motor 134. The main frame 20 can also include a first frame section 20a and a telescoping frame section 20b that can allow the length of the main frame 20 to be adjusted by release of an adjustment pin 138.

[0047] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

[0048] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0049] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on," “engaged to,” "connected to," or "coupled to" another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," “directly engaged to,” "directly connected to," or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0050] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments. [0051] Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” "beneath," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the example term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0052] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1 . A bike trainer, comprising: a rocking base having a bottom surface with arc shaped rocking surface; a pair of support legs each connected to a side of the base by a tilt mechanism; a main frame extending upward from the base and supporting a seat; a pedal assembly rotatably mounted to the main frame and drivingly connected to a flywheel assembly.

2. The bike trainer according to claim 1 , further comprising a horizontal extension extending from an upper end of the main frame and a handle bar mounted to the horizontal extension.

3. The bike trainer according to claim 1 , wherein the main frame is supported on the base by a glide assembly.

4. The bike trainer according to claim 3, wherein the glide mechanism includes a lockout assembly.

5. The bike trainer according to claim 3, further comprising a damper mechanism for adjustable controlling friction of the glide assembly.

6. The bike trainer according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of support legs are each pivotally connected to the base by a hinge.

7. The bike trainer according to claim 1 , wherein each tilt mechanism includes a spring that biases the pair of support legs in a downward direction.

8. The bike trainer according to claim 7, wherein the spring is an elastomer spring.

9. The bike trainer according to claim 7, wherein the spring is a coil spring.

10. The bike trainer according to claim 7, wherein the spring includes a pair of elastomer springs.

11 . The bike trainer according to claim 1 , wherein the arc shaped rocking surface is defined by a plurality of arc shaped bars secured to a bottom of the base.

12. A bike trainer, comprising: a base having a pair of support legs each connected to the base; a glide assembly supported within the base by a pair of front rollers and a pair of rear rollers each received in a respective curved track; a main frame extending upward from the glide assembly and supporting a seat; a pedal assembly rotatably mounted to the main frame and drivingly connected to a flywheel assembly; and a glide damper assembly having a pad adjustably engaging a friction surface of the glide assembly.

13. The bike trainer according to claim 12, further comprising a horizontal extension extending from an upper end of the main frame and a handle bar mounted to the horizontal extension.

14. The bike trainer according to claim 13, wherein the glide assembly includes a lockout mechanism.

15. The bike trainer according to claim 12, wherein the pair of support legs are each pivotally connected to the base by a hinge.

16. The bike trainer according to claim 12, wherein each of the pair of support legs are pivotally connected to the base by a tilt mechanism that includes a spring that biases the pair of support legs in a downward direction.

17. The bike trainer according to claim 16, wherein the spring is an elastomer spring.

18. The bike trainer according to claim 16, wherein the spring is a coil spring.

19. The bike trainer according to claim 16, wherein the spring includes a pair of elastomer springs.

20. The bike trainer according to claim 12, wherein the base includes a bottom surface with an arc shaped rocking surface.