Spinning exercise cycle with lateral movement

Abstract

This particular invention includes an exercise system having (i) an upstanding support member; (ii) an exercise mechanism coupled to the upstanding support member, wherein the exercise mechanism is configured to support a user above a support surface; (ii) a base configured to be mounted on the support surface; and (iii) a movable coupler movably coupling the upstanding support member to the base, the movable coupler allowing movement of the upstanding member while allowing the base to remain stable on the support surface. One example of the exercise mechanism is a stationary exercise cycle that can move laterally in a side-to-side motion to generate a natural bicycle movement. This lateral movement exercise cycle can be a component of a virtual exercise system that employs additional visual display and media components.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:  
     
         1 . An exercise system, comprising: 
 an upstanding support member;    an exercise mechanism coupled to the upstanding support member, wherein the exercise mechanism is configured to support a user above a support surface;    a base configured to be mounted on the support surface; and    means for movably coupling the upstanding support member to the base, the means for movably coupling allowing lateral movement of the upstanding support member while allowing the base to remain stable on the support surface.    
     
     
         2 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for movably coupling comprises means for flexibly coupling the upstanding support member to the base.  
     
     
         3 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the means for movably coupling comprises a flexible coupler and means for adjusting the flexibility of the coupler.  
     
     
         4 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the means for adjusting the flexibility of the coupler comprises a removable dampening insert.  
     
     
         5 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the means for adjusting the flexibility of the coupler comprises a knob configured to compress a dampening insert.  
     
     
         6 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the means for flexibly coupling comprises a pivoting member and an elastomeric member configured to gradually arrest the movement of the upstanding member.  
     
     
         7 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the means for flexibly coupling the upstanding support member to the base comprises at least one dampening wing coupled to the upstanding support member and at least one dampening insert configured to be mounted between the dampening wing and the base.  
     
     
         8 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the means for flexibly coupling the upstanding support member to the base comprises an axle coupled to the base, a pivot tube coupled to the upstanding member and pivoting about the axle, first and second dampening wings coupled to the pivot tube, and first and second dampening inserts mounted between respective first and second dampening wings and the base on opposing sides of the pivot tube.  
     
     
         9 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for movably coupling the upstanding support member limits the movement of the upstanding support member to movement about an axis.  
     
     
         10 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the exercise system simulates bicycle exercise.  
     
     
         11 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for movably coupling is a pivotal coupling that allows lateral movement.  
     
     
         12 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for movably coupling allows side to side and front to back movement.  
     
     
         13 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for movably coupling comprises a flexible dampening insert that allows side to side and front to back movement.  
     
     
         14 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the exercise mechanism comprises a crank movably coupled to the upright member and a pedal coupled to the crank.  
     
     
         15 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for movably coupling comprises a dampening wing and a dampening insert.  
     
     
         16 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the dampening insert comprises an insert selected from the group consisting of a spring and an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         17 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for movably coupling comprises first and second dampening inserts and wherein the inserts are each compressed when the upstanding member is in a substantially vertical position.  
     
     
         18 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the upstanding support member remains in a substantially vertical position in the absence of a force introduced to move the upstanding member from the substantially vertical position.  
     
     
         19 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the exercise mechanism comprises first and second bicycle cranks movably coupled to the upstanding support member, each crank having a pedal coupled thereto.  
     
     
         20 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the exercise mechanism further comprises: 
 an upstanding support beam;    a seat proximally coupled to the upstanding support beam;    a handlebar; and    a flywheel structure.    
     
     
         21 . An exercise system, comprising: 
 an upstanding support member;    an exercise mechanism coupled to the upstanding support member, wherein the exercise mechanism is configured to support a user above a support surface;    a base configured to be mounted on the support surface; and    a movable coupler movably coupling the upstanding support member to the base, the movable coupler allowing lateral movement of the upstanding member while allowing the base to remain stable on the support surface.    
     
     
         22 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the upstanding support structure is flexibly coupled to the base via a pivotal coupling comprising: 
 an axle mounted on the base;    a pivot tube movably coupled to the axle; and    a compressible dampening insert mounted on the base adjacent the pivot tube.    
     
     
         23 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising a bushing extending between the axle and the pivot tube.  
     
     
         24 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the exercise cycle further comprises: 
 dampening wings affixed to the sides of the pivot tube; and    dampening structures between the dampening wings and the base to restrict the lateral motion of the upstanding support member.    
     
     
         25 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the dampening structures restrict lateral motion through tension of the dampening inserts  
     
     
         26 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the dampening structures are urethane inserts.  
     
     
         27 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the dampening structures cause the upright member to remain upright until a force is placed against the upright member.  
     
     
         28 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the dampening insert structures dampen the lateral movement of the upright member through compression.  
     
     
         29 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the base comprises a center beam and front and rear support beams orthogonally connected to the center beam to enhance resistance to tipping as a result of lateral motion. The exercise system as recited in claim  0 , wherein the flexible coupler means comprises dampening insert structures placed between dampening wings on the sides of the vertical support structure and the base.  
     
     
         30 . An exercise system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the movable coupler comprises a flexible coupler flexibly coupling the upstanding support member to the base.  
     
     
         31 . An exercise system, comprising: 
 an upstanding support member;    an exercise mechanism coupled to the upstanding support member, wherein the exercise mechanism is configured to support a user above a support surface;    a base configured to be mounted on the support surface; and    a flexible coupler flexibly coupling the upstanding support member to the base, the flexible coupler allowing lateral movement of the upstanding member while allowing the base to remain stable on the support surface.    
     
     
         32 . An exercise cycle system with lateral side to side cycling movement generated in part by the weight distribution of an operator working out on the exercise cycle, the exercise cycle comprising: 
 a support base that resists tipping of the exercise cycle system;    an upstanding support member;    an exercise mechanism coupled to the upstanding support member,    a crank movably coupled to the exercise mechanism; and    a flexible coupler flexibly coupling the upstanding support member to the base, the flexible coupler allowing lateral movement of the upstanding member while allowing the base to remain stable on the support surface.    
     
     
         33 . An exercise cycle as recited in  claim 32 , further comprising means for adjusting the flexibility of the coupler.