Tilt-enabled bike with tilt-disabling mechanism

Abstract

A stationary bike capable of leaning of tilting side to side during use is described. The stationary bike has a fixed frame portion and moving frame portion which is pivotally mounted on the fixed frame portion, at two spaced apart pivot locations, to allow the moving frame to pivot about a pivot axis defined by the two spaced apart pivot locations. The pivotal action of the bike may be resisted, such as by a damper. The tilt-enabled bike is equipped with a tilt disabling mechanism, e.g., a locking mechanism configured to selectively and operatively engage the moving and the fixed frame to disable the relative movement (i.e. the pivoting) of the moving frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise bike comprising:
 a first frame configured to remain substantially stationary with respect to a support surface;   a second frame pivotably mounted on the first frame by a pivot joint, the pivot joint comprising a pivot shaft that defines a pivot axis at an incline to the support surface, wherein the second frame is configured to pivot relative to the first frame about the pivot axis in response to a force applied to the second frame by the user during exercise; and   a locking mechanism at the pivot joint, the locking mechanism configured to selectively engage the pivot shaft or one of the first frame or the second frame to selectively lock out the pivotable movement of the second frame relative to the first frame.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise bike of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a pin coupled to the other one of the first frame or the second frame; and   a corresponding hole that receives the pin, wherein the hole is provided on the one of the first frame or the second frame.   
     
     
         3 . The exercise bike of  claim 2 , wherein the pin extends in a direction that intersects with the pivot axis and is selectively movable towards and away from the pivot axis. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise bike of  claim 2 , wherein the pin extends in a direction parallel to the pivot axis. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise bike of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first frame defines a first plane and the second frame defines a second plane;   the first plane is vertical; and   the hole is aligned to receive the pin when the second plane is aligned with the first plane.   
     
     
         6 . The exercise bike of  claim 5 , wherein the pin lies in the first plane, and wherein the hole lies in the second plane. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise bike of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism selectively engages the pivot shaft to resist rotation of the pivot shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise bike of  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking member movable between an engaged position in which the locking member interferes with rotation of the pivot shaft, and a disengaged position in which the locking member does not interfere with rotation of the pivot shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise bike of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the pivot shaft is received within a housing;   a cavity is defined between the shaft and the housing; and   the locking member is a wedge that is selectively positioned within the cavity to limit rotation of the pivot shaft within the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The exercise bike of  claim 8 , wherein the pivot shaft is a non-circular pivot shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise bike of  claim 8 , wherein the locking member comprises a cam that selectively engages the pivot shaft to limit rotation of the pivot shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise bike of  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a brake operatively associated with the pivot shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise bike of  claim 12 , wherein the brake comprises a friction brake or a magnetic brake. 
     
     
         14 . An exercise bike comprising:
 a first frame configured to remain substantially stationary with respect to a support surface;   a second frame pivotably suspended from the first frame by a pair of pivot joints that define a pivot axis, wherein one pivot joint of the pair of pivot joints comprises a pivot shaft, wherein the second frame is configured to pivot relative to the first frame about the pivot axis in response to a force applied to the second frame by the user during exercise; and   a locking mechanism at the one pivot joint, the locking mechanism configured to selectively engage the pivot shaft or one of the first frame or the second frame to selectively lock out the pivotable movement of the second frame relative to the first frame.   
     
     
         15 . The exercise bike of  claim 14 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a pin slidably coupled to a slot in the other one of the first frame or the second frame; and   a corresponding hole that receives the pin, wherein the hole is provided on the one of the first frame or the second frame.   
     
     
         16 . The exercise bike of  claim 15 , wherein the pin extends in a direction parallel to the pivot axis. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise bike of  claim 14 , wherein the locking mechanism selectively engages the pivot shaft to resist rotation of the pivot shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise bike of  claim 17 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking member that is selectively positioned within a cavity to engage and limit rotation of the pivot shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise bike of  claim 18 , wherein the pivot shaft comprises a non-circular cross section to define the cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise bike of  claim 14 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a brake coupled to the pivot shaft.