Patent ID: 7641600
Filing Date: 2010-01-05
Classification: A63B,F16B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A stationary bicycle comprising a seat, pedals, handlebars, a resistance mechanism, a frame, and a locking assembly comprising: a collar attached to the frame, the collar having an interior channel defined by a sidewall and a through-hole formed in the sidewall communicating with the interior channel; a member having a member sidewall with an elliptical cross-sectional shape with a major axis extending across a widest portion of the elliptical cross-sectional shape from a first end portion to a second end portion and bifurcating the member sidewall into a first side portion and a second side portion, the member being slidably received inside the interior channel of the collar and configured to slide back and forth along a predetermined sliding path, the through-hole formed in the sidewall of the collar being adjacent to the second end portion of the member sidewall, the seat or handlebars being attached to the member and positioned to move along with the member when the member is slid back and forth along the predetermined sliding path; a first engagement member disposed inside the interior channel of the collar adjacent to the first end portion of the member sidewall, the first engagement member being configured to engage portions of both the first side portion and the second side portion of the member sidewall located toward the first end portion of the member sidewall; a second engagement member disposed inside the interior channel of the collar adjacent to the first end portion of the member sidewall and spaced from the first engagement member along the predetermined sliding path, the second engagement member being configured to engage portions of both the first side portion and the second side portion of the member sidewall located toward the first end portion of the member sidewall; a cam pivotally coupled to the collar and configured to pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position; and a cam follower assembly disposed between the cam and the member at the through-hole formed in the sidewall of the collar, the cam follower assembly having a movable engagement member configured to be biased by the cam, the movable engagement member being located between the first engagement member and second engagement member along the predetermined sliding path and adjacent to the second end portion of the member sidewall, when the cam is pivoted into the locked position, the cam exerts a biasing force on the movable engagement member that biases the movable engagement member through the through-hole and into locking engagement with portions of both the first side portion and the second side portion of the member sidewall located toward the second end portion of the member sidewall, thereby locking the member within the collar and preventing its sliding along the predetermined sliding path, when the cam is pivoted into the unlocked position, and the cam does not bias the movable engagement member into locking engagement with the first side portion and the second side portion of the member sidewall, thereby releasing the member within the collar and permitting its slide along the predetermined sliding path, the movable engagement member comprises: a guard member having an interior cavity with first and second hollow portions, each partially defined by an outside guard surface positioned for locking engagement with the first and second side portions of the member sidewall; and a force distribution member nested inside the interior cavity of the guard member, the force distribution member having laterally spaced apart first and second projections extending toward the member, the first projection being received inside the first hollow portion of the guard member and the second projection being received inside the second hollow portion of the guard member; and a mechanical fuse positioned and configured to receive the biasing force exerted by the cam when the cam is pivoted toward the locked position, to translate at least a portion of the biasing force to the force distribution member, and to deform in response to the biasing force if the biasing force exceeds a predetermined amount of force, the force translated to the force distribution member being sufficient to move the force distribution member and the guard member in which nested toward the member sidewall and bias a portion of the outside guard surface partially defining the first hollow portion into locking engagement with the first side portion of the member sidewall, and a portion of the outside guard surface partially defining the second hollow portion into locking engagement with the second side portion of the member sidewall.