Force adjustment mechanism for stationary exercise equipment

Abstract

A stationary exercise device includes a support structure and one or more input members such as pedals, handles, or other feature movably connected to the support structure. A movable output member such as a wheel is movably mounted to the support structure, and operably connected to the one or more input members such that movement of the one or more input members causes the output member to move. A resistance member interacts with the output member when the output member is moving to generate a variable resistance force tending to prevent movement of the output member. The variable resistance force may at least partially simulate the effects of inertia and/or momentum.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cycle trainer for generating a resistance force in a bicycle when a bicycle is connected to the cycle trainer, the cycle trainer comprising:
 a support structure configured to engage and support a bicycle in a stationary position in which a rear wheel of the bicycle does not engage a floor surface when the rear wheel rotates about a rear axis of the bicycle;   a bracket structure pivotably connected to the support structure for rotation about a first axis;   a roller having an outer diameter, wherein the roller is rotatably mounted to the bracket structure about a second axis;   a resistance mechanism configured to provide a rotational resistance force that resists rotation of the roller; and   wherein the roller is configured to engage a rear tire of a bicycle at a contact point to define a force tangent line extending through the contact point that is tangent to an outer diameter of the rear tire and the outer diameter of the roller, and wherein an effective lever arm line is defined that extends linearly through the contact point and the first axis, and wherein the force tangent line and the effective lever arm line define an acute angle therebetween such that a compressive force is applied to the bracket structure by the roller in use.   
     
     
         2 . The cycle trainer of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the roller is configured to be biased into engagement with a rear tire of a bicycle when a bicycle is connected to the cycle trainer.   
     
     
         3 . The cycle trainer of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the bracket structure rotates about the first axis in response to variations in force applied to the roller by a rear tire of a bicycle.   
     
     
         4 . The cycle trainer of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the resistance mechanism is operably connected to the bracket structure such that a magnitude of the rotational resistance provided by the resistance mechanism is a function of a position of the bracket structure relative to the support structure to thereby at least partially simulate the effects of inertia and/or momentum.   
     
     
         5 . The cycle trainer of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the bracket structure is configured to rotate upwardly due to increased force being applied to the roller by a rear tire of a bicycle.   
     
     
         6 . The cycle trainer of  claim 5 , including:
 a first spring member that rotationally biases the bracket structure downwardly in a first direction;   a second spring member that rotationally biases the bracket structure upwardly in a second direction whereby the bracket structure is biased towards an initial position; and   an adjustment mechanism that adjusts a magnitude of first and second spring preloads of the first and second springs, respectively.   
     
     
         7 . The cycle trainer of  claim 6 , including:
 a height adjustment mechanism that is operably connected to the bracket structure to provide adjustment of an initial rotational position of the bracket structure relative to the support structure about the first axis.   
     
     
         8 . The cycle trainer of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the height adjustment mechanism comprises a threaded rod, a collar slidably disposed on the threaded rod, a threaded member movably engaging the collar whereby the threaded member can be selectively disengaged from the threaded rod, and a spring biasing the threaded member into engagement with the threaded rod.   
     
     
         9 . The cycle trainer of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the resistance mechanism includes a wheel having an electrically conductive portion, wherein the wheel is operably connected to the roller such that rotation of the roller causes the wheel to rotate;   the resistance mechanism includes a magnet disposed adjacent the electrically conductive portion of the wheel such that the magnet generates eddy currents upon rotation of the wheel to provide a variable rotational resistance force acting on the roller; and   wherein rotational movement of the bracket structure causes a position of the magnet relative to the electrically conductive portion of the wheel to change and thereby change the rotation resistance force.   
     
     
         10 . The cycle trainer of  claim 9 , wherein;
 the wheel is mounted to the bracket structure and the magnet is mounted to the support structure such that rotational movement of the bracket structure shifts the wheel relative to the magnet.   
     
     
         11 . The cycle trainer of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the resistance mechanism includes a wheel that is operably connected to the roller such that rotation of the roller causes the wheel to rotate;   the resistance mechanism includes a friction brake that is configured to generate a frictional rotational resistance force acting on the roller that varies as a function of the position of the bracket structure relative to the support frame.   
     
     
         12 . The cycle trainer of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the resistance mechanism comprises a wheel that is operably connected to the roller such that the roller causes the wheel to rotate, the resistance mechanism further including a resistance member that is movably disposed adjacent to the wheel to generate a variable resistance force acting on the wheel.   
     
     
         13 . The cycle trainer of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the resistance mechanism is configured such that the variable resistance force increases as force applied to the roller by a bicycle tire increases.   
     
     
         14 . The cycle trainer of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the wheel includes a conductive portion;   the resistance member comprises an eddy magnet that is configured to move relative to the conductive portion of the wheel due to forces acting on the eddy magnet generated by rotation of the wheel.   
     
     
         15 . The cycle trainer of  claim 14 , including:
 an adjustment assembly configured to retain the bracket structure at a selected position relative to the support structure with the roller engaging a rear tire of a bicycle.   
     
     
         16 . The cycle trainer of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the adjustment assembly comprises a threaded member that interconnects the bracket structure to the support structure.   
     
     
         17 . A stationary exercise device, comprising:
 a support structure;   at least one input member movably connected to the support structure;   a wheel rotatably mounted to the support structure and operably connected to the at least one input member such that movement of the at least one input member causes the wheel to rotate;   an arm pivotably mounted to the support structure;   a resistance member mounted on the arm, wherein the resistance member interacts with the wheel when the wheel is rotating to generate a variable resistance force tending to prevent rotation of the wheel, and wherein changes in forces applied to the at least one input member cause the arm to pivot and change the resistance force.   
     
     
         18 . The stationary exercise device of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the wheel defines a circular outer periphery and rotates about a wheel axis;   the arm pivots about a pivot axis;   the pivot axis is offset from the wheel axis such that the resistance member moves radially relative to the circular outer periphery of the wheel as the arm pivots.   
     
     
         19 . The stationary exercise device of  claim 18 , including:
 a biasing member that biases the resistance member away from the circular outer periphery of the wheel.   
     
     
         20 . The stationary exercise device of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the resistance member comprises an eddy magnet.   
     
     
         21 . The stationary exercise device of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the resistance member comprises a brake pad that engages the wheel.   
     
     
         22 . The stationary exercise device of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the stationary exercise device comprises a stationary exercise bike.   
     
     
         23 . The stationary exercise device of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the stationary exercise device comprises a road bike in combination with a cycle trainer, wherein the road bike includes a rear tire that is driven by the pedals, and wherein the cycle trainer includes a roller that is operably connected to the wheel, and wherein the roller engages the rear tire of the road bike whereby rotation of the rear tire causes the roller and wheel to rotate.   
     
     
         24 . A method of controlling stationary exercise equipment having one or more movable input members that move in response to user forces applied to the one or more movable input members, wherein the one or more movable input members are operably connected to one or more movable output members such that a resistance force acting on the one or more movable output members changes user forces required to move the one or more movable input members, the method comprising:
 utilizing a resistance member that moves relative to the one or more movable output members to provide a resistance force acting on the resistance member and the one or more movable output members, wherein the resistance force varies as a function of the position of the resistance member relative to the one or more movable output members;   utilizing the resistance force acting on the resistance member to move the resistance member relative to the one or more movable output members to vary the resistance force to thereby vary user forces required to move the one or more movable input members in a manner that at least partially simulates the effects of one or more of momentum and/or inertia.   
     
     
         25 . A stationary exercise device comprising:
 at least one movable member; and   a resistance member that is mechanically connected to the at least one movable member and moves due to forces applied to the at least one movable member by a user, and wherein movement of the resistance member produces a variable resistance force acting on the at least one movable member to at least partially simulate at least one of inertia and/or momentum.   
     
     
         26 . The exercise device of  claim 25 , including:
 a wheel defining a circular outer periphery, wherein the wheel rotates about a wheel axis;   an arm that pivots about a pivot axis;   the pivot axis is offset from the wheel axis such that the resistance member moves radially relative to the circular outer periphery of the wheel as the arm pivots.   
     
     
         27 . The exercise device of  claim 26 , including:
 a biasing member that biases the resistance member away from the circular outer periphery of the wheel.   
     
     
         28 . The exercise device of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the resistance member comprises an eddy magnet.   
     
     
         29 . The exercise device of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the resistance member comprises a brake pad that engages the wheel.