Abstract:
A bicycle trainer is adapted for use with a bicycle. The trainer includes a base and a frame having spaced apart ends adapted to engage and support the bicycle. A pivoting assembly is joined to the frame of a central portion of the frame and to the base. The pivoting assembly allows movement between the frame and the base and includes a biasing mechanism that resists tilting of the frame relative to the base. The frame is supported only by the pivoting assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation of and claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/535,854, filed Sep. 27, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/720,842, filed Sep. 27, 2005, the contents of which both are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Bicycle trainers have been used by bicycle enthusiasts to convert their bicycles for stationary riding. A typical user is a bicycle owner who competes in various bicycle races or rides often. When the weather prevents riding outdoors, such as when it is raining, too cold or too hot, the cyclist can use the trainer indoors to simulate a ride. In some cases, the cyclist may want to use a trainer while also reading or watching television. However, in all cases, the bicycle trainer should be easy to use and simulate bicycle riding. 
     A common bicycle trainer has a frame onto which the user mounts the bicycle. Typically, the rear wheel of the bicycle is in contact with a roller that, in turn, is coupled to a resistance unit. The roller is supported by the frame at a fixed distance from couplers that engage and support the bicycle in an upright generally stationary position. 
     SUMMARY 
     A bicycle trainer is adapted for use with a bicycle. The trainer includes a base and a frame having spaced apart ends adapted to engage and support the bicycle. A pivoting assembly is joined to the frame at a central portion of the frame and to the base. The pivoting assembly allows movement between the frame and the base and includes a biasing mechanism that resists tilting of the frame relative to the base. The frame is supported only by the pivoting assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a bicycle trainer. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a bicycle trainer and a wheel of a bicycle. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a pivoting assembly. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a bicycle trainer. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a bicycle trainer. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a pivoting assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An exemplary embodiment of an exerciser  10  with a movable resistance device  12  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As well known to those skilled in the art, the exerciser  10  is a bicycle trainer that is adapted to support a tire and wheel of a bicycle or other pedaled device (hereinafter “bicycle” by way of example, and used as a representation of all types of pedaled devices). The resistance device  12  includes a roller  14  that engages a tire of the bicycle. The resistance device  12  typically includes a rotatable resistance assembly  15  such as an impeller rotatable in a fluid such as oil. However, it should be understood that the trainer can be used with many forms of resistance devices wherein the specific implementation provided herein should not be limiting. The exerciser  10  includes a frame  20  used to support the rotating wheel of the bicycle. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the frame  20  includes opposed support ends  32  that support couplers  25 , also referred to as axle engagement members, with handles  26  for releasably supporting the bicycle above a floor. The frame  20  includes a center portion  30  that is “U” or “V” shaped, generally referred to as a hyperboloid, wherein the support ends  32  are spaced apart. In this embodiment, the couplers  25  engage opposed portions of a wheel of the bicycle. Each of the couplers  25  include rods  23 , that are slidable in apertures in support ends  32  in the frame  20  in order to adjust couplers  25  axially to engage the bicycles. The type of couplers illustrated herein are merely exemplary in that many forms can be used without departing from the invention. 
     Frame  20  supports the bicycle by engaging a portion thereof. In the embodiment illustrated, two spaced-apart legs having support ends  32  and  33  are used; however a single support leg can be used if desired. 
     A base  21  is coupled to frame  20  allowing limited movement thereof in a manner discussed below. In the embodiment illustrated, base  21  includes extending legs  36  that generally lay flat. The base  21  is U-shaped having remote ends that terminate away from the frame  20 . However, base  21  can take many forms including, but not limited to, any type of structure that utilizes tubular supports and/or a planar shaped base portion that rests on a surface. In general, base  21  provides a stable support for frame  20  and a bicycle attached thereto. 
     A pivoting assembly or coupler  40  couples frame  20  to base  21  in order to allow tilting movement (illustrated by double arrow  27 ) of frame  20  with respect to base  21  so as to allow the bicycle attached thereto to tilt from side to side. It is quite common for a cyclist when riding a bicycle to cause the bicycle to tilt side to side when pedaling. This may be most pronounced when the cyclist is standing while pedaling and not sitting down. The bicycle will tilt from side to side on “contact patches” of the tires with the ground. Current bicycle trainers support the bicycle in a fixed or stationary upright position. In one embodiment, coupler  40  is resistive to tilting movement, and in yet a further embodiment, provides a restoring force that counteracts downward tilting movement and aids in restoring the bicycle to an upright position. 
     The resistance device  12  includes a mounting bracket  44 . The mounting bracket  44  supports a shaft of the resistance device  12  to which roller  14  is secured. In the embodiment illustrated, an impeller unit  15  is mounted to a first end of the shaft, while a flywheel  47  is provided on an end opposite the impeller unit  15 . In the embodiment illustrated, the mounting bracket  44  can be secured to the frame  20  to move therewith and thus also tilts with the bicycle wherein no significant tilting movement of the bicycle wheel/tire occurs between the wheel/tire and the roller  14 . A frame mounting flange  54  is secured to the center portion  30 . In order to provide some accommodation for wheels of different diameters, the mounting bracket  44  can pivot relative to the frame  20 . 
     It should be noted in a further embodiment, the resistance device  12  can be mounted to base  21 , or otherwise provided in a stationary position such that the frame  20  still supports the bicycle allowing tilting movement, but the wheel/tire also tilts with respect to the engaging surface of the resistance device. In  FIG. 2 , resistance device  12 A illustrated in dashed line schematically illustrates this embodiment. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , coupler  40  includes a first support  60  attached to base  21  and a second support  62  attached to frame  20 . A coupling element  63  allows the first support  60  to move relative to the second support  62 . In the embodiment illustrated, the second support  62  partially rotates relative to first support  60  about an axis  64  extending through coupling element  63 , herein a pivot stud  65  (e.g. threaded bolt) having a threaded mating nut  67  so as to provide tilting movement of frame  20  and thus the bicycle attached thereto. Bearing assemblies  69  allow partial rotation of support  62  on stud  65 . In  FIG. 4 , a nut  67  mates with stud  65  and a washer  71  is provided and secured to stud  65  with set screw  73  so as to maintain a desired preload on bearing assemblies  69 . 
     In one embodiment, the relative positions of the roller  14  on frame  20 , and frame  20  on second support  62 , or other components comprising the trainer, are disposed relative to each other such that axis  64  is disposed substantially below an axle of the bicycle and commonly proximate to the contact patches of the tires of the bicycle with the ground, if the bicycle was actually riding thereon. If desired, a front support assembly (not shown) can be used to support the front portion of the bicycle so that the contact patches of the front and rear tires would be level. 
     If desired, stops can be provided so as to limit tilting movement of frame  20  relative to base  21  from side to side. Such stops can take many forms as appreciated by those skilled in the art and can function between the frame  20  and a ground surface, or frame  20  and base  21 , which is herein illustrated between first and second supports  60  and  62 . 
     In particular, as schematically illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a pin  70  (herein mounted to support  60 ) extends in slot or recess  72  (herein provided in support  62 ) such that ends of the slot  72  form stop surfaces that engage pin  70  at the extent of tilting movement desired. In a further embodiment, the stop members can be adjustable if desired to change the extent of tilting or side to side movement allowable. In a further embodiment, adjustable members (not shown) can be used to adjust the length of the slot  72 ; however this is just one embodiment, wherein the manner in which stop surfaces can be moved will vary depending on the stop mechanisms employed. 
     The extent of tilting provided between frame  20  and base  21  as illustrated by double arrow  27  may vary depending on the cyclist, the type of bicycle, etc. In yet a further embodiment, a locking mechanism can be provided to selectively lock the relative positions of the frame and base, for example, such a locking device can comprise a locking pin to lock supports  60  and  62  together and prevent rotation. 
     As discussed above, rotation of support members  60  and  62  on pivot axis  64  allows tilting movement of frame  20  relative to base  21 . In a further embodiment, such tilting movement is resisted. Various resistance mechanisms can include biasing elements such as springs, elastic materials, resilient materials, dampers, friction couplings or the like can be used to provide such resistance. In the embodiment illustrated, spring(s)  80  are used and can be provided in coupler  40  so as to provide a compact assembly. Likewise, other forms of resistance mechanisms can also be disposed in the coupler  40  so as to provide a compact device. 
     In the embodiment schematically illustrated in  FIG. 3 , two springs  80 A and  80 B are disposed in coupler  40 , for example in recesses  84 A and  84 B respectively, so as engage pin  70  and resist movement thereof. Springs  80 A and  80 B provide resistance, and a restoring force, due to compression thereof; however, as appreciated by those skilled in the art, springs that operate in tension can also be used. Furthermore, other forms of springs such a torsion spring can be used, for example, being operably coupled to supports  60  and  62 . 
     In yet a further embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the spring can comprise a torsion rod  90  disposed in and extending within a center bore  92  of stud  65 . A fastener (herein a set screw  94 ) secures one end of torsion rod  90  to support  60 , while another fastener (herein a set screw  96 ) secures the other end of torsion rod  90  to support  62 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , recess  98  can be provided in stud  65  to allow set screw  96  to rotate in a limited range with torsion rod  90  and support  62 , where walls of the recess  98  thereby provide stop surfaces. 
     If desired, the spring(s) can be removable and replaceable so as to allow the resistance to be changed. Alternatively, or in addition, mounting or engaging members of the spring(s) can be adjustable so as to vary the spring tension/compression, or apply a preload, in order to adjust the resistance and/or restoring force. 
     Although the subject matter presented herein have been described with reference to particular embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter presented in the appended claims.